Chapter Seventy-Four: Hidden Feelings

Leaving the Qin residence, Mo Zhuo said to me, "Let's go, join me in capturing that old thief, Hong Yi."

With Hong Yi now injured, catching up to him shouldn't be difficult. But I suspected there was more to why Quan You was so relentlessly pursuing Hong Yi, repeatedly sending people after him. He must have some valuable use.

"Do you know where he is?"

"The Soul Search and Life Capture spell of the Moonshadow Sect is no joke. Come, I'll take you with me." Saying this, he chanted a spell, and a gust of wind lifted him into the air. He gestured for me to follow.

"No need." I summoned my Ice Lotus, casting a spell to enlarge it. Lying down lazily, I said, "I'll use this."

This was a spell I had developed based on the Moonshadow Sect's technique for flying. Compared to the rigid sword flight of the Qiongyun Sect, this was far more comfortable.

"Have you only learned this one spell after being in the Moonshadow Sect for so long?" Mo Zhuo seemed surprised.

Controlling the Ice Lotus to fly, I yawned. "It's better to master a few than to learn many superficially. If I tried to learn too many spells at once, wouldn't that exhaust me? Besides, most of them are useless."

Mo Zhuo mocked, "With that attitude, even if Quan You trains you to be a deity, you'd probably be a lazy deity. Forget about controlling the three realms; you'd likely need someone to push you to even turn over."

Who said I wanted to be a deity? I shot him a cold glance. "None of your business."

He was momentarily speechless at my retort.

Following Mo Zhuo, we soon found Hong Yi in a maple forest outside Yeliang City. However, he seemed even weaker.

He must have already taken the core of the Fallen Spirit. Why did he look on the verge of death now? Could it be a ruse?

Seeing Mo Zhuo's impatient expression, I warned, "Don't rush over. Be cautious of a trap."

I cast a spell to freeze Hong Yi's entire body, leaving only his head exposed for breathing and speaking.

He just moved his eyes laboriously, his lips twisted. I immediately realized he was healing himself and couldn't afford any distraction at this critical moment.

"Who had the skill to injure our great Hong Yi? Wasn't he boasting about his invincible divine skill less than half an hour ago?" I watched him with interest, elongating the words "great" and "divine skill" sarcastically.

He recognized the mockery in my tone, his face flushed with suppressed anger, veins bulging on his forehead, and sweat pouring down.

"Lord Hong Yi, don't get worked up. If you die here, all your evil deeds will become a laughingstock." I infused him with some spiritual energy to keep him alive.

He seemed a bit startled, then let out a few cold laughs, raising his voice, "You want to know what kind of demonic poison Que Han was afflicted with, right? Pretending to be kind-hearted, do you think I would be grateful?"

"What demonic poison? Are you saying...?" Could it be that Hong Yi encountered a great immortal on the way and fought, leaving him this weak and vulnerable?

Hong Yi's strength had increased significantly after taking the Fallen Spirit's core, yet he was now this frail. It seemed both sides had exerted all their strength. If Hong Yi was in this state, what about the great immortal?

Mo Zhuo suddenly walked up to Hong Yi and delivered a fierce kick, shattering some of the ice on his body. Hong Yi coughed up blood violently. "Qingyue, don't listen to him. To break the demonic poison, use the core of the one who cast it. He's trying to trick you. Let me help you."

"Don't kill me! Qingyue girl, don't you want to clear your name and return to Qiongyun? Linglu has had many dealings with Xinghuo Hall over the years! I left evidence with the Core of Dreams!" Hong Yi's cowardice and desperation were on full display, making me laugh.

Hong Yi could indeed clear my name, and if he spoke out, Ling Lu would soon become the target of everyone's hatred. However, only a demon core can cure demon poison… clearing my name? I don't need it!

I formed a hand seal to remove the ice from Hong Yi's body, drew the blood-stained dagger from Mo Zhuo's waist, and thrust it into Hong Yi's abdomen, twisting the blade. A golden demon core slid out.

Hong Yi was already dead.

Mo Zhuo seemed somewhat surprised. "Don't you care about yourself at all?"

"Quan You also wants his demon core, right? So what difference does it make whether I kill him or not?"

"True, the sect leader once said that Hong Yi used countless methods to transform from a human into a demon. His demon core is extremely beneficial to him and must be obtained someday."

"But now, I need Hong Yi's demon core." I put away the demon core, stood up, and looked at him steadily.

"Is that person so important to you? Worth betraying the sect leader? Do you know what happens to traitors?" His voice suddenly rose, filled with frustration and disappointment.

"You want me to bide my time, I know, but the demon poison... the great immortal can't wait."

Back when I was in Qiongyun, I often heard of disciples who, unfortunately, got poisoned by demons during their training and died instantly.

Demon poison varies depending on the demon's type and cultivation level. It's far more lethal than ordinary poisons, each bout of pain exponentially worse than the last. Ultimately, the victim's soul suffers irreversible damage.

I could never allow such a thing to happen.

"Will you let me pass or not?"

There was a touch of desolation in Mo Zhuo's eyes. He then said softly, "Go ahead."

He was truly disappointed in me.

I guessed he thought that my willingness to risk everything for one person was truly contemptible.

I laughed at myself.

As I passed him, I whispered, "Thank you."

The fragment of the Moon Spirit Jade had a connection with the great immortal. Following its glowing light, I eventually found the severely injured and unconscious great immortal under a peach tree.

Aside from two or three wounds on his body, his lips were black, and his complexion was paler than usual.

I quickly purified the demon core's impurities and channeled its energy into his body. After a long while, his complexion improved, and he opened his eyes. The bright, star-like eyes made my heart race.

He quickly concealed the brilliance in his eyes, then looked at me with indifference and confusion. After a long gaze, he slowly spoke without any emotion, "Was it you who saved me?"

I trembled.

As expected, he had forgotten me.

I forced a bitter smile, holding back the tears, and waved my hand dismissively. "It was nothing."

"… This demon poison is hard to cure. Your help is a life-saving grace. I will repay this favor someday."

Repay?

I shook my head and smiled lightly, "No need. I haven't finished repaying my debt to you yet…"

He was momentarily stunned, then bowed in gratitude, apologetically saying, "I still have important matters to attend to. I will remember your kindness, and you may come to the Qiongyun Sect anytime to claim this favor, without a time limit."

I watched him speak, bow, and leave. It felt as if his departure took everything from me.

Nothing was left.