Chapter Eighty-Five: Ashes

Absorbing the memories of this body spanning thousands of years left me slightly weary. When my divine essence finally unified and I opened my eyes, I was faced with a damp, dark stone wall.

Looking down, I saw shackles on my wrists and ankles, which stirred some displeasure in me. Just as I was about to break free from the chains, I heard steady footsteps approaching. Then, a face that instantly infuriated me appeared before my eyes.

For some inexplicable reason, an uncontrollable rage surged within me, even though I hadn't yet clearly seen the person's face. Just the blurry outline was enough to kindle anger in my heart.

The name of that person surfaced in my mind.

Linglu.

Why was I so angry? After all, "Qingyue" was only a small part of Daiying's existence. I am not her. It's not worth getting angry over such an insignificant insect from the mortal realm.

The woman named Linglu walked over with crescent-shaped eyes and a smile, "You seem quite spirited..."

This mortal had an unpleasant odor, and her appearance was so contrived and ugly that it was repulsive. She was inherently unlikable.

I glanced at her with disdain, then immediately turned my head away and propped it up with my hand, "Get lost. Don't bring your filthy stench over here. It's disgusting."

"Heh... Sister Qingyue, your temper is really growing. I was just being kind..." Her voice abruptly stopped as if she had discovered something. She grabbed my sleeve and urgently questioned, "When did your wounds heal? Who treated you? Was it Quehan or Yexiao?"

I yawned, "It was Suiqiu."

"Suiqiu~? It was her..." There was a faint hint of surprise in her tone, followed by a confident laugh, "Impossible, it couldn't have been Suiqiu."

I tilted my head to look at her through my fingers, "Why not? Are you upset that your long-time friend suddenly betrayed you?"

"Because she's already dead! How could she possibly help you heal to fight me? Hahaha, do you really think I'm that easy to fool? Do you think I'm stupid enough to leave evidence for you to turn the tables? Dream on!" Her eyes were filled with madness, and she pulled out a chilling spiritual whip from her palm, preparing to strike.

I was quite puzzled and lowered my hand, asking sternly, "Why did you kill her?"

She seemed surprised by my current resolve and paused momentarily, then started laughing again, "Because she also liked Brother Que, and if she didn't die, my affairs would surely be discovered. I trust no one but myself!" Her emotions grew more intense as she spoke, like a madwoman chasing away a stray dog.

I inwardly sneered at her. What a complete shrew.

I looked away and asked indifferently, "And what about your Brother Que? Do you not trust him either?"

"Brother Que is different from others! He never hides anything from me. At least he didn't before you came to Qiong Yun Sect. You ruined everything!" She pointed at me with red-rimmed eyes, her voice full of resentment.

I coldly laughed, "You are truly insane."

"Yes! I went insane from the day you entered Qiong Yun, from the day Brother Que became distant from me. I cannot tolerate anyone beside Brother Que! Especially you!" Her gaze grew fiercer, and she lashed the whip, striking hard.

I raised my arms, letting the whip hit the chains. The blow rebounded off the chains and the demonic energy I emitted, forcing her to take a few steps back.

I glanced at her with some disdain.

Even after holding back ninety percent of my power, she was still affected by my demonic energy. How weak could she be?

Her expression changed dramatically, and she looked at me in astonishment, "You?!"

"Is Linglu in there? I just need to ask a few questions. No need to trouble her." A familiar voice came from the cave entrance.

Linglu suddenly let out a shriek and then rushed toward the entrance, colliding directly with the person there.

"Brother Que, it's just a minor injury. It's no big deal. Please don't blame Sister Qingyue." Linglu clutched her injured hand and looked my way, clearly trying to cast suspicion on me.

He lowered his gaze to me, remaining silent.

Suddenly, I felt a sense of injustice for "Qingyue." I raised my lips and asked, "Do you believe her?"

He still said nothing, taking Linglu with him as he left. Like a cold, biting wind, he left me with a bone-chilling sense of desolation.

Watching his retreating figure, I pulled out the white jade flute from my waist and smashed it to the ground with all my might.

With a crisp "crack," the beautiful white object shattered into pieces.

Look, how much it resembles human love, seemingly beautiful but fragile, crumbling with the slightest push until nothing remains.

His figure seemed to tremble slightly before regaining composure and slowly disappearing from view.

My eyes stung with pain, but no matter how much it hurt, I couldn't shed any tears.

Maybe I had already cried them all out long ago. No, why should I cry for him? I am Daiying. This prison means nothing to me. I just want to see how interesting things will turn out. Surely, the "her" within this body is eager to see the conclusion too.

Feelings are the most fragile and most easily doubted things in this world.

I closed my eyes and stayed in the dark dungeon for an indeterminate amount of time.

Finally, a disciple came to take me out. The sunlight was dazzling, and under the radiant golden light, the once cold and pristine Qiong Yun Sect was now adorned with festive red, looking prosperous and beautiful.

Once, this might have been what I dreamt of.

The disciple escorting me said today was the day their Qiong Yun Sect Leader was getting married. It was a joyous occasion for them but a bad one for me, as they had decided to punish me in public.

I guessed this was Linglu's idea. A wedding day stained with blood? How could ordinary people tolerate such absurdity? For her, taking revenge on her wedding day was the most important, the most satisfying thing.

But I couldn't understand why she didn't just deal with me in secret. Why make it public unless she was so furious she couldn't think straight anymore.

As she walked past me in her ornate wedding dress, her face beaming with pride, she glanced at me quickly.

As if to flaunt.

Linglu was like a blooming red peony, attracting everyone's attention and radiating her brilliance with grace.

At that moment, several disciples suddenly pinned me to the ground, placing a table laden with various torture instruments in front of me. I immediately understood her intention—she wanted me to scream in agony while she was inside consummating her marriage.

To kill someone, one must first destroy their heart. This idea was truly insidious. She even had me restrained behind the gift table. I couldn't help but acknowledge, "Ruthless."

However, the one who might feel heartbroken would only be the "Qingyue" within me. What happens doesn't concern me.

The disciple next to me first took out a dagger and aimed it at my wrist. With a resolute motion, he stabbed down...

Before the dagger could fall, a scream pierced my eardrums, but it didn't come from me.

It seemed to be coming from the wedding hall?

Then, another ear-piercing scream followed.

"What's happening?!"

"Quick, let's go check it out!" The disciples guarding me, startled by the commotion, ran towards the hall in haste, forgetting about me.

I curiously looked towards the wedding hall and saw several human-shaped figures, charred like embers, being flung out. Then, a beast covered in black scales, with green-glowing eyes and flaming all over, leaped out.

A fire qilin…? It seemed to be infected with demonic energy, completely mutated.

How could such a creature appear out of nowhere in the Qiong Yun Sect? Without a sufficient demonic cultivator, it would be impossible to demonize such a divine beast!

The demonized qilin spewed flames, instantly turning many living people into charcoal. Its eyes scanned the area, seemingly searching for something. Suddenly, it locked onto me, opening its bloody maw as it charged at me.

"Seeking death." I summoned my demonic energy to break free from the shackles and struck the qilin's face. Though it staggered back a few steps in pain, my hand was scorched red by the flames.

Strange, with my current cultivation, I shouldn't struggle against a qilin.

Perhaps I had not yet fully adapted to this body, and the divine power of old hadn't fully transferred over. No matter, my demonic energy alone should suffice.

With this thought, I picked up a scimitar from the ground and infused it with demonic energy, slashing at the qilin. Though I used all my strength, the blade only left shallow wounds, not enough to be fatal.

This qilin... was troublesome.

I had to use my cultivation to withstand the scorching flames while looking for an opening to attack, but my movements grew increasingly sluggish...

Suddenly, the qilin's green eyes glowed brightly. It swung its head, deflecting my arm, and opened its mouth towards me.

A blast of flames rushed at me.

The burning pain quickly spread across my body. Though I managed to block some of the flames with my demonic energy, the upper half of my body felt searing pain, as if my soul was being scorched. Struggling internally against the relentless heat, my body collapsed stiffly to the ground, watching helplessly as the bloodthirsty maw approached.

Damn…!

The saliva from its fangs was almost dripping onto me…!

At the critical moment, a clear sound reached my ears. A man swung his sword repeatedly, blocking the qilin's fangs. The sword shone with a moonlit gleam, both beautiful and sharp. Suddenly, the light burst forth, engulfing the qilin in a massive sword shadow.

Quehan stood there in white robes, ethereal as an immortal.

Just like the first time we met.

He looked at me with a trace of sadness, his mouth twitching, "Qingyue…" Before he could finish, the qilin on the ground suddenly spat a fireball at him. He blocked it with his sword and engaged the resurrected qilin in battle.

This time, the qilin seemed even more demonic, its attacks faster and more aggressive, pushing him back repeatedly.

I had to recover quickly to help him.

Just as I thought this, my fingers regained sensation, and my consciousness returned to my body. I struggled to get up, and Quehan and the qilin drew closer to me.

In an instant, the qilin burst through Quehan's sword energy, charging at me madly.

Sword—no, demonic energy. My mind went blank, and my cultivation seemed drained, unable to use any of it. Or rather, the qilin's demonic flames had burned away my power before it could form.

Fine, let's do this.

I picked up the knife from the ground, ready to perish with it.

Blood, warm and wet, covered half my body.

But it was neither the qilin's nor mine—it was…

...

Quehan stood in front of me, his sword piercing through the qilin's throat while its claws impaled his chest from behind.

Blood flowed and flowed, seeming to seep into my eyes.

"Qingyue… We met long ago, didn't we?"

As if struck by lightning, my body stiffened and grew cold, blood staining my robes, my heart clenched, and a black haze clouded my mind.

The person in my arms gradually lost warmth.

I trembled, unable to say a word.

But I knew, I am Qingyue. Long, long ago, I met the great immortal… In the past, now, and in the future… Forever and ever, I will remember.

But he will never call me "Qingyue" again.