Inner Dan for Life

Translation:

Li Luoning wandered aimlessly in the peach blossom forest, finding himself at the spot where he had first found Mi Xingzhe. He noticed that the tree, once stained with blood, now bloomed with white snowdrop flowers.

**Three thousand years apart, only tears remain. A single meeting, now forever separated. My heart once pure, now feels the cold of Mirror Cloud.**

**Qingyi, I promised to protect him. In this life and the next, forever.**

His frostbitten hands gently caressed the snowdrop petals. He sighed, leaving behind fallen petals brushed off by his sleeve.

Not knowing where to go, Li Luoning found himself in front of Jiagu Qing's courtyard. He stood there, lost in thought.

"Little Herb Enthusiast?" 

Jiagu Qing happened to come out, carrying dried flower seeds.

Hearing Jiagu Qing's voice, Li Luoning snapped back to reality. "Elder Jiagu." He entered the courtyard and bowed deeply.

Sensing something off about Li Luoning, Jiagu Qing didn't ask any questions. "It's been a while since I last saw you. Come, have a drink with me," he said.

"I..." Li Luoning hesitated.

"Since you're here, stay a few days. I've been having trouble finding someone to help me dry these flower seeds," Jiagu Qing said, handling the seeds.

"Alright," Li Luoning forced a smile.

The wisteria tree nearby seemed to sense his sorrow and extended a branch to cover him. Li Luoning glanced at the tree and nodded in gratitude.

Back at the Liao Yin Immortal Realm

"General Ruling, Yun Wan Nian has been taken by the Supreme Elder to the main hall. He's to be punished for the death of Qingyi," reported a celestial soldier.

Since meeting Mi Xingzhe, Yue Ruling had stationed soldiers outside Mirror Cloud Residence to report any changes.

"What!"

In the Upper Hall

Mi Xingzhe knelt, expressionless, eyes vacant. He was bound with celestial locks, his hair disheveled, and a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth.

"Supreme Elder, that day Yun Wan Nian was under the influence of demonic magic. He didn't mean to kill Qingyi. Please, show mercy," War God Qingyuan pleaded.

"Supreme Elder, Yun Wan Nian is still Master Luoning's disciple. With Qingyi gone, if Yun Wan Nian is also lost, what will become of Master Luoning?" Heavenly Star Lord Xuanming also tried to persuade.

"Liao Yin Immortal Realm has its laws. Yun Wan Nian committed fratricide, a crime unforgivable. If I do not punish him, how will we maintain order? You claim he was influenced by demonic magic, but where is the proof? I heard this magic has no cure, yet he appears clear-headed. How do you explain that?" SiTu Fanzhi demanded.

"But Supreme Elder, it was indeed a special case. Yun Wan Nian was controlled by the magic, which we all witnessed. Li Minghan even poisoned him with the deadly Magic Fungi. If you don't believe, let Alchemist O verify," Qingyuan insisted.

"Magic Fungi poison? Qingyuan, do you know the severity of that poison? The victim's meridians will break after a single burst of power. Yet here is Yun Wan Nian, alive and well," O Shinan's voice carried a mocking tone.

SiTu Fanzhi looked at Mi Xingzhe, "Yun Wan Nian, do you have anything to say?"

Mi Xingzhe, still vacant, said flatly, "I, Yun Wan Nian, killed my brother. The crime is unforgivable. I ask for death."

Mi Xingzhe didn't care about any titles. He killed his brother, regardless of the reason. He drove the dagger into his own brother's body.

Since Qingyi's death, the light in his master's eyes had vanished, and there were no more gentle calls in his room. No matter what, he deserved to die.

Yue Ruling rushed in, interrupting, "Supreme Elder, wait! Yun Wan Nian is Master Luoning's disciple. If he must be judged, it should be by Master Luoning."

"Heavenly Star Lord is right. According to our laws, if Yun Wan Nian is to be judged, it should be Master Luoning who decides," Xuanming added.

"A disciple who killed his brother—does anyone think Luoning will save him? Fine, let's see what your master says. Summon Master Luoning," SiTu Fanzhi commanded.

"To my knowledge, Master Luoning has been in seclusion since returning from Wuming Demon Mountain. No one knows where he is," O Shinan said lazily, fanning himself.

"What? No one knows where Master Luoning is?" SiTu Fanzhi asked.

The hall fell silent; indeed, no one knew where Li Luoning was.

Yue Ruling discreetly released a Glow Butterfly, a gift from Yun Qingyi. It had remained with her since she missed him. Today, it served its purpose.

O Shinan noticed but didn't interfere, only chuckling softly.

The Glow Butterfly flew out of the hall but was suddenly swallowed by a shadowy figure in the grass. The black-eyed toad croaked a few times and then disappeared into the foliage.

At Southern Zhajia's Mansion

Hua Ruoying pounded on the door of her room, shouting, "Southern Zhajia, you bastard, let me out!" But no one responded.

After a while, exhausted, she sat down to rest.

"Where could Qingping be? How long will I be locked up here?" She complained, then noticed a black shadow moving in her peripheral vision.

"Who's there!" Hua Ruoying instinctively threw a few poisoned needles. The needles pierced the wall but missed the shadow.

Hua Ruoying, curious, got up to investigate. The small black shadow approached her slowly. She extended her hand, and the shadowy figure seemed to have a mind of its own, settling into her palm.

"Little Shadow, who are you?" Hua Ruoying asked, gazing at the shadow in her hand.

However, the shadow simply twirled in place without answering.

"Can you take me to find Qingping?" she asked, guessing this might be someone from Qingping's Shadow Demon clan.

For some reason, as soon as she finished asking, the shadow turned from black to gray and then, with a puff, disappeared in front of her.

"Hey, don't go!" Hua Ruoying called out to the disappearing shadow.

"Could it be that something happened to Qingping?" Hua Ruoying felt a growing unease. She devised a plan.

Wuming Demon Mountain, Demon Lord's Hall

Shentu Zhajia had finally reclaimed his long-lost throne.

"Welcome, Demon Lord," the gathered demon soldiers greeted.

"Demon Lord," Hua Qiuyuan whispered a few words into Shentu Zhajia's ear.

"I understand. I'll handle this matter myself. You may leave," Shentu Zhajia instructed.

A Few Days Later

Li Luoning finally returned to Mirror Cloud Residence. As soon as he stepped inside, Yue Ruling's anxious voice called out from behind.

"Master Luoning!"

Li Luoning thought she had come to speak on Mi Xingzhe's behalf, so he paused briefly before attempting to leave.

"Master Luoning, wait. Master Luoning, Master... Li Luoning! Stop right there!" Yue Ruling, seeing that he had no intention of stopping, called out his name in desperation.

Li Luoning halted and turned around, his expression cold, silently conveying, "Speak quickly."

Yue Ruling had been guarding near Mirror Cloud Residence for several days. Seeing his indifferent expression made her even angrier. But recalling that Mi Xingzhe was still in the celestial prison, she calmed herself and said, "Your junior disciple has been imprisoned by the Supreme Elder and is suffering daily from heavenly thunder. If you don't want to end up without any disciples, you'd better go see him and explain things clearly." With that, she turned and left, leaving Li Luoning stunned.

In SiTu Fanzhi's Study

"Do you really think he will trade his Chixi Dan for that wretched disciple?" SiTu Fanzhi asked.

"The life-for-life rule is clearly written in the Master's Celestial Oath. Knowing him, there's a high chance he will. But now that he holds the Yueying Dan, it complicates matters," O Shinan replied.

"I saw the battle. If he possesses the Chixi Dan and the Fuguang Seal, obtaining the Yueying Dan shouldn't be difficult," SiTu Fanzhi said.

"If Li Luoning trades his Chixi Dan for Yun Wan Nian, the Fuguang Seal won't be difficult to get," O Shinan said softly.

"Oh? What do you mean?" SiTu Fanzhi asked.

"In the previous battle, the Yueying Dan was sealed by the Yanding Dragon King's scale. And Yun Wan Nian seems unaware of how to use the Fuguang Seal. The death of Yun Qingyi is a thorn between master and disciple. Even if they try to avoid it, it inevitably causes a rift. The Yueying Dan came from Li Minghan's demonic cultivation. If it is now in Li Luoning, his nature will change accordingly," O Shinan smiled, fanning himself with a black and gold fan.

In the Grand Hall

Li Luoning stood before SiTu Fanzhi.

"Master Luoning, out of respect for your grief, I have not disturbed you these past days. But about Yun Wan Nian..." SiTu Fanzhi paused.

"Supreme Elder, my disciple was under demonic influence and unintentionally killed Yun Qingyi. The blame does not lie with him," Li Luoning said calmly.

"You claim he was influenced by demons. Where is the evidence? Such a heinous crime as fratricide cannot go unpunished. How can I maintain order if we let this go?" SiTu Fanzhi pressed.

As they spoke, Mi Xingzhe was brought in, his rough clothes dirty, despite the protection of the Fuguang Seal. The heavenly thunder left him with burns and wounds. His appearance was gaunt and haggard, his eyes hollow. His wrists and ankles were bloodied from the chains, and he walked barefoot towards them.

Seeing Mi Xingzhe in this state, Li Luoning's heart ached. His lips trembled, wanting to speak.

He resented Mi Xingzhe for taking away the light of his life, yet he was also his disciple—the boy who brought joy to his and Yun Qingyi's lives, and Qingyi's blood brother. He didn't deserve this fate.

**Look at what you've done, Li Luoning! Is this how you protect him?** 

Li Luoning clenched his fists, nails digging into his palms. The pain seemed like a punishment, but it paled in comparison to Mi Xingzhe's suffering.

Mi Xingzhe, vacant-eyed, knelt without hesitation as he passed Li Luoning.

Li Luoning wanted to say something but swallowed his words. Mi Xingzhe saw his master but dared not meet his eyes, fearing rejection again.

Mi Xingzhe knelt, saying nothing, his eyes downcast. His gaunt figure and scarred back were visible through his tattered clothes.

Hearing Qingyi's last words, Li Luoning knew he had to save Mi Xingzhe, for Qingyi's sake.

"Guilty disciple Mi Xingzhe, greets the Supreme Elder, Master Luoning," Mi Xingzhe said, his voice weak and broken.

He didn't dare use the name Yun Wan Nian, feeling unworthy. He couldn't call Li Luoning "Master" after Qingyi's death.

The term "Master Luoning" was a knife to Li Luoning's heart.

**Xingzhe was always timid and insecure until he met me and Qingyi. Now, what have I done to make him afraid to call me Master?** Li Luoning thought, full of self-blame.

"Master Luoning, if you expel him and hand him over to the Discipline Hall, I will call Star Lord Xuanming to sever your bond," SiTu Fanzhi suggested.

The Master's Celestial Oath was a solemn vow between master and disciple. Breaking it meant severing their bond.

Mi Xingzhe trembled at the words "expel from the sect," his emotions barely contained. He had prepared for this moment but couldn't avoid the pain.

"Master Luoning failed in teaching, and is willing to take the punishment in his place," Li Luoning said after a long pause.

"He committed fratricide and betrayal. These are capital crimes. How can you take his punishment?" SiTu Fanzhi asked.

"I am willing to trade my Chixi Dan for his life," Li Luoning said firmly.

Mi Xingzhe, shocked, turned to Li Luoning, shaking his head. "It's not my master's fault. I'll take the punishment. Please, don't harm my master," he pleaded.

"Do you know what trading your Chixi Dan means?" SiTu Fanzhi asked.

"I do," Li Luoning replied, unwavering.

"No, please. Supreme Elder, don't take my master's inner core. I accept any punishment, just don't harm him," Mi Xingzhe cried, collapsing as he pleaded.

"Silence," Li Luoning murmured, sealing Mi Xingzhe's voice with a wave of his hand.