Four swift horses galloped down the trail, met by a line of Tianluo Sect men wielding swords.

The riders urgently reined in their horses.

“Who are you? Why block our way?” He Shiwen inquired.

He Wanyu glanced at the line of men ahead and immediately recognized them as members of the Tianluo Sect.

Are they here for me?

How did they figure out my identity?

He Wanyu pondered quietly but remained alert, gripping her twin swords tightly.

The men ignored He Shiwen’s question. Instead, their vicious expressions surfaced, and they charged at the four with swords raised, shining coldly in the light.

He Shiwen drew Ranyu, sweeping his sword horizontally to take down a slew of attackers.

Internal energy burst within him, stirring up dust around them. Several flashes of sword light cut through the breeze; as the wind died down, the killing intent settled.

He Qing’an’s Ornate Golden Fan traced a semicircle in the sky before returning to his hand, splattering a spray of blood in midair.

He Yi leaped a hundred yards, pulling out long arrows from behind her. With one arrow, she took down two enemies, and with three, she struck targets a hundred steps away with pinpoint accuracy.

He Wanyu’s twin swords flashed between their throats. With a deft step and a horizontal swing, she landed gracefully, slashing at them.

All four landed simultaneously, and the line of disciples behind them fell in unison.

Turning back, the four suddenly found themselves enveloped in an inexplicable black mist, disoriented in the darkness.

Standing back-to-back, they held their swords and swords ready, ever alert.

“Hahaha…”

An eerie, ghostly laughter echoed around them.

He Shiwen furrowed his brows, muttering to himself, “It’s her again!”

“Senior brother, it’s been a long time. Did you miss me? Little junior sister missed you very much!”

He Qing’an sensed nothing amiss and shouted, “What demon are you? Show yourself!”

The voice suddenly turned sorrowful, “Second Senior brother, don’t you recognize me? I’m your Little junior sister! I’m He Wanyu—”

As the voice faded, a woman in white and azure robes emerged from the darkness, a wicked smile playing on her peach blossom-like face.

He Qing’an, upon hearing the woman’s words, flew into a rage. “Who do you think you are, comparing yourself to my Little junior sister!”

The woman furrowed her brows in hurt. “Qing’an, do you really not recognize me? I’m Yu Er. My daddy took you in when you were six. When we first met, I despised you so much that I threw you out of the house. Do you not remember?”

He Qing’an’s fury only grew with her words. “Demon, my Little junior sister is right here with me. Who or what are you?”

“Little junior sister? Hahaha…” Her laughter was chilling. “You ask who I am? Why not ask who that person beside you is? She stole my body, took over my memories-she’s the real demon!”

He Wanyu instantly understood. The woman in front of her was the real He Wanyu.

Years ago, after Chu Yue died, her soul wandered the world. For unknown reasons, her soul was later drawn by a powerful force into He Wanyu’s body. Upon waking, He Wanyu’s memories flooded into Chu Yue’s mind.

Chu Yue then realized the owner of this body was called He Wanyu. He Wanyu had a loving daddy and three senior siblings who cared deeply for her. However, He Wanyu did not appreciate them, constantly beating and scolding the three, believing they were trying to steal her daddy’s love.

Out of her father’s sight, He Wanyu treated them like servants. Regardless of He Wanyu’s treatment, they continued to love and tolerate her.

What He Wanyu did not cherish was something Chu Yue never had. Thus, Chu Yue, posing as He Wanyu, tried her best to be kind to them, hoping to make up for past harms.

Over five years, the three became even more doting towards their Little junior sister. Chu Yue, in turn, received familial affection and pampering she had never experienced.

All these years, He Wanyu thought that the original soul of this body had long been dead. It appeared that was not the case.

He Qing’an refused to believe the woman’s words.

He Shiwen, however, found himself in a dilemma. He wasn’t foolish. Ever since He Wanyu fell seriously ill five years ago, her personality had changed. She had become gentle and considerate, always caring and attentive, entirely different from her previous violent and unruly self. At that time, He Shiwen had already begun to suspect that this might not be their Little junior sister.

But seeing the pure and happy smile on He Wanyu’s face, He Shiwen decided that it didn’t matter who she was; she was their Little junior sister now.

A few days ago, when they were ambushed on the official road, He Shiwen became certain that He Wanyu was indeed not the same person she used to be.

Back then, he could deceive himself, telling himself that no matter who He Wanyu was, she was their Little junior sister at this moment.

But now, with the real He Wanyu here, how should he choose?

The true Little junior sister was Master’s biological daughter, the one Master took in when they were on the verge of starvation. How could he possibly bring himself to harm the Little junior sister standing before him?

Yet the Little junior sister who would act coy and ask them for candied fruit provided them with endless warmth and hope.

Torn between the two sides, He Shiwen truly didn’t know whom to choose.

Chu Yue looked at He Shiwen, reading the struggle on his face.

Chu Yue bit her lip and asked softly, “Shiwen, did you already know?”

He Shiwen couldn’t meet her gaze, his hand trembling slightly on the hilt of his sword. Chu Yue lowered her eyes, smiling faintly. “I’m sorry, Shiwen…”

Those few words felt like they pierced He Shiwen’s heart with a thousand wounds.

“Shiwen, Wanyu, what are you talking about?” He Yi sensed something was off in their reactions.

In fact, He Yi quickly pieced it together. Five years ago, He Wanyu’s drastic change in personality, combined with what had just been revealed, was enough to prove that the woman in front of them was telling the truth.

He Qing’an was utterly confused. “Shiwen, Wanyu, what on earth are you talking about?”

Chu Yue sighed and said, “Qing’an, I am not He Wanyu. My real name is Chu Yue. I died five years ago, and after that, my soul inexplicably entered your Little junior sister’s body, and that’s how I became your Little junior sister.”

He Qing’an looked at Chu Yue in disbelief, his fan clattering to the ground.

“Hahaha, Senior brother! Your Little junior sister is right here. You should help me kill this woman who stole my body!” He Wanyu’s face twisted with rage, her desire to kill Chu Yue evident.

Moments later, He Qing’an laughed.

“Hahaha…”

He Qing’an lifted his sharp eyes, his gaze as cold as a glacier from an arctic wasteland.

He Wanyu felt deeply unsettled by He Qing’an’s icy stare.

“Filthy beggar! Who gave you permission to look at me like that?” He Wanyu cursed venomously.

Hearing those familiar curses only made He Qing’an’s gaze colder.

“She is our Little junior sister! From beginning to end, our Little junior sister has always been her!”

He Qing’an pointed to the stunned Chu Yue beside him.

“Filthy beggar, what do you mean by that?” He Wanyu’s anger flared, and she wished she could kill He Qing’an on the spot.

“What do I mean? My Little junior sister is kind and compassionate, unable to bear seeing anyone suffer in her presence. She is open-minded and cheerful, always wearing a smile. She acts coy with us, takes care of us, and understands our feelings. Our Little junior sister is the most wonderful person in the world, never biased and always treating everyone equally.”

He Yi, understanding He Qing’an’s thoughts, stepped forward and pointed at He Wanyu. “And you can’t do any of that! You have no kindness, no compassion. You are narrow-minded, insidious, and despicable-disgustingly cowardly and infuriatingly fake! How dare you compare yourself to our Little junior sister, you demon! Who knows where you even came from?”

Seeing the two of them turning truth on its head and playing their part so perfectly, He Shiwen chuckled with relief.

“Yes, from beginning to end, our Little junior sister has always been the person beside me!”

Chu Yue looked at the three of them, deeply moved.

“You!” He Wanyu gritted her teeth in fury. Enraged, she summoned numerous waves of demonic power.

“All of you, die!” With a light wave of her hand, the demonic power lunged at them in unison.

He Qing’an leaped forward, and the Ornate Golden Fan from the ground followed him, spinning around him protectively.

He Yi pulled her bow and nocked an arrow, firing one that pierced through a wave of demonic power.

He Shiwen smiled gently at Chu Yue, giving her the courage to act. This time, she picked up her sword, ready to face the unknown dangers ahead without fear.

Surrounded by demonic power, the four struggled valiantly, but human strength was no match for demonic power.

He Shiwen was struck, a wave of demonic power piercing through his body.

“Shiwen!”

Chu Yue ran to him frantically.

He Shiwen collapsed, blood gushing from his mouth. Chu Yue knelt beside him, catching him in her embrace.

“Shi, Shiwen, you’ll be fine. You’re going to be fine!”

Chu Yue sobbed uncontrollably, her hands trembling, unsure of what to do.

Fan Zhi, Hu Ji, and Su Fengyao arrived just in time. After Chu Yue left, the three of them were not at ease and decided to follow her in secret.

He Qing’an and He Yi were hurled away by the impact. Ignoring the pain, they staggered back to He Shiwen’s side.

“Shiwen!”

“Shiwen!”

He Shiwen weakly extended his hand, which the three of them grasped tightly.

“Qing’an, Yi Er, after I’m gone, you must… you must take good care of Wanyu…”

Fresh blood gushed from his mouth again.

“Shiwen!” the three cried out anxiously.

“Shiwen, we will definitely take good care of Wanyu!” He Yi nodded repeatedly.

“Shiwen…”

Chu Yue’s whole body trembled, the warmth seeping from her heart, replaced by fear and panic. She begged He Shiwen not to leave her.

“Wanyu…” He Shiwen slowly shifted his gaze to Chu Yue.

“I’m here, I’m here!” Chu Yue responded hurriedly, gripping He Shiwen’s hand more firmly, afraid he might vanish.

A brilliant smile spread across He Shiwen’s bloodstained lips. “Let me take one last good look… at my Little junior sister.”

“Shiwen… I, I am strong. I won’t let anything happen to you,” Chu Yue choked, holding He Shiwen tightly.

“Oh… then tell me just how strong you are…”

In the past, He Shiwen used to coax an angry He Wanyu in this childlike manner, and it always worked, making her smile instantly.

But this time, Chu Yue’s tears didn’t stop. However, she patiently went on, “I used to be a famous demoness feared throughout the martial world… the entire world was scared of me.”

Each word cut through Chu Yue like a blade, tearing at her heart. She realized that the person who loved her deeply and gave her first true sense of home was really dying because of her—dying because of her actions.

In the sound of Chu Yue’s voice, He Shiwen slowly closed his eyes, his body going limp. Chu Yue’s voice suddenly halted, and she broke down, crying uncontrollably.

“Shiwen-!”

He Yi and He Qing’an screamed in grief, hearing Chu Yue’s sorrowful cries. Fan Zhi, Hu Ji, and Su Fengyao turned their heads upon hearing the wails. Seeing Chu Yue holding He Shiwen’s lifeless body and crying her heart out, they were incensed.

The trio simultaneously unleashed their deep internal energy, causing the whole mountain forest to tremble violently.

Bai Tan, who was still observing from outside the gate, heard the commotion in the distance and realized something was wrong. She immediately grabbed Yuexia Yu Shu and rushed over.

Fan Zhi, wielding the Wind Sword, stepped into the air. The sound of a crane’s call echoed for miles as he raised the sword above his head. The wind swirled around, gathering into a massive, gale-force sword.

“Wind Sword!”

As his deep voice and overwhelming gusts of wind fell upon the scene, the air seemed to tear apart layer by layer. Facing such earth-shattering power, He Wanyu remained unperturbed, an insidious smile spreading across her face.

He Wanyu lightly raised her hand, merely curling her fingers. The surrounding black fog morphed into numerous air masses, slithering like serpents toward the descending wind blade.

Countless air masses guided the black fog forward, and grotesque human faces suddenly emerged within the masses, wailing and howling like tormented souls from the depths of hell.

The enormous wind blade clashed with the black fog. As the violent forces clashed and dispersed, the black fog engulfed the massive wind-shaped sword, shattering it completely.

Fan Zhi was struck by the impact, crashing to the ground and coughing up blood.