“Chu Yue, Second Senior brother is back!”

He Yi ran in, and Chu Yue immediately put down her wine glass. A spark seemed to light up in her eyes, and she rushed out eagerly.

Xu Yuliang asked, “Who is that person?”

…

“Qing’an!”

Chu Yue ran over excitedly and hugged He Qing’an.

The grievances she had kept bottled up these days finally burst out. She broke down crying uncontrollably in He Qing’an’s arms.

How could He Qing’an not understand Chu Yue’s sorrow? Overnight, she had lost the Eldest Senior brother, the person who loved her the most. Before she could recover from this, He Qing’an also left. She pretended to be strong, but in reality, she was like a shattered vase, ready to fall apart at the slightest touch.

He Yi walked over, feeling heartbroken. The three of them embraced, crying their hearts out, comforting and encouraging each other.

Langhe heard the commotion and walked over. He saw Fan Zhi and Su Fengyao standing there, looking sadly at the trio crying with their heads buried.

Langhe froze for a moment; was that his big sister? She was crying?

It was rare for Langhe to see Chu Yue cry, even back in the day, she would never cry like this.

Only Bai Tan had seen Chu Yue’s softer side.

Half a month had passed, and many sects who heard the news had sent people to help Xiyan Sect. After all, the royal family and the largest and second-largest sects in the martial world had openly declared their support for Xiyan Sect. Who in the martial world would dare to oppose them?

Five years ago, Chu Yue was a demoness hunted by everyone, forced to the brink of death by major sects. Who would have thought that five years later, she would come back, with so many people standing behind her?

Chu Yue knew very well that they were doing this to make up for not standing firmly by her side five years ago, to ease their own guilt.

Tianluo Sect was already in shambles. Chu Yue had led people to attack their headquarters. Within Tianluo Sect, the four Great Elders had already lost Han Ju and Yan Lianpei. The remaining two old men and Sheng Xuan, the current leader of Tianluo Sect, were the most outstanding assassins of Xiyan Sect back in the day. His strength back then was second only to Langhe.

Half a month ago, late at night, Sheng Xuan was resting in his room when a cloud of black smoke drifted in. Sheng Xuan was startled awake by the cold air. The black smoke had already filled the room.

Thinking there was a fire, Sheng Xuan quickly covered his mouth and nose. Unexpectedly, a shadow emerged from the black mist. The shadow told him that Chu Yue had returned, and that Tianluo Sect was in danger, urging Sheng Xuan to collaborate with her to kill Chu Yue.

Initially, Sheng Xuan did not believe it. But when the shadow showed him the scene of Yan Lianpei being killed, Sheng Xuan immediately recognized Chu Yue, breaking out in a cold sweat, and finally believed it.

The two conspired to ambush and assassinate He Shiwen. After that, the shadow returned heavily injured, instructing Sheng Xuan that she would go into seclusion to heal, and to be cautious of Chu Yue’s revenge during this time.

When Sheng Xuan asked when she would return, she only said that she would come back when the time was right, and assured that Tianluo Sect would be safe.

But now, Chu Yue had brought people to their doorstep, and the shadow never appeared again.

Chu Yue led her people and stormed into the Tianluo Sect’s main base.

The guards at the entrance were easily taken down. Sheng Xuan and the two Elders were at their wits’ end, finding no solution but to brace themselves for the fight.

With a single sweep of his sword, Langhe carved a path through the defense.

Chu Yue, Fan Zhi, and their imposing group moved forward with unstoppable momentum, killing anyone in their way, be they mortal or divine.

Two Elders, accompanied by a group of archers, blocked the staircase. A flurry of arrows flew towards them. Chu Yue remained unflustered, her red lips curling into a smile as more arrows soared from behind them. High above, the cries of a Roc pierced the air.

Tianluo Sect’s arrows were deflected back, causing them to suffer heavy losses instead.

With a fierce gaze, Chu Yue used her divine speed to appear behind one of the Elders, smashing his bones and rupturing his organs with a single palm strike, killing him instantly.

Before the other Elder could react, Chu Yue was already beside him. Another palm strike sent his soul to the afterlife.

Such battle prowess left all the Tianluo Sect members in the area trembling in fear.

Chu Yue and her group easily reached the Great Hall. She smashed open the hall doors with a palm strike, only to be met with a sharp blade aiming straight for her.

Chu Yue quickly pulled back and tilted her body. Sheng Xuan landed in front of her, but before he could stabilize, Chu Yue unleashed a powerful palm strike, sending him flying and spewing blood.

Chu Yue’s killing intent focused on the struggling Sheng Xuan. She charged up another palm strike and launched it at him.

Just as Sheng Xuan was about to fall under her attack, a cloud of black mist enveloped him, dissipating her strike in an instant.

Chu Yue clenched her fists; she knew He Wanyu had arrived.

From the black mist, He Wanyu emerged, dragging the unconscious Sheng Xuan. She disdainfully tossed him aside, staring at Chu Yue with haughty eyes.

“Impostor, there’s no one to save you today!”

He Wanyu’s fingernails grew rapidly, sharp and menacing. She struck with fierce swiftness, but Chu Yue leaned back, retreating three feet. He Wanyu’s claws slashed through the air like a flurry of errant flies, bewildering the eye.

With a precise move, Chu Yue pinned He Wanyu’s wrists, immobilizing her elbows, rendering her unable to move.

He Wanyu smirked slyly, her eyes darkening as her pupils shot out two beams of black light toward Chu Yue. Caught off guard, Chu Yue was struck on the forehead and slashed on the neck.

Fan Zhi quickly pulled Chu Yue back while Su Fengyao and Yuexia Yu Shu launched their attacks in succession.

Chu Yue’s eyes were in unbearable pain, her vision blurred. Fan Zhi urgently pressed her acupoints to alleviate the pain.

Little Shuiyang arrived with Shi Zhao and Zhen Yin in tow.

Observing the heated battle, Shuiyang commented, “Looks like we’re a bit late! Quite the spectacle, huh?”

Ultimately, Shi Zhao spent one hundred taels to buy a garb from the Demon Clan.

In a silver robe and white gown, with striking green eyes and an elegant demeanor, he looked every bit like a peerless deity—radiant, handsome, a perfect blend of allure and nobility.

Shuiyang closely monitored the fight, noticing their side was gaining the upper hand. She quickly nudged Zhen Yin forward.

“Zhen Yin, it’s up to you now!”

Caught off guard, Zhen Yin exclaimed, “Little Shuiyang!” nonetheless, he sprang into action: “Ascending Celestial Strike! Piercing Thunder Break!” With a single lethal strike, he shattered He Wanyu’s physical form.

Zhen Yin landed gracefully in the air; a hundred-foot white silk blindfold intertwined with silver strands concealed his eyes, and his white robe was immaculate. He seemed like a radiant full moon.

“Demon! How dare you act so brazenly before me!”

His voice was calm, yet his presence was as imposing as a mountain and as vast as the sea, an undeniable authority.

Slowly raising his jade-like hand, his crimson lips moved slightly, issuing a soft, “Die!”

Swish!

A pale pink light swept through once more, dispelling He Wanyu’s black mist.

“Ah—!”

He Wanyu’s agonizing scream echoed as she vanished into thin air.

In the distance, Shuiyang’s eyes sharpened. She seemed to sense a familiar aura.

“That was…”

“What’s wrong?” Shi Zhao asked, noticing Shuiyang’s serious expression.

Shuiyang shook her head.

With a wave of his hand, Zhen Yin cleared the demonic aura from Chu Yue’s body, allowing her to regain consciousness.

Shuiyang and Shi Zhao approached Fan Zhi and Chu Yue.

The sight of the two deities before her left Chu Yue in awe.

“Now I believe you both are deities.”

Shuiyang gave a small, reluctant smile.

“Ahem!” Shi Zhao said solemnly, “Alright, we’ve done our part. Now it’s time for you mortals to handle what’s left. We shouldn’t interfere anymore.”

“This body is yours from now on, and the heavens have granted you another chance at life. Make the most of it.” Shuiyang gently patted Chu Yue’s shoulder. “Zhen Yin, let me take you out for a night market!”

Just moments ago a serious deity, Zhen Yin’s face lit up as he eagerly flew to Shuiyang’s side, taking her hand and leading her into a portal of light.

Shi Zhao, in a fluster, shouted, “Zhen Yin! Wait for me, both of you!” and rushed in after them.

The portal disappeared as a breeze passed by, as if everything had finally come to an end.

Three months later.

At a wonton stand by the street.

“The Xiyan Sect is being rebuilt, and many major sects are helping out.”

“Hey! Is it true that Chu Yue has returned? Can the dead really come back to life?”

“What do you mean come back to life? There’s no such thing. I heard it was just a young girl named He Wanyu. Years ago, she had the chance to take Chu Yue as her master, learned ‘Guanyin Hand,’ and avenged her.”

“Chu Yue had a disciple?”

“From what others say, not exactly a disciple. Chu Yue never formally accepted her. She only passed on her techniques. But the young girl was really dedicated to her. She wiped out the Tianluo Sect upon her return and rebuilt the Xiyan Sect.”

“So, the current Xiyan Sect is managed by Deputy Leader Langhe. And this Langhe, he’s recovered his powers and become even stronger than before!”

“What about that young girl? Where did she go?”

“Oh, she’s wandering the world with her older brother and sister, healing the sick and helping the needy. Living a carefree life!”

At the border of the Long Xia Kingdom

High on a towering mountain, three horses galloped wildly across the plains. He Wanyu, valiant and free-spirited, rode with bold abandon.

“Qing’an! Yiyi! Let’s see who gets to Da Wan first. The first one there wins!”

“Alright!”

“Sure! Second Senior brother won’t hold back! Hyah!”

The horses sped on, the wind sweeping through the grass, as three more horses joined in the chase.

Fan Zhi, Hu Ji, and Su Fengyao whipped their reins, racing relentlessly to catch up.

“Here are your wontons!”

The woman brought three bowls of wontons for Shuiyang, Shi Zhao, and Zhen Yin. After listening to the conversations around them, Shi Zhao let out a long sigh.

“It’s finally over. Why do people choose to become a demon? I don’t get it.” He cast a deliberately teasing glance at Zhen Yin.

Zhen Yin tapped Shi Zhao’s bowl with his chopsticks. “Hey, hey, hey! Who are you subtly mocking?”

Shi Zhao raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you blind?”

“My eyes can’t see, but I am a deity. I don’t need eyes to see whatever I want.”

The two began to bicker again, while Shuiyang felt like something was wrong, as if she’d missed something.

Suddenly, she recalled the aura that appeared when He Wanyu turned to ashes.

“Darn it! We need to go now!” Shuiyang grabbed Shi Zhao and Zhen Yin, and in the blink of an eye, they disappeared, leaving a fallen chopstick behind.

In Gaoshang Land,

The sand stretched for thousands of miles, devoid of trees. The land was swept by year-round sandstorms, making it almost uninhabitable. Deathly aura gathered here, nourished continuously by demonic aura.

The trio landed not far away, and as Shuiyang looked up, she saw the blazing sun overhead and a faint, shimmering rainbow light at the horizon where the earth met the sky.

Shi Zhao said, “See? I told you, you’re overthinking. The seal is intact, isn’t it?”

“Little Shuiyang, I agree with Shi Zhao. This seal was set by Deity Lord Xingxiu¹ of the Third Heaven ages ago. For millennia, except for that incident nine thousand years ago, the seal has never failed. How would that girl gain power from within it?”

Shuiyang still felt uneasy. “I know, but back during that chaos, if not for the War Deity of the Third Heaven, Lord Feng Ang, sacrificing himself to reinforce the seal, the three realms wouldn’t have returned to peace so quickly. But the cost of that…”

Shi Zhao’s expression turned sorrowful. “The cost was that Lord Feng Ang never returned.”

Shuiyang sighed deeply. “Maybe I am overthinking. Let’s go.”

She took one last careful look at the rainbow light, confirming there were no anomalies, before turning to leave.

“Little Shuiyang, how about we visit my Ximan Realm? I’ve got lots of great stuff there!”

“Sure! Shi Zhao and I are free anyway, let’s go!”

The three of them flew off, heading to the Ximan Realm.

However, small cracks began to appear in the rainbow light, letting demonic aura escape.

Footnote:

Xingxiu(星宿): In Chinese astrology, “Xingxiu” refers to the constellations or asterisms used to describe the positions of stars, and there are a total of 28 of them.