Chapter 252: Descending the Mountain

Ten days later.

At the main gate of the outer courtyard of Tian Sang Ling Gong, the late summer air already carried a hint of autumn. As the morning sunlight spilled down, the uneven pits and hollows in the ground glistened with dew, while the grass, trees, flowers, and stones seemed to weep with droplets.

A flowing shade of fresh green blended seamlessly into the surrounding elements.

Mu Zixi was still dressed in light green, but her hair ornaments and accessories were more elaborate than usual. Her already charming face, with its rosy cheeks lightly powdered, exuded a touch of maturity amid her delicate, girl-next-door charm.

It was like the fruits hanging heavily on the branches nearby—still tender now, but following this trend, one could easily imagine how deliciously ripe, juicy, and full they would become in the fall.

The carefully dressed Mu Zixi was clearly growing impatient from waiting. She paced back and forth restlessly, her constant wandering betraying the intensity of her inner frustration.

"Damn it, Xu Xiaoshou, you said you'd come down the mountain under the moonlight so we could watch the sunrise together. It's been almost an hour now, and you're still not here!"

She gazed at the horizon, where the sun had long since risen in the east, and even the purple aura had shifted westward.

If two people were watching the sunrise, even if the wait was tough, it would end in joy.

But alone...

Beyond the initial awe, all that remained was endless loneliness, followed by mounting irritation.

"Damn it, damn it, damn it—you stood me up, you idiot fool dummy! I curse you to trip in the sky, stumble on the ground, choke in the sea, trip while walking, and gag while eating or drinking..."

"Mu, Zi, Xi!"

A deep, steady voice sounded from behind, making Mu Zixi freeze mid-doodle in the dirt. She sprang up, her twin ponytails bouncing.

"What! Why yell so loud? I'm not deaf!"

She put her hands on her hips, pouted, and acted all high and mighty.

After all, he was the one who was late, so she had every right to be upset.

Xu Xiaoshou approached with a dark expression, having seen the stream of curses in his message feed. He felt speechless inside.

So, this was how he was cursed day in and day out?

It covered everything under the sun, a full-spectrum, no-escape jinx!

"What took you so long?"

"Of course, it wasn't oversleeping."

"Hmph, I think it was!"

"Something important came up—I couldn't delay it. Let's go."

Without further explanation, Xu Xiaoshou waved his hand and leaped down the mountain.

Mu Zixi hurried after him.

"What kind of important thing?"

"Important stuff, which means I definitely can't tell you. Besides, even if I did, you wouldn't understand."

"How would I know if you don't say?"

"Yuan Fu—get it?"

"What's Yuan Fu?"

"Heh, see? I told you you wouldn't understand!"

Mu Zixi was furious and chased after him, shouting, "Xu Xiaoshou, you're definitely lying to me!"

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly turned around, pressed his hand on the girl's head, and stared straight at her face.

"You're looking pretty good today, you know."

Mu Zixi was stunned by the sudden compliment. Had he noticed?

Her face flushed red as she stammered, "R-really?"

"Mm-hmm!"

Xu Xiaoshou nodded, then quickly added as he saw her cheeks turn even pinker, "Don't misunderstand—I was answering your previous question."

"My previous question?"

"Yeah, weren't you asking if I was lying to you?"

Xu Xiaoshou paused, then said, "Yes, I am lying to you."

Mu Zixi: ???

"Cursed, passive points, 1, 1, 1, 1..."

Xu Xiaoshou quickly backed away, watching the girl fall silent, her suppression building to a breaking point, as if she might explode any second...

He slowly drew out his "Zang Ku."

"Come on, draw your sword. Don't hold it in—let it out."

He thought for a moment and added, "Anyway, you can't beat me."

The girl's fists clenched tightly, her teeth grinding audibly, her eyelids twitching uncontrollably as she struggled to contain her primal fury.

The entire mountain forest trembled, the vegetation swaying wildly, leaving Xu Xiaoshou startled.

"Oh no, I forgot we're in the woods..."

As the trees around them began growing wildly in an instant, Xu Xiaoshou turned and bolted, yelling desperately, "It was a joke! Don't get worked up!"

"You're good-looking every day! Stop! Just stop first!"

Mu Zixi's voice was emotionless as she patted her hand and said coldly, "Little trees, explode!"

Boom, boom, boom—

The series of early morning explosions nearly caused the outer courtyard disciples, who were out for their morning cultivation, to deviate into qi deviation. They all turned toward the horizon, their faces blank with confusion.

"Is that another sparring session from the senior brothers and sisters...?"

In the inner courtyard.

Ye Xiaotian happily put away the Da Ban Tian Jing.

"Gone at last—that kid's finally left."

"Old Sang, I have to admit, this is the best decision you've made in your life!"

Sang Lao adjusted his conical hat and looked toward the horizon, his face expressionless.

"I'm going to be away for a while too."

"Huh?"

Ye Xiaotian's smile froze. "Where to?"

"Many places."

Sang Lao turned back to him and said, "Don't worry—for now, 'Sheng Nu' shouldn't be coming back."

"What if he does?"

"No 'what if'—there's nothing left in the Ling Gong worth his attention."

Ye Xiaotian: ...

How could you say that? Who did you learn that from? Now you're being just as snippy.

"Oh, one more thing."

Sang Lao was about to leave but suddenly remembered something.

"Save two spots for Bai Ku."

"Two?"

Ye Xiaotian's eyes widened. "That's not just about Tian Sang County anymore—it involves a dozen surrounding counties and even forces from afar who heard the news. Are you really sending two newcomers in?"

Sang Lao adjusted his hat and soared into the air, scoffing dismissively.

"Let them come as they please. Just sending in one Xu Xiaoshou will be enough to stir up Bai Ku."

Boom, boom!

In the distance, two thunderous explosions echoed, leaving Ye Xiaotian silent.

That... made sense!

At Ling Fa Ge.

In front of the cluster of dark, sprawling buildings stood a ferocious desk beast with a sword in its mouth, the blade dripping blood.

A murderous aura permeated the air, keeping birds and beasts at bay.

A woman in a black dress gracefully entered the main gate, causing the guards on either side to retreat in fear.

Black dress, black hair, even her nails painted pure black...

The woman was clad entirely in darkness, except for her fair, delicate face and a touch of red on her lips.

Yet, that tiny bit of vibrancy, combined with the endless black, nearly suffocated the guards.

Only after the woman disappeared into the doorway did the two guards wipe away their sweat, panting heavily.

"Who was that? Did I see wrong? Was that... Lan Xinzi?"

"Heavens, her shoulders are exposed—my youth is over..."

"Are you crazy? What are you focusing on? Didn't you notice her aura has completely changed?"

"Aura? Is it just the aura? What about her cultivation?"

"What?"

"Zongshi!"

"Dam—"

The word "damn" was cut off as the two disciples instantly straightened up, standing at attention with heads bowed in silence.

The woman in black moved with deliberate steps, each one leaving an imprint.

Her long skirt nearly brushed the ground, revealing only a glimpse of white on her black boots with each stride.

She emerged from Ling Fa Ge with an expressionless face, her straight brows furrowed slightly, her narrow black eyeliner giving off a dead, eerie vibe, her eyes devoid of any fluctuation.

"Hiss—"

A voice full of perverse delight sounded from behind, followed by a hoarse tone:

"So good—the taste of sunlight."

The guards couldn't help but steal glances.

Following her was a man with disheveled hair over his shoulders, sword-like brows, and star-like eyes. Even with his dirty face, his handsome features were unmistakable.

His bold sword intent rampaged unrestrained, greedily devouring the long-absent light until the guards' clothes began to tear. Only then did he frown.

He reined in his sword intent, picked up his long sword, and slung it over his shoulder.

Wearing tattered, blood-stained white prison garb, the man strode casually away.

It wasn't until the pair had gone that the guards swallowed hard and let out heavy sighs.

"Is that He Fengzi?"

"Yeah, it's him, but isn't his sword intent a bit over the top? It feels even stronger than Su Qianqian's..."

"Be confident—drop the 'feels'!"

"But didn't Su Qianqian break through to Zongshi sword intent that night?"

After a moment of silence, another voice piped up: "How long has it been since you last saw He Fengzi fight?"

"Uh, I forget."

"Have you heard the legends about He Fengzi?"

"Uh, no... what legends?"

The disciple asking the question recalled for a long time, shuddering before replying:

"Legend has it that this former top swordmaster of the inner courtyard is the only one in the entire Ling Gong who never fears the 'Xing Tai.' If he gets bored and feels like it, he'll stir up trouble..."

"Stir up trouble for what?"

"To enter the 'Xing Tai' for cultivation!"

The other disciple was dumbfounded and shocked. "Is that where the 'madman' nickname comes from?"

"Exactly!"

"Oh, my goodness, the Xing Tai... would someone that ruthless get overshadowed by Su Qianqian for the title of inner courtyard's top swordmaster?"

The disciple who spoke first shook his head and sighed. "What you're chasing, some people have already outgrown."

He Yuxing shouldered his sword and used a borrowed cord to tie back his messy hair, regaining a bit of his usual refined demeanor.

But the gruesome wounds and dried blood on his body couldn't be hidden by the cord.

He followed closely behind the black-clad woman, his eyes filled with endless tenderness.

Though her style of dress had changed, and her overall feel and aura were different, she was still the same willful girl in his eyes.

"Did Zhang Xin Xiong bully you again?"

A dangerous glint flashed in his eyes. In the inner courtyard, no one else could have caused such a drastic change in Lan Xinzi.

"No."

Lan Xinzi shook her head, her voice cold.

He Yuxing didn't doubt her for a second—if she said no, then it wasn't.

But if it wasn't him, who could it be?

Since the woman ahead didn't want to say more, he wouldn't ask. He'd just follow along.

As they left the inner courtyard and passed by E Lake, the man finally couldn't hold back.

"This doesn't seem to be the way back to Ling Zhi?"

"Down the mountain."

"Where to?"

"Zhang family!"

He Yuxing paused mid-step. Zhang family?

This seemed to be the first time in seven years that Lan Xinzi wanted to leave the Ling Gong.

What on earth had happened?

He wanted to ask, but seeing Lan Xinzi close her lips again, he swallowed his questions.

Glancing down at his blood-stained prison clothes, He Yuxing looked around hesitantly.

"I haven't cleaned up yet..."

"No need—it looks good like this."

Clang—

The long sword dropped to the ground as He Yuxing froze, his cold eyes flooding with wild joy.

"Good?"

"Mm."

With a sudden boom, his Zongshi sword intent erupted, instantly knocking out the flock of oversized geese at E Lake, their eyes rolling back as they fainted.

He Yuxing summoned his sword back with a wave, drawing it with a sharp ring, his voice icy.

"Let's go! To the Zhang family—I'll kill them all for you!"