"It's you?"
The moment Ji Changfeng saw Bi Yao, he froze, his gaze subtly shifting to You Ji. "What are you doing here?"
"I…" Bi Yao fidgeted with the hem of her dress, stammering, "I… I heard there was a demon here, so I came to take a look."
"???"
Ji Changfeng looked at her, dumbfounded.
What's that supposed to mean?
Are you here to vanquish demons and uphold justice?!
Zhang Xiaofan's back at the inn, and instead of going to him, you're out here playing demon slayer?
This doesn't fit your "devoted maiden" persona at all!
Ji Changfeng decided to ignore Bi Yao.
Instead, he turned his gaze to You Ji, his eyes teasing. "Lady, have you forgotten what I once told you?"
"You…" You Ji's heart flared with annoyance. She nearly summoned her Zhu Que Seal to give Ji Changfeng a good thrashing.
She had always been adept at controlling her emotions.
But for some reason, ever since meeting Ji Changfeng, she found herself constantly irritated!
Take now, for instance.
Ji Changfeng smirked at her. "Are you sure you want to fight me? You've got a burden beside you. If we clash, you'll definitely lose. Why not just take off that veil obediently?"
Bi Yao opened her mouth to protest, but for some reason, seeing Ji Changfeng and You Ji banter so casually made her heart ache with a strange bitterness.
What's wrong with me?
Bi Yao felt lost.
Huff— You Ji exhaled softly.
Suppressing her anger, she shot Ji Changfeng a fierce glare. He's already seen my face once—what's one more time?
Reluctantly, she removed her veil, her expression tinged with frustration.
What else could she do?
She couldn't beat him.
And with Bi Yao beside her, what if she got caught in the crossfire and hurt by this shameless rogue?
"Well done," Ji Changfeng said, nodding with a smile as he took in her stunning face unveiled.
Perfect.
Once is a start, twice is a habit.
The first time she removed her veil willingly, there would surely be a second.
"So, what are you two really here for?" Ji Changfeng raised an eyebrow.
You Ji snorted, refusing to entertain the rogue.
Seeing this, Ji Changfeng turned to Bi Yao.
She hesitated, her voice tinged with grievance. "I just heard there was a demon here, so I got curious…"
"Oh." Ji Changfeng nodded calmly.
He gave Bi Yao a puzzled glance, feeling a bit perplexed.
All I did was ask a question. Why do you sound so wronged?
Shaking his head, Ji Changfeng dismissed the thought and turned his attention to the misty grove ahead.
Whoosh—
Without hesitation, he strode into the fog.
Bi Yao glanced at You Ji, uncertain. "Aunt Youji, should we…?"
You Ji was silent for a moment before saying, "If you want to go, go."
She had already noticed something.
Ji Changfeng didn't harbor the deep prejudice against the demonic path that others did. This was evident from how he hadn't fought her with full force back at the Heartless Sea.
But that very fact left her confused.
Why did he hold back?
Could it be…
You Ji pursed her lips.
Impossible.
Absolutely impossible.
He was a prodigy of the Qingyun Sect—how could he be interested in a demonic sect woman like her?
Not to mention, that cool-headed girl by his side was just as beautiful as she was…
You Ji forcibly banished her muddled thoughts and followed Bi Yao into the fog-laden grove.
Whoosh—
The three entered the grove, one after the other.
The mist slowly parted.
In the distance, a white-clad figure appeared.
Then, a soft, mournful voice echoed through the grove—
"On Xiaosong Hill, moonlight glows like frost; like drifting petals, people and flowers alike bear wounds. Over a decade or three thousand years, I only wish we part but never forget."
The voice was steeped in sorrow, laced with a hint of enchanting allure.
Ji Changfeng paid it no mind.
He walked forward, hand resting on the divine sword at his waist, navigating the fog until he reached an open clearing.
There, an ancient well stood.
Beside it was a white-clad woman, her expression heavy with grief, as if her entire life had been a tragedy too painful to behold.
Ji Changfeng looked at her silently.
Bi Yao and You Ji followed closely behind, casting curious glances at the woman but saying nothing for the moment.
"Young hero… are you here to kill me?" the white-clad woman asked, her voice trembling with sorrow.
Ji Changfeng's hand remained on his sword, his gaze indifferent. "Have you killed anyone?"
The woman's eyes darkened slightly.
As expected, he's not here with good intentions.
"It's not my fault!" she said indignantly. "Blame that person for forcing their way in!"
"So you killed them? And I've heard you often steal livestock from the people of Xiaochi Town?" Ji Changfeng pressed.
The woman's words caught in her throat.
Her expression grew grim as she looked at Ji Changfeng, then warily at Bi Yao and You Ji.
Unobtrusively, her hand drifted toward her wrist, where a green jade bracelet gleamed, embedded with a small, mirror-like crimson shard etched with an ancient flame totem.
This was none other than—the Mysterious Fire Mirror!
Ji Changfeng glanced at her, his tone cold. "For the sake of your devotion, I'll give you a piece of advice…"
"Think carefully before you act against me."
"Because once my sword is drawn, it will draw blood."
Truth be told, Ji Changfeng couldn't quite understand.
Why are all the fox demons in the Zhuxian world so devoted?
This three-tailed fox demon was one, and Bi Yao, with her fox demon bloodline, was another—a devoted maiden ready to die for love at the drop of a hat.
Quite noble, really.
Was the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox ancestor like this too?
Ji Changfeng mused, intrigued.
Meanwhile, Bi Yao looked at the white-clad woman with surprise.
A devoted soul?
Who is she?
How is she devoted?
The white-clad woman hesitated, her jaw clenching in frustration. "What do you want?!"
Ji Changfeng said calmly, "I don't think there's much to discuss with a minor demon like you. I'd rather go down and talk to the one inside."
No point wasting words.
His gaze shifted to a cave in the distance.
The cave was shrouded in darkness, faintly emanating waves of scorching heat.
The woman's face stiffened, her eyes narrowing with suspicion as she glared at Ji Changfeng. "You're from Incense Valley?!"
Without waiting for a response, she reached for the Mysterious Fire Mirror on her wrist.
Cough, cough…
But at that moment, a frail voice echoed from within the cave: "Xiao San, let them in."
Bi Yao and You Ji's hearts jolted.
There's someone else inside?!
They hadn't sensed a thing…
___
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