Chapter 42.1

◎She was like a bird, flying towards Jing Shuxing◎

[——This is what it is called. Evil begets evil.]

Chi Lu furrowed her brows, ignoring the system’s words, and waved her hand to start the next move.

Jing Yi noticed her unusual behavior and asked, “What are you doing?”

“I’m reinforcing the barrier to prevent the formation from collapsing,” Chi Lu lied without missing a beat.

Below the Soul Transformation Abyss, she used her spiritual power to create several transparent “pillars” to support herself in case she fell.

She knew very well that no matter what grand lie she spun, as long as she was the only one who could activate the formation, Jing Yi would have to turn a blind eye.

Although the system promised her a fake death escape, Chi Lu dared not fully trust it. She had to make enough preparations in advance to ensure that she could climb out of the abyss on her own.

While she was focused on driving stakes into the bottom of the Soul Transformation Abyss, a voice came from outside the corridor: “The First Young Master is here.”

This time, the speaker used an honorific. Everyone in Fengyue City placed great importance on this sacrifice.

Only Chi Lu did not look up.

She stared intently at the Soul Transformation Abyss, continuing to drive the stakes while occasionally glancing at the bottomless black abyss out of the corner of her eye. There, vengeful spirits were constantly climbing upward, as if they could grab her ankles at any moment and drag her down into the depths.

The vengeful spirits of the Soul Transformation Abyss were filled with too much malevolence, making it impossible to distinguish who was in front of them. There was no chance that they would spare someone just because they weren’t part of the Jing family. If anyone fell in, it would be one person fighting against countless vengeful spirits.

After the fall, if the system fails to help her in time, she could use her spiritual power to drive away the vengeful spirits, allowing her to hold on for a short while. The spiritual stakes she had driven into the abyss wall in advance would be enough for her to climb up with her bare hands.

Jing Shuxing wore a loosely tied hair crown on his head, and his robe was a bamboo green color adorned with crane patterns. The cuffs and hem were embroidered with inscriptions that resembled the runes on the walls of the Xuan You Tower (the MysteriousTower).

Countless gazes fell on him, like tigers, leopards, and wolves eyeing an injured rabbit.

Even Jing Yi rarely softened his expression and said, “You’ve worked hard all these years. This is the final step, and it will be over soon.”

Jing Shuxing seemed oblivious to these words. He walked through the crowd, down the long corridor, and came directly to Chi Lu.

There was little emotion in his eyes. As if out of courtesy, he nodded slightly to Chi Lu and said, “We meet again, Young Sect Leader.”

His tone was unusually cold. After a brief moment of contact, he was ready to shift his gaze away.

He happened to catch sight of Chi Lu instinctively nodding and returning the gesture of respect.

Her manners were impeccable, with no sign of disrespect, consistent with her usual behavior—perhaps even more solemn this time.

Jing Shuxing’s long eyebrows furrowed slightly, feeling that this action was indeed inappropriate.

It shouldn’t be like this—if she was so determined to see him dead, why would she still treat him with such an attitude?

His heart skipped a few beats, and he turned his head away, afraid that if he lingered on her any longer, he might unintentionally reveal emotions of attachment.

Conflicting thoughts intertwined in his mind, contradicting each other. Jing Shuxing glanced at Chi Lu again, uncertain whether she intended to save him or destroy him, to help him or torment him.

He clenched his fist tightly beneath his sleeve, and recalled the demands Chi Lu had made of him.

In the entire Fengyue City, everyone had something to ask of Chi Lu. If she refused sternly, they would imprison her, trapping her with a formation. However, no matter what methods they employed, they would never reduce Chi Lu to a state of internal conflict where she couldn’t speak out.

Suddenly, Jing Shuxing heard Chi Lu speak: “First Young Master, jump.”

There seemed to be a hint of mockery in her voice, as cold as a trickling stream. After she spoke, she raised her eyebrows and looked at him coldly.

Jing Shuxing hadn’t forgotten the moment when Chi Lu grabbed his arm to stop him, her brows filled with anxiety. Just from that look, Jing Shuxing couldn’t believe that she genuinely hated him from the bottom of her heart.

“Young Sect Leader.” He stepped closer to her, speaking in a low voice. His index finger traced a pattern within his sleeve, asking if she was in trouble. Chi Lu, without even glancing at him, said, “What are you gesturing about? Unfortunately, even if you wanted to compromise now, there’s no chance. My mind is made up—I’ll send you on your way right now!”

She drew the Red Soul Whip from her waist and struck it fiercely against the ground, stirring up a large cloud of dust. “Since you refuse to jump yourself, I’ll do it for the city lord and whip you down.”

This should finally complete the mission and make Jing Shuxing thoroughly despise her, Chi Lu thought.

She used all her strength, and the Red Soul Whip flew through the air with a sharp whistle, slicing through the silence. It wrapped around Jing Shuxing’s waist, tightening with force, leaving no mercy.

As the tip of the long whip touched Jing Shuxing, a searing pain erupted from his waist, shooting straight up his back. Chi Lu pulled the whip again, and it felt as though his spine was being forcibly broken. The agony drained all color from his face in an instant.

His pale hand covered the Red Soul Whip, gently caressing the barbed spikes. The reverse hooks pierced his fingertips, staining them with bright crimson blood.

Chi Lu stood where she was, taking a deep breath. She felt she had done enough preparation, and everything was ready; all that remained was for Jing Shuxing to throw her down.

The young man’s face was expressionless, his eyes moved stiffly a few times, showing no joy or sorrow, and there was a certain dazedness in his demeanor.

He turned his gaze back and locked eyes with Chi Lu, clearly seeing the confusion in the girl’s eyes.

Chi Lu was wondering, why wasn’t Jing Shuxing making a move?

After a moment of calm reflection, Chi Lu guessed that perhaps her whip was too long, and Jing Shuxing couldn’t land a precise hit to grab her. So, she held the Red Soul Whip and took a few steps closer to where Jing Shuxing was standing.

A light blue ribbon came into view, gently swaying in Jing Shuxing’s palm.

He held it out: “Young Sect Leader, this is the gift you gave me. Are you going to throw it into the Soul Transformation Abyss as well?”

Chi Lu snatched it back with a fiercer tone, “Why are you bringing this out? Do you think that the gift I gave you on a whim was from the bottom of my heart?”

“It was just a moment of impulse, nothing more than playing along with the situation,” she said, trying to provoke him, stepping closer once again.

She quickly put the ice-blue ribbon away, saying, “This is just something I can discard at any time. After you die, I’ll find someone else who suits my fancy and give the satin to them instead.”

In her heart, she was desperately shouting, “Throw me down! Throw me down! Now, immediately, right away!“

After waiting for what felt like an eternity, Jing Shuxing finally moved.

His fingertips pressed heavily, tapping on the long whip coiled around his waist. He touched some critical point, and the Red Soul Whip unexpectedly unraveled, falling into his palm in coils.

The hand that now gripped the whip was the same one that Chi Lu had once invited to collide with her fingertips, touching her brow bone, shoulder blade, and palm.

He had once been captivated by her laughter.

He had once lingered in her tender affection.

Jing Shuxing let out a low laugh, still unwilling to believe Chi Lu.

“Young Sect Leader, if you truly wanted my life, why did you stop me back then?”

“Ritual, it’s all about the ritual, understand?” Chi Lu quickly improvised, “I want you to die at this exact moment—neither a second too soon nor a second too late.”

Jing Shuxing lifted his gaze, calmly staring at Chi Lu. In his heart, it felt as though a stone had fallen from a great height, crashing down with force.

Perhaps she, like the others, enjoyed using a gentle blade to set her plans in motion, but this particular scheme was so grand and vast that it had completely ensnared Jing Shuxing’s vision.

“I understand,” he responded softly.

The girl before him revealed a satisfied expression, her delight clearly written on her face.

The young man lowered his eyes, remaining silent for a long moment, giving off an air of loneliness.