The back hall bedrooms were dead silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

This was where the children were temporarily resting and the crucial spot for the planned ambush.

Yue Lin hugged the wall, sneaking by, avoiding detection by the three and hiding behind a rockery.

The three had knocked out a patrolling guard. “We’ve got about fifteen minutes until the next shift change,” Song Shu cast a spell on the unconscious guard, “When they wake up, they’ll think they just dozed off and won’t remember seeing us. This way, the discovery of the missing children can be delayed until tomorrow morning, by which time we’ll be long gone.”

“Let’s get this done quickly then,” Bai Gu said.

They entered the bedroom and soon came out, each carrying children wrapped in quilts, temporarily placing them in the courtyard.

As Yue Lin had anticipated, it was indeed a trap designed to lure him into an ambush.

And Bai Gu was indeed kidnapping children, likely to pin more crimes on him.

Yue Lin touched his sword’s hilt and noticed the courtyard walls shimmering with a layer of dazzling golden patterns, signifying the onset of an array. He instantly understood what was coming.

If his guess was right, what followed would be an ambush and accusations from various factions.

Vaguely, Yue Lin heard noisy footsteps approaching the backyard.

Bai Gu also heard the noise and paused his actions.

Yue Lin stepped out from behind the rockery. “Your plan is about to succeed.”

Bai Gu dropped the act and simply smiled. “Thanks for making it easy, brother.”

His tone was content, as if Yue Lin’s demise was imminent.

Yue Lin’s eyes narrowed. “It’s too early to claim victory. You’re from the demon realm; if I’m captured, you’ll be captured too. If I die, so will you.”

“I don’t think so.”

“You have a backup plan?”

The ground’s golden patterns emerged, forming a complex star array, and suddenly, Yue Lin felt an immense force bearing down on him. Pain throbbed through his golden core as his spiritual energy began to stagnate.

Bai Gu nodded. “The Fog Ridge’s array is working. This array shares a similar cunning to the forbidden techniques you created. The more you struggle with your spiritual energy, the tighter the array binds you, like a venomous snake. If you resist, the pain will feel like thousands of arrows piercing your heart until it devours all the spiritual energy in your dantian, and only then will it stop. So, brother, the game is over.”

Yue Lin raised an eyebrow. “You’re not affected by the array, so the antidote you mentioned earlier was a lie?”

“Of course.”

Yue Lin nodded. “You’ve really gone all out, tricking me at every turn, even revealing the true reason behind Chu Hanjin’s amnesia, all to lure me into Fog Ridge to track you.”

“Of course. You’re so clever; unless it involved Lord Yue Zhao’s safety, why else would you knowingly walk into a trap?”

Bai Gu was genuinely impressed. “Initially, I didn’t plan to reveal so much. Song Shu didn’t even need to show up, but since you weren’t taking the bait, I had to pull out all the stops.”

The footsteps outside the courtyard were getting closer.

Yue Lin turned serious. “What exactly is your goal?”

“Nothing much,”

As the lights made the doorway glow red, the footsteps of the Six Sects seemed ready to step through any moment.

Bai Gu fell silent for a while, then said, “Just hoping that all of you kind would just die.”

He then vanished into the night.

Song Shu also made to leave, but unexpectedly, Yue Lin, whom he thought was incapacitated, suddenly moved close in just a few steps, his hand raising a burst of spiritual energy—

The array’s effect meant that using spiritual energy would backfire, harming the user. Song Shu hadn’t expected him to strike, as he was likely unharmed himself, but double backlash could kill him.

Yet Yue Lin’s fingers merely touched his shoulder and neck swiftly, leaving behind a tracking spell.

A tracking spell?

Song Shu’s tension eased, and he retorted, “What’s the point?”

Even if it was Yue Lin’s advanced tracking spell, it would disappear immediately upon his death, rendering it useless.

Yue Lin’s hands tightened on his shoulder, his gaze intense: “You’re so confident I’ll die at the hands of the Six Sects?”

Song Shu laughed exaggeratedly. “What else? Surrounded by so many masters from the Six Sects, even if you had wings, you couldn’t escape. You’re not expecting Lord Yue Zhao to save you, are you? But with your status, shouldn’t you be distancing yourself from him as much as possible?”

“Worry about yourself before me.”

As Yue Lin spoke, Song Shu suddenly felt a sharp pain in his shoulder and heard the “crack” of bones breaking.

“…”

The color drained from Song Shu’s face, turning it ghostly pale.

“Come on,”

Yue Lin’s voice was low, like a demon’s whisper from hell, “Show me your clever tricks again.”

Song Shu felt a chill down his spine.

He looked at Yue Lin, not understanding why he had suddenly turned on him.

But the reason for Yue Lin’s ‘madness’ was simple.

He had figured out something crucial.

Why would someone go to great lengths to erase Chu Hanjin’s memory instead of just killing him while he was cursed?

First, Chu Hanjin had witnessed the true murderer, a memory that had to be erased.

Second, that person didn’t want to kill Chu Hanjin yet because his value hadn’t been fully utilized.

“Who’s there?” shouted someone outside the courtyard.

Yue Lin’s reflection was mirrored in the firelight, flipping over his drooping hand, “If I’m not mistaken, you must know some tricks about swapping memories, right?”

Song Shu widened his eyes: “What does it have to do with you?”

“Then I’ll cripple your hands.”

Yue Lin’s voice was like a warning. After speaking, he twisted Song Shu’s fingers harshly in the other direction. At that moment, Song Shu waved his sleeve, revealing a piece of paper with a spell written in ink.

Yue Lin slowed his twisting, watching the ink flow on the paper, spelling out words one by one. As the script appeared, memories in his mind began to erase inch by inch, leaving behind a long, black-and-white narrative that felt like someone else’s foreign story.

Yue Lin’s mind felt hollowed out, falling into a daze. Song Shu broke free from his grasp and turned, disappearing behind the corridor.

Escaped.

Meanwhile, the golden array behind him tightened to its limit.

Yue Lin was about to turn when a surge of spiritual energy shot towards his chest. He tried to dodge, but a blade penetrated his torso, blood instantly soaking his clothes.

The children in the courtyard woke up, creating chaos, looking at Yue Lin in horror: “What are you doing? Who are you? Why are we in the courtyard?”

“Master! Save us!”

Chen Yang knelt on the ground with a thud, “Master, honorable sect masters, I have brought the demon.”

The trap was perfectly set.

Even the array to punish the demon was ready.

Yue Lin looked at the sword in his chest, unsure who it came from. He looked at the group of variously shaped figures—just who had Chu Hanjin seen as the murderer?

Dozens of light swords rose into the sky, their tips aimed at the target. Chu Hanjin took a step forward, summoning his sword with a swoosh, stepping forward to shield Yue Lin behind him.

This sudden change of sides stunned the Six Sects.

“Lord Yue Zhao, what are you doing?”

“Impossible!”

“Junior brother, come back!!!”

Chu Hanjin closed his eyes, his gaze resolute: “If we’re talking facts, the murderer in the Celestial Burial Pit and puppet cases isn’t him. You want to kill someone based on a misunderstanding, I cannot accept this.”

The atmosphere was incredibly tense. Lord Bao Yang sighed, “Lord Yue Zhao, please step out. Even if there are explanations, they must wait until after he has been subdued. This ‘Falling Snow and Red Plum Array’ does not cease without bloodshed!”

Swords flew chaotically towards Yue Lin, like heavy snow, each touch like a splash of blood on white snow, hence the name “Falling Snow and Red Plum.”

Chu Hanjin asked, “What does subdue mean?”

The others exchanged looks: “At least, make him lose the ability to resist.”

Lose the ability to resist?

Cripple him?

Nearly kill him?

With things as they were, Chu Hanjin’s thoughts solidified. He channeled his spiritual energy, his sword light slicing through the incoming blades, turning to Yue Lin: “Let’s go.”

They were blatantly fleeing from the encirclement of the Six Sects.

Yue Lin’s knees buckled slightly before he straightened up. His wound exuded a strong smell of blood, like blood spilled on the ground, acrid as cold iron rusting.

Just smelling it, Chu Hanjin knew the depth of force Lord Bao Yang had used with that last stab.

Without saying much, the two broke through the sword formation, with the angry shouts and Mu Lianchun’s sighs behind them, Chu Hanjin helped Yue Lin escape the courtyard.

Yue Lin was injured, bleeding uncontrollably from his chest, his face pale.

He grabbed Chu Hanjin’s wrist: “I have something to tell you, about the Six Sects, someone is colluding with Bai Gu.”

This had been a suspicion before, but now it was confirmed.

Chu Hanjin sighed, “Let’s talk outside.”

Yue Lin shook his head, “My injury isn’t severe, my body—”

His words cut off as he coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood. The crimson flowed along the seams of his lips, splattering like ink dots on his collar and chin, his drooping face pale and cold under the moonlight.

Chu Hanjin was horrified, pulling him into his arms.

Even if the Demon Lord could resurrect himself after being dismembered in the past, proving some demonic resilience, enduring such pain from a thousand swords was agonizing. The Demon Lord really didn’t take his own life seriously!

Yue Lin suddenly remembered something: “The children?”

“At the inn—”

“No,”

He frowned, ignoring his coughing weakness, and said sharply, “Go back, keep the children close.”

He feared Bai Gu would take them.

Chu Hanjin didn’t move, observing the blood and wounds on him, his expression somewhat sorrowful.

Yue Lin’s voice softened reassuringly: “I’m much better, don’t worry about me, I’m just slow. You’re dragging a burden by keeping me with you, find the children and then come back for me.”

His reasoning made sense.

Chu Hanjin looked around: “How did you get up here?”

“The cable car.”

“We can’t use the cable car again, they’ll figure it out soon.” Chu Hanjin thought for a moment. “Fog Ridge is dangerous, but fortunately, the overlapping mountains and dense forests offer good hiding spots. Walk down the mountain road, and I’ll come back for you.”

Yue Lin covered his bleeding chest and gently agreed, “Okay.”

Chu Hanjin watched him, not entirely clear, but a wave of sentimentality surged in his heart.

He felt very sad.

He didn’t want Yue Lin to wait alone for his return.

But with things as they were, he could only say: “Take care, I’ll be right back.”

Yue Lin responded and turned first, sliding down the slope into the vast forest. The path was narrow and the forest deep, the night dark as ink, quickly hiding his stumbling figure.

Chu Hanjin forcibly cleared his emotions, turned, and hurried toward the direction of the inn.

On the road, Chu Hanjin saw several streaks of white light in the sky. Monks from the Rongku Sect were scouting on their swords, undoubtedly looking for him and Yue Lin.

It was deep into the night, and if Chu Hanjin flew on his sword, he would be immediately detected, and he couldn’t exactly ride a horse either. Luckily, it was mostly downhill, and with a bit of light skill, he reached the base of the mountain in half an hour.

The inn outside was brightly lit, surrounded by monks, and without saying, his and Yue Lin’s rooms would be searched immediately.

Chu Hanjin felt uneasy, circling to the back of the inn, using the window frames of his own room to quietly climb up.

He gently pushed open the window, his clean shoes stepping on the wooden floor.

He had left in a hurry, considering the risks he was about to take, so he had decided to leave the fruit here temporarily, planning to retrieve it later.

The fruit was in a basket lined with silk cloth, but while the basket was still there, the silk was torn up, clearly searched.

“…”

Chu Hanjin felt a bad premonition.

Had they taken the fruit?

Suddenly, Chu Hanjin heard a noise behind the cabinet.

“Who’s there?” Chu Hanjin asked.

The noise behind the cabinet continued, like something hopping and bumping around, making noise, and it got even fiercer when scolded by his voice.

Chu Hanjin slowly moved to the back of the cabinet, and in the narrow gap of the cabinet door, very secretly, a yellow-green mixed fruit was wedged.

“…” Chu Hanjin breathed a sigh of relief.

As he approached, the fruit kept bouncing persistently, making the same noise as it hit the cabinet door, seemingly desperate to attract someone’s attention.

Chu Hanjin bent down and reached out: “Are you trying to tell me you’re here?”

The fruit bounced even more violently!

Truly.

Chu Hanjin picked up the fruit, noting that the crack had widened, revealing two delicate little feet. Those feet probably wanted to stand up, but since the head was still inside the fruit and couldn’t see, they kept banging into the cabinet door.

However, once they touched the familiar palm, the fruit immediately curled its little feet back in, transforming into a lazy state. But it probably didn’t realize that its legs were now exposed, the two little feet appearing very cute and tender.

“…”

Child.

Chu Hanjin tenderly stroked it, and it rolled around in his palm, its skin gradually stretching out.

Chu Hanjin couldn’t help but smile.

The little fruit was happy again.

After smiling, Chu Hanjin looked at the distance from the fruit basket to the cabinet, realizing something.

Normally, a fruit could not roll that far, especially one that was cracked and not perfectly round. He tapped the cheeky part below where the fruit was hidden, poking it: “Did you… hide yourself?”

The fruit’s skin wrinkled again, indicating it was very scared, trembling non-stop.

Really scared.

But also very brave.

Good, a clever fruit.

Just then, it must have sensed Chu Hanjin’s scent, finally relaxing, but unable to speak, it had no choice but to bang bang bang desperately jump up, hoping its father would notice it.

Chu Hanjin’s heart softened, touching the place below the fruit skin where the little brain was hiding: “You’re good, you’re good, father will take you away now.”

He didn’t take the fruit basket but instead tore the silk cloth into a makeshift pouch that could hold the fruit, placing it inside his sleeve, and then cradled the fruit in his arms.

As soon as he put it down, he felt the fruit cling tightly to him.

Very sticky, very fond of him.

Chu Hanjin’s heart, tense all night, slightly settled as he pushed open the window, still brightly lit.

He jumped out the window, not heading to the front hall, ready to leave when he heard a few patrolling monks chatting at the door.

“Lord Yue Zhao of the Far Mountain Sect has actually openly rebelled!”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, I thought he was a righteous and elegant celestial being, but it turns out he’s just colluding with demons and causing chaos in Fog Ridge. So much for that!”

“Now the Six Sects have issued a joint warrant for his capture, there’s a substantial reward for catching him, everyone, seize this opportunity to make a fortune!”

“…”

Chu Hanjin withdrew his gaze, a wave of indescribable sadness surging in his heart.

This sadness, unclear whether it was for the injured Yue Lin hiding somewhere, for himself who had tried to explain but to no avail in the hall, or for the still-unidentified murderer, or even… for the complicated, morally gray world of sects.

Chu Hanjin closed his eyes, then reopened them, his eyes once again resolute, and turned back towards the way he came.

—Yue Lin was still waiting for him.

This way, the lights were numerous, and the night vast, all searching for him.

Chu Hanjin dodged east and west, dew soaking his body, his belly rumbling with hunger, his clothes torn by sharp grass and thorns, his pace hurried, his lips chapped and dry.

Cradling the child, he traversed mountains and ridges in search of Yue Lin’s figure, his steps swift.

In the chaos, he inadvertently noticed the lush green glow on the fruit’s surface, realizing that the sun had risen.

It was morning.

Chu Hanjin cradled the fruit, raising his head, his gaze caught by the dazzling light. Somehow, a thought flickered in his heart, and it felt as if a clear spring had flowed through his heart.

He looked at the fruit again, touching the spot where the sunlight shone bright and clean, and said, “From now on, your name will be Zhaoyang.”

Day and month shine bright, spring and sun warm.

Chu Zhaoyang.