Chapter 114: Demon Realm Soul Seizure (Part 7)

Xu Qianyu was alert to the movements above, sensing that it was probably Luo Shui Yuanjun coming, which caused the chaos on Chu Linfeng’s side to subside.
She let her consciousness leave her body and slowly passed through the upper levels, just in time to see Luo Shui Yuanjun healing Chu Linfeng.

In her field of vision, aside from the firefly-like spiritual energy, the clearest thing she could see was the seven-colored glazed lamp. Countless threads of energy flowed through it, and gradually, a faint reddish aura was twisted into it, growing fainter and fainter until it disappeared into nothingness.

“So, the Luo Shui Glazed Lamp can absorb sorrowful energy.”
Tu Zhuang’s voice suddenly interrupted, startling Xu Qianyu. She turned around to find a floating, round eyeball turning this way and that, and she immediately realized Tu Zhuang was also secretly watching the upper levels. But she didn’t know what secret method Tu Zhuang had used to manifest it as just an eyeball.

“What is sorrowful energy?” 
Tu Zhuang sneered. “Didn’t you see it? The red stuff.”
“I saw it,” Xu Qianyu replied nonchalantly. “But why sorrowful energy? I heard he saw a mirage earlier. To me, it looked more like fearful energy.”

“You really don’t understand, do you?” The eyeball turned slightly. “Humans have five colors of energy. Red represents heart disease, blue represents liver and gallbladder, white represents lung disease, and black represents kidney disease. If it’s red, then it’s worry, depression, and pain. If it were fear, it would be blue.”

Xu Qianyu absorbed this new knowledge, silently noting it in her mind. However, she was puzzled as to why Chu Linfeng would develop heart disease after seeing a ghost.
“I wonder what he saw earlier.” Tu Zhuang muttered, “Demons are more sensitive.”
“What do you mean?” Xu Qianyu perked up.

“Chu Linfeng is half-demon, isn’t he? Look at his size, strength, hair, and skin. How could he be fully human? Some demons have their own ways of communicating. If they see their kind in distress, they can empathize, just like how wild geese die for love or how mandarin ducks do the same. It’s like if you walked into a demonic den and saw someone being roasted and served on a plate, your reaction would probably be similar to Chu Linfeng’s.”

Xu Qianyu was shocked, processing Tu Zhuang’s words carefully. There was a lot of information in what he said: First, Chu Linfeng was indeed not a human cultivator but a half-demon. She thought back to the ancient texts she had read; the merman and dragon people of the West Sea had blue hair, but she had never expected to encounter such a person in reality.

Second, Hua Liangyu and Chu Linfeng were probably the same kind of demon, and Hua Liangyu had a tragic past before turning into a vengeful spirit, which allowed Chu Linfeng to feel the same pain.

Xu Qianyu withdrew her consciousness and dove into the spiritual pool to observe Hua Liangyu. “Are you also half-demon?”
Hua Liangyu, her long hair disheveled, looked at her in confusion. Xu Qianyu’s consciousness ball gently touched her head, then her legs, trying to figure out whether she was a dragon person or a merman. “What kind of half-demon are you?”
Hua Liangyu hesitated before extending two long, pale fingers, placing them atop her head.

---

You Yin wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth as he entered the door, receiving a spiritual butterfly.
The letter from the stranger said, if he couldn’t sleep, the starlight on the deck was perfect, and they could watch it together.
You Yin examined the butterfly, turning it this way and that. Usually, he was harsh with others and had never received such things from female cultivators. Furthermore, the persistent tone of the letter didn’t sound like it came from a young lady. He thought it was some male cultivator teasing him, but he couldn’t think of anyone so bored.

He had intended to crush the butterfly, but now, feeling irritable, he changed his mind and decided to pretend to accept the invitation.
He put his mask on, grabbed his sword, and prepared to take the opportunity to beat up the person and vent his anger.

The warship sailed smoothly, the night wind on the deck brushing against him. The waves on the sea rose and fell, with occasional whirlpools. The weather was indeed clear, and the stars stretched across the vast plains, making one feel the vastness of the world and the insignificance of humans.

You Yin gazed at the starry sky for a while, leaning against the railing. He saw a figure hesitating as it stepped out of the shadows and slowly walked towards him. The person had a graceful figure, two thin braids draped over her shoulders. The faint moonlight illuminated her nervous and stiff expression.

You Yin felt a little awkward as well.
Wait… This was different from what he expected. It was really a girl.
Beyond his comprehension.
“It’s you?” You Yin tightened his grip on the butterfly, warily asking.

“I’m too nervous. I don’t know how to talk to you.” Lin Shuyue glanced at his waist token and quickly memorized his name, standing beside him to gaze at the sea. “You Yin, I’ve noticed you for a long time.”

“Stay away and speak.” Just as she started, he pushed her back a few steps with the hilt of his sword. “I don’t want to break the sect rules.”
He continued, “Your parents must have taught you that girls should be reserved and not disturb unfamiliar male cultivators.”

Then You Yin saw Lin Shuyue’s eyes instantly redden. He paused. “I didn’t mean to scold you. But you really…”
“It’s okay.” Lin Shuyue looked at the sea, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. “I’m just in a bad mood and didn’t know who to talk to. I thought you were a cold-hearted person, but it seems I misunderstood. I’m sorry for disturbing you. You can go back now.”
You Yin: “…”
You Yin: “… What’s wrong with you?”
Lin Shuyue began recounting her tragic and lonely past in the sect.

A tear hung from her long, curled lashes, beautifully poised, not yet fallen.
You Yin listened quietly. He had never seen anyone with such a tragic background before. Suddenly, he didn’t think she was entirely irredeemable; maybe she just needed someone to talk to and had used the wrong approach.

He forgiven her unilaterally. “I often travel alone, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being by yourself. You can do whatever you want. It’s a kind of freedom.”

Lin Shuyue rolled her eyes inwardly and said, “You are different from others. Even in a crowd, you shine so brightly, like the moon among the stars. You are braver than I am.”
You Yin replied, “But I’m wearing a mask.”
Can one really tell the difference from that?
Lin Shuyue asked, “Then can you take the mask off?”
You Yin answered, “I can’t.”
Lin Shuyue sighed from the bottom of her heart.

They had been talking for a long time, and she still didn’t know what he looked like. It left her in a dilemma.
However, she didn’t mind. She was also chatting with three disciples from Tianshan, gathering more information about Tianshan as material, so it wasn’t a loss. She continued to enjoy the moonlight with You Yin, discussing cultivation and weapons.

Lin Shuyue’s knowledge was extensive, even knowing the details of the latest weapons forged by Tianshan’s weapon masters. Seeing that You Yin was becoming more talkative and showing interest, Lin Shuyue suddenly felt apologetic and said, “My fellow disciple is calling me; I have to go. My name is Lin Shuyue. I’m glad we had this conversation. See you next time.”

“…” Though You Yin wore a mask and remained silent, she could sense that he was upset.
Whoever interrupts his speech deserves to be punished.
“I’m telling you, stop sending me those spirit butterflies.”
But by then, Lin Shuyue was already gone; her shadow had disappeared.

---

The next day was unusually quiet, and indeed, no more spirit butterflies bothered her.
Mu Xiu laughed and said, “Seems no one can appreciate you.”
You Yin replied, “What are you talking about? The person who sent the message sent it to the wrong person. I’ve already taught her a lesson.”

You Yin thought back to that strange Lin Shuyue. Perhaps she really just had a lot to say and wanted someone to listen, rather than having any improper thoughts toward him. He wasn’t too happy as he returned to the pavilion, brushing past a figure that was walking briskly.

At that moment, peach blossoms fell like rain, fluttering down. A faint red glow surrounded the female cultivator, lighting her from head to toe. You Yin couldn’t help but turn his head to look at her.

Xu Qianyu was on her way to find her senior brother and curiously glanced at You Yin. The pink light outlined the intricate patterns on his silver mask, and she thought, “What kind of magical artifact is he wearing? Step by step, petals fall, making him appear as if he’s the center of the world—so self-absorbed.”

While she was thinking, someone suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled her closer. You Yin said, “It’s you; I finally found you.”

Xu Qianyu heard the familiar tone, following his gaze to the heart-shaped mark on her arm. She suddenly remembered:
This young man was the Tianshan disciple she had met when she went to the Shuiyue Huajing (Water Moon Flower Realm) to have a meal with Ruan Zhuqing and Yu Chu. He had left her with that mark.
“I haven’t settled the score with you, and now you come to me.” Xu Qianyu cursed, but then noticed the change in their surroundings. They had entered a space that resembled a battle formation, surrounded by endless pink, with clustered flowers and pavilions. “Where is this place?”

You Yin sneered coldly, “This is Tianshan’s mark for partners. This should be the legendary place for courting, the Peach Blossom Valley.”
The male cultivators of Tianshan took the matter of partners seriously. If the match was successful, the couple would spend a period of time in the illusion of Peach Blossom Valley, free from external disturbances.

“Are you crazy?” Xu Qianyu’s anger flared as she extended her arm. “Get this mark off me.”
You Yin secretly formed a hand seal, but when he saw no reaction from the surroundings, he too felt frustrated.

He only knew that the “Peach Blossom Mark” would allow them to sense each other the next time they met, preventing their lover from being lost in the crowd. He didn’t know that the Peach Blossom Valley would open along with it, nor how to close it.

But he wasn’t going to tell Xu Qianyu.
You Yin said, “…You first pay me back.”
The two, having nothing in common, started fighting in a place meant for courtship.

Xu Qianyu couldn’t leave and violently chopped down a tree. Petals fell like rain. She then moved to chop down another tree.

You Yin, not knowing where to stop her, was furious. Though he didn’t care about having a lover, his property was being threatened, and he couldn’t stay calm. “I warn you, don’t destroy my courtship ground.”

“Then let me out!” Xu Qianyu kicked the pavilion. The pillar broke, and with a crash, the entire pavilion collapsed into the water.

“Stop right there!” You Yin drew his sword, which was black, stretching like a rainbow. As he drew it, the three-flame fire flickered, darkening the surroundings. The soft sword, barely out of the sheath, was bound by a transparent whip, unable to move.
You Yin was shocked and raised his guard.

Xu Qianyu held the divine whip, her jewel-like eyes staring at him unafraid. Her power and cultivation had grown significantly since their last meeting. Her movements were light but contained killing intent, forcing him to fight.

As the two struggled, You Yin sensed something was wrong. The transparent whip turned a reddish hue, as if drinking blood. Xu Qianyu didn’t want to hurt him, so she quickly withdrew the whip.

The divine whip fell into Xu Qianyu’s hands, coiling into the shape of a treasure bottle. She watched in astonishment as purple Three-Flame Fire and orange Phoenix Fire simultaneously rose from the bottle’s mouth, like twin flowers.
Xu Qianyu thought, “So the fire on the whip can be increased?”
You Yin was also surprised. How did she steal his three-flame fire with just one strike?
Both their souls entered the illusion, but to outside observers, their bodies remained like two statues, standing motionless in front of the pavilion.

---

Falling asleep, Hua Liangyu couldn’t sense Xu Qianyu’s soul. She stuck her head out from the spirit pool to search for her.
Her hair was messy, and she was nose to the wall, looking around. She suddenly saw the “Chu Linfeng” sign and realized this was where Xu Qianyu had made her leave yesterday.
She knocked on the pavilion door, mimicking Xu Qianyu’s movements.

When the door opened, she smiled widely, only to cough up blood from all seven orifices.
“Ah—”
Inside Peach Blossom Valley, You Yin heard a loud shout, and then a large hand reached in, tearing apart the illusion. Their souls were forcibly returned to their bodies.

You Yin opened his eyes. Chu Linfeng’s arms were wrapped around him like an iron hoop, his eyes shut as he screamed in terror. The lights of the neighbors’ houses suddenly lit up.

“Is this ever going to stop?”

“Can we get some sleep?”

“Does Chu Linfeng have nightmares every day?”

“It seems like he caught something from the mirage.”

In the chaos, You Yin struck Chu Linfeng with the sword sheath, which was squeezing his ribs, and with great effort, turned his head to grab Xu Qianyu, who was running toward the door: “Don’t even think about running.”

A shard of ice flew toward them, slicing through the sleeve with a ripping sound. You Yin loosened his grip for a moment, and Xu Qianyu instantly disappeared like an arrow leaving its bow.

The ice shard quickly solidified, rising from the bottom, revealing a figure wearing a jade crown and cloud-patterned robes.

Shen Su raised his eyes slightly, his deep and refined gaze unusually bright: “The mark of peach blossoms is a solemn symbol of your Tianshan people. I ask that you remove it from my junior sister.”