“Little Junior Uncle wasn’t with you all?”

“No. Little Junior Uncle was at Master’s courtyard today.”

“What’s all the commotion?”  Unbeknownst to them, Si Fanqing had arrived at the courtyard entrance, gazing at the several juniors within, his expression grave.

“Little Junior Uncle!” Cong Yue ran to Si Fanqing, reaching out to grab his sleeve. “Third Senior Brother has been captured by the demons!”

After Si Fanqing learned the details and thought for a moment, he instructed, “Wen Ai, since the Sect Master is away, you stay behind to protect the other junior brothers and sisters. I’ll lead some people to investigate.”

Senior Sister nodded in agreement and left the courtyard.

Si Fanqing turned to look at Cong Yue. Before he could speak, Cong Yue volunteered, “Little Junior Uncle, I’ll go too.” Si Fanqing didn’t respond, tacitly agreeing.

“Little Junior Uncle, this way.” Cong Yue led the way, turning to call Si Fanqing. “If we go through this path, we should reach the Demon Lord’s mansion.”

“You…” Si Fanqing’s lips moved slightly, then stopped. Cong Yue was clearly familiar with the Demon territory, making him suspicious.  Considering the urgency, Si Fanqing didn’t ask further, nodding for Cong Yue to proceed.

Cong Yue clearly saw Little Junior Uncle’s doubts and explained on her own accord, “When I was escaping, I was caught by the demons, and Master saved me.”  Feeling it wasn’t convincing enough, she added, “I tried to escape once, but I failed, so I have some impressions.”

Si Fanqing understood. She was referring to her childhood, before she came to Jingyue Sect.

“Mm.” Si Fanqing responded without questioning, gesturing for her to continue. The several juniors following closely behind Si Fanqing remained silent, holding their breath, ready for battle at any moment.

“Just caught one, haven’t had time to enjoy it yet.  And now more are throwing themselves into the net?”

The opponent moved extremely quickly, launching an attack the instant the voice fell. Cong Yue couldn’t react in time, watching helplessly as Little Junior Uncle was bound by a thorny vine covered in hooks, lifted into the air.

“Little Junior Uncle!” The remaining juniors panicked, chasing after the swaying thorny vine. They saw that Third Senior Brother was also trapped in the vine, unconscious.

At the front lines, Cong Yue calmed down. She lowered her voice, “Second Senior Brother, the flute. Sixth Senior Sister, support.”

Fei Yunxin, as if waking from a dream, took out his flute from his waist, placing it to his lips and softly playing. Second Senior Brother specialized in illusionary powers; the sound of his flute could beguile people.

Sixth Senior Sister had suffered a serious injury as a child, damaging her spiritual power, preventing her from wielding a sword. She practiced a mix of various abilities, none of which she mastered. Unlike the other juniors who needed weapons, Lu Qing relied on incantations.

With Second Senior Brother and Sixth Senior Sister using their spells to confuse the demons, Cong Yue could attack the affected demons without harming Little Junior Uncle.

Cong Yue gave her ability a formidable name—Move Mountains and Seas.  In reality, it was using her Yanling Dao to indiscriminately attack her opponents.

Once the illusionary power took effect, the few demon vanguard covered their ears and charged forward, but after being repelled by Cong Yue, they curled up on the ground, twitching and groaning.

Cong Yue flew to chase after Little Junior Uncle, who was still swinging in mid-air.  As soon as her hand touched the thorny vine, she was forced back by a counterattack.

“A bunch of little cultivators, quite capable, I see.”

Cong Yue landed, and a slender figure landed in front of her.

“I’ll let you live. Leave that pretty boy, I have my uses for him.”  It was a young woman with sharp eyes, no older than twenty.  She slightly lifted her chin, looking down at the cultivators.

This must be the Demon Lord herself.

“Just you?” Cong Yue scoffed. The opponent underestimated Jingyue Sect’s successors.  There were more than ten of their senior brothers and sisters, possessing all the necessary abilities for battle: offense, defense, beguiling the enemy, and even healing.

“Little girl, you’ve got quite the mouth,” the Demon Lord suddenly approached, almost touching Cong Yue’s forehead with her nose. “From what I know, your offensive ability is only effective at long range…”

An invisible force invaded Cong Yue’s mind, like countless vines wrapping around her brain, causing a splitting headache, threatening to burst.

“Little Cong Yue!” Seeing this, Second Senior Brother and Sixth Senior Sister dared not act rashly, racking their brains for a solution.  Suddenly, a familiar voice softly chanted, “Defense, open!”

In the nick of time, as soon as Si Fanqing’s voice fell, Cong Yue immediately acted. She violently pushed the Demon Lord several meters away, simultaneously drawing her Yanling Dao and slashing, “Move Mountains and Seas!”

The Demon Lord, having underestimated her opponent and left herself undefended, was thrown to the ground by Cong Yue, landing hard.  As she tried to get up, she was pressed down again by the force of the Yanling Dao, spitting out blood with a “wah.”

“Release my Little Junior Uncle and Third Senior Brother.” Cong Yue walked over, holding the Yanling Dao to the Demon Lord’s neck, using her reckless courage to threaten, “Otherwise, I’ll use you to test the blade.”

The Demon Lord didn’t speak, only staring at her with a strange smile.

Cong Yue continued on her own, “And, don’t call me little girl. You don’t look much older than me.”

The Demon Lord, who had struck fear into the hearts of the major sects, was a young woman in her twenties?  And she was easily defeated? Cong Yue was shocked, unable to believe it.

There must be something strange going on. At least, the Demon Lord she knew didn’t look like this.

The Demon Lord’s right fingertip moved slightly, and the thorny vine hanging in the air slowly descended, dropping Little Junior Uncle and Third Senior Brother to the ground. The vine dispersed as if alive. Second Senior Brother and Sixth Senior Sister immediately rushed forward to support them.

“It’s alright, just minor injuries.” Little Junior Uncle waved his hand, signaling them not to worry.

The Demon Lord looked at the composed Si Fanqing and smiled, “They’ll be mine eventually. Let you take them for now.”

Catching sight of Little Junior Uncle leading Second Senior Brother and Sixth Senior Sister to the exit, Cong Yue pressed down, the blade digging into the Demon Lord’s delicate skin, threatening again, “Don’t let me see you again.”

With that, she retracted her Yanling Dao and hurried to catch up with Little Junior Uncle.

The Demon Lord watched their departing backs with a meaningful look, smiling silently.

Back at Jingyue Sect, Senior Sister examined Little Junior Uncle and Third Senior Brother’s injuries. After treatment, they were fine.

Senior Sister specialized in healing, both mental and physical, using several silver needles as her tools. She never allowed anyone to watch her heal someone.

Cong Yue waited in the courtyard. Third Senior Brother had already woken up and regained consciousness. Seeing Senior Sister come out of Little Junior Uncle’s room, Cong Yue immediately approached her, “Senior Sister, how are Little Junior Uncle’s injuries?”

“Superficial wounds, nothing serious.”

Cong Yue was relieved and turned to go into the house. Senior Sister watched her back for a while, then suddenly called out, “Aren’t you going to check on Little Junior Uncle?”

“It’s too late.” Cong Yue smiled back at Senior Sister. “Tomorrow.”

It was Hai time, indeed too late.

Lying on the bed, Cong Yue couldn’t sleep, becoming increasingly alert.  Earlier, Little Junior Uncle had summoned his soft sword and used his defensive power, giving her the chance to repel the Demon Lord.

What exactly happened within the demons?  Who was the new Demon Lord…? Cong Yue turned over, confirming that she hadn’t seen the young woman who called herself the Demon Lord.

The demons kidnapped cultivators for their cultivation, Little Junior Uncle must have been targeted by the Demon Lord, Little Junior Uncle…

Under the dark night, Cong Yue stealthily went out and gently knocked on Little Junior Uncle’s door, just like before, there was no answer.  But the wooden door automatically opened a crack, probably because Little Junior Uncle hadn’t had time to lock it after Senior Sister left.

Entering the room, only one lamp was lit, but Little Junior Uncle was nowhere to be seen.  Driven by some unknown force, Cong Yue tiptoed to the inner room.

In the dim candlelight, a large bathtub stood in the middle of the room, and then, a strikingly handsome face met her gaze.

“Little Junior Uncle…” Cong Yue inexplicably felt her throat tighten, even her breathing became lighter.

Her gaze moved downward.  Thin mist swirled, a large expanse of smooth, fair shoulders and back faintly visible, extremely alluring.

“Cong Yue, get out!” Little Junior Uncle pressed his back tightly against the tub, scolding in a low voice.

Perhaps it was Little Junior Uncle’s flustered expression that piqued Cong Yue’s curiosity, or perhaps the exposed expanse of fair and delicate skin was too dazzling.  Cong Yue suddenly found that Little Junior Uncle looked much better naked than clothed.

He wasn’t his usual aloof self, and his embarrassment made him seem rather endearing.

Hearing Little Junior Uncle’s weak warning, Cong Yue not only didn’t leave the room, but took a few steps forward.

Seeing her actions, Si Fanqing was both ashamed and angry, but dared not move.

Cong Yue walked behind Little Junior Uncle, unconsciously reaching out a hand, her slender fingers lightly touching his neck and shoulders, intentionally or unintentionally brushing against his skin.

“Feels good,” she did something bad and didn’t hide it, not forgetting to honestly comment.

Si Fanqing, furious with shame, slapped Cong Yue on the forehead, “Insubordination, you don’t understand respect for your elders, get out!”  His hand wasn’t heavy, but it was enough to wake Cong Yue up.

Her head was a little dizzy, but she was much more awake.

“Little Junior Uncle, I didn’t mean to.”

Cong Yue covered her forehead, which was burning from Si Fanqing’s slap, and extended her right hand, offering the jade bracelet, anxiously explaining, “I came to deliver a healing artifact, to activate blood circulation and remove blood stasis, and to apologize.  I didn’t mean to make you fall into the canyon the other day.”

Hearing this, Si Fanqing’s eyes went dark, his body submerged in the hot water below his shoulders, “Cong Yue, you… had to apologize at this moment?” His voice was muffled, his fair face flushed red from the steam, making him even more attractive.

“I…” Her throat was dry, she couldn’t speak for a moment, Cong Yue was at a loss, not knowing what to say.