“Miao Miao, a thousand-year immortal sect, cannot tolerate a disciple who harms mortals. Zhe Sang, your golden core is shattered, and you will no longer have the ability to cultivate. You will spend the next ten years reflecting in the Mysterious Ice Cave. After that, you will live out your days as an ordinary mortal.”
Song Yun sighed heavily, saying nothing more. With a wave of his hand, a gate appeared mid-air. A beam of light shot from within, dragging Zhe Sang toward the cave.
“Very well! So this is the Miao Miao sect! Song Yun, from this day forth, I renounce all ties as your disciple! If I live, I swear I’ll return to kill you and destroy Miao Miao!” Zhe Sang’s mad, resentful voice echoed as he vanished into the air, disappearing with a flash of light as the gate closed.
On the stone steps, Song Yun coughed up blood, his face etched with sorrow, looking as though he had aged a decade.
Chong Zhao hurried forward to support him, with Er Yun joining by his side.
“Master!”
“Uncle!”
“Sect Leader!”
The disciples rushed forward.
“I’m fine,” Song Yun said, waving them off before looking at his disciples.
“From this day on, Chong Zhao is the successor of Miao Miao and will represent our sect in the Wu Tong Martial Tournament tomorrow.”
Song Yun’s weary voice resounded through the main hall and beyond, and all the disciples knelt and saluted Chong Zhao.
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
Chong Zhao held the jade slip in one hand and supported Song Yun with the other. But his gaze drifted toward the rear mountain—toward the Mysterious Ice Cave, where Bai Shuo was imprisoned.
After a moment, he knelt before Song Yun and spoke solemnly, “Yes, Sect Leader.”
* * *
“Ouch!”
In the Mysterious Ice Cave, Bai Shuo jolted awake, bumping into someone’s chest.
“Ow, ow, ow!” She rubbed her forehead, reaching forward in confusion and grabbing something warm—a bare chest.
What on earth? Bai Shuo looked up to see a pair of surprised, delighted eyes.
“Mu Mu? What are you doing here?” Bai Shuo, still groggy, glanced down to realize her hand was pressing against the bare chest of a young man. She was even absentmindedly patting it.
“Why… why aren’t you wearing clothes?!” Bai Shuo leaped up, backing away.
The boy stumbled back, looking a bit hurt but not angry. “I… I gave my clothes to you.”
Me? Bai Shuo noticed the robe draped over her and hastily tossed it back to Fan Yue. “Quick, put it on!”
“Oh.” The boy obediently tied the robe around himself.
Bai Shuo looked around. She was still in the Mysterious Ice Cave, and the firewood on the ground had long gone cold. She rubbed her chilled hands, feeling a lingering fear in her heart.
She’d heard that people see those they long for in their final moments. She must have been on the verge of freezing to death, which was why she saw the fireworks over the imperial capital and the figure in that grand hall.
It was Fan Yue who saved her, that faint warmth pulling her back from the brink of death.
Bai Shuo felt as though she’d forgotten something or sensed that something wasn’t quite right, but her mind was foggy and slow to process.
The boy had somehow moved next to her without her noticing and poked her cheek. “Are you still cold?”
“No, no, I’m trying to think about something important. Stop poking me… Wait, why are you still on the island? Didn’t I ask Old Turtle to take you away?” Bai Shuo suddenly realized and asked in surprise.
“You were in danger,” Fan Yue replied with a pout. “So I came.”
“How did you know I was trapped here?”
“I didn’t. I just thought of you, and then I ended up here.”
Bai Shuo paused, realizing that she and Fan Yue shared a soul bond. Although he had lost his demon powers and memories, he still retained this instinctive connection.
“I don’t even know how long I’ve been asleep… How’s A-Zhao’s duel with Zhe Sang going?” Bai Shuo muttered as she paced the cave.
“You’ve been asleep for three days,” Fan Yue said seriously, holding up three fingers.
“Three days?!” Bai Shuo jerked in shock, stiffening suddenly as she processed this and turned to him with a shiver. “W-why… why are you speaking properly now?”
She finally realized what had been bothering her. This boy could usually only manage to speak one word at a time, so when did he suddenly get so articulate?
Could it be that the great demon had regained his memories?! Bai Shuo’s lips quivered uncontrollably.
The boy stepped forward and extended his hand toward her.
Oh no, she was done for! Bai Shuo’s eyes widened, but to her surprise, he simply wrapped her in a hug, burying his head against her neck.
What was happening?
Bai Shuo blinked in confusion.
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