“Oh, look at that! The obedient disciple is defending his master!” Mu Jiu sneered, “Bei Chen, you Kunlun sword cultivators have such loyalty. He’s trying to kill you, yet you still stick up for your former sect leader’s sorry old hide…”
“You!”
The young master of the fox clan was impossibly beautiful, but his words were sharp and unruly, grating on everyone’s nerves. Even the usually composed Bei Chen was close to drawing his sword.
“Mu Jiu Demon Lord!” Bai Shuo quickly interrupted, her tone shifting, “Don’t you find it strange?”
Mu Jiu, in the middle of his rant, didn’t skip a beat and followed up, “Strange? What’s strange?”
“If Senior Rong Xian truly was someone who abandoned his wife and child for power, why did he descend into madness and nearly annihilate his sect a thousand years ago? And now, why does he strike against the immortal clans but show mercy only to you?”
“I…” Mu Jiu paused, frowning in frustration. “How would I know?”
“If you don’t know, then why not ask?” Bai Shuo looked directly at Rong Xian. “Senior Rong Xian, what exactly happened a thousand years ago?”
Since Mu Jiu’s identity was revealed, the drunken old man had kept his eyes down, indifferent to the arguments around him. Even when Bai Shuo defended him, he only cast a cold glance at the group. After a moment of silence, Rong Xian said nothing and turned to walk back toward the thatched hut.
Mu Jiu waited a while but received no answer. His mischievous air faded, replaced by a deadly glare. “Rong Xian, you damn cur! Give back the lives of my fox clan ancestors!”
A fiery red glow appeared in Mu Jiu’s palm. Years ago, the demon world’s artifact, the Wheel of Annihilation, had followed the demon emperor Hong Yi into the Divine Realm. Before ascending, Hong Yi had crafted a similar spirit weapon and left it to the fox clan.
The miniature Wheel of Annihilation flew from Mu Jiu’s hand, headed straight for Rong Xian’s back. Rong Xian did not dodge, nor did he turn his head. Just as the wheel was about to strike, an immortal sword flashed out, knocking the miniature Wheel of Annihilation aside.
“Bei Chen!” Mu Jiu shouted angrily, “I’ll kill you first.”
“What happened back then was not the sect leader’s fault. If you seek revenge on the fox clan’s behalf, come at Kunlun!” Bei Chen held his immortal sword, positioning himself protectively behind Rong Xian.
The hunched figure paused on his way to the thatched hut and stopped in his tracks.
A thousand miles away, at Phoenix Island in Wu Tong.
In a secluded chamber under the cold autumn moon, Song Feng sat cross-legged on a mat, his face pale as he focused on healing.
Suddenly, a paper crane flew in through the window, landing in his palm.
“A directive from the sect?”
Song Feng’s eyes widened slightly as he opened the paper crane, his expression changing.
“Rebellious disciple!”
Song Feng coughed heavily.
That rebellious disciple had already had his Golden Core shattered and was locked in the Ice Cave, yet he still managed to escape from Mystical Sect. He must indeed have connections with the demon clan—who knows what kind of disaster he might cause in the future!
With a long sigh, Song Feng's expression could not hide his worry.
In an unnamed mountain under the silent moonlight, Bai Shuo let out a soft sigh.
“Senior, if you were willing to give up the position of Kunlun sect leader back then for Chief Ling Long, then why would you return to Kunlun for power? What really happened in those days?”
“Love between immortals and demons—it was forbidden by the Three Realms.” A frail voice suddenly sounded from in front of the thatched hut. “But then I met Ling Long.”
Rong Xian finally spoke. He turned and walked toward the three graves.
“A Kunlun sword cultivator, bound to the path of detachment—no one ever expected that the first to break the iron laws of the Three Realms would be a Kunlun disciple.”
He stopped at the rightmost grave, resting his hand on the weathered, nameless stone.
“I promised Ling Long that I would no longer meddle in the affairs of the Three Realms, and I secluded myself with her in the wilderness. We had Xin’er. That was the most peaceful and joyful time of my life. For her, I was willing to defy Heaven’s will, without regret.”
“Don’t give me that nonsense about ‘no regrets’—if you truly felt no regret, why did you kill her with your own hands!” Mu Jiu shouted angrily.
The figure by the grave fell silent once more.
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