Peachwood, being one of the five sacred woods, was rich in yang energy and naturally repelled ghosts and spirits. It was a powerful tool for exorcism, but using conventional banishing techniques against a peach demon was far from easy. Ordinary Daoist spells would be ineffective.
That was why, earlier that day, she had rushed over ten miles to find an ancient cypress tree and carve this sword from it. Cypress and pine were considered the noblest among trees—“Entrusted by the earth, only pine and cypress stand upright.” Pine embodied yang energy, while cypress governed yin yet carried the essence of metal, making it the most righteous of yin woods. It naturally attracted yin energy, which was why cemeteries were often planted with cypress trees. Among all trees, it was the true nemesis of a peach demon.
Hong Ning had originally planned to use cypress wood that was at least a thousand years old. Unfortunately, time had been too short, so she had to make do with a tree only a century old.
Jin Xiu watched her in silence for a long moment before speaking softly.
“A thousand-year-old peach demon is the natural enemy of the nine-tailed fox. Its inner core can suppress enchantment techniques and temporarily seal a nine-tailed fox’s powers.”
Nine-tailed foxes were inherently skilled in seduction, their nature aligned with yin, while the peach demon’s inner core was purely yang. One force counterbalances another—this is the law of nature.
Hong Ning smiled. “Is Zhong Tian Wang concerned for his little brother-in-law, then? Is that why you’ve come to warn me?”
Jin Xiu replied, “Forcing an inner core to augment one’s power disrupts the balance of heaven and harms one’s karma. It is an act of self-destruction.”
Hong Ning frowned slightly, as if disgusted, though her face still carried a faint smile.
“Karma and virtue? Those are concerns for immortals. What does that have to do with me? Or do you expect me to cultivate virtue first, become an immortal, and then discard it all—just like you?”
Jin Xiu said, “Kunlun’s Heavenly Lord has chosen not to pursue the matter any further.”
“So all of you are satisfied with how this turned out. But for Bai Ling and me, it was anything but fair.”
The smile faded from Hong Ning’s lips, her voice turning cold.
“Bai Ling didn’t want to die. His soul was completely extinguished—he will never return. And I will not let Lu Jiu go. Unless, of course, you kill me right now.”
Jin Xiu sighed. “Samadhi True Fire can burn even a soul to nothingness.”
“Thanks for the reminder, but I remember that better than you do.”
Hong Ning patted the wooden sword in her hand. The blade immediately shrank back to three inches and slipped neatly into her sleeve.
“You feel guilty—because you owe me from a past life. But you’ve already saved me several times. We’re even now. Even if I have the worst luck and end up scattered into nothingness, it won’t be your fault.”
Jin Xiu said, “I cannot allow anything to happen to you.”
His words were always just ambiguous enough.
Thinking back to the previous misunderstandings between them, Hong Ning found it amusing.
“One should know when to be satisfied. You enjoy helping others, but I have no interest in owing anyone favors—it’s too much trouble to repay.”
Jin Xiu said, “I was the one who brought you here.”
Hong Ning was briefly startled. When she understood his meaning, she didn’t seem particularly moved.
“You brought me here to guide me toward immortality? Zhong Tian Wang has an easy time changing other people’s fates. But in the end, instead of clearing your debts, you only end up accumulating more. Even I feel sorry for you.”
Jin Xiu remained silent.
Hong Ning was calm as she said, “I don’t need your protection right now. But if you insist on settling this debt to ease your conscience, then do something for me.”
Jin Xiu gestured for her to continue.
Hong Ning did not hesitate. “Kill Lu Jiu.”
Jin Xiu said nothing.
Hong Ning studied him for a long moment before sighing. “I was joking. Why so tense? He’s your future brother-in-law—how could I seriously expect you to kill him?”
Jin Xiu shook his head. “The feud between the Northern Immortal Realm and the Kunlun Clan—if it escalates, it will benefit no one.”
Hong Ning smiled. “What do other people’s feuds have to do with me? The laws of heaven, the laws of the mortal world—they only serve certain people. For others, they are far from fair.”
She took slow steps toward him, lifting her face to meet his gaze.
“Once, I was given the chance at eternal love, but I understood it too late. And now, it’s gone.”
She looked him straight in the eye. “So, what can you help me with? Are you trying to lure me into cultivating immortality?”
Her eyes carried a smile, but beneath it lay unmistakable mockery.
Jin Xiu’s gaze flickered for a brief moment, but he did not look away. He met her stare, calm and unwavering.
He had known for a long time—this girl was stubborn and unyielding. He had never intended to deceive her. But the gulf between them had always been too vast. Even if she cultivated into a wandering immortal, she could never become the wife of a celestial deity.
Everything he had done was only to help her break free from the cycle of reincarnation, to grant her the eternity that all living beings longed for.
Yet, she had never understood.
Does he feel guilty?
The thought of it gave Hong Ning the satisfaction she had been seeking—revenge tasted unexpectedly sweet. Her smile deepened.
“See? I’m doing just fine without you. And the one thing I would ask for, you can’t give me. So what difference does it make whether you’re here or not? Following me around—what’s the point?”
Jin Xiu finally averted his gaze, falling silent.
“It was just a joke,” Hong Ning said, stepping back slowly. “I don’t actually blame you—I just don’t want to see you. Because I don’t want to become an immortal, nor do I want to see any more immortals. I’d rather surround myself with demons.”
With that, she suddenly turned and walked away.
Laughing, she called out over her shoulder, “You meddle in celestial affairs, and now you want to meddle in mortal affairs too? Why put yourself through the trouble, Zhong Tian Wang? You should just go back and be a proper god.”
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