Chapter 231

Chapter 232

Chapter 233

Chapter 234

Chapter 235

Chapter 236

Chapter 237

Chapter 238

Chapter 239

Chapter 240
Chapter 231
This hour was the darkest time before dawn. And this night was the darkest that
Fengdu had ever seen.

The mortal realm, which had been ravaged by evil spirts, was full of ruins and
devastation. Mournful cries and the crackling of re resounded in everyone's
ears. The Zhongyuan Festival was coming to an end, and the day was about to
dawn, but the eternal night of the world had just begun.

They found Xu Zhinan out in the wrecked battle eld.

Xie Bian didn't know what happened after he broke through Xu Zhinan's true
face. This man had the body of Cangyu Sect's Zhangmen and the soul of
Chunyang Sect's Zhangmen. How would the cultivators of these two sects deal
with themselves? What would those sects who turned against Cangyu Sect
choose? After all, the dao heart that had hung on their mouths every day was
worthless. The cultivation world was in turmoil, and even the whole world was in
danger. They instinctively fell to the strong side, which seemed to be
understandable.

At this moment, looking over the battle eld, everyone was either dead or
wounded. Xu Zhinan could also be described as retched. The ice gray cultivator
robes were stained with blood everywhere. The snow owl summoned by
Bingxue Jue guarded him as if it was his only remaining support.

Hua Xiangrong had led a large number of Cangyu Sect's disciples to confront
them. A few of them chose to follow "Qi Mengsheng" even if it was only a shell.

However, there were few people left from Wuliang Sect. Only Song Chungui
returned to support and protect the dying Li Buyu.

Lan Chuihan was nowhere to be found.

Fan Wushe's appearance made everyone hold their breath.

Fan Wushe placed Xie Bian lightly under a tree. Xie Bian shook his head and
looked around, trying to nd Lan Chuihan. When he couldn't, he became more
and more anxious.

"No need to look for him. He was taken to the netherworld by Jiang Qulian."

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 Xie Bian sti ened. "What did you say? He… took him back to the netherworld?
Is he still alive?"

Fan Wushe snorted coldly and didn't answer.

"Is he still alive?" Xie Bian raised his voice, immediately causing painful tremors
in his chest.

"Dead," Fan Wushe said impatiently.

"…. I don't believe it."

Fan Wushe paid him no attention and turned his eyes to Xu Zhinan. He took out
Gongshuju and Cheng Yanzhi's body. "Give me Jinqie Yuce."

Xu Zhinan's eyes stared greedily at the small ice co n. He slowly wiped away
the blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, and said in a pale voice, "Give
him to me rst."

"Sure." Fan Wushe's long legs stepped forward towards Xu Zhinan.

"Wait!" When Fan Wushe approached with a deadly black aura, Xu Zhinan
suddenly felt frightened. That dangerous aura attacked his skin and muscles for
no reason. He asked, "Zunshang really wants to give it to me?"

"You're the one who wanted to trade with me."

"I do want to trade with Zunshang, but now Zunshang has taken back the Tianji
Tally and returned to the peak power of your previous life, while I am seriously
injured. It would take you little e ort to take it from me."

Fan Wushe narrowed his eyes. "What do you want to say?"

"I'm saying, I'm old, but I'm not confused." Xu Zhinan took Jinqie Yuce in his
hand and said coldly, "Don't be too hard, Zunshang. I can tear the Ren
Emperor's page."

"It seems that you're really tired of living." Fan Wushe's hostility soared, and his
eyes boiled with killing intent.

Xu Zhinan turned over Jinqie Yuce. His withered ngers ipped to one of the
pages. "This thin page in my hands can be turned to pieces in an instant. I urge
Zunshang to think twice before acting."

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 Fan Wushe said in a cold voice, "You dare threaten me."

"Give me my things rst!" Xu Zhinan's eyes were bloodshot and his body was
shaking, as if he was desperately trying to control something.

"You can't give it to him. Cheng Yanzhi's body…" Xie Bian struggled to get up.

Fan Wushe chuckled. He waved his hand suddenly and threw the ice co n at
Xu Zhinan.

Xu Zhinan was surprised. He was about to grab the object from the air, but in
front of everyone's eyes, the ice co n grew bigger in bigger as it ew, until
nally it crashed in front of Xu Zhinan in its original size.

Xu Zhinan raised his hand to release spiritual power. The ice co n was
suspended in midair, and the layers of ice were thinning down at a visible speed.

Fan Wushe's body shot towards Xu Zhinan like an arrow.

The snow owl howled and waved its wings to stop Fan Wushe. Fan Wushe's
erce sword qi forced the ancient beast back temporarily. He got under the
snow owls wings and attacked Xu Zhinan.

At this time, the ice co n was half melted. With a wave of his sleeve, Xu Zhinan
hid the ice co n behind him. He grabbed Jinqie Yuce and ew up, avoiding Fan
Wushe's sharp sword moves.

"Give me Jinqie Yuce!" Fan Wushe roared.

"Let me live, or…."

"You're not quali ed to bargain with me, but you can choose to leave a whole
corpse for yourself." He couldn't let go of the person who had harmed his elder
brother.

Xu Zhinan, driven to desperation, suddenly spread out Jinqie Yuce in his hand.
With a hissing sound, he tore out a light piece of paper.

Fan Wushe's eyes were about to split. "You dare!"

Xu Zhinan smiled ferociously. His spiritual power owed and attached itself to
the paper. This page from Jinqie Yuce which belonged to Xie Bian, or Zong
Ziheng, oated in the air. The paper had a golden aura, and suddenly the dark
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 sky was over owed with golden light, as if a gap in time and space was torn
open through the curtain of night. Countless words and pictures poured down
like a rainstorm, so that everyone present could clearly witness the fall of each
memory.

Xie Bian watched without words or actions as the memories of his past life were
laid bare in front of everyone like a thunderclap.

Everyone froze. Silently. Breathlessly.

In a moment, they glimpsed a person's life through the thin piece of paper with
divine power.

From the rst time he cried "mother," to when he began to cultivate at the age of
three. At the age of ve, he already danced with his wooden sword with air. He
was gentle, lial, and sensible. Although he always waited for his father to see
him, he was still innocent and happy with his concubine mother.

As he grew up, his supreme talent gradually revealed itself, and the elders
praised him. His eldest uncle accepted him as a disciple. He practiced diligently
and didn't dare slack o a single day. In his spare time, he liked to plant owers,
and enjoy food and wine. When he was twelve, he went out alone for the rst
time and became fascinated with the colorful world.

He had many younger siblings, but he loved his ninth brother the most, perhaps
because the two brothers' concubine mothers were close, or perhaps just
because they shared an unexplainable a nity for each other. He took his ninth
brother to practice his swordplay and took care of his daily life. As long as he
was in Daming, they were inseparable almost every day.

Later, his ninth brother also grew up. On the way to the Jiaolong Meeting, he
took his ninth brother out of the palace for the rst time. They were ambushed
and nearly died.

That crisis was the turning point of everything.

Some things were discovered later, things that oated on the surface, things
some people had witnessed, things people had read from history books, and
things which had been heard from uno cial legends. But those things that were
hidden under the water completely subverted their perceptions. Even if
someone had experienced it, their view would have been overshadowed by
trivial things, blinded by hatred, and misinterpreted for a hundred years.

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 The truth was far more absurd, distorted, and cruel than what they knew or
thought they knew.

Persecution, betrayal, deception, misunderstanding, intimidation, pain, and

death, they watched Zong Ziheng go through the world's most sordid, dirty, and
unbearable tribulations. They watched him try to do good and protect everyone,
only to have them all turn against him. They watched him struggle in the sea of
fate, exhaust himself, get dragged down into the abyss by a relentless vortex,
and nally end everything by killing himself.

Looking at him, no matter whether it was his parents, relatives, friends, or lovers,
the Ren Emperor didn't have a single sincere person in his life because he had a
golden core with imperial destiny. Instead, everyone wanted to break into his
belly and dig out his intestines, whether it was someone who showed a erce
face from the beginning, someone who deceived him with a false smile, or his
ninth brother who kept saying he couldn't do without him.

They witnessed a massacre, a massacre by a single person, whom he had

carried for thirty years before he died.

No one was prepared to see such a story. This person was de nitely not the
same Konghua Emperor that the world knew.

Xie Bian leaned against the tree trunk. His eyes were hollow as if his three souls
and seven spirits had been taken away. Everything that had happened in his
previous life was forcefully shown to everyone. Not only was it as if he'd been
stripped naked, it was as if he'd been ayed, the most extreme pain and shame.

What Jinqie Yuce showed was a person's whole life, but it all happened in the
snap of a nger. When all the memory fragments disappeared after the light
extinguished, the crowd still ruminated on it, unable to return to their senses for
a long time.

More than Xie Bian, there was another person who was subjected to a death of
a thousand cuts.

Fan Wushe stood still like a sculpture. His eyes were like two bottomless holes,
so dark, no light could shine in them, and every emotion would be swallowed
up.

What did he see? What did he see!?

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What he knew, what he believed, what he clung to, what he hated, what he died
for, what he su ered a hundred years for, now Jinqie Yuce told him that there
was another side to those sins Zong Ziheng had committed. Each one had
turned into a sharp blade and stuck in his heart.

Impossible. Impossible. Impossible.

That man, for the sake of the throne, had killed his mother and betrayed him. He
wandered for ten years, su ered every misery in the world, served a hundred
years in hell, and tasted the endless torture and pain of love, all because this
man betrayed him rst!

And so his resentment was justi ed. His revenge was justi ed. Everything he did
to that person was just that person's own fault.

Wasn't that what it was supposed to be!?

Why did Jinqie Yuce give him such subversive truth!?

His heart hurt as if it was going to break…

Notes from the author:

After a month, I've nally signed nearly 60,000 copies of the two books. I feel
like I've regained my life. Never in my life will I die like this again. o (-__t)o

I'm so sorry about the inconsistent updates during this time, and that the writing
is unsatisfactory. I'm also very sad. This chapter has ushers in the climactic
content of the whole book. The rest of the story is very important and is moving
steadily towards the end. I will try my best to write the next part well.

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Chapter 232
Since Fan Wushe was on the verge of collapse and had no time to watch him,
Xu Zhinan found a chance to breathe. He melted Cheng Yanzhi's ice co n
which was made of ice and ice spirit crystals. At the same time, he breathed
heavily, as if every movement exerted all his strength.

After Zong Ziheng's tragic and humiliating life was completely laid out, the
crowd slowly came to their senses. Although Konghua Emperor's experiences
were saddening, the twisted love and hate between him and the Demond Lord
were too vulgar and unpleasant to see. Most of these people came from
orthodox immortal sects. Regardless of what they indulged in privately, they
attached great importance to courtesy, righteousness, and shame. They
sympathized with but despised this person at the same time.

Those who were really smart and aware of the state of things knew that it wasn't
the time to be concerned about the lives of others. They were all in trouble. They
couldn't rely on the fallen Immortal Alliance. They couldn't rely on the demoness,
who couldn't even protect herself. Whether they could survive and whether they
could have a foothold in the cultivation world depended on one person.

One bold person immediately shouted, "Li Buyu, you, you despicable villain.
You've done terrible things. The cultivation world misjudged you for a hundred
years. Who are you to lead the Immortal Alliance?"

The rest of the crowd reacted and turned the spear, "Yes Li Buyu is the culprit. In
order to change his spiritual root and secure the future of Wuliang Sect, the
tricked Konghua Emperor and ate Ninghua Emperor's human pill. Such a man
becoming Mengzhu of the Immortal Alliance, it's the biggest shame of the
cultivation world!"

"Wuliang Sect became the number one sect in the world all because of the evil
Li Buyu has done. If not for the collapse of the Daming Zong Clan, if not for Li
Buyu sucking the blood of two generations of Ren Emperors, would Wuliang
Sect be what it is today?"

For a while, the interrogation was like a million arrows sent out at once, all
shooting at the same target.

From the moment Jinqie Yuce's page was revealed to the public, the cultivators
of Wuliang Sect were all unusually quiet. Everyone's expressions were extremely
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complicated and embarrassed. Li Buyu was even more lifeless. His numb and
dull appearance made it di cult to tell whether he was alive.

The exposure of the truth of the past would not only leave Li Buyu to die without
a place to be buried, but Shushan Wuliang Sect, a ve hundred year old
immortal sect, the leader and epitome of the cultivation world, could also vanish
into smoke.

Li Zhiqing felt the thorns in his back, whether from the surrounding criticisms or
Fan Wushe, and was extremely scared. He trembled and called out, "Father…."

Li Buyu knew he had no power to go back. He whispered, "Chungui."

Song Chungui turned around sti y and looked at his shizun, who had been so
kind to him, with mixed feelings.

"Chungui, my son, it's entrusted to you. Wuliang Sect, it's entrusted to you."

At this time, Song Chungui was still suspected of the murder of Wu Sihai, the da
shixiong of Wuliang Sect. Li Buyu had taken back all his power and spiritual
weapons. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that Li Buyu wanted to open
up the path to Zhangmen of Wuliang Sect for his only son. At this time, only
Song Chungui stood in the way. Song Chungui himself also understood.

However, the situation had taken a turn for the worse. Not to mention Li Buyu,
all of Wuliang Sect could be burned to ashes under the monstrous hatred of the
Demon Lord. Entrusting Wuliang Sect to Song Chungui now, what good end
could he have?

Song Chungui lowered his head and sighed. He couldn't cup his hands with one
arm and simply bowed as usual. He spoke resolutely, one word at a time, "This
disciple respectfully obeys Shizun's instruction."

Li Buyu tried hard to see Xie Bian clearly through his cloudy eyes. If he could
have just a glance, one more glance at the person he deeply admired but could
never have, one more glance at that handsome face… But he couldn't see it
clearly. No matter how much he looked, he couldn't see his face. His eyes
welled up with tears, and owed down the furrows of his face.

He released Leizu Baogao, and the ancient scroll fragment emitted a burst of
golden light. Thunder boomed, shining white light throughout the dawn sky.

"Father, no!" Li Zhiqing cried and rushed forward.

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Song Chungui raised his sword and blocked Li Zhiqing's chest. His eyes were
wet, and he knelt down slowly.

The disciples of Wuliang Sect knelt down one after another.

Li Buyu choked and said, "Emperor, I'm sorry."

White incandescent heavenly thunder fell from the sky, striking straight at the
person who had summoned it.

The moment the lightning ashed, tiny silver lights twinkled in front of the
thunder, inconspicuous in front of the descending heavenly thunder. The next
instant, a long sword passed through Li Buyu's chest. It lifted him up, "nailing"
him in the air.

Heavenly thunder poured down, and Li Buyu was suspended in the air by the
sword. It pierced the middle of his sternum precisely without harming his heart.
Li Buyu was still alive.

"Shizun!"

"Father!"

Fan Wushe opened his ngers, wielded his sword, and raised his head slowly.
His eyes were lled with black veins, his body was surrounded by black miasma,
and his hair moved as if there was wind. It seemed as if his killing intent would
become tangible and destroy everything in the world. He let everyone see how a
person could become a demon.

"Heaven sends the killing machine, and the stars move. The earth sends the
killing machine, and the dragon and snake rises from the land. The world sends
the killing machine, and heaven and earth are overturned. The heavens unite
with man, setting the foundation of all changes!" As Fan Wushe recited the
incantation of the Xuanyuan Tianji Tally, every word resounded, every sentence
agitated, and every sound brought in nite danger and fear to the world.

Suddenly, black miasma piled up from the ground, wrapping itself around the
hideous faces of evil spirits. They rushed to Li Buyu like a hungry tiger and
frantically tore open his body. Flesh and blood splattered in an instant.

The one-armed swordsman ew to attack the yin soldiers without hesitation. Li

Zhiqing and other disciples of Wuliang Sect also drew their swords, but in front
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of thousands of yin solders, they could only watch helplessly as Li Buyu was
torn to pieces. Not only did the yin soldiers tear his body, but also this three
souls and seven spirits.

Mengzhu of the Immortal Alliance, Zhangmen of Shushan Wuliang Sect, the

largest immortal sect in the world, Xianzun Li Buyu, was torn to death by evil
spirits and ghosts, never to be reincarnated again, never to exist in heaven nor
earth.

He had done everything he could to steal the cultivation and achievements that
shouldn't have belonged to him, and in his nal moments, he had to pay back
twofold.

Song Chungui roared out bitterly as they were struggling and besieged by Fan
Wushe's yin soldiers.

"You all saw it." Fan Wushe scanned the crowd with his evil hostile eyes. "Every
one of you saw it. Should I kill you, or will you pluck out your own eyes?"

All of them immediately understood what it was they shouldn't have "seen."
They saw the image of the Ren Emperor that should only have been seen by the
Demon Lord.

"I, I'll pluck them. I'll pluck them!" someone begged for mercy. "Please, Demon
Lord, spare me!"

"I'll pluck mine too. Demon Lord, spare me!"

"Enough."

A quiet voice like a stream of clear water rushed through the lthy noise.

Fan Wushe's body froze. He never dared to turn back. He'd bended the will of
everyone present with his murderous eyes, but he didn't dare look at that one
person alone.

"Li Buyu is dead. Let them go." Xie Bian held onto the thick tree trunk and
struggled to stand up.

Fan Wushe's back seemed to bend a little at that moment, but only a little,
before he slumped his shoulders. The spiritual light of the Tianji Tally in his hand
went dim, and the yin soldiers he had summoned dispersed.

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Fan Wushe turned around sti y. After dodging him several times, he looked at
his elder brother.

The two weren't far apart, yet they looked at each other as if they were
separated by mountains and seas.

Xie Bian's face only showed boundless indi erence.

Fan Wushe recalled everything that had happened in his past and present life.
His dependence and love for this person had turned into the pain and despair of
betrayal. Because of this, he had to hurt him, humiliate him, deceive him, and
take advantage of him for two lifetimes. The re of hatred had already destroyed
their childhood love, and it burned into endless longing for this person, fueled by
twisted love and hate.

Today, when everything was already irrevocable, he was told that his elder
brother had never betrayed him. Even though he was made to su er every sort
of wound, he still wanted to protect him.

Time couldn't be turned back. Cause and e ect were irreversible. The mistakes
he made, how could he turn them back?

"Dage," Fan Wushe cried out. The strongest emotion echoed in this "dage" was
grievance. Where did the grievance come from? He had struggled in endless
pain and despair for two lifetimes and nally met the light that could comfort him
and disperse the darkness for him. He was like a child who had made a mistake
and was trying to beg for forgiveness through fawning, but he knew that he
didn't deserve to call this name. So after "dage," he said no more.

But Xie Bian was indi erent.

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Chapter 233
Under that emotionless gaze, Fan Wushe felt ashamed and inhaled sharply. The
Demon Lord, who had the power to destroy heaven and earth, whispered with a
guilty heart, "They…. They should be killed."

"You dare do that. Why are you afraid of them knowing?" The extreme
humiliation tore at his shame. Facing those needle-like eyes, he felt like a
walking corpse. He didn't feel any pain. Whether it was his heart or his golden
core that was gouged out, he didn't care anymore.

Fan Wushe opened his mouth but didn't know how to answer.

With every resonance from his throat to his chest, Xie Bian's hurt spiritual pulse
felt bursts of pain. The pain in his chest was so severe that he felt dizzy. He
followed the tree trunk slowly and sat down again.

Fan Wushe walked over in a few steps.

Xie Bian raised his hand and pushed his palm out, bluntly refusing him.

That sickly pale face made Fan Wushe worried. He said in a deep voice, "Dage,
your spiritual pulse is damaged, but…"

"Don't call me dage." Xie Bian's tone nally had an imperceptible uctuation.
"Never call me that again."

"…. You're my dage," Fan Wushe said rmly.

Everyone was shocked by the series of upheavals, but after a moment of

inattention, Xu Zhinan had completely melted the ice co n. Cheng Yanzhi's
young and fresh body was exposed to the air, surrounded by the faint light of
the Qixing Xuming lamp. It wasn't easy to put its lights out, even with the gusts
of demonic wind.

"Xu Zhinan, don't even think about it!" Hua Xiangrong drew her bow, but was
unable to get past the snowy owl.

"No one's longevity is spent in Beidou. The seven stars wait for the moon to
cross the Han River," Xu Zhinan recited under his breath. "Seven stars, listen to
my order! Tianshu, Tianxuan, Tiangui, Tianquan, Yuheng…" While reciting, he
picked up Cheng Yanzhi's body and jumped onto the snowy owl's back.

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Every time Xu Zhinan named a star, the Qixing Xuming lamp's ame lit up in turn
until all seven candles were blazing, covering Cheng Yanzhi's pale skin with a
soft orange color visible to the naked eye.

At the same time, the snowy owl spread its wings and took o into the air.

Fan Wushe got up to give chase, but his heart had long been in a state of
turmoil. With his slight loss of concentration, the ancient beast uttered its huge
wings and had already own out several miles. Nothing in the world could catch
up with it. Fan Wushe didn't have time to care about him, so he let Xu Zhinan
run away.

Hua Xiangrong chased after them determinedly.

The remnant of Cangyu Sect who were left behind in Fengdu as well as the
cultivators who had defected to Cangyu Sect looked at each other at a loss, no
knowing what to do. Li Buyu had died and the Immortal Alliance almost only
existed in name. In fact, as early as the battle at Chidi City, the Immortal Alliance
had been doomed to decline. Only by relying on a few major sects did it manage
to survive to this day. Those that moved in the direction of the wind and
originally thought they could rely on Cangyu Sect wouldn't be able to protect
themselves from either side after something even more absurd happened. That
night, the Fengdu boundary was broken, releasing a large number of evil spirits.
As cultivators, even if they were badly injured, they had to shoulder the
important task of subduing and eliminating evil spirits. The Ghost King in Red
occupied the netherworld, and who knew what kind of disaster he would bring
to the world. At the moment, the cultivation world didn't know where to go.

The curtain of heaven was opened, and the rst rays of the sunrise shined
down. The seemingly endless long night eventually saw the light of day again,
but the darkness was not dispersed. It still lingered in the world.

The Zhongyuan Festival was over and the boundary was closed, but Fengdu
was left in chaos, the netherworld was overthrown, and the evil spirits which ed
to the world still roamed free, turning the world into the Ghost Festival. Under
the rising sunlight, everyone still felt the bone-chilling cold.

The sound of footsteps approached, and black hem and black shoes appeared
in Xie Bian's line of sight.

Fan Wushe returned to Xie Bian and reached out his hand to inject spiritual
power into Xie Bian's wound.

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Xie Bian opened his hand without hesitation.

"Your injury is important," Fan Wushe said.

Xie Bian leaned against the tree trunk and stared ahead vacantly. His calm and
blank demeanor was so much like the moment when he met death in his
previous life. Although, he knew that Fan Wushe would not let him die.

"Dage," Fan Wushe called again, almost obstinately. He tried in vain to use this
title to wake up some old memories of the early days. The days when the
brothers were both still naive and ignorant, before everything had moved in the
ugliest direction. The days when "dage" was only lled with trust and a ection.

This "dage" had already changed its avor from the moment he repaid this
man's deep love with hate.

He really didn't deserve to call him "dage," but what could he do? This might
have been the only connection left between them. He needed to emphasize it
over and over again.

Xie Bian no longer retorted. His consciousness was gradually blurring, and Fan
Wushe's face was also blurring. He didn't know whether he couldn't see clearly
or that he simply didn't want to see.

For a hundred years, he had spent countless nights in pain and despair, hoping
that the person who tormented him would know the truth of the matter. That
someone would nd out that he was bearing the responsibility of guilt which
didn't belong to him and return him to a clear conscience. Some of the things he
could explain, and some of the things he couldn't, but they were all branded on
his soul. Over and over, he'd said "I didn't hurt you" to this person, he only
person he cared about, the person who hated him deeply.

But this person didn't believe it.

So he gave up. A hundred years ago, he stopped explaining, and he didn't care
whether the truth came out one day or not. For him, the truth, which was a
hundred years late, was not relief, comfort, or reparation. It was nothing.

It was meaningless. Nothing.

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Xie Bian's gray and empty eyes made Fan Wushe feel unspeakable fear. He
swore solemnly, "If Li Buyu is dead, I will bury Xu Zhinan. I won't spare anyone
who hurt you."1

Hearing these words, Xie Bian's eyes nally fell on Fan Wushe. He looked at him
quietly.

Fan Wushe understood what those emotionless eyes were saying in an instant.
His heart aching, he said with di culty, "I will also account for myself, but right
now, let me heal your wounds."

Xie Bian closed his eyes. His heart was like ashes, and he couldn't even stir up a
trace of dust. He was too tired. He'd struggled for too long. He wanted to rest.

A warm current owed into his body, and his internal organs, which were
spasming in pain, were soon soothed. His body tremors slowly subsided, and he
fell unconscious, slipping into darkness.

Before he passed out, he seemed to hear someone whispering in his ear, "I'm
sorry."

Notes from the author:

It seems that there's nothing more to write about for this chapter. It's the end of
the volume.

It's time to start a new volume for Xiao Hei's journey to chase his wife✌

1 How about you start with yourself, assface?

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 Chapter 234
Daming City, located in the hinterlands of the Central Plans, was once the most
prosperous place in the world more than a hundred years ago. Behind it stood
Daming Mountain, where an immortal cave was discovered by the Zong
ancestors hundreds of years before. They established a clan there, the Daming
Zong Clan, the imperial clan who ruled Jiuzhou for three hundred years.

However, the sibling rivalry between the last Ren Emperor of the Zong Clan and
the Demon Lord led to the collapse of the Daming Zong Clan. The Immortal
Alliance took the opportunity to divide up the Zong Clan's great wealth, burn
down the beautiful and majestic Wuji Palace, and seal Daming Mountain's
immortal cave with an array which no one was allowed to enter without
permission.

Without the protection of the imperial family, Daming City, which was once a
place of pilgrimage, was regarded as a forbidden place by the Immortal Alliance.
As such, it naturally declined completely. Over span of a hundred years,
hundreds of thousands of people were forced to leave their homeland to make a
living. Those who remained in Daming struggled just to get by.

When Xie Bian had just been appointed as a general of the netherworld and was
traveling around, he went to Daming and stood in front of the vast ruins of Wuji
Palace. He imagined the legendary glory of the Daming Zong Clan, not knowing
that the next time he returned to Daming, he would already have another state of
mind.

When he woke up suddenly, he found that furnishings of the house he was in

were very familiar to him. He spent a lot of time thinking before he was sure that
he was in the palace on Daming Mountain which was specially built by the
ancestors of the Zong Clan to cultivate in the immortal cave. Since ancient
times, only the descendants of the Zong Clan could use it.

He had many memories of this palace from his childhood to adulthood, but the
rst which came to mind was when Zong Zixiao brought him here to enjoy the
snow, and the two of them spent a few days in extreme, desolate lust.

A hundred years passed in a ash. Past and present lives, clouds and mist. He
looked unblinkingly at the drapery overhead and suddenly felt that his
reincarnation was just a dream of self-salvation. In fact, he neither escaped nor
died, let alone fell in love with Zong Zixiao who hid his identity without knowing
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the truth. When he woke up, he was still Zong Ziheng, still in the palace, still
trapped in inescapable resentment, unable to nd a way out.

He couldn't tell for a moment which case he preferred to be true and which he
preferred to be false.

But these old furnishings, the cold and humid climate, and the pain in his body
all told him that he had woken up from his dream. Although this was still the
palace, the world had changed its face. He and Zong Zixiao had died and been
reborn, and continued the sinful relationship of their previous lives.

Since Xie Bian woke up, Fan Wushe had been by his side almost the whole time,
but from morning till night, he could hardly get a word or look from him.

This person had closed himself o and built high walls to prevent the outside
world from approaching, him especially.

After the battle in Fengdu City, Fan Wushe never had a full night's sleep. He was
caught in recurring nightmares, dreaming that he and his elder brother went
from laughing together to pointing their swords at each other. He dreamt that
those tender, loving eyes were lled with hate, that his elder brother endured
humiliation, and that his virtue was rewarded with resentment. The painful and
remorseful memories paced back and forth like a beast chasing him from behind
which he couldn't shake o .

He knew that the person who could save him was right in front of him. But if he
touched even just the corner of his white coat, this person would resist him from
head to toe.

At this time, Xie Bian was sitting in the pavilion, gazing at the lush and green
Daming Mountain. Except for the occasional blink, he maintained this gaze for a
long time, as if there was something in that sea of green which attracted his
attention.

Fan Wushe also sat beside him for a long time until a cool breeze swirled in the
mountain. He said softly, "Dage, it's windy here. Let's go back."

Seeing that Xie Bian remained motionless, he took out a cloak from his spatial
bag and put it over Xie Bian's back. At the same time, he gently pressed on his
thin shoulders. "You're still recovering from your injuries. Don't get cold."

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Xie Bian stood up, threw o the cloak as well as Fan Wushe's hands, and went
toward the house.

Fan Wushe's heart tightened. He gathered his emotions and followed him.

Xie Bian poured out the cold pot of tea and made a new one for himself before
picking up the half-read book on the table again.

Fan Wushe sat opposite him and poured himself a cup of tea. Sharing a pot of
tea, it seemed like they were closer than they were. Holding the cup of tea in his
hand, he felt ridiculous. He cleared his throat and said calmly, "Dage, do you
intend to go on like this forever?

I know you have resentment and hatred in your heart, and that you want to kill
me…." Fan Wushe smiled bitterly. "You're not really as calm as you seem. You
don't want to look at me. You don't want to talk to me. I understand. But we
can't go on like this forever." He looked at Xie Bian. His eyes were sincere and
even had a hint of of supplication. "Dage, talk to me, okay?"

Xie Bian stared unblinkingly at the book in his hand. "You know what I want to
hear," he said.

"Your injuries aren't healed. I can't leave you. For the time being, I can't go back
to Fengdu to investigate the situation. However, Jiang Qulian won't kill Lan
Chuihan, nor will he touch Cui Fujun or Bo Zhu. Those people are all useful to
him."

"Useful." Xie Bian repeated the word indi erently.

"Yes. Jiang Qulian has now seized control of the netherworld, but what he wants
is obviously not just to reincarnate. His cultivation, his memories, and safety
after reincarnation, he needs to pave the way for himself to ensure he has all
those things. He wants to control the laws of the six paths of reincarnation.
That's the only way he can transcend reincarnation."

Xie Bian was silent again.

"What Jiang Qulian wants to do is likely to break the balance between the three
realms and bring unimaginable disaster." Fan Wushe stared straight at Xie Bian.
"You know that I'm the only one who can stop him, right?"

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 "He helped you get the Tianji Tally, and you helped him seize the netherworld.
Thanks to your mutual achievements, the human and ghost realms will be in
chaos, and many innocent people will die in vain."

"We took what we needed from each other. The situation is di erent now. Dage,
you still need me. I'm the only one you can rely on now."

Xie Bian nally turned his gaze to Fan Wushe, but his eyes were as indi erent as
ever.

Fan Wushe's heart beat wildly a few times. Restraining the uctuations in his
heart, he said in a deep voice, "I'm willing to do anything for you. Now, can we
talk about 'us?'"

"No need." Xie Bian got up to leave.

Without thinking, Fan Wushe grabbed his wrist, instinctively refusing to let him
leave.

Xie Bian's body tensed, but he didn't struggle. He just looked at Fan Wushe with
a dull look. It was as if the scene from the previous life was replaying. Back then,
they also had many disagreements. Back then, he also didn't have the right to
walk away. He couldn't avoid this person who would teach him a lesson in the
most humiliating ways, letting him know clearly that he was just a puppet, a
prisoner. Because he had experienced it too many times, he didn't care what
treatment awaited him next.

Fan Wushe held his thin wrist, but it was like holding a burning stick. It made
him su er from the inside out, but even though it was hot and painful, he didn't
want to let go. He clenched his teeth and slowly wrapped his arms around Xie
Bian's waist, making his elder brother sit on his lap as he had done countless
times before.

Xie Bian was at his mercy like a puppet. But after waiting a while, he was
surprised when he didn't get a rough treatment.

Fan Wushe carefully encircled his waist and rested his forehead against Xie
Bian's hair. "Dage, I'm sorry. Do you hear me? I'm sorry," he said at risk of his
emotions ooding out.2

Xie Bian remained indi erent.

2 Sorry, not good enough. Keep going.

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"In fact, I wavered. Many times. When you explained to me before, I couldn't
forget how good you were to me. I instinctively wanted to believe you, but I was
blinded by hatred and incited by the yin qi of the Tianji Tally…" Fan Wushe's
heart felt bursts of sharp pain. This analysis was just like breaking open his
stomach. He said in a trembling voice, "I made a lot of mistakes.

I didn't expect that you carried so much yourself. I should have faced it with
you.

Dage, I was wrong.

I know you don't want to hear these words. Maybe I don't have to say them. No
matter how much I regret it, what happened in the past can't be changed." Fan
Wushe gently folded his arms. "But no matter what, I won't let you go. Dage,
you raised me, taught me how to practice swordplay, how read, how to
understand. Can you teach me what I should do now?"

 Chapter 235
This regret, which had come too late, was only ironic to Xie Bian's ears. He'd
already lost everything and had nothing left. He had no more expectations for
Fan Wushe. He just wanted to stay away from Fan Wushe and the rest of the
world.

But despite the fact that he felt hopeless for himself, he still had concerns and
un nished business in his heart. He wanted to save people. He wanted to save
the world. Only when his life burned its last ame would it be worthwhile to
come to the world again. Fan Wushe also saw this. Regardless of past lives, this
person always had enough leverage to coerce him.

"I've listened to you since I was a child," Fan Wushe said in a very gentle voice.
"Do you remember, sometimes I wouldn't even listen to Fujun or Mufei, but I
always listened to my dage. I really want to go back to the past."

"How far back?" Xie Bian whispered.

Fan Wushe froze.

"In the earliest days, we were just brothers. Later, I became your prisoner, but
we never talked about a ection between us again. Then later, we were martial
brothers, but that was just a scam." Xie Bian glanced at Fan Wushe faintly. "Do
you want me to be your dage again, treating you with tenderness and care? Do
you want me to be your forbidden meal, getting to do whatever you want? It
seems that every past isn't exactly what you want. Which past do you want to
go back to?"

His tone was light and indi erent, as if he was talking about strangers who had
nothing to do with them. But every word he said was like a sharp blade to Fan
Wushe's heart, stabbing him with pain. He pondered for a moment. "You're
right. We can't go back. I want to have a new beginning with Dage."

Xie Bian stood up and paced to the window, giving Fan Wushe only a silent
back.

"Dage, you know how much I…" Fan Wushe took a deep breath and whispered,
"How much I love you. This, from beginning to end, hasn't changed. I can do
anything for you. Jiang Qulian, Xu Zhinan, or whatever else, as long as you ask."

"Good. Go kill them and save Cui Fujun and Lan Dage."

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"If I do, what about Dage?"

Xie Bian didn't have to look back to feel the two burning eyes that were nailed
on his back. He said in a deep voice, "The world's troubles were started by you.
You should be the one to stop them."

"So what if I started it," Fan Wushe said coldly. "I don't care about their life or
death. I don't care about the balance between the human and ghost realms
either. I only care about you."

Xie Bian turned around. "So the new beginning you want is to continue to
coerce me."

"I…." Fan Wushe frowned. "No, I will never force you. I just want to stay by your
side."

"And if I don't want to?"

"Wherever you go, I'll go." Fan Wushe forced a smile. "I used to pester you
when I was a child. If I wasn't young at the time, I would have followed you
when you went out of the palace. Dage, at least let me stay by your side. That's
my only request."

Xie Bian took a deep breath, and his hands clenched unconsciously. He knew
what Fan Wushe was doing. He kept calling him "dage" and mentioning their
childhood to make him soft. After all, in his heart, Xiao Jiu was an unshakeable,
indelible existence. They both knew how much of the blame he had taken was
for Xiao Jiu.

"Who can stop you?" Xie Bian said. "Even my core, you have the means to take
it if you want it."

Fan Wushe's face turned pale. "I don't want your core. I was really confused,
but in fact, I couldn't do it. I didn't think you would… That is the biggest regret in
my life."

"Then there's nothing I can give you."

"There is. As long as I can see you every day, I will be satis ed."

"You won't be satis ed." Xie Bian looked at the distant mountain scenery
without blinking. "You're a person who can never be satis ed. You want
everything, and if you can't get it, you'll steal it."

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 Fan Wushe nodded. "It's always Dage who knows me best. But does Dage
remember that I was not so greedy once? I only wanted to be with Dage all my
life. If Dage became Ren Emperor, I would assist you. If I became Ren Emperor,
I'd want Dage to stay with me all my life." He looked straight into Xie Bian's
eyes. "What I want most is just you."

Xie Bian didn't want to dwell on those words anymore. After a long moment of
silence, he said, "What's your plan? Right now, the netherworld is controlled by
Jiang Qulian, and the ve Ghost Emperors are watching from the side. He still
has hostages in his hands."

"First, we'll try to rescue the hostages. I will destroy his ghost army," Fan Wushe
said arrogantly. "Back then, the Great Beiyin Emperor could barely manage a
miserable victory against me. Jiang Qulian is just a Ghost King. I will show him
the power of the Tianji Tally."

"He will be prepared," Xie Bian said. "Even if we can successfully rescue the
hostages, you can't tear open the Fengdu boundary like you did in your previous
life. All the people in Jiuzhou could be his hostages. I can't take that risk."

Fan Wushe smiled faintly. "I'll listen to Dage."

Xie Bian glanced at him coldly. "Is there any news about Xu Zhinan?"

"I only know that he didn't return to Chidi City. No one will accommodate him
now, so he's disappeared for the time being. He was seriously injured. Even he
exchanges his soul with Cheng Yanzhi's body, Cheng Yanzhi still can't leave the
Qixing Xuming lamp. I'm afraid he's out of luck."

Xie Bian shook his head. "Xu Zhinan is probably the most intelligent person I
have ever met. He is obviously cold and ruthless, but he acts as if he is
a ectionate and righteous. He fooled everyone, including me. He spent a
hundred years laying out such a careful plan just for the sake of reviving himself
in a young and healthy body. He wouldn't fail to leave a way out for himself at
the last moment."

"But he can't revive himself without Juepin Renhuang."

"Jinqie Yuce is still in his hands. There have been hundreds of emperors since
ancient times. I'm sure I'm not the only cultivator with imperial destiny alive
today, I'm just the one with the highest cultivation. If he wants to settle for
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second best, as long as he nds one who has a golden core, perhaps it could
help him succeed."

Fan Wushe pondered, "We should seal Chidi City so he can't get near the
Shennong Cauldron. I will send people to surround Chidi City rst."

"Yes," Xie Bian said, "we can't stay here any longer."

"Your injuries aren't healed yet."

"They're no longer serious."

"No." Fan Wushe was used to being in control. Right after he said it, he
immediately softened his tone. "Dage, your spiritual pulse was badly injured.
The immortal cave in Daming Mountain will help you heal. Once you are better, I
will take you away."

Xie Bian thought it was funny. After all, Fan Wushe was the one who had
seriously injured him. But he couldn't laugh.

Fan Wushe, however, seemed to be aware of what the was thinking. He

whispered, "Your body now is quite di erent from your previous life. After all, the
cultivation level is still several years o . The Eighth Chongtian can't be
controlled at will. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"How much longer?" Xie Bian asked expressionlessly. "How long will it be till I
can leave?"

Fan Wushe said warmly, "If you didn't resist me when I try to heal you, it would
be much faster."

"….."

"You've been standing for too long today. It's time to go back to bed and rest."

Xie Bian hesitated for a moment, but returned to bed as he was told.

He thought that Fan Wushe must have done it deliberately. Although this palace
was nothing compared to Wuji Palace, there were still twenty to thirty rooms.
However, Fan Wushe still placed him in the room where they lived in the
previous life.

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He had too many shameful memories of that bed. Zong Zixiao brought him here
in the name of enjoying the snow, but in fact, he just wanted to nd a secluded
place to do what he wanted without being disturbed. He had been practicing
martial arts since he was three years old, but he was tossed and turned until he
was so weak he couldn't leave, and could only be carried back to the palace
after getting out of the sedan chair. The people who witnessed it made fun of
him behind his back. When rumors spread outside the palace and into the
cultivation world, he was embarrassed thinking of how embellished and
disgusting they must have been.

It was torment for him to lie here, but that was Fan Wushe's purpose. He wanted
to force him to recall their most "intimate" memories.

Fan Wushe helped him lie down and tucked him in. "Although it's summer, it's
still cool in the mountains, especially after sunset."

Xie Bian turned his face to the bed.

"Of course, it's colder in winter. You remember when we came here as children. I
was always so cold I had to sleep under the same quilt as you." Fan Wushe
smiled. " Later, I wasn't afraid of the cold, but you…" His smile stopped abruptly
as he remembered what he saw in Jinqie Yuce, nally understanding why his
elder brother was so afraid of the cold and even snow.

Because he was severely injured by his own father and nearly died in the
boundless snowy plains of Kunlun. Later, he was rescued by Qi Mengsheng and
recovered his life, but his fear of the bone-biting cold was engraved into his soul.

And what did he do when he found out he was afraid of the cold? He wrapped
him in a fur coat and carried him into the snow, liking that he would hold onto
him tightly in the cold out of fear.

Fan Wushe was afraid to recall everything that he had done to his elder brother.
The list of evils he'd committed was too long to record. Every time he
remembered something, it made him feel deep despair.

Xie Bian's jawline was taut, his lips were slightly pursed, and he didn't say a
word. He had obviously thought of the same thing.

After a while, Xie Bian felt his body submerge into the warm current of Fan
Wushe's spiritual power.

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 "I'll never let you be cold again." Fan Wushe's heart was aching. "When I was
little, I swore to protect you for the rest of my life and not let anyone bully you,
not let anyone hurt you, not let anyone give you grievances. But I hurt you the
most. I will…."

"Stop talking," Xie Bian said softly. "I don't want to hear it."

Fan Wushe's hand trembled, and his eyes dropped sadly. He whispered, "I know
you don't want to hear it, but I can't help saying it. I'm afraid you'll forget it. I'm
afraid you won't care. If you don't even care about Xiao Jiu, I won't know what
to do."

“……"

The temperature rose from circulating spiritual power between them. Their
bodies were hotter than usual, but their hearts were always cold. Because they
were di cult to touch. Because they were too far apart. Because they avoided
it.

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Chapter 236
Because of the thick spiritual power in Daming Mountain's immortal cave, Xie
Bian's injuries were improving every day. But what worried him wasn't his own
injuries. It was Fengdu, which was far away, Chidi City, which was even further
away, and of course Fan Wushe, who was nearby.

Day after day, Fan Wushe brought up good memories of the childhood they'd
experienced together, no matter how indi erent he was. Sometimes, he even felt
Fan Wushe was deliberately trying to provoke him. Just like before, when he
ignored Xiao Jiu for something else, Xiao Jiu would deliberately make trouble to
get his attention.

One day, Fan Wushe went out for several hours before coming back. It was
unusual since he almost never left the palace.

Xie Bian hesitated on whether to escape. Apart from some servants, there was
no one else in the palace, and Fan Wushe didn't restrict him. But after thinking
about it, he decided not to act rashly. He felt that he couldn't escape from Fan
Wushe's sphere of in uence. And besides, even if he escaped, what could he
do?

Fan Wushe pushed open the door to the room. Dressed in black with a
longsword at his side, he looked tall and strong with a face as tough as a knife.
His eyes were sharp and deep. Anyone who saw him would probably be
shocked by his evil and domineering aura, but he took out something from his
arms which was the complete opposite: a hot oil paper bag.

"Dage, look what I bought." Fan Wushe handed over the oil paper bag like it
was a treasure. When Xie Bian didn't accept it, he opened it himself.

Xie Bian was stunned.

"It's your favorite sugar oil cake from Zhang's shop." Fan Wushe couldn't hide
his smile. "Zhang's shop closed down a few years ago. Business wasn't good,
Zhang Laotu was old, and his daughter got married. I specially inquired about
his residence, went to his house, and asked him to make some for me. I ew
back all the way on my sword. It's still hot."

Xie Bian asked coldly, "You didn't hurt anyone did you?"

"Of course not." Fan Wushe's face changed slightly. "I just bought two cakes."

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 Xie Bian took a look at the layer of scorched red frosting on the cake. The sweet
oily smell really made him want to move his ngers toward it. There were many
delicacies he loved in Daming City. He thought that after so much time had
passed, he would have forgotten them, but it only took a little fragrance to bring
back the memories. However, he turned his face away and said, "That's good."

"Dage, taste it. Doesn't it taste the same as before?" Fan Wushe's eyes
contained some uneasy expectation. "It was so hot when it came out of the pot,
when I carried it, my arms and stomach were red."

Xie Bian didn't intend to have a problem with the food, so he grabbed it, lowered
his head, and took a bite.

"Is it good?" Fan Wushe asked happily.

Xie Bian nodded indi erently and ate the cake while reading a book. The sweet
oil cake tasted exactly the same as the one in his memories. Just thick enough,
not too sweet. Although it wasn't as soft as when they were fresh from the pan,
it was still delicious. Being able to eat it today, he felt a little emotional.

Fan Wushe waited eagerly for more of a response, but he seemed to have
expected that there wouldn't be more. His eyes dimmed a bit, but he didn't give
up. "Dage, I want to try it too."

Xie Bian was about to return the one that was untouched, but Fan Wushe
suddenly leaned down, grabbed his hand, and took a bite right where he had
bitten.

Xie Bian sti ened then saw Fan Wushe licking the sugar residue on his lips,
looking at him a ectionately from a very close distance.

In a ash, space and time alternated, and the scenery changed. The two
seemed to have returned to Jingzhou City a few years before. He had bought a
piece of sesame candy at the night market. It was sweet and delicious. He
wanted his shidi to have a taste too, and Fan Wushe bit the exact same place he
did. That was the rst time he noticed the ambiguous atmosphere from Fan
Wushe.

Later, when he fell in love with him, he always thought that his shidi's heart had
moved by spending time with him day and night. Now, he understood that this
persistent obsession could be traced back to his previous life.

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 Just when Fan Wushe wanted to steal a kiss,3 Xie Bian stood up quickly and
took a few steps back.

Fan Wushe dropped his hand and said, "You eat. I won't disturb you." He
paused and added, "Daming City has fallen a lot. I've been all over the city, and
many of the places we went when we were children are gone. But I'll try to get
them back. What you liked to eat, what you liked to drink, I'll go and get them
for you."

"No need," Xie Bian said. "Don't do these useless things."

"You must miss it too. You always liked to travel around and enjoy delicious
food. Everywhere you went, you'd always ask what food was good, where to
nd the best drinks, where to have fun." Fan Wushe looked over at Xie Bian.
"What you wanted was to live a free and unrestrained life. I should have known
you better than anyone. I shouldn't have believed that you would harm people
for the sake of the throne, but I was deceived. Dage, when everything is over,
we'll live the life you wanted most, okay? I'll stay with you forever."

"I already don't want that anymore," Xie Bian said expressionlessly. "I don't want
to think about my past life. I don't want to think about this life. I just want to
avenge my shizun. I just want to return the netherworld that he guarded with his
life and restore balance."

"I will do it for you," Fan Wushe said rmly. "Whatever you want, I'll give it to
you. I'll rebuild Wuji Palace. I'll make Daming prosperous again. I'll give you
whatever you like, and wherever you want to go, I'll…"

"Enough!" Xie Bian couldn't help but shout. This was the rst time he'd shown
anger these days. Like a tightly built castle that was suddenly cracked open,
once a little bit of the indignation that had been forcibly suppressed was
revealed, it all poured out. But he quickly came to his senses again. He inhaled,
forcing back the spilled emotions, and turned around to leave.

Fan Wushe stepped forward and pulled his thin shoulders back. His eyes clearly
revealed pain. He said, "Dage, if you want to scold me, if you want to hit me, if
you want to hate me, if you want to kill me, then feel free to. Just don't pretend
to be indi erent anymore."

"Let go of me."

3 A kiss?? You think you're anywhere close to getting a kiss? Bruh get out of here
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 Fan Wushe slowly withdrew his hand.

"Can you make Shizun come back from the dead?" Xie Bian stared viciously into
Fan Wushe's eyes.

"…. No." Fan Wushe's heart fell straight down.

"Then we can never go back to the past either." Once he stopped suppressing
it, the resentment in Xie Bian's eyes owed out. "I've told you countless times,
Xiao Jiu is dead in my heart. Nothing you do will help anything. Nothing you do
can change everything back. So stop doing all these useless things."

"He's not dead." Fan Wushe's big hand pressed against his chest, but he
couldn't ght back the gut-wrenching pain. "If he really died, I wouldn't be in so
much pain. I wouldn't have been tortured a hundred years in hell, unable to
forget you for a moment."

Xie Bian's expression was frozen again. "He's dead. You killed him."4

Fan Wushe's heart was oppressed by sudden despair. It hurt so much his waist
bent slightly. Several veins in his eyes turned black, and black miasma oated
out with his anger. His spiritual consciousness was attacked in the most cruel
way, and his heart was a ected by internal demons for a moment. With two lives
worth of experience, he thought he could control the erosion by yin qi from the
Tianji Tally, but he didn't expect that there was a person who could make him
lose control with just a few words.

Xie Bian looked at him warily.

Fan Wushe clenched his sts, turned around, and strode away.

4 This repeated line is so interesting to me. Fan Wushe doesn't deserve forgiveness for the
things he's done, but I don't think he deserves to have his humanity robbed from him. I feel like
this is the last protection Xie Bian's heart has. He can't accept that the person he loved, the
person he hates, and the person who hurt him are all the same person. It's easier to write
someone o if you make them one dimensional.

I'm not a huge fan of AUs, but I honestly think that if none of the shit had gone down, Zong
Zixiao still would have gone yandere one day and fucked up their brotherly love. He was
always going to grow to be an obsessive possessive person who valued strength over
righteousness.

Also, have I really only made 4 footnotes in 6 chapters??

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 Chapter 237
Xie Bian was sleeping deeply when the door of his bedchamber was suddenly
pushed open. He woke up with a start and grabbed the sword at his side.
Junlan was halfway out its sheath when the gure arrived in front of him.

But he soon knew who the visitor was. After all, he had lived with him for two
lifetimes. Although this person's scent was mixed with wine, he could still easily
distinguish this familiar scent.

"What are you doing?" Xie Bian asked coldly.

Fan Wushe sat on the edge of the bed and said mysteriously, "Taking you
somewhere."

The smell of wine made Xie Bian frown. "You've drunk too much."

"Not too much." Fan Wushe grabbed Xie Bian's wrist. "Let's go."

"What time is it?" Xie Bian tried to shake his hand o , but couldn't. "Let go."

"Dage, I'm gonna take you somewhere. You have to see it."

Fan Wushe was usually gloomy and cold rather than angry, even as a teenager.
After all, hidden under his young body was the soul of a person who had lived
two lifetimes. He'd almost never had such a jumpy moment.

How much wine did you drink? The normal Fan Wushe put Xie Bian on guard at
all times. This abnormal Fan Wushe in front of him made him even more worried.

Xie Bian was half-dragged, half-carried out of bed by Fan Wushe. He took him
on his sword and ew away from the palace, heading deep into Daming
Mountain.

"I've been looking for a long time. I think it's supposed to be this time of year,"
Fan Wushe shouted in the wind. A few words were swallowed by the wind
intermittently, but Xie Bian was vaguely reminded of something.

Fan Wushe followed the trace of spiritual awareness that he'd left behind and
found a small lake in the forest. Looking from the sky, the waning half-moon
re ected clearly on the surface of the water which wrinkled in the breeze. The
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 most striking thing was the golden band of light which oated around the lake as
if the stars in the sky were re ected on earth.

It was thousands of re ies, each with their own weak light, gathered together
into this dreamlike beauty.

The two of them passed through the streams of re ies and landed on the shore
of the lake. Xie Bian lifted his head and stared blankly at the sparks of light,
caught up in memories.

This place was rst discovered by him.

In order to protect Daming Mountain's immortal cave, outsiders were not

allowed to come to the peak where the palace was located. When he was
young, he was curious about everything. After his daily practice, he ew around
the mountain on his sword, looking for fun. And so, he found this small lake, and
also found that when it was hot and humid in the summer, a large number of
re ies would gather beside the water.

He was shocked by the sight at the time. After leaving his spiritual awareness,
he ew back to the palace to wake up Xiao Jiu from his sleep and brought him
there to see. Since then, whenever they came to the immortal cave to practice in
the summer, they would sneak here from time to time and play.

He remembered back then, his talent had just emerged and his father expected
him to win glory for the Daming Zong Clan at the Jiaolong Meeting. He was
appreciated by his father, loved by his mother, and respected and worshiped by
his younger siblings. That was the most carefree time of his life.

Xie Bian was so deeply immersed in a kind of thick grief that he was unable to
extricate himself and didn't even notice that someone had held his hand.

Fan Wushe looked at Xie Bian with a blank but gentle gaze. Under the same
quiet starry sky, he seemed to follow the river of time backward. In the sky were
the moon and stars; on the ground were re ections and re ies. In heaven and
earth, there was only the two of them, him and his dage. It seemed to be a
dream that was carefully planned for them.

Back then, he grabbed his elder brother's hand jumped up and down in
surprise, so excited that he didn't sleep all night.

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 Now he was holding his elder brother's hand. He looked down at his elder
brother's quiet eyes. He wanted this moment to be meaningful and endless, but
at the same time he was afraid to wake up from the beautiful dream.

It was at that moment that Xie Bian came back to his senses. He looked up at
Fan Wushe in surprise then drew back his hand.

Fan Wushe clenched his ngers over his empty palm to stop the heat from
escaping.

"In the past, we came here to enjoy the moon and the re ies," Fan Wushe said
softly. "You found this place rst."

Xie Bian pondered for a moment. "It's too late. Let's go back."

Fan Wushe took his hand again. "We used to stay here until dawn."

"Let go." Xie Bian frowned.

From the wine that had rushed to the top of his head accompanied with the
frustration he'd accumulated from Xie Bian, Fan Wushe's face was hot. His hand
squeezed even tighter. "I want to go back at dawn. Dage, stay with me."

Xie Bian was shocked.

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, these words were exactly the same as

before, though the previous tone was a pampered child and the tone now was
dominating. Each time he was unable to refuse. Before, it was because he
indulged and spoiled Xiao Jiu, and now, it was because he felt wariness and
fear.

Fan Wushe took Xie Bian and sat down on a smooth stone. He took out a cloak
from his spatial bag, wrapped Xie Bian up, then held his shoulders.

Xie Bian sat still, not daring to relax his body for a moment.

"It's so beautiful. So many streams of re ies, just like when I was a child." Fan
Wushe's hand held Xie Bian's thin shoulder, and he sighed in his heart. When he
was a child, this person seemed like he could hold up the sky for him. Why was
he so pale and so thin now? He just wanted to hold this person in his arms at all
times and o er him everything in the world.

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 But his elder brother didn't want things like a throne, wealth, or spiritual
weapons. He thought his elder brother would like those things, but in the end,
only he took it seriously. Now he didn't want anything he could give. He didn't
even want him.

Xie Bian quietly watched the golden re ies. They looked like rivers of stars that
had been crumbled and spread over the earth. Incomparably romantic, he softly
whispered, "Falling from the sky like stars, brushing the trees like owers."5

Fan Wushe looked into Xie Bian's eyes which were so bright, the stars seemed
to be sprinkled into them. Gentle and focused, completely moved, his blood was
surging. His intense longing seemed to break through the bonds of his body,
ready to pounce on this person he was madly obsessed with. Desperately, he
dragged back the beast within his heart. Desperately, he suppressed the desire
which could never be destroyed. Restraining himself, he lowered his head and
printed an in nitely soft kiss on his forehead.

Xie Bian, however, was tense all over. His eyes stared straight ahead, as if facing
a great enemy.

"Don't be afraid of me." Fan Wushe's voice was hoarse and deep.

"Dage, don't do this to me." His voice trembled a little more.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I thought you betrayed me. I thought you killed my
mother. I didn't mean to treat you that way. You were the most important person
in my life, so I couldn't stand you doing that to me." Fan Wushe hugged Xie
Bian's shoulders and rested his forehead against Xie Bian's head. "But I always

5Oh, hey nally time for a useful footnote. This is from a poem by Xiao Gong, which is the
personal name of Chinese Emperor Jianwen of Liang. His life was pretty sad, and most of his
works were lost, but many of his poems are characterized as being owery, or even erotic.
Some of his collected works are referred to as "Poems on Things" which are about things like
dilapidated bridges, smoke, moss, and even dust on wooden rafters. I wasn't able to nd an
English tl of this speci c poem, so excuse my shitty version:

本将秋草并，今与夕⻛轻。Autumn grasses merge together, light in the evening breeze

腾空类星陨，拂树若⽣花。Falling from the sky like stars, brushing the trees like owers
屏疑神⽕照，帘似夜珠明。A screen illuminated perhaps by the re of gods, a curtain like a
night pearl

逢君拾光彩，不吝此⽣轻。Every time you take your glory, do not hesitate to live lightly

Here is a dissertation someone did on this "Poems on Things" works in general: https://
scholarsbank.uoregon.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1794/19321/
Elford_oregon_0171N_11346.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
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 had you in my heart. Only you. I couldn't forget you even if I wanted to. Not in a
hundred years, not in two hundred years, not in two lifetimes, I'd never forget.

Xie Bian's heart felt unbearably sad. When he saw the sky of re ies over this
familiar lake, his mind was full of the laughter of his youth. After all, these were
engraved in his heart. How could he forget them? But that pain, that disgusting
hateful face, those were also engraved in his heart. He also couldn't forget them.

He turned his head. His body trying to escape, but the weight on his shoulders
immobilized him. This belated regret was worthless. Otherwise, his struggles, his
pain, his despair, and his failures would have been worthless. And so, he
strongly resisted these premeditated acts intended to rouse his memories.
Whether it was the delicious wine he'd had in his youth, or the places he'd been
to, it was Fan Wushe's attempt to soften his heart. He'd been wearing this numb
mask for fear that cracks would appear and give away his increasingly
uncontrollable emotions.

"Dage, talk to me," Fan Wushe whispered in his ear. "You must have a lot to say.
Don't hide everything. Just say something. Curse me, hate me, anything is ne.
You have to talk."

Xie Bian gradually clenched his hand into a st. His resentment had become
more and more di cult to control lately, and Fan Wushe still approached again
and again, as if he wouldn't stop until he'd provoked him.

"I know you don't want to see me cry and beg, and you don't want to see me
make excuses for myself. Then, it's over to you. Dage, Shixiong, don't ignore
me."

Fan Wushe clearly realized that his elder brother, who once defended, argued,
and resisted, what still struggling against himself and against their love and
feelings. He hadn't completely closed his heart, but this man was numb and
cold. Feeling that everything was meaningless, his heart was about to die.
Indi erence was more hopeless than admonition.

"Dage….."

"What do you want me to say?" Xie Bian turned his head, and sparks burst in
his eyes. "What left to say that we didn't already say before?"

Fab Wushe stared at Xie Bian for a long time before asking in a deep voice, "Do
you still like me?"

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Xie Bian's pupils dilated then contracted, and he was frozen for a moment.

"Back then in Wuji Palace, even if I forced you, even if you had only felt brotherly
love for me before, we did all those intimate things after all. Day and night we
embraced each other…"

"Shut up!" Xie Bian growled.

But Fan Wushe refused to stop. "To sleep. You took the initiative to hold me and
have sex when you were confused and in love. I've always wanted to ask you if
your heart ever moved."

"No," Xie Bian said through gritted teeth.

"Not once? So many days and nights when you were underneath me, your heart
didn't move once?"

Xie Bian wanted to get up.

Fan Wushe managed to take hold of a crack in Xie Bian's mask and refused to
let go. "Even if you didn't in the previous life, you really liked me in this life didn't
you?"

Xie Bian's eyes gradually turned red.

"You said it yourself. You did it yourself. You wanted to be with me forever, didn't
you?" Fan Wushe stared into Xie Bian's eyes. "Now, regardless of hate, I am
both your most beloved Xiao Jiu, the Zong Zixiao who spent countless nights
with you, and the Fan Wushe who fought alongside you and promised you a
lifetime. I don't believe that you're indi erent to me. Do you still like me?"

Xie Bian pushed Fan Wushe away. His eyes were confused and erce. He glared
at Fan Wushe viciously. "How can you have the face to ask me that question?"

Fan Wushe's face was lled with hidden pain, but his unyielding arrogance
wouldn't stop until he'd reached his goal. "Because this is the only thing that's
important to me in the world. I've struggled for two lifetimes, but I've only ever
wanted you to have me in your heart."

Xie Bian inhaled sharply, trying to ease the pain in his heart. He said with a slight
tremble, "Then listen carefully: No. Not in the past life, not in the present life. A
like based on deception isn't like. No matter what you do, I won't like you. Now,
the only thing I have for you is hate."

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 The light in Fan Wushe's eyes condensed ercely then scattered in his dark
pupils like water disappearing into water. Words could hardly describe the
heartbreaking pain he felt at that moment. He opened his mouth, and his vision
started to blur. His calm surface wasn't sustainable, but he still held onto it. He
laughed strangely, not knowing what to say. "I don't believe you." I don't believe
you. How can you be indi erent when I love you like this?

Xie Bian stared at him and leaned back.

This evasive action seemed to pluck a certain heartstring in Fan Wushe's chest.
He grabbed Xie Bian's shoulder and pushed him to the ground. Leaning down
and pressing over him, he stopped just before their lips could collide violently.

Their noses were close enough to exchange each other's anxious, restless, and
emotional breaths. Looking into each other's eyes, the entrances to their souls
were in nitely enlarged, forcing themselves into their entire elds of vision. They
saw complicated textures, brown rings, and dark, bottomless pupils. In the circle
of constricted light in their eyes, they saw their own anxious, restless, and
emotional selves.

At this moment, the pain had become tangible. It penetrated into each other's
skin, tendons, blood, and bones, the pain of a thousand cuts.

Why? Why did it hurt so much? Why did two people who loved each other come
to this end?

Xie Bian opened his eyes wide, and his tears rolled down silently.

The blood in Fan Wushe's eyes was getting darker and darker, nally replaced
by the spreading black miasma that crept toward his pupils little by little. His
hands braced both sides of Xie Bian's face. His tall body trembled, as if he was
restraining himself. The result of his restraint was to lightly touch the lips which
made him so desperate.

He stared at him without blinking at the black vines in his eyes. The memories of
the past returned, making him shiver. He whispered, "If you can't control your
demons,6 the end of your past life will repeat itself."

"My demon is you." Fan Wushe caressed Xie Bian's temples.

6This is actually the "heart demon/devil" in xianxia stories which is often tl'd to "internal
demons." I've used that term before, I just think these two lines sound a little bit better like this.
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"It's the Tianji Tally's…."

"It's you. It's always been you," Fan Wushe said sorrowfully. "The Tianji Tally
can't control me. You can."

"Demons are born from your own desires. That has nothing to do with me."

"Yes," Fan Wushe smiled bitterly. "My demons are my demons. But to control
them, unless I can control you, unless I can get what I want most, you, sooner or
later, I'll lose my mind."

Xie Bian bit his lower lip.

Fan Wushe gently stroked Xie Bian's lips with his ngertips and pried open his
teeth. "Dage, before you remembered your previous life, we were very happy. At
that time, I was very con icted. I missed you so much. I wanted you to
remember me, but I didn't want you to remember me. Because once you
remembered me, we would never be together again without heartache.

"Do you think I wanted to remember? I'd rather just be Xie Bian my whole life."

"Yes, if only you never remembered. If only you'd forgotten our miserable pasts.
If only you'd forgotten to hate me."

Then he would see his person smiling at him again, treating him well, telling him
he liked him. All the resentment, resistance, and fear would disappear from
those eyes. They'd live their lives together and never be separated.

"Dage, why don't you forget?" Fan Wushe whispered. "It would be so good if
you could forget. Just forget."

"….." Xie Bian couldn't tell if Fan Wushe was speaking to him or to himself.
Seeing the black miasma in Fan Wushe's eyes, his heart felt more uneasy.

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 Chapter 238
After that night, while Xie Bian was healing, Fan Wushe still worked hard to nd
connections between them and sent each one to his elder brother. It seemed
that when he sobered up, he also woke up from the manic depression he had,
but his gaze toward his elder brother was more meaningful and deep.

Xie Bian could no longer simply avoid the past because Fan Wushe wouldn't let
him. He repeatedly brought up their past over and over at any time, so he
couldn't deny it or ignore it. He was deeply tired of this helpless and inescapable
situation. In the face of Fan Wushe's constant aggression, he could only spend
more time cultivating. The sooner his injuries healed, the earlier he could leave
this place lled with too many strong memories.

After his spiritual pulse was able to ow smoothly, Xie Bian proposed returning
to Fengdu.

Fan Wushe said, "Fengdu isn't what it used to be. Our soul weapons might not
be able to get us through the Yin-Yang Monument."

"After being a general of the netherworld for so many years, I have other ways to
go back to the netherworld," Xie Bian said. "We have to save Lan Dage and Cui
Fujun before we can eradicate Jiang Qulian completely."

"Do you think sneaking into the netherworld can save them?" Fan Wushe asked.
"Lan Chuihan is the source of Jiang Qulian's past life. Jiang Qulian's ambition is
most likely related to him. And Cui Fujun, I'm guessing the Book of Life and
Death plays a very important role in how the six paths of reincarnation operate. I
can't say for the others, but these two people must be guarded with Jiang
Qulian's heavy troops. It's inconvenient for two living people to do anything in
the netherworld. If we try to save them without startling the snake, I'm afraid that
won't work."

Xie Bian frowned. "What's your plan?"

"The netherworld is going to go, but I think it's better to take Jiang Qulian head
on than risk trying to save them directly."

"And how do we do that?"

"Let's steal the Book of Life and Death."

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"…." Xie Bian pondered for a moment. "In fact, these days, I've always had a
guess."

"What is it?"

"Say that I was Jiang Qulian, and I seized the netherworld whole-heartedly, if I
wanted to be reborn as a human being, it would be impossible to simply jump
on the Ren path at the end of Naihe Bridge. He wouldn't want to give up his
power, his cultivation, or his memories. Otherwise, he'd reincarnate as a baby
and be at the mercy of others.

Fan Wushe nodded. "Yin cultivation is more di cult than yang cultivation. If he
could be reborn as a human with his current memories and cultivation, he might
really be able to cultivate the great dao."

"In that case, he'd have to control the rules of the six paths of reincarnation.
Now, he's almost usurped the power of the Great Beiyin Emperor. As long as he
doesn't drink Meng Po soup, he could reincarnate with his memories. But where
would he reincarnate? How could he take his centuries of cultivation with him or
at least reincarnate with his superior spiritual root? At that same time, how could
he continue to command his ghost army to protect him?" Xie Bian spoke in a
deep voice. "I think the answer to everything is in the Book of Life and Death."

Fan Wushe was stunned. "You mean…"

"As the Judge of Literature, Cui Fujun is in charge of the Book of Life and Death
and the Judge's Pen. That's well-known to the world, but the Book of Life and
Death in his hands is incomplete. As early as the time when Zhuan Xu separated
heaven and earth, Emperor Haotian tore the part which wrote the destinies of
celestial beings out of the Book of Life and Death."

"Jinqie Yuce."

"Yes. In order to prevent the fates of celestial beings from being watched and
controlled by others, Emperor Haotian ordered Dongyue Emperor to suppress
Jinqie Yuce in Taishan.7 It originally recorded the fates of every creature in the
three realms. Even the Great Emperor Haotian couldn't control it. He could only
hide it. To know the ultimate secret of the six paths of reincarnation, you'd need
the complete Book of Life and Death."

7 This sentence is more like "he put Yuce (jade records) in Jinqie (golden case) and suppressed
them in Taishan," but since splitting apart the unit we're used to feels awkward, I simpli ed a
little.
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Fan Wushe narrowed his eyes. "If that's the case, then Jiang Qulian should have
found that out by now too. He has to get Jinqie Yuce, which is in Xu Zhinan's
hands."

"These two men are bound to collude with each other again." Xie Bian's eyes
were cold. "We can't let Jinqie Yuce merge with the Book of Life and Death!"

"Then, compared to the Book of Life and Death, it's obviously more important to
get Jinqie Yuce, but Xu Zhinan hid with it. I sent out waves of people to spy on
him, but they all went missing."

"Xu Zhinan's physical body must be extremely weak. It'll be hard to nd him
when he hides." Xie Bian hesitated. "At least we know the Book of Life and
Death is in the netherworld, probably Hong Palace. I think we should go to the
netherworld rst. If we learn the whereabouts of Xu Zhinan, we have to nd him
before Jiang Qulian does."

"Okay, I'll listen to Dage." Fan Wushe stared at Xie Bian. If someone who didn't
know any better looked at them, they'd think he was a good and obedient
younger brother."

Xie Bian's expression sti ened a little. Avoiding Fan Wushe's attentive eyes, he
said, "We're going to Shushan."

"What are you going to do at Shushan?"

"To go back to the netherworld unnoticed, we have to use a City God's temple
with the help of a City God. When he was alive, Shizun had the closest
friendship with Sun Xiazhen, who is Shushan's City God. I want to nd him. In
addition, I want to know how Wuliang Sect…. Song Chungui's situation." Xie
Bian's feelings about Wuliang Sect were very complicated. Although Li Buyu
was responsible for his death, the cultivation world was in chaos. At this time,
the pillar that was Wuliang Sect couldn't fall. He could imagine how hard it was
for Song Chungui now to support Wuliang Sect and the cultivation world. If the
cultivation world collapsed, who could suppress the evil spirits released by
Jiang Qulian? Jiuzhou would be in a desperate situation.

"Okay. Let's go to Shushan." Fan Wushe looked at Xie Bian's sad face and
gently pulled the corner of his coat. "Dage, I'm here with you. I will stop Jiang
Qulian for you."

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 Xie Bian shook o his hand and said coldly, "You're making up for the evil you've
done. It's not for me."

"In my heart, it's just for you." Fan Wushe stared at Xie Bian without blinking.
"Dage, do you know what was stripped from me over and over for a hundred
years in hell? It wasn't just my esh or bones, but also my humanity. In my eyes,
except for you, everything in the world was empty and dead. I don't care if
everyone dies. I only care about you."

"You…"

"I mean it." Fan Wushe's dark and bottomless eyes only re ected Xie Bian's
gure. "Dage can use me as much as you want, but you can't leave me. Without
you, I'd rather let the three realms turn into dust and smoke."

Xie Bian clenched his sts, and his heart shook violently. This man's obsession
with him seemed as deep as the sea. He didn't know it on the rst day, but
every time he was exposed to it in such a straightforward way, he still felt shock
and fear.

Fan Wushe pulled Xie Bian's sleeve again. "I'll take you somewhere, then we'll
leave."

The two of them ew away from Daming Mountain on their swords. Xie Bian
couldn't help looking back at the palace that was getting further and further
away. He hoped he'd never have to come back.

As the clouds and fog in the mountains gradually opened up, huge black ruins
suddenly appeared in front of him. Xie Bian was shocked, and all kinds of
thoughts came to his mind.

He was in a coma when they'd arrived, and as soon as he woke up, he was
already in the palace, so he hadn't seen Wuji Palace or, to be precise, the ruins
of Wuji Palace.

In the past, when he and Zong Zixiao had both died, the Immortal Alliance
divided up the three hundred year foundation of the Daming Zong Clan. Li Buyu
burned down Wuji Palace and sent people everywhere to capture Zong
descendents, intending to wipe out its roots. People related to the Zong Clan
had to live in anonymity, and the Zongxuan Technique was eventually lost.

The world thought that Li Buyu hated the Zong Clan because it killed his aunt Li
Xiangtong, but in fact, most of it was his own weakness and cowardliness. He
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 wanted to cover up the evil deeds he had committed against Zong Minghe and
Zong Ziheng. What better way to put his mind at ease than completely wiping
out the Daming Zong Clan from Jiuzhou?

The once magni cent and dazzling Wuji Palace that thousands of people
ocked to was now just a patch of scorched earth.

"What did you bring me here for?" Xie Bian's heart was su ocating. "I don't
want to see it." Before he regained the memories of his previous life, he had
traveled to many places and was curious about the former site of Daming's Wuji
Palace. Although Li Buyu had set up a boundary and forbade anyone from
getting near Wuji Palace, it wasn't di cult for him to get close or look at it from
the sky. But he had never been to Daming City or even close to it. Perhaps he
had been instinctively rejecting this place.

"You can't go to Shushan without passing this way. The best way to break fear
is to face it."

The wind carried Fan Wushe's voice to his ears.

Xie Bian looked at the ruins under his feet like they were the lump in his throat.

Fan Wushe took the lead with his sword and ew down toward Wuji Palace. Xie
Bian didn't hesitate much before following him.

They nally landed on a piece of the wasteland. One wall still remained, but
otherwise, it was no di erent from anywhere else. It was desolate, gray, and
dead.

Xie Bian looked around and felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity. He didn't
know whether it was because he was standing on the old soil of Wuji Palace
or…

"Can Dage still recognize this place?" Fan Wushe asked softly.

Xie Bian looked at him steadily.

"I've come here many times to nd Qinghui Pavilion or Bailu Pavilion, but they'd
all been burnt down. But here, because there was nothing to burn, it's slightly
more intact." Fan Wushe gazed at Xie Bian, his eyes full of deep emotion which
couldn't be hidden. "This is our Lanyuan."

Xie Bian was stunned.

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 Fan Wushe walked to the wall which was still unscathed. He wiped the thick ash
o of it, revealing some very old, almost invisible traces. One by one, notches
were cut in the wall from low to high as if from a sharp weapon. He pointed to
the highest one and gestured toward his chest. "When I was fourteen, I was still
this short."

Xie Bian's eyes suddenly burned and blurred almost instantly.

These were the lines he drew to mark Xiao Jiu's growth in Lanyuan. He'd done it
twice a year, stopping abruptly when he was fourteen years old after Xiao Jiu's
life had undergone a dramatic change. It seemed that his Xiao Jiu only lived to
be fourteen years old. He'd only ever be that tall. He'd only ever have that
childish face.

Ten years later, the Demon Lord who came back with the power to sweep the
world tore up all their love and a ection.

Xie Bian felt so much heartache, he could hardly stand up.

Fan Wushe looked at Xie Bian's moist eyes and was also heartbroken. He
whispered, "Dage, if you want, I can also only be Xiao Jiu for the rest of my life."

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Chapter 239
Xie Bian went straight past Fan Wushe, walked to the wall, and stroked the
mottled scratches with his ngers. One after another, each was like a cut on his
heart. He turned to look at the barren grass behind him and imagined the
beautiful scenery of Lanyuan a hundred years before, two happy gures
shuttling between the ower beds.

It wasn't that he didn't miss the past; he just couldn't go back.

Xie Bian slowly lowered his hand and said in a deep voice, "Let's go."

"Dage, if you want, we can rebuild Wuji Palace."

"What is there in Wuji Palace that's worth missing?" Xie Bian asked.

"……"

"My home was where Shizun was, even in the netherworld," Xie Bian said.
"Now, there's nothing."

"Dage…."

"Go." Xie Bian turned around without hesitation. No longer looking at the place
where a hundred years of memories condensed, he rose up on his sword.

Fan Wushe looked thoughtfully at Lanyuan then followed him.

It was a long trip to Shushan. On the way, they had to nd a place.

Unsurprisingly, Fan Wushe chose another familiar place: Gutuo Town.

Xie Bian was angry once they landed. "What do you want? How is this memory
worth recalling?"

"Because you've been running away. You won't admit that I'm Xiao Jiu, so I'll
keep making you think about it." Fan Wushe stood independently, looking into
Xie Bian's eyes with a strong yet gentle gaze. "Here, we almost died in the
hands of Chen Xingyong. You missed the Jiaolong Meeting. You wouldn't have
forgotten."

"So what if I remember it?"

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"I want you to remember how much you cared about me. It was enough that you
would have given your life to save me."

Xie Bian's gaze turned cold. "You don't have the face to say that."

"As far as I'm concerned, despite almost dying that day, I still remember it and
I've even missed it over the past hundred years. Because I knew that the way
you didn't hesitate to save me wasn't false. You completely put aside your own
safety. It had to be true." Sadness owed from Fan Wushe's eyes. "During my
ten years wandering in Jiuzhou, whenever I encountered danger and could
barely hold on,8 I always thought of how you were in that moment. You were so
young. You faced so many high-level cultivators alone while badly injured, yet
you still protected me. You must have cared for me. You must have loved me
very much. You must have been sincere to me. But later you changed. Now, I
understand that you never changed. You are the only true person in this world,
the best person. You never changed."

Xie Bian looked at the quiet and simple town in front of him in silence. He
couldn't remember it completely, but he still remembered the many fragments
and images of that time. Fan Wushe's every word poked at his heart. Of course
he cared. That was his most beloved little brother. His heart which was rmly set
on saving Xiao Jiu even at risk of his own life had never in fact disappeared. It
had never been forgotten. It was just that it was suppressed in the deepest part
of his heart. As if it was ten thousand jin of thunder int, he never dared to touch
it easily.

However, he could no longer ignore those memories, even if he didn't want to

admit it. Fan Wushe had taken great pains to remind him of the past, which had
completely disturbed his heart.

Xie Bian was reluctant to spend the night in Gutuo Town, but there were no
other towns nearby. They had a long way to travel the next day, so they had to
stay.

Not surprisingly, Xie Bian lost sleep that night. He lay in bed, staring at the bed
curtain with his eyes open while Fan Wushe sat in a chair beside him with his
eyes closed, sleeping lightly. Fan Wushe refused to open two guest rooms,
saying that he had to protect him at all times to prevent Jiang Qulian from

8 I think there just wasn't room in the main narrative for it, plus readers would probably
complain if a long ashback was so one-sided, but I'd be so interested in reading some of
those solo adventures of ZZX's decade of exile. How much did he still believe in ZZH in those
months and years after? Was his breaking point when Zong Minghe died? What kind of things
did he face alone?
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sneaking in. That excuse was irrefutable, so there could only be one person on
the bed and one person next to it.

Xie Bian was so tired that he turned around and gazed at Fan Wushe in the
moonlight. He breathed lightly while his spiritual energy slowly owed through
his body. He was able to cultivate and sleep at the same time. His quiet and
peaceful appearance was really like a painting.

Xie Bian thought a lot, but those thoughts were a mess. There was nothing really
substantial, more fragments and details of memories, but they were hard to
piece together. One by one, the sounds and images made him forget his pain
and hatred temporarily. In this moment, he just looked at Fan Wushe, sighing at
his extraordinary and re ned appearance. Finally, in this long-lost peace, he fell
asleep.

The next afternoon, the two of them arrived at Shushan.

The once bustling Lanxi Town was now deserted. There were very few foreign
visitors. Even the streets which were originally lled with dark-robed daoists
were nearly empty now. Today's Lanxi Town was just like Daming City a hundred
years before. With the decline of the world's number one sect, the town that
grew up behind it naturally followed into silence.

The two of them disguised themselves and hurriedly ate a meal. Once it was
completely dark, they went to the City God's Temple.

The evil spirits released from Fengdu had been roaming all over Jiuzhou.
Originally, Shushan was a place lled with talented people. With its strong yang
energy, there weren't any evil spirits. Since the thousands of cultivators living
there, they'd just be seeking death if they went. But evil spirits weren't idle
things. They didn't get close to Lanxi Town, but they still made trouble in the
outskirts of the city, the forests, and the mountains. In just one month, three
villagers had been killed which would have been unimaginable before.

During this period, there was an unusual amount of incense burned in the City
God's Temple, and the worshippers didn't disperse until it was dark.

When all the people had left, they entered the City God's Temple. Xie Bian
waved his hand and closed the door. Holding Wuqionbi in his hand, everything
that was invisible to the living appeared in front of him.

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 "Oh, Xiao Bai Ye!" Sun Xiazhen, the City God of Shushan, was once an elder of
Wuliang Sect. He was as fond of wine as Zhong Kui, so they had a good
friendship.

Xie Bian cupped his hand. "Sun Zhanglao, long time no see."

"What are you…." Sun Xiazhen immediately realized something. He looked at

Fan Wushe to the side and his eyes instantly showed fear. "Is, is that…."

Fan Wushe took o his hat and looked at Sun Xiazhen expressionlessly.

During the era of Zong Tianzi, Sun Xiazhen was just a low-level disciple of
Wuliang Sect. He didn't even have the chance to participate in the battle again
the Demon Lord; however, the fear of the Demon Lord was branded on everyone
who lived in the era of Zong Tianzi. It couldn't be washed away, even after
death. No wonder he was afraid.

"Sun Zhanglao doesn't need to be nervous. He…. He is also going to deal with
Jiang Qulian. In fact, we are here today to ask for something."

"Ah, Xiao Bai Ye," Sun Xiazhen sighed heavily with tears suddenly in his eyes.
"What has happened these years? How has the world turned into such chaos?"

Xie Bian said in a deep voice, "It's a long story. I believe Sun Zhanglao has
heard a lot of it."

Sun Xiazhen wiped his face. "Tianshi is gone. The Demon Lord is reborn. Now,
even the netherworld has changed hands. The more I hear, the more confused I
am. I don't know what to do."

"After the Zhongyuan Festival, can the City God Temple still do anything?" Xie
Bian's eyes had a hidden pain. It wasn't only Sun Xiazhen. He was confused
too, about his two lives, about the ghost realm, about people. He witnessed it all
rsthand, but he still couldn't see through it.

Sun Xiazhen sighed again. "Too many souls to collect. The netherworld generals
won't come, and yin agents aren't sent out. Wuliang Sect's situation is too
turbulent and can't take care of this. I rely on the few yin agents I have, but
they're simply too busy. It's the surrounding people who su er."

"I'm Wuchang, but I can't do my duty at this time…." Xie Bian said sadly. "I hope
Sun Zhanglao can hold on a little while longer. I will de nitely take back the
netherworld."

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 "What is going on in the netherworld? Did Hong Wang really seize control?"

"Mn."

"What about the Emperor? How can the Emperor not come out of seclusion with
such a big movement?"

"The Emperor was seriously injured. In fact, these past hundred years, he's been
recovering. It's not that he doesn't want to come out of seclusion, but that he
can't come out."

"What about the Ghost Emperors?"

"The ve Ghost Emperors aren't willing to interfere in the a airs of the

netherworld. This matter is very complicated."

Sun Xiazhen seemed to understand something. "Then where is Cui Fujun now?"

"In Jiang Qulian's hands." Xie Bian looked in Sun Xiazhen's eyes and said
earnestly, "Sun Zhanglao, we need your help. We need to sneak back to the
netherworld to save him."

Sun Xiazhen nodded. "Xiao Bai Ye, I understand. If this continues, the world will
be in chaos. And to save the ghost realm, it all depends on you." He quietly
glanced at Fan Wushe, still a little afraid. "Three nights from now, it will be the
full moon. Yin qi will be heaviest at that time. On that night, we can work
together to open the Ghost Gate and send you back to the netherworld."

"Thank you, Sun Zhanglao."

"However, I don't have the same power as Hong Wang after all. I don't know
where this tear will open in Jiuyou. It might be in barren mountains or deep
streams, or maybe in poisonous miasma and mire. Or you might encounter
countless evil spirits. What's more, Jiuyou is so big. If it opens a hundred
thousand miles away from the netherworld, you might not be able to nd it. In
short, this trip is dangerous. You must be careful."

"Don't worry, I…"

"I'm here." Fan Wushe's voice was at and quiet, but it held strong power. "I will
protect him."

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Sun Xiazhen subconsciously wiped the non-existent sweat o his forehead.
"That's good. That's good."

"Then, we'll wait for the night of the full moon." Xie Bian paused then asked,
"Sun Zhanglao, what's going on within Wuliang Sect?"

Sun Xiazhen was immediately sad. "At this time, Li Zhiqing is still thinking about
grabbing the position of Zhangmen, not even considering his own quali cations.
He can't support the sect!"

This answer wasn't unexpected. Xie Bian decided to go to the mountain the
next day.


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 Chapter 240
Apart from seeing Song Chungui, Xie Bian went to Shushan this time to resolve
another un nished matter from he previous life which needed to be dealt with:
Zong Minghe's corpse.

At this point, after the passage of a thousand sails, he no longer had any hatred
for Zong Minghe. Zong Minghe was sel sh and unfeeling all his life that he was
willing to sacri ce the lives of his wives, children, and his brother, but in the end,
he didn't get what he wanted. Not only was his golden core dug and he died
with resentment, for a hundred years after he died, he was suppressed and
tortured by the Tiangang Zhengji soul-binding array until his soul was nally
scattered. Zong Minghe reaped what he'd sowed. He'd already been punished
for what he did.

Now, his name sounded like the name of a stranger. Despite sharing the same
clan and ancestry with him, he was no di erent from any of the evil people who
coveted his golden core. However, as a descendent of the Zong Clan, losing
centuries-long foundation made him feel deeply guilty. Returning Zong Minghe's
body to the clan's mausoleum was the only thing he could do to comfort his
ancestors.

After Xie Bian told him his purpose, Fan Wushe's face suddenly became ugly.
The last remnants of father-son a ection he'd had for Zong Minghe turned to
deep hatred after seeing what happened to his elder brother in Jinqie Yuce. It
could be said that all the tragedies of his previous life were caused by Zong
Minghe's cold greed. If he had lived, he would have died in his own hands.

Fan Wushe said coldly, "Will the ancestors of the Zong Clan even want to see
Zong Minghe join their ancestral graves?"

The things that Zong Minghe did were outrageous, ruthless, and shameless. It
would be a disgraceful existence for any clan, large or small.

Xie Bian frowned, thinking that Zong Minghe really didn't deserve to be buried in
the ancestral graves. But he couldn't stay here either. "After all, he was Zong
Tianzi. He'll be buried in Daming Mountain."

"He deserved to die without a place to be buried."

"Should he also be raised to ashes," Xie Bian looked at Fan Wushe, "just like
you did to my mother and the Shen family's ancestral graves?"

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Fan Wushe cast his eyes down with a guilty heart, and his arrogance suddenly
faded. "Dage…." He wanted to explain, but found that he had done evil and
made mistakes which couldn't be excused.

"Let's go."

The two of them went to Yunding, and Song Chungui went to the mountain gate
to personally greet them. Previously, when they came to Shushan, Li Zhiqing
was always very attentive, and important guests were almost always entertained
by him, but now he was afraid to appear in front of them at all.

Although it had only been a month since they'd seen him, Song Chungui
seemed to have aged ten years. His hair was white, and the rims of his eyes
were purple. He looked exhausted. True, he had taken over the biggest sect in
the world, but he had also inherited the world's biggest mess.9

Song Chungui bowed slightly, neither humbly nor haughtily. "Bai Xianjun." He
didn't even look at Fan Wushe.

In the face of this Demon Lord who had beaten the soul of the former Zhangmen
to death, compared to the group of daoists clad in crow blue who viewed him as
an enemy, Song Chungui was already being considerate of the overall situation.

Xie Bian glanced at Fan Wushe. He wanted to go to Yunding alone, but Fan
Wushe didn't allow him to and followed him there.

"Song Zhenren, you don't look well since we said farewell at Fengdu.

Song Chungui said lightly, "Bai Xianjun doesn't look very well either. In times like
these, who could rise happily above everyone else?"10

"Yes."

"Bai Xianjun, please."

9 idiom: 烂摊⼦ lit "rotten stall" meaning something in shambles.

10 idiom: 独善其身 lit "one's body well alone" meaning to think about oneself with no
consideration of others, or more speci cally, to act righteously around others when their morale
is low
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After taking two steps, Fan Wushe followed them. Song Chungui nally couldn't
stand it and said to him coldly, "Beyond this mountain gate is my Wuliang Sect's
territory. You can stop here."

Fan Wushe looked at him without fear or compassion. "All the sins Li Buyu
committed, I would have your Wuliang Sect them pay back in full. If it weren't for
my dage begging for mercy, you wouldn't be standing here. If you want to stop,
then you stop."

"Shizun was at fault, but as a disciple, I'm already un lial for not taking revenge
for him. How can I let you walk into my Wuliang Sect's territory?"

"I could easily level this place."

Song Chungui was enraged and reached out to draw his sword.

Xie Bian waved o the spiritual pressure, letting it de ect o his elbow, and said
coldly, "Is this really the time? Li Buyu was a beast who deserved to die. Do you
want to bury everyone else with him?"

Song Chungui's face was blue and white, and he clenched his st to the point of
cracking.

"He was like a teacher to you, even like a father, but what did you count for in
his heart? Nothing." Li Buyu's attering face from when he was young appeared
before Xie Bian's eyes. "At rst, it was Meng Kefei's death that led us to Wuliang
Sect, but after so many years, his killer has never been found. Tell me, do we still
need to look?"

Song Chungui was silent.

"I'm not here today for Li Buyu. Please."

After the battle at Fengdu City, the cultivation world, which had already been
sick for along time, was almost dying.

When Song Chungui returned to Wuliang Sect, one the one hand, he tried to
stabilize the matters within his sect with Li Zhiqing. On the other, he was running
between other sects, hoping to maintain the Immortal Alliance and deter the
scattered sects from falling apart. Otherwise, for their immortal caves, weapons,
spiritual pills, and spiritual treasures, it wouldn't belong before the separated
parties were at war with one another.

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 However, every sect was in shambles. Needless to say, like Wuliang Sect, other
sects had their own disasters to deal with. They were too busy taking care of
themselves. As a result, evil spirits were rampant in the world, causing
thousands of ordinary people to su er.

Xu Zhinan had put Chunyang Sect in an extremely embarrassing position. They

lost their leader, their spiritual treasures, and the reputation that had been built
over ve hundred years all at once. At this time, they had to stay in Luojinwu and
keep a low pro le.

Since the battle at Chidi City, Xianyue Pavilion had gradually become an
important pillar in the Immortal Alliance. But the "death" of Lan Chuihan had
been a great blow to Lan Zizhen, and Xianyue Pavilion sank with him.

The only fortunate thing was that Cangyu Sect was now unable to protect itself.
Those wavering sects had no one to rely on, so they could only wait to see what
would happen. This also gave Wuliang Sect the chance to re-establish its power.
However, the situation Song Chungui was facing was almost the same thing as
rebuilding the Immortal Alliance.

In this di cult situation, Xie Bian learned that Leizu Baogao was in the hands of
Li Zhiqing, which was why Song Chungui had not been able to become
Zhangmen of Wuliang Sect.

"What's so hard for you to get it?" Xie Bian frowned and asked.

"If Shixiong doesn't want to give it, I won't force it," Song Chungui said calmly.

Xie Bian said, "Without Leizu Baogao, you are not Zhangmen of Wuliang Sect.
Wuliang Sect needs a Zhangmen, and the Immortal Alliance needs a Mengzhu."

"I am an orphan. How can I be the one to lead Wuliang Sect and the Immortal
Alliance?" Song Chungui shook his head. "I just want to ful ll the mandate
Shizun gave to me before he died."

"The cultivation world needs the Immortal Alliance. Jiuzhou also needs the
Immortal Alliance. Jiang Qulian sent so many evil spirits from the netherworld.
They're hurting the common people everywhere. And the cultivation world is a
mess, so who will take care of it?" Xie Bian spoke seriously. "Song Zhenren, this
isn't something you can do alone, nor can you excuse yourself from it out of
righteousness. You must gather the scattered sand and resist against the enemy
together."

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Song Chungui frowned deeply.

"Yes, Song Shixiong, Bai Xianjun is right. Zhangmen Shizun handed Wuliang
Sect to you. Now, you are acting Zhangmen, but you are still short of Leizu
Baogao."

"As long as the Immortal Alliance is without a Mengzhu, it will continue to be in

chaos."

The cultivators and elders in Song Chungui's faction tried to persuade him.

"I…."

"Call Li Zhiqing over to me," Xie Bian gave the order, displaying the authority of
the Ren Emperor.

"Bai Xianjun," Song Chungui's face was grave, "let me think about it rst."

Seeing Song Chungui was in a di cult place, Xie Bian didn't force him too
much. Instead, he said, "There is one more thing I came to do. I think Song
Zhenren can guess what it is."

Song Chungui nodded. "After the autopsy, the co n has been sealed. Does Bai
Xianjun want to open it?" What he said was very awkward. After all, they were
discussing the remains of Zong Tianzi, but it was as if they had gone to the
market to buy something and were opening the box to inspect the goods. It was
very strange.

"No need. You're not Li Buyu. I believe you."

"Shall I send someone to take it to Daming?"

Xie Bian reached out his hand to Fan Wushe. "Gongshuju."

Fan Wushe immediately took out Gongshuju and handed it to Xie Bian.

The crowed was stunned. What happened that night in Fengdu City had been
spread all over the cultivation world by its survivors. Hearing about the strange
love-hate entanglement between the Demon Lord and the Ren Emperor made
everyone's jaws drop, but it was even more shocking to actually see it. The
Demon Lord who could overthrow the world was as quiet and obedient as a
subordinate in front of Xie Bian.

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 Song Chungui dismissed the people at his side and brought Xie Bian and Fan
Wushe to Zong Minghe's co n.

Fan Wushe's gloomy gaze could almost burn a hole through it, but Xie Bian only
gave it a casual glance before shrinking it down with Gongshuju and putting it
away.

"Bai Xianjun, did you really only come to Shushan this time for me?" Song
Chungui naturally didn't believe it, so he chose to ask when no one else was
around.

"We have something more important to do here now."

"It has to do with Hong Wang, doesn't it?"

"I came here to nd the City God to help me sneak back into Jiuyou."

Song Chungui understood and said, "What can I do?"

"I really need Song Zhenren's help. The night of the full moon, the City God will
open the Ghost Gate. You need to send someone to handle the City God
Temple, just in case."

"No problem." Song Chungui hesitated before asking, "Bai Xianjun, Lan Gongzi,
he…. Is he really dead?"

"He was taken to the netherworld by Jiang Qulian. The living can also go to the
netherworld. He isn't dead." Xie Bian added worriedly, "But he must have been
imprisoned by Jiang Qulian, and staying in the netherworld for a long time is
extremely harsh on living bodies."

"I hope that you can save him this time. With Lan Gongzi around, I have the
con dence to rebuild the Immortal Alliance. It's hard for me to convince the
public."

"There's no need for Song Zhenren to belittle yourself."

"It's not belittling," Song Chungui said heavily. "I come from a humble
background and am disabled. The cultivation world has valued family lineages
for thousands of years and has been dominated by the great immortal sects.
Now, several great clans have fallen. Xianyue Pavilion, the rising star, has now
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become the mainstay. Out of the younger generation, Lan Gongzi is most
popular. If we work together, we may be able to stabilize the situation."

Xie Bian turned his gaze to the lush mountains of Shushan and said clearly with
certainly, "I will save him."

Corgi Notes: Hitting the end of the chapter set doesn't feel like as much of an
accomplishment now that we're caught up to raws, but I think hitting 250 will be
exciting. I feel like Novel Updates is still being kind of funky with my links, but no
one's written to me saying it's completely e ed up so that's good?
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