Outside the mystic mirror, everything was in turmoil.

“Incredible! Just a young girl managed to manipulate members of two other sects so thoroughly. This series of twists and turns is truly fascinating!”

“Now the Haoran Sect and Niguang Island are in bad shape. Ning Ning not only took the precious grade spirit plants but also plundered Niguang Island’s belongings. Even if others are furious, with their current injuries and greatly reduced cultivation, there’s nothing they can do.”

“She’s probably having a great time watching the drama from the sidelines. Haha!”

The head of the Liu Ming Mountain sect, He Xiaochen, laughed loudly. “She truly lives up to being elder Tian Xianzi’s disciple! Her unconventional methods have a touch of her master’s brilliance.”

The Elder from Wanjian Sect, who had almost broken the mystic mirror in anger earlier, let out a sigh of relief and chuckled, “That Xu Ye… It’s a stroke of luck. But how did elder Tian Xianzi know that Xu Ye’s betrayal was part of the plan?”

“Huh?”

Tian Xianzi swallowed a mouthful of pastry, then gulped down some tea, feigned mystery, and smiled, “Just look at your disciple’s foolish appearance. Can you imagine him coming up with a plot to defect to the enemy?”

The female elder’s lips twitched. “Tian Xianzi, let’s spar!”

Tian Xianzi swiftly hid behind Zhen Xiao. “Senior brother, she’s threatening me!”

Zhen Xiao paid no attention to him and glanced coldly at the mystic mirror, saying with indifference, “As a sword cultivator, why bother with scheming? If others don’t accept it, draw your sword and make them accept it.”

He Xiaochen, who understood his old friend’s temperament, shook his head in disagreement. “That’s you. Ning Ning, a young girl, had wolves in front and tigers behind. Even with exceptional talent, she couldn’t withstand the joint siege from the Haoran Sect and Niguang Island.”

Someone chimed in with a smile. “We’ve heard that Zhen Xiao Swordmaster is the number one in merging heart and sword in the world, and today’s display truly lives up to its reputation. In the face of his swordsmanship that overwhelms all others, all schemes are useless.”

Zhen Xiao remained silent for a moment.

Zhen Xiao: “No, it’s just that if you play too smart, I can’t understand it.”

After a pause, he turned to look at Tian Xianzi behind him. “Junior brother, what exactly did Ning Ning do earlier? Can you explain it simply for me?”

Almost forgot that this peerless Zhen Xiao Swordmaster doesn’t seem to have a very high level of intelligence. It is said that he devoted himself to swordsmanship because he got a zero in his school exams and realized a simple truth:

He’s not just dumb; he’s actually not very bright. For ugly people, scrutinizing them is cruel; for dumb people, getting them to pass an exam is murder.

Most people believe that Zhen Xiao Swordmaster is cold and ruthless, responding to everything with his sword and avoiding speaking if possible.

Only a few close senior brothers know that he is not good at talking; his mind doesn’t work fast, so he prefers to fight in a straightforward manner to avoid being at a disadvantage.

“What’s wrong with scheming? The little white flowers are boring, but the prickly ones are more interesting to eat.”

A woman in white clothes said it with a slight smile. The moment she spoke, several men in the room exchanged glances.

She was extraordinarily beautiful, like an untouchable celestial being from the heavens. Her three thousand strands of black hair were casually tied behind her, and a few strands brushed her flawless profile, occasionally touching the tender flesh of her neck, leading to countless fantasies.

This woman had almond-shaped eyes and cherry-red lips. At first glance, she appeared pure and ethereal, like a precious jade, unlike an ordinary person.

But when she curved her lips into a smile, her face suddenly exuded a seductive charm. The fairy had transformed into a bewitching enchantress.

This woman was the master of Niguang Island, Qu Feiqing.

Tian Xianzi glanced at her and said, “What’s this? It seems like the island master is quite fond of my little disciple?”

“More than just fond.”

Qu Feiqing covered her lips and laughed softly, her eyes gleaming with a hint of springwater and her voice as gentle as flowing water. “I’ve seen Niguang Island deceive others so many times, but it’s the first time someone turned the tables on them. Ning Ning is truly interesting. If elder Tian Xianzi is willing, why not send her to the island for a few days, and I’ll personally take care of her.”

If she were to personally take care of her, Ning Ning might not come back alive, or rather, whether she could come back alive was a serious question.

Tian Xianzi was frightened by her suggestion and repeatedly waved his hand, “No, no. Ning Ning is still young. I implore the island master to be merciful and nourish other lands with your great kindness.”

Qu Feiqing snorted coldly, but a triumphant smile still played at the corners of her mouth. She changed the topic to “After this incident, disciples from Niguang Island and the Haoran Sect will probably be heartbroken for a long time.”

Rong Ci had the highest talent she had encountered in recent years, and it had fostered his haughty disposition.

His strategies had almost never failed, and his mastery of manipulating people’s hearts was unparalleled. However, this time he had encountered someone who didn’t follow the usual script. She not only saw through his intentions but also played a counterplot, turning Rong Ci into a tool for her use.

That conversation he had with Ning Ning in the cave seemed like Rong Ci had complete control, guiding the young girl into his tender embrace and leading her to reveal her secrets out of guilt and sympathy.

However, it was Ning Ning who was truly in control, manipulating the situation behind the scenes. Even Rong Ci’s schemes were part of her plan.

He deliberately got injured to get close to Ning Ning, and when that child finds out the truth, he’ll definitely be furious.

The elegant female cultivator, like a celestial being, had a deeper smile as she looked at the young girl’s face in the mirror, her eyes filled with anticipation.

=====

Ning Ning had no idea what the elders outside the mystic mirror were thinking. At this moment, she was concerned about where the three of them should go next.

Although she claimed to want to take advantage of the situation, she wasn’t a crazy devil. After reaching the cave where Niguang Island was stationed, she only took some herbs for detoxification.

He Zhizhou and Xu Ye’s conditions improved significantly after taking the herbs. Thinking about the various dramatic scenarios of swimming and giving birth to children in the mountains, the two formidable sword cultivators looked at each other and could only shed a thousand lines of tears..

The previous cave was, of course, not an option. After some discussion, the three of them decided to head to the ancient forest at the mountain’s peak to see if they could find some ancient and precious-grade spirit plants.

“The ancient forest—just from the name, you can tell it’s a particularly mysterious place.”

He Zhizhou held the unfinished grilled fish and eel, speaking mysteriously, “I’ve heard that the frequency of heaven-grade and above spirit plants and mineral deposits is particularly high there. It’s well-deserving of being a legendary mobile game with extremely high drop rates, where one slash gets you 999 gold weapons, and flashy equipment makes it a gold farming paradise, even without recharging.”

He seemed to be confusing the ancient forest with a video game.

Xu Ye didn’t understand the meaning behind his words and regarded him as someone who hadn’t fully recovered from the mushroom poison, eyeing the eel in his hand with a furrowed brow. “Last time, it was poisoned mushrooms, and now it’s this slippery thing. Can’t you eat something normal?”

“Do you understand anything? This is called ‘Don’t discard small eels without cooking them; enjoy them all, and a good beginning is half done.’ It’s supposed to bring good luck. Unlike grilled fish, every time I see it, I think of that classic saying, ‘A strange gleam in the fish’s eyes.'”

He Zhizhou shook his head, engaging in wordplay. “And you say it’s not the poison of the mushrooms affecting you?”

“I… I didn’t eat the poisonous mushrooms you cooked!”

Xu Ye blushed instantly. “I was poisoned after eating a rabbit that was killed by the poisonous mushrooms; it’s not the same as eating random things!”

He Zhizhou made a pause gesture and said, “Friend, no child’s play.”

So Xu Ye fell silent.

The flower brothel brother, He Zhizhou, who had been bullied to tears by a seven-year-old cultivator in the Xuanxu sword sect, was indeed not a normal person, as expected.

“Oh, right! There’s something I must tell you.”

He Zhizhou suddenly seemed to remember something and swallowed the last bite of grilled fish. “Aren’t we going to fly on our swords to the ancient forest later?”

He seemed a bit embarrassed as he smiled. “Well, you see, I’m afraid of heights.”

=====

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

He Zhizhou’s screams were like the cries of apes on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, rapidly turning into dolphin-like sounds: “Prosperity, democracy, civilization, harmony! Mom, save me! Hallelujah!”

Xu Ye couldn’t stand it. “Shut up!”

How could a cultivator be afraid of heights, and a sword cultivator at that? Hadn’t this guy ever tried flying on a sword at a young age? It was truly a disgrace for a sword cultivator!

“I can fly on a sword, too, but, you know, every time I stand in the sky, I feel dizzy and want to cry, thinking I’m going to die the next second.”

He Zhizhou clung to him like a koala and pleaded, “Ning Ning, please tell me a few jokes to distract me, please!”

Ning Ning stood on the Xinghen Sword, amused by him. “I don’t know any jokes. Why don’t I ask the talented man He to recite a few lines of poetry?”

“Re-recite a poem.”

He Zhizhou trembled, daring not to open his eyes, his mind a complete mess. “A beauty rolls up her beaded curtain, a thousand… thousand paths erased by people… The emperor and the scholar untie their battle robes, and in the warmth of the hibiscus tent, they spend the spring night. A moment of spring night is worth a thousand gold. I know that this matter needs to be done personally…”

Xu Ye’s body suddenly swayed. As a pure-hearted youth who had grown up on the righteous path, he blushed uncontrollably. “He Zhizhou, shut up!”

In the midst of He Zhizhou’s screams and Xu Ye’s scolding, the three of them finally arrived at their destination, the Ancient Forest Sea.

The Ancient Forest Sea was located at the peak of Xiaochongshan. It was said to draw upon the essence of the sun and moon, making it a well-deserving gathering place for spiritual energy.

It was already night, and the towering ancient trees pierced the vast sky. The lush leaves were densely packed, tinged with a faint, pale glow in the moonlight.

As far as the eye could see, there were vigorous and ancient trees with twisted roots, resembling wrinkles on the faces of the elderly, exuding a sense of solemnity.

The leaves nearly blocked out the moonlight entirely, but fortunately, there were many glowing spiritual plants within the forest.

The moonlight flowers adorned the grass like stars, emitting a soft, pale radiance. The glowworm grass resembled numerous light blue lanterns, quietly hanging from the treetops. Some unidentified trees had leaves that shimmered, making them look as if they were embedded with emeralds at a glance.

Ning Ning was, after all, a young girl, and seeing such a scene for the first time, she couldn’t help but look around with starry eyes. Occasionally, she would bend down to touch the moonlight flowers, her slender fingers turning as white as snow in the moonlight.

“If this place could be developed as a tourist attraction, Liuming Mountain would make a fortune for sure.”

He Zhizhou, still recovering from his fear of sword flight, patted his chest with lingering fear, his face pale. “I remember there are Moonlight Stones, Weeping Ghost Rocks, Water Dragon Grass, and a Pure Spring of Immortality here. If we’re lucky, we might even find treasures like the Seven Treasures Glass or the Great Enlightenment Buddha Grass.”

Ning Ning examined the map, nodding thoughtfully.

Although Liuming Mountain had provided everyone with maps and the distribution of spirit plants below rare grade, the markings were only approximate and didn’t specify the exact locations. Everyone had to search for themselves.

As for precious and higher-grade items, they were elusive, and not even the hosts of Liuming Mountain knew if they would be found, so they weren’t included on the maps.

The Ancient Forest Sea was famous for its abundant resources, and many cultivators came to this place.

Before, on the mountainside, besides the medical cultivators, Yun Duanyue, and those from the Niguang Island and Haoran Sect who were intentionally causing trouble, Ning Ning hadn’t seen anyone else. But now, after just arriving, she had spotted several men and women dressed in different sect attire.

It seemed that someone recognized He Zhizhou. They chuckled and whispered something to their companions, presumably recounting his glorious deeds.

“Everyone is here for rare treasures, but there are too many of us.”

Xu Ye calmly analyzed the situation. “The Ancient Forest Sea is extremely vast. We can keep going deeper and aim for less-traveled areas. I’ve heard that deep within the forest, there’s a ten thousand-year-old dragon’s blood tree. Even if we don’t find anything valuable, seeing it would still be an eye-opening experience.”

“You’re quite impressive, Xu Ye.”

Ning Ning blinked. “You seem to know everything. You were like that when you told us about  Rong Ci identity before. You didn’t hesitate to say it.”

Xu Ye smirked. “I naturally need to be prepared before coming here.”

Of course, he had thoroughly investigated everything, going from one room to another and learning about the identities, personalities, and strengths of almost all the disciples. He even knew what happened on the night they arrived at Liuming Mountain.

Thinking about what he had seen that night outside the Xuanxu Sword Sect’s guest rooms and looking at Ning Ning’s innocent and pure smile, Xu Ye’s mood became quite complex.

How could such a good girl end up like this…?

“Suspicious.”

A sigh welled up in his heart, and Xu Ye suddenly heard He Zhizhou’s voice: “Do you guys feel… like there’s something strange in the distance?”

Something strange?

The Ancient Forest Sea was known for its tranquility, elegance, and abundant resources. Xu Ye couldn’t imagine that anything unusual would happen in a seemingly peaceful forest. So he raised his eyebrows lazily, focusing his attention on the faint sounds coming from the forest.

It sounded like the footsteps of several people running and…

“Help!” and “Run quickly”?

This thought pierced through his consciousness like a sharp sword, making the young sword cultivator’s spiritual energy suddenly tense up.

At the same time, he heard Ning Ning call out in astonishment, “Look at those trees!”

In the distance, a cluster of trees emitting a faint green light suddenly swayed. The green light that had been surrounding the leaves instantly turned a horrifying scarlet.

This rich and pure color rushed forward relentlessly, turning all the flowers, grass, and trees it touched into an eerie shade of red. Combined with the frosty moonlight, it gave the impression of a lifeless funeral parlor.

The position where the three of them stood was naturally not exempt from this fate.

“What’s going on?”

The crimson color engulfed the entire forest, making even the leaves seem drenched in blood. When they swayed in the wind, they looked like emaciated bones freshly emerged from hell.

He Zhizhou couldn’t understand what was happening, and he gazed into the distance, seeing two people rushing toward them.

“Run! Hurry!”

The young man on the left had a pale face, panting heavily. “Something’s happened in the woods!”

Xu Ye raised his voice. “Fellow cultivator, what’s going on?”

“Those trees, those trees seemed to come to life… the whole Ancient Forest Sea has gone mad!”

The young man’s expression changed, and he pointed at Xu Ye, shouting, “Fellow cultivator, be careful behind you!”

Before his words could even fade away, a vine as thick as a human arm suddenly shot into the air, swiftly and unexpectedly, and struck at Xu Ye!

All three of them had their attention on the young man, and they only turned around hurriedly when they heard him shout. The vine was almost within arm’s reach, and they didn’t have time to draw their swords or dodge. Xu Ye could only hastily form a rudimentary sword gesture and thrust forcefully.

Who would have expected that the vines were exceptionally sturdy? The sword technique Xu Ye hastily executed at the moment was not very powerful. However, upon contact with the vine, it was directly deflected and had no effect.

“Xu Ye!”

The deflected sword technique sent Xu Ye flying a considerable distance due to the astonishing force, and when he crashed heavily onto the ground, it made a terrifying thud.

Surprisingly, the vine still had the strength to pursue them. He Zhizhou saw the dangerous situation and quickly drew his sword, forcefully slashing at the vine.

With this slash, most of the vine was finally cut off, but the remaining part, far from retreating, seemed to be provoked and was shaking wildly in mid-air.

Another flash of sword light.

A tree vine lunged straight at He Zhizhou’s neck, but it was severed by Ning Ning’s sword.

“Inside… inside is the same… No, it’s even scarier inside!”

The young man was in a panic, his voice trembling, and he didn’t even dare to run. After they had dealt with the sudden uprising of the tree vines, his expression somewhat calmed down. “You should run too! Find a spacious place and use your sword to fly. This place is no longer right!”

Ning Ning tightened her grip on her Xinghen sword, her eyes slightly darkening.

Something’s not right… What kind of plot is this?

She remembered that in the novels she had read, Pei Ji should have also arrived at the Ancient Forest Sea tonight and unexpectedly found a treasure. His experience was so lucky that it was rather uneventful. Throughout the plot, there was no mention of this sudden turn of events.

How could there be a plot so completely different from the original work?

Ning Ning steadied herself, and her heart pounded. “What caused these changes? Do you have any clues?”

“What felt wrong at first was the thousand-year-old Dragon’s Blood Tree.”

The young man’s companion, a female cultivator who still had a frightened look, had trembling lips. “It unexpectedly started dripping bright red resin without any warning. Its branches and vines simultaneously surged, attacking a disciple from the Xuanxu Sword Sect. Then the entire forest… Ah! You in the Xuanxu Sect attire, are you also from the Xuanxu Sword Sect?”

Xuanxu Sword Sect disciple.

Ning Ning’s heart skipped a beat, and she inexplicably felt something strange. “Sister, can you roughly describe the appearance of that disciple?”

“A tall and slim young man, a small mole at the corner of his eye, and a black robe with the Xuanxu Sword Sect’s cloud pattern. He was quite handsome.”

The woman and the young man exchanged glances. “He should have been acting alone, and he had impressive skills. When we fled, he was still in a battle with the Dragon’s Blood Tree, but unfortunately… outnumbered and severely injured, he’s probably exhausted now and has no power to fight back.”

“No way.”

He Zhizhou helped Xu Ye up from the ground, handed him a handkerchief to wipe the blood from his mouth, and was momentarily stunned. “The one in the black clothes… could it be Pei Ji?”

No, it shouldn’t be him.

Ning Ning instinctively bit her lip. Tonight in Xiaochongshan should have been peaceful, and Pei Ji would not have experienced any unexpected incidents.

In the original work, as the protagonist, he had never encountered any life-threatening dangers. Just like in all the cultivation novels, he could easily turn danger into safety, so how could it be…

How could he be exhausted, severely injured, and in this completely unmentioned plot?

“You’d better all leave this place as soon as possible. This forest is extremely eerie and not suitable for lingering.”

The young man pulled the woman by her wrist, casting one last fearful glance at the forest behind them. “We’ll take our leave now. Take care.”

“Take care!”

He Zhizhou casually bid them farewell and then discreetly approached Ning Ning, his eyes filled with curiosity. “What kind of plot is this? You’ve read the original; can you give me some spoilers? We should be safe, right?”

That’s the strangest part.

Regardless of Pei Ji’s fierce battle or the anomaly in the Ancient Wood Forest Sea, the original work never mentioned them. She tried to call upon the system in her mind but received no response.

Ning Ning glanced at Xu Ye, who was almost immobilized by the sneak attack, and then looked at He Zhizhou, who seemed utterly bewildered. She took a deep breath. “You should take Xu Ye and leave with your sword. I want to go inside and take a look.”

The current situation was completely beyond her imagination. If she didn’t explore the situation, Ning Ning would feel uneasy.

The female cultivator had described the injured young man, who should be Pei Ji.

If this was a plot that was omitted and skipped in the original work, she had the aura of a malicious supporting character. No matter how reckless she acted when venturing deeper into the forest, she shouldn’t meet a heroic death.

If the current developments exceed the original plot…

Pei Ji’s life and death were uncertain, and there was no one to rely on. As his senior sister, she should try to save him as well.

After all, there was a sense of camaraderie among fellow sect members.

Furthermore, looking at it from a deeper perspective, if the male protagonist were to meet his end here, her mission of acting recklessly would naturally come to an abrupt end.

Without the prerequisite of carrying out the mission, she would lose her value, and the system would undoubtedly have no reason to keep her. She would be on a dead-end path as well.

Ning Ning didn’t want to make He Zhizhou worry. When she saw his puzzled expression, she smiled reassuringly and said, “My mission is back. Everything is following the original storyline, and I’ll be fine. You two should go ahead.”

“Oh, okay! Good luck!”

He Zhizhou smiled knowingly, nodded, and said, “We’ll wait for you where we grilled fish earlier. Come back as soon as possible!”

Ning Ning tightly held her Xinghen Sword, and her knuckles turned slightly white. “Alright.”

=====

“You’re in this state, and you still want to fly on a sword?”

He Zhizhou rejected Xu Ye’s attempt to take flight. He looked into Xu Ye’s eyes and said firmly, “Although I’m afraid of heights, I’ll overcome it for the sake of a friend. Xu Ye, your injuries are the most important thing right now. You don’t need to worry about this.”

He had a serious look on his face, and for the first time, he showed a reliable demeanor.

Xu Ye was in so much pain that he could barely move after being flung around by the giant vine. When he heard He Zhizhou’s words, he forced a smile through his gritted teeth.

It seemed like this person could still be relied upon in critical moments.

So with He Zhizhou in the front, Xu Ye stepped onto the flying sword. However, the sword was like a rickety old man in his seventies or eighties, shaking for a long time before moving a little bit forward.

And then a little more.

It was a lot harder than he expected.

He had to make the sword fly, and it was just as heartbreaking as seeing the Chinese nation stand up.

“I did it! Xu Ye, I did it!”

He Zhizhou, with tears in his eyes, said, “Step on the clutch; prepare the throttle! Speed up and overtake; the AE86 wins; the AE86 is the true downhill racing god!”

(T/N: AE86 is from the Initial D anime. Initial D was a cult Japanese manga comic series in which the young hero, Takumi Fujiwara, famously drove a modified AE86, honing his driving skills on mountain roads while moonlighting as a delivery driver for his father’s tofu shop.)

Xu Ye was probably in great pain and didn’t respond to him.

He Zhizhou’s small flying sword wobbled like an old tricycle, swaying for a long time before it suddenly heard laughter in his ears.

In the blink of an eye, a talisman cultivator riding a flying whisk appeared.

He Zhizhou saw that he was laughing uncontrollably and couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Friend, why are you laughing?”

“Huh? You’re asking me?”

The man laughed so hard that his shoulders shook. It took him a while before he spoke: “There’s someone over there who probably flew on a flying sword with a friend and got thrown off with a ‘kerplunk.’ He’s running and yelling, chasing after his friend. But that friend of his probably didn’t hear him at all, swaying and running away. The expression on that person’s face… Haha, it’s just too priceless, so heartbreaking that I want to laugh every time!”

He Zhizhou imagined the scene and burst into laughter as well. “The person who got thrown off isn’t the funniest one; it’s his friend! That idiot probably still thinks he’s waiting for him. Deep brotherly love.”

He took a deep breath and continued, “Do you think he’s so foolish that he’s talking to thin air, not knowing that there’s no one behind him, haha!”

The talisman cultivator laughed so hard: “How unlucky it is to meet such a friend! That fool must have disappeared just now! He was still talking to the air; he got rock in his head, hahaha!”

When he thought about it, it was quite unlucky.

He Zhizhou scratched his head. “Oh, Xu Ye, I think that person who got thrown off is pretty pitiful. How about we give him a lift too? What do you think?” He was afraid of heights and didn’t dare to look back, so he had to turn his head slightly to the side to speak to Xu Ye behind him. But just as he was about to say more, he suddenly heard the dry, somewhat frightened voice of the talisman cultivator.

“Friend, there’s no one behind you. Who are you talking to?”

Thunder struck!!!!

He Zhizhou: “…”

Talisman cultivator: “…”

They exchanged glances, and without the need for words, both understood what had just happened.

The cheerful atmosphere in the air came to a sudden stop, and the two flying through the air simultaneously fell into an awkward silence.

He Zhizhou’s heart skipped a beat.

He Zhizhou turned around expressionless.

All he saw behind him was the sound of his white robe flapping in the wind. There was not a trace of anyone else left.

The talisman cultivator beside him stopped laughing and cleared his throat lightly. He looked into the distance and quickly sped away.

Leaving as if nothing had happened, he gave He Zhizhou one last bit of gentleness.

Although the sky started drizzling lightly, He Zhizhou felt that today’s rain was heavier than the day Yi Ping went to ask her father for money and more heart-wrenching than the day Chu Yuxun and Murong Yunhai broke up.

(T/N: 1. Yiping asked her father for money, an internet buzzword . The complete meaning of the word is “Today’s rain is as heavy as the day Yiping asked her father for money.” It comes from a classic rain scene in the TV series ” Love is Deep and Rainy ” , is a way of describing the heavy rain using the classic rain scene in “Love is Deep and Rainy” . 

2. Chu Yuxun and Murong Yunhai are the female lead male lead name in the meteor garden c-drama)

He thought that the plot would involve friends staying together for a lifetime and brothers returning the favor together.

Never did he imagine that it would be him heading north alone, leaving behind the season with Xu Ye.

Far away, atop a distant mountain, a lone figure swayed unsteadily. Xu Ye’s face was soaked in the rain, and his expression was hard to discern.

In his eyes shone a more mysterious light than that of a dead fish.

A transparent teardrop rolled down He Zhizhou’s cheek.

“Xu Ye—!”