Chapter 282

Not far from the cliff’s edge, within a dense forest, there lies a river that winds through the landscape.

Pei Ji stood in the middle of the river, letting the spreading demonic energy surround him.

The river flowed slowly, bringing with it the sound of water, gentle like the notes of a harp, mixed with the mournful cries of unseen beasts.

Compared to the others, his luck was truly terrible.

He had just opened his eyes to find himself in the midst of a beast horde ravaged by demonic energy.

The beasts trapped within the Demon Refining Tower were always of considerable strength, and when they gathered in numbers, they became even more formidable.

He had fought his way out of the encirclement with a sword, barely conscious, when he encountered Bai Ye and Yonggui.

They told him that they had seen Ning Ning not long ago.

She had gone to the mountaintop with Senior Brother Meng Jue and had yet to return.

Pei Ji, possessing demon bloodline, could sense the demonic energy around him more clearly than orthodox cultivators.

The dark mist pervaded the area, and though ordinary people might not notice anything unusual, he could clearly perceive that the further up he went, the stronger the deathly aura became.

Worried that Ning Ning might be in danger, he refused Yonggui’s offer to heal his wounds first and insisted on heading to the mountain top to meet her.

As he thought of this, shadows deepened in his dark eyes, and a bitter laugh escaped his throat.

But what he saw was Ning Ning pushing Meng Jue away, disregarding her own safety.

The elegant Senior Brother, ever composed and dignified, shielded her behind him, wiping the blood splattered on her face with a raised hand.

“Ning Ning, you don’t need to sacrifice yourself for me. I, your brother, will protect you throughout your life.”

…Ha.

Throughout her life.

The water, cold and waist-deep, occasionally rippled with the current, licking at the wounds torn open by claws, causing a pain that pierced to the bone.

Pei Ji remained unmoved, his lashes lowering as he scooped up a handful of clear water and pressed it against the bloodstains on his abdomen with a fierce intensity.

He stripped off his shirt, and as blood mixed with water, it dyed the river around him a dark red, like layers of Cinnabar spreading out.

His hand pressed against the wound, and though it was called “cleaning,” he ruthlessly applied pressure, making the skin even more bloody and mangled, with blood pouring out uncontrollably.

Only such excruciating pain could pull him back from the brink of unconsciousness to some semblance of clarity.

Besides, he was long used to this.

Whether it was Pei Ji or anyone else, no one would care.

“Pei Xiaoji, are you crazy?”

Cheng Ying’s heart was beating wildly in his sea of consciousness, and there was a rare hint of anger in his tone: “If you are jealous, then just be jealous. Is it necessary to torture yourself like this? Stop it now!”

The young man, standing in the twilight, pressed his thin lips together and responded softly, “I’m not—”

He stopped mid-sentence.

He didn’t have the courage to deny it.

When he saw Meng Jue step closer to her, his fingers brushing against Ning Ning’s cheek, he could clearly feel the emotions surging within him.

His chest tightened and ached, a sudden wave of resentment and frustration rising within him, making him want to look away, as if standing there was a form of torment.

Even though he didn’t want to admit it, it was undoubtedly naked jealousy, like a burning fire consuming him, driving him to the edge of madness.

Pei Ji took a deep breath, his hand unintentionally pressing harder as it passed over the bloody gash on his shoulder, his eyes darkening.

Senior Brother Meng Jue was as pure as ice and bright as the autumn moon.

His character, swordsmanship, and status were all top-notch.

Even when expressing his feelings so intimately, he showed no trace of fear.

For this reason, Meng Jue could boldly tell Ning Ning that he would protect her throughout her life.

But could he do the same?

Not long ago, someone had replaced his medicine with poison, injuring Ning Ning in the process, leaving burns on her leg.

His status was so low and despicable, bearing the unshakable title of “demon,” that even though no one openly targeted him, he couldn’t escape the disdain and rejection lurking beneath the surface.

Apart from swordsmanship, Pei Ji had never pursued anything else.

Apart from swordsmanship, the boy, hated since birth, knew he didn’t deserve anything else.

Let alone someone as bright and warm as Ning Ning.

He was truly useless.

A hero and a beauty—a tale as old as time.

If Ning Ning truly ended up with Senior Brother, it would be only natural.

Yet, just the thought of that outcome made Pei Ji’s heart ache with a hollow emptiness.

And to think he came looking for her, wounded all over, only for her to say nothing, standing by Senior Brother Meng’s side, not even…

Not even caring about him.

His heart was in turmoil, filled with grievances and frustrations with no outlet, so he kept scrubbing at the bloodstains on his body, only to make the wounds tear open even more severely.

Cheng Ying shouted and gasped in anger, breathing heavily for a long time, and then suddenly fell silent.

Sensing something, Pei Ji slowly raised his eyes.

A girl in a simple, light dress stood on the riverbank, her gaze fixed on him, frowning in displeasure.

“Is this how you clean your wounds?”

It was Ning Ning.

Shouldn’t she be with Senior Brother Meng right now?

Pei Ji was a bit stunned, glancing briefly in the direction of her gaze.

It was his chest.

The gloomy young man paused for a moment before lowering his entire body into the water, submerging his chest and revealing only his slender neck and pale face.

Pei Ji’s voice turned cold, his eyes quickly glazing over with a thin layer of frost.

“What are you doing here?”

Cheng Ying scoffed in disdain.

This brat had been ignoring him, and now his nemesis had arrived, so there should be some good drama to watch.

Just look at him, putting on such an irritating act, trying to act all aloof in front of Ning Ning.

Who would have thought this was the same person who was so close to exploding from frustration inside, wondering over and over why she hadn’t come.

“You still haven’t answered my question.”