Chapter Forty-Seven: Huo Tianqing Inquires Again

Yinling’s face was filled with disbelief, her expression complex. “He’s blind?”

“Yes, he’s blind.” Xie Yingying nodded, answering gravely and sincerely.

Hearing this, Yinling felt a little dejected. She had pursued that Dao cultivator for years, yet never managed to win him over—in fact, whenever he saw her, he’d run the other way. Now, seeing Xie Yingying stirring the heart of Bai Shengyun, who followed the path of ruthless Dao, she’d hoped Xie Yingying might lend her a hand. But it turned out Xie Yingying herself had no idea what Bai Shengyun saw in her.

Leaving aside Yinling’s troubles, Xie Yingying now felt even more frustrated than her, baffled by Bai Shengyun’s insistence on marrying her.

Yinling glanced up at the sky and realized it was getting late. Alarmed, she exclaimed, “Oh no, I haven’t turned in my assignment yet! I can’t stay—Senior Sister, I’ll be going now!”

Before her words finished, she lifted the hem of her purple gauze dress and dashed away, her bells ringing sharply as she fled into the distance.

With Yinling gone, Xie Yingying finally felt some peace and was about to turn and enter her room, when, just as she turned her head, she caught sight of Huo Tianqing approaching at a leisurely pace.

She had no desire to hear Huo Tianqing ask about Gu Fengshan again, so she lowered her gaze and pretended not to see him, intent on closing her door.

A shadow fell overhead, and just as she was about to shut the door, it halted abruptly. Xie Yingying pushed, but the door wouldn’t budge.

Swallowing nervously, she slowly looked up to see a pale yet powerful hand pressing lightly against the wooden door. Instinctively, she tried again, but neither the hand nor the door moved an inch—the force was effortless, yet absolute.

Huo Tianqing watched her struggle and chuckled softly.

“Master…” Xie Yingying was helpless before his teasing. “I have a headache, truly—I need to rest.”

“You’ve rested for half an hour already. Isn’t that enough?” Huo Tianqing raised an eyebrow.

Xie Yingying, hearing this, resorted to her old trick, lifting a hand to her forehead in a sigh. But Huo Tianqing saw through it in an instant, pulling her hand down. “I have a few questions for you.”

This time, she truly felt bitterness well up inside—there was no escaping the interrogation to come.

Huo Tianqing crossed his arms, lazily leaning against the doorframe, a smile playing across his handsome features. “Since the day you vanished, what exactly happened?”

Xie Yingying’s heart skipped a beat. She’d known he’d ask again. But she really didn’t want to answer. The pain and torment she’d suffered these past days were beyond anyone’s imagination. She’d barely managed to find a semblance of safety, only to have her wounds repeatedly torn open.

Suddenly, the wound on her arm began to ache faintly.

She lowered her head and sighed, exhaustion in her voice. “Master, let’s talk about it next time. I’m sorry.”

With that, she closed the door.

This time, Huo Tianqing didn’t stop her. He merely gazed at the closed wooden door, his eyes darkening, growing cold and deep as a night abyss, enough to inspire fear.

After a long moment, he fingered the flamboyant silk flower on his sleeve, then left in silence.

Xie Yingying lay in bed, listening to Huo Tianqing’s footsteps fading outside her chamber and felt an inexplicable sense of relief.

She burrowed into the blankets, recalling the plot of the original story—

The original character married Bai Shengyun, then died not long after. Bai Shengyun went on to be with Ning Qingqing, who adored him, and their days together were quite good.

Now, not only had she survived, she’d returned safely to the demonic sect—such was the unpredictability of fate.

Beyond the boundaries of the demonic sect, the nearby Heavenly Punishment had ceased after several hours, thunderclouds dissipated, though a few last peals of thunder echoed. The Heavenly Dao was still furious, reluctant to withdraw.

From the heavens, another streak of light descended, landing just outside the grand array of the demonic sect. Cold, beautiful eyes surveyed the scene.

Bai Shengyun’s presence had vanished here. Shen Ruru narrowed her eyes.

She raised a hand, and a yellow talisman paper flew out into the air. With a tap of her fingertip, she sketched runes with spiritual power.

She quickly finished the final stroke—success.

The previously invisible rune appeared in a flash, bright as cinnabar, not gentle in the twilight but imbued with dignity.

Then its light flared, deeply imprinting itself on the yellow paper, which seemed to gain life, affixing itself to Shen Ruru.

In an instant, her aura was concealed, her figure hidden—warm light permeated her body.

Only then did Shen Ruru step into the demonic sect’s territory.

Ning Qingqing followed closely, realizing both Bai Shengyun and Shen Ruru had entered the sect, panic rising as she paced outside the array.

Her cultivation was lower than theirs; if she entered unprepared, she might well die inside.

But Bai Shengyun had gone in—if she found him first, wouldn’t she have a chance to develop their relationship?

Ning Qingqing deliberated for a long while, finally biting her lip, her gaze firm. Remembering she had several concealment talismans, she slapped one onto herself and crossed the divide between light and shadow.

As soon as she entered, the powerful guardians of the demonic sect all turned their deep, frightening gazes her way.

One wore a slight scowl. “These celestial sect people act like this is their home! First Bai Shengyun, now two more nobodies—relying on concealment talismans to run rampant. Hard to find, always disturbing our peace!”

The person beside him laughed and then said softly, “Ah, aren’t they just three reckless youths? Why bother? We won’t have to lift a finger—the demonic cultivators who spot them will surely hunt them down.”

At first, Ning Qingqing hadn’t felt the terror of the demonic sect, but as time passed and she pressed on, the sky grew darker, a blend of death and resentment enveloping her, making her shiver, face twisted in fear.

At this point, the concealment talisman’s effect had faded. Ning Qingqing didn’t know how much longer she’d have to stay. The talisman that could save her life she cherished dearly—she would not use it unless absolutely necessary.

Many vengeful spirits and wild ghosts noticed her, cackling. In a corner, a few ghosts were betting.

“I wager she gets caught within two hours.”

“Two hours? Ha! Ten minutes, tops!”

A child ghost, a young girl who’d wandered for ages, noticed her. Seeing her low cultivation and timid demeanor, she let out a raspy laugh, leaping dozens of meters to land lightly on Ning Qingqing’s shoulder, then blew a cold breath by her ear.

Ning Qingqing felt a chill run through her, as if drenched in icy water in the dead of winter.

“Sister, hello there!” she said coldly.

Ning Qingqing dared not move, frozen like a block of wood, her face blank, not even daring to respond.