The fusion of the primordial spirit back into the body was again a long process. During this period, Gu Baiqing told Song Xingkui about the demon race.
Song Xingkui stared in shock, eyes wide. “So you’re saying that imprisoning him here wasn’t really to imprison him, but to protect him and also give him a chance to change back?”
“I don’t know. Anyway, the person is already dead. Zixiao Sect also has no records. But since he was a mixed-blood, I don’t know whether he could change back. If he did change back and came out…”
Song Xingkui immediately said, “I understand. I’ll add another layer of protection outside.”
After all, he had been imprisoned for many years. If resentment arose in his heart, and after becoming a mixed-blood and coming out he then turned back into a demon race, that would be a disaster for Zixiao Sect.
But before Song Xingkui could act, an unexpected change occurred during the waiting period for the fusion of the primordial spirit.
Three days later, strange sounds came from the direction of the cave where the demon race was imprisoned.
Gu Baiqing told Song Xingkui to guard Mo Xuanli while he himself rushed over to check.
He saw that the cave where the demon race had been was already empty.
The restriction had been broken through, yet the formation had not been destroyed. Gu Baiqing had not expected his guess to come true.
At first, he wanted to rush to the outer perimeter to check.
But then Gu Baiqing’s heart stirred, and he instead flew first to the far east.
Finally, at the location of that grave, he saw the figure of the demon race.
No, it was no longer a demon race.
That was the aura of a mixed-blood.
And the grave had also been dug open. One could see a coffin buried underground, but the coffin lid had not been opened.
But before Gu Baiqing could approach, the man suddenly reached back and struck at his own back. Carrying sharp wind blades, it instantly stabbed viciously into the area of his back spine, almost sinking in half a hand deep.
A piercing scream echoed throughout the entire forbidden valley.
Seeing this scene, Gu Baiqing stopped in his tracks, completely stunned. He watched as the man howled in pain as if about to pass out, yet his hand showed no mercy as it continued to go deeper into his body, as if the one being struck were not his own body.
Gu Baiqing saw his entire body’s muscles trembling violently from fierce resistance. Unable to stand steady, he directly knelt down, smashing his head into the tombstone, blood flowing everywhere.
As if praying that smashing his head could lessen the pain, he kept crashing into the tombstone, producing thudding sounds.
This scene lasted about a quarter of an hour. A faintly red bone was forcibly torn out from his back.
He took out his own origin bone.
By this time, he was already in collapse from pain, yet he still leaned against the tombstone and, with trembling hands, used the origin bone to smash and carve something onto it.
Gu Baiqing could not see clearly, because it was all blurred by blood.
Gu Baiqing could tell what this man wanted to do. He actually did not know whether he should stop him, but after he finished carving, he still stepped forward two steps.
The man turned back to look at him. There were no longer the red eyes of the demon race, but they were a dead ash-gray.
Before, he had been seeking death out of disgust, after all, the people he loved and the people he hated were all dead, and there was no meaning in living—
Then now… he had become indifferent to this shell altogether. Even if he were alive, it was the same as being dead. He only wanted to go down early to find that person.
For a powerful mixed-blood like him, wanting to die was truly not easy.
And the only option available to him was the first method. Fortunately, his cultivation was high enough to allow him to handle it himself.
So he only glanced at Gu Baiqing and said in a hoarse voice, “I am no longer a demon race. You no longer have the right to imprison me. Let me go.” Then, without the slightest hesitation, he reached out and stabbed into his own dantian.
Another scream like torture rang out.
Gu Baiqing’s gaze trembled, unable to bear watching any longer.
He suddenly felt that heaven was truly cruel to mixed-bloods, not even allowing them to die an easy death.
When the screams finally ceased, Gu Baiqing looked over.
The man was already barely alive, lying prone in front of the tombstone.
Gu Baiqing could not help but say, “Actually, what I told you earlier was only my judgment. It might not necessarily—”
“No. It was me who was blind before, blind of heart, seeing nothing. Thank you.” The man spoke weakly. “Help me one last time, and I’ll repay you with some things I know. They will be of help to you.”
Gu Baiqing let out a sigh. “Help with what?”
The man did not speak, but instead began to crawl along the ground, until he circled behind the tombstone and crawled into the pit. He then lay on his side beside the coffin. In fact, the coffin was very large, he could have opened the lid and lain inside together.
But he did not. He only squeezed himself uncomfortably into the corner between the coffin and the earthen pit.
“When I die, help us fill in the earth. Don’t… don’t dig me out.” The man used such a humble, pleading tone for the first time. He did not look at Gu Baiqing, only gazed tenderly at the side of the coffin wood, as if he could see through it, meeting the gaze of the person inside.
“Alright.” Gu Baiqing replied heavily.
Only then did the man turn his head to look over and say, “The first thing I want to tell you is that within your Zixiao Sect there is still another spy, a demon race evolved from a mixed-blood. She once came here, likely to see me, but I did not recognize her, nor do I know whether she wanted to use me for something. After that, I never saw her again.”
Gu Baiqing was startled, his mind instantly plunging into frantic thought.
Because once a mixed-blood had completely become a demon race, they were simply a powerful demon race. They could not judge whether that demon had evolved from a mixed-blood. Only their own kind could sense it.
And having already become a demon race, they could naturally use demon race methods to conceal their aura and infiltrate as a spy.
The previous Taixu Hall incident, by rights, should have had all the spies uncovered by the Hidden Gods Clan.
So could what the man was talking about be those who were captured? It was just that many of the spies had already been killed back then, and Gu Baiqing had not paid special attention to whether those pulled out from Zixiao Sect were all gone. It seemed this matter needed to be reported to Second Senior Brother. If there were still spies that had not been rooted out, it would be troublesome.
The man continued, “Also, that one of yours is not simple. I have never seen a mixed-blood with greater talent than him, so he very likely has the qualifications to evolve into a Primordial Demon. If he becomes a Primordial Demon, then he will no longer be your dao companion, and his consciousness will no longer exist. So don’t let him reach that step. Keep a close watch on him, otherwise… you will have to personally kill him.”
Gu Baiqing’s breathing stalled.
The man said a few more weak words, so light they were like a gust of wind passing by, yet they made Gu Baiqing feel ice-cold all over, his pupils trembling, his expression indescribably ugly.
“No… it won’t come to that.”
“I pray for you. I hope your ending will be better than ours.” The man said calmly, then looked at the coffin, his expression sorrowful yet somewhat aggrieved. “Are you stupid? Back then I had already fallen into demonization. How could you casually enter my sea of consciousness? I had no awareness at all. I couldn’t control those instinctive reactions at all. I clearly… wanted to die by your hand. I clearly…”
He still remembered that first encounter at the foot of the mountain back then. She had been young and reckless, believing that nothing under heaven was impossible to do. He had been unruly and defiant, questioning heaven, questioning earth, questioning right and wrong, justice and fairness among men. The two had fallen in love at first sight, hitting it off immediately, never expecting that in the end they could not withstand the trials of fate.
The next second, blood flowed from the corner of the man’s mouth.
He was now in a mortal body. Biting his tongue to end his life was nothing more than simple.
Watching as the man gradually lost all breath, Gu Baiqing closed his eyes. With a wave of his hand, the earth piled back in place, and a joint burial mound appeared at the spot where a dwelling had once been planned to be built.
With another wave of his hand, the tombstone became clean, clearly revealing two names leaning against each other.
Gu Baiqing took a deep breath. He and Mo Xuanli… absolutely must not meet such an end.
After returning, he told Song Xingkui what had happened, only leaving out their final conversation.
Song Xingkui nodded and said, “That can be considered a decent ending. That place won’t be touched… as for the spy, we still need to tell Fu Zhiyi…”
As the two were talking, this time they did not wait long before a sudden, massive fluctuation of spiritual power occurred.
The system notification sound rang out. The mission was completed.
Mo Xuanli successfully advanced to the Soul Transformation stage. The points rose again. Although it was only a thousand, it still put Gu Baiqing’s mind at ease.
And from this moment on, Song Xingkui and Gu Baiqing both grew tense.
Because Mo Xuanli’s condition began to become unstable, until Mo Xuanli suddenly opened his eyes, and in an instant a pair of red pupils appeared before the two of them.
The two were on full guard, but as soon as Mo Xuanli opened his eyes, he saw Gu Baiqing. He was conscious and was just about to open his mouth to call out.
Suddenly, the ring flashed with lightning, instantly shocking Mo Xuanli so that he could not sit steady.
Song Xingkui was startled and turned to look at Gu Baiqing, only to see that Gu Baiqing was not surprised at all. She immediately realized that the lightning power inside the ring had originally been put there by Gu Baiqing.
Heavens, this master and disciple pair… playing it this thrilling? Is this a token of love, or an instrument of punishment?
However… it was indeed very effective.
When Song Xingkui turned back to look at Mo Xuanli again, the demonic aura had already dissipated by more than half. Mo Xuanli then immediately entered meditation again, using his Soul Transformation cultivation to suppress himself. When he opened his eyes again, he had returned to having only one red pupil, and with a blink, both eyes were black again.
Mo Xuanli let out a breath of relief and immediately jumped up, coming to Gu Baiqing’s side.
Gu Baiqing smiled and said, “Well done.”
Mo Xuanli could not help but say joyfully, “Master, I feel that this time went very smoothly. It seems I can restrain it better than before. I don’t remember the spirit roaming, but it feels as if you helped me. I always feel like you were there the whole time.”
“Of course. Your primordial spirit directly drifted over to find him.” Song Xingkui said with a smile.
Hearing this, Mo Xuanli’s gaze toward Gu Baiqing instantly brightened, as if he were very happy that he had such a well-behaved primordial spirit.
Seeing the two of them in such an affectionate state, Song Xingkui knew it was time for her to withdraw, otherwise she would be struck by heavenly lightning.
After Song Xingkui left, Gu Baiqing was just about to speak when Mo Xuanli, without another word, wrapped his arms around Gu Baiqing, spun him around, and returned to Luofeng Pavilion.
When Gu Baiqing opened his eyes, he saw his own room door, and in the next instant a scorching chest pressed up against him from behind.
“Master, can I go in?”
Gu Baiqing’s cheeks grew hot.
Mo Xuanli only embraced Gu Baiqing from behind, whispering in his ear, “Will this be my room from now on as well?”
Gu Baiqing’s ears burned, but he still cooperated and nodded.
“It’s our room.”
As soon as Gu Baiqing said this, Mo Xuanli extended an arm from beside Gu Baiqing’s cheek and, for the first time, pushed open Gu Baiqing’s door without knocking.
Others might not be able to smell it, but to Mo Xuanli it was a head-on rush of cold plum fragrance.
Mo Xuanli’s eyes darkened slightly. Unable to hold back any longer, he swept Gu Baiqing up horizontally and carried him inside.
The main door was shut directly, and the windows were also closed by the force of a palm strike.
Locking in a room full of cold plum fragrance, and also locking in the thick, intense affection within.
The bamboo bed, the tables and chairs, the doors and windows were reinforced by spells and spirit stones that could be used as mirrors.
Although he still could not go all the way because there was demonic qi within his body.
It still did not hinder Mo Xuanli from forcibly dragging Gu Baiqing along for three days and three nights.
Like a little dog arriving at a new territory, wanting to mark it.
Leaving proof of their master–disciple’s new identity relationship in every corner of this room.
During this time, Gu Baiqing often drifted in and out of consciousness, thinking that the authors of fanfiction were also quite impressive. Although it was not the real Xuanli, what he did was almost not off at all.
Three days later, if not for receiving a summons from the sect master, Gu Baiqing felt that Mo Xuanli might not have stopped at all.
Gu Baiqing left Mo Xuanli in Luofeng Pavilion to properly calm his mind and cultivate. These past few days had indeed been somewhat absurd. Gu Baiqing felt that the moment he stepped out, the world before his eyes was swaying with dazzling white light, his whole brain reacting sluggishly. Sure enough, restraint was really necessary.
When he saw Song Xingkui, even though he wanted to pretend nothing had happened, upon seeing Song Xingkui’s mouth almost splitting to the temples in a grin, and that full-body scanning gaze, Gu Baiqing could not help but feel flustered.
“Junior brother, have you been eating some kind of supplement lately? This radiant glow… hey, what’s going on with your neck? Were you bitten by something? Pfft…” Song Xingkui teased all the way until bursting into another round of exaggerated goose-goose-goose laughter.
“Alright, why did you call me here?” Gu Baiqing frowned and said.
Song Xingkui pulled a long face. “I didn’t want to disturb you either. After all, a short separation is better than a honeymoon, right? My little junior nephew has been holding it in for so long, it hasn’t been easy. But there really is serious business. Second junior brother is looking for you…”
After that, Song Xingkui recounted the message sent by Fu Zhiyi.
The cause was that people from the Tianyuan Sect had captured a severely injured incubus. No matter how harsh the interrogation, the incubus would not say a word. Coincidentally, at that time, after discussion, the alliance, also to protect the final fragment, decided to collectively move to Tianyuan Sect. So after arriving, Fu Zhiyi went alone to see that incubus.
As a result, the incubus finally spoke.
The very first sentence he uttered was that he wanted to see this master and disciple.
Fu Zhiyi immediately understood that Gu Baiqing and the others must have some connection with the incubus. Since the incubus chose this moment to speak, it proved that the incubus did not want outsiders to know that he knew Gu Baiqing and them. Fu Zhiyi worried that trouble might arise, but the incubus said it concerned something very important to that master–disciple pair, and then he stopped speaking.
Fu Zhiyi had no choice but to secretly contact Song Xingkui.
Song Xingkui asked, “How do you know the incubus? Could it be that…”
“Don’t be improper…” Gu Baiqing interrupted, then explained the mess involving Qian Yue and the incubus.
Song Xingkui frowned and said, “Then it looks like you’ll have to make a trip.”
Gu Baiqing nodded and said, “That’s what I think too. We were supposed to set off to continue searching for the fragments anyway. Since the incubus has delivered himself to us, he must know relevant information. Senior Sister, Xuanli and I will set off right away and not delay.”
After saying this, Gu Baiqing turned to leave, but Song Xingkui suddenly called out to him.
“Junior brother.”
Gu Baiqing turned back and asked, “Senior Sister, is there anything else you need to tell me?”
Song Xingkui’s expression was somewhat different now. After hesitating, she said, “The fragments are almost gathered. Every step ahead will be fraught with danger. You… you two…”
It was rare to see Song Xingkui so serious and worried.
Gu Baiqing smiled and said, “Don’t worry, I will protect Xuanli well.”
“No, the most important thing is… protect yourself well.” Song Xingkui frowned.
Gu Baiqing thought to himself that Senior Sister still cared for her junior brother. It was just a pity that he was not the real Gu Baiqing anymore. Thinking of this, he could not help revealing a trace of guilt.
Song Xingkui’s gaze flickered, and she suddenly said, “I’m very happy to have a junior brother like you. And don’t forget, I’m your senior sister. If you encounter any trouble or difficulty later on, remember to come back and find me.”
Gu Baiqing smiled and nodded, but then heard Song Xingkui emphasize again, “If you reach a dead end, be sure to remember to come back and find me once. Maybe I’ll have a clever plan for you.”
Only then did Gu Baiqing feel that what Song Xingkui was saying sounded a bit strange. “What do you mean?”
Song Xingkui smiled faintly and pointed at the Heavenly Dao. “I can read the celestial signs. I’ll definitely be able to help you.”
“Go on. It would be best if there’s no need to come back and find me.”
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