Zhang Xiaofan was momentarily stunned, never expecting to see her again so soon. Though he wanted to pretend not to recognize her, the bond they had forged in the depths of the Dead Soul Abyss and the Blood Drip Cave still tugged at his heart. He could only manage an awkward smile, “What brings you here?”
Stones, who stood nearby, noticed the strange look on Zhang Xiaofan’s face and asked, “Xiaofan, who is she?”
Zhang Xiaofan blurted out, “She is—” but then suddenly realized that revealing Bìyáo’s identity and their relationship would bring no end of trouble. He swallowed his words just as they reached his lips.
Stones, puzzled by Zhang Xiaofan’s reluctance to speak, was about to ask further when Bìyáo intervened with a smile, “Don’t bother asking him. We have just met, and he knows nothing of my origins.”
Stones, now understanding, couldn’t help but notice the peculiar expression on Zhang Xiaofan’s face. Leaning in, he whispered into Zhang Xiaofan’s ear, “Brother Zhang, I see something in your eyes. Do you have feelings for this lady?”
Zhang Xiaofan was taken aback, his face turning pale. He stammered, “You mustn’t say such things. There is absolutely no connection between us!”
Bìyáo, who had been smiling warmly, suddenly scowled, snarling, “Exactly, why would I have anything to do with such a shameless and despicable person?”
The crowd, who had seen her initial joy at seeing Zhang Xiaofan, were taken aback by the sudden change. The words “shameless” and “despicable” hung in the air, casting a strange light on Zhang Xiaofan.
Embarrassed and at a loss for words, Zhang Xiaofan could only stand there, appearing to everyone as a lover quarreling with his partner, eliciting laughter all around.
Stones, noting the hour, said, “Brother Zhang, it’s getting late. We should go inside.”
Eager to escape the awkwardness, Zhang Xiaofan quickly agreed. But just as they were about to move, Bìyáo shouted, “Old trickster, stop right there!”
Turning, they saw that Monday Immortal and Xiao Huan were trying to slip away unnoticed. But Bìyáo had spotted them. As her Heartbreak Flower glowed with an icy light, Zhang Xiaofan, alarmed, stopped and asked, “Wait, what did they do to you?”
Bìyáo, still angry, retorted, “None of your business!”
Rejected, Zhang Xiaofan felt a surge of frustration. But Monday Immortal, who had suffered greatly from Bìyáo earlier, seized the chance to explain, “Young friend, you must save me! I was kindly giving this lady a reading, but she didn’t like the truth. She attacked me and my granddaughter…”
“You lie, old fraud!” Bìyáo seethed, “You spout nonsense, swindle people, and dare to accuse me? You deserve a beating!”
With a wave of her hand, the Heartbreak Flower emitted a blinding white light, transforming the surroundings into daylight. Just as she was about to strike, Zhang Xiaofan pleaded, “Bìyáo, wait.”
But Bìyáo, ignoring him, sent the Heartbreak Flower flying, creating a dazzling display of light and fragrance. The moon and stars paled in comparison, and the scene was breathtaking.
Monday Immortal, terrified, grabbed Xiao Huan and ran, fumbling for a yellow talisman.
Zhang Xiaofan, remembering the power of Bìyáo’s weapon, stepped forward, blocking the attack with his own staff. Bìyáo, seeing him, frowned slightly, but a faint smile crossed her face. The flowers halted in mid-air, dancing before him without advancing. “What are you doing?” she demanded coldly.
Zhang Xiaofan, hesitant, replied, “They are not practitioners. Why make things difficult for them?”
Bìyáo, with a huff, withdrew the Heartbreak Flower. “Why don’t you ask him what really happened?”
Zhang Xiaofan, intrigued, turned to Monday Immortal, who, under Bìyáo’s pressure, confessed. It turned out that after successfully conning the fat woman, he had greedily tried to trick Bìyáo, who was no ordinary person. She had seen through his lies and confronted him, causing him to flee using an earth-burrowing spell, which led him to where Zhang Xiaofan and Stones were.
Realizing he had been deceived, Zhang Xiaofan, feeling foolish, turned to leave. Stones, sensing the awkwardness, suggested, “Brother Zhang, let’s get on with our business.”
Nodding, Zhang Xiaofan and Stones entered the forest. Bìyáo, curious, followed, warning, “The forest is filled with malevolent energy. What are you two doing?”
“We are here to rid the town of demons,” Zhang Xiaofan replied, pulling Stones along. Stones, glancing back, followed.
Alone, Bìyáo paused, gazing into the darkening forest, lost in thought.
***
In the forest, tall trees and thick foliage blocked the moonlight, casting the area into darkness. As they walked, a soft, mournful voice echoed through the mist:
“Under the moon, cold as frost,
People drift like fallen blossoms, wounded.
After many years, millennia,
I hope to part ways but not forget.”
The voice, though unseen, carried a sorrowful air. Zhang Xiaofan and Stones, wary, approached cautiously.
As they ventured deeper, a green shadow appeared—Bìyáo, watching the mist, deep in thought before entering.
The forest was eerily quiet, broken only by distant insect chirps. Suddenly, Stones grabbed Zhang Xiaofan, whispering, “Listen.”
A soft sigh drifted from ahead. A beam of moonlight illuminated a misty figure, revealing a delicate, ethereal woman. Her long, flowing hair framed a face of pure beauty, with gentle brows, delicate nose, and soft red lips. Her eyes, like water, seemed to see into their souls.
“Are you here to kill me?” she murmured softly.
Startled, Stones barked, “Are you the three-tailed demon fox?”
Her eyes, gazing at Zhang Xiaofan, were filled with an unspoken sadness. She looked up at the moon, hanging perfectly in the sky, and said, “It is I.”
The darkness behind her stirred, and a chilling presence emerged. Stones, brandishing his weapon, charged, “Break!”
The ground around them sank, and a blinding light erupted from the staff, piercing the shadows. The demon fox, undeterred, spoke, “Drawing the essence of earth and wood to destroy demonic power… the ‘Soul Breaker Staff’!”
With the threat neutralized, Zhang Xiaofan and Stones stood, facing the mysterious woman. She looked at Zhang Xiaofan, her eyes searching. “What did you see?”
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