In the center of the field, a high-ranking monk from Tianyin Temple faced off against the wild dog Daoist. The monk, with profound cultivation, wielded a golden wooden fish artifact that shimmered brilliantly in the air, as if it had come to life. It chased the wild dog Daoist, who was in a wretched state. The bizarre tusk artifact in his hand, once glowing, now lay dark and powerless, likely broken by his opponent. The sound of the wooden fish echoed through the air, and the golden fish swam and wriggled, chasing the wild dog Daoist. The wild dog Daoist panted heavily, fleeing in a comical manner, causing the righteous people to roar with laughter. Tian Ling’er, in her youthful spirit, giggled incessantly.
Zhang Xiaofan stood beside her, stealing glances at his senior sister. He saw Tian Ling’er’s radiant smile, with dimples on her snow-white cheeks. She was utterly captivating, and he found himself entranced, wishing this moment would last forever.
Suddenly, a whistling sound pierced the air. Zhang Xiaofan looked and saw Nian Laoda, the elder, rush to aid the wild dog Daoist. His cultivation far surpassed that of the wild dog, and his Crimson Demon Eye was a formidable force. The high-ranking monk from Tianyin Temple lost his smile and began to handle the situation cautiously.
As Zhang Xiaofan watched, he noticed something strange: amidst the demons, when the wild dog Daoist was in trouble, only Nian Laoda and Liu Hao looked worried. The others seemed to be merely watching and enjoying the spectacle. Only Nian Laoda stepped in to rescue, while the rest remained indifferent.
Zhang Xiaofan felt puzzled, wondering if the demons’ internal dynamics were more complex than they appeared. Perhaps there were factional disputes within the demonic sects?
Indeed, Zhang Xiaofan’s guess was not far off. Nian Laoda and the wild dog Daoist belonged to the Blood Refining Hall, a once-glorious faction under the Black-Hearted Elder. However, their power had waned, and they were now marginalized. Seeing the wild dog Daoist’s predicament, the other demons did not help but instead laughed and jeered.
However, Nian Laoda, as the leader of his faction, was a formidable opponent. He held his own against the Tianyin Temple monk, giving the wild dog Daoist a chance to catch his breath. The wild dog Daoist, seething with anger, shouted, “You bald scoundrel, you nearly killed your master!”
As he charged back into battle, joining Nian Laoda, the righteous crowd erupted in fury, shouting, “The demonic fiends are shameless!”
Amidst the uproar, Zhang Xiaofan suddenly felt a gust of wind. Startled, he saw Tian Ling’er, unwilling to stay idle, dashing out with her Amber Scarlet Ribbon. She soared into the air, surrounded by resplendent light, and declared, “Shameless fiends, outnumbering your opponents! Master Fa Zhong, I shall assist you!”
Zhang Xiaofan realized the monk’s name was Fa Zhong, seemingly of the same generation as Fa Xiang and Fa Shan, though he appeared much older. Fa Zhong saw Tian Ling’er leap into the fray and chanted a Buddhist incantation, saying, “Many thanks, benefactor.”
With a wave of his right hand, the golden wooden fish shot towards Nian Laoda, entangling him and pulling him aside. Tian Ling’er then engaged the wild dog Daoist. It was clear Fa Zhong was leaving the weaker opponent for her.
Zhang Xiaofan watched anxiously as Tian Ling’er fought the wild dog Daoist, ready to step in. Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see his senior brother, Song Daren, who said in a serious tone, “Little junior brother, the demonic fiends are despicable, but we must not stoop to their level.”
Zhang Xiaofan nodded, realizing the truth. He glanced at his master, Tian Yiyi, and his wife, both calm and composed. He thought, with his master and mistress here, Tian Ling’er could not be in any real danger. He blushed, looking around, but no one noticed his embarrassment.
Just then, he felt a gaze on him. When he turned, he saw the group of senior sisters from Little Bamboo Peak, including Lu Xueqi, but none of them were looking at him.
In the sky, Tian Ling’er wielded her Amber Scarlet Ribbon with ease. The ribbon danced and shimmered, disorienting the wild dog Daoist, who was ensnared and unable to break free. The righteous people applauded, and even some demons laughed, marveling at the disparity between the two combatants.
Enraged and humiliated, the wild dog Daoist, though not deeply cultivated, was an experienced fighter. He saw through Tian Ling’er’s inexperience and taunted, “You filthy girl, I see you’ve had a sordid affair with this old monk!”
The crowd fell silent, and the righteous people shouted curses, while the demons laughed and jeered. Tian Ling’er, furious and flustered, made a mistake, and the wild dog Daoist seized the opportunity to break free. As he escaped, the ribbons closed in, almost crushing him. He stuck out his tongue, exclaiming, “You cruel girl!”
Tian Ling’er, enraged, attacked again, but the wild dog Daoist fled, and the demons booed him. Suddenly, one by one, the demons flew away, leaving only the Blood Refining Hall members. Nian Laoda, seeing the futility of the situation, retreated, leading his followers away.
Tian Ling’er wanted to pursue, but her father, Tian Yiyi, called out, “Ling’er, stop!”
Tian Ling’er halted, still flushed, and turned to her father, “Father, did you hear what that fiend said?”
Tian Yiyi smiled, and Su Ru pulled her daughter down, saying, “Those demonic fiends can say anything. Just ignore them.”
The righteous people concurred, and Tian Ling’er reluctantly relented. The demons dispersed, and the righteous crowd also began to leave.
Zhang Xiaofan, about to speak with Tian Ling’er, felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning, he saw Lin Jingyu, his childhood friend, standing behind him, dressed in white, with the Dragon-Slaying Sword on his back. They embraced, reuniting after a long time apart.
Lin Jingyu, overjoyed and emotional, whispered, “Xiaofan, I thought I’d never see you again!”
Zhang Xiaofan, equally moved, responded, “I thought the same.”
They shared a moment of mutual understanding, and Lin Jingyu, smiling, said, “We’ll continue our fight against the demonic sects and seek revenge together.”
“Yes,” Zhang Xiaofan agreed.
Their reunion was cut short as Lin Jingyu mentioned Zhang Xiaofan’s progress, feeling a pang of jealousy. Zhang Xiaofan, however, reassured him, attributing his success to luck. Lin Jingyu, determined, vowed to work harder and surpass him.
Meanwhile, Tian Ling’er pouted, seeking comfort from her mother. Zhang Xiaofan and Lin Jingyu spoke briefly before Zhang Xiaofan decided to introduce Lin Jingyu to his master and senior brothers. Lin Jingyu, however, scoffed at the idea, disparaging Tian Yiyi.
Just then, Qi Hao, the handsome and charismatic disciple, appeared, and Tian Ling’er, delighted, grabbed his hand, introducing him to Tian Yiyi. Zhang Xiaofan, overcome with jealousy, felt a surge of rage. Lin Jingyu, seeing the tension, explained that Tian Yiyi had initially disapproved of Qi Hao and Tian Ling’er’s relationship but had eventually relented.
Tian Yiyi, noticing the scene, lashed out, striking Zhang Xiaofan, who was filled with rage and sorrow. Lin Jingyu, loyal to his friend, stepped in, brandishing his sword, ready to defend Zhang Xiaofan. Qi Hao, realizing the gravity of the situation, intervened, dragging Lin Jingyu away.
Tian Yiyi, fuming, dismissed Zhang Xiaofan, who knelt outside the cave for hours, enduring the ridicule and pity of onlookers. Lin Jingyu, frustrated, tried to confront Tian Yiyi but was stopped by Qi Hao, who reminded him of their duty and the potential consequences of his actions.
Night fell, and the righteous people rested in the caves. Zhang Xiaofan, still kneeling, felt the weight of his isolation. Tian Yiyi, unyielding, continued to ignore him, while the other disciples, sympathetic but powerless, watched in silence.
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