Chapter 55:

When Fu Lansheng returned to Bi Xiao Palace, he was met with a scene of devastation and ruins.

The areas devastated by the demonic tribes were strewn with blood and severed limbs. A thick, sickening stench of blood permeated the palace. The former magnificence and opulent extravagance had vanished, leaving behind only a living hell.

Fu Lansheng staggered through the corridors, but could not find a single living soul. Suddenly, he heard chaotic footsteps and laughter ahead and abruptly halted, concealing his presence.

A group of demon cultivators with considerable power emerged from the palace, their bodies adorned with jewelry and precious stones, walking arm in arm.

“This place is amazing! So many treasures and such powerful spiritual energy. We should make this our home from now on!” one of the demon clan members exclaimed joyfully.

“But we still need Elder Jiang to track down Fu Yuanting and Duan Xiaorong. Only they know the restrictions of the defensive formation of Bixiao Palace,” another demon clan member responded.

“With Elder Jiang personally handling it, how could he possibly fail? Let’s just pick out the rooms we like first!”

Fu Lansheng silently watched as the demon clan departed, his expression grim. Learning that his parents had not yet been harmed brought him a slight sense of relief, but he remained deeply concerned that they were being pursued. Without delay, he swiftly formulated a plan, retrieved the Blood Mirror, and attempted to track down his parents’ whereabouts.

Suddenly, a small hand tugged at his sleeve. He was startled and heard a soft, childish voice whisper beside him: “Brother, it’s me.”

Fu Lansheng exhaled in relief and looked down at A Bao. “Didn’t I tell you to stay on the boat?”

A Bao replied in a hurt tone, “I was worried about you…”

Fu Lansheng frowned, but since A Bao had already arrived, he couldn’t send her back, worried she might run into the demon clan. He whispered, “Change back to your original form.”

A Bao nodded uncertainly and transformed into a small, adorable spirit rat, clinging to Fu Lansheng’s shoulder.

“A Bao, hide in the Qiankun Bag. If you encounter any demon clans, pretend to be one of them,” Fu Lansheng instructed.

“Okay…” A Bao thought for a moment. “I understand. If I can’t beat them, I’ll just join them.”

Fu Lansheng sighed. “You’re right…”

He dripped his blood onto the Blood Mirror and quickly located his parents—they were in a secret passage within Bi Xiao Palace.

Jiang Li looked at the severely injured Fu Yuan Ting and Duan Xiao Rong, slowly halting his steps. The blood-dripping sword tip pointed at the two before him.

“Cang Li, in these twenty-odd years, I’ve treated you as my own son. Could you truly forget even a bit of our father-son bond?” Fu Yuan Ting, his hand covering a bleeding wound, spoke with a pained expression.

Jiang Li sneered coldly. “Fu Yuan Ting, if you hadn’t killed my birth father, I would have had a happy family. Why would I need to call you father? You murdered my father, took his wife, and feigned affection—how disgusting!”

Fu Yuan Ting replied sorrowfully, “Yes, I wronged Jiang Shao Ling, but I have never wronged you or Lan Chi! I was forced into a partnership with Duan Xiao Rong under her coercion, separated from Lan Chi, but I never forgot her…”

“Hehehe…” Jiang Li didn’t speak, but Duan Xiao Rong laughed coldly instead. Duan Xiao Rong, gravely injured on her right shoulder, half her body covered in blood, her hair disheveled, and her jewels scattered, no longer bore her usual elegance and beauty—only a battered figure remained. Gasping for breath, she scornfully looked at Fu Yuan Ting, her voice weak but sharp: “Fu Yuan Ting, have you lied so much that you’ve even fooled yourself? Was it really me who broke you and Lan Chi apart? Back then, I was devoted to cultivation, but you deliberately approached me, flattered me with false affection, tricked me into dual cultivation, and schemed to seize the position of Bi Xiao Palace’s master. Now you dare claim I forced you? Hmph! What are you, Fu Yuan Ting? I, Duan Xiao Rong, have always been proud and never forced anyone. I despise deceit even more! If it weren’t for Lan Sheng and the reputation of Bi Xiao Palace, do you really think I’d want to maintain this fake marital relationship with you?”

Fu Yuan Ting’s already pale face grew even grimmer from Duan Xiao Rong’s cold accusation.

Duan Xiao Rong stared defiantly at Jiang Li, her voice icy: “You mother was killed by me. If you want revenge, take it. I was foolish to trust the wrong people and let a tiger return to the mountains. I deserve this fate.”

Fu Yuan Ting pleaded sorrowfully: “Cang Li, you have a kind heart. You’re not heartless or unprincipled. Don’t let hatred blind you and be manipulated by the demon race…”

Duan Xiao Rong looked at Fu Yuan Ting with disdain, sneering: “Fu Yuan Ting, how could I have ever fallen for a coward like you! You killed his father, I killed his mother. Do you really think a few pleas will make him spare you? You might as well die honorably and quickly!”

Jiang Li clenched his sword tightly, his knuckles turning white. His cold, piercing eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke with solemn gravity, “Fu Yuan Ting, Duan Xiao Rong, repay the blood debts you owe in the Nine Netherworld!”

As Jiang Li spoke, a red flame sword beam shot toward Fu Yuan Ting’s forehead, but was blocked by a barrier. A young man in brocade robes and jade crown suddenly appeared, standing protectively in front of Fu Yuan Ting and Duan Xiao Rong.

Fu Yuan Ting’s face lit up with joy. “Lan Sheng!”

Duan Xiao Rong, however, looked horrified, shrieking, “What are you doing here!”

Fu Lansheng, holding a bag full of magical artifacts, was thinking which ones could repel the man whose power was unfathomable. He knew their cultivation levels were too far apart, and his combat experience was minimal. In that moment, he was at a loss but stood before his parents with sheer courage.

Duan Xiao Rong knew Fu Lansheng could never defeat Jiang Li. Filled with anger and anxiety, she struggled to her feet, her voice trembling: “Jiang Li, if you want revenge for your parents, come after us! This has nothing to do with Lan Sheng!”

Fu Yuan Ting furrowed his brow, knowing Fu Lansheng’s abilities all too well. The joy of seeing help arrive vanished instantly.

Fu Lansheng hadn’t expected this person to chase into the secret passage so quickly. As soon as he arrived, he saw the man about to kill his parents and rushed out without thinking.

“Mother, Father, escape quickly! I’ll hold him off!” He had so many magical artifacts on him; surely they could buy some time.

Fu Yuan Ting leaned against the stone wall, thoughts racing. His gaze swept over Duan Xiao Rong and Fu Lansheng. With a determined nod, he fled toward the other end of the secret passage. Fu Lansheng might not hold out long, but Duan Xiao Rong, driven by maternal instinct, would fight with all her might to delay Jiang Li.

Duan Xiao Rong stared at Fu Yuan Ting’s retreating figure, covering her eyes as she softly laughed. Her laughter was sharp and filled with both realization and acceptance.

“I should have known all along…” she whispered, half mocking herself, half gaining clarity.

Fu Lansheng shielded Duan Xiao Rong from behind, not looking back at Fu Yuan Ting’s departure. He nervously stared at the advancing Jiang Li, his voice trembling: “Do you want the restrictions of Bi Xiao Palace’s formation? I know them too. Capture me, and let my parents go!”

Duan Xiao Rong sighed softly, her eyes filled with sorrow and tenderness: “You’re such a foolish child. He wants our lives. It’s the blood debt I owe him. It has nothing to do with you. Didn’t I tell you to hide if you encountered danger? Why didn’t you listen to your mother…”

Jiang Li’s sword pointed at Duan Xiao Rong, his voice cold: “I never intended to kill him, but if he insists on interfering, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

Duan Xiao Rong pushed Fu Lansheng aside, facing Jiang Li’s sword with her own divine aperture, her sharp eyes locked on him as she rasped: “As long as I die, will you spare Lan Sheng?”

Jiang Li was taken aback.

This scene felt eerily familiar. It reminded him of the day Duan Xiao Rong stormed into Lan Chi’s courtyard, and his mother had said the same words.

Fu Lansheng cried out in terror: “No!”

He pulled a magical artifact from the Qiankun Bag and hurled it at Jiang Li, trying to save Duan Xiao Rong. Jiang Li pierced through the artifact’s protective barrier and aimed for Fu Lansheng, only to see a small golden shadow dart toward his neck. Instinctively, he swatted it away with his sword, hearing a soft, childish cry of pain.

“Ouch!”

Jiang Li looked down in shock at the small creature on the ground—a tiny treasure-sniffing rat.

She crouched on all fours, her golden ears flashing with nervous light, her large black eyes brimming with tears. Fu Lansheng hurriedly picked her up, angry: “A Bao, who told you to come out!”

Tears welled up in A Bao’s eyes as she looked at Fu Lansheng with a pitiful expression, then timidly glanced at Jiang Li and whispered softly, “Please… don’t kill me, okay? I’m half-demon. I’m on your side…”

Jiang Li stared at A Bao, seemingly lost in thought, his eyes softening slightly.

Seeing Jiang Li distracted, Duan Xiao Rong seized Fu Lansheng’s arm and pushed him far away. She spread her arms, blocking Jiang Li’s path. Her divine aperture at her brow seemed to breathe with spiritual energy, lifting the strands of hair on her forehead. Her expression was fierce and resolute.

“Fu Cang Li, let him go, or we’ll die together!”

Fu Lansheng and A Bao both froze at that name.

“Fu Cang Li…” Fu Lansheng stared in shock at the cold, scarred man before him. “You’re Fu Cang Li…”

A Bao also looked at him without blinking, her ears twitching: “Are you my daddy?”

Jiang Li looked down at A Bao in confusion, watching as she reached out her tiny paw, her voice soft: “Mommy said my daddy is the richest cultivator in the world. His name is Fu Cang Li. He’s been gone for over three years, and mommy sent me to find daddy.”

A tremor passed through Jiang Li’s heart as he hoarsely asked: “What’s your mommy’s name?”

A Bao said: “Mommy’s name is Xiu Xiu.”

Xiu Xiu…

Xiu Xiu…

A hint of warmth softened Jiang Li’s cold, harsh features. Slowly, he lowered his sword and extended a hand toward A Bao, his voice gentle: “Come here.”

A Bao blinked her eyes and jumped from Fu Lansheng’s palm into Jiang Li’s, tilting her head to curiously examine her father.

“You don’t look quite like what mommy described. Could you be lying to me?” she suspiciously asked.

Jiang Li lowered his gaze, focusing on the little creature before him. A smile unconsciously curved his lips, his eyes softening: “What did your mommy say?”

A Bao tilted her head, recalling: “Mommy said daddy is rich and generous, handsome and always smiling. Although he likes to tease people, he’s also great at comforting them. But daddy went somewhere, and mommy didn’t know where to find him, so she was afraid he’d come back and not find her. That’s why I came with big brother to Bi Xiao Palace to find daddy.”

Jiang Li chuckled softly, the scar on his face seeming to soften with his smile. He thought of that lively, adorable girl who, though now human, still couldn’t walk properly and would trip over flat ground. He wondered how she was doing without him… Back then, when Duan Xiao Rong suddenly attacked, his mother had sent him to the East Sea, where he spent three years in secret cultivation. As long as Duan Xiao Rong was alive, he dared not return, fearing for her safety. But he had no idea she had been carrying their child.

Gently stroking A Bao’s head, Jiang Li asked warmly: “Where did you get this brother?”

A Bao’s paw pointed at Fu Lansheng: “That’s big brother. Daddy, can you not kill big brother? Big brother really loves me.”

Fu Lansheng met Jiang Li’s half-hostile, half-confused gaze, his spine instantly chilling—he had somehow been assigned a fatherly role by A Bao.

Jiang Li slowly turned his gaze back to A Bao, his eyes now filled only with gentle affection: “A Bao, so that’s your name… You look just like your mommy, and you have her personality too…”

A Bao blinked her eyes: “Daddy, I can also transform into a human!”

As A Bao spoke, a warm golden light emanated from her body. She floated upward and, in an instant, transformed into a seven or eight-year-old girl, delicate as a sculpture, with large black eyes and a sweet, soft smile. Seeing Jiang Li’s confusion, she smiled and said: “Sister passed the Yu Que Divine Skill to me, so I transformed into this form.”

Jiang Li became even more puzzled—another sister?

However, Jiang Li understood the Yu Que Divine Skill. During his time at Ling Ju Island, serving under He Xian Wo, he had once met Sang Qi in the Demon Realm and knew of the miraculous nature of the Yu Que Sutra. He vaguely guessed that the “sister” A Bao mentioned was likely Mu Xuan Ling, though he couldn’t understand how Mu Xuan Ling had become involved with A Bao.

But these details were not important now. Joyfully, he picked up A Bao, gently stroking her delicate little face. She looked very much like Xiu Xiu, but seemed smarter than her, unlike Xiu Xiu, who was always a bit dazed.

A Bao hugged Jiang Li’s neck, perhaps due to the natural bond between father and daughter, unafraid of the fierce scar on his face. She reached out her tiny hand and gently touched it, whispering: “Daddy, will you come home with me? Mommy really misses you…”

Jiang Li’s eyelashes trembled slightly as he looked at Fu Lansheng and Duan Xiao Rong. Duan Xiao Rong, seeing his gaze, tensely spread her arms to protect Fu Lansheng, her eyes resolute with the will to die.

He was not afraid of Duan Xiao Rong’s desperate resistance, but now, he worried about hurting A Bao. He had always been fearless, but now, he had a soft spot…

A Bao didn’t understand why Jiang Li insisted on killing Duan Xiao Rong. She thought Jiang Li was acting on orders from Ling Ju Island. She didn’t want Fu Lansheng to be killed by her father, nor did she want her father to get hurt. Resting her head on Jiang Li’s shoulder, she tugged at his clothes with her small hand, softly pleading: “Daddy, let’s go home…”

Jiang Li let out a deep sigh, sheathed his sword, and softly said: “Okay.”

Duan Xiao Rong stared in shock as Jiang Li turned and walked away. She lowered her gaze, her expression complex as she clenched her fists tightly.

Jiang Li held A Bao’s small hand, smiling faintly as he listened to her recount Xiu Xiu’s funny stories. As he heard how she had been searching for him everywhere, the smile gradually faded from his eyes, replaced by guilt and sorrow.

“Abao, daddy’s name isn’t Fu Cang Li. Daddy’s real name is Jiang Li,” Jiang Li said gently.

“Jiang Li…” A Bao nodded vaguely. “Then I’m not Fu Abao, I’m Jiang Bao!”

Jiang Li chuckled softly, ruffling her hair. “Yes, you’re Jiang Bao.”

Just then, the secret passage suddenly trembled violently. Countless falling rocks plummeted from above. Jiang Li’s expression changed as he sternly shouted, “Abao, transform back to your original form!”

Obediently, A Bao transformed back into the treasure-sniffing rat and was protected in Jiang Li’s arms. Jiang Li expanded his protective barrier and heard Duan Xiao Rong’s voice behind him, filled with urgency and anger: “It’s Fu Yuan Ting! He activated the self-destruct formation of the secret passage! That beast, does he even care about his son’s life!”

Jiang Li’s face darkened. “How do we escape?”

“There’s no escape,” Duan Xiao Rong panted, her face grim, filled with grief and fury. “If the self-destruct formation is activated from the outside, those inside can only endure the formation’s attacks until death.”

Fu Lansheng’s face turned pale as he murmured, “Why would Father do this…”

Duan Xiao Rong let out a bitter laugh. “He only ever cared about himself, but I never imagined he’d abandon his own son.”

Fu Lansheng stared blankly at Jiang Li and A Bao, suddenly stiffening. He suddenly recalled Nan Xu Yue’s prophecy.

Their father-daughter bond was shallow, destined for only one meeting…

Could this be the fulfillment of that prophecy?

Continuous explosive sounds echoed, the surroundings plunged into darkness, and the formation’s power was activated, summoning heavenly thunder and fire to attack those inside. Jiang Li and Duan Xiao Rong desperately expanded their barriers to resist the formation’s assault. Jiang Li tightly protected A Bao in his arms, whispering, “Abao, are you scared?”

A Bao’s tiny paws clutched Jiang Li’s clothes. The treasure-sniffing rat was naturally timid. In the darkness, only her small ears glowed with golden light, trembling slightly, yet she softly said, “Abao isn’t scared. Does daddy hurt?”

Jiang Li chuckled, then grunted in pain, his voice hoarse: “No pain…”

Abao nestled in Jiang Li’s arms, unable to see, only feeling her father’s strong heartbeat enveloping her. It felt so good to have a father’s protection. No wonder her mother always missed her father. She liked her father too…

“Daddy, mother really misses you. Abao really misses you too.”

“I miss you both too…”

“Daddy, when you were away, mother studied hard. She said she was afraid you’d think she was too slow.”

“Hmph, how could I…”

“But she still trips when walking. I saw her crying secretly. Abao never cries when I fall.”

“Abao… You must stay with mother…”

“I will, and daddy must stay with mother too! Daddy, are you crying too?”

Hot liquid dripped onto Abao’s back, wetting her fur.

“Good Abao, be a good girl and listen to mother…”

“Abao will listen… Daddy, daddy… Why aren’t you speaking anymore…”

The intense noise caught the attention of the demon clan. He Xianwo rushed over and only entered the ruins after the formation had stabilized.

A heavy stench of blood filled the air. Inside the secret passage, two unrecognizable corpses lay, their backs charred and riddled with holes, blood pooling around them. A little girl sat in the blood, crying over the corpses.

“Reporting to the Island Master, these are the bodies of Duan Xiao Rong and Elder Jiang. There’s also a severely injured unconscious person, likely Fu Lansheng, the young master of Bi Xiao Palace.”

He Xian Wo knelt beside the girl, half-crouching as he asked, “Who are you?”

The little girl cried bitterly, hugging Jiang Li’s corpse and calling him “daddy,” while grabbing another person’s sleeve and crying out “brother…”

He Xian Wo thoughtfully lowered his gaze.

“Island Master, should we kill Fu Lansheng and this girl?” the fox demon beside him inquired.

He Xian Wo waved his hand. “Take them back to Ling Ju Island first.”