Mo Su reluctantly fell silent.
Yun Qingxue turned to Jin Lin, but before she could speak, Jin Lin cut in, “Xuexue, if you truly consider me a friend, let me accompany you to the Divine Realm.
If you insist on refusing, then it means you don’t see me as a friend. I, Jin Lin, am not one to impose where I’m unwanted.
If you truly dislike me, I’ll leave.
But from this moment on, we’ll be strangers. I mean what I say!”
Yun Qingxue’s heart sank…
She knew Jin Lin was just being stubborn and threatening her, but it still hurt.
Jin Lin was her most important friend—she cherished their bond more than anything…
“Enough arguing! Both of you should go together. The Divine Realm is dangerous, and you’ll need each other’s support!”
“Qingxue, what do you think?” Jin Lin asked seriously, his gaze fixed on her.
Yun Qingxue frowned deeply but finally nodded. “Fine. We’ll go together—and return together!”
Seeing her agreement, Jin Lin’s stern expression melted into a smile, lightening the mood with a joke. “Of course we’ll return together. The Divine Realm doesn’t even serve meals!”
With everyone’s tasks assigned, they wasted no time and set off on their respective journeys.
Since Luo Yun Mountain had just taken in over a hundred new disciples, someone had to stay behind, so Mo Su remained.
Purple Song Sage personally cast a spell to send Yun Qingxue and Jin Lin to the Divine Realm. Yun Ye sent word to Lan Xin, summoning her from the Flora Clan.
Purple Song Sage headed to the Flora Clan to steal the Fire Orchid, while Mo Changxing returned to the Demon Realm to search for the other two medicinal herbs.
Before leaving for the Divine Realm, Jin Lin ordered Shui Liu to return to the Water Clan to retrieve the Dragon Bone Incense.
Thus, the group from Luo Yun Mountain scattered in their quest for the antidote.
A gentle breeze rustled the willow leaves, swaying them softly. The clear river shimmered with rippling waves.
A gust of wind carried a woman in pale purple robes, floating down to the riverbank as lightly as a fairy, without a sound.
She stood there, her beautiful face gazing longingly at the imposing man by the river.
Another breeze scattered fallen petals into the water, where they drifted with the waves, disappearing into the unknown…
“Lan Xin greets the Demon King…” The woman in purple bowed gracefully.
Yun Ye, standing by the river, didn’t turn immediately. From Lan Xin’s perspective, he seemed fixated on something in the river’s center, as if mesmerized.
But only Yun Ye knew the truth—he was struggling to suppress his rage…
To stop himself from turning around and strangling the woman behind him, whose gentle face masked treachery.
He and Xue Chen had trusted her so deeply that they’d chosen her to care for Qingxue…
Never imagining they’d placed a venomous snake beside their daughter.
Yun Ye took several deep breaths, forcing down the urge to kill Lan Xin, then slowly turned. His voice was cold and emotionless. “You’re here.”
“Yes,” Lan Xin replied meekly, her demeanor gentle and innocent.
“What does the Demon King summon me for?”
“How fares the Flora Clan?” Yun Ye asked.
“All is as usual. Though Hong Yun holds power, the Flower King still lives, and without the Flower King’s Token, she cannot rightfully claim the throne,” Lan Xin answered respectfully.
“Hmm.” Yun Ye nodded faintly. “I called you here to ask for something.”
Lan Xin’s eyes flickered with curiosity. “What does the Demon King seek?”
“The Fire Orchid,” Yun Ye stated bluntly.
Lan Xin frowned slightly. “Why do you need it?”
“Changxing encountered Huan Tian…” Yun Ye sighed heavily, leaving the rest to her imagination.
“Don’t ask too much. If it weren’t urgent, I wouldn’t have summoned you so hastily.”
“I do have the Fire Orchid, but its use is complex.
If the Young Master needs it, perhaps I should accompany you to the Demon Realm to prepare the medicine myself.”
“Very well,” Yun Ye agreed readily, his heart brimming with murderous intent.
Lan Xin, seeing his quick agreement, dismissed her suspicions.
She assumed Mo Changxing must truly be in trouble, hence Yun Ye’s urgency. Without further doubt, she followed him back to the Demon Realm.
By then, Mo Changxing had already retrieved the two herbs Mo Su mentioned.
Upon receiving Yun Ye’s message, he returned to the Demon Palace and feigned illness.
When Lan Xin arrived, Yun Ye insisted Mo Changxing was poisoned by a toxin requiring the Fire Orchid as a catalyst, deftly rejecting her offer to examine him. He coaxed her into preparing the antidote.
Though puzzled, Lan Xin didn’t dwell on it.
She requested an empty palace, laid out the herbs, and began refining the antidote with her trusted cauldron and the Three Flavors True Fire.
The catalyst herbs went in first, her magic carefully controlling the flames as she monitored the process. Once their essence was extracted, she added the next two ingredients.
The Fire Orchid was to be the seventh addition.
As Lan Xin focused on refining the third herb, a sudden gust blew the palace door open, whisking the Fire Orchid from the table.
Then, a sharp pain pierced her chest—she coughed up blood.
Turning in shock, she saw Yun Ye standing at the entrance, holding the Fire Orchid, his silhouette cold against the light.
Beside him stood Mo Changxing, who moments ago had been bedridden.
Lan Xin’s heart plummeted—dread washed over her.
“Why…?” she whispered mournfully.
Yun Ye’s gaze was icy as a blade. “That’s my question for you!
Traitor! Xue Chen and I trusted you implicitly, entrusting you with our only daughter!
Yet how did you repay that trust?
What have you done to my child all these years?!”
“You… know everything?” Lan Xin clutched her chest, bowing her head slightly.
“So… Mo Changxing was never in danger. This Fire Orchid—it’s for that bastard child!”
*Slap!*
Before she could finish, Lan Xin’s left cheek burned with searing pain.
“Old hag, if you dare insult Qingxue again, I’ll carve you into a thousand pieces!” Mo Changxing’s eyes were as sharp as daggers.
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