Bai Yu, as usual, hit a nerve with Ling Xi, and the atmosphere between them grew tense.
Ling Xi's expression darkened. He grabbed Bai Yu by his collar, about to strike when Ling Zhao and Shen Yue Ru intervened, stopping the escalating conflict.
"Senior Brother Ling! For my birthday today, please don't resort to violence, alright?" Shen Yue Ru quickly tugged at Ling Xi's sleeve, her gaze filled with pleading.
"Junior Brother, calm down." Ling Zhao grasped his arm. Seeing his expression gradually ease, he let out a sigh of relief. Placing a hand on his shoulder, he said earnestly, "The Sect Master has captured another demon beast, the former Commander Mu. He's already being paraded through the streets, and the execution is about to commence."
"What did you say?" Ling Xi's eyes darkened. He immediately released Bai Yu's collar, his brow furrowed.
Mu Heng. He remembered him. They had interacted before. Though a demon beast, Mu Heng wasn't particularly wicked.
"Senior Brother, help me. Delay the execution, or better yet, get him pardoned. I'm going to see the Sect Master."
Before Ling Zhao could respond, Ling Xi had already disappeared.
Upon hearing this, Bai Yu's gaze deepened.
---
Ye Zi Ling sat by the table, taking a sip of tea. She smiled contentedly, "I never expected my second brother to open a medical clinic here. It's my oversight not to have noticed for so long."
The man sitting opposite her downed a mouthful of tea, raising his eyebrows. He grinned casually, "Don't you know what kind of person second brother is? Even if I were to die out here, I wouldn't want to suffocate myself in the valley my entire life!"
Ye Jing Xian spread his hands, leaning back in his chair, looking completely at ease. He exuded the air of a wealthy, decadent young master, his eyes languid. "Sister, why don't you come and hang out with me in the capital? You can get whatever you want here, and most importantly, earn a good amount of money."
Ye Jing Xian suddenly sat up straight and leaned closer to Ye Zi Ling. He looked at her calm eyes and deliberately blew a breath towards her, a strong scent of peach blossoms filling the air around them.
Ye Jing Xian stared at her delicate features, clicking his tongue. Seeing her still expressionless, he smirked, "Ling'er, a girl changes a lot as she grows!"
She had blossomed so quickly. His impression of his sister was of a little child who always trailed behind him, ready to punch him if he tried to hug her. So, he could only treat her as a younger brother. After all, he couldn't beat her, nor could he win an argument against her.
Ye Zi Ling knew he was still the same. No wonder Jing Huai Ge didn't rely on him. If her second brother stayed in the valley, he would likely anger the remaining clansmen to death.
Just like when she was little, Ye Zi Ling pushed his face away with her palm, wrinkling her nose in distaste.
As they spoke, the scoundrel's handsome face nudged her elbow. He said with a smile, "Hey, if you ever run out of money, come ask second brother. I have plenty!"
"I know. I'm worried you'll die out here, so I came to check on you," Ye Zi Ling said, then stood up. She bid farewell and prepared to leave. "It's getting late, I need to return to the valley to help Jing Huai Ge with his work."
Ye Jing Xian leisurely settled back into his chair, closed his eyes, and pretended to sleep. He waved goodbye to her, "Remember to visit your second brother often!"
As Ye Zi Ling stepped out of the medical clinic, she saw a throng of people blocking the street, chattering amongst themselves. They were hurling rotten eggs and vegetables from baskets, shouting curses.
"What a demon! He looked quite decent, I didn't realize!"
"I say all demons should die. Vicious beasts that harm people, they deserve it!"
---
Ye Zi Ling curiously squeezed into the crowd.
"The thousand-year-old demon beast is about to be beheaded! Bystanders, clear the way!"
A group of Shaolin disciples were escorting a wooden cage through the streets. The person inside the cage was in tattered clothes, their limbs bound with iron chains. They were already weak and utterly dejected.
Ye Zi Ling's heart skipped a beat. She recognized the person in the cage as Mu Heng.
He was wearing a tattered prisoner's uniform, his body covered in bloodstains, clearly indicating he had been subjected to torture.
Watching the once unrestrained youth sit demurely in the cage, Ye Zi Ling's heart felt as if a stone were pressing down on it, making it impossible to breathe.
Xuan Lang had long disliked Mu Heng and would not let him go. Moreover, Mu Heng had worked for her before, so Xuan Lang was determined to cut off all ties and, with the help of the three major sects, have Mu Heng beheaded.
Ye Zi Ling's heart tightened. She walked out of the crowd and bumped right into Bai Yu.
His expression was as somber as hers, his eyes unusually grave.
"You go back first. I have something to take care of," Ye Zi Ling said to him in a low voice, her anxiety evident.
Bai Yu knew her intentions. His eyes lit up, and he grabbed her arm, pursing his lips. "You're going to save someone?"
"Saving a demon," Ye Zi Ling replied directly, not wanting to conceal anything.
She knew that people generally held prejudice against demons, but Bai Yu did not. Bai Yu, like her, believed in the equality of all sentient beings, which was one of the reasons she got along so well with him.
For some reason, Bai Yu seemed to be able to guess her thoughts, with uncanny accuracy.
Bai Yu let out a light chuckle, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes. "If there's such a good thing, why didn't you call me along?"
They exchanged a knowing smile and followed the execution cart.
At the execution grounds, the four major sects were divided into different factions, watching Mu Heng on the execution platform as if it were a show.
Xuan Lang, still in his purple robes, fanned himself with a feather fan and leaned back leisurely. He said unhurriedly, "This demon infiltrated my Jiuling Palace, not only injuring our disciples but also causing inconvenience to the various sects. Now, this demon is to be executed, to give everyone an explanation!"
The Jiuling Palace disciples behind him lowered their heads, not daring to look up.
Since the Palace Master's disappearance, Xuan Lang had changed the face of the palace. Not only had he colluded with the three major sects, but he had also allied himself with demons, and the reputation of Jiuling Palace was deteriorating.
Shen Qing Feng sat aside, watching the spectacle, and said with a laugh, "Well said, Vice Palace Master!"
Ling Xi and Ling Zhao stood on either side of Shen Qing Feng, their gazes dark and their expressions complicated.
He had failed to persuade the Sect Master to spare Mu Heng's life.
Ling Zhao understood what Ling Xi was thinking and patiently advised, "You know the Sect Master's temperament. He despises demon beasts the most. No one can persuade him."
"Act on behalf of heaven and slay the demon beast!"
Disciples from the three major sects echoed in agreement, looking at Mu Heng with disdain.
Only the Jiuling Palace disciples remained silent, their faces unusually ashen.
Mu Heng was dragged onto the execution platform by two burly men, then kicked in the knee, forced to kneel.
Mu Heng's ink-black hair was disheveled, obscuring his pale and gaunt face. His faintly visible handsome features curled into a mocking smile. He still looked towards the purple figure in the crowd and chuckled, "Xuan Lang, it seems your daydreams are about to come true."
"Commander Mu, rest assured as you depart. In the underworld, please pass on my regards to Ye Zi Ling. Jiuling Palace is doing very well; she can go to the Yellow Springs Road with peace of mind!"
Xuan Lang's lips curled into a wicked smile as he gently waved his feather fan.
Mu Heng raised his eyes and looked at Xuan Lang's smug expression. The anger flickering in his eyes was almost enough to incinerate everything around him.
He knew Ye Zi Ling was not dead.
His contract with Ye Zi Ling was still in effect. He was Ye Zi Ling's contracted divine beast. If she had died, he would have perished long ago.
Now, Mu Heng only hoped she was living well.
Over the years, Ye Zi Ling had treated him very well.
He had been driven away by his own kind, but she had taken him in.
When his family was massacred, he thought no one would remember him, but she clearly remembered his birthday. She had never discriminated against him because he was a demon beast, and she had even helped him get revenge.
He had no way to repay this kindness. If there was a next life, he would willingly be her subordinate again, going through fire and water for her.
Ye Zi Ling, take care.
Mu Heng closed his eyes and smiled with resignation.
The burly man took a swig from the wine flask and sprayed it onto the great saber. The cold glint suddenly appeared. Just as Mu Heng thought his head was about to be severed, a silver sword shot through the air.
With a loud bang, the great saber fell, and the wine flask shattered.
The Shaolin disciples blocking the entrance were violently thrown to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood while clutching their chests. "Sect Master... this is bad, the demoness... is not dead."
Ye Zi Ling carved a path through, still gripping a disciple's neck. She violently flung him aside, bright red blood staining half of her white sleeve, a horrifying sight.
Her entire being was filled with overwhelming ferocity and killing intent, as terrifying as a vengeful spirit emerging from hell.
Due to his heavenly realm status, Bai Yu wore a veil and fought his way beside Ye Zi Ling, clearing a path for her.