Ye Ziling, despite harboring hatred for Shao Lin, could not defy the Heavenly Emperor's command and accompanied Mu Heng to Shao Lin to tally the casualties of the martial examination cholera.
Damn it, she had to clean up the mess she herself had started.
Ye Ziling knew the Heavenly Emperor's intention in assigning her this task: to teach her a lesson without actually being able to punish her.
She reclined lazily in a towering tree in the courtyard, closing her eyes in impatience.
During what should have been a period of leisure, a voice buzzed in her ear.
Damn that Mu Heng, he was acting like he hadn't spoken in five hundred years since he recovered, giving her a headache.
Mu Heng's injuries had now fully healed, and he was as robust as an ox, looking even more arrogant than usual. He kicked over a Shao Lin disciple who had come to greet him, roaring, "Fight! Weren't you quite skilled at torturing this Commander the day before yesterday?"
The disciple, knocked to the ground, showed no anger and, with a smile, picked himself up. "Commander, please calm your wrath. This subordinate knows he was wrong..."
Knows he was wrong? So what if he was a demon beast?
Now that he was Ye Ziling's divine beast, who would dare disrespect him?
Mu Heng threw a punch, sending the disciple flying far away. He then grumbled, "If you know you were wrong, why aren't you kneeling and kowtowing to this Commander?"
Seeing that the two were unwilling, Mu Heng moved to strike them again, but his wrist was caught by a large hand.
His fist froze in mid-air. As their eyes met, a thoughtful expression gathered in those handsome phoenix-like eyes.
"Senior Brother..."
The disciple looked up, seeing Ling Xi had stopped Mu Heng's punch, and felt a slight relief.
"Go down." Ling Xi gave the disciple a look, and they both understood, scrambling away.
Mu Heng's anger subsided somewhat upon seeing Ling Xi.
This young man had spoken favorably on his behalf before, so he would spare him for now.
This person's cultivation was slightly stronger than Ye Ziling's; if a fight were to break out, he wouldn't be a match for him.
"Oh, Scholar Ling, what is it? Is it not enough for you to vent your anger on two disciples?"
Mu Heng's face tightened, his displeasure evident.
Ling Xi's gaze turned cold, and he said solemnly, "They were acting under orders."
Mu Heng raised an eyebrow, folding his arms. "Are you here to speak up for these two?"
Ling Xi glanced at his side, his sword-like eyebrows furrowing. Without answering Mu Heng's question, he simply asked, "Are you alone?"
"There are about twenty more disciples. Is there a problem?" Mu Heng puffed out his chest.
Ye Ziling, hearing a familiar voice, lifted the curtain and saw a tall figure in the courtyard.
Just in time, she hadn't had a chance to find Ling Xi, and this life had come to her doorstep.
Ye Ziling stood up, her skirt billowing, and leaped from the tree to the ground, walking unhurriedly towards Ling Xi.
Their gazes met, their eyes holding a mixture of emotions.
Seeing the spark in their eyes, Mu Heng wisely retreated. "I'll go take care of some matters."
With Mu Heng gone, Ye Ziling got straight to the point. "Scholar Ling, what is it you wish to say?"
She raised her eyebrows languidly, her tone indifferent, her gaze returning to its former coldness, even more distant than before.
It was as if they had never met.
Ling Xi's heart sank at her detached demeanor. He pursed his lips, looking at her as usual. The words he had rehearsed in his dreams, he found himself unable to speak when faced with her.
He looked up, their eyes meeting. The heat and longing in his eyes were unmistakable. He simply asked, "...How is your injury?"
He hadn't been able to discern any weakness from her on the execution platform that day, but her movements when she struck were slower than usual. He had seen at a glance that she was injured.
Falling from such a height, even an immortal would not have emerged unscathed.
A breeze ruffled the strands of hair on Ye Ziling's forehead, the strands gently brushing against her eyes, causing a tickle.
Ling Xi wanted to reach out and tuck the hair behind her ear. The warmth of his fingertips brushed her skin, only to be ruthlessly evaded.
Ling Xi's hand froze in mid-air, momentarily at a loss. After a pause, he withdrew it.
His eyes dimmed but showed no anger. He merely gazed at her silently. "Never mind, as long as you are unharmed."
His voice was soft, tinged with hoarseness and suppressed emotion.
Ye Ziling turned her gaze away, a mocking smile playing on her lips. "Scholar Ling, please be mindful of your conduct."
As she spoke these words, the light in Ling Xi's eyes deepened. The words stuck in his throat were forcefully swallowed.
Ling Xi took a deep breath, striving to control the chaotic feelings surging within him, attempting to make his tone sound steadier. "...It's my fault."
He hadn't trusted her.
The moment Ye Ziling heard this, her anger flared. She turned and advanced on him, her hand gripping his neck, her eyes blazing with hatred that threatened to spill over.
If not for her strong will to live, she would have met her end long ago.
Ling Xi did not dodge. Instead, he tightened his grip on her slender, fair wrist.
Ye Ziling laughed wildly, as alluring as a blooming lycoris flower. Her red lips curled into a mocking smile. "Don't think I wouldn't dare kill you."
Ling Xi's eyes flickered, his voice low and hoarse, still gazing at her. "If you wish to, you can act at any time."
Suddenly, a figure in violet flashed before them. She held a bloody dagger, trembling, her face contorted with frenzy. "Demon girl! You killed my father, and now you're going after my Senior Brother? I'll fight you!"
Shen Yueru, after speaking, lunged at Ye Ziling with the dagger.
At the critical moment, Mu Heng appeared beside Shen Yueru, restraining her wrist. However, he hadn't expected the frenzied Shen Yueru to lash out at him with fists and kicks, wielding the dagger to stab viciously at Mu Heng's heart!
"Demon beast! I will make you pay with your lives!"
Mu Heng cried out in pain, blood gushing from his heart like a flood. He glanced at Ye Ziling before collapsing straight down.
Ye Ziling's expression changed drastically, her eyes burning with ferocity.
Damn it, she had just managed to save Mu Heng, and now he was stabbed again!
Seeing Mu Heng fall into a pool of blood, Shen Yueru's face turned ashen, her body trembling uncontrollably. The dagger clattered to the ground, her lips moving incessantly. "N-no... it wasn't me..."
Ye Ziling released Ling Xi, the ruthlessness in her eyes deepening. The silver hairpin in her hand transformed into a silver sword, carrying a chilling aura that pressed directly towards Shen Yueru.
She wanted this ungrateful fool to experience the pain Mu Heng had suffered!
Ye Ziling swiftly moved in front of Shen Yueru, but Ling Xi blocked her path with an outstretched arm.
Ling Xi's eyes were heavy with a hint of coldness on his usually profound handsome face. He turned to Shen Yueru and said, "Why aren't you leaving quickly?"
His voice was icy, laced with a strong reprimand, striking fear into Shen Yueru, who turned and fled.
"Move aside." Ye Ziling looked at the shadowy figure before her, her face radiating extreme coldness.
"And if I refuse?" Ling Xi was unyielding. Since the sect leader's death, his junior sister's condition had been unstable. The accidental stabbing of Mu Heng moments ago was unintentional.
Ye Ziling looked at his resolute expression and decisively swung her silver sword, piercing directly into his chest.
The tip of the sword pierced through Ling Xi's shoulder blade. The once clean blade was now stained with crimson blood.
The shadowy figure before her continued to gaze at her intently. His brows slightly relaxed, and he fell straight onto her.
The familiar scent of bellflowers entered his nostrils. He recalled the moment she had killed the Tengu to save him, as if it were only yesterday.
Ling Xi's chin rested on her shoulder. Blood from his lips dripped onto her shoulder. He then let out a soft chuckle.
He was willing to die by her hand.
Ye Ziling felt Ling Xi's body grow heavier, his breath against her ear growing lighter. The cold smile on her lips became more pronounced, her voice bone-chillingly clear. "Go well."
Ling Xi's low gasps still reached her ears. He embraced her shoulders, pushing the bellflower hairpin in his hand into her hair, inch by inch. A bewitching smile played on his lips. "You'd better... truly be heartless."
Ye Ziling's expression remained impassive, her red lips still curved in a bloodthirsty smile.
Those who betray her, die.