The disciples naturally dared not let Shen Yueru assassinate Ye Ziling. After all, she was a prominent figure in the mortal realm, and killing her would likely bring about the annihilation of the entire Shaolin sect. Thus, they stepped forward to block Shen Yueru.
The maiden was clad in white mourning attire, making no effort to tend to her tear-streaked face, her hair disheveled.
Ye Ziling knew well that someone as proud as Shen Yueru could never feign such a state of despair. Her grief was undoubtedly genuine.
Could Ling Xi truly be dead?
For reasons unknown, Ye Ziling felt a pang in her chest. She rushed forward to lift the coffin lid, only to be stopped by Shen Yueru, who firmly blocked her with an outstretched hand.
“Ye Ziling, my senior brother was so devoted to you, and yet you disturb his rest by trying to open his coffin even after his death! I’ll fight you to the death!”
Looking at Shen Yueru, who was on the verge of madness, Ye Ziling swiftly knocked her unconscious with one hand. Supporting her by the waist, she coldly addressed the disciples, “Miss Shen is overcome with fatigue. Help her back to her room to rest.”
Several disciples responded, emerging from the mourning crowd to carry Shen Yueru away.
With the maiden’s cries silenced, the hall fell into a deathly stillness.
A flicker of light appeared in Ye Ziling’s eyes, whether from worry or fear.
She had to admit, she was truly afraid that Ling Xi was dead.
Ye Ziling slowly approached the coffin and, with trembling hands, pushed open the lid.
Ling Xi lay in the coffin, dressed in dark robes, a crimson and white jade belt cinched at his waist, adorned with a jade pendant. His celestial countenance, once vibrant, was now lifeless, resting in the coffin like an exquisite statue.
His lips, usually the color of roses, had lost their hue, and his sword-like brows were tightly furrowed. His stillness was almost frightening to her.
Ye Ziling managed to steady her composure, closed the coffin with a palm strike, and swept away with her sleeves.
She could not conceal her inner turmoil; her chest felt heavy, and her eyes involuntarily welled up with tears.
As the white jade dragon boat sailed, the cold wind struck her, causing a slight ache in her chest.
Her expression remained impassive, and she forced a smile.
Ling Xi had wronged her before. It was for the best that he was dead.
He had been so disrespectful to her in the past, always taking liberties. He deserved to die.
However, as she pondered, Ye Ziling’s gaze suddenly darkened, tinged with melancholy.
Ling Xi seemed to have brought her a fleeting ray of light.
Ye Ziling continuously tried to convince herself, believing it would alleviate her pain.
As night fell, a cool breeze swept through.
A new grave appeared on the mountaintop, and the night breeze stirred the white paper offerings.
The autumn wind sighed, a chill piercing to the bone.
[Ding—System re-binding.]
[Ding—Loading—Resurrection card automatically activated—Resurrection complete.]
The fresh soil on the grave mound shifted slightly. A gust of cold wind swept over Ling Xi, and he felt a sudden chill.
He tried to turn over but found he could not.
The handsome, peerless face regained its vitality, and his lips slowly regained their color.
Ling Xi frowned, feeling an intense pain in his chest.
His eyelashes fluttered, and his narrow eyes slowly opened.
Was I buried?
Looking at the cramped space around him and the stifling air, Ling Xi knew he had been buried.
[System: Hello, Lord Ling!]
A familiar voice echoed in his mind. Ling Xi paused, then hesitantly called out, “…You vile creature?”
Had that vile creature returned?
If so, had he activated the resurrection card?
He had been resurrected!
[System: I am here, Lord Ling. The resurrection card has been activated. May I timidly ask if I can still remain by your side to atone for my sins?]
Ling Xi appeared displeased but said coldly, “As you wish.”
He found that without that vile creature, nothing went smoothly. Now that it was atoning for its sins, it was for the best. It could help him with some matters.
“You have a new mission now,” Ling Xi said calmly to the system.
[System: What mission? I am willing to go through fire and water!]
“Help me open the coffin lid.”
Although he had been resurrected, the wound on his chest still pained him. Opening the coffin lid would likely be agonizing.
[System: Alright! Watch my Qiankun Da Zhuan Yi (Great Universe Transfer)!]
Indeed, with a dizzying spin, Ling Xi emerged from the coffin.
Breathing in the fresh air, he felt much better.
[System: Lord Ling, click to receive your new mission.]
“What mission?” Ling Xi raised an eyebrow, his tone indulgent.
A mission right after escaping the clutches of death?
[System: Of course, it’s to save the precious one!]
Mentioning Ye Ziling, Ling Xi’s expression darkened as he gazed at his chest.
This sword wound was inflicted by her own hand.
If Ye Ziling knew he was still alive, she would be eager to run him through with her sword.
It seemed she truly harbored no affection for him.
Ling Xi’s expression was grim, but he accepted the mission.
Meanwhile, Ye Ziling and Bai Yu were already on their way to the Heavenly Realm.
Ye Ziling had devised a plan. Bai Yu, being the arch-nemesis of Emperor Qing Bai, would stall Qing Bai while she seized the military tally from his palace.
“I’ll try to buy us some time. Be careful yourself,” Bai Yu said, his eyes shadowed, a faint light flickering in his clear phoenix eyes as he cautioned Ye Ziling.
“Mm.” Ye Ziling gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and nodded at him.
Upon reaching the Heavenly Palace, Ye Ziling followed the familiar palace path and scaled the wall to infiltrate the Emperor’s palace. Guided by the familiar scenery, she successfully sneaked into Qing Bai’s residence.
She flipped through a window into the hall. The bookshelves, vases, and the books she had reviewed for Qing Bai were still on the table.
Ye Ziling’s gaze fell upon a nearby glass table. The surface was spotless, and everything that belonged to her was still there, even showing signs of being wiped clean.
She casually opened a book. The handwriting was still clear, likely due to frequent perusal, causing the book to wear out exceptionally quickly.
She paused, her thoughts drifting.
What was Qing Bai doing? Why keep these things meticulously maintained? Was he hoping she would return one day?
Ye Ziling’s eyes darkened as she swiftly dismissed the thought.
The most important task now was to find the military tally.
Ye Ziling gazed intently at the bookshelf, counted to the third shelf, and pressed the book in the center without hesitation.
She clearly remembered that Qing Bai had installed a mechanism there. The military tally was hidden somewhere in the hall. Once the mechanism was activated, the tally would appear.
A faint golden light suddenly appeared behind the bookshelf, forcibly drawing her in.
Ye Ziling resisted with her celestial magic, but the formation was too powerful. A strong gust of wind pulled her into it.
Damn it, Qing Bai had a contingency!
With a disorienting blackness, Ye Ziling awoke in a wilderness. She looked around; the place was desolate. Not far away, a river flowed gently, its water clear.
Ye Ziling stood up and walked towards the riverbank.