Looking at the slightly ajar door not far ahead, Li Xun had the sudden urge to turn around and bolt—though he knew full well, with Yin Wanderer around, he probably wouldn't even make it a mile.
Gritting his teeth, he stepped forward quickly and knocked on the door.
"Come in," came Yin Wanderer's lazy voice from inside.
Li Xun lowered his head and stepped through the doorway.
It was a study, bright and airy, just a touch dimmer than outside. At a glance, Li Xun saw Yin Wanderer seated behind a desk, delicately examining a piece of green jade in her hands.
Sunlight streamed over the desk, refracting in a hazy glow that spread gently over her skin, making it shimmer with a subtle, unapproachable radiance.
A beauty like that—how could anyone associate her with a notorious Demon cultivator?
Li Xun just couldn't wrap his head around it.
He stood in front of the desk with his hands by his sides. "Master Aunt…" he called softly.
That was the cover story Yin Wanderer had given him to fool Longqing—just for show, really. But right now, he couldn't think of a better way to address her, so he went with it.
Yin Wanderer didn't bother correcting him either. She just said casually, "Sit."
Li Xun took a quiet breath and sat down on a round stool nearby.
Her slender fingers ran along the sword edge, gliding from hilt to tip., and Li Xun could clearly see that the path her fingers traced was exactly the same as the returning-dragon groove he'd once carved into the blade.
"This sword..." she spoke lightly. "it's Azure Jade, isn't it? The one Mingji was known for."
Li Xun nodded carefully.
"Azure Jade's fine, I suppose. The Tongxuan Realm has better swords. But that Phoenix Feather Needle and Jade Bixie—now those are treasures." She seemed to know all the details of the items he carried like they were part of her own collection.
Li Xun had no idea what she was getting at, so he just mumbled vague acknowledgments.
At the moment, the Azure Jade sword was in her hands, but the Phoenix Feather Needle and Jade Bixie were still on him. Not that it mattered—if Yin Wanderer wanted them, he wouldn't dare say no.
"The Phoenix Feather Needle—only one has appeared in the Tongxuan Realm in nearly a thousand years. That was Lin Ge's gift to you. And that Jade Bixie, famous for its protection against all evil, unmatched for clearing the heart and calming the mind... Rumor has it, your sect's Sword Saint, Zhong Yin, gave it to Immortal Qingyin as a token of love. And now you have it?"
Finally, she looked up at him, her expression half-amused, half-indecipherable. "You must be quite popular up on Lianxia Mountain."
Li Xun forced a smile, but didn't know what to say. From her tone, he could tell there was more to her words. And her gaze—it felt like it could see through skin and soul alike. Any excuse would be pointless.
He really, really didn't want to experience the terrifying Lotus Eight Secrets.
A thought flashed through his mind, and he made a decision.
Right then, Yin Wanderer continued in that breezy voice, "Compared to the Tongxuan Realm, the habits of the mortal world… do have their uses."
"Please, Master Aunt, save me!" Li Xun suddenly dropped to his knees with a thud, bowing his head over and over.
That certainly caught her attention. She didn't seem the least bit annoyed at being interrupted—if anything, she looked intrigued.
Li Xun knocked his head against the floor three times, then sat up and tore open his outer robe, revealing his bare chest. Even the Jade Bixie hanging there was now clearly visible.
"Master Aunt, please see the truth—I'm begging you to save my life!" His eyes welled with tears.
Yin Wanderer let out a soft "oh?" and got up, walking over to him. She bent down, and with a finger like a carved piece of jade bamboo, she touched the skin of his chest.
The chill sank right into his bones. He shuddered uncontrollably.
Her smile slowly faded, replaced by a more focused look. She was clearly sensing something unusual.
"This aura… it's familiar…"
Li Xun did his best to stir the Yin Fire in his chest, letting the presence of the Blood Nightmare seep out as thickly as he dared. Thankfully, he'd made good progress with the Netherworld Record, and with all the secret techniques Ghost Master had planted in it, he was able to manage it. But after only a few breaths, he was struggling to keep it up.
At this point, even if he wanted to stop pretending, his voice had already begun to tremble: "Master Aunt, I won't lie to you. Before I began cultivating on Lianxia Mountain… I lived right here, in Songjing. I… I'm the son of the current Prince Fu."
He finally revealed his identity. Yin Wanderer raised an eyebrow and gave another soft "oh," seeming mildly surprised.
Riding on that fragile burst of courage, he pressed on: "I never wanted to cultivate. But nine years ago, one day, a man…"
He stopped mid-sentence. The image of Blood Wanderer's fierce, twisted face flashed in his mind—and the Blood Nightmare still lurking inside him. That sliver of courage he'd just summoned vanished instantly.
Perhaps, If he had actually said anything more just now, that Blood Wanderer's restrictions might have triggered, killing him on the spot!
His face pale, he looked up at Yin Wanderer? "I… I can't speak his name," he pleaded. "If I do, I'll die! Please understand, Master Aunt…"
Yin Wanderer's gaze turned razor-sharp. Under her stare, he felt as if cold air was pouring into every pore in his body. In just a breath or two, he was frozen solid, like an ice sculpture.
The chill lasted only moments. Then her light laugh melted it away, warming the air like spring sun. "No need to say it. I already know who did this."
She smiled again. "Imagine that—meeting an old acquaintance here of all places."
Her hand left his chest, but lingered at his face, gliding across his now-cold skin and leaving a faint white trail.
"You are clever," she said softly. "No wonder you've been doing so well up on Lianxia Mountain. I have to admit, you fooled me yesterday—but that's how clever people are. I understand."
Li Xun heard a note of leniency in her voice and felt a surge of hope. Just as he was about to speak, the world went black. A sharp smack had sent him flying out of the room. Blood sprayed from his mouth and nose as he landed hard on the ground, too dazed to get back up.
Yin Wanderer's voice drifted out from inside: "Since you're so clever, don't push your luck. Think carefully—what else are you hiding? If you can't say it, write it. Write it down for me. I hope your memory isn't useless."
Li Xun clutched his face, numb with pain. He couldn't even feel half of it—whatever muscles he had there were probably all smashed.
But he didn't dare cry out. He hurriedly kowtowed again, then turned and staggered off.
He'd gotten a clear taste of Yin Wanderer's mood swings. If he lingered any longer, who knew when she'd decide to unleash the Lotus Eight Secrets on him!
Wobbling as he walked, he could feel the strange stares from the servants around him, but he had no strength left to feel anger—or even shame.
All he could see now was a world half-shadow, half blood-red.