Inside the Mirror Cloud Residence, Yun Qingyi paced anxiously in the garden, resembling ants on a hot pot. When Li Luoning returned, she hurriedly approached.
"Master, how did it go?"
"Hmm, I got it," Li Luoning simply nodded.
As the master and disciple were about to set off, Li Luoning suddenly stopped in his tracks, as if sensing something, and furrowed his brow. He looked down at the palm of his left hand, where the shadow of a jade pendant appeared.
"Master, what's this?" Yun Qingyi looked at the shadow of the jade pendant in Li Luoning's hand with confusion.
"Someone triggered the protective barrier of the Demon Beast Golden Silk Jade Pendant. Xingzhe is in danger."
With the activation of the barrier protecting the golden silk jade pendant, Li Luoning silently recited an incantation and released a burst of energy from his palm. A clear golden-red streak appeared in the sky, pointing directly to Mi Xingzhe's location. There was no time to waste, so the two hurried towards the indicated direction.
Inside a cave in The Flatland, Qingping helped up Hua Ruoying, who had collapsed on the ground.
"Ruoying, are you alright?"
At this moment, Mi Xingzhe was surrounded by a golden-red aura, preventing anyone from touching him.
[I didn't expect this jade pendant to have a protective barrier. But wait, if this current golden-red energy is from the pendant's barrier, then where did the previous burst of energy come from?]
"Not good!" Seeing the light flying out, Hua Ruoying realized that the person who crafted this jade pendant had profound cultivation. His current demonic cultivation couldn't break through this barrier.
"Qingping, we need to leave." Seeing the light flying out just now, Hua Ruoying pulled Qingping to leave. If his guess was correct, someone would soon follow the golden light, and with his internal injuries, he couldn't afford to stay for long.
"What about him?" Qingping asked.
Hua Ruoying glanced at the still unconscious Mi Xingzhe, feeling somewhat reluctant. After all, the opportunity that was within reach slipped away like this. But with this barrier around him, he couldn't even touch him. If they didn't leave now, they might run into trouble with the people coming to find Mi Xingzhe.
"He won't die. Let's go, or it will be us who die." Hua Ruoying left these words behind and pulled Qingping away.
Not long after Hua Ruoying and Qingping left, Li Luoning and Yun Qingyi followed the golden light and arrived at the scene.
"Master, I found him, he's here." Yun Qingyi was the first to enter the cave and saw Mi Xingzhe lying there, protected by the barrier.
Li Luoning followed suit and, after scanning the surroundings, walked to the side of Mi Xingzhe's barrier. With a wave of his hand, the barrier dissipated.
Li Luoning anxiously checked the bandages on Mi Xingzhe's head and then felt his pulse. He discovered that Mi Xingzhe was only drugged and had no major injuries.
"Master, how is Xingzhe?" Yun Qingyi asked nervously.
"No worries, he's just drugged. It seems he accidentally fell unconscious earlier, giving someone the opportunity," Li Luoning explained. He then glanced around and found the traces left on the wall by the flying dagger earlier, along with the dagger itself.
Li Luoning picked up the dagger and examined it.
"Wuming Demon Mountain Iron?" Li Luoning was somewhat surprised.
The person who abducted Xingzhe was from Wuming Demon Mountain, a member of the demonic clan. But what were they doing in the Ice Bamboo Forest?
Inside the Wuming Demon Mountain, in the Demon Lord's Palace.
"The injured person from Fanli Valley is now out of danger," Hua Ruoying reported upon returning.
"Hmm," Li Minghan responded coldly. "Are you injured?" Sensing Hua Ruoying's unstable aura, Li Minghan couldn't help but feel puzzled. It was just fetching some spring water; why would it affect his inner energy?
Hua Ruoying knelt on the side, contemplating whether to tell him about encountering Mi Xingzhe. But after a moment's thought, since he had just failed, now wasn't a good time. So he gave up on the idea.
"Thank you for your concern, Master. I'm fine. If there are no other orders, I'll take my leave for now." Afraid of being caught, Hua Ruoying decided to leave.
"Did you forget something? What about the gu I asked you to make last time?" Li Minghan suddenly mentioned.
Only then did Hua Ruoying remember that Li Minghan had asked him to make a gu some time ago. He had been busy with rescuing Fanli Valley recently and completely forgotten about it. He quickly took out a black satin pouch and presented it.
"The gu you wanted, Master, has been completed." Hua Ruoying hurriedly handed over the pouch.
Li Minghan took the pouch from Hua Ruoying's palm, and his fair fingers stood out conspicuously against the black satin.
"You may go." Li Minghan looked at the pouch in his hand and said lightly.
Li Minghan looked at the pouch in his hand, and a sinister smile curved his lips beneath his mask.
Recently, Shentu Zhajia seemed to be in good spirits, and the secret chamber was also adorned with many decorations.
Li Minghan walked over slowly, carrying a food box in his hand. During this period, Li Minghan often came to visit Shentu Zhajia and brought him some food.
"Elder brother, Minghan made your favorite dishes today. Come and taste them. See if they suit your taste." Whenever facing Shentu Zhajia, Li Minghan's tone lost the majesty of a master and sounded more like that of a colleague.
Shentu Zhajia was sitting in meditation on the side. Although he felt much better recently, the demonic energy in his body was becoming weaker.
He would eat what Li Minghan brought, but he always refused to eat with him. So every time, he closed his eyes and let Li Minghan talk to himself.
Seeing that Shentu Zhajia ignored him, Li Minghan wasn't angry. He calmly poured tea and said, "Elder brother, have you noticed that the demonic energy in your body has been weakening lately?" Li Minghan's lips curled into a smile, but his voice carried a hint of deliberate inquiry.
Upon hearing this, Shentu Zhajia finally reacted and slowly opened his eyes. He should have anticipated that the person in front of him was up to something, but he had been too careless.
"What have you done to me?" Shentu Zhajia questioned.
"It's nothing special, really. I just knew that elder brother likes to burn incense while meditating, so I instructed someone to add a little something extra to the incense burner—just a bit of Duying Powder." Li Minghan's lips curved upwards, and his fingers made a sprinkling motion.
"You!" Shentu Zhajia exclaimed in resentment. No wonder he had been feeling mentally exhausted these past few days, and sometimes even experienced hallucinations. Originally, he thought it was due to his unstable mental state during cultivation, but now it seemed that Li Minghan had long anticipated his actions.
"Elder brother, no need to worry. As long as elder brother drinks with me each time, this Duying Powder won't cause any harm." Li Minghan said as he handed the cup in his hand to Shentu Zhajia, as if to indicate that the drink contained an antidote.
Shentu Zhajia still looked disdainful and made no move to take the cup.
Seeing Shentu Zhajia's expression, Li Minghan simply placed the cup in front of him as usual, then lifted his own cup and finished it in one gulp.
"It's been a long time since elder brother and I had a heart-to-heart talk by candlelight. I still miss those days at the Lakeside Pavilion, with elder brother practicing swordsmanship while I played the zither." Li Minghan said as he rubbed his fingers against the edge of the candlestick.
Shentu Zhajia closed his eyes, looking resigned, and tried to adjust his breathing, unwilling to react to Li Minghan's words in any way.
"Elder brother, do you know that everything I've done is for your own good?" Suddenly, Li Minghan tightened his grip on Shentu Zhajia's neck, his eyes revealing a hint of ferocity.
"For my own good? You killed my father, imprisoned me here, and usurped my position as the Demon Lord. Is that for my own good? Wait, what else have you done?" Hearing Li Minghan's implications, Shentu Zhajia asked fiercely.
"Elder brother, are you starting to care again? Just now, you were acting as if it had nothing to do with you." Li Minghan gently lifted Shentu Zhajia's chin, his complex gaze mixed with a hint of pathological madness, his expression clearly that of someone knowingly asking questions.
"The entrance to the Kunlun Hill? Li Minghan, you're dreaming!" Shentu Zhajia's expression softened at first, then immediately turned angry.
Li Minghan withdrew his hand and, with narrowed eyes, looked at Shentu Zhajia. "I simply have something I want to find. Since elder brother is unwilling to divulge the location, then I'll just have to send demonic soldiers to probe continuously."
"Li Minghan, do you know what kind of place Kunlun Hill is? Without knowledge of the terrain, anyone who goes there will simply be sending themselves to their deaths. You're not only wasting the lives of my demonic clan members, but breaking through the barrier could also release ferocious beasts trapped inside, endangering innocent lives nearby." Shentu Zhajia angrily accused.
"Since elder brother refuses to reveal the entrance to Kunlun Hill, then I have no choice but to do this. It seems elder brother needs some rest today, so I'll take my leave now and visit elder brother again in a few days."
Seemingly wanting to hint at this piece of information to Shentu Zhajia, after saying this, Li Minghan straightened his clothes, stood up, and walked towards the door.
"Li Minghan! Aren't you afraid of going to hell for this?"
"Hell? Haven't I come from there?" Li Minghan glanced at Shentu Zhajia, smiling meaningfully.
Just as Li Minghan stepped out of the dungeon, Shentu Zhajia's heart felt as if it were being gnawed at by a thousand beasts, aching unbearably.
Mi Xingzhe lay unconscious on the bed for a whole day and night, while Yun Qingyi stood guard by his side, feeling somewhat exhausted and dozing off.
Slowly awakening, Mi Xingzhe reached out to touch the gauze in front of him. Immediately, he smelled the familiar scent of calming incense, guessing that he must have returned to Mirror Cloud Residence.
"This little celestial attendant really kept his word and brought me back to Mirror Cloud Residence. But how exactly was I brought back? Why can't I remember anything?" Mi Xingzhe pondered, wondering how he had been brought back without any memory of it.
"Qingyi ge~ Qingyi ge~" Mi Xingzhe called out softly as he sat up. Knowing Yun Qingyi well, he was sure that Qingyi must have been waiting by his side for him to wake up.
"Xingzhe, you're awake. Be careful, here, drink some water." Yun Qingyi quickly got up and handed over the prepared water, showing his concern.
Mi Xingzhe took the cup and drank it all in one gulp, accidentally choking a bit and coughing.
"Slow down, slow down." Yun Qingyi hurriedly patted his back to help him catch his breath.
"Senior brother, which celestial attendant brought me back from where? I didn't even get a chance to say thank you." Mi Xingzhe wondered, realizing he hadn't asked the name of the celestial attendant and unsure how to repay the kindness in the future.
"Celestial attendant? We found you in a cave in the Flatland." Yun Qingyi replied somewhat surprised.
"The Flatland? What place is that?" Mi Xingzhe asked, feeling puzzled.
"The Flatland is a lawless place where demons and evildoers gather. Haven't you heard of it before when you were in the mortal realm?" Yun Qingyi explained.
"I think I heard Master mention it before. It's said to be an extremely dangerous place. If ordinary people accidentally enter, they will surely die. Wait, how did I end up there? Wasn't I gathering herbs in the Ice Bamboo Forest with Binguo?" Mi Xingzhe was surprised.
"That day, you went out to gather herbs, but you hadn't returned by dinner time. So Master and I went to the Ice Bamboo Forest to find you. Master was led by someone named Yiling Si Nan all the way to the boundary of the Flatland, so we suspected you might have been taken out of the Liao Yin Immortal Realm's territory." Yun Qingyi explained slowly.
"Taken away?" Mi Xingzhe repeated in surprise.
"Yes, afterwards, Master went to the Celestial Emperor to request a token and was planning to search for you. Then we discovered that someone had triggered the jade pendant on you, so we hurried over. When we found you, you were lying in a cave." Yun Qingyi continued.
"Jade pendant?" Mi Xingzhe touched the jade pendant around his waist in confusion.
"Yes, Master attached a protective barrier to the jade pendant for you. If anyone tries to harm you, the barrier will automatically protect you."
"That's amazing! So, in the future, I'll be invincible? With Master's cultivation, the protective barrier must be very powerful, right?" Mi Xingzhe felt proud of himself.
"What are you thinking? This thing can only be used once. If it's activated again, it will consume a lot of Master's cultivation. You really think you can use this jade pendant like an impenetrable shield?"
"Oh, I see... So, those two people that day weren't the ones who saved me? But I heard them say they found me on their way home. At the time, I thought I had fainted in the Ice Bamboo Forest and these two were probably nearby celestial friends." Mi Xingzhe said.
"Two people? What did they look like?" Yun Qingyi asked.
"I'm not very sure. My vision was very blurry at the time. I vaguely remember the man sounding young, and the woman might have been around the same age. The man wore black clothes and seemed to be able to move very quickly, while the woman wore orange attire." Mi Xingzhe tried to recall, but then a headache struck, and he couldn't help rubbing his forehead.
"Don't force yourself to remember. Fortunately, those two people didn't have high cultivation levels and couldn't break the barrier Master placed on your jade pendant. That's why we had time to rescue you. Be more careful in the future. Incidents like this can't happen again." Yun Qingyi comforted.
"Yeah, Qingyi ge, my eyes..." Mi Xingzhe nodded obediently, remembering to ask about his eyes.
"Don't worry, Master said they'll heal with some rest. You don't need to worry." Yun Qingyi gently patted Mi Xingzhe and then reassured him.
As the two were talking, Li Luoning and Binguo walked into the room together.
Seeing Mi Xingzhe, Binguo happily rushed over, rubbing against Mi Xingzhe while making cooing noises, then forcefully buried her head in his arms.
"Ah, haha, alright, alright, little Binguo, I missed you too. Oh, don't lick me, it tickles." Seeing that Mi Xingzhe was fine, Binguo excitedly licked and rubbed against him.
"Xingzhe, how do you feel?" Li Luoning asked gently after sitting down.
"Master, besides not being able to see, I just have a bit of a headache." Mi Xingzhe replied, facing in Li Luoning's direction.
"Well, I've examined your injuries, and there's nothing serious. Qingyi, go check if the medicine in the pharmacy is ready or not? I have a few words to say to Xingzhe." Li Luoning turned his head to Yun Qingyi and said.