Ancient Moon Town was neither rainy nor sunny, as if shrouded by clouds and mist all year long.
The heavenly light that filtrated through the mist was still clear and splendid, making one feel as if they were not in an Illusory Realm.
Through the trembling childish voice of the little girl, the three people also gradually understood the ins and outs of the situation.
However, the situation was different from what they knew.
According to her, the whole town had been cut off from the world half a month ago after a midnight fog, with no opportunity to send a request for demon extermination to the Heavenly Dao Sect.
"In other words...this is most likely a trap?"
Lin Qingque's beautiful brows slightly furrowed.
"Not just likely; this is clearly a trap specifically set for you disciples of the Heavenly Dao Sect,"
Tian Liuli said indifferently.
"Exactly."
Xu Yuan also nodded in agreement.
"However, even so, we still do not have any good solution."
Tian Liuli lowered her eyelids.
"Indeed, since our opponent has laid such a trap for us, they must...certainly have some demands."
...
Atop the mahogany pavilion, a Charming Shadow silently stood by the window, looking down at the young boys and girls among the crowd below.
They seemed like rocks encircled by the sea of people.
The gentle breeze sighed, its breath like a wooden comb lifting her temples, adding a seductive charm to her straight, sword-like figure.
"Sister, according to the Heavenly Machines Pavilion, the people of the Heavenly Dao Sect have entered the formation, when do we act?"
In the room behind her, several young girls dressed in black and white Sword Sect uniforms were either standing or sitting.
"No rush."
The girl addressed as sister gently shook her head, her gaze fixed on the three people, speaking softly, "That boy is of no concern, but the other two...cannot be forcibly opposed."
Cannot be forcibly opposed?
Hearing this, other disciples were shocked, as this Sword Sect walker was known for her exceptional talent and gifts for a millennium.
In her over ten years of cultivation, she had already reached the Golden Core realm, even leading a team to hunt down a mid-stage Golden Core demon cultivator.
Yet, facing those two Foundation Establishment cultivators of her own level, she felt that they could not be forcibly opposed?
"Sister, don't you find this matter a bit peculiar?"
A disciple said, puzzled.
"Although we always had grievances with the Heavenly Dao Sect, why did our sect suddenly ask us to use such despicable means to ambush them?"
After a moment of silence, the girl, unmoved in her Sword Heart, responded, "Death is like a lamp extinguished; what difference does it make whether it's blown out by the wind or extinguished by water?"
The rest looked at each other.
Meanwhile, she, staring at the boy among the three, her clear eyes hidden in the sheath humming ceaselessly, seemed like a sword ready to strike at any moment.
She recalled the words her Master had said to her with earnest eyes yet with some profound meaning.
'He is the arch-culprit responsible for the world's countless cycles, an unparalleled Heavenly Demon from beyond this realm, only by killing him can the world achieve everlasting peace.'
....
The moon draped over the cold sand, hanging diagonally under the treetops, heavy as a skinned pear, and the ghostly green leaves also covered with a frosty hue, frighteningly bright.
The arrival of the three initially brought a burst of cheers from the people, but when they learned that they too were forced into this situation and couldn't leave, they too fell silent.
However, despite this, they still maintained the respect due to them and gave up three rooms for them.
The wind howled, Xu Yuan stood at the railing, quietly gazing at the moonlight.
Tian Liuli was inside the house calculating something, while Lin Qingque was bathing.
Now, only he remained here.
"Immortal Master."
Suddenly, a small voice interrupted his thoughts.
Xu Yuan turned his head and saw that it was the child from the morning.
"What is it?"
He asked gently.
"Have you eaten yet?"
Her eyes, sparkling with a flickering brightness, she timidly asked.
"Not yet."
Xu Yuan smiled.
"Then... would you like to eat?"
She carefully pulled out a dry cake wrapped in lotus leaves from behind her and tiptoed, as if she were presenting a treasure.
"Thank you."
Xu Yuan was momentarily startled. He extended his hand to take the cake from her hands and ruffled her hair.
"Hehe."
"..."
Unbeknownst to him, Lin Qingque silently opened the window behind him. Her face, fresh and fair as a lotus emerging from water, stared blankly, silently watching the scene.
This scene was eerily similar to one from several years ago.
'I have lost too many people, the only one left is my senior brother, so... I won't let anyone take him away from me again.'
Her eyes reflected the clear moonlight, her gaze deep and solemn. These were memories hidden in the depths of her heart, along with... a murderous intent.
'Just having me by senior brother's side is enough.'
Even if... that person resembled her from the past, nearly a second version of herself.
The light in Lin Qingque's eyes was gradually swallowed by darkness, and the pathological yet real self that she had buried within was starting to become uncontrollable.
...
Xu Yuan raised the cake he was holding, intending to take a bite, when suddenly he heard a scream coming from the distance.
Xu Yuan's eyebrows slightly raised.
The next moment, both Tian Liuli and Lin Qingque emerged from the house.
"What happened?"
They asked.
"I'm not sure."
Xu Yuan shook his head and soothed the frightened little girl, saying, "We will protect you, don't be afraid."
Then, he looked back at the two people with a slightly heavy gaze and said, "Let's go and see what happened."
"Okay!"
The trio soared on beams of sword light towards the source of the noise.
Accompanying that scream were several flickering lights rekindling.
Clearly, most of the villagers had been awakened by the sudden scream.
In just a few moments, by the time Xu Yuan and his companions arrived, the perpetrator had already fled, leaving behind only a rotting female corpse, which appeared as if it had been dead for quite some time.
"Everyone else, stay out for now."
First, Xu Yuan calmed the anxious crowd at the door before returning to the house.
"There's a demonic aura; it was likely the work of a demon."
Tian Liuli said indifferently, "As for the cause of death, it was a wound on the chest. The demon attacked from behind, fatally striking her."
"A fatal strike?"
Xu Yuan felt a slight heaviness in his heart.
This... isn't like what happened in the game?
Damn it!
Has something new occurred in this world again?
Moreover, the people from the Sword Sect, who should have also fallen into the Illusory Realm at this time, were also absent here.
Has the plot of this special storyline changed, or...?
Although there's the butterfly effect theory, he didn't believe that the actions he took after crossing over would cause such changes to the current storyline.
"Yes, a fatal strike. What about it?"
Tian Liuli's gaze was somewhat curious.