106,4 - Little Peasant Wife

A stranger, yet familiar woman approached the trio outside the large pit. The pressure of a Golden Core cultivator emanated from her without reservation—an explicit intimidation and threat to the low-level cultivators. Jing Aoxue instinctively pulled Liu’er back a step. This subtle movement naturally caught the attention of Shen Lüman, now a Golden Core cultivator. Perplexed, she asked, "Jing Aoxue, what are you hiding from?" It was indeed Shen Lüman's voice, but although the appearance was similar to before, it was entirely a different person! If the previous Shen Lüman was elegant and gentle, the current visage exuded sheer allure and charm. Moreover, even the aura she carried had transformed completely. Previously, Shen Lüman gave off a feeling of softness and comfort, but now, Jing Aoxue felt suffocated under her overbearing presence. Jing Aoxue squinted, even though she recognized the person as Shen Lüman, she still felt uneasy. She tentatively sensed the wood-based abilities within her. Shen Lüman, always intertwined with her during cultivation, had wood powers long surpassing those of Liu’er, becoming a striking verdant glow within her. It was indeed the case inside Shen Lüman's body, yet her appearance... Jing Aoxue asked with confusion, "What happened to your face?" Shen Lüman raised her hand to touch her cheek carelessly, then suddenly realized, "This is my original appearance. I had long concealed it, but now that I've surpassed the body-tempering phase, I can no longer maintain the disguise." Her previous cultivation level was too low, and her beauty too striking. Most cultivators couldn't guess her half-demon identity, but they could easily covet her looks. To avoid such troubles, she consistently hid her true appearance. Over time, she almost forgot what she originally looked like herself. So, the last time she transitioned from vine into a human form, even in her muddled mind, she instinctively maintained the disguised face, not exposing her true visage earlier. Now, having passed the body-tempering phase and entering the demon-core stage, her body had been fully refined and stabilized. Yet, the dizziness from the tribulation lightning... Having little recollection of her looks, it's no wonder Liu’er and Jing Aoxue, who had never seen her true face, were shocked. She smiled, overlaying her earlier appearance with the disguise, and said, "Does this look better now?" Jing Aoxue sighed in relief and hurriedly embraced her, joyfully exclaiming, "You made it!" Shen Lüman acknowledged with a sound, feeling Jing Aoxue's tension and thinking it was due to lingering fear. She patted her back reassuringly, "It's thanks to you, Liu’er, and Wuyi Ling, that I could withstand this tribulation." The heavenly way was unfair, especially brutal to the demons, making the tribulation particularly fierce. Without aid, she couldn't possibly have survived it. Fortunately, the result is favorable now, and she even benefited from the misfortune, accumulating substantial heavenly energy, which, once refined, would further elevate her cultivation. Jing Aoxue nodded, voice trembling, "Sweetheart, could you restrain your aura a bit? I'm struggling to breathe." Surprised, Shen Lüman noticed her enveloping aura and realized she was inexperienced in controlling her presence upon first entering the Golden Core stage. She turned to the White Horse Priestess, Wuyi Ling, who smiled, "You need to learn to suppress your aura; otherwise, even Jing Aoxue and Liu’er won't be able to stay too close." Acknowledging this, Shen Lüman attempted to retract her aura inward. Though a challenge initially, after several hours of practice, she succeeded. This was also due to her plant-demon nature, typically exuding a gentle presence. Had it been a beastly Golden Core cultivation pressure, low-level cultivators would've been forced to their knees already. They did not return home immediately, as the surrounding area still held remnants of heavenly energy. Shen Lüman needed to refine the benefits she'd absorbed internally, while Jing Aoxue and Liu’er took the opportunity to absorb any advantages around them. As strange auras began to approach, Wuyi Ling nonchalantly opened her eyes, glanced at the family immersed in cultivation, then went outside the protective barrier to personally eliminate these auras. Some were demon spirits from the mountains, endowed with slight intelligence from the mountain's spirit array, yet remained lowly creatures, not worth Wuyi Ling's attention. Her intimidation sent most fleeing disgracefully, while those that didn't became unrecognizable masses of flesh. Another part of the auras comprised cultivators from the surrounding areas. They, too, had low cultivation levels and upon seeing Wuyi Ling, quickly kneeled and explained their purpose. Wuyi Ling then realized they belonged to a local power led by a woman named Mistress Lan. Thinking she might as well kill these cultivators emitting demonic auras, she reconsidered—these wrongdoers would eventually meet their doom, sparing her the filthy task of eliminating them. She delivered a harsh warning, demanding their immediate departure from the mountains, and they scrambled away, grateful for their lives spared. Wuyi Ling squinted, closing her eyes with a sigh, "This family needs to enhance their strength quickly. The mountain protection array has been breached by the lightning tribulation, and it's only a matter of time before this energy leaks out." When that happens, the cultivators residing in the mortal world will flock towards the Nascent Soul cave, and whatever opportunities they seize depends on their capabilities. Uncertain how much time had passed, Jing Aoxue suddenly felt the spiritual energy within her surging. Opening her eyes, she said to Shen Lüman, "Sweetheart, I think I'm about to form my Foundation." Shen Lüman frowned, "I felt it too. You were already at the peak of Qi Refinement level ten. After I advanced to Golden Core, our contract shared some benefits with you, and along with the residual heavenly energy... it's indeed time to form your Foundation." Jing Aoxue nodded but hesitated, "But I don't have a Foundation Establishment Pill." In the cultivation world, advancing to the Foundation stage typically required a Foundation Establishment Pill, greatly boosting success rates by over fifty percent. Thus, the pill was exceedingly coveted among cultivators. Jing Aoxue didn't have one, nor did Shen Lüman. While it was possible to advance without the pill, the success rate was low, risking heart demons if failed, which could hinder future cultivation. Shen Lüman frowned, "I'll ask Wuyi Ling if she has a Foundation Establishment Pill." Speaking thus, she promptly sought out Wuyi Ling to inquire. However, Wuyi Ling had long surpassed the Foundation stage, and after entering the cultivation world, her level had reached late Golden Core. The Foundation Establishment Pill was only useful for human cultivators, irrelevant to her needs. Wuyi Ling's storage contained treasures far superior to the Foundation Establishment Pill, but the crucial point was, Jing Aoxue's immediate need was indeed the pill, which she didn’t possess. This left Jing Aoxue with no choice but to advance on her own. While Shen Lüman's expression was anxious, Jing Aoxue smiled, "Well, then, so be it. There have been cultivators, ancient and recent, who've advanced without the pill, and I feel fortunate. I'm sure I can manage it." With that, she gave Shen Lüman a knowing look, "Come over here and give me a kiss, and my chances of success will definitely increase." Shen Lüman didn't know whether to laugh or cry. How could she think of this now, especially with Liu’er meditating nearby? Glancing at Liu’er, who was also experiencing aura fluctuations and seemingly close to reaching Qi Refinement level nine, it was indeed a blessing brought by Wuyi Ling's fortune that allowed such quick advancement. Thanks to the heavenly power and the prior rainbow spirit rain, Jing Aoxue and Liu’er rapidly broke through their previous barriers. Seeing Jing Aoxue expectantly batting her eyes at her, Shen Lüman felt her face flush, then leaned over and planted a light kiss on her cheek, whispering, "Now can you focus on cultivating?" Jing Aoxue beamed, nodding before closing her eyes to begin the Foundation Establishment process. Forming the Foundation involves converting all the stored spiritual energy in the Qi Refinement stage into liquid form and compressing even more spiritual energy. The Golden Core stage then transforms the liquid spiritual energy in the dantian into a condensed golden core. When Shen Lüman advanced, she felt the crazed churning of her internal energy, continuously compressing the liquid spiritual energy into a massive cluster. After countless lightning strikes during the tribulation, the enormous liquid cluster condensed into a small golden core, forged through the tempering of the lightning, becoming a radiant core within her dantian. For her, being demon cultivation, it’s more appropriately termed a "Demon Core." As Jing Aoxue absorbed the surrounding spiritual energy, Liu’er opened her eyes, having just advanced from Qi Refinement level eight to nine. Observing her mother about to form her Foundation, she quickly stood up and moved aside. The spiritual energy around them had been mostly absorbed by Shen Lüman, now showing signs of depletion. Left with no choice, Shen Lüman joined Liu’er in setting up a Spirit Gathering Array around Jing Aoxue, anxiously awaiting the process. The spiritual energy within Jing Aoxue reached saturation, causing her wood-based and fire-based energies to clash within her dantian, compressing it intensely. Not only did her dantian feel the impact, but her meridians also swelled with a surge of spiritual energy, reaching a point of pain. The energy in her dantian began to frantically draw more from external sources. These incoming streams filled her meridians, forcibly pushing through their existing confines like a river breaking through narrow creek paths. The violent rush expanded her meridians, creating broader pathways, although some spillover leaked around her. This overflow was harnessed by her wood powers to repair the damaged meridians. When her meridians were full, the energy surged towards her dantian. Wave after wave, the spiritual energy poured in, while compression occurred within, finally stabilizing into a more solid state—liquid form. As the first drop of liquid spiritual energy settled into her dantian, Jing Aoxue finally grasped the key to foundation establishment. She proceeded to compress spiritual energy into liquid form continuously, until her entire dantian was filled with liquid spiritual energy, expanding her dantian several times over. A tremor ran through her as she realized she was on the verge of successfully forming her foundation. Black impurities began seeping out of her skin, but her eyes remained shut, her pupils nervously twitching beneath her eyelids. She found herself in a strange place, awakened by a crowd of familiar yet unfamiliar faces. Doctor Liu, someone she knew well, approached, adjusting his glasses, and said, "Little Seven, you’re finally awake!" Little Seven? Was he referring to her? Why did the name suddenly feel so foreign? Jing Xiao Qi’s gaze swept around the hospital room as she asked, "What happened to me?" Doctor Liu replied, "Seems your brain has suffered damage. Truth be told, you were sent on a mission outside the base and unexpectedly encountered a level ten mutant demon vine. You were thought dead when it devoured you." "But against all odds, you survived and dragged your injured self back to the base outskirts. Luckily, a prostitute you once saved recognized you and brought you to the hospital, saving your life. You've been in a coma for over ten days now, and even the leadership had given up hope, so your awakening was quite unexpected." Crossing her arms, she added, "You're really hard to kill, Xiao Qi. Do you have nine lives or something?" Jing Xiao Qi retorted, displeased, "That’s a terrible way to put it. No wonder people keep filing complaints against you." Doctor Liu shrugged nonchalantly, "Whatever, my old man is the second in command of the military district. If I walk away, I could be the lady of the house. Whereas you, now that you’re awake, need to settle your medical bills." Rising from the hospital bed, she felt an unfamiliar heaviness in her body, as if it belonged to someone else. She shooed Doctor Liu away like swatting a fly. The room was a high-end hospital suite afforded only to the upper echelons of the base. Ha! The leadership wouldn't be this considerate unless harboring guilty intentions! After all, being swallowed by a mutant plant was due to their greed. Wait, why did something feel so wrong amidst all this? She frowned, limping over to the window and drawing the curtain. From the twenty-seventh floor, she could overlook a large portion of the base. This dilapidated urban scene—she hadn't seen the likes of it in a long time. Despite merely being unconscious for a few days, why did she feel this odd sense of dislocation? Shaking her head to clear the painful confusion, she used the restroom. While washing her hands, she glimpsed a pale reflection in the mirror and suddenly thought... Why do I look so ugly?! Hey! Wait! She had never disliked her appearance. Though not the most delicate beauty, her sharp brows gave her a fierce look, complemented by perfect almond-shaped eyes and dimples. Even before the apocalypse, she was one of the prettiest in her class. As a child at the orphanage, the caretakers regretfully remarked they would never have sent such a beautiful girl to an orphanage if she had been their own. So, she was actually quite good-looking—no need to be self-deprecating. Maybe it was the injury messing with her mind. With a pout, she turned back to the bed and lay down again, staying put for another half month. Anyway, the base leaders treated her well enough, saying she could stay as long as she liked. With all comforts provided and specialists occasionally offering massages, she’d be silly not to enjoy it. Eventually, she left only when Doctor Liu came to chase her out, tousling her short hair and yawning as she exited the hospital. Returning home, she tidied up a bit, rested for a couple of days, then resumed work at the base’s research institute, occasionally accompanying ability users on missions—life continued in its uneventful way. Yet, she always felt this wasn’t the life she desired. She once drove to distant places, driven by an inexplicable reluctance to return to the base, despite the outside world being overrun by zombies and mutant plants and animals. Even as a level nine wood wielder, she couldn't contend with swarms of zombies. Eventually, she sheepishly returned to the base. Before she knew it, it was New Year. With well-furnished living quarters and the base running stably, TV sets reappeared in her life, and bored, she used trade crystals to buy one. On the eve, she watched the pre-apocalypse Spring Festival Gala rerun, yawning through it. Rising from the couch, faint fireworks flickered outside her window—about all there was. Afraid of drawing zombie hordes to besiege the base, fireworks and firecrackers had been forbidden. She was indifferent—used to being alone. She lay in bed, drifting into slumber with one final thought: New Year’s shouldn’t be like this. The mattress was soft, though she often recalled memories of a woman whose features she couldn't discern, whom she once pinned under her, face flushed as her name was softly spoken, "Jing Aoxue." Jing Aoxue! Jing! Aoxue! Her eyes snapped open as she remembered—she was no longer Jing Xiao Qi, but Jing Aoxue! She didn’t belong to the post-apocalyptic world anymore. Doctor Liu and the base leaders—none of them were real; they had betrayed her before, causing her death. All here was just an illusion! Gritting her teeth in anger, Jing Aoxue sat up abruptly as shrill alarms blared outside the window. She knew what they meant—the signal of a zombie assault. Everyone snapped out of their festive reverie, confronted by Hell. Zombies, led by a level nine zombie king, easily destroyed the walls and electric grids, flooding into the base through the weakest defenses of the slums. She seemed to hear human screams in the distance. Residents of her building, being upper-class, descended in panic, trying to flee. Relaxed, Jing Aoxue opened the window and sat down on the ledge, saying, "So what is this? A trial of heart demons? Sorry, I'm too detached and ruthless for this. What do others’ lives or deaths mean to me?" The world distorted before her, then came the sound of a child's cries. Jing Aoxue squinted downwards, her keen vision spotting the chaotic crowd below, among them a young woman cradling a child. She had Shen Lüman's face, pursing her lips while comforting the frightened little girl, Liu’er. A cold smile played on Jing Aoxue's lips, "What a base trick!" She could ignore anyone else's plight, even her own life, yet she couldn't disregard Shen Lüman and Liu’er, even knowing this was merely a trial in her foundation establishment path. Gripping her teeth, she still conjured a mutant vine, leaping down from the window to weave through the fray and reach Shen Lüman. Startled, Shen Lüman clutched the child tighter. Liu’er looked at her with fear. This expression was indeed nostalgic. Ever since the incident with the Liu family, Liu’er had shown no other expression beyond a smile. Unable to resist, she pinched Liu’er’s cheek fondly, confirming the familiar softness. She smiled reassuringly at the wary Shen Lüman, "I’m a level nine wood user. You find it difficult to escape with a child by yourself, right? Let me take you to safety?" Shen Lüman hesitated, seemingly tempted. Yet, recalling something, she pursed her lips, declining, "No need! Just don’t block my way." Jing Aoxue chuckled, scratching her head while stepping aside—if she didn’t want her help, she’d just follow along. She accompanied the mother and daughter to the base’s edge. Here, the zombies swarmed. As an ordinary woman, Shen Lüman hesitated, akin to others. Turning to face Jing Aoxue trailing them, she asked, "Can you help us escape?" Jing Aoxue nodded and said, “Follow me.” She was aware that the base’s research lab had a secret escape route known only to the upper echelons. Once, she had stumbled upon it by accident. This passageway followed a river, leading to the broader expanse of the outside world. Though it held its own dangers, it was certainly better than being trapped helplessly. She didn't know when this heart demon trial would end, so she decided to go along with it, see it through. Leading Shen Lüman past the scattered crowd, they reached the entrance of the research lab. Jing Aoxue pulled out her ID card from her pocket. A flash of surprise crossed Shen Lüman's face, as if she hadn't expected Jing Aoxue to be telling the truth. Jing Aoxue gestured gallantly, “This way, my lovely lady.” Shen Lüman puffed her cheeks, a restrained laughter dancing in her eyes, making her look even more endearing. Rolling her eyes playfully, she slipped past Jing Aoxue into the lab. The lab was deserted; the base leaders likely had already evacuated. Through the glass, Shen Lüman caught sight of the grotesque creatures in the research experiments and asked fearfully, “You…you’re not planning to experiment on me, are you?” Jing Aoxue paused, then chuckled, “Those are my colleagues’ creations. I work on creating experimental potions and compressing food. The most common compressed liquid food on the market is my creation.” Still uneasy, Shen Lüman kept her distance. Jing Aoxue, amused, followed leisurely, offering quiet guidance whenever Shen Lüman seemed uncertain about the route. Liu’er, perched on Shen Lüman's shoulder, watched Jing Aoxue with wide, curious eyes, ducking into Shen Lüman's embrace whenever Jing Aoxue returned the gaze. Noticing, Jing Aoxue simply shifted her eyes elsewhere, prompting Liu’er to peek out once more. The research lab was secure. They arrived safely at the river path on the third underground level, where a dozen small boats waited. With a nod, Jing Aoxue urged Shen Lüman aboard to rest while she headed for the control room. Having operated these boats before, not before the apocalypse but after being dispatched by the base to the south, she had taken time to learn the ropes. Fueled and ready, they sailed out smoothly, leaving the perils of the base behind. By dawn's light, they had arrived at a distant spot far removed from the base. Shen Lüman rubbed her eyes and stifled a yawn as footsteps echoed behind her, but she paid no heed. For Jing Aoxue, aiding this illusion of Shen Lüman was merely a means to confronting her heart demon. Believing herself fearless, she found this ordeal revealing deeper fears within her soul. Her attitude towards the illusion lacked warmth or affection, knowing all too well its fictitious nature. Setting a breakfast tray on the table, Shen Lüman hesitantly said, “Thank you for saving me and my daughter. I made breakfast from what I found on the boat. Feel free to eat if you’re hungry.” With that, she turned to leave. Jing Aoxue rested her chin on her hand, “Wait, let’s have a chat.” Picking up chopsticks, she devoured an egg in a few bites, then asked, “Who’s Liu'er’s father?” Shen Lüman’s lips tightened in hesitation, “She isn’t, I mean, I had her through artificial insemination at a hospital abroad. I…I can’t deal with men, and I’m not into women either. I just wanted a child without marriage.” Jing Aoxue nodded, giving Shen Lüman a once-over—a woman in casual sporty attire, hair trimmed to her neck, face bare of makeup, exuding simplicity. It was rare to find such a gentle spirit after ten years of apocalypse. Jing Aoxue's smile was nonchalant, “But Liu'er’s age doesn’t match up. It's been ten years since the apocalypse; you couldn’t have gone overseas five years ago.” Shen Lüman faltered, “I don’t know, I can’t recall.” “What were you doing before?” Jing Aoxue asked. “I did assignments outside the base...hunting...so...” Shen Lüman stammered. Jing Aoxue realized: this heart demon portrayal drew from her impressions. Shen Lüman wrestled briefly with confusion before quickly thanking her, “Thanks for saving me and Liu'er, I…” Jing Aoxue signaled her to pause, “No need. You should go. Let me have some peace.” Closing her eyes, she heard Shen Lüman biting her lip before departing. Jing Aoxue opened her eyes, watching her leave, body wavering in the sunlight. This illusion was riddled with too many flaws. Yet unsure why she couldn’t escape, this troubled her, realizing the spiritual energy within her had been transformed, only to be stuck at this heart demon stage. How much real time had passed, she wondered. Would she forever remain trapped here, succumbing to vegetative stasis? And what about the real Shen Lüman and Liu’er, surely worried sick by now? What was her heart demon? Why did she find herself in this apocalyptic scene, why were zombies besieging, why did Shen Lüman and Liu’er exist? She couldn’t fathom it. Jing Aoxue sighed deeply, her strategic thinking never suited these mental puzzles. She excelled at frontal combat! But her current predicament left her unable to bring herself to harm Shen Lüman and Liu’er—even as illusions, she couldn’t. When this notion struck her, realization dawned. She smirked wryly: indefinitely trapped it was. Unable to sleep again, she rose to the cruise deck. Two pairs of eyes lingered on her, yet she paid them no mind. Surveying the familiar terrain, she recognized a place where previous missions had taken her, not far from the territory of a level nine mutant plant. Back then, she spared this plant, having already gained partial sentience, akin to a child’s mind, drawn to her wood abilities yet unwilling to be constrained. Somewhat begrudgingly, she let it be. If she headed there now with the two companions, perhaps this mutant plant would offer refuge. Deciding swiftly, she turned the boat, docking ashore after some distance. Shen Lüman approached hesitantly, “Where to next?” Jing Aoxue regarded her calmly, “I’m going to seek aid from old friends. If all goes well, we’ll be staying there—it’s safe.” Shen Lüman pondered, then assented quietly. Gathering some supplies, they traversed a relatively secure path, coming to the foot of a mountain. Once a man-made hill, it was now clothed in dense vegetation. High-tier mutant plants lingered, poised to tear Jing Aoxue to shreds. But the mightiest aura surged, forbidding attack: “No harm, she’s a friend.” Jing Aoxue, attuned to plants, understood clearly and smiled, “Old friend, I’ve come seeking refuge. They’re...my friends, apologies for the intrusion.” The former potted cactus, now a formidable level nine mutant plant, eagerly emerged, retracted its spines, and embraced Jing Aoxue. Offering abundant wood energy, the other plants couldn’t help but envy her. And so, she settled in seamlessly. Years rushed by, her visage aged, though Liu’er blossomed into a young woman, her face elusive. In this swift passage of time, fifty years went by, until Shen Lüman lay on her deathbed, all feeling like the blink of an eye. Weakly, Shen Lüman queried, “I don’t understand you. Killing me would free you of your heart demon, you’ve known all along, why not do it?” Jing Aoxue replied, “This heart demon is manipulated by others; why generate a true one by harming you? After your death, it resolves. Hurting you deliberately, how could I then face my real wife?” The heart demon, veiled as Shen Lüman all along, unveiled its true form, cloaked in blood and darkness. It laughed sharply, “A clever cultivator you are, fascinating indeed. Very well, I’ll spare you. Soon enough, a more suitable host will present itself.” Jing Aoxue squinted, “Repugnant you look, are you demonic? Or something else?” The shadowy figure chuckled, “If you last a few more years, maybe then you’ll deserve to know my identity.” Waving dismissively, harsh winds lashed Jing Aoxue’s face painfully. Opening her eyes, she saw Shen Lüman mid-slap once more. Quickly catching Shen Lüman’s hand, Jing Aoxue exclaimed, “Why are you hitting me?” Tears welled in Shen Lüman's eyes, her face pale and lips bitten raw. She rushed to embrace Jing Aoxue, exclaiming, “I thought you…” Jing Aoxue felt the sting on her cheek, realizing Shen Lüman hadn’t gone easy on her. Amused and helpless, she said, “See, I'm fine. No need to cry.” Shen Lüman bit her hard, drawing blood, before angrily saying, “What on earth were you doing? You’d clearly established your foundation, yet you wouldn’t wake up no matter how we called you. You were wrapped in dense demonic energy, almost falling into demonic possession. Even Wuyi Ling was at a loss. I had no choice but to resort to desperate measures…” Jing Aoxue nodded repeatedly, looking up at a frightened Liu’er and a serious Wuyi Ling. “Thank you all,” she said. Liu’er wobbled forward, leaning against Jing Aoxue, surprisingly wrapping her arms around her with a teary voice, “Mother, you scared me to death.” Feeling a rare closeness from grown-up Liu’er, Jing Aoxue couldn't help but relish in it. “Liu’er, come, give your mother a kiss. It’s been so long since I’ve seen you act coy.” Blushing, Liu’er pecked her cheek and said, “Mother, never do that again.” Taking advantage of the moment, Jing Aoxue cheerfully agreed, “I promise not to worry you or your wife again. My dear, please stop biting me now, okay?” Feeling embarrassed, Shen Lüman looked at the mark she’d left, now oozing blood, and gently licked it. “Sorry, but what happened to you just now?” she asked. Jing Aoxue wished to kiss her then, but with others present, she restrained herself. She asked instead, “How long did this episode last?” “Three days and nights,” Shen Lüman replied. Jing Aoxue nodded, “I thought it felt like ten years. I…” She tried to recall the events, but suddenly, her mind blanked—not unable to speak, but she’d forgotten everything about the heart demon trial. “Was it a heart demon?” Shen Lüman asked when she saw Jing Aoxue struggle for words. Nodding quickly, Jing Aoxue praised, “You’re so smart, my wife. It was indeed a heart demon. But I’ve forgotten what the trial was about.” Shen Lüman looked momentarily dazed, then sighed, “It’s alright. As long as you’re safe.” Weakness in her legs made her sit down, trying to regain her composure. Breaking her silence, Wuyi Ling suddenly asked, “You’ve been entwined with demonic energy for years. Did something happen to shatter your spirit?” She paused, shook her head, and frowned, “No, this isn’t right. I’ve seen cultivators succumb to demonic paths before, but they merely become demon-cultivators. You, however—your energy felt like a full-blown demon invasion, very high-level. Do you have demon blood?” Jing Aoxue was taken aback, “No, I come from the middle-tier Jing family in the cultivation world. We’re ordinary folk; there’s no demon blood in our lineage.” Wuyi Ling seemed skeptical. Jing Aoxue’s earlier state was unnerving even for her, more so for Shen Lüman and Liu’er. Liu’er, however, seemed less afraid; perhaps her eyes even flashed red—for a brief moment, Wuyi Ling thought she might have imagined it. Rubbing her forehead in exasperation, Wuyi Ling said, “Never mind. We’ll address it later. What are your plans?” Jing Aoxue squinted at the question, “What time is it now?” Checking the sky, Shen Lüman replied, “Midday. Are you hungry?” Jing Aoxue clutched her stomach, “You know me well. But I meant what month it is. We've been in the mountains a while; maybe it’s time for a break at home.” Shen Lüman paused, unable to say for sure. Agreeing with Jing Aoxue, she nodded. They’d drained the spiritual energy from the mountain; rest seemed due.