Chapter 48

They managed to escape just before the collapse. The moment they emerged, Luo Han once again felt the presence of the Western Sea—and also the suppression of her spiritual power.
They were back.
Luo Han and Ling Qingxiao were fortunate—their landing point was at the foot of a mountain, near a winding river. The sun was setting, casting golden ripples across the water.
Luo Han helped Ling Qingxiao settle on a flat spot. Both of them had sustained internal injuries, and after their previous ordeal, their conditions were far from good.
Ling Qingxiao’s was especially severe.
His face was deathly pale, almost translucent. Luo Han didn’t let him speak. “Focus on regulating your breath. Don’t worry about me. With the beast here, I won’t be in any danger.”
Ling Qingxiao agreed. After a few words of caution, he closed his eyes and concentrated on stabilizing his chaotic spiritual energy.
His injuries had forced him to overdraw his power, leaving his meridians in disarray. If he didn’t restore the balance soon, he risked losing control completely.
Luo Han watched him enter a meditative state and finally felt a bit of relief. Then, she turned her attention to settling old scores.
She turned around.
The Devourer Beast, who had been trying to “baa” its way into looking innocent, immediately shivered.
Just looking at this pitch-black creature made Luo Han furious. Without hesitation, she pulled out a Demon-Binding Rope from her storage ring and tied the beast up to a tree—just like a regular sheep. If it wanted to be a lamb, she would indulge it.
The beast let out a pitiful bleat. It tried to look harmless, hoping to escape punishment. But Luo Han held grudges. She wasn’t about to let it off so easily.
The beast rubbed against the tree in distress before eventually resigning itself, kneeling docilely on the ground. The tiny rope couldn’t actually restrain it—but it wouldn’t dare escape.
Its mind wasn’t the sharpest, but its instincts were keen.
When Luo Han had been in a crowd earlier, it hadn’t realized—but after experiencing her space and divine words, the beast was certain.
This was someone it could not afford to provoke.
Ling Qingxiao had been an overwhelming opponent, but Luo Han was a divine force beyond comprehension.
The Devourer Beast, descended from the Taotie, had known fear before—but never like this.
Now, it submitted completely. No matter what happened, it would not resist.
Luo Han, satisfied with securing it, hurried back to check on Ling Qingxiao.
Moments later, he slowly emerged from his meditation.
Opening his eyes, he found Luo Han sitting beside him, watching him with deep concern.
Ling Qingxiao felt as if something had lightly touched his heart.
"I'm fine," he said. "You don't need to worry."
After a round of regulating his breath, his complexion had improved significantly, but his voice was still weak. It was clear that, while he had resolved the issue of his rampant spiritual energy, his internal injuries and meridian damage remained.
Fortunately, there was still some Crane Orchid left from last time. Luo Han reached for her Bodhi Leaf pendant to retrieve it, but Ling Qingxiao immediately saw through her intentions and stopped her hand, shaking his head firmly. "You mustn't."
"Why not?"
"This is something you should keep for your own protection. It's best that you save it in case of unforeseen danger."
"If you die, I might as well not be alive." Luo Han was unmoved. She still took out the Bodhi Essence and Crane Spirit Orchid from her pendant. "If you’re really worried about me, then take care of yourself and make sure I never have to face any danger."
Ling Qingxiao wanted to refuse again, but Luo Han simply dumped the bottles and jars onto the ground, even repeating his own words from before: "Consider it a gift. If you don’t want it, just throw it away."
Ling Qingxiao had no choice. At the Tianzhao City auction, he had once given Luo Han Bodhi Spirit Liquid, but she had refused it, and he had said these exact words to persuade her.
Now, a month later, she was throwing them right back at him.
Luo Han looked like she was serious about discarding them, and Ling Qingxiao, worried that leaving such precious items out in the open might attract trouble, had no choice but to refine them. Refining the Crane Orchid and Bodhi Essence took time, but fortunately, compared to the tribulation lightning he had endured before, his injuries this time were far less severe. Healing his meridians and hidden wounds was also much quicker.
When Ling Qingxiao awakened from his meditation, the night had already deepened, and the sky was filled with countless stars. As he turned his head, he saw Luo Han curled up nearby, fast asleep.
She hadn't dared to stray too far from him, so she had been meditating close by, both cultivating and standing guard. As night wore on, she had eventually dozed off while still sitting upright.
Since she had not yet trained herself to sleep in a meditation posture, she soon toppled over, her sleeping posture awkward and uncomfortable.
Ling Qingxiao sighed silently, got up, and adjusted her position.
It wasn’t that he found her posture displeasing, but he was worried that she’d be uncomfortable sleeping like that.
Feeling herself being moved, Luo Han suddenly woke up in fright, thinking they were under attack. She instinctively tried to gather her spiritual energy, but before she could lift her hand, a cool palm gently grasped her wrist.
"Don’t move," a familiar voice said above her. "It’s me."
Luo Han opened her eyes and, in the dim light, saw a white silhouette sitting at the edge of the couch—his robes as pure as snow, his features breathtakingly exquisite.
She blinked groggily. It was Ling Qingxiao.
Slowly sitting up, she glanced around and asked, "What time is it now?"
"The hour of Yin."
Luo Han quickly calculated the time and was startled. "It’s almost dawn? I slept that long? Are you already done refining?"
"Mm." Ling Qingxiao hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Thank you."
Luo Han lazily waved a hand and flopped back onto the couch, covering her mouth as she yawned. "What are you thanking me for? This time was much faster than the last two times. I thought you’d take three or four days."
"It wasn’t necessary," Ling Qingxiao replied. "These internal injuries weren’t as severe. Besides, the second time is always faster than the first."
"I’d really rather you not get experienced in these things," Luo Han grumbled as she lay there. Her gaze shifted, and she suddenly realized the couch beneath her looked familiar. "Wait a minute...isn’t this the couch I bought on the way back from Zhongshan? How did you find it? I thought I lost it."
Ling Qingxiao sighed. "You leave your things scattered everywhere. I saw it and put it in my storage space."
Thanks to Luo Han’s habit of leaving her belongings all over the place, a surprising number of her personal items had ended up in Ling Qingxiao’s possession. When he saw her sleeping uncomfortably earlier, he had simply taken out the couch he had stored away—it turned out to be unexpectedly useful.
"No wonder," Luo Han muttered, still sprawled out. "Just keep holding onto it, then. If I take it, I’ll probably lose it again. Better to let you manage it."
Dawn was approaching, yet the night was at its darkest. The quiet stillness seemed to weigh on them, making even their thoughts sluggish. Luo Han was fully awake now but didn’t feel like moving. Lazily, she lay there and happened to glance sideways, her gaze falling naturally on Ling Qingxiao, who was sitting properly at the edge of the couch.
From this angle, his profile was breathtaking—so stunning it hardly seemed real. Framed against the deep night, he looked like a celestial being stepping into a dream, surrounded by a faint, divine radiance.
Luo Han suddenly covered her face.
Ling Qingxiao was startled. "What’s wrong?"
"Nothing, nothing!" Luo Han hastily pressed the back of her hand against her cheek, trying to cool it down. She stammered, "I just suddenly felt a little cold. Oh, right! Earlier—wait, no, yesterday—you suddenly attacked Ling Zhongyu. Did you notice something?"
Ling Qingxiao frowned. "Cold? How could you be cold?" His expression turned sharp in an instant. "Give me your hand."
Luo Han’s robes were resistant to heat and cold, and she had spiritual energy protecting her body. Under normal circumstances, there was no way she would suddenly feel cold—unless she had been poisoned by a cold-based toxin.
Luo Han panicked and hurriedly said, "I’m really fine! Just answer my question—what did you find out about Ling Zhongyu?"
But the more she avoided the topic, the more suspicious Ling Qingxiao became. His expression darkened, and instead of answering, he directly seized her wrist.
After a moment of checking her pulse, he frowned. "Your pulse is steady, and your spiritual energy is normal. Then why is your face red?"
Luo Han had already tried several times to change the subject, but now, with Ling Qingxiao holding her wrist and asking why her face was flushed, she was so embarrassed she wanted to dive into the nearest river. She yanked her hand back and, her face burning, snapped, "Can you just answer my question? What did you find out?"
She was clearly full of energy and speaking with a strong, clear voice—definitely not someone who had been poisoned or cursed. Ling Qingxiao reluctantly set aside his concerns and finally answered, "It’s nothing. I simply discovered that his body contains demonic energy."
"Demonic energy." Luo Han murmured, her expression showing no surprise.
Ling Qingxiao had expected this and asked, "The person you mentioned before—was it him?"
Luo Han nodded, puzzled. "That’s strange. If he had succumbed to demonic cultivation, why has no one noticed? And if he hasn’t, why did he suddenly attack his fellow disciples?"
Ling Qingxiao paused briefly before explaining, "The Demon Realm possesses a secret technique called Demon Lure. The caster plants the lure within the heart of an immortal whose Dao heart has cracked or is tormented by inner demons. When the right time comes, the lure is triggered, causing the afflicted immortal to act according to the caster’s will. This method has led many immortals to fall into demonic cultivation."
Luo Han had never heard of Demon Lure before. From the description, it sounded somewhat like hypnosis, yet not entirely. "Are those affected aware of their actions? Are their bodies controlled, or do they retain their own consciousness?"
"A lure is a seed." Ling Qingxiao explained, "Demons excel at exploiting the darkness within the human heart, amplifying one’s inner malice. That is the brilliance of Demon Lure—it doesn’t completely override a person’s will like a mere puppet. If it did, many immortals would have already broken free. Instead, it magnifies the host’s darkest emotions, allowing their resentment to override reason. Once they've committed an irreversible act, they become too ashamed to face their kin and have no choice but to fall into demonic cultivation."
Luo Han understood now. No wonder Ling Zhongyu’s betrayal had seemed so abrupt—he had fallen into a demon’s trap.
Ling Zhongyu had always harbored jealousy toward Ling Qingxiao. Yesterday, when victory was within reach, if the Devourer Beast had been successfully captured, Ling Qingxiao—who had discovered its tracks and set up the entire formation—would have been recognized as a key contributor, if not the highest-ranking one. Ling Zhongyu feared Ling Qingxiao’s rising status and the threat to his own position as heir. Those layers of resentment made him vulnerable to Demon Lure, leading him to attack his own allies.
Luo Han clicked her tongue. "Even if he was manipulated, a mistake is still a mistake. Once we get out of here, we should report everything to Star Lord Gu Xing."
She had no interest in debating whether the knife that killed was guilty or not—especially since Ling Zhongyu was no mere knife. Besides, she had nearly died because of him.
If not for Ling Qingxiao, Luo Han might not have survived. As the victim, why should she care about her attacker’s sob story? If Ling Zhongyu wanted sympathy, he could seek it from Gu Xing—Luo Han only wanted to send him straight to military court.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. "If he thought it was unfair, he should’ve faced you head-on. Backstabbing—what kind of skill is that? Justice will prevail. Once we leave, I’ll report everything to Star Lord Gu Xing myself. Including the palm strike you dealt him—I’ll explain it all. The truth will be clear once they check Ling Zhongyu’s pulse. Right and wrong will be decided by the laws of the Celestial Court."
After speaking, Luo Han realized that Ling Qingxiao was staring ahead, lost in thought.
She hesitated. "What’s wrong? Why did you suddenly go quiet?"
"It’s nothing." Ling Qingxiao snapped back to reality. "I was just curious—what kind of life must you have lived to say ‘justice will prevail’ so firmly?"
Luo Han laughed. "Are you trying to say that only children believe in righteousness, that only children think good will be rewarded and evil will be punished?"
She gazed at the deep indigo sky for a moment, then shifted into a more comfortable position. "Compromise and pragmatism aren’t bad things, but they’re nothing to be proud of either. If the world is dark, then seek the light. If there is injustice, then push for fairness. Good people aren’t always rewarded, because victory belongs to those who dare to fight for it."
In the distant east, the first light of dawn began to break through the darkness. Ling Qingxiao knew that soon, a blazing sun would rise, illuminating the land.
Just like Luo Han.
Luo—like water, gentle and full of life.
Han—like the rising sun, radiant and fearless.
The sun slowly lifted over the horizon, brightening the sky. Luo Han yawned. "Why am I sleepy again?"
Ling Qingxiao instantly returned to his usual indifferent self. "You can’t sleep. It’s time to get up."
Luo Han dawdled for as long as she could, but when Ling Qingxiao threatened to put away her couch, she finally got up with tears in her eyes. As soon as she left the couch, the warm blankets and furniture vanished into thin air.
Cold. Ruthless. Completely heartless.
The past few days had been spent moving with the main group, leaving little time for herself. But now, standing by the riverside in the crisp morning air, with no one around except for a particularly strange-looking black sheep, it was the perfect time for recitations.
By the time Luo Han had finished memorizing The Nine Heavens Sutra and The Dao De Jing, the sun had fully risen, marking the true start of the day. Exhausted, she slumped over and pulled out her communication token. "Should I message Ye Zinan and Zou Jibai now?"
Ling Qingxiao nodded. "Yes."
His wounds had only just been treated yesterday—he couldn’t afford strenuous activity. Meanwhile, Luo Han lacked the firepower to defend against demons. The enemy had clearly come for the Devourer Beast, and now that it was in their hands, exposure would be disastrous.
They needed allies, but they also couldn’t be reckless. Ling Zhongyu was already compromised, and who knew if there were others among the immortals who had also fallen victim to Demon Lure?
Luo Han didn’t dare take chances. Silence was their best defense.
When they had been trapped in the white void, they had disabled their location-sharing on their communication tokens. Right now, no one knew that they had already escaped.
Luo Han cautiously contacted Ye Zinan, not even daring to notify Zou Jibai. Zou Jibai was slow-witted and too straightforward—if his reaction wasn’t controlled, they’d be exposed.
Ye Zinan, on the other hand, was shrewder. Secretly reaching out to him was the safest option.
When Ye Zinan received Luo Han’s message, he nearly jumped in shock.
It had only been one night since their disappearance, and the entire group was still searching for them. Yet before they could even find a single clue, Luo Han herself had suddenly sent a message.
Ye Zinan had lived for over a hundred thousand years, so his composure was much steadier than that of younger people. At that moment, he remained calm and, coincidentally, didn’t inform Zou Jibai either. He made an excuse to head in another direction and quietly detached from the main group.
Once they had some space, Ye Zinan immediately led Zou Jibai toward the direction Luo Han had mentioned.
Zou Jibai was quite surprised and asked, "Are we going the wrong way? Yi Huaxuan and the others are in that direction."
"We’re not going to find Yi Huaxuan," Ye Zinan replied. "Luo Han and Ling Qingxiao have come out. They told us not to make a fuss and to quietly meet up with them."
Zou Jibai nearly thought he heard wrong: "Really? Where did they go before? How did they come out?"
When Ye Zinan heard Zou Jibai’s loud voice, he felt a headache coming on. Luckily, they had walked far enough, and Ye Zinan was sure no one else could hear them, so he chose to tell Zou Jibai.
In hindsight, he should have walked even further.
"Keep your voice down, don’t make a scene," Ye Zinan shot Zou Jibai a look of exasperation and lowered his voice. "I don’t know the specifics either. The situation over there is dangerous, so don’t mention what I just told you to anyone, understand?"
Zou Jibai nodded furiously, immediately regretting speaking so loudly. He really couldn’t contain his excitement. Ye Zinan and Zou Jibai rushed toward the location Luo Han had mentioned. Fortunately, the journey went smoothly, and they didn’t encounter any unexpected troubles.
When they finally arrived, they could see a man and a woman standing by the river from a distance. The man was teaching the woman how to practice swordsmanship. Not far away, a black, unknown creature was lying under the shade of a tree.
Ye Zinan and Zou Jibai both fell silent. Zou Jibai quietly tapped Ye Zinan’s arm. "Didn’t you say they were in a dangerous situation?"
"I don’t understand either," Ye Zinan said in confusion. "Both of them are badly injured, especially Ling Qingxiao. They both have no ability to protect themselves, so I thought they’d be in a state of high alert."
Why were they calmly practicing swordsmanship by the river? It didn’t look like they were fleeing; it looked more like a vacation.
As soon as Ye Zinan and Zou Jibai appeared, Ling Qingxiao sensed someone approaching. As they got closer, they saw Ling Qingxiao helping Luo Han put on a veil.
There had been no one around earlier, and for convenience, Luo Han hadn’t worn a veil. Now that Ye Zinan and Zou Jibai had arrived, it would be inappropriate for her to reveal her face.
Ling Qingxiao carefully adjusted the pleats of Luo Han’s veil, and Ye Zinan hesitated in his steps. He couldn’t shake the feeling that this was not the right moment to appear.
Zou Jibai, however, was much more straightforward. He excitedly ran up and, from far away, called out to the two ahead, "How come you’re hiding here? You made it hard for me to find you!"
Luo Han heard and smiled, waving at them, "We’re here."
Zou Jibai ran over, chattering excitedly as he spoke to Luo Han, "You suddenly disappeared a few days ago, I was so worried! Fortunately, you’re fine. Are you both still injured? Don’t worry, I’m here now. As long as I, Zou Jibai, am around, no one will hurt you."
Ye Zinan, walking behind, shook his head as he heard Zou Jibai’s words. Based on their current appearance, it seemed Luo Han and Ling Qingxiao didn’t really need external protection.
Luo Han smiled but said nothing, accepting Zou Jibai’s good intentions. Seeing how tired they were from the journey, she thanked them, "Thank you both for coming all the way to help us. It’s been tough for you."
Ye Zinan shook his head, "We weren’t here during your most dangerous time. Now that we’ve arrived, and you’re both well-prepared, this hardly counts as helping."
"You shouldn’t say it like that," Luo Han replied. "The terrain in the Western Sea is complex. For you to arrive so quickly is already very impressive. Thank you."
Ling Qingxiao also said, "It’s not too late now, and your arrival is just in time. Thank you both for traveling so far to help."
Ye Zinan waved his hand, "You’re being too polite. We’re close friends who’ve been through life and death together. Helping each other is only natural. By the way, where’s the Devourer Beast? You didn’t encounter it, did you?"
Ye Zinan assumed that after Luo Han and Ling Qingxiao were pulled away by space, they had been lucky enough not to encounter the Devourer Beast. Luo Han didn’t respond to Ye Zinan’s question but instead pointed to a tree not far away.
There, tied to the tree, was a black sheep. When it sensed that people were talking about it, the sheep lifted its head and bleated loudly.
Before Ye Zinan could speak, Zou Jibai slapped his leg and said, "I was wondering, where did you two get a sheep from? It’s weak, not fit to be a battle pet. Even as a spirit beast, its appearance is too ugly, right?"
Luo Han fell silent for a moment before replying, "Why don’t you take another good look?"