Volume Four: Mountain Banners and Longing Chapter 118

The young girl appeared quite anxious. He smiled slightly, "I just went out to take a look."

Jinli smiled softly, "Thank you for last night."

"No, no need to thank me."

She laughed and patted his shoulder, "Once we return to the city, I will definitely treat you to a good meal."

Amo nodded.

Just then, the voice of the man in black erupted from the dense forest: "So, this is where you are."

Jinli’s eyes darkened instantly, and her expression turned alert. She shielded the boy behind her, her left hand already gripping the Xuanyin Sword before she even realized it. She whispered, "Get ready to run."

"Okay."

At that moment, Jinli quickly formed a seal with her fingers. As golden light appeared, she shouted, "Enter the array, run!"

The only travel talisman she possessed was given to the boy. As the golden light enveloped him, he watched the girl’s silhouette gradually blur. Before he could even make a sound, he was gone.

The last thing he saw was countless figures surrounding the girl.

It was a death trap.

Jinli stared intensely at those encircling her. Seeing the boy had escaped, her expression relaxed slightly. She gripped the Xuanyin Sword, her index finger tapping the hilt, beat by beat.

Her voice carried a hint of languor, "Is this all of you?"

The man in black appeared quietly, letting out a mocking, shrill laugh, "It seems the Lady Sovereign has recovered? Then... let’s add a few more."

As she waved her hand, countless dark shadows emerged. The black mist dissipating from them made Jinli’s eyes freeze. These people were all dressed in the robes of Immortal Mountain disciples. She had seen the attire worn by Huaigui a few times, and among these people, there were clearly those from Buzhao Mountain.

She narrowed her peach-blossom eyes; it was Zhaoyao, Yihe, and Tusu Chun.

It seemed both of them had fallen into a death trap.

Looking at the demonic patterns spreading from their necks to their faces, it was clear they had been tainted by demonic energy; these disciples were already dead.

She tightened her grip on the Xuanyin Sword.

Her thin lips parted slightly, "Come at me all at once."

With those words, the crowd surged toward her.

Amidst the golden radiance and immortal shadows, a frantic slaughter began.

Shanjing City.

Amo stood before the city prefecture. When the soldiers saw him, they mistook him for a rebel and immediately moved to subdue him. In his panic, he looked up and saw a youth in dark attire with a high ponytail, gripping a sword and walking down with a menacing aura, eyes not even glancing at him. He shouted hurriedly, "The Lady Sovereign is in danger!"

The youth in dark attire stopped, his eyes sinking, his handsome face filled with gloom.

"What did you say?"

He spoke in a low voice, and Amo could see the rising fury in his eyes.

"In the reed forest, go quickly!"

After hearing this, Geng Yuan did not ask another question. He formed a seal with his fingers, summoned his sword, and flew off on it in an instant.

Amidst the chaos, Lin Zhong tried his best to stabilize the morale of the troops.

He had come to find Jinli early in the morning, expecting her to be sleeping in, but Si Wan told him she hadn't returned all night. If she had been missing for the entire night, she must be unaccounted for.

He felt a vague sense of unease and immediately gathered troops at dawn, intending to storm the enemy to rescue her.

When Geng Yuan reached the reed marsh, the thin mist had completely dissipated. The golden sun shone on the river, and the reeds swayed in the wind. Because of the heavy rain the previous night, the river had surged. His expression was grave; the rain had washed away all traces.

He arrived at the edge of the dense forest. The closer he got, the more uneasy his heart became. He seemed to catch the faint scent of blood in the air.

It was growing thicker.

He ignored everything else and began to run. The surrounding leaves, branches, trees, and wood chips were in a mess, stained with blood that emitted thick, black smoke.

It was demonic energy.

Geng Yuan was no stranger to it.

"A-Jin... A-Jin... You must not be hurt."

He muttered, seeing corpses strewn about. Those disciples were wearing the robes of the Immortal Sect, but he could not find Jinli among the fallen.

He grew increasingly anxious, his heart filled with mounting terror. These feelings of dread gnawed at his heart like vipers, causing him unbearable pain. With red-rimmed eyes, he turned over every single body. These were no longer human; they were demonic creatures—cultivators who had been refined. Was this the work of the Demon Clan?

And where was Jinli, who had killed them? Where was she?

He shouted aloud, "A-Jin! A-Jin!"

His voice resounded throughout the dense forest, echoing repeatedly.

Just then, he spotted a pool of red blood on a pile of vines. This blood was different from the black blood of the others; it was Jinli’s. She was injured, and severely so.

No! He had to find her! Quickly!

"A-Jin!"

He followed the bloodstains. No one answered him; only his own voice remained in the forest.

This terrified him to his core.

A-Jin, A-Jin, please, don't let anything happen to you.

Please.

"Are you worried about her? Do you want power?"

The sinister voice that suddenly sounded in his ear made his heart stop instantly. Then, he held his breath, his heartbeat rhythmic, one thud after another, until the chilling voice suddenly vanished.

But this strange sensation and the terror in his heart were all too familiar; it was the voice of the Demon God.

Wasn't the Demon God...

He braced himself against a tree trunk, gasping for air, sweat dripping from his forehead and soaking his bangs.

No, it couldn't be. He was now a disciple of the righteous path; he held no hatred, no dark thoughts—the Demon God would not appear.

It wouldn't.

Jinli raised her hand to wipe the blood from the corner of her mouth. She looked at her clothes and her blood-stained hands. She was exhausted, her immortal energy mostly depleted.

She cupped some clear water and washed the blood from her face and hands. In the water's reflection, she looked pale, her eyes slightly reddened. After a long moment of staring, she flipped her hand, and a jade tablet appeared in her palm.

Her face was full of gravity.

Who exactly was Si Mu? He was certainly not as weak as he appeared on the surface. Or, perhaps, whoever gave him this had handed him a path to death.

Regardless of the truth, it was not simple.

Thanks to this jade tablet, she wouldn't have been able to escape unscathed.

She stood up and brushed the mud from her clothes. Just then, someone called, "A-Jin!"

Jinli was stunned, wondering why Huaigui’s voice would be here.

She turned her head and saw the youth running toward her with red eyes. His hair fluttered slightly, and the look of anxiety and worry on his face seemed familiar. Jinli felt as though she had seen it somewhere before.

The silhouette of the running youth overlapped with a certain scene.

Before Jinli could recall it, the youth pulled her into his arms. His broad chest was as warm as ever, providing a sense of security.

Jinli was exhausted, so she simply leaned into his embrace.

The youth buried his face in the crook of her neck, his voice choked with emotion, "Are you okay? Are you okay?"

She smiled softly, "I'm fine, don't worry."

Geng Yuan had been terrified. Only when he saw Jinli standing before him unharmed did he breathe a sigh of relief.

But the bloodstains on her were shocking. Geng Yuan let her go, "So much blood, so much blood. Let me see, let me see."

Jinli leaned lazily in his arms, already closing her eyes. "Go ahead."

The youth checked her pulse, then pressed his forehead against hers, channeling his immortal energy into her.

The youth’s energy was like an endless ocean, calm and sapphire-blue. A cool, gentle, and wonderful sensation entered her marrow, slowly soothing her agitated spirit. She felt as if she were in the Lianchuan River, surrounded by clusters of snow-white pear blossoms in spring. The petals drifted down, landing in her hair and adorning her dress. She rested in that sea of flowers, and the youth walked softly toward her, gently removing a petal from her forehead before planting a tender kiss there.

She felt as if she had seen this youth in her dreams for countless nights. She slowly leaned into those warm lips. It was just a simple touch, yet she felt his heartbeat pounding against his chest wall, one beat more intense than the last. She didn't know if it was her own or his.

She slowly opened her eyes, meeting his flushed face with her clear gaze, and her own face reddened in turn.

She did not shy away at all. Instead, the youth’s gaze flickered; his dark pupils were bright, filled with joy and surprise. Then, she saw a flicker of desire.

Just as she began to pull back, the youth raised his hand to gently cup the back of her head, and a kiss landed. It appeared forceful, yet when his lips truly touched hers, it was gentle and cautious.

He was testing, sipping at her lips, then pulling back slightly to observe her reaction. After receiving her silent permission, he kissed her again, this time more boldly and forcefully. This kiss was not a mere touch; it intensified, carrying an unstoppable sense of possession. Slowly, gradually, he took hold of her, making sure he controlled the lead.

Jinli could no longer hold her own, her body softening until she had to rely on his chest and arms for support. The youth was like an invader, or perhaps a bandit, constantly demanding, constantly plundering, as if he didn't want to spare her even the last breath of air.

Finally, when she could no longer catch her breath, he reluctantly released her. A thin, transparent thread connected their lips, causing