“Since you don’t believe in your disciple, why are you now desperately trying to bring him back?”
Lin Yin immediately fell silent. She still couldn’t bring herself to believe that Jiang Che hadn’t done those things.
“Lin Yin, the truth is you just want Jiang Che to stay by your side like before! But it’s useless! Because the one who’s always been wrong is you!”
“What do you mean?”
Lin Yin was stunned by the words.
What did it mean that she had always been the one at fault?
But the voice didn’t continue to explain.
In the blink of an eye, the surrounding space twisted again.
It seemed like something was coming, but Lin Yin was curious—what would it be this time?
When she opened her eyes again, she found herself standing at the entrance of her secluded cave, where she had been meditating.
The stone door slowly creaked open.
Like before, she was just an observer, watching a memory from the past.
The stone door opened gradually, revealing a youth clad in blue and white robes.
Perhaps because just moments ago she had seen Jiang Che ragged and covered in wounds, Lin Yin hadn’t reacted yet.
Now, Jiang Che was kneeling outside the cave, his posture straight and dignified like a bamboo stalk.
His features were flawless, without a single scar, possessing an extraordinary and captivating handsome aura.
Perhaps it was the effect of his innate Water Spirit Root that made one involuntarily take a second look.
What puzzled Lin Yin even more was that she had no memory of this scene.
The thought had just flashed when she realized her mouth was moving uncontrollably, and that cold, distant voice—both strange and familiar—was none other than her former self:
“Disciple kneels here, for what purpose?”
Jiang Che, kneeling on the stone steps, lifted his head upon hearing the voice.
At that moment, Lin Yin’s consciousness trembled sharply.
In her memories, Jiang Che was always humble and gentle before her, carrying a natural reverence of disciple to Master.
But now, in this illusion, the youth kneeling before the cave no longer held the usual smiling, somewhat reliant peach blossom eyes.
Instead, there was a steadfastness bordering on desperation.
He cupped his hands together, his movements still precise and respectful, and said:
“Master, your disciple has come to bid farewell. There are matters I must attend to.”
A barely perceptible doubt flickered in Lin Yin’s eyes. She was about to ask why when Jiang Che, as if anticipating her question, cut her off decisively.
“Master, this matter is something I must resolve, or I will surely regret it! But I vow to you, I will never betray my Master, never betray the Zhumen, and never harm my fellow Senior Brothers!”
He took a deep breath, his voice clearer and stronger:
“For this, your disciple is willing to swear the Heart Demon Oath!”
Heart Demon Oath?!
Lin Yin desperately wanted to understand everything, but her past self simply waved her sleeve and turned away, saying:
“Then go. I trust you.”
“Thank you, Master.”
No sooner had the words fallen than Lin Yin was plunged back into darkness.
But she had no reaction at all.
What exactly was he going to do back then? Why did it require such a heavy oath? And why had she completely forgotten it?
Why? Why did she have no memory of any of this?
Combined with the fearful look Jiang Che had given her in the Disciplinary Hall, an immense dread, like a cold venomous snake, suddenly coiled tightly around her heart.
……
Shenxiao Town, Jiang Che followed Xiao Xia through the familiar streets.
Tonight, Shenxiao Town was unusually quiet.
Jiang Che didn’t know that Xu Yan and the others had already gone door to door warning the residents.
Jiang Che felt utterly doomed!
It seemed like nothing good had ever come his way in this life, though perhaps he only had himself to blame.
Those who choose to run away with the heroine do so because they know there will be a good ending, but his situation—he could only say—couldn’t get any worse.
At this moment, Jiang Che was more indecisive than ever.
The best option now was to find Qin Zifeng quickly, even if it meant revealing his identity.
After all, as the once-celebrated Senior Brother, he had often helped Qin Zifeng before.
With that favor, aside from asking for help, maybe Qin Zifeng would even escort him back to Shuiquan Village.
This plan seemed far better to him than going to Lin Yin.
Just then, a low rumbling noise came from behind, making Jiang Che’s heart suddenly tighten and the hairs on his arms stand on end!
Before he and Xiao Xia could react, a sinister and furious voice reached their ears.
“You little brat… you’re pretty quick! Come on! Run again, let me see!”
That voice!
It was Xie Xuan!
Jiang Che instantly felt as if he had plunged into an ice pit; his blood seemed to freeze.
How had they found them so fast?!
Jiang Che instinctively clenched Xiao Xia’s hand tightly. This was as bad as it could get.
At this moment, Xie Xuan leapt forward, landing not far ahead of Jiang Che and Xiao Xia.
The black robe on his body was singed at one corner, and he was panting heavily, his chest rising and falling sharply.
Jiang Che’s mouth twitched slightly. This guy looked a little weak.
Just as Jiang Che was pondering what to do next, Xiao Xia raised her hand and pointed at Xie Xuan’s arm.
Xie Xuan looked confused by the gesture.
“What?”
He lowered his head to look at his right arm, bewildered by Xiao Xia’s finger.
“Damn!”
His pupils suddenly contracted, and he roared out in a mixture of shock and anger!
On his right forearm, a talisman had quietly appeared.
At that moment, the talisman glowed with a dazzling red light.
Boom—!!!
Before he could even react, with Xie Xuan’s enraged shout, the talisman violently exploded!
A fierce blast engulfed him in flames instantly.
He was thrown like a broken sack and crashed into a pitch-black shop beside the road with a thunderous crash, shards of broken doors and debris flying everywhere.
Although Jiang Che couldn’t see the blinding firelight, the violent shockwave, the familiar explosive sound, and the subsequent sound of the building being smashed all instantly brought a name to his mind.
“Detonation Talisman?”
He immediately realized it and whispered urgently to Xiao Xia beside him, “Xiao Xia, hide now!”
Xiao Xia nodded and quickly pulled Jiang Che into a narrow, dark alley nearby.
Just as they concealed themselves, an angry roar came from the ruined shop debris.
“Damn it! When did they stick that on me!”
Xie Xuan crawled out of the rubble, covered in dust and furious.
His cloak was tattered, revealing a wrinkled, extremely unattractive face beneath it. Oddly enough, his voice didn’t match his aged appearance.
His bloodshot eyes clenched his left arm tightly, which was covered in blackened scars.
Luckily, he had quickly activated his spiritual power and protective array just in time, or this blow would have cost him his arm, or even his life.
At that moment, Xu Yan appeared calmly, his posture like a pine tree, stepping lightly onto the street not far from Xie Xuan.
His expression was serene and unreadable, coldly locking onto his target.
“Stop running. You can’t escape.”
He held a talisman between his right fingertips, calm and composed.
Although both were only at the Foundation Establishment stage, the difference between him and Xie Xuan was glaring.