Remembering her childhood friend, the woman flashed into the vapor. Xia Qi felt her skin crawl as she followed the continuous sounds of agony. Her eyes scanned everywhere despite her limited perception by the rolling fumes. Still, her hearing was excellent.

Then, whispering a quick spell, the woman finished the chant with: “…gaiban!”

Something troubling must have happened. Otherwise, that Young Master’s face would not have become so dark and fearsome.

The sounds of the suffering person stopped.

Feeling the heavy beating of her own heart, Xia Qi did not take another step. She swallowed and looked down at her long outer robe, all of which had blended against the whirling gas. Even her hands and feet were no longer visible to the untrained eye. As long as Xia Qi’s sword was within her grip, the weapon would be seamlessly concealed.

Just like with the Young Master, the woman sensed danger. Her legs wanted to flee from the oppressive pressure of spiritual energy that slithered with evil. It was vastly different from the red-robed cultivator's. It brimmed with murderous intent. Yet, again, there was no foul stench of demonic miasma.

When Xia Qi blinked, a rapid burst of nearly streaming prismatic lights flew out of the smoke and up into the skies. She refused to move forward. Her heartbeats grew louder and louder.

At last, the woman went forth. She needed to know. If anything, the Young Master and his companion would probably be there too, right?

As the fumes cleared, Xia Qi came to a halt and stiffened.

Flashes of red and gold lights crossed one another, splicing up the air, sky-tall trees, and boulders in the field. Everything but these two ferocious opponents turned to scattering dust.

Not too far away, there was a young woman floating up in the air, with broad pale-green sleeves rippling like a celestial fairy. She had wrapped her arms around a bright orb of blue light. Her complexion was like white jade, and as the cultivator landed on the ground, she trembled with tears in her eyes.

Xia Qi’s eyes widened. That can’t…be. Here?!

Behind the pretty maiden, the senior huntress could only make out the light footsteps of battle blurred across the earth and smoke. Between blinks, the red and gold streaks of swords crashed and turned like a near endless cycle of life and death. Combined with the soft footprints that had skipped all over, that was all there was to even prove there was an intense battle taking place.

It was then that the invisible Xia Qi stumbled upon a confusing thought: Wait, isn’t Nascent Soul rank the highest available to be allowed entry into the tournament?!

For the moment, Mei Ying cradled the beaming ball into her arms as she backed away from the merciless blades of light zipping across the area. She looked over the orb for cracks and sighed in relief.

Wiping the light clean with her pale-green sleeve, the huntress managed a smile. “Li Qin, your soul is unharmed. Thank goodness, ah.”

Suddenly, a mist of crimson plunged into the ground, pinning down the golden figure. The surface caved in, shaking violently with cracks and rocks bursting into the air. Nearby trees could be heard, reeling over from the tremendous force of wind and speed. The fall was so fierce, it could be mistaken for the sound of roaring thunder throughout the secret realm.

Mei Ying’s eyes grew large, finally catching sight of the glowing person being pinned down by Jian Yu’s blazing sword and how the stranger’s face had been concealed by the billowing white curtains of his bamboo hat. It must be him. No doubt about it.

This must be the missing Heaven Immortal.

At this point, the huntress did not notice the invisible mass approaching her. Only when she turned her head did Mei Ying sense the pulse of another’s aura. She narrowed her brows, holding Li Qin’s soul closer in apprehension.

“Mei Ying!”

Before the other one could unsheathe her sword, the juvenile called out from a nearby cluster of black smoke. After two glaive thrusts, prismatic-hued spirals of light soared into the dark skies. Xiao Li dashed out of the haze, appearing a bit relieved. He stopped short of the huntress.

That was when Xiao Li realized that he had mis-stepped his boundaries. “I mean…Young Miss…” His dark eyes darted everywhere but at the person, with pink ears. His thumb rubbed over the glaive’s pole, sweating with worry. After all, the other one did not permit him to address her with familiarity. “Are…you alright?”

“Ah, I am…” Mei Ying blinked, with her red lips curling up. “Xiao Li… Are you only tough outside but soft inside?”

The adolescent was like a bamboo stalk, green and rigid but easy to sway by the wind, depending on the plant’s age and experience in the forest.

Xiao Li did not bat an eye at the brilliant ball of light in Mei Ying’s arms.

“Well, this…was unexpected. Why are there human souls here? Isn’t the martial tournament death-proof?” The servant asked, ignoring the huntress’ question. For a second, his attention went over to Jian Yu, who flicked a red firefly to the pinned stranger. The orb split off into a long red cord that bound the veiled person in place. “Unless…there was a divine intervention with the chain of mortal command before the start of this event. When you are a Heaven Immortal, or, even better, a god, you can get away from almost anything. Human lives are hardly anything to you then.”

Slowly, the teenager stepped toward the other, who stood quietly. “Young Miss, please hand that soul over.”

“Huh?”

Though confused, the huntress looked down at the shining blue soul. She pondered for a moment, sweeping her eyes over the young person in front of her. He reached out a hand, with a somber expression.

Mei Ying sighed and went over, closing the gap between her and Xiao Li. “Alright, be gentle with Li Qin—”

A green leaf fell, revolving in the air before Mei Ying; however, as she blinked, the fresh blade was cut into two.

While Xia Qi was initially hesitant, she charged forward with a straight blade. Never did she expect—that once the dust settled, Mei Ying was in front of the wide-eyed adolescent with the sharp edge in between her two fingers and blood running down her porcelain hand. Xiao Li was already holding onto the beaming ball as the younger woman peeled off the invisible talisman with her other hand.

“Xia Qi, don’t!” The huntress felt her arm quiver from the sword’s killing intent, growing slightly numb.

Seeing that her theory was confirmed, the other gritted her teeth. The woman’s jade-green outer robe was uncloaked, her face disclosing the pure enmity, and even her long, black hair was flowing back, with the golden flower glinting. A murderous flare lit up her gaze like venom being unveiled for the first time. Though the visible Xia Qi had questions in regarding the other’s disguise, even that seemed insignificant now.

“MEI YING!”

The younger huntress nearly flinched at her friend's severe tone. Her pupils contracted. “Xia—”

“Why are you allying yourself with the demons?!” Driving the sword forward, Xia Qi was livid. Her mind swarmed with hurt, hatred, and extreme bitterness. “We all told you—that the Young Master and his servant were no good!”

“Xiao Li!” Mei Ying concentrated on the flow of her qi. While her heart was pounding rapidly, her mind was also quite frazzled by Xia Qi’s intention and emotional turmoil. “Stay behind me! Watch out for the veiled stranger though—”

Flipping the sword’s blade away with two fingers was a bit much.

Still, the young woman did not see another way out of her situation as the weapon itself was tossed to the ground.

As red blood darted across the air, a few shining knives flew out of the older one’s green sleeve toward Mei Ying and Xiao Li. By luck, the maiden’s white fan propelled the hidden weapons away with full grace. It was as though Mei Ying was dancing, guiding the projectiles far from her body and the teenager.

The huntress’ body was unguarded, and immediately, Xia Qi shot herself forth with an open palm. In a single motion, the woman slammed her hand against one of Mei Ying’s meridian points. Pain scurried, and despite it—the other person grabbed Xia Qi’s arm. Using her momentum, the younger one whirled the senior huntress around and pinned her flat to the ground. Quickly, Mei Ying tapped the meridian points on Xia Qi’s back, temporarily paralyzing her.

“MEI YING!” Though immobile, the other did not give up, seething in flaming rage. “Didn’t demons kill your mother too when you were a child?!”

Falling onto one knee, Mei Ying rubbed a hand against her internal injury. Red slipped from the corner of her lips. She spat out a mouth of blood. The fan fell flat by her boot.

“Y-Young Miss!” It was rare of the servant to be frozen stiff, but he was so shocked by what he had just witnessed that Xiao Li realized what he had failed to do: protect the young woman. With arms wrapped around the soul, the adolescent rushed over to his savior’s side. “You…”

“I wasn’t…about to let you get exorcised.” Closing her eyes, the huntress sighed before spitting out more blood to the ground. She opened her eyes and turned to her friend, who was driven half-mad by the other’s actions. “Yes, my mother and numerous relatives were killed by demons.”

Focusing on the flow of qi into her fingers, Mei Ying pressed the spiritual energy against the area where it hurt greatly. The healing began. “But Xiao Li…was not the one who killed my mother and relatives on that day. Do you not remember that the Heaven realm path’s teachings in that all demons were once humans like us?”

Upon hearing these words, Xiao Li’s demeanor softened. Warmth trickled across his gaze. His chest felt light.

The young woman continued, “Somehow…somewhere along the way, they have reasons to turn to yin energy, cultivate it, and become demons.” She watched the back of Xia Qi’s head. Hopefully, the senior was listening to her words. “But Xiao Li…is a demon with a good heart!”

Standing to the side, the juvenile’s eyes watered. Mei Ying…

“So, he and his Young Master has nothing to do with what happened ten years ago when I went hunting with my mother, my uncle, and a couple other relatives.” Mei Ying felt the burden of what she had carried inside her chest unravel itself. She did not stop. These were words that she had always wanted to say. “Before then, my Shifu always went everywhere with me. Both my shifu and the elders claimed that only my soul was food for all low-ranking demons to die for, a special nutrient that could help them surpass the Ferocious rank.”

“If anything, the Song clan—we should have listened to Shifu when they told us to keep me inside the village.” Lowering her eyes, Mei Ying added, “Since then, the Song Clan isolated me from the main cultivation world due to the light of my aura, the spiritual energy that I emit. They deemed me as too weak for fighting off the top-ranked demons if they were going to try to devour me for cultivation, so they wanted to keep me until then.”

“Then, how are you still here?!" Xia Qi’s question was laced by poison, brimming with resentment. “You went into the Minjue Forest!”

“Yue Liang saved me.” Speaking his name hurt. Mei Ying swallowed, glancing at the ground. “If it weren’t for the demon boy protecting me…I would’ve been eaten that time when the cousins left me behind.”

Reflecting on those blurry memories, the huntress recalled how the demon had casted a large red barrier that followed him and the little disciple. Not only that, but she remembered that all the demons of the wide-ranged forest were so frightened of the boy that they all hid up in the treetops, never taking a step down.

“Then…why did you exorcise him?” asked the other woman. Her voice was low. “Was he evil after all?”

Feeling the gradual flow of spiritual energy flowing from her back, Mei Ying almost laughed softly. A rueful smile formed in her lips. “Yue Liang forced my hand.” When the other did not react, the young woman went on, “I was only a child, but did he do that because he did not want to flee with me?”

The palm against her back went rigid, and Mei Ying glanced over her shoulder to meet Jian Yu’s grim gaze. Her eyes fell back to the earth once more. “I was ostracized because I was a girl, born with bad luck and who attracted demons to Cheng Xiu Village; yet I was also a tool to revive the Song clan’s good standing in the main cultivation world. Of course, it makes sense that half the clan resented my existence…” The young woman almost broke off, allowing her thoughts to take on a new shape in the mind. “I was only one person. People died because of me. On the other hand, even if I were to run away, I would not be…human anymore.”

“So, in other words, that ‘Yue Liang’ was a stupid demon who wanted what was best for you.” A bitter laugh busted out of the senior huntress’ lips. “Ha! Just because of one demon…”

But soon, Xia Qi growled, “By protecting these demons, are you denouncing your position as a righteous cultivator then?!”

Mei Ying watched her friend’s back as a soft breeze played with the long, wide green sleeves like blades of grass.

“Where’s your resolve for vengeance?!” Xia Qi erupted.

No answer. Instead, a heavy silence filled the air.

It hasn’t changed at all. The younger huntress formed a tight fist. Though she understood the deep hatred for the Netherworld, Mei Ying did not know what else to say. After all, what Xia Qi implied was true: Yue Liang was only one-of-a-kind versus the thousands who preyed on humans. His good acts did not speak for all.

There was a crunch of dirt, and as the paralyzed Xia Qi looked up, a green-robed warrior stared down at her. On his shoulders were gold and silver pauldrons. A roaring dragon was finely embroidered into the front of his long outer robe.

In one hand, the solemn person was dragging the veiled stranger against the earth, limp as a sack and battered, by the red shining ropes. Ignoring the mortal at his feet, Bing Wen sighed. “I came to say my farewell.” Behind him were the brooding Xi Feng and the cowardly Chong Lin with tear-stained cheeks. “Wei Sheng…” The warrior paused. “That man…will take care of the mess.”

Mei Ying arched a brow—

Unexpectedly, out of nowhere, a cosmic spiritual pressure rushed at the maiden. It was overbearing enough to send everyone flying back.

"Your Highness!" In a brave attempt, Chong Lin grabbed Xi Feng and casted a magical barrier to soften the blow.

Mei Ying braced herself for the hefty blast, but much to her surprise, Jian Yu floated in front of her, unaffected by the robust spiritual pressure. He gently wrapped one arm around the maiden's waist and glided across the field, away from the imminent danger. With the other hand, Jian Yu steadied Mei Ying's balance. His high ponytail streamed along with the cool wind, with side bangs resting against his face.

Dust shrouded the entire area.

Again, the huntress reeled over, attempting to calm the chaos inside of her. An immense toll of pain struck her meridian points, filling her mouth with blood. Quickly, Jian Yu let Mei Ying go as she knelt down and covered her lips with one hand. She coughed.

“He tricked them.” whispered the young man. "If Bing Wen had only sealed away his martial abilities like I told him to, this wouldn't have happened."

With one palm against her back, the handsome cultivator was slowly healing Mei Ying's internal wound again.

Freed of the cords, the former captive had blown everyone, including Bing Wen, away from him. A loud, maniacal laugh trickled from the white-robed cultivator as he flew up overhead where none could touch him. The gold wide-brimmed bamboo hat with the long, flowing curtain covered his face completely.

The Heaven Immortal cackled as streams of rainbow-hued light slithered into his grasps.

Mei Ying lowered her palm, smeared by blood. Her eyes widened. The huntress looked on as the veiled stranger simply waved his fingers. Out of the gleaming ribbons were the blue orbs of light, souls of the tournament combatants. The mysterious villain had separated them from the mortals’ unconscious bodies like splitting strings.

Of course. Countless cultivation sects has gathered in a single location, with many of their best representatives. All of whom are teeming with strong spiritual energies. It was dangerously risky but such an event would be the perfect time for soul reaping...and yin cultivation.