Luo Binghe pulled his sword back.

He wiped the blood off the blade with a handkerchief. His expression was rarely solemn, and he sheathed his sword. "Is that everyone?"

To respond to his question, Wei Wuxian shook his head. "There's still that Clan Leader-"

Abruptly, his eyes widened.

A flash of light turmoiled.

Luo Binghe's breath hitched. The blade of an arrow was about to pierce through the red demonic mark on his forehead. Instead of piercing right through, it was held in midair. Before the three couples knew it, a gasp piped up. Blood dripped down from Wei Wuxian's palm, a wound apparent on the skin. On a closer inspection, they noticed Wei Wuxian gripping onto the arrow, the blade of it slashed at his hand.

Xie Lian hurried towards him. "Give me your hand. I'll disinfect the wound."

With a plop, Wei Wuxian dropped the arrow onto the floor. He nudged towards a secluded area, "Over there." Looking at that direction, the remaining couples' eyes widened.

Stepping out from the shadows, Mo Shifeng pulled on his bow, intending to release another arrow-

Then, he stiffened.

Piercing through his forehead was a leaf poured of spiritual energy. Shen Qingqiu sweated and puffed, as his hand remained in midair after throwing the sharp leaf.

Mo Shifeng's eyes had lost its life.

He collapsed, blood gushing out from his wound. The leaf shattered from too much spiritual energy. When Mo Shifeng wasn't looking earlier, Shen Qingqiu had dashed across to a nearby garden and plucked out a bamboo leaf. Pouring spiritual energy into the leaf, he had then thrown it at Mo Shifeng, resulting in his death.

Wei Wuxian's hand was injured from being grazed by the sudden arrow.

"Are you okay, Wei-xiong?" Xie Lian asked worriedly. He wanted to help with Wei Wuxian's wound. Instead, the latter was picked up from the ground.

Wei Wuxian was surprised, but then nuzzled up to his husband's chest.

Lan Zhan carried him like lightweight.

Nonetheless, Xie Lian was surprised as well. "HanGuang-Jun...?"

Lan Zhan didn't spare a glance at him. "I'll dress him."

Eyes wide and mouth parted open to reveal a row of pearly white teeth, Xie Lian blinked twice. It was only after some time did he react. He was stupidly enamoured in Wei Wuxian and Lan Zhan's romance that he couldn't even control his own facial expressions. Desperately wanting to hide away his embarrassment, Xie Lian turned away and nodded.

"Thank you for the care, Xie-xiong." Wei Wuxian waved happily.

Protective of his wifey, Lan Zhan held him closer. Chest pressed against chest. Heat transferred to heat. At that moment, the two cultivators could only see each other in their eyes.

Meanwhile Lan Zhan and Wei Wuxian were busy bandaging their wounds, the two remaining couples decided to tour around the Mo Clan. Shen Qingqiu, Luo Binghe, Xie Lian, and Hua Cheng had entered inside the Mo Clan Leader's room.

It was the same old office, all right.

Picking up a bottle from the shelf, Xie Lian shook it once then twice.

"Don't be so violent with such an intricate and delicate vase." Shen Qingqiu warned. Oh, he was an expert of dealing with broken glass. Perhaps it was from breaking so many himself. "Do you think there are any refined pills left over in this room?"

"Do you think Mo Shifeng would be so careless?" Luo Binghe sighed at the side.

"Understandably," Xie Lian nodded to agree. "Mo Shifeng may be old, but he wouldn't be the type to leave precious items behind."

They continued touching around the area.

It wasn't until they found nothing else interesting did Xie Lian speak up. "I guess I'll just keep the alchemist book left by Mo Huanhan. It'll be our reward for completing this quest." The others had no objections. Rather, they were quite intrigued in what else the alchemist book had to offer for them.

That night, they burned all the corpses to ashes.

A pungent smell had spread in the air uncontrollably. The bodies no longer remained, and the ashes was swept away from the breeze.

The night passed uneventfully.

Morning came, with a streak of sunlight exposed from the dark patches of clouds. That day, the "female" cultivators' bodies began to revert back to normal. Before they knew it, the three wifey's had already regained their original look.

"Let's set back to Cang Qiong Mountain." Wei Wuxian declared.

His injured hand was wrapped in bandages, making him slightly resemble Xie Lian's entire outfit. Continuing their way, they began to head back to the mountain.

When they arrived, the sun began to set.

However, contrary to their expectations, a burning smell affiliated in the woods. The forest smelled especially burning. It pained the cultivators' noses, forcing them to hold their breaths in the meantime. The leaves that used to be green had already withered into ashes.

"What happened?" Shen Qingqiu was immediately alert.

A dark smoke rose upwards. The sun began to set, and its burning rage spread to the skies. It was like blood melting onto the canvas and bringing great chaos.

The three couples raced into the mountain.

All around them was a view of bloodshed and hurt. Liu Qingge was ripped of holes into his robes, which had sunk into a state of torn rags. He waved his sword wildly, knocking back several demons to a metre away from himself. Behind him was Qi Qingqi, who was struggling to catch her breath. Slowly, she crawled back up from the ground and picked her sword up.

The pair of two swung their swords.

Protected by a formation array, the remaining disciples shrank pitifully while hiding in the pavilion. Some of them had wounds from the demons' attack.

"Why are there demons attacking?" Luo Binghe spat.

Shen Qingqiu bit his lips. "Did the demons know we were heading out, and took the time to attack...?"

Suddenly, a hand reached out from the darkness and patted on Shen Qingqiu's shoulder. Turning around, alarmed, Shen Qingqiu met face to face with Yue Qingyuan, who was bloodied up as well. The latter croaked profoundly. "There are too many in quantities. The demons just won't stop coming."

Understanding the situation, Wei Wuxian piped in. "We can stall them."

Yue Qingyuan's eyes had brightened at the sight of him. Then, they reverted back to its gloomy state. "It's no use. There are hundreds of demons. Even if we grouped together all our disciples to fight back... it'll be either be a giant massacre on our side, or we'll suffer huge losses."

Unwilling to give up, Wei Wuxian stepped forwards. "What do you know?"

Yue Qingyuan shook his head. "You're only six people."

"Funny." Luo Binghe had a silly grin on his face. "One of us is a Demon Lord, a Peak Master, a Yiling Patriarch, an elegant prodigy, a scrap-picker, then a Ghost King. What can't we do?"

Indeed. What else can't they do?

"We'll wipe out all the demons." Xie Lian stepped forwards. A weird determination was visible in his golden pupils. His hands were clenched by his side. Turning his head to look at the beastly demons, Xie Lian wore a gentle smile that didn't fit the scenario. "There are over hundreds of demons. Approximately a hundred and fifty. Leave them all to us. We'll get rid of every single one."

"...every single one?" Even Wei Wuxian was astonished. He knew that the other couples shouldn't be underestimated, but to be able to take out a hundred and fifty demons... wasn't that a bit exaggerative?

Yue Qingyuan had the same thought.

However, he didn't cut in. After all, the mountain was at danger. Even if it was a giant risk, Yue Qingyuan was still going to try whatever options there were!

"Are you sure about this?" He asked.

Shen Qingqiu smiled. "I must protect the place I serve."

By his side, Luo Binghe was caught up in a trance by his Shizun's good-looking appearance. Slithering an arm around his waist, he demonstrated his protectiveness once again. "Whatever Shizun orders me to do, I will do so."

Shen Qingqiu reciprocated the smile.

Watching on the sidelines, Yue Qingyuan couldn't bring himself to wear the same smile.

"Let's go." Shen Qingqiu nodded. The rest of the three couples had agreed vigorously. They turned towards the wave of demons, who were subdued by the hardworking Liu Qingge and Qi Qingqi. Splurges of blood fell unto the battlefield, transforming the surroundings into a mountain of vivid red. Their swords danced and cut through bodies. However, with one cut, the demons regenerated immediately.

Noticing the mishap, Liu Qingge and Qi Qingqi wore frowns.

"Dodge to the left!" A holler caught their ears. Instinctively, both of them did as they were told, despite being Peak Masters themselves.

Only then they moved to the left did their eyes widened in shock.

On their right was an incoming demon. Its eyes were bloodshot, with red veins protruding out from its sockets. Blood painted its hideously long and sharp nails. The demon's fangs snarled, and a low growl emanated from its throat. It opened its mouth, intending to take a bite of its opponent-

A sword was stuffed in its mouth.

Bichen—Lan Zhan's sword—cut through bodies with a riveting and impactful motion. One slice, and the jaw of the demon fell wide open. His every step was light and steady, leaving behind the small affection of a cool breeze. Lan Zhan jumped from one spot to the other.

Steady behind him followed Wei Wuxian. They swung their swords sharply, so that not even the naked eye could follow their motions.

Demons planned to surround them, but the couple protected each other's backs.

Any demons that went near them ended up having their limbs sliced.

Liu Qingge and Qi Qingqi ended up watching in shock. Their jaws hung off from their wife-open mouths. "Stop dozing off." Behind them, Shen Qingqiu quickly pulled them back. They managed to avoid another demon's attack.

Luo Binghe stepped forwards, his back facing them. He pulled out the Zhengyang sword, and got into his stance. "Don't fight if you're tired. Leave the rest to us."

Liu Qingge shoot him a glare. Before he could open his mouth to retort, Luo Binghe interrupted.

"I've always wanted to say that."

Then, Luo Binghe went back to face the battlefield.

Luo Binghe: Whatever Shizun orders me to do, I will do so

Shen Qingqiu: Oh really? Is that so? How come now you're so obedient? (ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻

Luo Binghe: Shizun... why do you look so petty?