Chapter 118: A Dream Beneath the Parasol Tree

With a single strike, I shattered the murky black miasma, the Qingping Sword piercing through the razor-sharp claws of Grandmaster Hu San.

I dashed through the gap. Grandmaster Hu San’s expression shifted to one of profound shock; he immediately gathered the black miasma into his other claw, attempting to blast me away with its power.

Unexpectedly, the black miasma could do nothing to me. My blade, brimming with murderous intent, left him with no path for evasion.

The next moment.

I sheared off Grandmaster Hu San’s claw, drawing a shrill cry of agony from him. My sword then tore through his barrier of miasma and plunged directly into the center of his brow.

The center of the brow is the seat of the life force, and even for the dharma body of Grandmaster Hu San, this held true.

As my blade sank into his brow, Grandmaster Hu San could barely believe it. He tried to unleash his arts against me, but he could no longer summon the black miasma.

"No... no... how can this be..."

Before he could finish his sentence, his brow split open.

Grandmaster Hu San’s primordial soul attempted to flee, but it was held fast by the Qingping Sword, unable to break free.

All the murderous intent, malice, and resentment within him were drained into the Qingping Sword, causing the dark lotus patterns on the blade to glow with a deeper, more ominous hue.

When I withdrew the sword, the black miasma had dissipated entirely.

At that moment, Grandmaster Hu San suddenly looked up, pointing an angry finger at the heavens, and roared, "I acted under your mandate! Why have I been defeated? Tell me!"

His roar pierced the clouds.

Yet, from above those clouds, a jagged bolt of lightning descended, striking the already crumbling dharma body of Grandmaster Hu San.

With the heavenly lightning striking his body, his dharma form was shattered into nothingness.

Grandmaster Hu San plummeted, transforming into the charred corpse of a black fox. I, too, fell from the high altitude; this lethal, soul-chilling strike had exhausted nearly all of my true qi and vital essence.

But I could not fall yet.

I gritted my teeth and forced my body upright. My head was spinning in a daze, but I turned back and staggered all the way to the ramparts of Shanhaiguan.

Holding my sword in one hand, the green light of the Qingping Sword radiating brilliantly, I let out a furious roar at the distant army of wild immortals.

"Grandmaster Hu San is dead! I, Lin Yi, stand here! Any wild immortal who dares to invade shall be killed!"

My voice rang out like thunder, piercing the firmament.

The morale of the wild immortals plummeted, and the dark clouds were gradually pushed away, revealing bright stars in the night sky.

Outside Shanhaiguan.

Within the ranks of the wild immortal army, Huang Shulang and Grey Haozi held tight to Hu Tiangang. Hu Tiangang was acting like a madman, trying to break free. Huang Shulang shouted at him, "Eldest Young Master, the Grandmaster has fallen in battle! We have lost; we must not go back to throw our lives away!"

Hu Tiangang struggled frantically, screaming, "I want to avenge my father! I want to avenge my son! Do not stop me, I must have my revenge..."

"Eldest Young Master, a gentleman’s revenge is never too late, but now is not the time! If you lose your life, the Taiyin Shrine will have no hope left. Who will be left to avenge the Grandmaster?" Huang Shulang countered.

Hu Tiangang let out a wild, primal howl toward the heavens. Tears streamed down his face, and his rage burned like a hideous, inextinguishable fire.

Finally, he cast one last look at his shattered, demoralized army and spoke two words with immense difficulty:

"Retreat!"

Hearing this, the army of wild immortals felt as if they had been granted amnesty, fleeing into the distance beyond the pass like scattered birds and beasts.

Watching the wild immortals retreat, I took a deep breath and called out, "Weiyang..."

And then, I could no longer hold on. I collapsed to the ground.

Although my essence had returned to the void, the true qi within me was not enough to sustain the first strike of the Qingping Sword—the Strike of Lethal Intent. By forcing it out, I had exhausted not only my true qi but nearly all of my vital essence.

Now, my life hung by a thread.

On the walls of Shanhaiguan, the casualties had been heavy due to Grandmaster Hu San’s arts of bewitchment.

With him slain, the bewitchment naturally dissolved; otherwise, the "civil strife" on the ramparts would not have ceased.

Hua Yuyan and Hua Mujin had been brandishing their swords against each other, but as their minds cleared, they immediately stopped. Having grown up together, they knew each other too well, making it difficult for them to inflict true harm on one another. They bore wounds, but they were minor.

White Immortal Lady also stopped, asking the Old Mountain God, "Why was I fighting you?"

The Old Mountain God, looking helpless, retorted angrily, "You’re crazy!"

Hua Nü lay nearby, still unconscious because her life gate had been sealed. Seeing the carnage on the walls, Hua Yuyan and Hua Mujin rushed toward the main gate.

Hua Mujin helped Hua Nü up, while Hua Yuyan, seeing me lying near the sword platform, rushed over and clutched me tightly.

"Lin Yi, wake up! Please, wake up, Lin Yi..."

Hua Yuyan’s mind was in chaos, and tears welled up and rolled down her cheeks. The Old Mountain God and White Immortal Lady ran over. White Immortal Lady said, "Lady Yuyan, the Sect Leader has great fortune; he will surely be alright!"

Hua Yuyan was terrified by my condition, as I was drenched in blood, with countless wounds covering my body. Distracted by the shock, she only remembered the White Immortal Lady’s words then. "You’re right," she said. "Lin Yi will be fine. My Spirit Response Palace has miraculous healing arts; I can save him!"

She formed a finger seal, her hands trembling—she was terrified of loss.

Using her arts to stabilize my heart pulse, Hua Yuyan commanded, "Help me, lift Lin Yi into the room. His life is hanging by a thread; I must heal him!"

The Old Mountain God and White Immortal Lady immediately complied.

I was carried into the room and laid upon the bed. Hua Yuyan closed the door, remaining inside alone to treat me.

Watching me on the verge of death, she couldn't help but weep again.

She gritted her teeth, removed her white armor, and shed her outer garments, using her own life essence to heal me. Several times, she collapsed from exhaustion, only to grit her teeth and rise again.

Only when my vitality began to return did she stop, her long hair soaked through with sweat.

Everyone waited outside the room, filled with anxiety. White Immortal Lady even knelt down to pray for me, whispering, "Sect Leader, no matter what, you must survive!"

A long time later, Hua Yuyan emerged from the room. She was no longer wearing her armor, but was dressed in white robes. Seeing this, Hua Mujin frowned and asked, "Palace Master, you..."

Hua Yuyan shook her head slightly and said, "Everyone, do not worry. Lin Yi’s condition has stabilized. As long as he rests well, he will certainly wake up!"

Hearing this, White Immortal Lady finally felt her heart settle.

If the Sect Leader were gone, the existence of her and the three thousand disciples of the Ghost Path would lose all meaning.

The Old Mountain God looked at Hua Yuyan, whose face was pale and drained of all color, and couldn't help but ask, "Palace Master Hua, are you alright?"

Hua Yuyan forced a smile and said, "I am fine, just a little tired. A rest will suffice."

"That is good."

But Hua Mujin looked on with concern. Hua Yuyan walked over and said, "Mujin, help me look after Young Master Lin. I... I am going to rest for a while."

Hua Yuyan felt dizzy, and Hua Mujin quickly supported her, leading her to her own room to rest. As soon as Hua Yuyan lay down, she fell into a deep sleep. Hua Mujin stood by, her heart aching.

"Palace Master, you are such a fool. For him, you do not even care for your own life!" Hua Mujin sighed.

At this moment, Hua Nü also awoke.

She searched everywhere, but could not find Weiyang. She began to worry and asked White Immortal Lady, "Immortal Lady, have you seen my master?"

White Immortal Lady suddenly remembered and asked, "That’s right, where is Lady Ye?"

They went into the room where I was resting and saw that I was still clutching a scrap of red silk tightly in my hand. When Hua Nü saw the red silk, she froze, a sharp pain piercing her heart. Seeing the fragment of silk but not the person, she had already guessed the outcome. She knew her master had been poisoned by the Six-Yao Insect Gu, yet her master had forbidden her from speaking of it.

Hua Nü looked at the scrap of red silk and wept tears that were as red as blood.

From the time she had first followed Weiyang until now, a thousand years had passed. Weiyang was her master, but more importantly, she was her family. Now that Weiyang was gone, she did not know what meaning her own existence held.

"Master, why did you leave me behind? Why couldn't you take me with you?"

Hearing this, everyone realized that Weiyang had perished, her soul scattered.

White Immortal Lady let out a deep, heavy sigh. She looked at me and said, "Sect Leader, I had hoped that in this lifetime, things between you and her would change. I never expected it would end like this."

After I fell into a coma, my consciousness drifted, wandering to an unknown place.

Here, in the midst of great mountains, clear springs flowed through the ravines with a gentle murmuring sound.

I walked along the mountain path, and melodious singing reached my ears. The song from the ravine was clear and bright, soothing the heart and spirit.

The woman’s voice was soft as water, like a whisper against the ear, yet firm and resonant, like the cry of a phoenix. I listened carefully to the lyrics—it was a rendition of "The Phoenix Seeks Its Mate."

*Phoenix, oh Phoenix, return to your home,*

*Roaming the four seas to seek your mate...*

*...*

*Mate, oh Mate, come dwell with me,*

*Who knows who follows me in the dead of night?*

*...*

The song ended. I had not heard the full lyrics, and she had stopped singing. I immediately followed the sound, seeking her whereabouts. There were bluestone steps in the ravine, winding their way upward.

At the summit stood an ancient pavilion.

A woman in red was standing there, looking at me.

Was that Weiyang?

Seeing this, my heart surged with excitement. However, the pavilion atop the peak was too far away for me to discern her features. Yet, in my heart, I knew Weiyang was still alive; she would never leave me like this. Though there were thousands of steps, I climbed them all.

But when I reached the ancient pavilion, the woman in red was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, I looked toward the other side of the mountain and saw a vast forest of paulownia trees.

The towering trees seemed boundless.

Between them, immortal mists swirled, dreamlike and illusory.

Where was this?

As I stood in confusion, the woman in red appeared beneath a paulownia tree. I immediately rushed toward her. She stood with her back to me. I reached out and grabbed her hand, and she slowly turned to look at me.