Bitter Realm: My Feet Step Through the Flames of War

The falling snow and scattered plum blossoms adorn the capital city and the western sea, creating a dreamlike scene.

Just then, two sword lights suddenly poured out like silver bottles, piercing the clouds and stirring up a sky full of ice shards.

A woman in a pink dress, another in white, wielding two peerless swords—it was Yu Cixin and Ji Wuxia, dancing gracefully to the sounds of flutes and pipes.

"Me too!"

Then a beautiful young woman appeared, wielding the Qitian Sword, and joined the sword dance. She was Ling Ziling, who had come to visit Jing Wuhuan and the little princess.

Yu Cixin laughed loudly: "Pay attention!"

As Ji Wuxia danced and sang: "The wind rises and the clouds surge, dust and sand abound, I shoulder the turmoil of the martial world, I roam freely and joyfully..."

Two women were playing musical instruments. One held a jade flute upright, striking coral, her fair wrists like frost; the other, as stern as plum blossoms, played a clear flute horizontally, her red lips uttering melodies.

A cold wind blew, and the three sword dancers descended gracefully, like birds, light clouds, and willows in the mist, each with their own unique posture.

The sword light flashed like lightning, like waves, like a dream.

The shadows of swords and figures intertwined, changing endlessly, dazzling the eyes and unsettling the mind.

The crowd sat in the Listening to the Tide Pavilion. Some drank wine, some brewed tea, some splashed ink, and many more quietly watched the three men's unparalleled sword dance.

When Kou Yinzi came to visit, this otherworldly paradise was the first thing he saw.

He paused for a moment: "Wearing the sharp weapons of Gan Jiang and Mo Xie, and renowned for the fine name of Longquan Autumn Water. The three-foot drum shines brightly, like lightning in the clouds; the seven stars are cool and refreshing, and wind arises in the palm."

The song continues, the melody remains, and the sword is still drawn.

His visit did not disturb the enjoyment of the group, and the little fox led him to Luo Hou's study.

"The military commander is still working. Please come in, sir."

"Thank you, Xiao Tong."

"I'm not a child anymore, I'm a fox spirit, a thousand-year-old fox fairy."

"Thank you, Fox Fairy."

"Please have a seat, sir. I will serve you tea shortly."

The little fox hopped away, and Luo Hou got up to greet it.

Kou Yinzi flicked his whisk and bowed: "This humble man, Kou Yinzi, from the crumbling peak of Mount Luofu, where the nine cauldrons revolve around the Taiji Platform, greets the Heavenly Capital Martial Lord."

Listening to this long self-introduction, Luo Hou couldn't help but recall that person's entrance introduction—"Mountain Man Cui Huan, Jade Wave Pool, Hundred Willows Pearl Curtain, Five Lotus Terrace, Pure Fragrance, White Lotus, Su Huanzhen."

"It's been a long time."

"Ok?"

Seeing his cold and indifferent expression, Luo Hou stopped telling jokes and asked directly, "What brings you here, sir?"

"I have come to retrieve the 'History of the Holy Demons'."

"Retrieving the 'History of the Holy Demon' is not difficult, but what will I gain in return?"

With a slight movement of his sleeve, Kou Yinzi released a small brocade pouch onto the desk: "These are the golden pills I refined to restore memories. There are three in total."

"As expected of the master of the Golden List of Beacon Fires, the affairs of the world are all under your control."

"But you are someone I cannot control."

Luo Hou raised his hand, and a dark light flashed in the corner of the wall, revealing a thick book from within the barrier—the "History of the Holy Demons."

He had wanted to throw this tattered book away for a long time, so that it wouldn't possess the body of some weak-willed person in Tiandu. If Ku Yinzi came to take it away, he would be more than happy to do so.

Kou Yinzi put away the book and asked, "On the day Mara descended, was the Blood-Drifting Island directly sunk? I did not find the key parts of the Beacon Fire."

"It all scattered into the seabed and was washed to various places by the waves. There is no need to mention this thing again."

A look of suspicion appeared in his eyes.

Luo Hou knew what he was doubting. Like San Yu Wu Meng Sheng, Ku Yin Zi did not believe that Luo Hou could kill Bo Xun.

"When I came in, I saw Nüya."

"Her current identity is simply that of the female knight-errant Ji Wuxia."

"Is that so? I'll take my leave."

“Ku Yinzi, if you have a better way to kill Bo Xun, you can come to me, but I will not sacrifice a few people for the benefit of the many. I will not sacrifice anyone, including you.”

"Then what if it's you, Rahu, who needs to be sacrificed?"

“I will not allow the sacrifice of Rahu.”

"Then there is no solution to discuss with you. Please leave."

"please."

By the time Little Fox brought the tea, Kou Yinzi had already disappeared.

"Wu Jun, he looks more serious than you."

"Compared to that person, he's all talk and no action, he's got a lot of dirty tricks up his sleeve."

The Senluo Palace, far from the capital city, is a mysterious and eerie place.

The ground was covered with cobwebs and thick dust. Scattered sacrificial objects and overturned debris were everywhere, and images of a hundred demons could be vaguely seen on the walls.

At midnight, two people ran into the Senluo Palace.

"I, Lao Qin, am suffering so much. I can neither find Sanyu Wumengsheng nor Yiyeshu."

"Qin, I feel this place is so eerie and terrifying."

"Terrifying my ass! Is it more terrifying than the martial arts world being devoid of leadership?"

"Qin, the three fish said they need to talk to Kouyinzi."

"But Kouyinzi told us to come to the Hall of the Underworld, which is the place where we enter the netherworld after death!"

Suddenly a strange sound rang out, as if something was moving on the ground.

Then came another clear, childlike voice:

"One rope tied into a thousand knots, each knot a soul-crushing barrier. Climbing to the Eighteenth Luozhi Mountain, you encounter an immortal spewing forth a great wave, which overturns the Sea Dragon Temple. You catch fish and shrimp to offer as a vegetarian meal."

From the thick fog, a strange-looking thing emerged, getting closer and closer to Qin Jiaxian.

"Ghost!"

Qin Jiaxian's eyes rolled back and he fainted.

"Qin, someone is singing a nursery rhyme."

The nursery rhyme stopped, and the answer was changed to: "It's not singing, it's reciting."

"Ghost!"

Ye Tuling also fainted.

Soon after, Kou Yinzi stepped into the Senluo Palace: "I have brought what you asked for."

With a flick of his whisk, a copy of "The History of Saints and Demons" was tossed into the hall.

Immediately, the thick fog dissipated, and eighteen ghost lanterns appeared, casting shadows that filled the air with a cautionary tale of a prison, accompanied by a haunting ghostly chant, resembling a deep abyss of hell.

On either side of the plaque are inscribed the words: "The land of right and wrong; the land of clear understanding."

Kou Yinzi arrived as promised, but no one was there. After waiting for a long time, only a nursery rhyme echoed from afar.

"On the first day of the first month, pick up the flowery clothes. On the second day of the second month, practice calligraphy. On the third day of the third month, wear new clothes. On the fourth day of the fourth month, go to take the exam. If you become the top scholar, you can ride in a carriage and rule the world."

Knowing that the other party was unwilling to show themselves, Kou Yinzi picked up the unconscious Qin Jiaxian and Ye Tuling and walked out of the Senluo Palace.

Soon, the Senluo Palace returned to its eerie state, covered in cobwebs and shrouded in thick fog.

A Kongming chariot slowly emerged from the thick fog.

The child on Kongming's chariot had short, curly, fluffy yellow hair, two whorl eyebrows, and a cinnabar mole on his forehead.

“Kuyinzi, our struggle is not over, and you have not earned my complete trust.”

Due to the counter-clockwise influence within his body, Sanyu Wumengsheng returned to the age of seven. He picked up the "History of the Holy Demon" and pondered his next move.

"The important thing is the whereabouts of Senior Yi Ye Shu... Yes, You Meng Lou."

When Qin Jiaxian awoke, the sun was high in the sky, the alchemy furnace was filled with fragrance, and he was standing on the Nine Cauldrons Revolving Taiji Platform atop Mount Luofu.

He scrambled to his feet, rubbing his eyes: "The three fish are dead, dead, waaaah... Old Cub, tell me, who killed the three fish? I want revenge!"

"In his spare time, he had no dreams and nothing to do."

"Really? Then what I entered yesterday wasn't the underworld?"

“You went to the Hall of Senluo, so you should know that it was just Sanyu Wumengsheng making a fuss.”

"I, Qin, greatly admire your confident attitude. Now, you are the only pillar left in the martial arts world. Why don't you take the lead and lead the heroes of the Central Plains to fight against the evil forces? I, Qin, will stand with you."

Kou Yinzi stepped down from the altar and asked, "Does standing next to me earn me any points?"

"Of course it's a plus! My admiration for you is as boundless as the ocean. With a die-hard fan like me, you can go on for another hundred years or more."

After flattering him, Qin Jiaxian got to the point: "I, Qin, would like to ask you for advice on how to save Yi Ye Shu."

Suddenly, a cold, sharp voice rang out: "Yi Ye Shu cannot be saved!"

Qin Jiaxian turned around in surprise, only to find that the newcomer was none other than Bo Xun Zhi Ti Mi Da.

"Anyone who wishes to save Yi Ye Shu is to become my enemy, and those who are my enemies will not live a moment longer."

Qin Jiaxian, clutching his trousers, quickly slipped behind Ku Yinzi and hid.

Kou Yinzi said expressionlessly, "If I do not permit it, no one may use force to break the law under my watch."

The tough attitude immediately provoked Mida's murderous intent. He swiftly rushed in front of Ku Yinzi, raised his hand, and struck down fiercely.

Kou Yinzi stepped with the steps of Yu, moved with cloud-like hands, concealing his strength within gentleness, moving without breath, responding to moves with no moves.

After several exchanges, Kou Yinzi maintained a defensive stance, preventing Mida from using his Mirror Shot technique. He then changed his attack, channeling his energy throughout his body, and a massive, malevolent force surged forth:

"Heterodox Zunlun, drink!"

Kou Yinzi remained calm and composed, gathering his strength with cloud-like movements. The attacking evil force vanished as if it had been thrown into the sea. He then lifted his whisk behind his back and struck out with his right palm, returning Mida's attack with double the force.

Mida was unable to dodge in time and retreated vomiting blood.