Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

Life in Yunmengze slowed down.

Gone are the shouts of battle, gone is the bloodshed, only the bubbling stone pot remains in the cave.

Bai Yin squatted by the pot, holding a wooden spoon he had carved out of nowhere, staring intently at the soup inside.

He was shirtless, with a tattered long robe around his waist. His scars looked somewhat ferocious in the firelight, but his hands, stirring the soup with a ladle, were incredibly steady.

The pot was filled with the "good stuff" he had swept up in Chongyang City.

The deer antler was sliced ​​thinly, the ginseng rootlets were bleached, and the tiger penis that he treasured was also cut into sections. They were mixed with unknown wild mushrooms and simmered into a thick, milky-white soup.

The taste... is very strong.

A mixture of medicinal smells, meat smells, and some indescribable fishy odor raged through the poorly ventilated cave.

Su Xiaojiu was awakened by the smell.

She wrinkled her nose, peeked out from under the animal skin blanket, and drowsily glanced at the figure crouching by the fire.

"Bai Yin".

She called out, her voice soft and sweet, as if she had just woken up.

Bai Yin's body stiffened abruptly.

He quickly threw the wooden spoon into the pot, hurriedly wiped himself down, and then turned around with that signature, not-so-bright smile on his face.

"woke up?"

He walked quickly to the stone bed, wanting to reach out and help her, but then remembered that he had been fiddling with the fishy-smelling ingredients, so he withdrew his hand halfway through.

Are you hungry?

Bai Yin asked cautiously.

Su Xiaojiu sat up, her nine tails spreading out behind her, and fanned the air in front of her with a hint of disgust.

"Are you cooking shit?"

Bai Yin: "..."

His face, which had just recovered from swelling, was visibly red.

"It's a nourishing soup."

He offered a somewhat aggrieved explanation.

"The shopkeeper said this is called 'Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup,' it's the best for nourishing qi and blood. You're weak, you have to drink it."

As he spoke, he turned and ran back to the pot, filled a large bowl to the brim, and presented it to Su Xiaojiu with both hands.

The soup was still steaming.

Su Xiaojiu looked down.

Good guy.

After eating this bowl, forget about replenishing your qi and blood; it might even cause a nosebleed.

"I won't drink it."

Su Xiaojiu turned her head to the side, refusing decisively.

"It smells awful."

Bai Yin was getting anxious.

He held the bowl and circled around the bed, wanting to persuade her but not daring to raise his voice, so he could only coax her in a low voice.

"Just one sip."

"I've tried it, it doesn't taste bad, it just smells weird."

"I removed all the fishy smell, really."

"Little Nine..."

His red eyes were full of pleading, which, combined with his tall stature and scars all over his body, created a striking contrast.

Su Xiaojiu sighed.

She realized that this silly tiger was determined to give her a "big boost".

If he didn't drink, this guy could probably stand here with his bowl for a whole day.

"Give it to me."

Su Xiaojiu reached out her hand.

Bai Yin's eyes lit up, and he quickly handed over the bowl, even blowing on it thoughtfully.

Su Xiaojiu pinched her nose, tilted her head back, and took a big bite.

Gudong.

The broth went down my throat.

It wasn't as bad as I imagined.

Although the medicine tastes a bit strong, it has a very sweet aftertaste, and once you swallow it, your stomach feels warm. That warmth flows along the meridians to your limbs and bones, and your hands and feet, which were originally a bit cold, instantly become warm.

This idiot actually managed to brew a skill out of this mess of random medicinal herbs.

"How is it?"

Bai Yin stared at her nervously, his hands twisting together.

"good."

Su Xiaojiu handed him the empty bowl and licked her lips.

"Don't set off that...whip anymore in the future."

Bai Yin took the bowl, grinning from ear to ear, and nodded repeatedly.

"Okay, I'll do as you say."

As long as she's willing to drink, he'd do anything, even if it meant cutting off the firecrackers or going to the heavens to pick stars to make soup.

After drinking the soup, Su Xiaojiu felt a bit stronger.

She got out of bed and walked to the cave entrance.

The sun is shining brightly outside.

Bai Yin followed closely behind her, holding a bone comb in his hand.

He used leftover fish bones to grind it up. Although it was simple, it was polished very smoothly and didn't hurt his hands at all.

"My hair is messy."

Bai Yin stood behind her and said softly.

Su Xiaojiu found a rock to sit on and turned her back to him.

"Let's comb it."

Bai Yin took a deep breath, as if he had received some extraordinary mission.

He reached out his large, calloused hands and gently gathered Su Xiaojiu's silver hair.

The movements were extremely slow.

I was afraid that if I used even a little force, I would hurt her or break her delicate hair.

Once, twice.

The bone comb made a soft rustling sound as it passed through the hair.

Su Xiaojiu squinted, basking in the sun, and felt so comfortable she wanted to hum.

"Bai Yin".

"Um?"

"Have you practiced this skill before?"

Bai Yin paused for a moment.

"without."

He said in a muffled voice.

"They used to only know how to kill, not how to comb hair."

"How did you manage to comb it so well?"

"Because it's you."

Bai Yin's voice was low, but very firm.

"Because it's your hair, I don't dare to use force."

Su Xiaojiu's heart skipped a beat.

This silly tiger can spout sweet nothings all over the place, yet he thinks he's just stating the facts.

She leaned back, putting all her weight on Bai Yin's legs.

"You'll comb my hair every day from now on."

"it is good."

"You also have to cook for me."

"it is good."

"You're not allowed to buy any more of those random tonics."

"...That won't do, we need to buy another one."

Su Xiaojiu: "..."

She slapped Bai Yin's thigh with her other hand.

"Shut up."

Outside the cave, the wind was gentle and the clouds were light.

The two shadows overlapped, stretching out very long.

……

over nine days.

The Celestial Court of the Demon Clan.

There is no muddy smell of Yunmengze here, nor the smell of cooking fires in the mortal world.

There was only an endless sea of ​​clouds and stars hanging high overhead.

In a suspended pavilion, two figures sit facing each other.

On the left is an old Taoist priest.

Wearing a faded Taoist robe, with his hair casually tied in a bun, he held a black chess piece in his hand and was looking at the chessboard with a smile.

If Bai Yin were here, he would definitely recognize that this was the same slovenly old Taoist priest who had transformed him from a wild beast into a demon and stopped him from going mad on a rainy night.

The person sitting on the right is a woman wearing silver armor.

She was very beautiful, with a silver vertical line between her eyebrows, and a nine-toothed rake on her back... no, it was a silver halberd.

Her name is Tianpeng.

One of the eight great demon immortals of the Demon Court, her true form is an ancient illusory butterfly.

"Old man, you're playing too slowly."

Tianpeng tapped the chessboard impatiently.

"The place is in complete chaos downstairs, and you still have the mind to dawdle here?"

The old Taoist priest calmly placed a piece.

Snapped.

Starlight shimmered on the chessboard.

"It's better to just randomly select."

The old Taoist priest stroked his beard, his voice deep and resonant.

"How can we break the deadlock without creating chaos?"

Tianpeng snorted coldly.

"Break the deadlock? I think that's courting death."

She pointed towards the lower realm, where demonic energy soared to the heavens, and countless demon soldiers and generals were carrying portraits, catching foxes all over the world.

"That lion named Indra, did a donkey kick him in the head?"

"If you have a dream, you will turn the entire demon race upside down."

"It has caused widespread panic and resentment."

"This is the 'Demon Emperor' you've chosen?"

Tianpeng's tone was full of disdain.

She is an ancient, exotic being who has lived for countless years.

In her eyes, the current demon dynasty is a joke.

A group of bandits who ruled the mountains couldn't convincingly portray a prince even in a dragon robe.

The old Taoist priest smiled but didn't reply.

He placed another piece, sealing off one of Tianpeng's large dragons.

"Although Indra is a bit stupid, he is ambitious."

"Ambition can stir up a storm."

"This stagnant pool needs to be stirred up."

Tianpeng curled his lip.

"You've muddied the waters so your precious apprentice can slack off?"

The old Taoist priest paused.

He raised his head, and a glint of light flashed in his seemingly cloudy old eyes.

"How do you know that's the old Taoist's apprentice?"

"cut."

Tianpeng rolled his eyes.

"I could smell the murderous aura emanating from that tiger from 800 miles away."

"Besides you, you old geezer with your 'path of killing,' who else could have raised such a madman?"

As he spoke, Tianpeng stood up, walked to the pavilion, and looked down at the sea of ​​clouds below.

"However, your apprentice is quite interesting."

"He's clearly a murderer, yet he fell in love."

"It's bad enough that I fell in love, but to be made a fool of like a monkey is even worse."

"Now look what's happened. He's made himself into a monster over a woman."

Tianpeng shook his head, seemingly not understanding at all.

"The word 'love' is the most harmful."

"I just don't understand you guys, why do you have to jump into this pit?"

The old Taoist priest also stood up.

He walked to Tianpeng's side and looked at the tiny black dot in the lower realm—that was the direction of Yunmengze.

"You don't understand because you haven't encountered it yet."

"I?"

Tianpeng chuckled.

"I am just a butterfly."

"Zhuang Zhou dreamed he was a butterfly, and the butterfly dreamed he was Zhuang Zhou."

"I can't even be bothered to figure out if I'm telling the truth, so how could I have time to care about other people's lives?"

He turned around, looked at the old Taoist priest, and his expression became serious.

"Old man, I'm putting my words here."

"I don't care if you're in Bush's scheme, nor do I care if your apprentice is the one destined for disaster."

"I only believe in what I believe in."

"This Demon Court is the foundation left behind by the ancient Demon Emperor."

"I, Tianpeng, received the favor of the Demon Emperor, transformed into human form and attained enlightenment, and I am here to protect this legacy."

"If that Emperor Shitian really manages to govern the demon dynasty so poorly, even to the point of destroying the very foundation of the demon race..."

The silver armor on Tianpeng's body suddenly shone with a dazzling light.

An aura so terrifying it could make the stars tremble erupt from his body.

That's not the lightness of a butterfly.

That was a storm powerful enough to tear the sky apart.

"I will do it myself."

"Please petition the Lord of the Demon Court to restore order and restore order."

"Don't blame me for not giving you face and killing your apprentice as well."

After saying this, Tianpeng flicked the halberd behind him, which transformed into a streak of silver light and disappeared into the depths of the sea of ​​clouds.

Only the old Taoist priest remained in the pavilion.

The wind blew through his Taoist robe, making it flutter loudly.

He looked in the direction where Tianpeng had disappeared, and the smile on his face slowly faded.

"Butterfly, oh butterfly."

"You think you're just watching a show?"

Little did you know, you were already caught in the trap.

The old Taoist priest lowered his head and looked at the chessboard.

There, the black pieces had formed an encirclement, utterly annihilating the white pieces.

Only one white piece remained, all alone, at the center position.

That was a death trap.

It is also the only chance of survival.

"Indra is looking for the nine-tailed fox."

"My foolish apprentice is guarding the nine-tailed fox."

"This game is finally going to be a chance for survival."

The old Taoist priest reached out and gently tapped the white stone.

hum.

The chess pieces shattered into dust.

"Those destined for calamity must destroy before they can establish something new."

"Bai Yin."

"This time, your master can't help you."

"Can you protect the person you cherish most? Can you fight your way out of this deadly situation...?"

"It's all up to you."

The old Taoist priest waved his sleeve.

The chessboard disappeared.

He also transformed into a gentle breeze, scattering between heaven and earth.

Only a faint sigh remained, echoing in the heavens.

"One thought can make you a Buddha, another a demon."

"The debts of love in this world must ultimately be repaid with blood."

……

Yunmeng Marsh.

Bai Yin, who was combing Su Xiaojiu's hair, suddenly shivered.

The bone comb in my hand almost fell to the ground.

"What's wrong?"

Su Xiaojiu turned to look at him.

Bai Yin raised his head blankly and looked at the sky.

The sky was cloudless and the sun was shining brightly.

But just now, he clearly felt a chill that made his heart tremble.

It was as if they were being targeted by some terrifying being.

"fine."

Bai Yin shook his head and gripped the comb tightly again.

"It might be because the wind is a bit strong."

He lowered his head and continued to focus intently on combing his silver hair.

No matter who it is.

No matter what it is.

Anyone who dares to disturb our current lives.

He then killed him.

We will fight until no one in this world dares to come again.

[Chapter Summary - The Outer Heavens]

Washing hands to cook soup, even tiger claws are gentle.

Playing chess in the cloud, an old Taoist priest recounts the history of the ages.

The golden lion arrogantly boasts its greatness, while the silver butterfly knows no sorrow.

The winds rise over Yunmeng Marsh, for calamity lies ahead.