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

Tianpeng walked in front.

She didn't ride the clouds, nor did she use any magic to shrink the distance; she simply walked step by step on the white jade tiles into the ground.

The silver armor made a slight rustling sound as it moved, which sounded particularly jarring in the deathly silent palace.

Bai Yin followed behind.

He dragged the three-pointed, double-edged sword, the tip of which left a thin white mark on the ground.

Blood dripped down his trouser leg, leaving a dark red footprint with each step he took.

The demon soldiers who had been so menacing all retreated to the sides.

They lowered their heads, not daring to look at the young man covered in demonic markings, much less at the still-dripping black knife.

The entire Demon Court was eerily quiet.

Just moments ago, he was roaring with fury and shouting battle cries, but now not even a cough can be heard.

Only the wind blowing through the copper bells on the eaves produced a crisp, tinkling sound.

Bai Yin tightened his grip on the knife.

He found it strange.

That's so weird.

Indra did not catch up, nor did the guardians make any move. Even the oppressive imperial dragon aura in the air dissipated.

It's like a grand performance reaching its climax, only to have someone suddenly cut off your voice.

"Do you know?"

Tianpeng suddenly spoke up.

She didn't turn around; her voice echoed in the empty corridor.

"When she first arrived that day, she gave the maids of Weiyang Palace quite a hard time."

Bai Yin was stunned for a moment.

He didn't reply, but just stared warily at the shadows around him.

Tianpeng didn't seem to care about his reaction and continued speaking on his own.

"She said the bed in Weiyang Palace was too hard and her back hurt, so she insisted on having someone go to the storeroom to find some ancient ice silk to use as a mattress."

"The maid brought it to her, but she complained that the color was too plain, saying it looked like she was going to a funeral."

As Tianpeng spoke, his shoulders twitched slightly, as if he wanted to laugh.

"Later, Indra sent her the Nine-Turn Peaches of Immortality, which are treasures used to prolong life and are something that ordinary demon kings would beg for but cannot obtain."

"She took one bite and threw it away, saying it was too sour and not as sweet as the wild fruits in Yunmeng Marsh."

Bai Yin paused for a moment.

The image flashed through his mind.

The woman in white frowned and threw the peach on the ground with a look of disgust.

That's exactly what she's capable of doing.

She also said…

Tianpeng stopped and turned to look at Bai Yin.

She had a smile on her face, but her eyes were a little red.

"She said this demon court is too deserted, there's no one to talk to, and she wanted to find a cat to play with, but unfortunately there are only dragons and phoenixes here, it's so boring."

"Ha ha ha ha……"

Tianpeng suddenly burst into laughter.

The laughter was so loud that it shook the dust off the ceiling of the corridor.

She laughed so hard she bent over, leaning on a nearby pillar, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Isn't it funny?"

"Even on his deathbed, he's still thinking about playing with the cat."

Bai Yin frowned as he watched Tianpeng laugh heartily.

He didn't find it funny.

He only felt cold.

A chill crept up my spine.

Have all the people in this Demon Court gone mad?

Just a moment ago we were about to fight to the death, but now we're standing here talking to him about these trivial matters.

Stop laughing.

Bai Yin spoke, his voice hoarse.

Tianpeng's laughter came to an abrupt halt.

She straightened up and wiped her eyes.

"Yeah, it's not funny."

Tianpeng sighed, turned around, and continued walking forward.

Passing through the corridor, a cold and austere palace came into view.

The Moon Palace.

The withered laurel tree still stands in the yard, its branches bare, like a ghostly hand reaching towards the sky.

Tianpeng did not go inside, but instead bypassed the palace gate and headed towards the back mountain.

There is an altar there.

"Bai Yin".

Tianpeng walked very slowly, and his tone became somewhat unsteady.

"How long did your master take you to the far west?"

Nine years.

Bai Yin answered quickly.

He remembers every single day and every single hour of those nine years clearly.

The pain of the wind and sand cutting his face, the nights he struggled on the edge of life and death, are etched into his bones.

Nine years...

Tianpeng raised his head and looked at the false starry sky above.

"A day in heaven is equivalent to a year on earth."

"You endured nine years in that cannibalistic place, transforming yourself into this indistinguishable human from a ghost."

"It must have been very tough."

Bai Yin remained silent.

Is it bitter?

maybe.

But he forgot.

The moment he gripped the knife, the moment he decided to fight his way to the Ninth Heaven, he forgot what suffering was.

He only remembered the person who was waiting for him.

"It's not bitter."

Bai Yin shook his head.

His gaze softened as he watched the altar draw closer.

"For me, it's been nine years."

"But for her..."

Bai Yin paused, a very unpleasant smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Only nine days have passed."

Tianpeng's steps suddenly stopped.

She stood there, her back to Bai Yin, without moving for a long time.

The wind blew through her cloak, making it flutter.

After a long while, she slowly turned around.

The smile on his face had completely vanished.

Instead, there is a deep sense of compassion.

That look was like looking at a moth drawn to a flame, or at a floating corpse struggling in a flood.

"Nine Heavens..."

Tianpeng muttered to himself.

Yes.

For Su Xiaojiu, it was nothing more than taking a few naps, throwing a few tantrums, and complaining about the food a few times.

Even the longing hadn't had a chance to develop.

But this foolish tiger, in the sands and dust of the lower realm, had its heart rotted and its blood drained away.

Is it worth it?

Tianpeng asked.

It seemed like a question was being asked of Bai Yin, but it also seemed like a question was being asked of Su Xiaojiu.

Or perhaps, it's a question being asked of oneself.

Bai Yin did not answer.

He passed Tianpeng and walked toward the altar.

The altar was very high and was made entirely of black stone.

Nine enormous stone pillars stood around the perimeter, covered with intricate runes.

A strong, pungent smell of blood wafted over.

Baek In's heart skipped a beat.

He quickened his pace, almost staggering as he rushed up the steps.

In the center of the altar.

A white figure lay there quietly.

She was wearing that familiar cloak, the one he had draped over her back in Yunmengze.

But now, the cloak is stained with blood.

Her face was very pale, even paler than the clouds in this demon court.

A dagger was stuck in his chest.

The dagger was exquisite, with gemstones inlaid on the hilt, gleaming eerily in the dim light.

Blood flowed from the dagger's groove and into the groove on the altar.

Tick.

Tick.

The voice was soft, yet it struck Bai Yin's heart like a heavy hammer.

The three-pointed double-edged sword in Bai Yin's hand clattered to the ground.

He knelt down.

His knees hit the hard stone surface, but he felt no pain.

He reached out, wanting to touch her face.

But he stopped halfway through reaching out his hand.

His hands were covered in blood, mud, and an indelible aura of malevolence.

It's so dirty.

It will make her dirty.

"Little Nine..."

Bai Yin opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

It felt like there was a wad of cotton stuck in his throat, making it hard for him to breathe.

He had imagined countless scenarios of their reunion.

He had thought about taking her to see the lanterns, about taking her back to Yunmengze to catch fish, and about hearing her call him an idiot.

That's the only thing I never thought about.

Tianpeng slowly walked up.

She stood behind Bai Yin, watching the figure kneeling on the ground.

That mad tiger who once stormed through the Southern Heavenly Gate and dared to wield his sword against Indra.

At this moment, however, he looked like a helpless child, curled up in a ball.

"She's right here."

Tianpeng's voice was very soft, as if he was afraid of disturbing something.

"See for yourself."

Bai Yin ignored her.

He just stared intently at the person lying there.

He stared at the dagger stuck in his chest.

That was his fate.

How did it... break?

He trembled as he pulled the straw figure from his bosom.

The straw figure was very old; in some places, the dry straw inside was even showing.

But he kept it close to his body, protecting it more than his own life.

"I am coming."

Bai Yin gently placed the straw figure beside Su Xiaojiu's hand.

His voice trembled, carrying a pleading tone.

"I've mastered the sword."

"I've ripped the sky apart."

"Open your eyes and look..."

"You said you would wake up with me."

The wind stopped.

The whole world seemed to stand still.

Only the dripping sound of blood continued.

a bit.

a bit.

It shattered my nine-year dream.

"To the Tune of Bu Suanzi: A Dream Broken in the Demon Court"

Nine years of honing this sword, all for the sake of breaking through the heavens.

Blood stains the road to Chonglou for thousands of miles, but her voice is nowhere to be heard.

The sun shines slowly in the sky, while the wind and sand rage on the ground.

Today, my flesh and blood are cold, and tears fall like rain on the desolate altar.