*

*

*

"Pack your toiletries, food, and drinks. The two of you might not be used to the conditions in the Outer Sect."

Qii Yao checked the Qiankun Bag, muttering,

"Let’s see... is there anything we’ve forgotten?"

"We have everything." Zhou Yuantong snatched the Qiankun Bag from her hand, looking amused and rolling her eyes.

"How did I never realize you were such a mother hen?"

"I... I’m just concerned about you two, that’s all." Qii Yao forced a smile.

"Take some extra things. Take everything I prepared for you. If you miss me, you can look at them and think of me."

"You make it sound like we’ll never see each other again." Zhou Yuantong sighed softly, her expression flickering almost imperceptibly.

"Alright."

"The hour is almost up. We should go."

"Mm." Qii Yao’s expression was complex.

"I’ll see you off."

The three of them walked out of the Cave Mansion. Before they could summon their Flying Spiritual Artifacts, a rosy glow descended from the sky, blocking their path.

"Master!"

"Master!"

Zhou Yuantong and Qii Yao’s faces fell, and they immediately dropped to their knees.

’Princess Consort Yuann?’

Zhu Ju had long heard her name, but this was the first time he was seeing her in person.

Her skin was like cream, her beauty like that of a Celestial Immortal. Draped in light silk with a string of pearls at her neck, her clothes were magnificent and her bearing graceful—she was the very image of a goddess.

Her eyes were especially unforgettable, like a hundred flowers blossoming within their depths. Once seen, they could never be forgotten.

Qii Yao was beautiful, as pretty as a picture.

Zhou Yuantong was even more beautiful, like a painted beauty come to life.

But the beauty of Princess Consort Yuann before him transcended the bounds of normal comprehension; she was a truly bewitching siren.

The seductive charm she exuded, seemingly without effort, was an inescapable aphrodisiac to any Mortal.

"Yuann Tong."

Princess Consort Yuann’s voice was gentle as she spoke slowly,

"You have never gone out on a Sect mission before. Although your targets this time are not powerful, you must still be cautious. Don’t make your master worry."

"Yes." Zhou Yuantong lowered her head.

"Please rest assured, Master. Yuann Tong will certainly not be careless."

"That’s good." Princess Consort Yuann nodded.

"You may go."

"Yes." Zhou Yuantong stood up and reached out to pull Zhu Ju along.

"He won’t be necessary." Princess Consort Yuann chuckled lightly.

"With your current Cultivation, you no longer need to concern yourself with the effects of the Passionate Spell. You can go by yourself."

"As for him..."

"Your master would like to have a chat with him."

"Master." Zhou Yuantong’s face fell. But faced with Princess Consort Yuann’s enigmatic smile, she could only grit her teeth and bow her head.

"Yes, Master."

"Go on," Princess Consort Yuann said with a wave of her hand.

"Don’t be late."

As she watched Zhou Yuantong depart, glancing back reluctantly every few steps, the smile on Princess Consort Yuann’s face slowly faded.

"Qii Yao, do you know your crime?"

THUD!

Qii Yao’s face turned deathly pale. Her knees buckled, and she fell to the ground.

"Spare me, Master! Please, spare me!"

"You knew perfectly well that those two were planning to escape. Why didn’t you tell me?" Princess Consort Yuann sighed and shook her head.

"And to think I trusted you so completely. Is this how you repay me?"

PTUI!

Without any apparent movement from Princess Consort Yuann, Qii Yao suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. Her body convulsed as she slowly crumpled to the ground.

"Spare..."

"Spare me!"

Qii Yao thrashed desperately on the ground, veins bulging on her neck as foam frothed at her mouth.

"Zhu Ju!"

Princess Consort Yuann paid Qii Yao’s miserable state no mind, turning instead to face Zhu Ju.

"What a handsome man. No wonder you’ve turned my Yuann Tong’s world upside down, making her willing to abandon her own master just to elope with you."

"Tell me..."

"What should I do with you?"

"Senior." Zhu Ju cupped his hands.

"I was forced into this. After all, everyone cherishes their own life, and I am certainly no exception."

"Hmm..." Princess Consort Yuann narrowed her eyes.

"You believe that as Yuann Tong’s Furnace Tripod, you are doomed to die in the end?"

"Am I wrong?" Zhu Ju said.

"Surely you’re not about to tell me there’s a way for me to live, Senior?"

"Hee hee..." Princess Consort Yuann giggled, her lips pursed.

"You’re right. If Yuann Tong wants her state of mind to reach Perfection, she absolutely needs you to sacrifice yourself to complete her. There is no chance of survival."

"However..."

"It’s not as if there are no other options."

"Oh?" Zhu Ju’s expression shifted.

"What options?"

"In the thousand-year history of the Joyful Sect, there have always been a few anomalies," Princess Consort Yuann said, beginning to pace instead of answering directly.

"I remember, over two hundred years ago, before I had even established my Dao Foundation, there was a senior sister with a disposition identical to Yuann Tong’s—utterly naive and innocent."

"She developed true feelings and affection for her Furnace Tripod, and in the end, one of them did establish a Dao Foundation."

"But it wasn’t her..."

"It was her Furnace Tripod!"

Hm?

Zhu Ju’s head snapped up.

Lying convulsing on the ground, Qii Yao’s body also went stiff. She struggled to turn and look toward Zhu Ju.

...

「Dazhou Territory.」

Xiao Chengzai, an Inner Sect Disciple in robes whiter than snow, followed Zhou Yuantong on horseback, a fawning look on his face.

"Senior Sister Zhou, our targets for this mission are two Outer Sect Disciples, both with Cultivation at Breaking Three Acupoints."

"Don’t underestimate them due to their low Cultivation. They have achieved Mastery in a coordinated fighting style. Even an Innate expert at Breaking Five Acupoints wouldn’t be guaranteed to capture them."

"Oh?" Zhou Yuantong asked casually.

"Since they are disciples of our own Sect, why did they betray it and flee?"

"They fell in love, but for certain reasons, they could not be together," Xiao Chengzai explained.

"In order to escape the Sect, those two deliberately exposed one of our external strongholds—one that had been in operation for many years. This provoked the Righteous Sects into attacking, which led to the deaths of several Inner Sect and more than a dozen Outer Sect Disciples. Their crimes are utterly heinous."

’In love, escaping the Sect?’

Zhou Yuantong’s heart trembled slightly.

"Heh..." Xiao Chengzai sneered.

"They thought their plan was flawless, but they don’t know the first thing about the Sect’s reach. Did they really think we wouldn’t find out?"

"Hmph!"

"They changed their names and hid in a small Mortal village, never revealing their Cultivation for years. But even then, our people found them. We are here now to execute them."

"’Changing their names, not revealing their Cultivation... it was still useless?’" Zhou Yuantong muttered to herself.

"Of course!"

Xiao Chengzai said it as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Anyone who betrays the Sect, no matter if they flee to the ends of the earth, will be found and executed."

"There are never any exceptions!"

"We’re here!"

He leaped from his horse, pointing toward the small mountain village ahead. A vicious grin spread across his face.

"Move out!"

"Slaughter everyone in this village!"

"Yes!" The Joyful Sect disciples behind them roared in acknowledgment and charged toward the village.

"Why must we slaughter the innocent?" Zhou Yuantong frowned.

"We only need to kill the traitors. Since they never revealed their Cultivation, the villagers can’t possibly know who they really are."

"Senior Sister," Xiao Chengzai began.

"These are our rules. How can we strike fear into the hearts of men by only executing the primary offenders?"

"Their neighbors, their friends and relatives, any children they might have had after marrying—all must be annihilated to demonstrate the Sect’s might."

"Senior Sister need not worry. I will handle this myself. You can just wait on the side for the mission to be completed."

A quarter of an hour later.

The mountain village was engulfed in a raging inferno.

Bodies were scattered everywhere, lying haphazardly on the ground.

Zhou Yuantong walked along the village’s dirt path, surveying the scene around her. She felt a dazed emptiness in her heart, and a chill that went straight to her bones.

A long time passed.

Only then did she slowly come back to her senses.

"Senior Sister."

Xiao Chengzai leaped over to her.

"The mission was a success, and the traitors have been executed. How about we find a place to celebrate?"

"No." Zhou Yuantong shook her head lightly, the light gone from her eyes.

"I want to go back."

"Go back?" Xiao Chengzai was stunned.

"Back where?"

"Back to my Cave Mansion," Zhou Yuantong whispered.

"To find my husband."