“What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?” Ling Xiaoxiao’s fierce eyes softened slightly as she watched Xue Ji’s tears stream down like a spring. Her tone, once domineering, now carried a hint of concern.
Fragmented memories flooded Xue Ji’s mind—each one vivid, each emotion deeply felt. The guilt toward Ling Xiaoxiao, the boundless love for all living beings, and the lingering regrets at the moment of death—all surged into Xue Ji’s heart as if they were her own.
“I don’t know… Xiaoxiao, I really don’t know.” Xue Ji instinctively used the name from those memories.
“Xiaoxiao… Master, you’ve finally remembered.” Scalding tears of blood spilled from Ling Xiaoxiao’s eyes.
She untied Xue Ji, who offered no resistance, and shoved her onto the bed.
“How dare you make me live alone for a thousand years! Did you hate being with me that much?!” Her voice was a mix of rage and anguish as she tore at Xue Ji’s modern clothes, reducing them to tatters.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…” Xue Ji lay limply, her gaze vacant, tears still falling.
“What good does that do?! You think this pitiful act will fool me again?!” In her fury, Ling Xiaoxiao wrapped her hands around Xue Ji’s slender neck, her hot tears dripping onto Xue Ji’s chest.
The searing pain in her chest and the suffocating pressure jolted Xue Ji back to reality, freeing her mind from the chaotic flood of emotions.
The fear of death ignited her will to fight.
“Ling… Xiaoxiao… let… go…!” She forced the words out, her hands clawing at Ling Xiaoxiao’s wrists.
But her struggles only fueled Ling Xiaoxiao’s madness. The grip tightened.
Xue Ji’s vision darkened. Her throat felt like it would snap.
Cough! Cough!
Her legs kicked wildly, but it was futile.
‘I’m dying… I’m really dying!’
As the struggles beneath her weakened, Ling Xiaoxiao’s lips curled into a twisted smile.
“You’re mine. Mine! Even death won’t take you from me!”
With that, she pressed a jade vial against Xue Ji’s chest. The moment it touched her skin, Xue Ji’s soul grew unbearably heavy.
‘I must have owed you in my past life…’
Her consciousness collapsed beside Lilith.
[Tch. How pathetic—our great sage, nearly strangled to death. So weak.]
Xue Ji couldn’t respond. Or rather, she no longer could.
[Hmph!]
In the real world, Xue Ji’s snow-white hair darkened once more. The aura around her shifted—gone was the gentle presence Ling Xiaoxiao knew, replaced by something sinister.
Shadows coiled around her like ribbons. The hands that had been powerless moments earlier now erupted with monstrous strength, prying Ling Xiaoxiao’s fingers away with terrifying force.
“Let. Her. Go.”
Lilith—now in control—shoved Ling Xiaoxiao back. Every second of Xue Ji’s suffering had fueled her rage.
“Who gave you the right to hurt her like this?!” she roared.
Without hesitation, she drove a fist wreathed in shadow straight into Ling Xiaoxiao’s body. The invasive darkness ravaged her from within.
Pfft—!
Ling Xiaoxiao spat a mouthful of black blood, staggering back, her face contorted in pain.
Lilith smirked. “Hah! You thought you were strong just because the weakling sage spoiled you? You’re not even worth being called trash.”
“You little parasite. I was going to deal with you later, but you’ve saved me the trouble.” Ling Xiaoxiao had long known about Lilith, the unwelcome guest clinging to Xue Ji’s soul. If not for their deep connection, she would’ve torn this leech out long ago.
Flames of the Vermilion Phoenix erupted around Ling Xiaoxiao, purging the shadows from her body in an instant.
“Not bad,” Lilith taunted, though inwardly wary.
Ling Xiaoxiao smirked, beckoning mockingly.
‘Troublesome woman.’
Shadows morphed into dozens of blades, a storm of edges slicing toward Ling Xiaoxiao.
With a single swing of her spirit sword, Ling Xiaoxiao dispersed them all.
But when she moved to counterattack—Lilith was gone.
“Hm?” Ling Xiaoxiao’s eyes snapped shut, sensing for her foe.
A mistake.
Lilith struck from her own shadow, twin daggers of darkness plunging toward her heart.
Ling Xiaoxiao didn’t dodge.
The blades pierced clean through. Golden blood gushed from the wound.
Lilith didn’t celebrate—she retreated into the shadows again.
Yet Ling Xiaoxiao remained standing, unfazed.
‘What is this lunatic planning?!’
Before Lilith could react, a flash of divine fire erupted, annihilating every trace of shadow in the room—and blasting her out of hiding.
Lilith scrambled up, only to see Ling Xiaoxiao’s wound already healed.
Cold sweat drenched her back.
‘Hey, weakling sage… maybe you should just let her tie you up again.’
Trembling under Ling Xiaoxiao’s smile, Lilith—still a child at heart—froze in terror.
Calmly, Ling Xiaoxiao drew a talisman and began chanting.
“By the decree of the Numinous Treasure, all heavens heed my call;
The firmament answers, the void obeys;
Demons be severed, evils be bound;
Ten thousand souls, to salvation found.”
The words hammered into Lilith’s skull. Her vision swam, the world tilting.
“The Central Mountain’s sacred chant, the Jade Script of Primordial Beginning;
Recite it once, and ailments fade;
Traverse the Five Peaks, the Eight Seas know thy name;
The Demon Kings bow, their might restrained;
All corruption scatters, the Dao’s light remains.”
Golden light coalesced in Ling Xiaoxiao’s palm. Lilith collapsed to her knees, drenched in sweat, utterly powerless.
“Your origins… aren’t simple either.” Ling Xiaoxiao’s hand hovered over Lilith’s head—then yanked.
Lilith’s soul was ripped free.
“What?!” Her spirit form stared in disbelief.
Ling Xiaoxiao’s face darkened.
“How dare you wear her face?!”
What followed was a repeat of Xue Ji’s earlier “lesson”—except this time, the spanking landed directly on Lilith’s soul.
She howled, thrashing in pain.
‘This is ridiculous! I didn’t choose to look like her! This woman’s insane!’
As Ling Xiaoxiao pondered how to sever Lilith’s connection to Xue Ji, she failed to notice a small figure sneaking up behind her.
‘Hold on, A’Ji! I’m coming!’
Shaya—having somehow escaped the burlap sack—crept closer, tail tucked.
Lilith didn’t hold much hope… until she saw the sword in Shaya’s hands.
On their way back, Xue Ji had entrusted her with Fenrir’s Winter.