Chapter 223: Rescue

Charred black earth stretched beneath them, and music echoed through the air.

“It’s nightfall.”

The three of them, surrounded by the Ground Skin Infant, had managed to hold on until dark. After a desperate struggle, they barely managed to buy some time.

Lian Mu floated in midair, glancing up at the sky. Gray clouds blanketed the heavens, and only a few stars were visible.

“Where’s the legendary Heavenly Return Palace?” Guan Shize asked. “Senior Sister told us to wait until nightfall, but there don’t seem to be any stars tonight.”

While hacking away at the red threads extended by the Ground Skin Infant, Lian Mu replied, “I don’t know, but I have a bad feeling about this.”

Just as she finished speaking, the gray clouds parted to reveal a blood-red moon.

The moment the moonlight touched the ground, strange laughter erupted all around them. It was a chilling mix of women’s, children’s, and elderly voices, blending together in a way that made the skin crawl.

“It’s getting stronger!” Qu Ruotian cried out in alarm.

Lian Mu looked down. The Ground Skin Infant’s skin was slowly expanding outward, covering a larger area. The music in her ears began to fade.

Suddenly, the red threads swelled to the thickness of an arm, writhing like tentacles as they burst from the ground and surrounded them from all directions.

Lian Mu said, “You two hide. I’ll deal with it.”

Qu Ruotian protested, “Wait, Junior Sister, you’ve already lost too much blood. You can’t keep this up!”

Over the past few hours, Lian Mu had nearly shredded her own hands. These demonic creatures would ignite upon contact with spiritual blood, and since she couldn’t find the Ground Skin Infant’s weakness, she had no choice but to wear it down with her own blood.

“We don’t have a choice. It’s cutting off our connection with Senior Sister. We have to go all out now, or it’ll cloud our minds and we’ll all fall.”

With that, Lian Mu raised her sword and charged at the Ground Skin Infant’s face. A red tentacle lashed out from the side, wrapping around the blade of Wealth Bringer, trying to crush it.

She yanked hard, slicing the tentacle clean off. The Ground Skin Infant turned its attention to her and spat out a stream of red liquid.

Lian Mu dodged, but a tentacle grabbed her ankle. Still, it didn’t dare draw her blood.

Seizing the chance, she slashed downward along the tentacle, cutting all the way to its base and slicing open half of the Ground Skin Infant’s face.

It let out a piercing scream that made her head throb violently. She couldn’t hold back and coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Ignoring the pain, Lian Mu tore off the talisman at her waist and let herself fall freely. At the same time, she recalled Wealth Bringer, its tip aimed straight at the creature’s eye.

The moment her foot touched the ground, half the sword plunged into the Ground Skin Infant’s eye.

But instead of screaming, it let out a gurgling laugh. Its skin clung to her shoe, its facial features twisting grotesquely as its mouth shifted beneath her foot.

Lian Mu’s eyes widened.

It really had grown stronger.

Qu Ruotian was fending off the red tentacles. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her and shouted, “Junior Sister, watch your step!”

In a flash, he moved above her and grabbed her sleeve, trying to pull her up. But the Ground Skin Infant’s grip was too tight. She wouldn’t budge.

“Senior Brother Qu, let go!” Lian Mu shouted.

“No! It’ll devour you!” he shouted back.

“It doesn’t dare eat me.” Lian Mu slashed her own sleeve. Qu Ruotian was thrown back, clutching a torn piece of fabric.

Half of Lian Mu’s foot was already inside the Ground Skin Infant’s mouth, but it still didn’t bite down.

With a grim resolve, she leapt into its mouth.

Qu Ruotian was stunned. “???”

A tentacle shot toward his neck, but Guan Shize rushed over and yanked him back.

“Snap out of it!”

“But Junior Sister…” Qu Ruotian murmured.

Guan Shize said, “If Lian Mu dared to go in, she must have a plan. Let’s trust her this once.”

For some reason, Guan Shize had an unshakable faith in her. He felt that, for Lian Mu, this wasn’t anything she couldn’t handle.

If the Ground Skin Infant had eaten her, he would be worried. But since she jumped in willingly, he believed she had her reasons.

Pei Yunshang’s brows furrowed deeper and deeper. “We must get Junior Sister Lian back. That demonic creature can’t have gone far. Let’s go after it.”

“Be careful, Senior Sister. It seems stronger now,” Qu Ruotian warned.

Pei Yunshang nodded. “I know. It’s the effect of the Blood Moon Night. We’re unlucky. The red moon arrived early.”

Neither of them had ever heard of a “Blood Moon Night” before, but there was no time to ask. Finding Lian Mu was the top priority.

Pei Yunshang grabbed a handful of soil and sensed the lingering demonic qi. After the Ground Skin Infant disappeared underground, it had fled westward.

“This way.”

Just as the three of them began to move, a voice called from above. “Senior Sister Pei!”

Pei Yunshang paused and turned to see Gongxi Rong leading a team flying toward them.

“Why are you here?”

Xu Xianxing landed his silver kite and hopped off. “We came to team up with your group!”

He grinned and looked around for Lian Mu, only to realize she wasn’t there.

“Senior Sister Pei, where’s Lian Mu?”

Qu Ruotian answered gloomily, “Inside a demonic creature’s mouth.”

Xu Xianxing froze. “…”

Gongxi Rong and the other two disciples were visibly shocked.

“Junior Sister Lian… You’re joking, right? You two didn’t get eaten, how could she…”

“We’re doomed. Returning Immortal Sect is finished.”

Xu Xianxing stood there in a daze for several seconds before blinking back to reality. He had come looking for his good friend to team up, only to find out she was already in trouble. His mind went blank.

Pei Yunshang said, “It’s a long story. We have to find Junior Sister Lian first. The demonic creature that swallowed her fled west.”

“I’m coming too!” Xu Xianxing declared.

He hadn’t even warmed his feet on the ground before he scrambled back onto his silver kite. “Ride my spirit artifact. It’s fast.”

The group boarded their silver kites together. Without a second thought, Xu Xianxing shot off with a whoosh.

After they left, a silver kite appeared high in the sky. Onboard were members of the Azure Profound Sect.

Qian Songshi narrowed his eyes at the disappearing silver kite. “Where are they?”

Nangong Li replied, “The two teams have regrouped. The one you’re looking for, Lian Mu, isn’t among them. Something might have happened.”

Qian Songshi paused in thought, then said, “Forget it. Sooner or later, I’ll run into her.”

Nangong Li asked, “Why are you looking for her anyway?”

Qian Songshi smiled. “I just want to see what kind of skill it takes to seriously injure Senior Brother Ying.”

Nangong Li gave him a meaningful look. “I doubt that’s your only reason.”

Qian Songshi spread his hands. “Instead of worrying about my goals, Senior Sister, maybe you should think about how we’re going to survive the Night of the Red Moon.”

Nangong Li’s expression finally turned serious. After a moment of silence, she said, “We’ll take it one step at a time. Who would’ve thought the Night of the Red Moon would arrive half a month early? We’d better be cautious. For the next few nights, the Heavenly Return Palace will no longer shield the Shifang Nether Soil.”

…

…

Azure Profound Sect, Clear Lotus Water Pavilion.

Green lotus leaves encircled the wooden pavilion, and half-bloomed pink lotuses gave off a faint, elegant fragrance. Verdant mountains, clear waters, birdsong, and floral scents filled the air.

In the pavilion at the center of the lotus pond, two people sat across from each other, playing chess.

“What’s on your mind?”

Xie Yunshan placed a black piece on the board and asked casually.

Ying You’s fingers curled slightly, his gaze evasive. “Nothing. Master, your chess skills are too good. I can’t beat you.”

Xie Yunshan said, “Look at you. Can’t even lie with a straight face.”

Ying You replied, “Master… you knew I wanted to watch the sect’s Image Projection, but you deliberately kept me here to play chess with you.”

Hearing the faint grievance in his tone, Xie Yunshan chuckled. “So you’re all grown up now, and even spending time with your master feels like a chore?”

Ying You said, “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“You want to see that person from the Returning Immortal Sect, don’t you?” Xie Yunshan tapped his teacup with a finger. “Ever since her last visit, you’ve swapped out all your tea for wine. You noticed she didn’t like tea, so you changed it. I haven’t seen you go to such lengths for anyone else.”

Ying You’s expression didn’t change. “Master, you’re overthinking it. I’ve just been training my alcohol tolerance lately, that’s all. If you don’t like wine, I can have someone bring you a pot of fresh tea.”

“Now that’s more like it. Keep that expression next time you lie,” Xie Yunshan said.

Ying You: “…”

“Alright, since you’re so hung up on it, I’ll let you have a look.” Xie Yunshan pulled a letter and an image-recording stone from his sleeve. “This is a letter Shang Liu brought back. Lian Mu asked him to pass it on to you. And this image-recording stone—I got it from someone in the Returning Immortal Sect. It’s a personal Image Projection of hers.”

Ying You didn’t open the letter. He carefully stored it in his spatial pouch and chose to look at the image-recording stone first.

Seeing the smile finally return to his eyes, Xie Yunshan shook his head and stood up to admire the lotus flowers outside the pavilion.

“The Sect Master said that once this matter with the Shifang Nether Soil is over, you’ll be reinstated as Chief Disciple. But I think it’s too soon. Only when the demonic mark on you is completely purged can you return to the Immortal Sect Grand Competition. Otherwise, that person from the Returning Immortal Sect will always be a threat.”

“I know your feelings for her aren’t ordinary, but she’s still from the Returning Immortal Sect. And she’s entered your Heart Realm Trial—no one knows how much she saw.”

“After the Immortal Sect Grand Competition ends, I’ll support you in pursuing the one you love. If it works out, it would be a joyous occasion for the Azure Profound Sect. But until then, I hope you’ll put the sect first. Don’t let emotions cloud your judgment. She’s a sword cultivator too, and ranked with you on the Magnolia Ranking. I don’t want to see you give up the top spot just to please her. That would be an insult—not just to you or to her, but to every sword cultivator in the Four Great Sects.”

When Xie Yunshan finished speaking, he waited a long time but got no reply from Ying You.

Feeling something was off, he turned around and saw Ying You’s face had gone pale. His fingers trembled slightly as he held the image-recording stone.

Xie Yunshan asked, “What’s wrong?”

Ying You blinked slowly, then said, “…Master, I want to go to the Shifang Nether Soil.”