Heartless Wudu

Ti Ying looked at the refined yet aloof young man before her.

Setting aside his peculiar appearance, the feat of his primordial spirit leaving his body required profound cultivation. Was this truly the cheap Senior Brother she knew? With so many ghost souls following him, could that not be all of his secrets?

Ti Ying immediately became angry.

She disregarded burying the corpses and ran to kill the Wu Zhi Hui. But the entity didn't need her help at all.

Ti Ying turned and left.

In the vast depths of the forest, a great demon was raging terrifyingly, yet this little girl simply left... Even someone as composed as Jiang Xue He was surprised.

As he was surprised, his spellcasting was affected, and Suan Yu let out a frantic, agonizing scream: "Aah—"

Thanks to the Ghost Locking Array of Wudu Forest, he was eternally trapped here but could not die here. Suan Yu was originally not afraid of Jiang Xue He, but this Jiang Xue He was too powerful, having actually cultivated a primordial spirit...

Only the elders of Yu Jing Sect possessed such ability. And if he had strength comparable to the elders, then breaking the array to kill Suan Yu seemed not impossible.

The ferocious great demon was now panicked, truly sensing his own death. He naturally didn't want to die, so he summoned all the foul ghosts to attack Jiang Xue He.

Behind, Suan Yu's cries were too mournful.

Ti Ying heard it and felt her scalp tingle, her heart pounding.

She couldn't help but stop, hesitantly peeking behind her—

Just one look.

She saw Jiang Xue He thrown back by Suan Yu.

That cheap Senior Brother flipped in the air, then once again lunged towards Suan Yu.

His agile figure, his hood fluttering... Hmph, hateful!

But if she didn't help, wouldn't this Senior Brother, who was so good at fighting, take all the credit for killing the Wu Zhi Hui?

That wouldn't do.

A sudden change occurred—

The mountains shook violently, the ground swayed, trees fell, and rocks flew.

Chaotic spiritual energy spread from one direction in Wudu Forest, and Suan Yu was horrified to find that the demonic power around him was rapidly eroding.

Ti Ying couldn't stand firm.

Just as she was about to hit the nearby cliff, the black-clad young man flew over, embraced her waist, and held the girl, who was falling backward, tightly in his arms.

His hand pressed against the back of her neck, protecting her delicate little head from being scraped and bleeding by the mountain rocks.

The hair tie on his wrist brushed Ti Ying's face.

His primordial spirit returned to his body. Jiang Xue He lowered his head, his deep voice sounding close to her ear: "You..."

Ti Ying grabbed his hand, anxiously pointing forward: "Aah aah aah aah—"

She pointed at Suan Yu, wanting to say that the priority now was to kill the demon, but in the critical moment, her mind went blank, and she couldn't remember the demon's name. She stomped her foot in frustration. Jiang Xue He didn't expect his Junior Sister, who was in his arms, to still dare to jump around.

Their bodies swayed, and they both fell downwards.

Ti Ying frantically hugged Senior Brother: "Oh—"

Amidst the collapsing world and their fall, Ti Ying heard the young man's hoarse, helpless voice: "Be good."

—

The anomaly in the mountains originated from Chen Da.

Chen Da had dug up twenty-eight coins, each symbolizing a star locking the formation.

When the last coin was dug up, he no longer heard any sounds.

The world was silent.

The wilderness was desolate.

Chen Da looked up at the high moon and the faint stars.

He clutched the mud-stained coin in his hand, bewildered: I've dug up all the coins, but the formation still isn't destroyed?

He lowered his head to look at the mud-stained coins, a helpless smile on his face.

Never mind, wishing to change fate was merely a dream of a fool...

"Boom—"

A powerful current of air, like a whirlwind, roared out from the grave where the coins were dug up, sweeping everything away.

The entire mountain shook.

Chen Da was thrown to the ground, seeing the world spinning, grass and trees in disarray—he had successfully broken the formation!

He was overjoyed, crawling up from the ground, not caring if the demons in the forest heard him, running and shouting wildly:

"Suan Yu, run! Run quickly—"

—

The Ghost Locking Array shattered. Suan Yu, after fighting Jiang Xue He, had lost a large amount of demonic power. The formation that had both imprisoned and aided him had disappeared. He was the first to feel it.

He tried to touch the invisible shackles of heaven and earth with his demonic body. This time, no force pushed him back into the depths of the forest. He could breathe the air outside Wudu Forest.

Freedom seemed within reach, but Suan Yu—who had always been immersed in the game of the ghost bride—felt bewildered.

Faintly in his ears, he heard a voice echoing throughout Wudu Forest: "Suan Yu, run, run!"

At this moment, Jiang Xue He landed with Ti Ying in his arms.

Suan Yu transformed into a stream of light, soaring towards the sky, flying out of Wudu Forest.

The mountains were still shaking. The two Senior Brother and Junior Sister landed. Ti Ying frantically stumbled. She had just taken one step away from Jiang Xue He when she fell back towards him.

Jiang Xue He noticed a large patch of blood on Ti Ying's abdomen.

He was immediately alarmed.

Ti Ying was busy watching the demon, her chin lifted by Jiang Xue He.

Through his hood, Jiang Xue He's gaze lingered on her pale face: "Who injured you?"

Ti Ying was unhappy: "Hmph!"

She pushed his hand away, wanting to pursue the fleeing great demon, but because the mountains were shaking violently, she had to cling to his hand again.

What was she rushing for?

Ti Ying: "Demon demon demon... Idiot, the demon ran away!"

His Junior Sister only knew how to hmph, and refused to explain how she was injured. Jiang Xue He had a headache from his Junior Sister's resentful and angry shouts.

He simply gripped Ti Ying's hand tightly and led her soaring into the night sky.

—

Suan Yu didn't get far.

The condition for breaking the Ghost Locking Array was that his demonic power had to be weakened.

Jiang Xue He was highly skilled. His Junior Sister, though less skilled, had learned a variety of miscellaneous spells and talismans, knowing a bit of everything, including tracking spells and talismans.

Suan Yu had barely left Wudu Forest by a mile when a blue light slashed from behind, and he spat blood, collapsing to the ground.

Jiang Xue He led Ti Ying down from the sky.

He was worried about the bloodstains on her, so he kept her hand tightly in his.

Ti Ying's attention was entirely on the demon. Senior Brother's hand was rough, but her Master's hand used to be the same. She was used to being led by others.

Suan Yu turned his head, looking at the two with fear: "You are merely here for a trial. I have left Wudu Forest. If you leave, Yu Jing Sect will count you as winners. Why must you pursue me to the death?"

Jiang Xue He said coldly: "You are the Wu Zhi Hui."

The Wu Zhi Hui ruled over demons, condoned the proliferation of foul ghosts, and caused immense harm to the human world.

Suan Yu roared: "It's all because Yu Jing Sect locked me here that I became the Wu Zhi Hui. A female disciple of Yu Jing Sect deceived my feelings. I am the victim..."

His face was ferocious. His final effort caused his body to contort, revealing his true form as a giant snake, and he shrieked, lunging towards the two Senior Brother and Junior Sister.

Jiang Xue He cast a spell in retaliation, interrupting his lament: "Do you remember why you were sealed by Yu Jing Sect?"

Suan Yu, who was hovering in the air, suddenly froze.

Jiang Xue He said: "Ancient texts record that wherever Suan Yu appears, there will be terror. You were born bringing disaster."

Ti Ying listened, dazed, hastily flipping through the jade slip in her bosom to find information about the demon.

This wasn't written in the jade slip. How did he know? Was he so learned? How annoying!

Jiang Xue He continued: "But you didn't want to leave human habitation. Perhaps for a long time, you truly didn't cause disaster, but five years ago, there was a great drought, and crops failed."

Ti Ying frantically flipped through the jade slip, trying to recognize the characters—so tiring!

Jiang Xue He's voice was gentle but cruel: "The great drought was not your fault, but out of pity for the drought-stricken common people, you brought down a rain. Your cultivation was insufficient, and that rain turned into a flood. That year, over a thousand people died. This place falls under the jurisdiction of Yu Jing Sect. A great demon arbitrarily cast spells and caused disaster. Yu Jing Sect naturally had to capture you."

Blue light flowed around Jiang Xue He, and murderous intent surged once more.

Suan Yu was as if struck by a club, jolted awake. The old memories, forgotten when he transformed into the Wu Zhi Hui, were now exposed. His resentment paused. His weakened demonic power didn't allow him to erupt for long, and he reverted to human form.

Suan Yu mumbled: "...I didn't, I don't remember... I was deceived by a female disciple of Yu Jing Sect..."

Seeing the demon about to lose control, Jiang Xue He's sleeves fluttered: "Those whom you harmed told me themselves. I was entrusted by them to kill you."

Suan Yu looked at him blankly: "I don't remember..."

Jiang Xue He frowned.

Ti Ying, who was flipping through the jade slip, suddenly looked up. She remembered the myriad of wronged souls and wild ghosts following him... Heavens.

But then Ti Ying stomped her foot. She saw Suan Yu had lost the will to live, sitting dazedly on the ground, waiting for death. She was worried to death.

She, she, she was supposed to be the great hero who killed the Wu Zhi Hui... If this cheap Senior Brother became the great hero, Yu Jing Sect would only remember him, and a small fry like her would be forgotten.

But what could Ti Ying do? Compete with this hateful Senior Brother? She doubted if she could defeat him...

While Ti Ying was conflicted, a panting male voice, filled with pleading, sounded: "Wait, wait... Immortal masters, please wait a moment."

Ti Ying and Jiang Xue He turned around to see Chen Da, dusty and exhausted, running towards them. The hunter was covered in sweat and blood, having expended who knows how much effort to escape Wudu Forest.

Chen Da embraced the bewildered Suan Yu, sadly saying: "Immortal masters, please wait a moment, let me say a word to my old friend! I deliberately destroyed the formation to release him. I want him to live, but I also know that powerful people like you will surely not let him live... I only hope he dies outside, not in Wudu Forest. Suan Yu, Suan Yu, do you still remember me? I am the little shepherd boy, the little hunter you watched grow up! Yu Jing Sect made you live worse than death. You only remember the immortal maiden who killed you, only remember the cold-heartedness of that woman on your wedding night, but you don't remember what kind of demon you were before, what kind of life you lived.

The immortal disciple who wants to kill me says I harmed a thousand people, and Chen Da—who always sneaked up the mountain—says I have friends?

Who exactly am I?

Jiang Xue He stood still, saying nothing, his hood fluttering, his demeanor like jade.

In the sorrowful silence, Ti Ying looked left and right, then suddenly spoke: "Suan Yu must die."

Jiang Xue He glanced at her: Did Junior Sister remember the great demon's name?

Ti Ying puffed out her chest: "I have a spell that can purify demonic essences and ghosts. Isn't the Wu Zhi Hui born from foul energy and resentment? I can purify it—after purification, he will surely recover his memories, remember his past, right?"

Her former sect had a "Great Dream Spell." The Great Dream had four chapters: controlling ghosts and expelling ghosts, guiding souls and purifying souls, resurrecting the dead, and communicating with heaven and earth. She used this spell to summon ghost souls, and because of it, she was pursued by villains. Ti Ying didn't like learning this spell, nor was she good at it. But for the first time in her life, she felt that this not-so-proficient spell might be able to solve the current dilemma.

The young girl, covered in dirt and blood on her abdomen, took a step forward, pointing at Suan Yu: "I can try to purify you, help you recover your memories. But you must die by my hand. Do you agree?"

Ti Ying provocatively looked at Jiang Xue He, afraid he would steal her credit: "The person they need most right now is me. Senior Brother Jiang Xue, you have no problem with that, right?"

Jiang Xue He thought to himself: Who is Jiang Xue? Junior Sister doesn't remember his name, does she?

—

Ti Ying thought this was a good idea, killing two birds with one stone.

Unexpectedly, Chen Da was stunned after hearing it, and bitterly shook his head: "No need... that no longer has any meaning. I want my friend to leave cleanly. Our old affection doesn't need to be like the female disciple who deceived him, becoming shackles to bind him."

After Chen Da finished speaking, he slumped and stood up, retreating tearfully, looking at the great demon one last time with reluctance.

Ti Ying was unwilling: "But..."

Jiang Xue He suddenly spoke: "Little Ying, come here."

The hair tie on his wrist fluttered gently. He said to the man and the demon: "Chen Da is the real Suan Yu."

Time seemed to freeze after his words.