Chapter 136: Meeting

"Pavilion Master, representatives from the December Sect and Drunken Lu Bay request an audience."

Inside the hall, Wang Yili had just finished reporting a year's worth of work to the Pavilion Master when she heard a servant enter to announce the guests.

The December Sect, huh? It seems the Demon Realm barrier has broken quite thoroughly.

Wang Yili remained as calm as still water. When she had first encountered the evil spirits, her mind had been a mess of confusion. Although these bizarre creatures could be slain, they were something unheard of; new changes usually brought destruction rather than opportunity. But then, well, after killing enough of them, she became numb. Her vigilance was decreasing; at the very least, her heart no longer raced when she looked at an evil spirit.

The girl on the high seat was no different from a hundred years ago. Her appearance was frozen in time, and even her gaze had remained unchanged, as if the torrent of time had washed over the riverbed but specifically diverted around her.

As those amber almond eyes looked over, the messenger began to tremble, yet a faint layer of excitement lingered in the depths of their eyes. Who wouldn't want to gain the Pavilion Master’s appreciation?

From the perspective of the cultivation world, constant intimidation might eventually breed suppressed resentment. But in the Demon Realm, deterrence meant your strength was truly the greatest; over time, it became very easy to acquire a loyal "dog"—even if that dog might bite back the moment you showed a weakness. They were worshipful yet wary, opportunistic yet loyal.

The servant still remembered the grand rebellion during the turn of the last year. A group of people from unknown origins, for unknown purposes, attempted an assassination during the Master's banquet—this was reasonable and unsurprising, as assassinations in the Demon Realm were as common as daily meals.

To call it a "banquet" wasn't entirely accurate. The rulers of the Demon Realm always had their quirks and never followed convention; this current ruler was especially so. She had simply sat upon a very classical pavilion while everyone gathered to celebrate. Red curtains swayed in the wind on both sides, and candles and red lanterns bathed the small building in a warm, orange glow.

When blood suddenly appeared in the crowd, the servant had been beneath the pavilion preparing pastries for the Master.

"She is right there!" a man screamed, soaring into the air. He swung a massive sledgehammer toward the pavilion with a whistle of breaking air. Demonic Qi coiled around it, crushing tiles and earth wherever it passed. The previously lively crowd vanished instantly as everyone sought their own hiding spots. Occasionally, conflicts broke out over those hiding spots—silent, deadly skirmishes occurring before the assassination even reached them.

The servant had hurriedly hidden as well; after all, he was just a food server. At that moment, figures emerged from every shadow—behind shops, in the shade of trees, from beneath the earth, and from within the crowd—all carrying bloodthirsty intent.

Suddenly, a long spear flew from the pavilion, tracing a streak of silver light. It collided violently with the sledgehammer with a humming vibration. The man was forced to a halt; though he resisted the teleportation-like impact, his ribs were shattered, and he was sent crashing backward.

The servant knew this weapon. This was the weapon used by the "Blade" of the Pavilion Master, the spear

Vast Dust

. That spear repelled dozens of people in mid-air in rapid succession. But the number of assassins grew; it was clearly a well-premeditated plot involving high-level combatants. A grey vortex began to form in the sky due to the thick demonic Qi.

Amidst the moonlight, the person who had been inside the pavilion finally stepped out. Appearing as a young girl, her expression was indifferent. The moment her sword left its sheath, the storm ceased. No one knew the Master’s exact strength; they only knew she was powerful, and perhaps became even stronger after each period of seclusion.

The massive assassination attempt ended in such a simple fashion. There was nothing flashy about it—a simple rise and fall of a blade—but it was all the more heart-shaking. At the very least, the servant’s own heart throbbed with excitement. From then on, he worked hard to climb the ranks until he reached the position of guarding the Master’s door.

Delivering the message from the gate guards, the servant felt no worry. The December Sect, a sect of the cultivation world... in short, they couldn't possibly be stronger than the Pavilion Master!

Zora didn't know the people of the Demon Realm were so full of confidence in her. The December Sect... the final plot had arrived. Although it wasn't a massive plot, just a fierce battle.

"Let them in," Zora said, already sensing them.

"Master..."

As the servant and Wang Yili retreated, Vane stepped out from behind the curtain. His beautifully shaped eyes lifted slightly to look at her, his brow furrowed. His features, which were originally sharp and edged, were forcibly pulled into a piteous expression.

The moment he saw Zora, he knew she had been remembering the people from the December Sect. Swallowing a mysterious sense of jealousy, he said, "It’s better to inform them about the matter of the evil spirits." They couldn't let the people of the Demon Realm be the only ones on the front lines.

"I intended to do so anyway," Zora said somewhat blandly. In the long years of cultivation, she didn't have the sentimental streak required for tearful reunions.

Vane blinked and drew closer, leaning down to smooth Zora’s sleeve. As he withdrew his hand, he caught her hand resting on the table and gave it a gentle squeeze. Zora’s drifting daze broke; she looked over, and he let go, stepping to the side.

The guests arrived. The servant opened the door, and three people entered. One was a middle-aged woman whom Zora recognized as Turi Qi; another was Yiling Ke, who still maintained her youthful appearance; and finally, He Songning, who had restored his young face and looked utterly resigned to life.

Vane gestured politely for them to be seated. The three glanced at him and sat on the left side of the hall.

Turi Qi had never imagined meeting again under these circumstances. However, upon careful thought, it felt reasonable. While powerful rogue cultivators in the cultivation world could live a life of leisure, it was difficult in the Demon Realm. The Demon Realm was heavily influenced by the style of its ruler. In the Demon Realm Turi Qi had known long ago, the ruler was hedonistic and oppression was rampant; rogue cultivators couldn't survive at all.

Furthermore... Turi Qi wanted to see if the other party had fallen into the demonic path, but the fluctuations coming from Zora were almost nonexistent. She steadied herself, putting aside stray thoughts for the sake of the business at hand. "Junior Sister Zora."

Vane wanted to say something, but he glanced at Zora and saw her expression was normal, so he suppressed his retort.

"...Junior Brother Vane," Turi Qi continued, "the Demon Realm barrier is fluctuating wildly. Moreover, we have found that the Demon Realm does not seem stable right now. Representing the December Sect, I wish to ask the reason."

Yiling Ke had been staring at Zora since she walked through the door. Hearing this, she added, "And for us at Drunken Lu Bay. Is the boundary between the Demon and Cultivation Realms about to vanish?"

Zora: "Mhm... it probably won't." She looked at Vane. "You tell them."

"Yes."

Vane looked toward the two, while He Songning had long since shrunk into a corner, closing his eyes to act as an invisible person.

As Turi Qi looked at him, she felt as if she were finding traces of the past. After all, Zora and Vane seemed not to have changed at all; they were exactly the same. Vane’s edge remained, and Zora’s pure bluntness had not diminished. Back at the December Sect, Junior Brother Vane had always followed Junior Sister Zora, doing whatever she said. His expression was identical to the past, and he still treated everyone other than Zora with a sense of distance.

...She shouldn't really call her "Junior Sister" to her face anymore, as Zora now held a much higher status. It was just that Turi Qi couldn't find another title in the moment, and it slipped out. Conversely, she and Yiling Ke had undergone earth-shaking changes—at the very least, they were more weighed down by concerns and more focused on the interests of their respective sects.

Vane summarized the situation concisely. During this time, he had already figured out the emergence points, weaknesses, and habits of the evil spirits.

Turi Qi’s brow furrowed tightly. "If it is truly as you say, the December Sect will naturally take responsibility."

Yiling Ke nodded to herself. "It sounds like it will be a bitter struggle." And it would inevitably affect the cultivation and human realms.

Filled with worry, Turi Qi spoke faster: "In three days at most, I will bring the December Sect to the location Junior Brother Vane mentioned. It is not far from the time of the outbreak you predicted."

Yiling Ke: "Then I must arrive a day early; I need to set up arrays."

Time was tight, so the guests didn't say much more. Turi Qi and the others didn't even realize they were still instinctively trusting Zora and Vane—perhaps because the two really were almost the same as in the past.

As they rose to leave and were nearly out of the room, Zora seemed to remember something. "Wait."

They turned back to see Zora standing up. Her slightly wrinkled hem fell into place. Sunlight streamed in from the open door, reflecting in the amber of her eyes. Zora thought about what one should say according to common social rules.

"Did I forget to say: long time no see."

Turi Qi was stunned. Even though she knew nothing of Zora’s current life—how she became the Pavilion Master, whether the changes in the Demon Realm were her doing, or why Senior Brother He was staying here so willingly—it was like meeting an old friend in the midst of an earthquake. One doesn't waste time asking questions, or perhaps, one simply no longer knows how to ask about personal matters.

"Exactly! It has been a very, very long time since we met!" Yiling Ke laughed, breaking Turi Qi’s train of thought.

"We..." Turi Qi met Zora’s gaze. In an instant, she remembered the past—memories she hadn't touched in a long time, such as a hug. Then, Turi Qi’s voice stabilized, becoming more resolute. "We will arrive in three days."

"See you in two days," Yiling Ke smiled.

As the door was about to close, He Songning glanced at the smiling Vane and immediately slipped out after them.

Zora was still looking at the door when she was suddenly embraced gently from the side, her arms pinned down by the hug. Clearly, this person had learned her "bear hug." Just as Zora was about to turn her face, Vane lowered his head, pressing his face against the side of her forehead. His expression was hidden, but his words were comforting.

"The evil spirits are nothing to be afraid of. I’ve found they can be controlled, but those who control them will eventually suffer a backlash."

Zora knew he hadn't controlled the spirits like in the original plot—otherwise, she would have sensed the aura—so she waited for him to finish. However, as he rubbed his face against her forehead, she became slightly annoyed by the frictional heat and gave him a nudge with her head.

Vane followed her lead, simply leaning against her and moving no more.

"...Such things that can be controlled are naturally no threat." As he spoke, his eyes narrowed slightly as if with a shallow smile.

Well... wasn't he himself controlled by Zora the moment they met?

"It’s just that after the evil spirits are eliminated, there will inevitably be the issue of cultivators entering the Demon Realm. Not to mention there are people in the December Sect who remember us..."

"What does it matter if they remember?"

"..." Vane fell silent for a moment, rubbed against her once more, and let out a short laugh. "Right. what does it matter if they remember."

She couldn't understand the subtle psychology of the clingy man beside her. Because Zora showed no lingering attachment to any place, he followed her closely and would continue to do so. He was only afraid that there might be places where they couldn't be together, forcing a period of separation.

Over the years, he had even waited at her door every day during her seclusions, needing to feel she was still there to be at peace. Now, he simply couldn't accept being forced apart for too long, not knowing Zora’s location or being unable to find her.

Meeting her made him want only to look at her; being separated by seclusion made him feel as if his heart had been hollowed out—a kind of death. On the surface, he remained unruffled, maintaining the operations of the Immortal-Slaying Pavilion according to her commands and restraining himself, so his increasingly severe "lovesickness" had caused no major issues.

Just like now, hearing her answer, he thought for the thirty-thousandth time:

It would be great if we could be together every single moment.

It was also the thirty-thousandth and first time he calmed himself down.

Better finish her orders first—like reorganizing the demonic army.