"Hmm?!"
At Tian Ran Ju, Lin Zhao, who was sitting by the window observing the tempering of his flying sword, suddenly looked up. He saw a streak of emerald light shoot into the sky, forming an arc towards the demon army's tents on Pan Yun Mountain. In that instant, his heart began to pound uncontrollably. A strange premonition surged through him, and he hastily urged his flying sword, Red Leaf, to trail a long sword light towards Wang Yue's residence.
Down the mountain, a young scholar emerged from He Feng Academy. Gu Lingyu also stepped out, breaking through the wind and heading straight for the villa on the mountain peak.
Furthermore, Xiu Zhi and Tang Guang Jun arrived by sword almost simultaneously from the east and west.
The four arrived at Wang Yue's dwelling at the same time.
"Wang Yue!"
Lin Zhao didn't even think, directly pushing open Wang Yue's room door. He saw that the bed in the bedroom was empty. Wang Yue was long gone. Moreover, a faint trace of demonic energy lingered here. Lin Zhao immediately guessed what had happened and sharply turned his gaze towards the north of the mountain, a wave of inexplicable sorrow washing over him.
"Little Martial Uncle..."
Gu Lingyu's face was filled with guilt, his brow furrowed. "It was the Great Demon Yu Zhi's dream-entering technique. I was too careless, failing to notice Yu Zhi's malicious intent. I'm sorry, Little Martial Uncle, I..."
"Lingyu."
Lin Zhao frowned. "There's no use saying this now. Think of a way to fix it..."
"It's almost impossible to fix."
Tang Guang Jun's expression was grave. "Dream-entering is a forbidden demon art that can directly extract a person's soul and physique from their dreams. So, even though Wang Yue is in the villa on the mountain peak, her willpower is too weak, and the hatred hidden in her heart is too deep. She was easily drawn into a dream by Yu Zhi. Now that she's fallen into the tiger's den, it's irreversible."
"Tang Guang Jun!"
Lin Zhao glared at him. "Even if there's no way, you have to think of one. If we all give up, Wang Yue will truly be beyond saving!"
"..."
Xiu Zhi's beautiful eyes were like water. In fact, she had sensed at that very moment a fluctuation of soul transference from the north. Wang Yue had already been possessed; in reality, she was already dead.
"Sir."
Xiu Zhi said softly, "It's too late..."
"Go to North Mountain!"
"Yes!"
Late at night, Lin Zhao ascended on his sword, leading Xiu Zhi, Gu Lingyu, and Tang Guang Jun towards North Mountain. The moment they arrived, two figures rose from Jiu Zhang Yuan. One was Yu Zhi, and the other was a slender, graceful maiden in a black dress. It was Wang Yue, but her expression was no longer the same as before.
"Yu Zhi!"
Lin Zhao stood on his flying sword, Red Leaf, raising his hand to draw the immortal sword Li Quan. His gaze was stern. "How can you be so despicable and shameless?"
"War is deception, how can it be despicable?"
Yu Zhi placed a hand on her hip, her charm unfurling as she smiled at Lin Zhao. "Marshal Lin, it's been a while. Why are you so fierce the moment we meet? We haven't had a chance to sit down for a cup of tea and catch up in so many years. May I ask, after all these years, have you ever thought of me, your old rival?"
Lin Zhao's sword brows furrowed. "Yes, I've thought of tearing your head off!"
"Tsk tsk~~~"
Yu Zhi chuckled, her body shaking with laughter. After a while, she covered her chest with one hand and said, "As expected of Lin Bai Yi of Xue Yu Tian Chi. Your imposing demeanor and attitude make one want to strike you dead with a single palm."
"Wang Yue!"
Lin Zhao looked at Wang Yue beside Yu Zhi and called out in a low voice.
"Hmph..."
The "Wang Yue" crossed her arms, her eyes filled with arrogance, a look of disdain for all under heaven. She laughed, "Marshal Lin, don't misunderstand. This humble girl is not the human girl Wang Yue, but Shi Jun Gang, the commander of the demon army. I've disappointed Marshal Lin, hahahahaha~~~"
Gu Lingyu's Confucian qi surged, his sleeves billowing, ready to act at any moment.
Tang Guang Jun and Xiu Zhi also drew their swords.
"Wait..."
Lin Zhao frowned, signaling his companions not to act rashly.
He looked at Yu Zhi and Shi Jun Gang before him and spoke to Gu Lingyu in his mind. "Lingyu, Wang Yue has been possessed. Is there any chance of getting her back?"
"It's almost impossible."
Gu Lingyu sighed. "Wang Yue's realm is too low, and she harbors obsessions. Her soul power was originally weak, let alone being possessed by a demon of the upper five realms. Shi Jun Gang's soul power has already filled that exquisite body. Even with the methods of a sage, if we were to reclaim the body, Wang Yue would not be able to withstand a body that has been refined by the soul of an upper five realms cultivator. The moment her soul is retrieved, it will be crushed by the physical body."
"..."
Lin Zhao's heart felt extremely pained.
His eyes turned red. "Yu Zhi, you possessed Wang Yue, not just for an exquisite body, right?"
"Naturally."
Yu Zhi crossed her arms and chuckled. "My dear Lin Zhao, do you remember the promise you made on the mountain peak of the villa? You said you would take Wang Yue south to pay respects to her parents. Tsk tsk, our Marshal Lin is truly formidable, a man of his word, taking on all responsibilities. Now, Wang Yue has only a fragile soul left. How can you, Lin Zhao, fulfill your promise?"
She sneered, "A disciple of Qin Sui Han, yet merely a man who breaks his promises and goes back on his word. Is there anything more ridiculous in this world? I think not."
"Where is Wang Yue?!"
Lin Zhao said in a deep voice, "Where did you take Wang Yue's soul?"
"Senior Martial Sister."
Yu Zhi smiled. "Let Marshal Lin see, and let him give up hope."
"Yes."
Shi Jun Gang flicked her sleeves, and a green lamp appeared in her hand. A flickering flame burned within the lamp, and within the flame, there seemed to be the sound of a woman crying. Shi Jun Gang looked at Lin Zhao, her lips full of venom. "Marshal Lin, do you see? This is a Soul-Burning Celestial Lamp. Wang Yue was, after all, a martial artist of the third realm. Her soul is not too strong, but it can burn for several hundred years. The torment she endures is beyond words, all thanks to Marshal Lin!"
Lin Zhao probed with his consciousness and immediately detected the soul power within the green lamp. When he opened his eyes, Wang Yue stood before him, tears streaming down her face, looking at him. "Brother Lin Zhao... Brother Lin Zhao..."
"Wang Yue..."
Lin Zhao's heart felt like it was being sliced by a knife. Guilt surged within him, and he felt as if his internal organs were being torn apart. He frowned, his spiritual sea violently shaking and cracking. He stumbled and fell from his flying sword, Red Leaf, onto the cliff. Kneeling on one knee, he pressed his hands against the cliff and spat out a mouthful of blood. His entire being felt drained of conviction. In the next second, he had fallen from a Golden Core sword cultivator to the seventh realm.
...
"Hahahahaha~~~~"
In the distance, Yu Zhi looked at Lin Zhao's miserable state and couldn't help but laugh heartily with her hands on her hips, as if she were happier than winning any major victory. She pointed at Lin Zhao and said, "Marshal Lin, why bother? You put so many rules on yourself. Is it necessary? You broke your promise, so you broke it. What can be done? You are the Lord of Xue Yu Tian Chi. Why torment yourself for a little girl?"
"Sir!"
Xiu Zhi floated down, supporting Lin Zhao's arm. "Are... are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
Lin Zhao shook his head.
Gu Lingyu frowned, remaining silent. Tang Guang Jun looked as if he was about to draw his sword and attack, but Lin Zhao's gaze stopped him. It was unnecessary. Great Demon Yu Zhi was an extremely intelligent person. Since she dared to appear at Jiu Zhang Yuan, she must have a backup plan. If they attacked now, they would surely be at a disadvantage. Su Qing Jiu was in the critical stage of refining his flying sword, Bai Yu, and could not be disturbed, otherwise, she would have come too. Yu Zhi had precisely seized this opportunity.
However, Lin Zhao had never expected to fall in his realm because of this.
"Let's go back."
His eyes were blood red, and he seemed possessed. He signaled Xiu Zhi not to help him, swaying a few times before standing steady. His gaze, filled with killing intent, fell upon Yu Zhi and Shi Jun Gang. He frowned. "We'll meet again. We'll see."
Yu Zhi and Shi Jun Gang smiled and retreated, their hearts already bursting with joy.
...
Tian Ran Ju.
In the study, Lin Zhao lay on his bed. Although his player attributes had not decreased, his realm had indeed returned to the seventh realm. He didn't intend to play the endless mode to earn back the eighth realm; it was unnecessary. He would regain this realm in the same way he lost it. Moreover, Lin Zhao's state of mind had been greatly affected, not only in the game but also in reality.
From a young age, he had always believed in one truth: his words were his bond, and his actions had consequences. As the saying goes, a person without faith is incomprehensible. If one cannot even do this most basic thing, how can they be called a gentleman, how can they face the world with a clear conscience? At the very least, he had failed that suffering girl.
He looked at the moonlight outside, his heart growing more oppressive, his guilt increasing. Especially when Wang Yue's beautiful face appeared in his mind, Lin Zhao's self-blame and guilt intensified.
If Mr. Qin were in his shoes, what would he do?
He closed his eyes. This broken promise had plunged Wang Yue into an abyss. How could he make amends? How could he find peace in his heart again?
Outside Tian Ran Ju, Xiu Zhi, Tong Yu, and Dong Cang sat quietly by the lotus pond, their faces filled with worry. The heart demon had always been the most difficult to resolve. This tribulation of the heart would likely have to be overcome by Lin Zhao himself.
...
The Ancestral Court of the Military.
In front of the water缸, the scholar in green robes circulated his divine ability, watching his junior martial brother curled up on the bed, tormented by self-blame and guilt, like a small shrimp. His eyes reddened, and he felt immense pain. In the past, hadn't he been the same? The charcoal suicide in Wuyuan, his state of mind was almost identical to Lin Zhao's now. If Tang Yun hadn't been by his side, everything might have been irreversible.
Looking at Lin Zhao now, the scholar in green robes sighed.
Beside him, Bing Xian Han Xin, dressed in white, frowned. "Scholars practice self-discipline and introspection. Lin Zhao is also Mr. Qin's disciple, so his requirements for his state of mind are probably higher than anyone else's. He is a disciple of the Confucian Sage, inheriting the favor of the Han Niu Sword and Mr. Qin's expectations. The thing Lin Zhao fears most in this life is probably disappointing Mr. Qin. At this moment, his heart demon is likely the fear that Mr. Qin's spirit in heaven will be disappointed in him."
"No need to say more."
Ding Mu Chen's eyes were slightly red. "He is my junior martial brother, Ding Mu Chen. He is the one and only Lin Zhao in this world. My junior martial brother is the kindest person in the world. He will surely break through this severe heart demon. And perhaps..."
His nose twitched with emotion. "Perhaps he can also teach me, his senior martial brother, how to break my own heart demon."
Bing Xian sighed, unable to help.