As I lead Yingmei through the jungle, Zhou Ju suddenly asks, "Why did you kill him?" Yingmei asks, confused, "Who?" He had killed countless demons and beasts; he didn't know which one Zhou Ju was referring to. Zhou Ju asks with a stern face, "That fox named Feng Wenyuan?" Yingmei calmly replies, "Because he wanted to kill me." "Weren't you friends?" "Friends? What is a friend?" "Isn't Feng Wenyuan your friend?" Hearing Zhou Ju's words, Yingmei ponders for a long time before saying, "Is a friend someone who wants to kill you?" Zhou Ju is momentarily speechless, quickening his pace and waving his hand, saying, "Never mind that, never mind that!

You'll know when you have friends in the future!" "When I have friends..." At that moment, neither Zhou Ju nor Yingmei could have foreseen that this time limit would stretch across so many years to come... "We killed him; I remember now," Zhou Ying tells Liu Di and Gui'er. "He lived with us for a while and even taught me a few spells.

Later, he tried to kill me, so I killed him." He narrates the past events simply. Liu Di shrugs, "I knew that ages ago. You even took so long to think about it!

What about that woman? His old flame came looking for revenge, didn't she?" "She is Yue Ronghuan. Feng Wenyuan was still calling her name when he died." "As expected..." Liu Di shrugs again.

"I found out where that woman is living. What are you going to do? Should we strike first?

Should we rush in and..." As he speaks, he clenches his fist and makes a fierce expression. Zhou Ying remains silent, saying nothing for a long time. Yue Ronghuan descends the high steps of the hospital, Nan Yu following behind her.

The two women cross the crowded square and stop in a secluded corner. Yue Ronghuan stares coldly at Nan Yu. This woman's strength seems even greater than what she had heard, but Yue Ronghuan had prepared herself to face the strongest demon in Lixin City, so she didn't care if Nan Yu matched the rumors or not.

"I don't mind testing my skills against you before Zhou Ying," Nan Yu says lightly. "If your feet step onto the hospital grounds again, you will no longer have the right to choose 'no'." "Heh heh, I've killed quite a few zombies. You're the first one I've met who's so arrogant?" Although Yue Ronghuan has taken the form of an ordinary-looking woman, her innate charm is hard to conceal.

A smile from her at this moment is like a hundred flowers blooming, even causing Nan Yu's eyes to light up. Nan Yu slowly reaches up to adjust her hair and says, "Is that so? A Nine-Tailed Fox?

I've killed a few Nine-Tailed Foxes myself. They were all as arrogant as you." Yue Ronghuan stares at Nan Yu. The composed look on the zombie's face suddenly makes her, who was previously full of confidence, feel uncertain.

In this tense standoff, facing each other blade-to-blade, the opponent isn't emitting even a trace of demonic energy; instead, a peaceful and profound aura constantly surrounds her. Even a zombie who has transformed into a Golden-Haired Hou might not possess such ability. This is no ordinary zombie!

Looking at the self-possessed Nan Yu, Yue Ronghuan feels an inexplicable sense of annoyance brewing in her heart. After Feng Wenyuan left their hometown, Yue Ronghuan caused a huge scene, claiming he must have been harmed. Her parents also felt that the son-in-law they had once favored seemed to have poor character, and the marriage was naturally called off.

On the surface, Yue Ronghuan was heartbroken over Feng Wenyuan's uncertain fate and refused to leave home afterward, dedicating herself to secluded cultivation. In reality, after reading Feng Wenyuan's message, she knew clearly that he was not dead. She thought, instead of waiting for Feng Wenyuan’s unknown return, she might as well go pursue him herself.

For him, Yue Ronghuan was willing to forsake her Nine-Tailed Fox identity and even her family, preferring to wander the world with him. Yue Ronghuan cultivated diligently for nearly a century. She understood that in this world, possessing family glory was less real than having personal strength.

Therefore, only after believing she could handle the dangers of the outside world did she leave a note and her home, embarking on the long journey to find her beloved. The hardships endured on the journey are indescribable, but the conviction to see Feng Wenyuan was what sustained her. Yue Ronghuan miscalculated one thing: she assumed that if Feng Wenyuan wished to become powerful, he would certainly not choose the Human Realm, which was the most unsuitable place for demon cultivation.

However, Feng Wenyuan went there precisely to alleviate the pressure of survival. After years of searching, Yue Ronghuan finally obtained news of Feng Wenyuan, but the news came too late; Feng Wenyuan had already been annihilated under Bi Fang's attack. Hearing the terrible news, Yue Ronghuan's sorrow was indescribable.

If she had known that the fleeting moment they passed each other was an eternal farewell, why hadn't she thrown herself into his arms then, dying with him? Why did she wait for hundreds of years of separation only to endure the pain of permanent loss? Yue Ronghuan hated Zhou Ying, the murderer of Feng Wenyuan, to the core.

Before seeking revenge, she proceeded with extreme caution, investigating him thoroughly—his friends, his skills, his experiences. Yue Ronghuan felt that in some matters, Zhou Ying himself might not know as much as she did. Her goal wasn't merely to kill Zhou Ying—for a Nine-Tailed Fox, eliminating a low-level Yingmei was an easy task.

She wanted Zhou Ying to sink into terror and helplessness, to be slowly tortured, and only after he was alienated from everyone should she finally make him kneel before Feng Wenyuan's spirit tablet before striking. Thus, Yue Ronghuan first targeted those close to Zhou Ying: Gui'er, Lin Rui, Liu Di, Sun Jian, and even the two cats. She wanted Zhou Ying to understand his predicament, to know he had no helpers to rely on and nowhere to run, letting him slowly experience the transition from fear to despair.

But things didn't turn out as easily as she imagined. The successive provocations failed to cause Zhou Ying panic, nor did they elicit much reaction from him. The demons of Lixin City were also exceedingly slippery.

After she dealt with them once, even if she wanted to push harder for Zhou Ying to strike them down, she could no longer find any trace of them. Even when found, they were often under the protection of demons or humans Yue Ronghuan couldn't handle at the moment: Uncle Lu Shu and his nephew were living in a temple shielded by a powerful restriction the monks had set up, which Yue Ronghuan couldn't enter; Luo Tian was hospitalized, and his attending physician's wife was the ex-wife of Ba She Meng Shu, a world-renowned snake demon. This complex triangle relationship made the demons keep their distance from the mortal, and even a Nine-Tailed Fox dared not easily get involved to cause trouble; Sun Jian, who should have known nothing, was injured while investigating a case and was now stationed atop a sleeping Jiu Ying.

According to Yue Ronghuan's information, this extremely gluttonous Jiu Ying, trapped in the mountains, would devour anything, human or livestock. Demons who blundered into that mountain usually wouldn't even have a hair left. Although Yue Ronghuan no longer valued her own life, she needed it to avenge Feng Wenyuan and didn't want to waste it here; as for Gui'er and Lin Rui, there was no need to mention it—they stayed within the protective range of Bi Fang daily, leaving Yue Ronghuan no chance to strike.

Zhou Ying's closest friend, Liu Di, was the local power in Lixin City. His only weaknesses might be his lustfulness and a human woman named Zhang Qian. However, seducing him proved utterly useless (mainly because Yue Ronghuan herself found it impossible to feign flirtation with any man other than Feng Wenyuan).

As for Zhang Qian, there was a peculiar aura about her that made Yue Ronghuan hesitate repeatedly, ultimately refraining from making a rash move against her. Now, even this zombie doctor, whom she thought would require little effort, had proven to be a setback. Yue Ronghuan's anxiety was building up in her chest.

Although she knew getting injured before the duel with Zhou Ying was unwise, fighting Nan Yu now might not be a good choice, yet she decided to clash with Nan Yu. This zombie, being the first demon killed by Zhou Ying in Lixin City, was a suitable target. Nan Yu looked at the Nine-Tailed Fox.

The flickering cunning and resentment in her eyes made Nan Yu worry whether Zhou Ying would suffer a disadvantage fighting such an opponent. She knew very well why the fox had come for her, which only fueled her anger—a Nine-Tailed Fox challenging an Yingmei and employing all sorts of tricks before the battle. When the actual fight began, who knew what she'd resort to: "I don't mind fighting in Zhou Ying's stead here," Nan Yu’s gaze sharpened.

"You aren't the one living with the Yingmei; what right do you have to stand in for him?" Yue Ronghuan said sharply. "So Miss Yue was actually married to Feng Wenyuan? I truly am ignorant," Nan Yu replied with a cold smile playing on her lips.

Though usually taciturn, she would never let others gain the upper hand in verbal sparring as Gui'er sometimes did. "You!" Yue Ronghuan and Feng Wenyuan had been in love for many years, but through ups and downs, they never managed to marry before being separated by death—this was the deepest wound in her heart. Nan Yu had carelessly ripped it open, and how could she not be furious?

Her temper flared, and without thinking too much, Yue Ronghuan lunged a claw towards Nan Yu. You provoked me, yet you’re the one losing composure first, Nan Yu thought with a hidden smirk. She raised the broken sword in her hand and engaged in battle with the fox.

She deliberately enraged her to force her into a fight. Although the opponent was a Nine-Tailed Fox, Nan Yu was at least sixty percent confident of victory. Fighting in a crowded area might constrain her somewhat, but it was better than letting Zhou Ying face her.

Both women were cunning figures among the demons. As they fought back and forth, dust and stones flew, and strong winds raged. Passersby, confused, only wondered why the wind had suddenly picked up.

Everyone pulled up their collars, cursing the dusty weather while hurrying on their way with hunched necks. Yue Ronghuan, momentarily blinded by anger, gradually calmed down. Facing Nan Yu's sharp attacks, she began to regret the fight; it was completely unnecessary.

She tried to disengage several times, but how could Nan Yu let her go? She pressed closer and closer, desperate to knock her to the ground immediately. Dodging and weaving, Yue Ronghuan slowly discovered a reservation Nan Yu held: no matter how powerful Nan Yu's attacks were, they always avoided trajectories leading toward humans.

"I see..." Yue Ronghuan sneered, raising her hand and shooting a bolt of lightning toward a pedestrian passing by on the roadside. Nan Yu hastily leaped over to block it. Yue Ronghuan, grinning triumphantly, waved her hands repeatedly, each strike precisely aimed at the pedestrians on the road.

Nan Yu became flustered, dodging one attack after another. "You've been in the human world too long; you actually pity these things!" Yue Ronghuan laughed loudly. As long as Nan Yu cared about the humans getting hurt, she was practically invincible.

The tables had turned; now it was Yue Ronghuan who wanted to eliminate Nan Yu, destroying one of Zhou Ying's great pillars of strength. Nan Yu frowned. For her proud race to stoop to using humans as shields made her genuinely unsure of how to proceed.

After attacking humans several times, Yue Ronghuan successfully inflicted several wounds on Nan Yu. To force this zombie, whose strength was at least equal to her own, into such a defenseless position filled Yue Ronghuan with triumph. Things hadn't gone smoothly since arriving in Lixin City, and now she finally found an outlet for her frustration.

As she pressed closer to Nan Yu, she occasionally attacked passing pedestrians and vehicles with vicious techniques. Nan Yu, trying to protect a passing bus from being destroyed and its occupants killed, was struck again by Yue Ronghuan, staggering back against a roadside tree. "It makes sense that you zombies, formed from human corpses, might still have some sentiment for humanity.

But don't you eat people? Is this how you treat your food? Do you cuddle with your meals at night?" Yue Ronghuan laughed even more smugly.

Nan Yu looked at Yue Ronghuan, her eyes icy cold, making it impossible to know what she was thinking. "Just watch, this is all because of you! All because of that Yingmei!

I want you to remember today forever, remember what you and that Yingmei brought upon these humans!" Yue Ronghuan declared, sending another Palm Thunder toward a pedestrian. She anticipated Nan Yu would rush to save him, giving her a chance to strike again. Even if she missed, Yue Ronghuan had already chosen her next target—a motorcycle carrying a family of three.

If this continued, she would eventually exhaust the zombie to death. "I won't kill you; I will turn this street and your hospital into rubble before your eyes, and then I will kill you in front of the Yingmei!" Yue Ronghuan's Palm Thunder struck the pedestrian dead-on. The human collapsed with a muffled cry, his body scorched black by the lightning.

Nan Yu didn't move to rescue him! Yue Ronghuan’s heart froze. At that moment, Nan Yu appeared from behind her and thrust her sword into her shoulder.

Before she could resist further, Nan Yu's incantation took effect, and an invisible rope materialized, binding her tightly. The street erupted in chaos. A crowd gathered around the person struck by Yue Ronghuan's Palm Thunder—some screaming, some calling the police, others dialing for an ambulance.

Onlookers muttered, wondering how that person could have been struck by lightning when the weather was clear and there were no signs of a storm. "You actually watched that human die!" Yue Ronghuan challenged Nan Yu in disbelief. "If you wanted to kill him, what could I do?" Nan Yu said blandly.

"I can only guarantee that I will not harm them. If I had to stop every murder committed by other demons, I'd never manage." "So you weren't truly trying to protect these humans from the start; you were just luring me into a trap!" Yue Ronghuan ground her teeth in frustration. Nan Yu looked at her and shook her head, "It's better for one person to die than for a whole street of people.

I'm not so arrogant as to try protecting defenseless humans while fighting a Nine-Tailed Fox." She had no need to explain her actions to Yue Ronghuan, nor any reason to trade the safety of herself and more humans for the sake of protecting one individual. She only did what was within her capabilities, whether toward humans or situations—the only exception was Zhou Ying. "I will tell Zhou Ying that your duel is canceled," Nan Yu said to her, raising the wooden sword in her hand and plunging it toward Yue Ronghuan's heart.

Yue Ronghuan closed her eyes in despair. She had come for revenge; dying in a fight with the Yingmei would have been acceptable. To think she would ultimately die at the hands of an unrelated zombie was beyond comprehension.

Perhaps she had been wrong from the start. She should have challenged the Yingmei directly; even if she had died fighting him and Bi Fang, the outcome would have been far better than this. Wen-yuan, I cannot die with my eyes closed if I fail to avenge you!

Will you blame me when we meet again? A figure suddenly leaped out of the darkness, deflecting Nan Yu’s sword. "Zhou Ying?" Nan Yu called out, somewhat surprised.

Zhou Ying nodded to Nan Yu and looked at the woman on the ground. "You are Yue Ronghuan? Liu Di was right; you did come looking for Nan Yu." Yue Ronghuan let out a "Hmph." The joy of her narrow escape vanished instantly.

She didn't believe Zhou Ying had saved her out of goodwill, nor did she believe he would let her go. A cold smile touched her lips as she said, "So it's you. Are you satisfied with the gifts I prepared for you these past few days?" Zhou Ying shook his head, "Gifts?

I haven't received any." Yue Ronghuan's expression grew colder. Nan Yu offered her a wry smile, "You should be more direct when speaking to Zhou Ying." Yue Ronghuan raised an eyebrow, "I am the one who injured your friends and lover these past few days. These were all my gifts to you.

How did it feel watching them get hurt? They suffered because of you! You killed Wen-yuan, and the anguish in my heart is a thousand, ten thousand times worse!

Come on, kill me. That way, I can go see Wen-yuan and tell him I died avenging him, and this time, we will never be separated again!" Zhou Ying said, "I won't kill you, because today is not the day we agreed to duel." Hearing this, both Nan Yu and Yue Ronghuan froze. According to Nan Yu's understanding of Zhou Ying, he wasn't the type to cling rigidly to agreements.

If he could eliminate an opponent before a scheduled duel to save trouble, he definitely would. And Yue Ronghuan was even more incredulous that Zhou Ying would spare her. To ordinary demons, the fame of a Nine-Tailed Fox was thunderous.

For an Yingmei to duel a Nine-Tailed Fox—she couldn't believe Zhou Ying felt no fear. Her defeat against Nan Yu earlier wasn't due to a lack of strength but her own overconfidence. If they fought again, she wasn't certain who would win between her and Nan Yu.

Would the Yingmei pass up this rare opportunity to kill her, choosing instead to spare her and fight her at the appointed time? Zhou Ying asked Nan Yu, "Can you release her?" Nan Yu tilted her head, looking from Yue Ronghuan to Zhou Ying, and shook her head, saying through clenched teeth, "No." It wasn't that she intentionally refused, but keeping this Nine-Tailed Fox around was too dangerous for Zhou Ying. Zhou Ying looked at Yue Ronghuan and said, "I know she killed someone in front of you, and you must hate her.

But she is the one Feng Wenyuan was concerned about until his death. I think she should at least have her duel with me." Nan Yu lowered her head and thought for a while before asking, "Do you really think so?" Zhou Ying nodded firmly. With a wave of her hand, Nan Yu released the bindings on Yue Ronghuan.

Nan Yu stood behind Zhou Ying and watched Yue Ronghuan stand up, sighing inwardly: I hope my decision won't leave me regretting it for life. "You actually still remember Wen-yuan!" Yue Ronghuan said to Zhou Ying with a strange smile. "You're not killing me today, but on that day, I will certainly kill you!

This time, neither Bi Fang nor any zombie will be able to save your life!" "I won't bring Huo'er," Zhou Ying said, stunning both Nan Yu and Yue Ronghuan. "I won't bring Huo'er. It will be just you and me, the two of us dueling." "What!" Yue Ronghuan thought she misheard.

Everyone knew Huo'er was Zhou Ying's talisman. How could an Yingmei duel a Nine-Tailed Fox without Bi Fang's help nearby? "I won't bring Huo'er," Zhou Ying repeated.

"Actually, Huo'er always quite liked Feng Wenyuan, so I won't bring it along." "No!" Nan Yu let out a shriek. But Yue Ronghuan began to laugh: "Hahahaha, what a bold Yingmei! Very well.

As long as you come to the appointment alone, I promise not to harm your friends and lovers again. Regardless of win or loss, I will wait for our duel!" With that, she turned and left. Nan Yu looked at Zhou Ying, managing only one word after a long pause: "You..." Zhou Ying said lightly, "These past few days, I've been thinking, if only I hadn't killed Feng Wenyuan..." "Huo'er, go take a bath," Gui'er ordered Huo'er, who was lying down eating snacks.

"No way!" Huo'er vehemently refused. It was a Fire Spirit Beast; bathing was an odious and useless task for it. Didn't Gui'er know that?

"If you don't go, the late-night snack for the entire demon feast is canceled."

"Hmph." Huo'er stormed into the bathroom. The tub was already full of cold water. Huo'er frowned at it for a moment, then closed its eyes, jumped in, quickly rolled around inside, and flew out, loudly declaring, "Done washing! Bring me supper!"

Gui'er walked into the bathroom, reached out to test the water—which was now only half-full and still gurgling—and added more cold water before calling out, "Zhou Ying, you can take a hot bath now."

Zhou Ying rose from the darkness and walked into the bathroom with almost no expression. Gui'er immediately began preparing supper again. She knew Zhou Ying was facing an incredibly difficult battle, but it seemed she could offer no help beyond cooking and laundry. "Sigh..." Gui'er sighed deeply looking out the window. Liu Di had said he would go to the duel location to set up an ambush, and she wondered how his preparations were going. However, when it came to applying such underhanded tactics, Gui'er had complete faith in Liu Di. Nan Yu hadn't appeared, but Gui'er knew she must be nearby, guarding them. Thinking of Nan Yu’s confident stance, sword in hand, eased Gui'er’s heart somewhat. Just then, a scorched smell wafted from the kitchen, and she rushed in.

Huo'er still looked completely unconcerned, flying around the kitchen, picking and choosing food from the plates and pots. Gui'er asked it, "Zhou Ying said he wouldn't take you. Have you figured out what you'll do?"

"Hmph, just because he won't take me doesn't mean I won't go?" Huo'er snorted through its nose. "He hasn't been able to stop me from going where I want to go!" It completely dismissed Zhou Ying's promise not to take it to the duel. It was going regardless; Zhou Ying's promise held no binding power over it.

"Keep an eye on Zhou Ying. Be careful he doesn't slip away without you," Gui'er warned.

"Impossible! He can't escape my grasp," Huo'er said with absolute confidence. As it spoke, it flew towards the bathroom, calling out, "Ying, are you ready? When do we leave? I've decided on fox supper tonight."

A few seconds later, Gui'er heard a scream from the direction of the bathroom: "Ying? Where did he go?" Gui'er's heart leaped, and the plate in her hand crashed to the floor.

Nan Yu stood in the middle of the road. The speeding traffic seemed utterly oblivious to her presence, and she, in turn, seemed to look past the bustling world, her eyes fixed only on the woman across from her.

"I knew you weren't planning a fair duel," Yue Ronghuan said coldly. "You really did come."

"For the Nine-Tailed Fox to challenge a Shadow Demon, the concept of fairness never applied. If you want to find Zhou Ying, you'll have to get past me first."

"Do you think I’ll lose to you again?"

"How will you know if you don't try."

A smile touched Yue Ronghuan's lips. "It seems you'll do anything for him. But do you know who he killed?"

"A demon who wanted to kill him and steal his child!" Nan Yu countered at every word.

The woman stared at her, then spoke after a long pause. "Since you can speak so righteously of the one who killed his friend for personal gain, I suppose there's nothing more to say between us."

"Wrong!" a slick, oily voice chimed in from the side. "I have something to say."

Yue Ronghuan didn't even spare a glance. "Liu Di, I knew you wouldn't miss this. Go on, what do you want? Are you planning to gang up on me with this zombie? If so, let's skip the chatter."

Liu Di shrugged. "Why would I engage in something as barbaric as a group fight? I just want to make it clear to certain people: everyone knows the truth. Stop trying to play the saint when you're the one who schemed to kill someone and steal their child, only to be killed yourself in the attempt. I say people like that are better off dead, lest their petty schemes hurt someone else later. Now you come seeking revenge, yet you avoid facing him properly, resorting to sneaky tricks, all while painting yourself as righteous, as if he wronged you. The Nine-Tailed Fox—what a grand name—how could it harbor such a shameless member? Tsk, tsk, truly..."

Before he could finish, Yue Ronghuan lunged, her slender, jade-like fingers transforming into sharp claws aimed at Liu Di's head. Liu Di leaned back, evading the strike, and also extended his own claws to meet the attack. Nan Yu stepped back slightly, watching them fight, occasionally swatting away a stray spell that veered towards the humans. After more than a dozen exchanges, Yue Ronghuan suddenly burst into laughter and leaped out of Liu Di's striking range. A knowing, cynical smile played on her face as she said, "You are clever. Perhaps after I have my revenge, we can arrange another time to fight." With that, she waved her hand, and her figure instantly vanished from the spot.

"The Nine-Tailed Fox's illusion technique," Liu Di and Nan Yu exchanged a look, both wearing expressions of helplessness. Liu Di asked with reluctance, "Is there really a rule in your sect against fighting an opponent before they've even had their duel?"

"No," Nan Yu stated firmly. "But our rules forbid bullying the weak or using underhanded means. Furthermore, I promised Zhou Ying I wouldn't seek a fight with her proactively. You didn't promise Zhou Ying anything, did you? Why not use the usual tricks?"

Liu Di shrugged. "Who told her she was a Nine-Tailed Fox? Zhou Ying knows—I can't take the initiative against a Nine-Tailed Fox."

They had both hoped to fight Yue Ronghuan before she met Zhou Ying for their scheduled duel. If they could eliminate her, that would be best; even injuring her would serve a purpose during Zhou Ying's confrontation. But Nan Yu had failed to successfully provoke the opponent, and while Liu Di had succeeded, the opponent realized it in time and still broke free. Both were constrained by reasons preventing them from attacking proactively, so they could only give each other a bitter smile and give chase. Fortunately, Huo'er would never leave Zhou Ying's side, and Zhou Ying’s declaration about fighting without Bi Fang held absolutely no weight with Huo'er.

Nan Yu and Liu Di flew closely behind Yue Ronghuan toward the park. After Zhou Ying announced he wouldn't bring Huo'er to the duel with Yue Ronghuan, everyone had asked why. But Zhou Ying couldn't explain it himself, repeating only that he felt Yue Ronghuan deserved a fair duel. "Fair my foot!" was Liu Di’s immediate reaction. "You're going to duel a Nine-Tailed Fox and call it fair? She's not some degenerated fox like Lin Rui!" Zhou Ying remained silent. After a long pause, he said, "I will survive, because I don't want to die." If simply not wanting to die guaranteed survival, no creature in the world would ever perish. Liu Di and the others were utterly helpless against Zhou Ying’s stubborn streak. When persuasion proved useless, they resorted to scheming behind his back. Liu Di and Nan Yu's mission was to keep Yue Ronghuan occupied before the duel—killing her was ideal, but even injury would help. Huo'er’s job was to stick to Zhou Ying like glue and attack Yue Ronghuan on sight, regardless of what Zhou Ying said, allowing no escape from the fight.

While flying, Liu Di and Nan Yu suddenly saw Huo'er rushing towards them in a panic, shouting from a distance, "Have you seen Ying? He slipped away by accident!"

Liu Di and Nan Yu exchanged glances. Zhou Ying actually employed such a cunning tactic? Escaping Huo'er's surveillance must have taken a great deal of thought.

Huo'er yelled angrily, "Where is that fox? I'll roast her right now and prevent her from bothering Ying!" The fact that Zhou Ying managed to shake off Huo'er, and that Zhou Ying managed to shake off himself (Huo'er), dealt a massive blow to its "young" heart. The most direct way to mend that damage was naturally to take it out on the culprit, the Nine-Tailed Fox.

Liu Di and Nan Yu turned back to look for Yue Ronghuan, whom they had been following, only to find she had vanished without a trace.

"Blast it!" Liu Di reacted instantly. "Hurry and look!"

"I know where they are fighting anyway! I'll go find her there!" Huo'er spat viciously.

Liu Di sighed. "If I'm not mistaken, they must have changed the duel location. It's not in that park anymore."

This location used to house one of Lixin City's premier corporations. Due to the city's decision to curb pollution from large enterprises, the original factory had been relocated to the suburbs. The land had been sold to real estate developers to construct a community integrating residential areas and a commercial hub. Construction hadn't started yet, so the old factory buildings still stood dilapidated. The entire complex was deserted, broken only by the sounds of feral cats fighting somewhere, briefly shattering the silence.

Zhou Ying stood at the entrance of a factory building—the location he had chosen—now waiting for Yue Ronghuan’s arrival.

"You really didn't bring Bi Fang," the woman’s voice sounded from behind him.

Zhou Ying turned to see the woman emerging from the factory. This was the first time he had truly looked at Yue Ronghuan, but he had already found the name in his memory, and it was startlingly clear: the moment Feng Wenyuan fell to the ground, the name on his lips was Ronghuan... Was this the woman? Feng Wenyuan wanted Huo'er for her, and that's why he tried to kill Zhou Ying.

"I didn't expect you to have the nerve to duel me without bringing that Bi Fang," Yue Ronghuan said, slightly pursing her lips. She hadn't taken Zhou Ying seriously at all; her earlier consideration of the duel had entirely been about Bi Fang’s power. She had spent considerable effort studying Bi Fang’s abilities, never imagining Zhou Ying would voluntarily agree not to bring Bi Fang and suggest changing the location for a duel involving only the two of them.

"Huo'er always liked Feng Wenyuan, so I didn't want to bring it to fight you."

Yue Ronghuan could remain calm against the provocations of Liu Di and Nan Yu, but Zhou Ying's placid demeanor ignited her fury. She shrieked, "Is that why you killed him! Because that Bi Fang liked him more, so you killed him!" Due to the various demons who recounted the events to her, or perhaps simple memory drift over time, she had always believed the Shadow Demon had killed Feng Wenyuan using vile means to monopolize Bi Fang.

"Because he wanted to kill me, so I killed him." This principle was something Zhou Ying had grasped shortly after becoming a demon—survival—and he had never doubted it. "But recently, I’ve suddenly wondered if it would have been better if I hadn't killed him then..."

"You already killed him! Stop being hypocritical here! You killed him! You killed him!" Yue Ronghuan raised her voice, almost screaming.

"Yes, I killed him," Zhou Ying made no attempt to deny it. "He was calling your name at the end, saying it was a pity he couldn't return to see you alive. So, I didn't want to kill you. But you want to kill me, so I must kill you, because I want to live." Zhou Ying calmly stated his reasoning. He had wrestled with the decision of bringing Huo'er or not for a long time before finally settling on this course of action. Although he knew his chances of winning were significantly lower without Huo'er, the memory of Feng Wenyuan prevented him from bringing Huo'er to kill the woman Feng Wenyuan was thinking of in his final moments. "I don't wish for you to die, but I do not wish to die myself, so if you intend to kill me, I must kill you!" Zhou Ying reiterated his decision to Yue Ronghuan.

Yue Ronghuan looked at Zhou Ying, astonished by this Shadow Demon.

His thinking seemed impossibly simple, yet it aligned perfectly with Yue Ronghuan's own philosophy: the outcome of events is irrelevant to the prior decision—a decision made after consideration is always the correct one; people can only control the process of events. She often used to say this, but Feng Wenyuan would usually meet it with good-natured teasing. Feng Wenyuan’s belief was always that the process didn't matter; only the result counted. Now, the man who always looked at her with a lazy, smiling demeanor would never appear before her again. He sought a status matching that of a Nine-Tailed Fox, striving to become stronger, only to never return. And it was this Shadow Demon before her who killed him. Thinking of this, Yue Ronghuan’s body began to tremble slightly. "You are right. He wanted to kill you, so you killed him. It's not your fault. But because you killed him, I must avenge him. Vengeance is not a matter of right or wrong. As long as I live, I must kill you. If you want to live, you must kill me. It's that simple."

Zhou Ying flicked his finger, and the Shadow Blade materialized in his hand. He nodded and said concisely, "Yes."

Liu Di landed first, only to be bowled over by Huo'er, who couldn't brake in time and rammed into him. The two tumbled together, but uncharacteristically, they did not begin fighting; instead, they immediately darted off in two different directions, rummaging wildly through the ruins.

The current state of this abandoned factory complex offered a vivid picture of the battle's intensity. All the factory buildings had collapsed (a fortunate saving for the developers on demolition costs). Everywhere lay broken walls and scattered remnants of building materials in disarray. To human eyes, it looked like the aftermath of fire, lightning, earthquake, or some other natural disaster. But to the demons, the scene revealed a breathtaking, ferocious struggle. Gui'er clutched Nan Yu’s arm tightly, whispering, "That fox is so powerful to have wrecked this place like this. Zhou Ying... will he..."

Nan Yu’s face was ashen, but she managed a strained smile. "Maybe it was Zhou Ying's magic, Gui'er. Don't underestimate him."

"Yes, yes! Zhou Ying is also very strong! He won't lose to the Nine-Tailed Fox!" Gui'er nodded repeatedly, fervently wishing she could believe what Nan Yu said.

Despite their words, they stared out in all directions but could not see any sign of Zhou Ying. Liu Di, Huo'er, and Lin Rui had already begun frantically searching through the rubble, trying to find him. However, a terrible premonition settled over Gui'er and Nan Yu: Zhou Ying was a Shadow Demon; his true form was incorporeal. If he lost this do-or-die battle, he would simply vanish without a trace, leaving nothing behind in this world. If they found nothing, the result would be the one they dreaded most.

Liu Di's figure dipped beneath the ground; perhaps he thought it was easier to search from below. Lin Rui’s five ghostly messengers used their ability to pass through walls, flitting in and out of the piles of debris. Huo'er flapped its wings, moving bricks and cement, but with incredible gentleness—avoiding any sweeping motions of force that might crush Zhou Ying if he were below. Nan Yu and Gui'er walked slowly through the wreckage, almost afraid to search. As long as the disappointment wasn't confirmed, a shred of hope remained, and who willingly shatters their own hope?

Liu Di suddenly burst up from underground, shouting, "Found something!" and immediately dashed forward. Hearing his cry, everyone ran after him without a second thought, their hearts lifting with the joyous assumption that he had found Zhou Ying. Liu Di waved his hand, sending some rocks flying. Beneath them was not Zhou Ying, but a set of exquisite women's garments. Lying within the fine clothes was a fox nearly the size of a person, its nine tails, extending from beneath the clothing, and its beautiful fur, were slick with blood. Liu Di reached out and touched its fur, stating emotionlessly, "Dead."

"Where is Ying? Why is there only this dead fox!" Huo'er jumped onto Yue Ronghuan’s corpse and stomped a few times in vented rage.

"Since she's dead, Zhou Ying must be alive," Liu Di stated decisively. He waved his hand, giving orders. "Keep looking. He might be heavily wounded!" Hearing him, the others silently dispersed.

Time ticked by, and Huo'er's patience wore thin. Its movements became reckless, flying back and forth over the ruins, occasionally batting away obstructive bricks and stones with its wings, crying out, "Ying, come out quickly! If you don't, I'll become an orphan, sob sob sob... I don't want that... Come out quickly... I've already been abandoned once, are you going to discard me again?" Its shouts started randomly but slowly took on a distinctly tearful tone. It seemed it had never considered losing Zhou Ying, its father figure. Once that possibility surfaced, its young mind found it unbearable.

It was all that blasted Nine-Tailed Fox's fault; because she sought a duel with Zhou Ying, this happened... Huo'er's thoughts became chaotic, and an increasingly intense murderous intent began to surge within it. It desperately wanted to fight someone or destroy something. Its gaze grew hotter, scanning the surroundings, radiating a distracted aura of killing intent.

"Keep searching! Zhou Ying won't die!" Liu Di yelled up at Huo'er. "Zhou Ying isn't that easy to kill! He won't abandon you! I certainly don't want to raise your child!"

"Who wants you to raise me!" Huo'er finally found a target for its fury.

"Do you think I want you?" Liu Di retorted without backing down. "If you don't want me to raise you, then find Zhou Ying quickly!"

"I'll deal with you after I find Ying!" Huo'er threw out a threat before returning to toss the rubble.

The sky began to darken, and Liu Di's anxiety grew. His understanding of Zhou Ying told him that Zhou Ying would never give up a chance to survive. But he also realized that if Zhou Ying were too severely injured, would his true form dissipate? If Zhou Ying wasn't dead but merely dispersed into an invisible mist, they wouldn't be able to find him either. However, he should be able to slowly recover under the sunlight until he could coalesce again. It was based on this theory that he was so certain Zhou Ying was alive. But now the sun was setting. If Zhou Ying couldn't reform his body before daylight faded, then after sunset, even if alive, he would face the fate of billions of Shadow Demons dissolving in the encroaching night.

"Huo'er, light up and envelop this area! Try to maintain the temperature and brightness of direct sunlight!" Liu Di commanded Huo'er. Before Huo'er could snap back, Liu Di shouted sternly, "No arguing! If you want Zhou Ying to live, do as I say!" Huo'er flew in front of Liu Di, staring at him for a moment. To everyone's surprise, it didn't attack Liu Di; instead, it turned and flew high into the air. Soon, an orangey-red glow enveloped the area.

Liu Di briefly explained his hypothesis to Nan Yu and Gui'er. He hadn't told them before, unwilling to give them false hope, but now, in this desperate moment, he longed for allies to share his worry. Within Huo'er's light, after Lin Rui tearfully departed, eager to return home, Liu Di, Nan Yu, and Gui'er sat down on the ground. They had stopped searching; all that remained was quiet waiting.

The light of Huoer remained utterly unchanged from start to finish, only gradually extinguishing as the sun finally rose again. It folded its wings and settled onto Gui’er's shoulder to rest. They sat beneath the sunlight, none speaking, quietly waiting as time relentlessly marched on, until before they knew it, the sun had already shifted toward the west. Lin Rui returned at some unknown time, sitting beside them for a while before getting up again to wander around. After a short period, he paused, glanced at Huoer, and then walked away on his own. Everyone understood his meaning: he held no hope that Zhou Ying would survive, so he saw no point in waiting with the rest of them any longer. Huoer flew up and pursued him for a few steps before silently turning back.

As the sky darkened, the radiance of Huoer lit up once more, taking the place of the sun’s illumination.

The sun and Huoer thus took turns enveloping the area in light, leaving not a single corner unreached. As time wore on, Huoer’s stamina began to visibly wane. When the sun rose again, Nan Yu took it into her arms, using her own power to restore its strength. At that moment, Gui’er suddenly stood up and quickly departed.

“Gui’er! You’re not waiting for Ying anymore?” Huoer couldn’t help but cry out. Liu Di also shot to his feet, but after a moment's thought, shook his head and said nothing.

“Huoer, Liu Di, sit down!” Nan Yu gestured sharply and commanded, “Gui’er won’t leave. Liu Di, Huoer is yours; I am rather tired.” She truly looked utterly exhausted. After handing Huoer over to Liu Di, she sat down to one side, closing her eyes to recuperate. Liu Di, mimicking Nan Yu, began to channel his spiritual energy into Huoer, only to realize this Bi Fang was like a bottomless pit; no matter how much power he poured in, it was immediately absorbed. No wonder Nan Yu had become so drained in such a short time.

When Gui’er returned, she was met with the sight of Nan Yu and Liu Di both utterly spent, and Huoer standing listlessly to the side. She placed the basket she was carrying on the ground and began setting out dish after dish of food: “Huoer, Nan Yu, Liu Di, it’s time to eat…” Her voice was hoarse. Though her head was bowed low, the tear tracks on her face were still visible. It seemed she had taken the brief time alone to have a good cry. Huoer and Liu Di, who usually lunged at food upon sight, now hesitated, feeling a pang of guilt toward Gui’er, and did not rush forward. Nan Yu picked up some food and distributed it to the two of them, commanding, “Eat!”

“I didn’t have time to prepare the ingredients, so this isn’t as lavish as usual. Please make do,” Gui’er said apologetically, mistaking the reason for the two starved beasts’ restraint. “Tomorrow I will go back early to prepare, and I promise to make everyone happier with the meal—perhaps by then Zhou Ying will have returned, and we can all eat at home.”

Liu Di hastily grabbed a dish and stuffed it into his mouth without even looking at what it was. Huoer’s mood didn’t lift with the food either; though it ate ravenously, the taste registered not at all.

While they ate, Gui’er stared blankly at the ruins. Earlier, on her way out, she had run into Zhu Bing, who had come looking for Zhou Ying—the usually punctual Zhou Ying had been missing for days without explanation, causing Zhu Bing great worry. Unable to reach him by phone, he had come to the location himself to see if anything had happened.

“What is the meaning of this! Zhou Ying just stepped out for a bit! Do you have to rush over here like this? He’s only been gone a few days, it’s not like he’s not coming back! Why are you acting like this, why are you taking such a small matter so seriously! He isn’t not coming back! What do you want!” Gui’er screamed at Zhu Bing.

Zhu Bing had never seen this usually gentle woman so fierce; he was startled back a step. Gui’er was still shouting, but now tears were streaming down her face uncontrollably: “He isn’t not coming back, he isn’t not coming back…”

Perhaps the young couple had a spat and ran off, Zhu Bing thought with a slight smile. It seemed to be no major issue; he would probably be back in a few days.

Gui’er stood alone, weeping for a long time, until she was jolted back to awareness by the gaze of Lin Rui, who was returning from school. Lin Rui watched her frantically wiping her tears and gathering her things, then said from behind her, “I believe Zhou Ying will come back too, truly.” Gui’er stopped, and though she didn’t turn around, she sniffled out a quiet thank you.

Lin Rui watched her retreating figure, shaking his head, and muttered to himself, “Zhou Ying, you had better come back, or this world really will descend into chaos…”

“I’ll make the meals even better, and you all need to keep fighting!” Every time Gui’er returned with prepared food, she would only say this one sentence. She kept moving back and forth, seemingly determined not to allow herself any free time. Liu Di, Nan Yu, and Huoer were constantly exhausted, especially Huoer. Maintaining consistent light and heat over such a vast area all night long, and keeping the brightness steady, would exhaust even a Bi Fang. Huoer’s plumage had noticeably dimmed. As soon as the sun appeared, it would immediately scramble to Nan Yu’s or Liu Di’s embrace to sleep and replenish its energy. If anyone asked if it was tired, it would puff out its chest and declare, “No problem, I’m mighty!”

Liu Di and Nan Yu’s spiritual reserves were also nearing depletion. Since Nan Yu’s attribute was also fire-aligned, she could provide greater aid to Huoer. Naturally, she was not stingy; over these past few days, her complexion had grown even paler, and her eyes had started to glow red, evidence that she was holding nothing back, not even the power to sustain her own disguise. Liu Di, whose elemental nature was inherently at odds with Huoer, had still given his utmost effort. If his enemies were to see him in his current weakened state, they would surely rejoice at having been handed the perfect opportunity for revenge.

Liu Di wasn’t worried about being discovered by his foes in this fragile form; he was worried about why Zhou Ying still hadn't appeared, given that Huoer, Nan Yu, and he himself were all close to running on empty. Could it be that he truly…? Liu Di shook his head, forcing the thought away. Things might not always turn out as one wished, but one had to strive before accepting that fate was cruel…

Nan Yu was looking at Huoer’s expression while holding it. Although she and Liu Di saw each other frequently due to their association with Zhou Ying, they had always maintained strict distance—it was only in moments of extreme crisis that the two would unequivocally trust each other as allies. Nan Yu sighed softly; she understood Liu Di’s decision, as she had reached the very same one herself.

The morning sunlight carried a certain gloom. Nan Yu and Liu Di both knew clearly that a heavy rainstorm, scheduled to last four hours, was due around three-quarters past noon. That time would approach nightfall, and if Huoer managed to survive the rain only to face another arduous night, could it sustain itself now?

Nan Yu handed the Huoer in her arms toward Liu Di. “I will go dispel the rain clouds.” She possessed the ability to scatter rain clouds and moisture, but such an act against the natural order required a massive expenditure of power. For Nan Yu to attempt it now was unquestionably pushing her limits. Yet, she tilted her head toward the sky and let out a long, piercing cry. The cloud layers gathering rapidly from all directions seemed startled by something; they instantly ceased their convergence, hesitated for a moment, and then began to retreat outward, revealing the azure sky once more. Nan Yu let out a breath and slumped onto the ground, spent.

A light breeze blew, lifting some dust from the ground. Nan Yu closed her eyes slightly in the wind, feeling the tiny particles lightly tap against her face. When she opened them, she saw Liu Di staring blankly at a corner where a smoky, misty substance seemed to be swirling up from the ground, spinning in a low circle—like the vapor remaining after a campfire had just been extinguished. Nan Yu froze, struggling to rise but finding not a single shred of strength left in her body. Huoer, which had been resting with its eyes closed in Liu Di’s arms, sensed something too, struggled free, and poked its head out from Liu Di’s hold…

Gui’er arrived at the ruins carrying lunch, only to find the gazes of the three of them fixed on a single spot. Despite the bright, clear weather, that area was permeated by a hazy substance, appearing like smoke or mist, reminiscent of the vapors left when a bonfire dies down. The basket of food slipped from Gui’er’s grasp and hit the ground. She asked, her voice trembling, “Th-that is…”

Nan Yu turned her head. Though something flickered in her eyes, she gave a gentle, affirming smile that confirmed the answer: “That is Zhou Ying…”

Gui’er let out a joyful cry and rushed forward first. Before she had taken two steps, Huoer had already shot past her like an arrow. Nan Yu sat on the ground, smiling softly, as she watched Liu Di break into booming laughter and walk toward the figure that was slowly solidifying into human form…

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