Chapter 21

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Chapter 21: That Ray of Light

“Clang——”

The crisp sound of the long sword slicing through the air echoed, and a brilliant beam of sword light flashed, splitting the darkness apart. Light cascaded down, falling onto Ming He’s eyes.

Ming He opened her eyes in astonishment and saw a woman in white, no longer as pure as snow, gracefully descending from above, having evaded the blood-red vines. With her right hand gripping a sword and a fierce expression, the sword light encircled her, making her figure shine like a bright moon in the darkness.

“Get up!” Qin Chu Yi commanded sharply, slashing through the blood-red vines with her sword. The sword light shone as brightly as before, piercing through the layers of darkness and illuminating Ming He’s eyes.

As Qin Chu Yi struck down with her sword, she bit her left finger, and with her blood, she formed a handprint that she lightly pressed against the base of the vines. Her face visibly paled, but her aura surged, shaking off the dust, leaving the world dimmed in comparison.

Ming He watched as the vines tightening around her seemed threatened and quickly withdrew, disappearing in an instant.

If it weren’t for the mess on the ground and the waves of pain coursing through her body, Ming He would almost think everything that had just happened was a figment of her imagination.

Those blood-red vines had come swiftly and left just as quickly.

"Are you okay?" Qin Chu Yi sheathed her sword and turned to look at her, her bright eyes reflecting Ming He’s shadow, with a hint of concealed concern on her face.

"I’m fine," Ming He replied softly, struggling to stand up and grasp her white long sword, her emotions fluctuating yet her face remained calm.

She glanced into the distance and saw the cold and stern young man, Duan Wu, calming the tumultuous forces around them. The trees swayed with the wind; it was the effect of the formation he had set up.

Thanks to the formation, Qin Chu Yi could easily repel the blood-red vines and save her.

No, it wasn’t just the formation.

Ming He focused her gaze, catching a glimpse of blood still dripping slowly from the wound on Qin Chu Yi’s left hand, creating a handprint to intimidate the blood-red vines into retreating.

She thought that in the face of death, Qin Chu Yi would abandon her, which would have been completely understandable.

One was a lofty young lady from a great family, and the other was an ordinary disciple from a small sect. The gap in status was vast, especially with the threat of death looming—what did it matter if she was abandoned?

She had already tasted the bitterness of being abandoned before.

Now, it was just another experience; such events had become something she could accept—after all, death was just death, and who could escape it?

She initially planned to give up struggling, ready to embrace the darkness as her companion, thinking that it wasn’t as despairing and terrifying as she had imagined.

But then, Qin Chu Yi came to save her!

Holding her sword, she cut through the darkness, revealing glimpses of dawn within the shadows. In that boundless silence, she felt like the bright moon above, that ray of light—distant and cool, but shedding luminous moonlight to push away the shadows.

Ming He looked at Qin Chu Yi, realizing that perhaps her initial agreement to embark on this unknown journey was compelled by power. However, all her unwillingness lessened significantly in this moment.

“Why is Sister Qin back?” Ming He gazed at her earnestly.

The light was real, and so was her return. Qin Chu Yi had saved her life, but she must have hesitated and wavered initially; she didn’t seem determined to save her at all.

Ming He was acutely aware of this, yet that knowledge didn’t diminish her shock and gratitude towards Qin Chu Yi, nor did she find it strange.

A choice made after careful consideration was moving enough; there was no need to pursue perfection in intentions. She only cared about the outcome.

“I said I would do my best to protect you,” Qin Chu Yi stated, scanning her surroundings in a defensive manner, speaking with a seemingly indifferent tone.

There was no other emotion, just a calm chill.

In her view, since she had said it, she must follow through. Ming He had come here because of her, and encountering danger was also because of her, so she naturally had the obligation to save her.

“Oh,” Ming He nodded. “Then let’s go.” She glanced at her still-charred right hand, acknowledging that Qin Chu Yi was right; one must follow through on what they had said.

“Roar——”

In the distance, a thunderous roar shook the heavens, and in the next moment, a powerful tremor struck—this was—

“Kui is coming!” Duan Wu cried out in alarm. “Run! It has broken free from the illusion array!”

“Kui?” Ming He gasped instinctively. If she understood correctly, the one-legged beast that had been chasing her for nearly half an hour was Kui?

The library of the Liu Yun Sect had records in the "Record of Fierce Beasts," describing a one-legged beast, shaped like an ox, dark as black, without horns, and as massive as a small hill. Because it had only one foot, it was also called the one-legged Kui.

Kui was a malevolent beast recorded in ancient texts, known to unleash light as bright as the sun and moon, and to emit a roar like thunder.

Indeed, this was an ancient cave dwelling. From blood-sucking bees to blood-red vines and now to the fierce beast Kui, the dangers were manifold. The question remained: what was so extraordinary that Qin Chu Yi was willing to risk everything to obtain it?

As Ming He ran for her life, her mind raced with thoughts. The three figures seemed to lose their composure in the face of death, frantically scrambling yet surprisingly in sync.

“Boom——”

A fireball flew past them with lightning speed, crashing onto the rocky ledge above. The ledge couldn’t withstand the pressure and began to drop stones intermittently. The fireball soared through the air, with the beast in hot pursuit.

“It can breathe fire too?” Ming He realized once more how little she knew about this situation. Yet, the records didn’t mention that Kui could breathe fire; this exceeded her expectations.

While she grumbled, she activated her Phantom Steps, moving like a ghost to dodge the enormous rocks crashing toward her head.

“Split up and run! We’ll regroup outside the cave dwelling.” After the falling rocks, Qin Chu Yi made a decisive call, speaking sternly with a determined plan.

The beast wouldn’t chase all three of them at once; it would only pursue her since the Star Lock was with her.

They weren’t far from the cave’s exit; if she took the risk, she still had a chance.

The Star Lock belonged to her—it could only be hers.

“Alright, Young Master, you go ahead; I’ll hold it off for a bit,” Duan Wu said seriously, then turned to Ming He. “Miss Ming He, just head straight east; that direction leads to the cave’s exit.”

Just moments ago, when the threat of death loomed, he had indeed opposed his Young Master taking life-threatening risks to save her, but he had no regrets about his actions. However, that was one matter, and this was another; since she was still alive, he had no reason to intentionally harm her.

“Alright, I understand.” Ming He glanced at the young man’s back in surprise, then turned to identify the eastern direction before choosing a path, intentionally lagging behind Qin Chu Yi by a few steps.

Surrounded by towering trees, Ming He swung her sword and struck a tree, cleaving it in half, then darted toward the direction where the tree had fallen.

This was her way of repaying Qin Chu Yi’s life-saving grace! She thought to herself, her complex emotions calming down.

Unfamiliar scenery flew past her as Ming He sprinted down the path she had chosen. It wasn’t a serene journey without incident, but fortunately, it remained ominously uneventful.

With the wind cutting through her, Ming He gripped her white long sword, feeling a little relieved as she finally arrived at the cave’s entrance.

She stepped out, and the warm sunlight poured down, driving away the dark shadows; the chill dissipated instantly as warmth embraced her. Ming He squinted her eyes, taking in her surroundings.

An old man in gray stood at the center of the grand formation, prepared and serious, making ancient and magnificent gestures. Others stood at their positions, maintaining vigilance, some sweating profusely while others struggled.

It was they who had forcibly opened the ancient cave dwelling that had not seen the light of day for an hour, harnessing the power of the grand formation.

Qin Chu Yi’s subordinates.

After surveying the area, Ming He found a sunny spot and quietly stood, waiting for Qin Chu Yi and Duan Wu to arrive.

She wasn’t particularly skilled in fighting, but when it came to escaping, she apparently outran those two?

Ming He thought, a faint smile appearing on her lips, but the next moment, pain from her injuries made her wince as blood continued to flow. Her right hand still hurt; it was truly painful.

She glanced at her tattered blue clothes and quickly turned her gaze away. With such serious injuries, she would need to recuperate after returning.

Ming He sighed, her gaze shifting toward the cave, feeling puzzled. It had been almost an hour; why hadn’t Qin Chu Yi and Duan Wu emerged yet?

Given their cultivation and background, even if unexpected circumstances slowed them down, it shouldn’t have delayed them for this long. Could something have gone wrong again?

Ming He felt a shiver run down her spine, and the next moment, a voice confirmed her suspicion.

“Ming He, has the Young Master not emerged yet?” The Black Figure darted out from the cave, his expression darkening upon seeing only Ming He standing outside. His voice was hoarse, his black clothes stained with blood, and his tone betrayed an unmistakable urgency.

Qin Chu Yi hadn’t come out!

Ming He opened her mouth, about to say that she was the only one there, but the young man already seemed to know the answer as he furrowed his brow and murmured, “Could it be that the Young Master’s cold poison…”

Duan Wu dared not think further. He turned to Ming He and spoke hoarsely, “Thank you for your assistance, Miss Ming He. Since the Young Master has not emerged, I must return to find her. Please feel free to leave.”

“Please feel free to leave.”

This meant she could choose to leave first.

Ming He instantly understood Duan Wu’s intent as she watched him turn and dash back into the darkness.

Should she leave now?

Ming He hesitated. She had promised to help Qin Chu Yi, and she had succeeded in delivering that item into Qin Chu Yi’s hands. The next steps were no longer her concern.

She glanced at the old man in gray and the others; their attention was entirely focused on controlling the grand formation, and they couldn’t spare themselves, though the anxiety on their faces was evident.

Ming He looked up at the sky, which remained a clear blue but was gradually darkening. An hour was nearly up, and the cave would soon sink back underground, disappearing without a trace.

She gazed into the impenetrable darkness of the cave, which seemed to harbor a monstrous presence waiting to ensnare her. The darkness had once been her deepest fear, but…

As Ming He stared at the darkness before her, the image of the sword light suddenly floated into her mind, brightly cleaving through the gloom like a river of stars. That ray of white light, reminiscent of the Milky Way, illuminated the horrors lurking in the darkness, dispelling the all-consuming gloom in an instant.

Forget it; let’s take one more gamble!

Ming He turned to the old man in gray and said firmly, “Elder Lin, I will go find your Young Master. You all must do your best to delay.”

One hour was surely not enough, so everyone could only give their all.

“Understood.” The old man in gray glanced at her and squeezed out a word from his throat. His left hand formed an ancient and mysterious gesture, and an unseen arcane light rose from him, merging with the grand formation above. The previously transparent and fragile formation patterns solidified slightly.

Ming He smiled, tilted her head back to swallow a few pills, and gripped her sword, charging straight into the darkness. Soon, she fused with the black void, vanishing from everyone’s sight.

Inside the cave, the darkness was like spilled ink, and her blue figure swept past the scenery like a gust of wind. Her speed was the same as before, but this time, she was not fleeing; she was saving someone.

After running for an unknown duration, Ming He once again saw the fallen tree at the fork in the path. It was the tree she had previously chopped down with her sword, marking the point where she and Qin Chu Yi had parted ways to escape.

So then, Qin Chu Yi—was she on that side?

Ming He leaped over the broken tree and dashed to the other side. She faintly heard the enraged roars of beasts growing louder, the sounds escalating to a deafening level as she approached.

The piercing, furious roars made her ears throb painfully. Was she bleeding again?

As the blue figure spotted a gigantic silhouette ahead, she swiftly halted, and her eyes were met with a realm of ethereal cliffs suspended in mid-air. The cliffs were suspended because there was nothing below, but above, fragments of rocks connected both sides like a bridge.

The black stones were separated by a leap, and at that moment, Qin Chu Yi knelt at the center of the black stone on the cliff, her head bowed, obscuring her expression. In her hand was the star-shaped spiritual artifact she had taken from the palace.

The woman in white was now stained with blood and dirt, no longer as pristine as snow. Her head was bowed, and her ink-black hair fell loosely behind her, giving Ming He a peculiar illusion of fragility.

But how could she possibly be fragile? She was Qin Chu Yi! A Young Master from a great family, always exalted and inscrutable, especially someone of Qin Chu Yi’s stature.

The beauty she had first seen, cold and proud like the moon in the sky, could also lower her pride and reveal such a vulnerable, unprotected side for someone? Perhaps in front of Su Cheng Feng?

Ming He watched her with growing curiosity. What would a woman like Qin Chu Yi be like when she fell in love?

The Qin Chu Yi before her was completely different from the one depicted in the concise strokes of the original narrative; she was more vibrant and more dazzling.

“Young Master!” A desperate voice called from a distance, pulling Ming He out of her thoughts.

She glanced at Duan Wu rushing from afar and finally remembered her purpose of returning to the cave was to find Qin Chu Yi. Ming He smacked her forehead and began searching for the beast’s figure.

The one-legged beast, Kui, roamed restlessly at the edge of the cliff, occasionally letting out a few roars and howling to the sky.

Strange!

Qin Chu Yi currently knelt there, unable to move for some unknown reason. The beast could easily approach and capture her, whether by stepping on her or throwing a fireball. It was just a step away.

Yet, it remained still, likely because something about that cliff was peculiar?

Ming He observed the beast as it glanced cautiously at the cliff behind Qin Chu Yi, confirming her thoughts. The cliff was not ordinary.

Not ordinary could sometimes mean a way out, a route for escape.

Kui stomped its foot, sensing a strange aura growing nearer. A fierce glint flashed in its murky eyes as it looked at Qin Chu Yi, who was tightly gripping the star-shaped spiritual artifact. In the end, its ingrained mission overshadowed its fear.

With a massive body the size of a small mountain, it charged slowly yet steadily toward Qin Chu Yi, intent on turning that despicable human into pulp for snatching its master’s artifact.

Qin Chu Yi remained unmoving, half-kneeling with her head lowered, seemingly unaware of the impending danger or perhaps too exhausted and powerless to respond, waiting for the beast’s attack.

“Duan Wu, block the beast! I’ll take your Young Master away!” Ming He knew that in such a life-and-death moment, time was everything. She pushed aside her hesitation and shouted loudly, leaping out from behind the towering trees, using Phantom Steps to swiftly and gracefully cross over the beast toward Qin Chu Yi.

Duan Wu, surprised by Ming He’s sudden appearance, had a clear look of astonishment in his eyes, but he knew this was not the time for thoughts.

The young man let his emotions flash by and nodded slightly, changing direction to confront the beast, his expression resolute and frantic.

His life was given by the Young Master, so naturally, he would risk it anytime for her! The Young Master must not be harmed, at least not before he himself fell!

“Sister Qin!” Ming He lightly tapped her toes and reached Qin Chu Yi. She gently tried to lift her up, but her hand touching Qin Chu Yi’s right arm felt icy cold, and the wound from the star-shaped spiritual artifact burned again.

No matter, life and death were at stake; escape was the priority.

Ming He used all her strength to pull Qin Chu Yi up and then realized her face was so pale, without a trace of blood; her lips were no longer the rosy hue they once had, and her brows had turned white, as if frosted, making her appear even more like a cold beauty.

Hmm… physically speaking!

Qin Chu Yi’s… old poison flared up again?

Ming He guessed chaotically and then moved past Qin Chu Yi’s cascading hair, wrapping her arms around her slender waist and lifting her into her embrace. She began to move with Phantom Steps, swiftly turning toward the other side of the cliff, quickly disappearing from sight.

Returning to the cliff would mean encountering Kui. At Qin Chu Yi’s current state, there was no way she could escape.

What lay beyond the cliff was unknown; perhaps something even more terrifying than Kui awaited. But humans were always like this, weighing the unknown against the apparent threats, and would inevitably choose to take a gamble.

Ming He was as pure a human as one could be, and she was no exception.

As for Duan Wu, after Ming He had vanished into the deep forest beyond the cliff, she glanced back. In black clothes, the young man spewed blood after being hit by Kui’s fireball, flying out and landing among the pile of stones, uncertain of his fate.

She could only wish him well! After all, with her abilities, saving one person was the utmost effort she could stake her life on.

Ming He thought this, feeling at ease as she carried the person in her arms into the forest, not looking back, steadily escaping the beast’s territory.

The deep forest, as the name implied, was filled with tightly packed trees, blocking what little light had remained in the already dark cave, rendering it even darker, devoid of any ray of light. The silence bore an endless threat and an unknown danger.

Ming He dared not stop easily, following the path she had traversed in her mind to the cave’s exit, constructing a mental map as she navigated the uneven ground toward the cave’s exit, winding and turning.

“Haah—”

Ming He let out a long breath. This was unbearable! What was happening? It was getting colder; she was not holding Qin Chu Yi anymore but a block of ice! So cold that her hands could barely hold on.

After surveying her surroundings, Ming He reluctantly found a seemingly safer spot to set the person down. She had originally intended to carry Qin Chu Yi out of the cave and hand her over to her subordinates, and what happened after that was no longer her concern.

The outcome was evident; she had overestimated herself. Her spiritual energy could not support her all the way to the cave entrance, even after swallowing several innate spirit-nurturing pills before entering.

Thinking of the ten innate spirit-nurturing pills in the small porcelain bottle, and realizing she had already used three for Qin Chu Yi, the girl in blue winced in discomfort. She then took out the small porcelain bottle and swallowed four more pills.

There was no other option; without spiritual energy, she wouldn’t be able to get Qin Chu Yi out, and she might not even escape herself.

Ming He glanced at the woman whose brows were dusted with a thick layer of white frost, hesitated for a moment, recalled the sword light that had briefly illuminated her path, sighed softly, and shook the small porcelain bottle, pouring out two of the remaining three pills to place into her mouth.

The innate spirit-nurturing pills dissolved instantly upon entering, so there was no concern about swallowing them.

Placing her left hand on the heart of the woman lying back with her face to the sky, Ming He channeled her spiritual energy into her body. After a moment, she ended the flow and withdrew her hand.

White frost, a pale face, stagnant spiritual energy—Ming He thought of information regarding Qin Chu Yi, a flash of insight crossed her eyes. She recalled the murmurs of the young man in black she had encountered outside the cave; his voice was too low for her to hear clearly, but judging by his lip movements, he had mentioned… "cold poison"?

Cold poison? What is that?

Ming He blinked and decided not to ponder further; after today, whatever happened to Qin Chu Yi would no longer concern her.

Oh, perhaps if she were to have dealings with Su Cheng Feng in the future, it might matter again.

But she wondered if she could benefit from it. Considering her identity as a Young Master of a top-tier family, Ming He felt a flicker of interest, but it quickly faded.

This was the mother of Dragon Hero; better not to scheme against her.

"What are you thinking?" A weak, breathy voice came from below.

Ming He snapped back to reality and looked down, realizing that the cold beauty had awoken and was looking at her with inquisitive amber eyes.

"Sister Qin, you’re awake?" Ming He was surprised and a bit awkward, scratching her nose without answering. After all, it was indeed… slightly embarrassing to be questioned while internally grumbling.

"Yes." Fortunately, Qin Chu Yi wasn’t genuinely curious about her thoughts; she propped herself up and glanced around. "Where is Duan Wu?"

"Duan Wu went to lure away the beast and should meet up outside the cave soon," Ming He answered succinctly. "Is Sister Qin feeling any better? If you can walk, we should leave quickly."

It was too dangerous here; staying one moment longer was risking their lives.

Ming He felt a rush of excitement, but she was currently too weak, and the possibility of getting herself killed was quite high, so she decided to wait until her strength increased before running wild.

Hmm… better keep herself in check for now.

"Yes, I can. Let’s go," Qin Chu Yi said, surprised by Ming He’s lack of questions about her condition and the details of what had happened. She regarded her with slightly higher respect.

Perhaps in the future, she would indeed become an outstanding genius sword cultivator!

Qin Chu Yi’s eyes curved into a gentle smile, her frosted brows unable to dim the warmth of the moment. With Ming He’s help, she stood up; after taking a few steps, she felt herself starting to wobble and was swiftly caught in Ming He’s arms.

"Never mind, Sister Qin. It’s too much for you to walk on your own; I’ll carry you," Ming He said. An hour had already passed, and she wondered how much longer the old man in gray and the others could hold out. The sooner they got out, the sooner they could feel at ease.

Finishing her words, Ming He stepped forward and lifted Qin Chu Yi into her embrace, using the earlier stance and employing her footwork to navigate swiftly through the dense forest.

Qin Chu Yi found herself suddenly lifted off the ground and naturally felt uneasy; this was the first time she had been carried by someone, relying on another’s strength to walk. In the past, she had always been surrounded by many guards while out on training trips or in secret realms; this journey to the ancient cave dwelling felt like the most dangerous experience of her life.

Thus, in this life-and-death situation, being carried felt less embarrassing than she imagined, considering they were all escaping for their lives.

As she thought this, her gaze drifted over to the profile of the girl, her expression thoughtful. Ming He’s face, which had once seemed average to her, now appeared vividly in a new light, streaked with blood and dirt, yet reflecting an extra touch of resolve and determination to survive.

Qin Chu Yi watched her, a rare glimmer of tenderness in her eyes, acknowledging that Ming He had saved her again!

In one day, twice at the brink of life and death, she had saved her, and now she saved her back. How extraordinary!

Hmm? Why did they stop?

Qin Chu Yi looked up in surprise, noticing Ming He staring at her with a serious expression.

Ming He looked down at Qin Chu Yi, her voice heavy. "Sister Qin, it’s the blood-red vines."

The blood-red vines, the very ones that had nearly claimed her life earlier, now blocked their path. They had retreated after Qin Chu Yi cleaved through them with her sword, instilling fear in their hearts.

"Put me down for now," Qin Chu Yi whispered softly from within her embrace.

"Alright," Ming He complied, setting her down and drawing her sword, pointing it at the blood-red vines, readying herself as if facing a formidable foe.

Qin Chu Yi stood firm, her expression cold, her left hand forming a palm seal, poised to strike.

"In this life-and-death situation, we must each fend for ourselves; you need not concern yourself with me," she said, her gaze lingering on the girl’s blood-soaked attire, a flicker of pity in her eyes. Resolute, she vowed to retrieve the Star Lock, even if it meant risking blood reversal.

Deep within the forest.

On a blood-red altar, a woman, shackled by iron chains, chuckled softly. "Star Lock, the heavens have not abandoned me!"

"Chasing Wind, go fetch it," she commanded, gesturing towards a black cat lounging lazily in the sun nearby.

Had Ming He been present, she would have noticed the sun’s faint glow and warmth, though it seemed small and somewhat artificial.

The black cat, named Chasing Wind, let out a low whine, reluctantly rose, stretched gracefully, and set off on its mission.

"Clang—"

Ming He concentrated her sword energy, striking and severing a vine in her path. Seizing the opening, she moved with agility, her form slipping through the entanglements of the vines, akin to a ghost or a slippery loach seeking safe footing.

As she maneuvered and twisted, Ming He felt her comprehension of "Phantom Steps" deepen. Indeed, this dark essence innate-level technique suited her perfectly, especially in the shadows.

Ming He swung her sword once more, cutting through another blood-red vine that lunged at her. As she stepped forward, she finally noticed the towering trees ahead and realized she had escaped the encirclement and found safety.

But where was Qin Chu Yi?

Ming He glanced back and saw Qin Chu Yi standing amidst the blood-red vines, her posture upright and eyes sharp. With her right hand gripping her sword, her left palm held a seal in the air, facing off against the blood-red vines, waiting for either side to make a move.

Ming He focused intently, sensing that the vines were more interested in the star-shaped spiritual artifact she held—this was their true target.

So, she could escape not because of her swordsmanship or agile steps, but because—she was not their primary target?

Ming He pursed her lips, her earlier sense of triumph fading. She continued to wait for the blood-red vines to strike first, eager to witness an exciting showdown and perhaps glean some insights.

"Chirp—"

The tension in the air was palpable. The blood-red vines didn’t seem impulsive, but unfortunately for them, the black cat outside saw no reason for hesitation; it would simply grab and run!

The black cat moved like the wind, its outline nearly invisible in the dark. It leapt, landing on Qin Chu Yi’s shoulder, and effortlessly traced down her right arm to the star-shaped spiritual artifact. Upon sensing her movement, it let out a soft call.

"Meow!"

The sound wasn’t particularly loud, yet Ming He felt every drop of blood in her body freeze. A chilling sensation surged from her feet to the crown of her head, and she found herself unable to move, her whole body paralyzed as if awaiting slaughter.

She had no idea if Qin Chu Yi was affected, but after the black cat spoke, she indeed fell silent for a moment, staring blankly as the black cat stole the star-shaped spiritual artifact without taking action.

It was then Ming He understood; Qin Chu Yi had also fallen under control.

"Impudence!" Once she regained control of her body, Qin Chu Yi erupted in anger. Her left hand thrust forward, palm seal released with great force toward the black cat, and her body moved swiftly in pursuit, channeling her spiritual energy to compress her bloodline.

For the Star Lock, she had traveled countless miles to reach the Liu Yun Sect, risking her life in this ancient cave dwelling. Now that she had obtained it, she would not allow anyone to take it away!

Not men, not beasts, and certainly not the black cat!

Qin Chu Yi’s determination was fierce as her right hand discarded her sword, forming another palm seal that mirrored the previous one, but this time it was a blood-red color, just like the vines.

"Boom—"

As the blood-red palm seal struck out, the black cat paused mid-air, then continued running forward at the same speed.

Thinking of escaping?

Qin Chu Yi smirked coldly, raising her hand to set a barrier that trapped the black cat, rendering it unable to move. She then waved her hand, pulling the Star Lock into her grasp.

"Aw—"

The black cat, trapped and motionless, tried to step forward but couldn’t even move its paws. It could only watch helplessly as the shiny object it had coveted was taken back by the woman before it, letting out a plaintive cry to the sky.

Ming He, trailing behind at a distance, quickly covered her ears. Her ears had already endured so much today, and she truly didn’t want to experience it again.

If it kept happening, she’d end up deaf.

Hmm… just imagine a cool sword cultivator repeatedly asking what others said, tsk tsk, the picture is quite amusing.

To Ming He’s embarrassment, although she covered her ears, nothing happened. The black cat had merely made an ordinary sound without any soul-shattering impact as before.

Cough, cough, not embarrassed at all, just being cautious!

Ming He rolled her eyes. Thankfully, it was just her and Qin Chu Yi here, and no one was watching; there was nothing to fear.

"What an interesting little creature!" A woman, bound by iron chains deep in the forest, flickered a hint of amusement in her eyes, though her expression remained cold and aloof. "Such a foolish cat, useless at everything."

Turning her gaze to the Woman in White, she continued, "Of the Qin bloodline, I see? What a pity."

"However, using blood reversal carelessly is not permitted, especially not in my presence." The woman’s blood-red eyes grew colder as she waved her hand, carving a path through the air, then leaned back against the black stone pillar behind her.

Qin Chu Yi watched as the black cat began to act again, but in the next moment, she felt the previous sensation of her body being controlled wash over her. The reversal of her bloodline halted, leaving her unable to do anything, only able to breathe in and out.

What power is this? An ancient cave dwelling?

Qin Chu Yi speculated wildly as she watched the black cat smugly take the spiritual artifact from her, building her frustration and feeling the familiar anger and helplessness rise within her!

"Hey, Sister Qin!" When Ming He regained control of her body, she saw the Woman in White fall over again, the spiritual artifact now in the black cat’s possession. The black cat, still holding the artifact, was in no rush to leave, turning back to look at her with a mocking gaze.

How infuriating! Could she really tolerate this?

Ming He felt her temper flare as she activated Phantom Steps and dashed forward, disregarding any danger. How dare a black cat play her like this!

Especially since that star-shaped spiritual artifact was something she had risked her life to obtain from the palace! The glimmer of light when Qin Chu Yi had taken the artifact from her hands was still vividly engraved in her mind—she could not allow the black cat to take it away!

The black cat let out a low mewl, deftly avoiding her and finding a new spot to observe her, melding into the darkness, which was its shield.

How infuriating!

After exchanging several blows, Ming He noticed her spiritual energy was dwindling, yet she couldn’t touch a single hair of the black cat. Instead, the cat had shifted from subtle disdain to obvious mockery as it watched her.

Calm and composed!

Realizing she had recklessly allowed a cat to lead her around, Ming He recited the four words she held as the utmost principle to force herself to remain calm.

The cat is black, and darkness is its protection; to deal with it, she must confront the darkness.

Confronting the darkness.

As Ming He pondered this phrase, a bright light suddenly flashed in her mind, reminding her of the moment the blood-red vines had ensnared her—she had closed her eyes, but she could not block out the brightness that was Qin Chu Yi’s sword light, drawn to save her.

Enemy of the darkness.

Flickering Light!

The sword was drawn, and starlight filled the sky!

Ming He, gripping her long sword, suddenly had an epiphany, as if fortune had graced her in an instant, unraveling the confusion that had plagued her for nearly a month.

In the vast darkness, Ming He felt no fear for the first time. She closed her eyes, repeatedly envisioning that ray of light, raising her sword before thrusting it forward. The sword light blazed like a galaxy, instantly splitting the darkness. In her sword resided the starry river, and in her eyes, the stars twinkled.

"Clang——"

Under the radiant stars, the black cat’s figure was exposed. Ming He stepped beside it, lifting the black cat by its tail, channeling her spiritual energy to block out sound.

"Got you!" Ming He murmured in a low, triumphant voice, her pride evident.

"Meow!" The black cat, as expected, tried the same trick again, but Ming He had blocked her hearing, rendering it powerless.

Ming He glanced at the darkness above before bending down to take the star-shaped spiritual artifact clutched in the black cat’s paws.

"Meow——" The black cat covered its face, crying out in distress.

"What a waste!" The woman with blood-red eyes stood straight, her expression filled with disdain. In the next moment, she closed her eyes, remaining in place but completely still and breathless.

"Little Fellow, you are quite amusing." A gentle voice, seemingly from the depths of the void, echoed from above.

She lifted her head and saw something red flash by. When she regained her senses, both the black cat and the star-shaped spiritual artifact had vanished.

What is going on?

Confused, Ming He began to chase after them.

“Young Master, Miss Ming He, the cave dwelling will forcibly close in fifteen minutes; please come out quickly.”

The voice resonated from deep within her consciousness, repeating three times.

How irritating!

Ming He clenched her fist in frustration but didn’t dare to take any risks. She wasn’t confident that she could retrieve the spiritual artifact and take Qin Chu Yi to the cave’s exit in just fifteen minutes.

She couldn’t help but wonder how disappointed she would be when she woke up to find the artifact missing!

With a soft sigh, Ming He gently picked up the unconscious Qin Chu Yi and started on her way.

The blood-red vines had long disappeared when the black cat appeared. With the vines gone, the black cat lost, and the mysterious red shadow nowhere to be seen, the rest of the journey went smoothly.

"This is your Young Master." Ming He stepped out of the cave and handed the woman in her arms to the Young Master, dressed in black clothes.

He handed her over to a gentle woman in blue standing beside him. "Chu Yi, please take Young Master to recuperate."

After giving his instructions, the Young Master turned to Ming He, "This journey has been thanks to you, Miss Ming He!"

He bowed in gratitude, not just for her willingness to help but for turning back to assist him in saving Young Master.

"You’re welcome." Ming He replied with a modest nod, her eyes filled with expectation. Since she had saved their Young Master, shouldn’t he show some gratitude?

Hmm… Ming He conveniently ignored the fact that Qin Chu Yi had also saved her.

"Miss Ming He, your character is indeed noble; I apologize for my previous offense," the Young Master said, his expression filled with admiration, pouring out words of praise.

Ming He: "…You definitely deserve to be just a subordinate, you deserve to lead the way, and you deserve to be chased by beasts!"

In the depths of the cave, at the blood-colored altar surrounded by the deep forest,

the woman with blood-red eyes stretched her body, lounging against the stone pillar. "Foolish cat, basking in the sun all day, can’t even defeat a little spirit guide. What use do I have for you?"

"Meow~" The black cat elongated its voice, trying to please her by presenting the glittering star-shaped spiritual artifact in its paws.

"Hmph, I retrieved this myself; what does it have to do with you?" The woman smirked, her smile enchanting and dangerous at the boundary of light and dark.

"Meow——" The black cat called out again.

"Alright, just find a place to set it down." The woman casually spoke, her blood-red eyes gazing into the distance, her expression unfocused as if lost in thought.

"Meow." The black cat wagged its tail, carrying the star-shaped spiritual artifact before deciding to place it behind one of the altar’s stone pillars. It then returned to its usual spot to bask in the sunlight.

One person and one cat occupied themselves with their own matters, neither noticing the drop of blood on the star-shaped artifact flowing down as the black cat moved, vanishing abruptly at the center of the star, causing a fleeting glow that hinted at some change.

That drop of blood belonged to Ming He.