Chapter 45
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Chapter 45: Title
She whirled around, stunned.
The boy from four years prior stood transformed. Taller now, his face retained familiarity but had shed all youthful softness. His fair features held clarity, yet the depth in his eyes commanded instant respect.
He halted within arm’s reach of Ye Qingshang, his brocade robe fluttering lightly, radiating an indomitable aura of righteousness that repelled all evil spirits. A deep, steady, magnetic voice sounded above her.
"Many thanks, Elder Fu. I’ll take charge of repairing the tower."
"Mu…" Before she could finish, he had already flown atop his sword to the tower’s summit. Frowning, Ye Qingshang promptly followed.
As they neared the top, the roars and wails of demons imprisoned within grew louder. With the tower’s peak damaged, creatures from lower levels were frantically surging upward. Before Ye Qingshang reached the summit, several waves of spiritual power struck her, nearly knocking her off balance.
She glanced up to see the figure in brocade robes already standing firmly at the top. Separated by nearly five floors and still unable to summon spiritual power, Ye Qingshang considered using Qianyu to block the demonic energy. Yet before she could act, a gentle wave of spiritual power descended, instantly forming a protective barrier that shielded her from all surrounding impacts.
Mu Huaiyun?
After how she’d treated him before his meditation retreat, would he still choose to protect her after four years apart? Could his feelings for her remain…? Wild joy surged through Ye Qingshang’s heart.
Meanwhile, Mu Huaiyun atop the tower remained unaware of her thoughts—and his motivations were far from what she imagined. Truthfully, were it not for the mental command from that voice, he wouldn’t have spared her even a wisp of spiritual power.
His devoted affection had been wasted, that much he could accept. But to be stabbed by countless betrayals afterward? "Becoming close friends"? Hah! What a cruel joke!
The voice in his mind sounded displeased. "Repairing Sparrow Prison Tower is no trifling matter. Focus."
"What? You ordered me to protect her, and I am. The rest isn’t your concern."
"I warn you for your own good. Once the tower’s repair formation activates, the spiritual weapons cannot be withdrawn casually. Your distraction, combined with your cultivation method, makes you highly vulnerable to the demons’ mind-altering spells. This is dangerous."
"What does my cultivation method have to…" Noticing Ye Qingshang’s arrival, he cut off his mental protest and turned away.
"Mu Huaiyun." Her voice brimmed with reunion’s delight.
Mu Huaiyun ignored her, gathering spiritual power above Moon’s Shadow to activate the repair formation. Then a jade-white hand entered his vision.
Ye Qingshang seized his hand. "You can’t repair Sparrow Prison Tower alone. Let me help."
Without waiting for consent, she channeled spiritual power into him while lifting Qianyu skyward with her other hand. Responding to the formation’s call, both spiritual weapons hummed before erupting in silver and blue radiance. Their light spanned the tower’s peak, aligning almost perfectly with the Danger-Combining Formation.
"Release me!" Mu Huaiyun snapped.
How strange. Moments ago, he’d shielded her with a barrier before reaching the summit. Why this sudden shift in temper? Bewildered, Ye Qingshang coldly retorted, "I won’t."
"The repair formation is active. We share the same fate now, Mu Huaiyun. There’s no retreat."
Her words struck him as ominous—as if she’d discovered some wrongdoing. He wanted no closeness with Ye Qingshang; proximity only intensified his discomfort. Unwanted memories from four years ago flashed through his mind. His brow hardened as spiritual power gathered at his fingertips.
"Stop." Ye Qingshang’s voice pierced his thoughts through her transmission technique. "Don’t waste spiritual power on useless resistance. I’m pleased you protected me with that barrier today, so I’ll let this slide. Once the tower is repaired, we’ll settle accounts properly."
"Ye Qingshang, what exactly—"
"Stay focused…" She channeled more spiritual power into the formation with her free hand. The formation’s patterns expanded, enveloping Sparrow Prison Tower’s entire peak.
Truthfully, this was no time for conflict. Repairing the tower demanded urgency, and their demon-infested surroundings offered poor footing for arguments.
Yet Ye Qingshang had suffered gravely during the tower’s previous repair. Back then, Mu Huaiyun’s abrupt withdrawal had subjected her to dual formation backlash, damaging her heart meridian. Only sheer luck had prevented her from slipping into eternal slumber after the repairs.
That ordeal haunted her. Though she knew Mu Huaiyun’s feelings had changed and he’d never harm her now, fear lingered. Thus she clung to his hand—if she controlled one limb, she could detect any withdrawal attempt immediately.
Chastened twice in one day, Mu Huaiyun wore a complicated expression. Recognizing this wasn’t the time for distractions, he yielded to her guidance and poured his spiritual power into the formation.
Below them, Fu Chouyi and Elder Feng maintained the Danger-Combining Formation, preventing demonic breaches. As the repair neared completion, the tower’s fissure grew smaller. Trapped demons grew increasingly frantic, realizing escape would soon become impossible.
Their roars intensified severalfold. Surging demonic energy flooded upward like a tidal wave. The sudden spiritual pressure overwhelmed both cultivators. Ye Qingshang coughed weakly, the oppressive force weighing heavily upon them.
As the oppressive waves of spiritual power surged, various spells followed, including many charming formations. Ye Qingshang practiced a harsh and cold cultivation method that kept her heart pure and desires few. To her, the charming spells were just noise she ignored. But for Mu Huaiyun…
"Young master Mu… Do you have someone you care for?"
"I love her, but my feelings are unrequited; how pitiful…"
"Don’t you want her to fall in love with you?"
"Come with me; I’ll help you."
"I can make her devoted to you, never to leave…"
"Don’t you want to have her?"
"Come on, I’ll help you…"
The seductive voice echoed in Mu Huaiyun’s mind repeatedly, making the heavy spiritual pressure feel unbearable.
It felt like a knife had stabbed his heart, the pain intensifying. Unable to hold back, he groaned, blood seeping from his lips.
As a drop of blood fell, his raised hand hesitated, about to drop.
At the critical moment, Ye Qingshang leaned closer, like when she helped him get Moon’s Shadow before, standing on tiptoe. She placed her other hand over his fingertips, guiding his spiritual power flow. Their energies combined, letting Ye Qingshang control both spiritual weapons alone.
The monsters’ howls grew louder.
Ye Qingshang stood behind him, chin slightly lifted. She spoke through her spiritual power, her voice commanding.
"Step back!"
