Chapter 1378 Change of Heart (Still Asking for Pink Tickets!)

Ning Xiaoxian quietly clenched her fist.

This was truly good news. The Mirror Sea King’s Mansion had withdrawn the restriction, and she passed on the message, but not towards the Tongleng House in Songjiang City, instead, it was directed to the Hidden Stream’s East Expedition Army stationed to the west of this place! That’s why the Hidden Stream’s demons could come to her aid so quickly.

In the past few days, she truly felt like she was living through each day as if it were a year. From the luxurious Ronglin Villa and from Huangfuming, she constantly sensed great danger and unease. Only when she regained her strength, and only when the Hidden Guards rushed to her side, could she once again take control of her own destiny.

On the eve of regaining her freedom, she should not provoke him.

"I understand." Ning Xiaoxian’s tone softened, "Thank you."

Huangfuming keenly sensed her softening tone and said, "Wu Li is dead, and Washing Sword Pavilion poses no threat to you or to Hidden Stream anymore. Sister, you can be at ease, and... don’t be angry with me anymore." His voice was calm and composed, no longer the frivolous tone from earlier, and his subtle authority made it difficult to refuse.

This time, the room fell silent. He listened carefully, Ning Xiaoxian’s breath paused for a long time before she spoke, "It’s late, I need to rest. Let’s talk tomorrow, how about it?" Her voice softened significantly.

He curled his lips slightly, looking satisfied, and then softly replied, "Okay." He then turned and left.

After the sound of footsteps had faded for a long time, Ning Xiaoxian exhaled a long sigh of relief.

Even though her Dao Heart was becoming increasingly steadfast, hearing this news made her heart waver. Was Wu Li really dead? How exactly did Huangfuming manage to kill him!

More importantly, the death of the Washing Sword Pavilion’s Immortal Tribulation cultivator meant their greatest support had fallen, making it even easier for the Hidden Stream to advance unimpeded. Ironically, Washing Sword Pavilion doomed themselves by using the power of an Immortal Tribulation cultivator first. If Hidden Stream originally only wanted this one state, they would be missing a great opportunity if they didn’t seize the entire territory of the Washing Sword Pavilion amidst this chaos.

She never doubted that when Hidden Stream faced a middle sect like Washing Sword Pavilion, the final outcome would be uncertain; however, accelerating the pace of the war was something she was delighted about. Anyway, the list of a hundred thousand heads Changtian wanted to slaughter already included the names of the cultivators from Washing Sword Pavilion.

That night, she tossed and turned for a long time, contemplating repeatedly. Her body was still not fully recovered, and she only fell into a drowsy sleep after the moon had crossed the sky.

#####

The night was dark as ink, the crescent moon on the sixth day curved like a bow, casting its watery radiance upon the mortal world.

Soon after, thick clouds drifted in from the sky, thoroughly covering the moon.

When it drifted away again, a tall figure was already silently standing beside Ning Xiaoxian!

He lightly walked to the bedside and cast a Sleeping Curse on the person in bed. A faint, oppressive presence filled the room, and the Devouring Demon Vine trembled involuntarily, yet still attempted to extend its vine to obstruct his advance.

The weak moonlight fell on his face, casting light and shadows that outlined his statue-like handsome features. His bright eyes outshone the moonlight—it was none other than Huangfuming!

He glanced faintly at the little monster, transmitting, "Step aside, I will not harm her life."

Yet the Devouring Demon Vine didn’t hesitate to wave its vine, remaining steadfast. What a joke, if Lord Changtian knew it was scared away by an enemy, he would surely chop it up into firewood!

This thing was quite loyal to her. Huangfuming shook his head, and suddenly reached out with his right hand, grabbing the vine of the Devouring Demon Vine. His action was as swift as lightning, startling it, but as it was adept at binding demons and sucking marrow, instead of being angry, it was pleased, and it flipped its sharp tip to pierce Huangfuming’s arm.

After several advancements, its vines had transformed into a beautiful dark golden color, with a needle-sharp tip no less sharp than a divine weapon. Inside the vine tip were hidden ducts ready to suck in a large amount of blood and essence once the prey’s skin was pierced to feed itself. In that small county, the three ill-intentioned towards Ning Xiaoxian, Yang Mo’er and company were devoured in such a manner.

However, this time it didn’t work. The vine, like snake teeth, fiercely struck onto Huangfuming’s skin. Yet he neither dodged nor flinched; his arm muscles suddenly bulged and hardened like iron, and the vine’s striking didn’t even pierce the surface!

It was shocked. It had broken through the defenses of countless demons within Hidden Stream, all known for their thick skins. Who would have thought that today it couldn’t even puncture the skin of a human youth?

Huangfuming didn’t give it another chance, pulling hard to drag it away from Ning Xiaoxian’s front, followed by an extremely low cold air emanating from his palm. Compared to the Heavenly Centipede Pearl that Ning Xiaoxian stuffed down his throat today, it was like a small witch meeting a Great Witch.

The Devouring Demon Vine also felt the extreme cold, almost freezing its Spiritual Sense away. It panicked and tried to retreat forcefully, but Huangfuming’s strength was immense, tightly gripping its vine. In its urgency, the vine snapped with a "crack".

Could this legendary Devouring Demon Vine survive by breaking its tail like a gecko? Huangfuming raised his eyebrows, finding it quite amusing. But the vine found no amusement in this; after advancing, though it wasn’t afraid of fire, this terrifying low temperature remained its nemesis. Although it abandoned one of its arms, the cold quickly invaded its Demon Core within two seconds.

A few more seconds passed, and the whole Devouring Demon Vine was frozen into an ice sculpture, emitting wisps of cold air, its vines still maintaining a fierce stance.

In her deep sleep, Ning Xiaoxian felt the bone-chilling cold beside her and frowned slightly. Huangfuming casually moved the ice sculpture onto the table before returning to the bedside. He grasped her soft hand, and this time, he transmitted a warm stream that quickly traversed her body, dispelling the cold from her and calming her complexion.

The silver charcoal in the fire pit burned vigorously, filling the room with warm fragrance.

Huangfuming looked at her steadily for a moment.

"Sister, I’ve changed my mind; I don’t want to let you go, what should I do?" He leaned close to her, gazed at her sleeping face, and whispered softly.

Ning Xiaoxian did not know what she was dreaming about; she murmured softly, her voice fuzzy and tender. Huangfuming had never seen her so adorably naive, his heart softened, and he lightly chuckled, "Shall we settle it like this?"

She was sound asleep and naturally would not object. Huangfuming reached out to gently caress her face, unable to resist squinting his eyes. "Good sister, won’t you always stay by my side? Since that night when you took me to find that flower, I have liked you, but back then, you only thought of me as a child."

He pinched her chin and lifted it, speaking gritting his teeth, "Even now, you don’t want to spare me a glance, your heart only thinking of that Ba Snake, isn’t that right? I’ve heard about matters inside Bai Yujing; you would even die for him."

"If only I was born a few years earlier, you would surely love me." He mused, "But it’s not too late now. I still can’t defeat that Big Snake, but sister, I know a place where no one can find, not even the Shaking Heaven God. I’ll hide you there, how’s that? With me accompanying you joyfully for a few months, or maybe a few years, you will forget that old man and only love me."

She continued sleeping, naturally not responding.

Huangfuming stared at her in a daze for a while before quietly laughing to himself, but his voice was filled with resentment and anguish.

The timing wasn’t right; he still didn’t have enough strength to snatch her from the Shaking Heaven God. The most rational move was to let her go and then immerse himself in his unfinished grand undertaking.

He needed more time, but she was going to marry someone else in autumn. No matter how unwilling he was, what could he do?

"Sister, why do you have to marry? I just need a little more time, just a little more," he sighed lightly, caressing her lustrous hair.

A voice within mocked, "You aspire for the world, yet you dare not even touch one woman?"

He furrowed his brows. The voice continued, "Our clan always advances bravely. This timid approach, how can you lead us to restore our former glory?"

Huangfuming’s gaze flickered with anger and hesitation.

"Capturing this woman isn’t without its benefits. Her unique physique can accelerate your cultivation progress by thirty percent! To surpass the Ancient Demon God, isn’t this the quickest and most convenient method? Not to mention, she has a gravel gold physique. And your sister is indeed nearing the Transcendence Tribulation Stage, marvelous, truly marvelous!"

Huangfuming lowered his head without speaking.

The voice waited for a while, seeing him show no other response, sighed, and said, "Fine, I know she holds a special place in your heart, and you’re unwilling to force her. But the next time you meet, she might already be someone else’s recognized wife, and it will be hard for you to get close to her again. Tsk, you’re really bad at winning women over; I bet even after a hundred years, she won’t take notice of you."

The words hit his sore spot, and Huangfuming felt suppressed, lightly sighed. Under the moonlight, her black hair cascaded onto the pillow, her tranquil sleeping face looking almost annoyingly pure, seemingly oblivious to his troubles.

The next time he could be so close to her, who knows when it’ll be.

"Sister, you are truly exasperating. For now, I’ll let that snake have you, I can’t help it, since at the moment I can’t beat him." He murmured to himself.