Their last gasp for freedom was severed like a snapped thread.
As the group sprinted toward the crumbling entrance, hope burning in their veins, the crimson mist rose, not like fog, but like a crashing wave, engulfing the entire hall. It swept through the air with monstrous intent, snatching people mid-stride, hoisting them like insects in a net.
Within seconds, the air became a swirling, blood-colored maelstrom. Bodies were tossed violently in every direction, lifeless like broken dolls.
"Look out!" Yu Lingyu's voice cracked through the chaos just before something struck him, hurling him downward.
But the ground wasn't ground.
It squelched beneath his feet, slick, sticky, alive. A writhing mass of pulsating flesh. Veins as thick as tree trunks curled up the walls like grotesque roots. And from the blood-colored sky, it began to rain.
Blood.
Burning.
"Huh?" Yu Lingyu stared in horror as the drops sizzled on his skin.
"Cover! Find cover, now!" he roared, grabbing Hong Li and yanking her toward him.
But he didn't have to tell it.
Above them, a shimmering, semi-permeable barrier flickered to life, its rainbow glow struggling to hold back the corrosive downpour.
"Rainbow barrier?" Hong Li whispered, eyes wide.
"I… I can't hold on much longer," Shen Ming groaned, collapsing to his knees. Sweat ran down his brow as he gritted his teeth. "Find… somewhere. Anywhere. Or we're going to die."
Lingyu's breath caught in his throat. He hadn't expected this, not from Shen Ming.He can control the rainbow barrier?
But the light, erratic, flickering, pulsing like a dying heartbeat, cast their faces in eerie hues. There wasn't time for awe.
"We're in his inner domain," a Juyao disciple whispered, voice trembling with dread.
"Master Wen! Do something! Don't you know what this thing is?"
Lingyu clenched his jaw.
I don't. I don't know a damn thing.
He had only Hong Li's words to rely on. And he had still forgotten Xul'goth's true nature.
The Bloodsucker.
"Little worms." A voice dripped from the sky, cold and jagged like broken glass.
High above, Xul'goth loomed, shifting, never solid. A grotesque entity of sinew and bones, twisting and reshaping itself in grotesque mockery of form. Fangs like swords jutted from his massive mouth, and from their tips, the blood rain fell.
Yu Lingyu froze.
This wasn't just a demon.
This was a Demon King.
"Oh?" boomed the gaping maw overhead, voice thick with amusement and menace.
"I see an uninvited guest. Lord Xin!" It spat the name like venom.
"Have you forgotten me?"
Yu Lingyu's heart stopped.
He… knows Lord Xin?
"Ah-Yu!" Hong Li's voice snapped him back. She tugged hard on his sleeve, pointing.
"There's a cave! Up ahead!"
But Lingyu's eyes were still fixed on Xul'goth, trying to decipher the past hidden behind the monster's mocking grin.
"Lingyu!" Hong Li growled. She had to shake him to get his attention.
"I see it," he said finally, his voice hardening. "But Shen Ming's barrier will break before we reach it."
He looked down. His hands were still shaking.
"Hong Li," he said, meeting her eyes, "do you trust me?"
She blinked. "What kind of stupid question is that? Of course I do."
A small smile pulled at his lips. "Then run. Take the others and get to the cave. I'll keep this bastard busy."
He pressed a sword, Murong Meng's sword, into her hands.
"Trust me, Hong Li."
She looked like she wanted to scream, to argue, to refuse, but instead, she silently nodded. Her fingers curled around the hilt.
She may no longer be a disciple of the Wen Sect… But she had once been the Sixth Inner Disciple of Jun Peak.
"Follow me!" she shouted to the others. "Hold the barrier, don't let it drop!"
Without a backward glance, she charged toward the others, leaving Yu Lingyu behind.
Alone.
Facing the Demon King.
"Now, you," Lingyu said coldly as he saw the group had moved far enough from him. His voice was calm, but sharp. "Xul'goth or whatever you are, let's finish this quickly."
Spiritual energy surged wildly inside him, sparking through the air like lightning. From those sparks, he drew a sword, long and thin, sharp like glass and strong like diamond.
"Let me give you a taste of Tianxing."
He slashed through the air, and a powerful wave of energy shot upward toward the blurred figure in the blood-red sky. A loud crashing sound followed. One of Xul'goth's giant fangs broke off, and for a moment, the blood rain slowed.
"Lord Xin... you're not using the Moonblade today," Xul'goth said coldly, then burst into deep, thunderous laughter.
Lingyu's frown deepened.
He knows about the Moonblade?
"How does this thing know Xin?" he muttered.
"Stop that cursed rain and fight me directly!" Lingyu shouted, launching another attack. He didn't know how to escape this place. This was Xul'goth's inner domain, where the demon ruled. Everything bent to his will here.
Lingyu had one last trick: the Fiery Wind Domain.
But calling upon that divine power through his current mortal body would surely kill him.
Behind him, his apprentices had almost reached the cave. Shen Ming's barrier, glowing faintly above their heads, was growing weaker.
Lingyu stopped thinking and made his choice.
With a sharp breath, he raised his hand and summoned a storm.
Winds howled across the flesh-covered ground, and the rain of blood shifted, pushed back by the storm. But as the storm grew stronger, Lingyu's body started to weaken. He clenched his jaw, refusing to fall.
And then... silence.
No more laughter. No more attacks.
The sky above stayed still, as if the beast had vanished into the red clouds.
Lingyu blinked, confused. Holes from the blood rain dotted his torn clothes, but his body remained untouched. Of course, it didn't harm him, he wasn't just anyone. He was the Son of the Sun, the best healer in the heavens.
The Sun God.
But something wasn't right.
"Why did he suddenly go quiet?" he whispered.
He launched a few more attacks toward the sky, quick slashes filled with spiritual force, but no answer came. No response at all.
"Dead already?" he muttered, slowly lowering his sword. "No… it can't be."
Waiting a moment longer, Lingyu kept his guard up, but nothing happened. Slowly, he started walking toward the cave. His boots splashed quietly against the squishy flesh beneath him.
This isn't right, he thought. He's planning something. He knew about Moonblade. How does a blood parasite like him know Xin?
As soon as Lingyu stepped into the cave, a voice called out.
"Are you alright?" Hong Li rushed to him. Her face was pale, her hands trembling slightly.
Lingyu nodded slowly. "It didn't go as badly as I thought. He's quiet." He looked away, not sure if he felt relieved or more worried.
The cave was dim and cold. The air smelled like stone and old blood. On the floor, people lay scattered, wounded, drained, and silent. The ordinary folks were doing better than most of the Wen Sect disciples.
"That's Meng Shixiong's sword," Xu Jin said quietly, leaning against the wall. Her eyes were tired but alert. "Did he really send you?"
Everyone turned to Lingyu. Their eyes, wide and uncertain, stared at him like little pups looking for answers.
He thought for a moment.
Should he tell the truth? No… not now. It would only make things worse.
So, he kept pretending to be Wen Jian.
"Two of your people aren't here," he said, glancing around. His voice was steady, but inside, he was hoping, Please let San Jie and Luo Cheng be safe.
"They locked San Xiong in another place," Duan Xia answered, her voice shaking as she kept a cloth over her head. "Luo Xiong… he went to find him."
Lingyu walked closer to her, his eyes softening. "Are you alright?"
But before she could answer, Yu Yi spoke. Her voice was hoarse and heavy with blame.
"Your sect caused all of this."
She was trying to sit up, pushing against the cave wall. Her hands were shaking.
"Still… thank you for saving us. But this, everything, it's all because of you." She didn't try to hold back her tears. Dust clung to her cheeks, mixing with the wet lines that ran down.
"Why do things like this keep happening?"
The cave fell silent.
Lingyu looked down at his hands, stained with blood and glowing faintly with spiritual power.
"Sorry," Hong Li whispered, her voice trembling with guilt.
"It's not your fault," Yu Lingyu said gently, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"No… it is my fault!" she cried, falling to her knees. "All of this- I-I'm so sorry! Please…" Her forehead pressed to the ground as sobs escaped her.
"Our brothers won't come back, even if you beg," one of the Juyao disciples said bitterly.
Just then, Shen Ming suddenly collapsed onto Li Wei's shoulder, completely limp.
"Shen Xiong?! Are you alright?"
"Shen Ming???"
"Let me see," Yu Lingyu said quickly, rushing to his side.
Shen Ming was badly injured. Even now, he was pretending to be strong, but his body had reached its limit. The rainbow barrier had drained his spiritual energy completely, yet he'd hidden his pain the whole time. Nearly every bone in his body was broken. He'd lost so much blood.
Yu Lingyu held him up carefully and placed his fingers on Shen Ming's forehead. A soft, glowing light, his healing spiritual energy, flowed from his hand into Shen Ming. But as it entered, Lingyu could feel his own strength quickly fading. Shen Ming's condition was worse than he expected.
Still, warmth slowly returned to Shen Ming's face. He was too weak to move, but that was okay. Curled up against Lingyu's body, he gripped the hand on his chest and held onto it tightly, like a child seeking comfort.
Lingyu smiled faintly. Shen Ming always acted tough, but deep down, he was sensitive. Healing him had taken a toll, but it was worth it.
"Ahem… Wen Gongzi," Xu Jin said hesitantly. She had never seen someone treat injuries with such skill and care. If he could heal Shen Ming this much… could he help Duan Xia too?
"Please… look at Xia-er. I'm sorry for scolding you earlier."
Lingyu had already noticed something was wrong. Duan Xia hadn't removed the bloody cloth covering her head.
"Let me check," he said softly, gently lowering Shen Ming against the wall before walking to her.
"Don't come near me. I-I'm fine!" Duan Xia cried out, trying to push him away. She didn't want anyone to see her weakness, especially not an outsider.
But Lingyu didn't listen. Kneeling beside her, he carefully pulled the cloth away.
His eyes widened.
A long, deep wound ran across her face, barely missing her eye. Fresh blood trailed down her cheek as he touched it with gentle fingers.
His heart ached.
I failed again, he thought bitterly. I tried to save everyone… and ended up losing everything. Again. I'm still useless.
He said nothing. Just healed her silently, his fingers trembling as his power poured out. One by one, he treated everyone with serious injuries. When he was finally done, he could barely stand. Pale and exhausted, he staggered and collapsed beside Shen Ming, leaning against the wall.
"Ah-Yu!"
Yu Lingyu raised his hand slightly, showing he was okay. "I'm fine."
"Are you really from the Lotus Sect?" Yu Yi asked, eyes narrowing with suspicion.
Lingyu gave her a weak smile but didn't answer.
"This is a blind spot in that monster's domain," Yu Yi said. Even now, her sharp mind was analyzing everything. "He can't reach us here. But staying in one place won't save us. It just delays death."
She turned to Hong Li.
"Do you know any weakness this thing has?"
Hong Li, still lying on the ground, shook her head slowly. "Not much… but there is one thing. Xul'goth was born from a red lotus spirit. If we use a white lotus spirit… maybe-just maybe, we can weaken him."
"Huh?"
"Red and white lotuses are like yin and yang. The red lotus is filled with Yin energy. If we fight it with a White Lotus Spirit, the Yang energy, we might stand a chance."
"But how do we find a White Lotus Spirit in a place like this?" Yu Yi asked in frustration. "There's no way to search in this domain. If only Da Shixiong were here…"
"Exactly," Duan Xia added, finally finding her voice. "Where are Wu Shixiong and Yu Shixiong? You said they were here," she asked Lingyu.
Shen Ming, who is now awake, gave a lazy smile. "I don't know where Wu Shixiong is, but I know where Yu Shixiong is."
Yu Lingyu turned his head toward him, relief in his eyes.
'You're awake,' those eyes seemed to say.
"What? Where is Yu Shixiong? How do you know?" Mo Dong asked quickly.
"Tch. Idiots," Shen Ming scoffed. "You couldn't even recognize your own shixiong's voice this whole time, and yet you want to catch a demon?"
"Huh?"
"Am I wrong, Wen Gongzi?" Shen Ming asked, looking at the pale young man beside him, who was wearing a red forehead band other than his usual mask.
Yu Lingyu let out a tired sigh. "This isn't how I wanted it to go," he muttered, then leaned against Shen Ming's shoulder in defeat.
Everyone froze.
"W-Wen Gongzi is Yu Shixiong?!" Xu Jin gasped, pale as a ghost.
"Wen Jian is the clownish poet?!" Yu Yi's eyes went wide.
"What the hell is going on?!"
"Yeah, if he's not Yu Shixiong, then why is he trying so hard to save everyone?" Shen Ming said, leaning Yu Lingyu's head gently on his shoulder.
"As far as I know, only Yu Shixiong is stupid enough to help others without thinking about himself."
He had started suspecting when he first met Wen Jian in the underground hall, there was something too familiar about his voice. That suspicion turned to certainty during the healing in the cave.This person… was Yu Lingyu. But not the Yu Lingyu he once knew.
His spiritual energy had increased tremendously, and his combat abilities were clearly refined. Yet, he still hid behind the mask of a clownish poet.
Why?
At first, Shen Ming had felt shame. He had been the one to mock "Yu Lingyu," calling him an ugly loser, a nobody. But now? Yu Lingyu stood completely opposite to those words.
"Wait, then why the mask?" a Juyao girl asked, blushing. "He-he looks like an angel!"
"Wen Jian is Yu Shixiong... then, did I scold Yu Shixiong?" Xu Jin's eyes widened in horror. "Oh no. Damn it!" she groaned, burying her face between her knees.
"And you," someone turned to Hong Li, narrowing their eyes, "are you someone we know too?"
"Exactly. She called him 'Ah-Yu,' like someone who knew him well," muttered Xu Jin, her words now turning inward. "How could I not recognize Yu Shixiong even with such a clear name…"
If San Jie said those words, Shen Ming would surely use them as an insult against him.
"I used to be a disciple of Jun Peak," Hong Li said softly. Her words dropped like stones in still water. Silence returned.
"Lingyu and I... have been best friends since childhood," she continued.
"But I left the sect two years ago."
"Wait-wait! Are you that Hong Li? Hong Meng Li? Jun Peak's sixth inner disciple?" Yu Yi asked, sitting up straight.
Hong Li gave a small smile. "Yes."
"So you're Hong Shijie?! Then, what are you doing in the Lotus Sect?!"
"That's what I'd like to know as well." said a cold voice.
A cold wind swept through the cave entrance.
Three tall figures stood in the shadow of the entrance.
"Da Shixiong!"