What met the eye was a woman dressed in a red robe of intricate patterns, lying on a couch, on the verge of death.
What was even more horrifying was that every visible part of her skin was covered in cracks.
This meant her condition was dire.
At that moment, Yan Jue thought that a dying woman could pose no threat to him.
"I am merely passing through. Once the pursuers outside have left, I will depart."
"So you're a little ghost escaping reincarnation, being chased by mere shrimps and crabs. How laughable, how laughable..."
This woman made no effort to conceal her disdain and mockery towards Yan Jue.
Yan Jue, a man of seven feet tall, could not possibly swallow such an insult.
"You have a big mouth, yet you're still hiding here."
At that time, Yan Jue believed that in the underworld, the King of Hell was the supreme authority.
Therefore, in his view, this woman, like him, did not wish to suffer the pains of birth, aging, sickness, and death, or the torments of love and hate, and had thus hidden here.
The woman in red, however, said, "A few mere underlings, I could crush them with a flick of my finger."
"Then please, flick your finger and crush them. I shall not disturb your peace then."
This remark, however, angered the woman in red.
"Do I look like I can go out and fight anyone in my current state?"
He had seen that long ago, otherwise he wouldn't have said that.
Now, the pursuers outside wouldn't leave, and the one inside wouldn't come out. They were in a stalemate.
Yan Jue simply decided to stay in this Xuán Xiá Cave. He had to admit, this cave dwelling was indeed a place of great fortune.
The decoration was exquisite, the furnishings complete, and most importantly, the pursuers outside dared not enter.
As time passed, Yan Jue also noticed something was amiss.
"Why are the pursuers outside afraid to come in and find me?"
A sinister smile curved the lips of the woman in red. "Naturally, it's because they fear me. Do you think they fear you?"
Yan Jue's gaze fell upon a long sword, half-buried in the earth not far from the woman, emanating a red glow.
"This sword is impressive."
"It is my sword, it fought by my side. Alas, soon it will turn to dust with me and return to this heaven and earth. Perhaps all things will end this way."
Yan Jue heard the candidness in the woman's tone and was taken aback.
"Can you truly face your own demise into dust with such equanimity?"
The woman then smiled.
"I am alone, without ties. My existence or non-existence holds no meaning for me."
Yan Jue had never met a woman of such character, and he did not doubt the truth of her words.
Because since he had arrived at Xuán Xiá Cave, she had never once pleaded for help, nor shown any sign of fear.
"But this sword means a great deal to me."
The woman in red clearly sensed the greed in Yan Jue's eyes, and his unwillingness to submit to fate.
Thinking that she too would ultimately meet such an end, she felt a sense of release.
"I permit you to use my sword. However, I must warn you, the moment I turn to dust, my sword will vanish with me. Do not falter at a crucial moment."
"Thank you!"
Yan Jue stepped forward and drew the long sword. The aura of slaughter emanating from the red-glowing sword instantly surged through his entire body. The sensation could only be described as invigorating.
Yan Jue had not been gone long when a small-scale battle erupted outside.
The outcome was, as expected, a victory for Yan Jue.
She thought he would use her sword to achieve what he had never been able to. Sudancn.com
It was good that a single sword was enough; it saved him from returning to disturb her last moments of quiet solitude.
But what she never expected was that Yan Jue not only returned but took it upon himself to change her destiny.
"This sword is truly remarkable."
"Oh, you haven't told me your name yet. I am Yan Jue," he introduced himself grandly.
"What is your status, and what is my position? You are not worthy of knowing my name."
He had seen many arrogant people, but it was rare to see someone so arrogant even when on the verge of death.
"Fine, it's alright if you don't tell me."
The next second, Yan Jue, disregarding the woman in red's wishes, forcefully picked her up and rushed out.
It was the first time she had been treated so by a man, and her heart felt an indescribable sensation.
"What are you doing? Let me go!"
Yan Jue said, "I don't like owing favors. You helped me once, and I will not stand idly by and watch you die."
"I don't need your help."
"But I don't want to owe a favor."
Yan Jue, set in his ways, carried the woman in red to the edge of the vortex of reincarnation.
Seeing this, the woman in red, too weak to resist in his arms, said fiercely, "How dare you!"
Yan Jue then gave a wicked smile.
"An interesting soul like yours, how could I bear to watch you turn to dust?"
"Naturally, before you perish, I will send you into reincarnation. Perhaps there is still a glimmer of hope."
As soon as he finished speaking, Yan Jue tossed the woman into the vortex of reincarnation.
Before she disappeared completely, the woman in red did not forget to issue a threat: "No matter the cost, I will come back to settle the score with you!"
...
After hearing the story, Tang Xiaomin breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Yan Jue had not been...
However, Tang Xiaomin soon sensed something was wrong.
"This is not right. Yan Jun was later thrown into reincarnation by us, and then he was reborn as Ye Fengxing. But before I died, Ye Fengxing was already in Modu?"
This was the crux of the problem.
Yan Jue was also bewildered.
He held Tang Xiaomin's hand, his eyes filled with guilt and apology.
"Minmin, I've told you everything I can. Do you believe me?"
Tang Xiaomin snatched her hand back.
"Now, you and Yan Jun are each telling your own version of events. How can I know who is telling the truth and who is lying?"
"And why didn't you tell me all this earlier?"
Because he was afraid.
What if Tang Xiaomin believed Yan Jun's instigation? Then, with the sword in his hand, even if he had a thousand mouths, he couldn't explain himself.
Moreover, his relationship with that supreme leader was something only they knew, and it had no persuasive power at all.
Thinking of this, Yan Jue secretly made up his mind.
"Minmin, I will prove myself. Please give me some time to prepare."
"Alright."
She wanted to see what other tricks Yan Jue could pull.
Rationality told Tang Xiaomin to deal with things logically, but her emotions urged her to believe Yan Jue, and her mind was in a turmoil.
Three days after the great battle, she walked alone on the desolate streets of the underworld. This city was now called Mingcheng.
Three days ago, countless souls had turned to dust amidst the fierce fighting. The prosperity of the past was now only a scene of devastation.
In these three days, Tang Xiaomin had thought a great deal.
She brought a chair and went to the dungeon where the Ninth Prince Yanluo was imprisoned and sat down.
Seeing her arrive, those who knew her, and even the unfamiliar faces, all looked at her with complex expressions.