At dawn, when the sky was just brightening, dark clouds gathered in the sky around Qingyun Mountain. Before long, raindrops began to fall. The rain grew heavier and heavier, until the sky and earth were a dull gray, filled with the sound of rain pattering everywhere, shrouding the towering mountain range in a misty veil, making it seem mysterious and vague.

  The sound of raindrops hitting the emerald green bamboo leaves seems to have remained unchanged for thousands of years, and it always feels desolate on Qingyun Mountain. From the eaves of the roof tiles that have grown old with age and are covered in moss, water droplets change from dripping to a curtain of water, falling down like pearls, drop by drop, thread by thread, onto the green stone floor, splashing up like shattered pearl fragments.

  There is wind in the rain, blowing gently in the rain flowers, carrying a faint mist and rain powder, wandering between the windowsills, as if also missing something.

  Lu Xueqi stood alone in front of the window, gazing at the hazy rain-soaked mountains outside, stretching endlessly. In this serene and chilly moment, it seemed as though only the distant sound of raindrops hitting bamboo leaves echoed through the heavens, mountains, and waters.

  A gentle breeze passed by, and her raven-black hair fluttered lightly at the temples. The rain brushed against her face, feeling like a coolness that had entered her skin. She gently pursed her lips, her hand resting on the windowsill, as the sound of the rain came in waves, seeming both far and near, but ultimately falling deep within her heart.

  Only I don't know if there is still ripples?

  Footsteps sounded outside the house, someone knocked gently on the door. Lu Xueqi silently turned her head back, quietly regaining consciousness from the hazy rain and mist, walked over to open the door, and standing outside was her senior sister Wen Min.

  Lu Xueqi smiled slightly at the corner of her mouth and said, "Shi Jie."

  Wen Min looked at her slightly pale face, furrowed his brow, and walked in. Lu Xueqi immediately closed the door, and the two sat down in the simple room. Wen Min first glanced at the bed, but only saw that the bedding was neatly arranged, sighed, and said, "Didn't you sleep last night?"

  Lu Xueqi said quietly: "I couldn't sleep."

  Wen Min looked at Lu Xueqi, feeling a slight pang in her heart. She had entered the Xiaozhu Peak earlier than Lu Xueqi and they had always gotten along well. With Lu Xueqi's proud and aloof personality, apart from their master Shuiyue, Wen Min was one of the few people who could talk to her. Recently, Lu Xueqi had been plagued by troubles, and Wen Min felt anxious watching from the side. However, despite her own anxiety, she couldn't think of a solution and could only watch as Lu Xueqi's relationship with their master and the elders of Qingyun Peak became increasingly strained.

  The room fell silent for a moment, and Wen Mian didn't know what to say either. After a while, Lu Xueqi spoke up in a soft voice: "Sister, this time it's really unfair to you because of my matter."

  "What?"

  Lu Xueqi said, "I heard that a few days ago, Dazhu Peak's Tian Shishu and Su Ruo Shishu personally brought Song Daren, Song Shixiong to propose marriage, but Master actually rejected him on the spot and had a big argument with Tian Shishu."

  Wen Min let out a wry smile, with a hint of bitterness in his expression. He shook his head slowly and said, "Alas... that's nothing, besides it has nothing to do with you. It's just that I and he don't have fate, and we both know that Master has always disliked people from Dazhu Peak."

  Lu Xueqi silently shook her head and said, "It's not like that. That day was when I disobeyed Master and angered her, so it also implicated you. Otherwise, with Su Rou Shifu present and Tian Shifu willing to give such a big face by coming in person to propose, your matter would have mostly succeeded. But...Shifu Jie, I'm really sorry!"

  Wen Min smiled and let out a sigh, saying: "Alright, don't blame yourself for being here. I'm fine, aren't I? And Master is just temporarily angry, who knows what will happen in the future?" She glanced at Lu Xueqi and said: "Don't mention my business anymore, but you, what do you plan to do? You can't keep being at odds with Master like this forever, can you?"

  Lu Xueqi's face turned pale, and she remained silent. Wen Mian hesitated for a long time before saying, "Sister, I somewhat understand your thoughts, but continuing like this won't work out in the end. Zhang... that person has already entered the demonic path and is despised by the righteous way of the world. Moreover, taking a step back, you went to the southwest this time, to the battlefield where the demon sect and beast demons are fiercely fighting, the scene there..."

  Wen Min suddenly stopped and fell silent, for at this moment Lu Xueqi's face seemed to have lost its blood color in an instant, and even her bright eyes seemed to be etched with deep pain.

  The house was silent for a long time, and the sound of rain outside the window was rustling, lonely and speechless.

  Finally, Wen Min spoke in a low voice: "He's probably really gone, and your persistence will only bring suffering to yourself."

  Lu Xueqi's face was pale, and she didn't say a word. She slowly got up and walked to the windowsill, gazing out at the misty rain outside. The mountains were shrouded in fog, hazy and dreamlike. Even the raindrops that splashed against her face seemed to carry an unreal quality, as if they too were tinged with a hint of chill.

  "I know... " This elegant woman said lightly in the misty rain, "He may have really left. Sometimes I think that for him, this might not be a bad thing after all. It's liberation. And I also know that Master scolding me wasn't wrong, it was my fault, I was foolish to fantasize, I shouldn't... shouldn't..."

  Her voice suddenly choked with emotion, Wen Min stood up and was about to go comfort her when Lu Xueqi suddenly turned around, her white clothes fluttering as she moved, like a solitary cloud.

  Her eyes seemed to have a teardrop, crystal clear and transparent, with an unprecedented hint of sadness, saying: "Sister, I know everything, but I just can't let go. Even if I cut off this emotional thread thousands of times, I still can't cut it off completely, can't escape. Since returning from the southwest, I've told myself countless times, he's dead, he's dead, everything is over. But every night after falling asleep, I dream of the tragic scene in the Poisonous Snake Valley, and dream of him being devoured by the beast demon...

  Lu Xueqi suddenly stopped, her expression was so excited that even Wen Mian felt a little worried, but Lu Xueqi quickly calmed down, only in her eyes, there was still a hint of sadness: "Then, I woke up with a start, covered in cold sweat, as if I had been placed in an ice cellar!"

  She silently looked at Wen Mian, then her expression gradually weakened, as if her body began to tremble slightly, and said: "Sister, what's wrong with me, what's wrong with me?" She suddenly threw herself into Wen Mian's arms, Wen Mian hugged her shoulders, only feeling her thin body trembling slightly, and heard her low voice by her ear.

  "Sister, I can't take it anymore, I really can't take it anymore..."

  Wen Min was speechless, tightly hugging Lu Xueqi who had never been so fragile before. This woman, once proud and aloof, now seemed to be the most heartbroken person in the world.

  ……

  Silence once again covered everything, the sound of rain outside was urgent, and a low sobbing voice seemed to be transmitted in the wind. Outside the small hut, at the edge of the bamboo forest, Master Shuiyue stood silently, holding an oilcloth umbrella, staring blankly at the house in the wind and rain.

  Then she slowly turned around and left, disappearing into the bamboo forest.

  The world is bleak and desolate, with wind and rain swirling about, a truly dismal time.

  ********

  It was also raining in the city of Hezhou. Zhou Yixian, Xiaohuan and Ye Gou Dao Ren walked out of another small alley and merged into the crowded street, trying to walk a few steps before retreating to the side of the road. On the one hand, there were too many people, making it difficult to move forward; on the other hand, they also wanted to avoid the rain for now and discuss their next move.

  Among the three, two factions have already formed. Xiao Huan insisted on going back to that righteous village's haunted house for another look, but Zhou Yixian refused no matter what. This time, however, it was unexpectedly Zhou Yixian who came up with a plan.

  Xiao Huan's power was weak, but she was eloquent and quick-witted. When debating with one or two people, plus the wild dog Taoist whose opinion differed from hers this time, he would often be stared at by Xiao Huan and couldn't speak, so most of the time only Zhou Yi Xian opposed her alone.

  At this moment, three people stood by the road, Zhou Yixian lowered his voice and said: "You silly girl, such a dangerous place, why go back? Are you going back to die?"

  "You've lived for so many years and still don't know what integrity is, grandfather?"

  "Morality? Morality my ass! You're dead and still talking about morality. That ghost-like guy is formidable, we go back isn't it sending ourselves to death?"

  The wild dog Taoist nodded on the side, saying: "Not bad, it's indeed not suitable to go back..." Xiaohuan's eyes swept over, and she gave him a white eye. The wild dog Taoist's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly couldn't say anything more.

  "Grandfather, if it weren't for them saving us last night, we would have been dead by now and wouldn't be standing here arguing about what's right or wrong. Now isn't it okay to go back and take a look?"

  Xian's expression didn't change as he said, "It's precisely because we were saved by him that we must cherish our own lives even more. Otherwise, if we were to throw ourselves into the net and fall into the tiger's mouth again, wouldn't that be a waste of Gui Lian's good intentions?"

  Xiao Huan was speechless for a moment, and suddenly couldn't think of anything to say to refute Zhou Yi Xian. Zhou Yi Xian saw this and couldn't help but feel pleased, chuckling: "Nothing to say now?"

  Xiao Huan angrily said: "You clearly know that person is eerie and unfathomable, yet you don't care about your own lifesaver at all?"

  "On Monday, Xian Tai ran calmly and said: 'Don't worry, Gui Li has his own way of doing things, he has his own magic treasures. As for the ghostly energy, I'm afraid he's even more gloomy than that coffin. It's really hard to die, what are you worried about?' He paused for a moment, then continued: 'Besides, didn't you see his fortune ten years ago? At that time, it was said that this person is one in ten thousand with the 'chaotic magic fate', although there will be many twists and turns, but not a short-lived fate. What are you still worried about...'"

  "What, have you shown me the portrait before?" Suddenly, a voice emerged from beside them, and the three were shocked. They turned their heads to look, only to see Gui Li suddenly appearing beside them, as if he had flashed out of the rain under the bright daylight.

  At this moment, the rain is already quite heavy, but there are too many people escaping in the city of Heiyang, and most people are also filled with fear for the upcoming beast demon, and have not taken care of this rain. In fact, in recent days, the citizens of Heiyang City have been out of control due to excessive tension, fortunately, the disciples of Qingyunmen have been maintaining order in the city, and most of them have arrived in a short time to deal with it, but the panic has also made this city immersed in a crazy atmosphere on the edge.

  Xiao Huan and the others were all stunned for a moment, then Xiao Huan was overjoyed and couldn't help but softly exclaim: "It's you..."

  Zhou Yixian and Ye Gou Dao Ren both furrowed their brows at the same time, Zhou Yixian hummed and unexpectedly said the same thing: "It's you..."

  The demon didn't bother to reason with Zhou Yixian, first glancing at Xiao Huan, seeing the genuine joy on her young face, and a warmth in her eyes that she couldn't help but feel. She nodded slightly and said, "It's me."

  At this time, the little monkey Xiao Hui, who was lying on Gui Li's shoulder with its fur wet from the rain, also called out to Xiao Huan twice and smiled with a wide mouth, seemingly very happy to see her.

  Xiao Huan smiled and said to Xiao Hui, "You still remember me, hehe." As she spoke, she glanced up at Gui Li and hesitated for a moment before asking, "Were you okay last night?"

  The ghost nodded and said, "I'm fine."

  Xiao Huan finally put her mind at ease, took a few more glances at Gui Li, and suddenly, for some reason, her face turned red. Her eyes immediately shifted to Xiao Hui's body, and with a smile, she opened her arms and said: "Come, come over here and let me give you a hug."

  Xiao Hui let out a silly laugh and suddenly pushed off from Gui Li's shoulder, jumping straight into Xiao Huan's arms. Xiao Huan couldn't help but giggle, feeling the monkey's wet fur. She was about to grab a cloth to wipe it clean when the monkey seemed to feel uncomfortable too, and with a sudden shake of its body, water droplets flew everywhere. Xiao Huan let out a startled cry, but didn't want to drop the monkey, so she quickly closed her eyes. A moment later, her face, clothes, and even the collar of her shirt were all covered in water droplets, courtesy of the mischievous monkey.

  Xiao Huan opened her eyes, stared at Xiao Hui for a moment, and the three-eyed monkey blinked repeatedly without moving. Xiao Huan hummed, tossed both hands, and threw Xiao Hui back onto Gui Li's body. Xiao Hui climbed to Gui Li's shoulder with its three legs, watching Xiao Huan busily tidy up her clothes, and couldn't help but chuckle again.

  Xiao Huan couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time, biting her lower lip as she secretly glanced at Gui Li. She then lowered her head to adjust her clothes. Gui Li turned around and gave Zhou Yi Xian a glance, who felt a bit uneasy in his heart and said: "Hey, you little stinker, I was your lifesaver back then, can't you behave?"

  The ghost looked around for a moment, saw that the people next to him were all minding their own business, and no one noticed here, so he asked Zhou Yixian: "What are you after all?"

  Xian raised his head on Monday and said, "I am a superior man."

  The little ring and the wild dog's body all trembled, apparently this answer made people feel very strange. However, Gui Li seemed to ignore this "master" and asked calmly: "Last night your earth escape technique, it has been lost for a long time, but legend has it that this kind of technique was the specialty of Qingyunzi, the founder of Qingyunmen, when he traveled the world, how did you get it?"

  He looked deeply at Zhou Yixian and said, "What is your relationship with Qingyunmen?"

  "Alright, now that it's come to this, I won't hide it from you either..." Zhou Yixian fell silent for a moment before speaking. Xiao Huan and Ye Gou Dao Ren were both taken aback, seeing the serious expression on Zhou Yixian's face, they couldn't help but become serious as well.

  "Actually, things were like this," Zhou Yi Xian slowly said. "When I was young, I was handsome and elegant, talented and extraordinary... Ah, don't look at me like that, let me continue. When I was young, I made a living by picking herbs. One time, I entered the deep mountains to pick herbs and accidentally fell into a precipice..."

  The three of them - Gui Li, Xiao Huan and Ye Gou Dao Ren - furrowed their brows simultaneously, but Zhou Yi Xian seemed to become more and more delighted as he continued speaking: "However, I was lucky enough to be hooked by a pine tree in mid-air, which blocked half of my fall. Then I fell again, and unexpectedly, there was a deep pool of water at the bottom of the cliff, so I managed to survive..."

  "Grandpa, I seem to have heard this story somewhere before, and it seems like many people say the same thing. In many operas and storytelling sessions, those great heroes all fall off a cliff at some point..."

  Monday Xian glared at Little Ring, angrily saying: "Was it me or you who spoke? Shut up. Hmm, where was I? Ah yes, falling off the cliff, but I'm lucky to be alive. And then, unexpectedly, I stumbled upon a secret manual left behind by a senior fellow from many years ago. With my innate intelligence, I comprehended the manual under the cliff, using the spiritual energy of heaven and earth as nourishment, transcending time and space, and finally allowing me to achieve enlightenment and become an immortal..."

  The demon sneered coldly: "Apart from your name, what else about you resembles a fairy?"

  On Monday, Xian was slightly stunned, his face a bit awkward, but he immediately recovered and said calmly: "I am doing this for the sake of all living beings in the world, accumulating good deeds and virtues, that's why I'm playing among humans."

  The demon sneered faintly: "Are you telling me that your earth escape technique was learned from that secret book?"

  On Monday, Xian nodded repeatedly and said seriously: "That's right, the child can be taught." But after finishing speaking, he turned his head to look at the crowd around him. He didn't see any ghostly aura, but only saw that Xiaohuan and Ye Gou Dao Ren's faces also clearly showed the word "doubt".

  Guilei looked at this person, he naturally wouldn't believe such nonsense, but since Zhou Yixian said so, no matter what, he didn't want to reveal his own origin and identity. However, although this person seemed to have some connection with Qingyun Mountain, Guilei had also interacted with him in the past and hadn't found anything wrong with him. Moreover, in Guilei's heart, he always looked at Zhou Yixian and the other two with a different gaze.

  At this thought, Gui Li also didn't want to continue pressing them, nor did he want to say anything more. Just as he was about to say a few words and leave, suddenly, from the southern edge of Heiyang City, a scream of terror burst out from the distant crowd, the sound was extremely mournful.

  Everyone was shocked, turned around to look back, and the people on the side of the street also turned their heads in unison. The originally crowded street was now full of people running around, and even the high city walls that were originally packed with people were now rushing about. In the misty rain, a shrill cry echoed through the sky, and a huge bird of prey swooped down from above, its eyes gleaming with blood-red ferocity. Its wings spread wide, astonishingly spanning half the width of the city gate, truly terrifying to behold.

  A mighty gust of wind was brought forth by the giant bird, a fierce gale swept in, and the mast on the city wall was snapped off by the sharp strong wind, crashing to the ground. The people on the wall were frightened to the extreme, running wildly in all directions. The giant bird descended from the sky, let out a shrill cry, its huge sharp claws grasped two fleeing men like an evil hand, and then soared into the sky, disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.

  The entire city of Hei Yang fell into a dead silence, and after a long time, it was unclear who was the first to loudly exclaim: "Beast demon, it's a beast demon that has arrived, we're done for!......"

  In an instant, the entire city fell into a state of hysteria, with countless people wailing loudly and crying out in grief, amidst a scene of utter chaos.

  There is only misty rain between heaven and earth, still quietly falling, as if nothing had happened!