Lin Muci's figure rushed outwards.
Indeed, outside was a hellish scene of carnage, with shattered walls and flying flesh, where demons ran rampant. Each time, cultivators had to pay with their lives to repel them.
Lin Muci, burning with anxiety, dashed towards the center of the city. She saw several cultivators setting up a formation to resist the demons. However, the demons outside were terrifyingly powerful, their demonic energy crashing and surging, threatening to engulf everything in an instant and break through the formation.
Lin Muci gritted her teeth and unleashed her true essence.
Then, a wisp of flame streaked across the sky.
She was a phoenix; arson was within her abilities, and her phoenix true fire could naturally ward off evil and expel demons.
Wherever the flames reached, the demonic energy was thoroughly cleansed, leaving no trace of its rampant presence.
Lin Muci walked over slowly.
Her gaze fell upon the faces of the cultivators.
"Are you all right?"
"This place has become a target. The demonic energy could return at any moment."
"You should leave this place quickly."
At the front was a man wearing a jade-colored robe, though it was now stained with blood. He had a handsome face, and even when facing mortal danger, he maintained a calm composure.
The man hesitated for a moment, then looked up to meet Lin Muci's eyes.
Lin Muci heard him speak.
"If we were to leave here—"
He paused, then said without hesitation,
"We should leave together. Would that be agreeable?"
His gaze was almost scorching as he looked into Lin Muci's eyes, a hint of urgency in his expression.
"Since this place is so dangerous, it is also perilous for you to remain here. It would be better to leave with us."
He looked at Lin Muci. The man was gentle and refined, clearly from a reputable sect. Beside him was likely his junior disciple, who began to mumble.
"Master told us to descend the mountain and slay demons, but we didn't expect the situation here to be this dire."
"This young lady, you can control flames. May I ask what sect you belong to?"
Lin Muci had no idea what sects existed in the human world now.
So she shook her head and said softly,
"Just a nameless rogue cultivator."
The other party glanced at her, clearly not believing her words. A nameless rogue cultivator? The flames she had just unleashed were terrifyingly powerful. Could ordinary rogue cultivators drive away the demonic energy that had rendered them helpless?
He looked at Lin Muci, while his senior brother cupped his hands towards her.
"Regardless, we must escort these mortals to safety."
Lin Muci hesitated for a moment, her voice becoming much lower.
"But—I have a friend. I need to see him before I can continue helping to escort people out of this city."
The disciple looked puzzled.
"Demons are rampant everywhere here. Apart from the barrier we've set up, where else could there be any survivors? Moreover, we can't afford to delay even a moment. We must depart immediately."
Lin Muci, however, was stubborn.
"No, I've helped you now, but I must go find my friend to let him know."
She nodded and turned to leave. The others, seeing her resolute attitude, felt both awe at her flames and confusion, even a touch of annoyance, thinking she was unwilling to make a sacrifice.
Just as Lin Muci was about to turn, someone drew their sword from behind her!
"Young lady, regardless of whether your friend is alive or dead, there are many mortals here. The lives of so many people are clearly more important."
"We should escort them out of the city first."
"What do you think?"
"To put it bluntly, your friend might have already been devoured by demons. It is clearly not wise to put so many people in danger for the sake of one person."
But Lin Muci paid no attention to his words.
"He won't die, and I'll be back soon."
...
She sped through the desolate streets—and the moment she clearly saw Ling Qianhe's face, Lin Muci breathed a deep sigh of relief!
Ling Qianhe remained in his spot. The young man looked at her, a look of bewilderment still on his face.
"Why did you come back?"
Lin Muci looked at him.
"I promised to escort those mortals out of the city."
Ling Qianhe scoffed.
"Overestimating yourself. Do you think you can stop a chariot with a mere twig? Even if you save one person, what about the thousands upon thousands more? It's truly—ridiculously absurd!"
He dismissed Lin Muci's actions with disdain.
Lin Muci remained silent for a moment.
She looked at the cold face of the youth before her.
"I'm just telling you that I'm not leaving without a word, nor am I abandoning you—Once those people reach... reach a safe place, I won't run away. I will return to your side."
"I didn't... want to leave you."
Ling Qianhe continued to sneer.
"What, you think I'll miss you?"
"I wish you'd be eaten by demons."
"Are you done talking? If you're done, then you can scram!"
He turned his head, and Lin Muci instantly felt a gust of wind rush towards her, pushing her away.
She knew this devilish figure was probably being temperamental again, so she could only offer a wry smile and not force the issue.
...
Lin Muci escorted the mortals with the cultivators to a place protected by sectarian forces.
She nodded, about to leave. But the same cultivator, the handsome and refined young man, looked at her and suddenly said.
"It's not safe outside with demons rampant everywhere."
Lin Muci looked up at the man and heard the strong seriousness in his tone.
"Precisely because of that—"
He paused slightly and extended an invitation to Lin Muci.
"Why not stay with us for a few days, young lady, and help us cleanse the demons?"
"I see you seem to possess a flame that is very effective against demons..."
He extended his invitation to Lin Muci. After thinking for a moment, she knew that if she returned to Ling Qianhe now, he would likely still be angry. It would be better to shelter these mortals temporarily.
So she nodded and agreed!
For the next few days, Lin Muci helped the disciples of the Huanling Sect, led by the disciple named Bai Yu, evacuate the old, weak, sick, and disabled from the city. During this process, they encountered several crises.
Fortunately, they were all resolved without incident. However, whether it was her imagination or not, she always felt as if a pair of cold, sinister eyes were watching her from within the demonic energy!
During another crisis, the man named Bai Yu reached out and wrapped his arm around her waist, intending to help her dodge a demon's soul-piercing strike!
But her body was suddenly restrained by another powerful force.
Then, a pair of hands grabbed her body, embracing her with a chilling coldness.
"I told you to leave me, not to throw yourself into the arms of other men."
Lin Muci was about to protest, saying it was unintentional and that he was just trying to save her when Ling Qianhe's blood-red, ice-cold eyes turned to look at Bai Yu with a chilling gaze!
Lin Muci's heart trembled violently. Realizing what he might do, she immediately grabbed his wrist.
"No—don't do that!"
Her voice trembled.
"Don't kill him!"
Ling Qianhe pinched her chin, forcing her to look at him, his tone growing even colder.
"You want to protect him so badly? What, you've only spent a few days together, and he's already made you fickle and restless?"
Lin Muci's eyes widened in disbelief. She thought the man before her was utterly unreasonable—She gasped, her voice extremely serious!
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm just protecting these civilians with him..."
Ling Qianhe leaned close to her ear and questioned her in a voice she could clearly hear.
"Protecting these civilians?"
"Then if I kill these civilians, will you no longer need to protect them? Lin Muci, you know I'm capable of it—If you look at this man again, I will turn everyone here to ashes!"
His eyes were almost blood red.
He was not joking.
He was telling the truth.
He was truly—going mad.
Lin Muci's breathing became rapid. But letting Ling Qianhe go on a killing spree now was impossible. She bit her lip, an idea immediately forming in her mind to stop him and divert his attention.
The next second.
Lin Muci tiptoed and slowly kissed his lips!
She was very proactive, pressing her lips against Ling Qianhe's, their mouths meeting. She looked into his eyes, the red deep within them gradually fading, then slowly transforming into another familiar shade of gloom, brimming with surging passion and desire. He chuckled, as if thinking she hadn't done enough.
He forcefully held her shoulders, deepening the kiss.
He madly savored the sweetness of her lips, his hands roaming her body with abandon.
Meanwhile, the demons beside them turned to ashes, and Bai Yu watched the scene in stunned silence. He looked at the man before him, astonishingly handsome yet with unfathomable cultivation. He bit his lip, feeling as if his heart were being squeezed, and muttered,
"Let go... let her go!"
How could Ling Qianhe let go?
He kissed her long and passionately, seamlessly, for an unknown duration, until her flushed cheeks began to pale.
Only then did he release her lips, a cold smile in his eyes.
"My woman, why would I let go?"
Bai Yu looked at him with anger.
"You're clearly forcing her!"
Ling Qianhe chuckled.
"Is that so? I'm forcing her? But it's clearly her who initiated it, and I'm merely fulfilling her desires."
He pinched her chin and said.
"She's merely my cauldron. Her body can no longer be without me and will react on its own."
"Ask her, is that right?"
Lin Muci's eyelashes fluttered. She knew this man was jealous and that his inherent madness and possessiveness had taken over. However, she never expected Ling Qianhe to be so... so blunt. Her face was a mixture of pale and ashen, her eyes revealing a trace of despair.
Destroying her dignity.
Degrading her character.
Finally, making her a lowly slave, unable to leave him.
Was this—his revenge?
Ling Qianhe looked at her ashen face. He had originally wanted to see her heartbroken like this, but seeing her truly in pain, he suddenly fell silent for a moment, then spoke again.
"However, regarding her."
"It's not as if I don't have any feelings."
"After playing with a plaything for so long, even a master develops some affection."
"She did many wrong things, and she betrayed me. Anyone else would have wanted to grind her to dust. I keep her by my side precisely to allow her to atone!"
"As long as she doesn't leave me—I won't punish her."
Lin Muci stared blankly at Ling Qianhe.
The small system said in her mind.
"Does he love you by saying this? But he has no heart anymore."
"He truly... has no heart, but he's still trying his best to love you."
"Wuwu, host, what a touching and beautiful love."
"He's truly fallen for you in this lifetime. No wonder he's so jealous. He's inherently demonic; even a glance at another man would probably drive him mad with jealousy!"
Ling Qianhe lowered his head, as if sniffing the fragrance from her neck, while one hand rested on her waist. Then Lin Muci heard Ling Qianhe say.
"Don't look at other men, don't go with them."
"You are mine."
"Forever imprisoned by me."
"Don't even think about escaping."
She silently pursed her lips. Ling Qianhe grabbed her wrist and was about to lead her outside. Bai Yu, still staring blankly at the scene, suddenly felt as if he had woken from a dream. Bai Yu shouted loudly.
"Wait a moment—even if she is a cauldron—you can't do this..."
"Even if this young lady has done wrong things as you say, she is, after all, after all..."
"She is by no means a bad person!"
"Aren't you afraid of hurting her heart by saying those words?"
Ling Qianhe chuckled and lightly bit her earlobe.
"He's standing up for you. That's right, everyone in the world covets my little Ci..."
Lin Muci feared he would get angry. He was unpredictable now, and once enraged, he had almost no reason. Lin Muci immediately grabbed his wrist and then tiptoed to look at him.
"But I only belong to you."
She said it earnestly, her eyes still resembling a surging river of ice.
He said.
"Such sweet words. Such a venomous heart."
"How could I fall in love with a damned woman like you?"
He extended his hand, and a black chain slowly materialized in his palm, transforming into a pure black necklace!
Then he clasped the necklace around her neck.
"My possession, no one shall covet."
"To covet is to die!"
His words were filled with killing intent, and Lin Muci could only sigh inwardly as she looked at his almost frenzied eyes. Trying to reform him was probably futile.
The devil only wanted to kill.
As for saving the world—
It seemed a swift exit was in order.