However, in the wilderness ten miles outside the Northern Divine Capital, a person hurried along under the moonlight.
It was a clear night with the moon shining brightly, casting a silver glow on the fallen leaves.
The scattered green leaves, stirred by the wind, seemed like waves in a vast sea.
Beneath the shimmering moonlight, a figure clad in crimson suddenly appeared.
He was as noble as ever, always preferring to stand on high ground and observe the world with a cool detachment.
Yet, at this moment, his gaze was fixed on the person hurrying along.
As if struck by a delightful thought, he revealed a smile full of intrigue, then casually plucked a few leaves from a tree and tossed them towards the traveler.
Sensing something approaching from behind, the traveler reacted swiftly, dodging the projectiles just before they landed.
He looked down to see several leaves deeply embedded in the soil.
Alarmed, he turned his head, and under the brilliant moonlight, he spotted a blurred human silhouette.
Without hesitation, he sprang upwards, intending to discover the identity of the figure.
To his surprise, the silhouette descended from the tree a step ahead of him and vanished into the dense forest.
He looked at the crimson figure with bewilderment, unable to fathom who it could be. In his confusion, he heard a rustle, and a few leaves flew out from the forest, caught by him.
The silhouette reappeared within the trees, its presence flickering as if deliberately luring him.
After a moment of thought, he pursued. The figure moved with incredible speed, yet always remained about ten paces ahead.
Despite his efforts, he could not catch up, but his curiosity kept him in pursuit.
They chased each other for the entire night. Just before dawn, the figure ahead suddenly stopped.
Seizing the opportunity, Yue Jiuming propelled himself forward with all his might, lunging at the figure.
Unexpectedly, the figure flickered, and he was uncontrollably sent rolling out of the forest.
With a yelp, he collided with someone.
Before he could even get a clear look, he heard an indignant scolding in his ear.
"Who dares to be so careless, with no eyes?!"
He looked up, and his dim eyes suddenly lit up with surprise.
"Muye? What are you doing here?"
Dazed from the collision, I slumped to the ground, clutching my head with one hand and propping myself up with the other.
After a moment of regaining my composure, I finally saw him and exclaimed with joy.
"Brother Yue! What are you doing here too?"
He then took in his surroundings, seeing a group of people standing around.
He slowly got up, pulling me to my feet as well, and asked.
"Who are all these people?"
"Oh, they are all my friends."
"Friends? It's been a while, and you've made so many new ones."
I chuckled and explained.
"They are people with similar interests. By the way, Brother Yue, what brings you here? You're not here to pick me up, are you?"
Fearing he might see through me, I decided to lighten the mood with a joke and change the subject.
Yue Jiuming suddenly remembered that he had been chasing a crimson figure.
"Oh, I was chasing someone, and somehow I bumped into you."
As he spoke, his gaze fell upon the two figures in white nearby. He had seen Xue Gucheng and Yan Wushuang from afar a few times but had never met them.
"Are these the Twin Snow Blades?"
Xue Gucheng cupped his hands in greeting.
"Indeed, it is us. And you must be the Moon Shadow Swordsman, Yue Jiuming."
To his surprise, Xue Gucheng recognized him.
"That's right, that's right. I've often heard of your reputations and seen you from a distance, but we've never properly met.
This is the first time I've seen you up close, and you truly live up to your reputation for gallantry."
Despite his own renowned status, which was no less than that of the Twin Snow Blades, he offered his compliments generously.
"Great Hero Yue is also quite remarkable. You mentioned chasing a shadow, but we saw no shadow at all on our way here."
Speaking of this matter, Yue Jiuming found it suspicious and replied.
"That person possessed immense power, not like anyone from around here."
"Oh, there are such people?"
Yan Wushuang also grew interested. Yue Jiuming was, after all, a famous hero.
If even he couldn't catch up to someone, then that person was no ordinary individual.
When considering who might possess such ability, she thought of no one else but the King of Ten Thousand Ghosts. With this thought, she glanced at me again.
Then, she found it amusing. I had been with them the entire time; how could I have had the leisure to tease someone else?
Yue Jiuming said.
"Yes, I chased him all night but couldn't catch him, until I ran into you all."
Xue Gucheng added.
"He must be a master."
"Most likely."
As they were all engaged in pleasant conversation, unbeknownst to them, someone in the depths of the forest was observing them.
The corners of his lips curled upwards, but his crimson attire was unmistakable.
He could have sent someone else to do this task, but he insisted on coming himself, as if unconcerned about causing trouble for others.
After much analysis, they could not come to any conclusion. Finally, they asked.
"Where are you headed?"
Yue Jiuming replied.
"Ever since we parted ways in the Western Purple Kingdom, I haven't seen Sister Liu. I don't know where she's gone."
I suddenly recalled that at the Thousand姬 Hall, I had heard Shui Fangyinglu mention that he had a beloved named Sister Liu.
I had never met her, but I still offered him comfort.
"Perhaps she's gone somewhere for a visit and forgot to tell you."
His gaze suddenly darkened, and he shook his head silently.
If it were at that time, I might have been able to help him search, but now, as the King of Ten Thousand Ghosts, I could not interfere too much.
So, I offered further comfort.
"Perhaps she's waiting for you at one of the places you've stayed before. You could try looking there."
In truth, Yue Jiuming had already visited the places I mentioned, but he was too polite to trouble others with such matters.
He could only console himself.
"I suppose so. She's so fond of playing; she's probably hiding somewhere again. I'll look around."
"Alright, don't give up. You'll find her."
"Mm."
"It seems you have matters to attend to as well. I won't linger any longer. Farewell."
I didn't want to delay his search, so I said.
"Okay, you may go."
Just as he was about to leave, a dark figure suddenly emerged, wielding a long sword and descending from the sky. A furious shout followed.
"Bitch, take your life!"
The voice sounded like a woman's.
I looked up, and the gleaming sword was aimed directly at me.
Thirteenth Mother immediately flicked her sword, deflecting the incoming blade, and then sprang forward to engage the attacker.
The woman continued to curse as she fought.
"Get lost! This has nothing to do with you!"
Everyone looked on with suspicion. Yan Wushuang also asked with a puzzled expression.
"What's wrong, young lady? Why are you so angry? Did someone provoke you?"
She had initially not believed Jin Yulan's words and had followed them. By chance, she witnessed the scene just now.
The hugging, the laughter, the sweet affection – it all enraged her, prompting her to attack in a fury.
Now, with someone asking, her anger intensified.
"Provoke me? She doesn't just provoke me; that bitch also hooks up with my Ninth Brother."
Everyone was once again confused, unsure who this "bitch" was.
However, Yue Jiuming recognized the voice. It was his beloved Sister Liu, the one he had longed for day and night.
Overjoyed, he forgot her anger and shouted.
"Sister Liu! I've finally found you!"
"Ninth Brother!"
She pushed Thirteenth Mother aside and landed on the ground, but she did not rush towards Yue Jiuming. Her heart was still filled with anger.
She suddenly questioned him.
"Ninth Brother, you promised that in this life, and in the next, you would only love me.
But why have you changed your heart so quickly and fallen for someone else?"
Everyone turned to watch the two of them, their expressions akin to spectators at a show.
Yan Wushuang stepped forward to help the fallen Thirteenth Mother.
Yue Jiuming was utterly bewildered by her inexplicable question, his mind blank.
"Sister Liu, what... what are you talking about?"
"Ninth Brother, I saw it all. You hugging her, being so intimate. Tell me, do you like her?
If you truly like her, I am willing to let go and leave."
As she spoke, she pointed at me.
I immediately frowned, finally realizing that she had been talking about Yue Jiuming and me all this time.
Suddenly, I felt an awkwardness and looked at Yue Jiuming blankly.
"Sister Liu, what are you talking about? What hugging, what intimacy?"
"Ninth Brother, are you still not admitting it?"
Everyone watched us with amused curiosity, full of confusion.
We had inexplicably become a love triangle.
Yue Jiuming finally understood that she had misunderstood and began to explain.
"Sister Liu, my feelings for you are as clear as heaven and earth. Muye and I are just friends, and we happened to meet by chance."
She remained unconvinced and asked.
"Then why were you holding her?"
She was likely referring to Yue Jiuming bumping into me earlier, but they hadn't exactly been embracing, had they?
Yue Jiuming also figured out what she was referring to and recounted the entire story.
"Sister Liu, listen to me. It's not what you saw. Yesterday, I was still desperately searching for you.
Suddenly, a figure appeared, and I pursued him. That figure was as swift as the wind, difficult to catch.
I chased him all night, and then he suddenly stopped. I thought I had an opportunity and lunged forward, but I ended up bumping into Muye."
I also explained.
"Sister Liu, I've heard about you and Brother Yue. As for me, I only met him today. You don't need to worry; we have no relationship."
Her heart wavered slightly, realizing she might have indeed misunderstood.
Her heart softened, and she turned and ran towards Yue Jiuming, throwing herself into his arms.
"Ninth Brother, I've finally found you."
Yue Jiuming embraced her, his voice filled with grievance.
"Where did you go? You made me search so hard."
As she said this, she became somber, as if burdened by some unspeakable secret, but she said nothing more, simply stating.
"It's good that I found you."
Yue Jiuming looked at her black headscarf with some confusion. He remembered that she never used to wear such a thing and wondered why she was wearing it today.
She had her face so completely covered that he couldn't help but ask.
"Why are you dressed like this?"
He reached out to pull it off, but she clutched it tightly to protect it.
Yue Jiuming became even more perplexed and asked.
"What's wrong?"
She stammered, as if holding back something difficult to express.
"I-I-I can't say it."
Then, she broke free from his embrace, leaped onto a tree, and ran away.
Yue Jiuming hurried after her, afraid she would disappear from his sight again, and shouted.
"Sister Liu! Wait for me!"
After everyone had disappeared from view, we finally breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone slowly snapped out of their spectator mode.
I then remembered Thirteenth Mother and slowly walked over to her, asking.
"Are you hurt?"
She smiled slightly and replied.
"I'm not hurt."
"That's good. Then let's continue our journey."
"Mm."
With that, we set off again towards Black Mountain.
After traveling for half a day, we arrived at a hill. The sky was beginning to darken, the new moon was rising, and the surroundings were tranquil.
Lin'er looked up at the sky, thinking that everyone must be tired after a day's journey, and traveling at night would be difficult. She said to me.
"Ghost King, I think it would be best to rest here for the night."
I considered it and agreed.
"That sounds good."
Then, I announced to everyone.
"We will rest here for the night and depart early tomorrow morning."
Upon hearing my decision, everyone found a spot to sit down.
Xingyue and Canyu voluntarily went to gather firewood to start a fire.
We sat around the campfire, but no one spoke. They were likely tired.
In a daze, I thought I heard the sound of branches rustling. I slightly raised my head and looked towards the nearby forest.
Suddenly, a strong gust of wind swept in, powerful and irresistible like rushing water, making it impossible for everyone to open their eyes.
Tian Lishi stood up, trying to get a clear view ahead, but was nearly blown over by the wind. He could only shield himself and say.
"Why did the wind suddenly pick up?"
Gao Xuewei also commented.
"I've never encountered such strong winds before."
Thirteenth Mother also found it strange.
"Why is there such a strong wind out of nowhere?"
Just as everyone was at a loss, the sound of horse hooves suddenly echoed from within the wind.
At that moment, a long whip lashed out. Xue Gucheng leaped forward, grabbed the whip, and pulled the rider on the horse down to the ground.
Suddenly, a series of whistles sounded, and a group of people rushed forward, surrounding us.
As the strong wind subsided, we could finally see the people before us. They were dressed in black, with their faces masked, appearing like some kind of assassins.
However, their arrogant demeanor suggested they were merely mountain bandits.
The leader, without a word, drew his saber and swung it at Xue Gucheng.
Xue Gucheng leaped forward and kicked, shattering the saber into two pieces.
The man paused slightly but then smiled and cupped his hands.
"Indeed, a master. May I ask why you are here?"
Xue Gucheng replied.
"We are merely traveling through."
He then said.
"Do you know this is Nightfall Mountain?"
"We do."
"Upon reaching the foothills of Nightfall Mountain, you have entered our lord's territory. It would be against the rules not to leave something behind, wouldn't it?"
Thirteenth Mother, aware of their customs, directly reached into her embrace and took out a jade bracelet and two gold leaves. She stepped forward to hand them over.
Xue Gucheng suddenly stopped her, saying.
"They are just idlers. Let me deal with them."
Thirteenth Mother replied.
"These items are not very valuable. Give them to them, and I will explain later."
Saying this, she ignored Xue Gucheng's obstruction and handed the items to the leader.
The man's face lit up with joy upon receiving the items. He cupped his hands in thanks and said.
"Thank you, young lady, thank you all. You may do as you please. We shall not disturb you further.
Brothers, let's go!"
With that, he led his men away on horseback. The person who had fallen to the ground also hastily mounted his horse and followed.