Chapter 200: The Grave in the Ruins

“You saw through it? Not bad. I am indeed the sword spirit of the demon sword you’ve been droning on about.”

Xiu Qingcheng leaned against Meng Yingxing, arching a slender eyebrow at Qingqiu Zhaoying with a completely nonchalant tone.

He was just an old fox demon; since he knew, he knew, and Xiu Qingcheng could handle him easily.

Xiu Qingcheng, who originally hadn’t existed in physical form, had suddenly appeared in a flash of light from behind Meng Yingxing.

Coupled with her sudden disappearance yesterday, her mastery of the Gu Sha Sword, and her knowledge of his name, Xie Zhaoying—

Qingqiu Zhaoying finally realized exactly what kind of existence Xiu Qingcheng was.

She was a sword spirit of a demon sword that had existed for an unknown amount of time.

For long-lived species like them, the length of one’s existence often represented the accumulation of their power.

It was no wonder he was hardly a match for her.

However, how could the Demon Sword Duan Li possess a sword spirit? A sword spirit with such formidable strength?!

Then why had he never seen her back then?!

If… if only!!!

Supporting Xiu Qingcheng’s negligible weight, Meng Yingxing saw the fox demon’s bandage-wrapped hand suddenly begin to tremble.

Qingqiu Zhaoying seemed to be gripped by an emotion suppressed for a long time, which finally erupted uncontrollably at this moment.

He suddenly raised his hand and smashed the table before him, standing up amidst the flying wood splinters.

His demonic eyes pierced Xiu Qingcheng with an incredibly frigid gaze, sharp as blades, as if he wanted to hack her into a thousand pieces.

“Since you are the sword spirit, if you are so powerful, why didn’t you show yourself back then!?”

“If you could have appeared to lend Xie Yuguang a hand, would she have died like that—”

“She should have been sent off by the entire city, by ten thousand people, instead of being buried alone in the cold earth!”

Qingqiu Zhaoying roared at Xiu Qingcheng with a voice cracked from strain, his demonic eyes instantly bloodshot with rage.

Meng Yingxing watched the frantic Qingqiu Zhaoying with a mix of complex emotions in his heart.

Facing Zhaoying’s interrogation, Xiu Qingcheng’s expression remained icy, and she felt no particular emotion in her heart.

She gave a self-deprecating smile and said, “I’m terribly sorry. Although I had consciousness back then, I did not yet have a spiritual body.”

“As for the events of those years, I don’t remember them very clearly either.”

“Besides, in your eyes, am I not a demon sword?”

The Demon Sword Duan Li bewitched the minds of its masters, turning them into demons.

Though, Xiu Qingcheng didn’t remember if that was actually true.

Qingqiu Zhaoying calmed down slightly and sat back in his chair with a look of dejection.

He felt somewhat ridiculous himself—what was he even saying?

Back then, to combat the demonic beasts, Xie Yuguang had used the Demon Sword Duan Li to make herself more powerful.

The demon sword spirit had helped her.

But the demon sword had also ultimately ended Xie Yuguang’s life.

And now, he was actually questioning the demon sword on why it hadn’t come out to help her back then.

Ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous.

Seeing that Zhaoying had calmed down, Xiu Qingcheng continued.

“However, I must state one thing. You call me the Demon Sword Duan Li, but my sword name is Ting Tian.”

“Hmph, the Demon Sword Duan Li.”

“…For a defeated opponent, you certainly have a sharp tongue!”

Qingqiu Zhaoying lifted his eyes, looking at Xiu Qingcheng as she leaned against Meng Yingxing. Her blackish-red hair was like silk ribbons, and her beauty was sharp and peerless—she was the very definition of a femme fatale capable of bringing down nations.

“In all my long life, this is the first time I’ve seen a thing like a sword spirit.”

“To think it would be a woman of some beauty; it’s no wonder this kid has been bewitched by you, refusing to let go even though he knows it’s a demon sword.”

Zhaoying’s mocking gaze landed on Meng Yingxing.

“Stop talking nonsense!”

Xiu Qingcheng glared at Qingqiu Zhaoying.

“We have a proper master-disciple relationship!”

“Right, my dear disciple?”

Xiu Qingcheng turned to Meng Yingxing beside her, grabbing his face with a look of slight urgency.

Meng Yingxing stared back at her with wide, innocent eyes, but did not speak.

He actually really wanted to turn this “proper” master-disciple relationship into an “improper” one, but he couldn’t say that now.

Under Xiu Qingcheng’s insistent gaze for several seconds, Meng Yingxing finally gave a difficult nod.

Having received his answer, Xiu Qingcheng glared back at Qingqiu Zhaoying.

“Taking a demon sword spirit as a master… that’s also a first for me.”

After annoying Xiu Qingcheng, Qingqiu Zhaoying didn’t forget to needle Meng Yingxing as well.

“I’ve said it before. No matter what Master is, at the very least, she is very good to me.”

Meng Yingxing frowned, his voice firm as he countered Zhaoying.

With such a good disciple, Xiu Qingcheng was almost moved to tears.

Qingqiu Zhaoying looked away.

The air fell silent once again, until Meng Yingxing broke the deadlock.

“Now, it’s finally time to talk, isn’t it?”

“Why do you say my Master will bring disaster to Yelan City?”

Meng Yingxing waited for Zhaoying’s answer.

He could ignore other things, but he wanted to know everything related to Xiu Qingcheng.

Especially Zhaoying’s earlier claim that the Demon Sword Duan Li would bring disaster to the city; Meng Yingxing had kept those words in his heart, and now he finally had the chance to make him explain.

“I want to know too.”

Xiu Qingcheng nodded, her face full of curiosity.

“What does Yelan City being attacked by those beasts have to do with me?”

Qingqiu Zhaoying glanced at her. “As the source, you don’t know yourself?”

“Look, as compensation for you grabbing my disciple’s neck, you’d better explain yourself clearly!”

Even though she had wanted his life as payment just moments ago, she had now changed her tune.

She was truly a strange sword spirit.

However, Qingqiu Zhaoying didn’t want to let them know easily. He stood up on his own.

“I’m going to a certain place. Do you want to come along?”

When Meng Yingxing pushed open the door, he saw Shen Xu standing outside, having actually fallen asleep while standing. She was sleeping very deeply.

So much so that even the loud crash of Zhaoying smashing the table earlier hadn’t managed to wake her.

“Miss Shen Xu?”

However, the deeply sleeping Shen Xu was awakened by Meng Yingxing’s soft call.

Shen Xu jumped, her eyes snapping open.

“I’m here!? What happened now!?”

It was only after her instinctive shout that she noticed the three people standing before her.

Shen Xu looked as if a great weight had been lifted, and her entire posture relaxed.

“Oh, it’s just you. I thought something had happened in the city again.”

“Miss Shen, you seem to have been overworking lately.”

Shen Xu gave a weary grin, her expression quickly becoming troubled.

“Actually… sigh. Lately, people in Yelan City have been mysteriously murdered at night, and they’re all storytellers.”

“So our City Guard has been incredibly busy… sigh. I’m only telling this to you; don’t spread it around…”

Shen Xu gave a light cough, trying to save face.

“I’m just venting to you; you don’t need to worry about it.”

Xiu Qingcheng and Meng Yingxing exchanged a look. Behind them, Qingqiu Zhaoying stood with his hands behind his back and his head lowered, remaining silent.

Shen Xu perked up a bit, looking at the three of them. “Eh? Miss Xiu, when did you get here?”

“I just got back from outside. You were sleeping so soundly you didn’t notice me.”

Xiu Qingcheng told a casual lie.

Shen Xu sighed a few times. “Are you finished talking? Are you heading out?”

Qingqiu Zhaoying nodded.

“We are going somewhere. If you’re tired, go back to your room and rest.”

“No way, I’m going too!”

Upon hearing they were going out, the exhaustion in Shen Xu’s eyes vanished instantly.

“I have to supervise you; you can’t start fighting.”

“…Suit yourself, Great Philanthropist Shen.”

Outside Yelan City, Qingqiu Zhaoying led the group straight in one direction.

The more she looked at this path, the more familiar it felt to Xiu Qingcheng.

“Are you headed toward Old Yelan City?”

As a local, Shen Xu recognized the familiar path and knew where he was going.

“Yes.”

Qingqiu Zhaoying answered her casually, then suddenly turned and ducked into a nearby thicket.

The others watched as he crouched down and plucked a brilliantly blooming crimson flower.

“A Sunward Flower? What are you picking that for?”

Shen Xu was curious.

“It has a use.”

Qingqiu Zhaoying looked at the delicate, dripping-wet flower in his hand and continued walking toward the site of the old capital.

After they arrived at the ruins of Old Yelan City, Zhaoying led them through several twists and turns, arriving at a place even Shen Xu had never visited.

It was a secluded clearing in the forest. Warm sunlight fell from the unobstructed sky, making the mundane surroundings glow.

In the center of the clearing stood a weathered, mottled stone tablet.

The tablet looked many years old, surrounded by overgrown weeds and covered in moss.

“What is this?”

Xiu Qingcheng asked.

It looked… like someone’s tombstone?

Combined with Zhaoying plucking the flower earlier, Shen Xu was almost certain.

“Are you here to pay respects to someone?”

Qingqiu Zhaoying nodded silently. He slowly walked to the stone tablet, drew his red sword, and cleared away the surrounding weeds.

“Who… is hidden here?”

Shen Xu asked him carefully.

Qingqiu Zhaoying looked back at her and said without any reservation:

“Yelan City’s General, Xie Yuguang.”

The moment the name Xie Yuguang was spoken, Shen Xu’s brain went into a complete stall.

“Ge-General Xie Yuguang!?”

“She… she was actually buried in a place like this!?”

“Wait, how… how do you know!?”

Shen Xu’s eyes were filled with disbelief.

Xiu Qingcheng gave a huff from the side. “Miss Shen, the one before you is the heroic demon youth from your city’s stories—the one who killed the witch and saved Yelan City, Xie Zhaoying.”

“Oh, though he’s an old demon now.”

Shen Xu instinctively pointed a finger at Qingqiu Zhaoying, her eyes wide.

“You… didn’t you say you had nothing to do with Xie Zhaoying!?”

Then, thinking it was rude to do that in front of someone’s grave, she immediately pulled her hand back.

Qingqiu Zhaoying ignored Shen Xu. He leaned over and placed the flower he had just picked before the stone tablet.

“Sorry… it’s been so long, yet I’ve only just come to see you.”

His voice was hoarse, carrying a distant sense of longing.

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