A Demon’s Festival and a Shattered Truth

Xu Qingzhu stood with his back to the light, yet the astonishment and agitation on his face were impossible to conceal.

He drew several deep breaths, but still could not quell the surging anger within him.

Whom was he angry at? He could barely discern, as if it were himself, or perhaps that Golden Core cultivator.

Only towards Su Mo did he find himself unable to feel anger; instead, a faint sense of guilt gnawed at him.

‘If he hadn’t allowed Lu Yanling to come, if he hadn’t interacted with other women, would his wife still deliberately avoid him, or even fall for someone else?’

“No, no, no…” He pressed a hand to his forehead, his other hand gripping the railing to maintain his precarious balance.

Spotting him from behind, Lu Yanling immediately rushed forward, anxiously offering her support, her face etched with concern.

“Miss Su, let’s go.” Mo Lian gently patted Su Mo, letting out a soft sigh.

‘This lovesick woman, seeing her husband’s distress, is worried again.’

‘Anyone with eyes can see her husband has found a new love. Why torment yourself?’

‘It’s best to break it off cleanly and harbor no further expectations.’

“If the opportunity arises, I should speak with her.” Mo Lian felt that such a good girl should not be subjected to such mistreatment.

‘If a faithless man doesn’t cherish her, then he doesn’t deserve her ever again.’

“…Alright.” Watching Lu Yanling support Xu Qingzhu, Su Mo lowered her gaze, a heavy blockage settling in her heart.

‘This is the best choice, isn’t it?’ She sighed inwardly, then followed Mo Lian, departing.

****

On the other side, seeing Su Mo leave with another “man,” Lu Yanling breathed a sigh of relief.

‘This way, Little Brother Zhu will give up on her and, just like before, place all his affection on me, right?’

“Little Brother Zhu? Are you alright? Please don’t scare me…” Lu Yanling took his hand and deliberately positioned herself in front of him.

However, the moment Xu Qingzhu opened his eyes, he frantically searched for another graceful figure.

He couldn’t see her, or perhaps, looking at the distant shadows, he saw her everywhere—Su Mo.

“Little Brother Zhu?”

Suddenly noticing Lu Yanling before him, he clutched her shoulders as if grasping a final straw, and demanded:

“Where did she go?!”

“Little Brother Zhu, you… please don’t scare me anymore…” Lu Yanling whimpered, her eyes misty with tears, yet she offered no information.

‘She knows that as long as she acts sad, Little Brother Zhu will find a way to cheer her up.’

‘Just like before, right?’

A moment of silence passed. Xu Qingzhu lowered his hands, looking at Lu Yanling, whose eyes were now red from crying, her expression a picture of aggrieved sorrow.

As gently as he could, he wiped away her tears and gave her a light embrace.

“Little Brother Zhu, I’m sleepy.” Nestled in his arms, Lu Yanling lifted her small head and whispered.

“Mm…” His gaze drifted into the distance, where the starry sky above was indifferent, and the vibrant lights below glowed with warmth, as if two worlds were separated.

He gently pushed Lu Yanling away and asked once more:

“Little Ling, I’m only asking you this once… Su Yao, where did she go?”

“She… she…” Lu Yanling’s pupils constricted in shock. She had never imagined Xu Qingzhu would ask that question again.

‘Asking her? Asking *her*!’

‘He’s begging… He has never begged anyone before.’ Lu Yanling stumbled back in disbelief, biting her lip until blood welled.

‘She couldn’t believe it; for *that woman*, he was actually begging her!’

‘Right, Little Brother Zhu mentioned Su Yao; he definitely doesn’t know Su Yao is Su Mo! I still have a way! A way!’ Her mind raced, no longer caring about anything else.

She closed her eyes and shouted:

“Su Yao is Su Mo! Little Brother Zhu! You’ve been deceived by her! She’s the murderer of your father!!”

Silence.

There was no answer, and even the sound of an explosion vanished.

When she opened her eyes again, she suddenly noticed everyone had become ethereal, like motionless shadows.

At that moment, she realized there was one person who hadn’t changed: Xu Qingzhu, whose gaze, full of complexity, was fixed on her.

‘He heard everything, didn’t he? This way, he’ll come back to me, won’t he?’ Lu Yanling repeated in her mind.

It was clearly the truth; no one would love their father’s killer. But why? Why was she so unsure?

“I know. I know everything.” Xu Qingzhu spoke each word deliberately, every syllable striking Lu Yanling’s heart.

In that instant, Lu Yanling understood: Little Brother Zhu would never love her again.

Never.

“Indeed, Su Yao is Su Mo…” Xu Qingzhu muttered, scanning the strange phenomena around him.

Under the influence of this terrifying mystical power, he regained his composure, his thoughts clarifying.

Perhaps he had liked his wife, but what he truly liked was the adorable, kind, and unyielding Su Yao.

Not Su Mo, the cruel demoness who heartlessly slaughtered ordinary people and toyed with lives.

Even if Su Mo, for reasons unknown, desperately played the role of another “Su Yao,” making him misunderstand, like, and even fall in love.

What did it matter? She was Su Mo, unchanging, and her true nature would inevitably be exposed.

‘I refuse to believe you aren’t Su Mo.’ Xu Qingzhu’s resolve hardened, cementing his intention to kill his wife to prove his dao.

One day, he would expose the demoness Su’s deception, pierce her with his final sword, and complete his Path of Ruthlessness.

‘Come to think of it, her portrayal of “Su Yao” actually helped him, allowing him to love completely without any reservations.’

‘After all, “Su Yao” was an act; the demoness Su was her true essence!’

“Hahahaha…” Realizing this, Xu Qingzhu burst into laughter, gazing at the “frozen” Dangyang County.

Yet, how could he comprehend that Su Mo was no longer that “demoness Su”? The person he loved was precisely the current Su Mo.

He didn’t love some fabricated “Su Yao,” performed for a purpose.

‘A papaya head, indeed. His reputation is well-deserved.’

****

Meanwhile, Su Mo followed Mo Lian out of the Fragrant Cloud Pavilion.

Yet, the instant they stepped out, everything in her vision froze. Even the surrounding cultivators became mere phantoms, as if separated by a world.

“Buzz!” Almost simultaneously, Su Mo drew her magic tool, her gaze wary as she asked Mo Lian, who was ahead of her:

“My Lady, something is wrong with Dangyang County.”

“Mm…” Mo Lian’s hand trembled, a sign of extraordinary rage.

The immortal Xiao Yao had promised not to harm ordinary people, but now it seemed…

The entire Dangyang County had been affected!

“He lied to me!” Electric arcs flickered around Mo Lian; she no longer held any reverence for the so-called immortal.

‘Even if it costs me my life, I will make him pay dearly.’

After a while, she finally calmed down and reminded Su Mo:

“You haven’t reached the Golden Core stage, so your perception of the heavens and earth isn’t sufficient to understand.”

“It should have been a day for inviting deities, but it was manipulated by a schemer into a ‘Demon Invocation Festival.’ If you possess keen sight, you should be able to perceive the demonic body shrouding the city in the sky.”

“That is the summoned demon. Its power… is hard to quantify, but I estimate we are no match for it.”

“Until we find a solution, do not leave my side. Remember, do not act rashly.”

Mo Lian’s explanation was lengthy, but Su Mo listened intently.

‘That schemer is likely Xiao Yao.’

‘Such a grand display, is he planning to “devour” Dangyang County?’

She raised her eyes to gaze into the distance. The sky had turned pitch black, devoid of stars or a bright moon.

Through the distant lamplight, at the boundary where light met shadow, Su Mo’s keen archer’s sight discerned a massive outline.

It was colossal, encompassing the entirety of Dangyang County.

Without a doubt, Su Mo and the others were within its body, facing an unknown crisis.

Clutching the Yin Thunder Bow in her hand, Su Mo worried about everyone.

Zhang Jingmeng, Mo Yu, Uncle Zhang, and even that damned Xu Qingzhu.

‘Please, let nothing happen to them!’ Su Mo prayed in her heart.