CHAPTER 920: MEETING THE RAKSHASA-MASKED MEN AGAIN

[Immortal Realm, Forgotten Domain, Northern Region, Barren Desert]

"Master, he may be stubborn, but he isn’t a bad person. Why don’t you and Big Brother Xue teach him how to play the flute?" Xiao Mei’s heart was softer than the others, and he couldn’t help but speak up for Bu Si Shu.

Among their group, Bing Xue was the most skilled in playing the flute. Though his talent didn’t quite match Shenlian Yingyue’s, he was still exceptional.

Zhiyi preferred the guqin; Xiao Nian the pipa; and Xiao Mei the kong vong thom, a Cambodian instrument. The others, however, had developed their own unique ways of making music, channeling spiritual energy directly rather than relying on instruments.

Xiao Lan and Feng Huan manipulated their ice power to create vibrating ice crystals, producing harmonic resonances akin to a crystal singing bowl, only frost-based.

Xiao Li and Zhizhi, on the other hand, wielded their fire abilities to craft rhythmic bursts of flame, quick, controlled micro-explosions that mimicked drumbeats. The effect was like a rapid-fire sequence of firecrackers, perfect for a fiery, percussive performance.

Huan Huan, with her wind affinity, shaped the air itself into melodies, altering pressure, direction, and speed to evoke feelings of freedom or melancholy.

Meanwhile, Hong Zuan and Tian Tian summoned thunderous drumstorms; their lightning interacting with magical fields to create eerie, resonant tones. Storm-drums hovered around them, each strike a different pitch, like a living, crackling orchestra.

For the past ten years, Qing Long, Bai Hu, Xuan Wu, and Zhu Que had remained in seclusion; emerging only if Shenlian Yingyue’s life was in danger.

As for Lu Long? He was the laziest of them all; doing nothing but lazing around and occasionally helping her brew pills.

"Xiao Mei, don’t waste your sympathy on him. He’s the one who scolds our Master every time he sees her," Xiao Nian chided, flicking Xiao Mei’s forehead.

Over the years, Xiao Mei and Xiao Nian had both grown taller; yet while Xiao Nian had blossomed into a striking young woman, Xiao Mei’s face retained its childlike innocence.

"Master," Xiao Mei tugged at Shenlian Yingyue’s sleeve with pleading eyes.

"He’ll come to understand music in his own time," Shenlian Yingyue replied with a gentle smile, ruffling his hair.

Her lips curled faintly. Strictly speaking, freely sharing an inherited legacy was improper. But Senior Qing Luan had once told her, "If my legacy lives on through worthy hands, I will have no regrets." Out of respect for her predecessor, and out of love for her companions, Shenlian Yingyue had taught them everything without hesitation.

"Master, what do you mean?" Xiao Mei blinked in confusion.

Xie Xie and the others exchanged glances, suppressing sighs.

"Xiao Mei, come here." Xiao Nian pulled him aside and whispered an explanation.

His eyes widened in realization; then sparkled with admiration as he turned back to Shenlian Yingyue.

"Xiao Mei, if you keep looking at me like that, I’ll start thinking I’m some kind of celestial superstar," she teased, laughing.

The others joined in, their laughter echoing across the barren desert.

With that, they split up once more, each heading their separate ways, continuing their treasure hunts, battling opportunistic villains, and seizing every opportunity that came their way.

Only Xiao Lan, Xiao Li, Xie Xie, Bing Xue, Zhiyi, Xiao Yun, and Xiong Zi Ying remained by Shenlian Yingyue’s side.

And ever since she had confessed to sleeping with Bing Xue, Zhiyi, Xiao Lan, and Xiao Li had become even more clingy than usual.

Zhiyi had developed a habit of dragging her to bed whenever she finished eating with them or took a break from cultivation. Meanwhile, every night, she would get drunk for no reason even if she didn’t drink wine, only to wake up later with a strange feeling, as if something had happened to her body. Yet, since there were no signs of harm, she dismissed her suspicions.

Maybe she was just exhausted from training.

Still, the lingering sensation of being touched bothered her; but she brushed it off, perhaps it was just her imagination.

Mr. Potato narrowed his eyes. Little Author, I smell that you’re hiding something from us. (Suspicious.)

Bing Xue, no longer restraining his desires, grew bolder. Now that he had her, his confidence surged. He no longer buried his emotions, but openly expressed them to her.

Zhiyi and Bing Xue always stayed by her side, their presence silent but unwavering. Yet, whenever her attention wandered, the two exchanged sharp, dissatisfied glances.

If they claimed they weren’t jealous, it would be a blatant lie. But instead of wasting energy competing, they chose to support each other, working together to grow stronger so they could protect her.

One month later,

"Not good; my brother is in danger!" Shenlian Yingyue’s expression darkened.

In an instant, she vanished, alongside Xiao Yun, Zhiyi, Bing Xue, Xiao Lan, Xiao Li, Xie Xie, and Xiong Zi Ying.

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[Forgotten Domain, Northern Region, Ember Dune Desert – One of the Desert Mountains]

The Ember Dune Desert was a vast expanse of sand dunes and towering mountains, where treasures lay buried, waiting for those strong enough to claim them.

When they arrived, Shenlian Yinzhu was drenched in blood.

Shenlian Yingyue’s eyes burned with fury as she took in the sight before her, a group of black-robed men wearing Rakshasa masks. Again? The assassins sent by that ’Queen’!

This time, there were over a hundred of them, and their strength far surpassed the Yellow-ranked killers they had faced before. (Chapter 426)

"Brother, are you okay?" Shenlian Yingyue rushed to his side, the others close behind.

"I’m unharmed. This is their blood." Shenlian Yinzhu shook his head.

A quick glance at the battlefield confirmed his words. The ground was littered with corpses, not just the Rakshasa assassins, but also the desert creatures that had fought alongside him.

"They came to help me," he explained. Truthfully, he hadn’t needed their aid, but he hadn’t refused it either.

Then, she spotted Li Bing, the Ancestor of the Glass Lizard Clan, fighting alongside his brothers and clansmen against the remaining assassins.

"Miss!" Li Bing called out in relief when he saw her.

Shenlian Yingyue raised a hand, signaling for them to fall back. They were already injured, and these enemies were beyond them.

Though reluctant, Li Bing and his men obeyed, retreating at her command.

Xiao Lan, Bing Xue, and the others wasted no time; they charged forward, cutting down the remaining assassins.

Shenlian Yingyue, Zhiyi, Xiao Li, Xie Xie, and Xiong Zi Ying joined the fray, leaving no room for mercy. The only one who didn’t move was Xiao Yun, who lounged mid-air, leisurely peeling rambutan as if the battle beneath him were nothing more than background noise.

Strangely, no one seemed to notice him, and the chaotic spiritual attacks never reached him.

With a flick of her wrist, Shenlian Yingyue summoned purple flames, igniting a thousand lotus petals that incinerated the remaining assassins.

In less than five minutes, the battle was over. The Rakshasa-masked men lay dead, their souls swiftly drawn into the Soul Gourd. Their bodies were reduced to nothing, not even a trace of ash remained.

Li Bing and the others stood frozen in shock, inhaling sharply as the reality sank in.