Night fell, and the sky was gloomy.

A light rain started in Autumn Moon Market after dark. The stars and moon were covered by dark clouds, leaving no trace of light.

A candle burned inside the Library Pavilion of the Taoist Temple.

Peach Girl stared at the things written in the book before her, committing them to memory phrase by phrase.

[“Ling emerges from Heaven and Earth, born of the sun and moon. Possessing innate nature from birth, it is uniquely favored by Heaven…”]

She memorized everything, word for word.

She closed the booklet and placed it back on the shelf.

Protecting the candle flame, Peach Girl left the pavilion and walked back towards the main temple building.

She arrived before the Statue of True Martiality and looked up at the Immortal Sword grasped in its hand.

“Master,” she said, “Tao’er borrows this sword. It will be returned.”

Miss Tao’er lifted her hand, and the Yuqing Sword landed in her palm with a whisper.

“Hummm.”

The Immortal Sword hummed continuously.

Gripping the sword, her decision was firm.

Holding the sword, she entered the temple’s Main Hall. Kneeling on the floor, she faced the world outside.

Her master was outside this place, so facing outwards was right.

“Tao’er failed your guidance,” she said. “After this, she willingly accepts your punishment.”

Boom!!

Thunder crashed.

Peach Girl remained kneeling in the Main Hall.

The rain fell heavier on the mountain, and the thunder grew even more terrifying.

The mountain’s trees and plants swayed wildly in the wind and storm. Rainwater rushed down the temple’s tiled roof and eaves, dripping into the courtyard.

The rain poured down for a full half hour.

From the hour of the rat (midnight) to the breaking of dawn, Peach Girl knelt unmoving.

A layer of mist covered the mountain stream. Clutching the sword, she finally stood and walked towards the exit.

Tao’er reached the temple gate. She turned back to look once more at the Peach Tree in the courtyard.

In that instant, the temple’s Peach Tree withered away at a speed visible to the eye.

As though countless seasons had passed in a breath.

Peach Girl’s form grew distinct, a ribbon of green and red Qi churning endlessly above her eyes. The peach blossom mark on her brow glowed with a faint blue light.

The entire tree’s blossoms cascaded down.

The Peach Tree, standing tall for years, dissolved into streams of blue light. They flowed towards Tao’er and vanished inside her body.

Peach Girl stepped forward and left the temple grounds.

She glanced down at the Immortal Sword in her hand and spoke softly, “You’ll help me, right?”.

The Immortal Sword seemed to tremble. It transformed into a streak of blue light, hovering just before Peach Girl’s eyes.

Tao’er leaped lightly into the air, landing gracefully upon the sword.

“Thank you.”

She whispered the words. The sword rose. A flash of blue light shot high, tearing northward across the sky.

She flew towards Shangjing. For Joy.

She cared not if she was Ling or Demon. Her master had once told her: When walking through this world, following your heart is the most important thing.

She would never regret the choice made today.

As the streak of blue light vanished from the mountains like a startled bird, the Peach Tree in the temple courtyard crumpled. It withered completely and fell, breaking at last into pinpricks of starlight that drifted away and dissolved inside the quiet temple.

Once a being of Heaven and Earth, now she had entered the Demon Dao. All this, just to save one person.

————————

The sky over Shangjing City this day was especially dark. It was almost noon, yet the sun remained nowhere to be seen.

At the execution grounds in the Eastern Market, countless people pressed close together.

Those facing the blade are granted one final, full meal.

Throughout this past year, this was Tong Zhihuan’s first truly satisfying bowl of food. Though it wasn’t tasty, it was far better than having nothing.

Over three hundred people, clad in prison robes, their hands bound, passed through the White Tiger Gate and saw the execution grounds laid out before them.

Chang Shan stood directly behind Tong Zhihuan. “Scared?” he asked quietly.

“A bit,” replied Tong Zhihuan.

“The executioner’s blade is swift,” Chang Shan said calmly. “With luck, it’ll be over in the blink of an eye.”

He lifted his eyes towards the crowd swarming beyond the execution pits. “You see these people outside?” he continued. “They’ve come just to watch. Gawk. The more fear you show, the more they’ll laugh.”

Tong Zhihuan surveyed the sea of spectators. “I’m not afraid of death,” he stated. “I’m only afraid… that dying means I’ll never see those I care about again.”

“Well said!” Chang Shan approved. “Mr. Chen never misjudges anyone.”

Tong Zhihuan looked at him properly and shook his head. “It’s best if Mr. Chen doesn’t learn of this. Feels like… such a disgrace to him.”

“If fear makes you falter now,” Chang Shan countered firmly, “that would disgrace him.”

Tong Zhihuan took a deep breath. He met Chang Shan’s gaze for a moment, then turned his focus to the platform. His gaze sharpened.

The executioners, each holding a heavy Long Saber, stood waiting on the killing ground. The surrounding fence pulsed with the heat of blazing braziers.

“BRING OUT THE PRISONERS!”

The line moved at the shout from the Executioner.

They were led, one by one, onto the execution grounds.

Over three hundred prisoners! All to be handled today. Publicly witnessed. Everyone knew: this was a trap.

Behind a thick screen far off to one side, someone watched the preparations at the execution pits. Zhao Zhen’s expression revealed nothing. Calm settled over him.

He wanted the world to see. He wanted those remnants of Great Jing hiding out there to see. He secretly hoped someone would try to stage a rescue. Because he had prepared accordingly. He did not care who dared show up. All would be captured. All would die.

His eyes slowly swept the crowd gathered beyond the pits.

At first, nothing seemed out of place. But lifting his gaze slightly, he noticed unusual movement – figures inside a building far across the way. Suspiciously still among the bustling crowd.

Zhao Zhen murmured a swift order. Plain-clothed Shadow Guards detached themselves near the gate, moving quietly, determinedly, towards the distant building.

Executions proceeded six prisoners at a time. Back and forth. For such a large number, extra executioners had been assembled, now waiting their turn nearby.

At this rate, they would need at least one hour to finish.

The next group of six was led onto the bloodstained earth.

“KNEEL!”

“I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die…”

“I’ll surrender, please don’t kill me!!”

The execution officer frowned. He meant to cut their tongues out, but after thinking it over, he changed his mind. The more they yelled, it might make the people hiding in the shadows get bold enough to move.

The execution officer on the platform looked up and scanned the area.

The crowd watching from outside saw the swordsman on the execution ground pull out the cold, shiny Long Saber. Suddenly, they felt scared and started to leave in groups. Only a few brave ones stayed put.

“Pfft.” The swordsman spat wine onto the Long Saber.

“Execute!”

As the execution officer gave the order,

“Don’t kill me, don’t kill me! Ah!!”

“Slash…”

Screams rang out as the Long Saber slashed down. Heads rolled and blood splattered on the spot.

At the moment the blade came down, many closed their eyes. When they opened them again, they felt sick and didn’t dare look.

“Next round.”

The execution officer said quietly, then led the next prisoners up.

After just one round, most of the people watching outside the execution ground had left. Some squatted and vomited on the ground.

By the third round, Chang Shan and Tong Zhihuan were pushed onto the platform.

They were both very calm. Chang Shan turned to look at the swordsman wiping the Long Saber and said, “Please make it quick and sharp.”

“Shut up.” The swordsman snorted coldly.

Tong Zhihuan didn’t say a word. His hands were tied behind him, but he held onto a Wooden Talisman tightly, never letting go.

The execution officer glanced at them and then called out, “Execute!”

“Bang!”

As soon as the words were spoken, dozens of figures burst from the shadows. They covered their faces and were all skilled fighters. Using Lightweight Skill, they flew straight to the execution ground.

“Someone’s raiding the execution ground!”

A loud shout echoed, and chaos broke out instantly.

Behind a screen, Zhao Zhen said calmly, “They’ve finally come.”

“Hurry with the cut!!” the execution officer yelled.

Seeing this, the swordsman didn’t dare stop. He swung the Long Saber.

Hidden Shadow Guards in the crowd suddenly jumped into action. They leaped up to fight the dozens of raiders, but this slowed them down.

“Clang…”

In the middle of the fight, someone yelled, “Hold on!”

But the Long Saber had already fallen.

Just as Zhao Zhen thought all was going as planned,

A big wind suddenly blew!

A Sword Qi slashed toward the spot.

“Clang!”

The Sword Qi hit the execution platform. A deep groove instantly appeared in the ground.

“Boom!!”

The execution ground shook hard. The swordsman staggered, fell to the ground, and dropped his Long Saber.

Behind the screen, Zhao Zhen froze, staring blankly at the sight.

On the execution ground, Tong Zhihuan looked up. He saw a figure riding along with Sword Flight.

He paused. “Miss Tao’er…”

It seemed like peach blossoms drifted in the air.

The girl stepped down using the Immortal Sword. With a wave of her hand, the Immortal Sword flew into her grip.

She walked up to Tong Zhihuan and whispered softly.

“Silly.”