The gates of Fulong Manor opened once again. The Demon Suppression Army was still stationed outside, along with those who hunted demons.
Their eyes remained fixed on the manor's interior. From within the gates, a white-clad youth emerged, riding a white horse.
They looked behind the youth on horseback, finding that he was alone.
"That man is the court fugitive we've heard about."
"They say he's a Li Mountain disciple, daring enough to kill court officials. Truly audacious," murmured the surrounding cultivators.
"Demons are wreaking havoc in Lin'an City, yet here you all stand, calling yourselves demon hunters rather than fighting demons," Li Fan said as his gaze swept across the crowd. At that moment, Lin'an County was being consumed by rampant demons, and yet these self-proclaimed demon hunters merely guarded Fulong Manor.
The crowd fell silent, unmoving. Hunt demons?
*With demons running rampant, what kind of cultivation strength did they have to do such a thing?* *Wouldn't they simply get swallowed whole by the demons?* *Sticking close to the court's army was the real path.* It was rumored that Fulong Manor was brimming with treasures; if they managed to break through its defenses, who knew what riches they might gain?
The Demon Suppression Army remained utterly motionless. Not far behind them, demons roamed freely, as if unseen by the army. A chilling aura of slaughter emanated from the soldiers, their war horses snorting, and their armor glinting like fire under the sunlight.
The man leading the army was clad in pitch-black iron armor, a long spear firmly gripped in his hand. Suddenly, he raised the spear, prompting the entire Demon Suppression Army to simultaneously raise theirs. The collective roar of warriors thundered through the air, bloodthirst and killing intent enveloping the surroundings.
The youth let a trace of mockery flicker across his face. Riding his white horse forward, the sound of hooves echoed as Sword Intent surrounded his figure. With each step forward, this Sword Intent grew stronger—becoming towering waves of Sword Aura—and solidified into blades suspended around him.
The sound of galloping broke loose as the white horse let out a piercing neigh and charged toward the Demon Suppression Army.
"Hah!" The Demon Suppression Army collectively roared, releasing killing intent that soared to the heavens. Their spears pointed out, aiming directly at the white-clad youth advancing toward them.
"Kill anyone who stands in my way!"
The youth yelled powerfully, and above him, a dazzling sword materialized in the sky. Like lightning, it struck down with a deafening boom. Blood splattered as war horses screamed, and several soldiers were slain in an instant, throwing the army's formation into chaos.
The white horse plunged into the ranks, galloping straight ahead. Sword Aura surrounded the youth as spears were thrust toward him. A storm of Sword Aura erupted, armor shattered, and bodies were hurled from horseback, fragmented by the Sword Aura. Blood and flesh spilled.
The center of the Demon Suppression Army was torn apart as figures were shredded, bodies fell continuously, and panicked war horses bolted in all directions. A bloody path emerged amidst the chaos, and the youth advanced unrelentingly, carving his way through.
Underneath his black helmet, the leading officer of the Demon Suppression Army fixed his cold, dark eyes on the departing youth, silently praising him. *"As expected of a Li Mountain Sword Cultivator."*
*Ten-odd years ago, during the chaos of the Demon World, humanity and the Demon World waged a brutal war. A sword from Li Mountain had shocked the entire world.*
*Yet now, he was tasked with confronting a Li Mountain disciple.* *It made him sigh in reflection.*
*But orders were absolute, and he dared not disobey.*
From the high towers of Fulong Manor, Liu He watched Li Fan break through the army's formation and couldn't help but praise him: "What a remarkable youth. In time, he will surely become renowned across the world."
Liu Ji glanced at her brother, then looked back toward Li Fan. Could this youth merit such high praise?
Her thoughts turned to her master. *Years ago, her master roamed the Beihai Islands with such carefree boldness.* *Yet now, he had fallen from grace.* *Grief suddenly filled her heart.*
After breaking through the Demon Suppression Army's formation, Li Fan galloped onward. In the distance, civilians fled wildly, while demons roamed everywhere.
From afar, he spotted Li Hongyi fighting demons with a long spear. But she was overwhelmed, with two demons teaming up to surround her.
Li Fan spurred his horse forward. With one swift move, his sword pierced one demon, sending it flying. With his other hand, he grabbed the head of a wolf demon, lifting it off the ground. His white horse didn't slow as he hoisted the creature up and drove his hand into its belly, extracting a Demon Core.
"Get on," Li Fan shouted to Li Hongyi.
Li Hongyi leaped gracefully into the air, landing atop the white horse with him.
The horse let out another piercing neigh as it charged ahead. Sword Aura erupted from Li Fan's forehead, radiating a dazzling brilliance. His Sword Aura swept across the area, causing demon after demon to have their heads explode or hearts pierced clean through.
Li Hongyi sat behind Li Fan, watching demons on both sides continuously fall under his Sword Aura. The breeze brushed against her hair as she gazed at Li Fan's profile from behind. *He seemed to radiate light.*
She reached out her left hand and wrapped it around his waist, her right hand still gripping her spear. A demon lunged from the roof, aiming to strike, but Li Hongyi thrust her spear out, puncturing its throat. With a flick of her weapon, she cast the creature aside.
"Impressive!" Li Fan turned his head to praise her.
Li Hongyi's eyes glimmered with pride as she asked, "Where are we headed?"
"The Chen family," Li Fan replied.
"Why?" Li Hongyi asked, puzzled.
"The Chen family falsely accused me of colluding with demons. I'm not letting that go. I'm a very vengeful person," Li Fan said.
With demons wreaking havoc across Lin'an City, these clans were undoubtedly aware—perhaps even colluding with the demons. Li Fan intended to capture the Chen Family Patriarch, Chen Yuan.
He didn't care about being a court fugitive, but being blamed for colluding with demons and harming civilians? He refused to bear that burden, nor would Li Mountain.
Moreover, he truly held grudges. Chen Yuan could die for all he cared.
"I heard members of the Chen Family have arrived from Chuzhou. They're likely at the Chen Residence now. Those who desecrated the City God Temple were probably from the Chen Family's clan," Li Hongyi suggested.
"What's there to fear? I have a sword!" Li Fan responded cheerfully.
Li Hongyi was momentarily startled before she laughed softly, "You truly are all about the sword."
"Miss Li, what did you say?" Li Fan didn't catch it.
"Is your sword really that impressive?" Li Hongyi teased.
"Do you want to find out, Miss Li?" Li Fan replied.
"Go die!" Li Hongyi cursed.
"Why are you mad at me?" Li Fan genuinely couldn't tell what he had done wrong. Wasn't she the one who was curious?
The two galloped along the streets. Everywhere in Lin'an County was teeming with demons. Both felt a growing heaviness in their hearts. *How many would perish this time? Their abilities were limited; there was no way to slay them all.*
Around them, more cultivators had joined in the fight against the demons.
On the rooftops, a figure wielding a long spear sprinted across. Spotting Li Fan, he stopped and called out, "Hongyi."
Li Hongyi turned and saw Li Daoqing standing firm with his spear. She called out, "Father."
Li Daoqing fixed his eyes on her hands. Li Hongyi seemed to sense her father's gaze and quickly let go.
"Hongyi, return home with me," Li Daoqing demanded. Lin'an County's chaotic situation had spiraled entirely out of control—it was too dangerous. He had raised her alone with great care and couldn't bear to see her harmed.
Li Fan reined his horse to a stop and turned to Li Hongyi. "Miss Li, perhaps you should go back."
"None of your business," Li Hongyi snapped, glaring at him.
Li Fan felt deflated. *How had he provoked her again?*
"Father, my whole life, I've listened to your every word, never disobeying you," Li Hongyi said earnestly. "But this time, I want to let loose."
She had experienced everything firsthand—the matter of the Chen family, the disaster at the City God Temple, the tragedy of the grandfather and grandson, and the women who died before her eyes upon leaving Fulong Manor. Her heart felt wrung with unbearable pain.
*This world wasn't at all what she had once imagined.*
Li Daoqing froze, looking at her in astonishment. *She had truly grown up.*
"Hongyi, this turmoil in Lin'an County runs too deep. You'll be in danger," Li Daoqing said, his voice trembling. He couldn't bear to imagine losing her.
Li Hongyi glanced at Li Fan, then back at Li Daoqing. "Father, demons wreak havoc in Lin'an County, claiming countless lives. I'm just one among tens of thousands here. If I die, so be it."
Li Daoqing's heart shook at her words. *This foolish girl! She had never confronted the brutal darkness of the world before, so her heart was too kind.* *It seemed he had erred in shielding her so much while she grew up.*
Now, her reckless spirit mirrored her mother's, who had once defied everything to choose her own path—it seemed Hongyi was her mother's daughter after all.
"Foolish girl, if you die, how will I face your mother?" Li Daoqing sighed.
"Isn't my mother long gone?" Li Hongyi replied, bemused.
"Fine. Then go wild this once," Li Daoqing relented at last. He turned to Li Fan and said, "Boy, I trust her to you. Protect her well."
Li Fan blinked several times, glancing at Li Hongyi. Seeing that her beautiful eyes were glaring at him, he chose to stay silent. His legs jerked against the horse's sides, urging the white stallion forward.
"Miss Li, why does your father sound strange?" Li Fan asked.
"What sounded strange?" Li Hongyi replied.
"It sort of felt like he was entrusting you to me," Li Fan said. "But we're not like that; I'm not taking on that responsibility."
"Am I not worthy?" Li Hongyi's voice turned frosty.
"No, I meant I'm not worthy!" Li Fan retorted with all the desperation of someone trying to stay alive.
"Then shut your mouth," Li Hongyi ordered.
"You're too fierce," Li Fan muttered under his breath.
Li Hongyi turned her head away, still holding on tightly to Li Fan. A hint of radiant joy flickered in her eyes.
*Even if she died here—it wouldn't matter.*
*All her life, she had obeyed her father, learning cultivation and studying diligently. She was Lin'an County's Heavenly Pride Girl. Yet, she had never felt truly happy, her life devoid of any stirring moments.*
*At nineteen, she finally understood what it meant to live—a life with blood, flesh, and emotion.*
*This world might be cruel, but it also carried warmth.*
*She had grown to love this world and the people within it.*