263: meet

Yun Xuanxuan spread her azure-feathered wings and gently patted Fang Ningyan's shoulder. "Alright, Sister Fang! I know what I'm doing, so don't you worry your head about it."

Though her tone was light and her expression was one of smiles,

the conflict in Yun Xuanxuan's heart was like a tangled mess of cotton thread; the more she tried to unravel it, the messier it became.

Deep down, she loathed the Yao Race who slaughtered commoners, yet she didn't want to make an enemy of that vixen, Purple Sandalwood. However, Yun Xuanxuan felt that if she stood by and watched innocent people be devoured by the Yao Race or swept up in the flames of war, she would never have peace of mind for the rest of her life.

In the past, how could she ever have felt such a contradiction?

Back then, in her eyes, all members of the Yao Race were vile abominations, and her only thought was that the sooner they were eliminated, the better.

But after experiencing imprisonment in the Demon Suppressing Tower and the hypocrisy of the Chusheng Sect, and after seeing the kindness of some Yao and Fang Ningyan's struggles, she suddenly felt that behind the term 'Yao Race', there seemed to be a hidden, unknown complexity.

Whether Yun Xuanxuan admitted it or not, the reason they were able to escape from the Demon Suppressing Tower was all thanks to that vixen's help.

Fang Ningyan wanted to persuade her further, her snake tail tensing slightly, but she was interrupted by a sudden, urgent sound.

A woman with spider legs growing from her back and dark-patterned Spider armor covering her abdomen climbed nimbly along the rock wall. Her eight spider legs tapped lightly into the crevices, her movements as smooth as flowing water.

She bent her knees to steady herself upon landing, her voice urgent. "Sister Yun! I have important news to report!"

"Speak. What is it?"

Yun Xuanxuan focused her mind.

"It's... news regarding the Chusheng Sect." The Spider-woman lowered her eyes, her voice hushed.

Yun Xuanxuan's eyes narrowed slightly. She turned to Fang Ningyan and said with a hint of apology, "Sister Fang, I have to handle this first. I'll come back to talk to you later."

She paused, then added a word of caution, "The injury to your Divine Soul has only just healed. Don't always stand in the drafty areas; go back into the cave and rest more."

Fang Ningyan watched her hurried departure, her snake tail lightly sweeping across the ground. A helpless, bitter smile touched her eyes as she sighed inwardly, "Such a good child... why must she lead such a life?"

Coiling her snake tail, she continued to gaze at the swirling yellow sands outside the canyon, silently praying in her heart.

For both her younger sister, Fang Yue, and for her friend, Yun Xuanxuan!

A moment later...

Just as she was about to turn back into the cave, she caught sight of three familiar figures appearing at the canyon entrance out of the corner of her eye, and her whole body froze.

"How... how can this be?"

"...Young Master Ye, is my Revered Master really inside this valley?"

At the canyon entrance, Su Yue gripped her sword hilt tightly, her small face tense and full of unease.

She both hoped to see her Revered Master, Fang Ningyan, immediately to confirm she was safe, yet she also feared seeing her Revered Master in her state as one of the Half-human, Half-demon beings with her own eyes, not knowing how to face it.

Ye Hao nodded. "This is definitely the place."

Ye Hao had learned of this place from Steward Song, and he also knew that a large number of Half-human, Half-demon beings who had escaped from the Demon Suppressing Tower were gathered here.

That half-human, half-bird girl, Yun Xuanxuan, was here as well.

Beside him, Li Pingan said in a deep voice, "Let's go. It's a good chance for me to apologize to Miss Yun in person. I was foolish before, striking and injuring someone based solely on appearances. I should apologize properly."

The commotion of the three entering the valley quickly alerted the commoners responsible for guarding it.

By the time Ye Hao's group reached the cave entrance, an azure shadow suddenly descended from the sky, landing steadily before them like a falcon.

Yun Xuanxuan spread her sleek azure-feathered wings, her expression calm yet tinged with coldness.

"Stop right there! This is not a place for you to be."

As soon as she spoke, several figures emerged from behind the rock walls and the sides of the cave.

Some had curved, ink-black horns on their foreheads; some had arms covered in fine silver scales; others had three-inch-long sharp claws protruding from their fingertips. They fanned out, faintly surrounding Ye Hao's group, their eyes full of wariness.

Upon closer inspection, one could see countless pairs of eyes peering out from the various caves below the valley, their breathing heavy with tension.

Seeing this, Ye Hao quickly cupped his hands in greeting, his tone sincere.

"Greetings, Miss Yun. My Senior Brother Li Pingan and I are both Cultivators from the Flame Continent who came to the Rain God Continent for training. We were unaware of the situation here before and have caused some offense; I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive us."

Li Pingan also cupped his hands, looking guilt-stricken. "I was reckless before, mistakenly taking the young lady for one of the Demonic Beasts harming the people and injuring her. I've come today specifically to offer my apologies and make amends."

Yun Xuanxuan nodded slightly, her face showing no emotion as she spoke flatly.

"It's hardly an offense. If it were me and I encountered unidentified Half-human, Half-demon beings, I would likely have acted the same way. There was no need to make a special trip for such a small matter."

Internally, she was wondering: Could Sister Fang have been right? Was it really these two who exposed the Chusheng Sect's shameful atrocities?

Seeing that she wasn't angry, Ye Hao secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed Steward Song was right; this Miss Yun was a very reasonable person who didn't immediately resort to violence.

He stepped aside and pointed to Su Yue beside him, continuing.

"Besides that, we have one more request. My friend here, Su Yue, traveled all the way from the Flame Continent to the Rain God Continent to find someone. According to the information I've gathered, the person she's looking for should be in this canyon."

"It's that... Miss Fang we met once before in Pingquan Village."

Yun Xuanxuan's gaze fell upon Su Yue, sizing her up. The young girl was dressed in simple clothes, and the anxiety and unease between her brows perfectly matched Sister Fang's description.

In fact, after they left Pingquan Village last time, Su Yue's final warning had already explained a lot.

So, Yun Xuanxuan wasn't particularly surprised by this.

She was just curious about how these three had managed to find this hidden canyon.

After a moment's hesitation, Yun Xuanxuan lightly flapped her wings twice, giving a low signal. Seeing this, the Half-human, Half-demon beings standing in a fan shape dropped their guard and slowly retreated to the sides.

"Come in."

She turned and walked deeper into the cave.

Li Pingan and the others quickly followed. Along the way, they could feel countless gazes on them—some curious, some wary, but most were filled with fear and a sense of inferiority.

Ye Hao even recognized a few familiar faces—Half-human, Half-demon beings he had seen imprisoned in the Demon Suppressing Tower's dungeon.

After walking for about the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, Yun Xuanxuan, who was leading the way, suddenly spoke up out of the blue, her voice echoing in the hollow cave.

"Were you the ones investigating the Chusheng Sect's atrocities before?"

Ye Hao didn't stop, nodding truthfully. "We were. But even without us, the Tianque Sect has already gathered evidence of the Chusheng Sect's crimes and will make it public sooner or later."

Yun Xuanxuan's steps faltered slightly. Without looking back, she said, "For that, I thank you for taking action."

After saying that, before Li Pingan and Su Yue could react, she stopped and stepped aside to clear the path, her tone calm.

"We're here."

The three followed her gaze and discovered that the depths of the cave were like another world entirely.

Before them was no longer a dim rock wall, but an open valley floor covered in soft hay. Several houses were arranged neatly, and shimmering stalactites hung from the cliff walls. Sunlight poured through crevices in the valley's ceiling, casting dappled light and shadows on the ground.