36: Chapter 36 I don't know him

The attacks from the Men in Black grew increasingly fierce, forcing the demoness and Daoist Wangchuan into a steady retreat. Bi Luo stared at the runes on the stone platform, and her eyes suddenly lit up: "These runes form a yin-yang conversion array!"

Qing Luo moved closer to look. "What does that mean?"

"It means it can transform Yin and Yang energy," Bi Luo said, gritting her teeth as she stood up. "We can use the platform to counterattack."

As she spoke, she leaned on the edge of the stone platform and traced several sigils in the air with her other hand. "Qing Luo, place your hand here and channel the power of the soul bead."

Qing Luo did as instructed. The soul bead within her immediately reacted, sending a warm current flowing into the platform. In an instant, all the runes on the platform lit up, emitting a dazzling golden light.

On the battlefield, the sudden radiance blinded the three Men in Black. Their leader roared, "What's happening?!"

Seizing the opportunity, the demoness hurled a burst of blue flame, forcing one of the Men in Black back. Daoist Wangchuan also took the chance to unleash a Daoist technique, trapping another.

At that moment, a sphere of light suddenly emerged from the center of the stone platform, gradually forming a hazy human figure.

"That is..." the demoness exclaimed in surprise.

"Chu Yang!" Daoist Wangchuan cried out involuntarily.

The figure grew clearer, indeed taking the outline of a man, but it hadn't fully materialized, appearing like a ghost.

Seeing this, the leader of the Men in Black flashed a look of fanaticism in his eyes. "It's him! We've finally found you!"

The indistinct figure seemed to hear the words, turning towards the Men in Black. "You... have pursued me... for so long..." The voice was fragmented, as if coming from a distant place.

Qing Luo stared at the figure, her heart racing. "It's the voice from my dreams!"

Bi Luo gripped Qing Luo's hand tightly. "Focus. Help him coalesce."

The Men in Black didn't give up the fight. Instead, they attacked even more frenziedly, trying to get close to the platform. The demoness and Daoist Wangchuan desperately held them back, but were gradually being overpowered.

Just as the leader of the Men in Black was about to breach their defense, the figure in mid-air suddenly raised a hand. An invisible force blasted the leader back several paces.

"Did you think... I was unprepared?" the figure's voice grew clearer.

The leader of the Men in Black snarled angrily, "Do you think this can stop us? Our master has waited for you for a millennium!"

The figure shook its head slightly. "Tell... your master... this is not... the right path..."

At that moment, a sharp shriek pierced the night sky. More dark shadows emerged from the mist in the distance.

"Reinforcements are here!" one of the Men in Black shouted excitedly.

Daoist Wangchuan's expression turned grim. "We must retreat."

The hazy figure also sensed the danger. "Go... to Zhuque Mountain... I will wait for you there..."

As soon as the words were spoken, the figure abruptly dissipated, and the light from the stone platform dimmed as well. Qing Luo felt the soul bead inside her tremble violently, and a stream of information flooded her mind: Zhuque Mountain, three days from now, noon.

The demoness grabbed Qing Luo and Bi Luo. "Go!"

Daoist Wangchuan pulled out a talisman and slapped it onto the ground. Instantly, smoke billowed around them, growing denser. Seizing the chance, the four of them swiftly disengaged from the battlefield and vanished into the mist.

Curses from the Men in Black echoed faintly in the distance. "You won't escape!"

They ran without stopping until they were sure they had shaken off their pursuers. Only then did the four of them pause to rest. Bi Luo was utterly exhausted, leaning against a tree and gasping for breath.

"Was that really Chu Yang?" the demoness asked.

Daoist Wangchuan nodded. "It was him. Though it was only a soul projection, it was indeed him."

Qing Luo was still immersed in the recent experience. "He transmitted information to me through the soul bead. He wants us to go to Zhuque Mountain in three days."

"Zhuque Mountain?" Daoist Wangchuan said in surprise. "That was Chu Yang's Daoist sanctuary."

The demoness pondered for a moment. "It seems he had this planned all along."

Bi Luo looked up. "Master, why are those people so obsessed with hunting Chu Yang?"

Daoist Wangchuan's expression turned grave. "It's a long story. Simply put, Chu Yang mastered the Power of Reincarnation, and the master of the Dark Prison wants to use that power to resurrect someone."

"Resurrect?" Qing Luo didn't understand. "How is that possible?"

"Theoretically, one who possesses the complete Power of Reincarnation can indeed reverse life and death," Daoist Wangchuan explained. "But it defies the Heavenly Dao and comes at a tremendous cost."

Bi Luo continued, "Is that why Chu Yang chose to disappear? To protect the Power of Reincarnation from being misused?"

"Most likely," Daoist Wangchuan nodded. "It seems now that he dispersed and sealed parts of the power. One part unexpectedly resonated with Qing Luo."

Qing Luo looked down at her hands. "So that's why I can see those spirits, why I have the Spirit Eye..."

The demoness patted her shoulder. "Regardless, we have a clear direction now. Let's first find a safe place to rest, then head to Zhuque Mountain in three days."

Everyone agreed and continued on their way, searching for a place to stay.

The next morning, the four found a small town. To avoid drawing attention, they split up. The demoness and Qing Luo formed one group, while Daoist Wangchuan took Bi Luo, who still needed recuperation, as the other.

The marketplace was bustling with people, lively and noisy. Qing Luo had never seen such a prosperous market and looked around curiously.

"Don't wander off," the demoness cautioned. "The people from the Dark Prison might still be nearby."

Qing Luo nodded, but her attention was soon captured by a stall selling sugar figurines. The demoness sighed, took out a few copper coins, and bought one for her.

"Thank you!" Qing Luo happily accepted the sugar figurine and took a bite. The sweet taste made her forget the dangers of the previous night.

Watching her, a slight smile touched the demoness's lips. In this perilous world, Qing Luo still retained her innocence, which gave the demoness a rare feeling of warmth.

Just then, Qing Luo suddenly stopped walking, alertly looking in a certain direction.

"What is it?" the demoness asked immediately.

Qing Luo replied in a low voice, "Someone has been following us."

The demoness scanned the surroundings discreetly. "Where?"

"To the right and behind us. A woman in a red dress."

The demoness glanced over while pretending to turn. Sure enough, a beautiful woman in a red dress stood not far away, pretending to look at goods while secretly watching them.

"She doesn't seem like someone from the Dark Prison," the demoness judged. "But we can't let our guard down. Let's split up and see who she follows."

The two pretended to go look at different stalls. As expected, after a moment's hesitation, the woman in red followed Qing Luo.

The demoness observed from the shadows and noticed the woman in red trailed Qing Luo the whole way, yet always maintained her distance, never rashly approaching. This was even stranger—if she meant harm, she would have acted already; if she had no ill intent, why skulk around?

Just as the demoness was about to step forward and question her, the woman in red suddenly quickened her pace and walked directly up to Qing Luo.

"Little Girl, can we talk?"

Qing Luo took a cautious step back. "What do you want?"

The woman in red smiled. "Don't be nervous. I just want to ask you some things about Chu Yang."

Qing Luo's pupils contracted slightly. "I don't know any Chu Yang."

"Oh?" The woman in red raised an eyebrow. "Then why do you carry his aura within you?"