Chapter 126: Sorrow Within the Heart

On the mountaintop, a deadly crisis that should have unfolded was completely resolved by just a few words from Zhou Qing, leaving a hint of surprise on Lin Yunxi’s face. For as long as she could remember, growing up within the sect, she had been taught that humans and demons could never coexist. Yet now, Zhou Qing’s words resonated deeply within her heart.

Since the dawn of time, when the world was formed, all beings were born equal. But as the ages passed, strength and weakness among them became apparent, leading to conflict and division. Over time, most human cultivators instinctively regarded demons as abominations upon encountering them.

While Lin Yunxi was still taken aback, Zhou Qing suddenly moved, chasing after the demon who had just descended the mountain.

“Please wait, Senior. I have something to ask,” he called out as he reached the edge of the mountaintop, addressing the demon who was already halfway down the slope.

Hearing the voice behind him, the demon paused, turned, and glanced at Zhou Qing. “What is it?” he asked.

“I’d like to ask you to show me the safest way out of this forest. I would be deeply grateful and offer my sincere thanks!” Zhou Qing replied earnestly, bowing from a distance.

Upon hearing Zhou Qing’s request, the demon nodded and stepped closer to Zhou Qing before speaking.

From the demon’s words, Zhou Qing learned that he was currently in the middle region of the Savage Forest. If one divided the area into four directions—east, south, west, and north—exiting to the east would bring them into the territory of the Tiger Clan; to the south, the Snake Clan; to the west, the Fox Clan. Only to the north were there no organized demon clans, just some scattered lesser demons. However, the north was bounded by a vast ocean, making it impossible to leave the Savage Forest by that route.

After briefly explaining, the demon’s figure quickly vanished into the darkness of the slope.

Zhou Qing had no reason to doubt the demon’s words. With the demon’s cultivation, killing him and Lin Yunxi would have been effortless—there was no need for deception.

The demon departed, leading the black dog away. When Zhou Qing returned to the old tree, he found Lin Yunxi gazing at him with lingering surprise.

“All my life, I believed that humans and demons could never coexist. Only today did I realize that isn’t always true.”

A chilly night breeze rose as Lin Yunxi spoke. Zhou Qing simply smiled at her, then gathered some dry branches atop the mountain and lit a campfire.

Before, he had avoided building a fire for fear of attracting demons from the surrounding woods. But now, having already encountered one who meant them no harm, he felt it was safe to light a fire.

“My master once told me that demons are the same as humans—some good, some evil. In fact, most demons don’t wish to be enemies with people.”

Zhou Qing sat down by the fire, glanced at Lin Yunxi across the flames, and continued.

“The affairs of the world are often interconnected. Just like yesterday, when we passed through that snake-infested forest and saw those dead pythons by the canyon. If those pythons hadn’t died a few days prior, perhaps we wouldn’t have been attacked by so many snakes last night.

Or when we encountered those stray dogs at midday on the mountainside—if we had harmed or killed them, perhaps the demon we met earlier would not have spared us.

Honestly, there’s no need for us to look down on demons. We’re both living beings of this world. In my eyes, we should treat each other as equals.”

After Zhou Qing finished sharing his thoughts, Lin Yunxi nodded in full agreement. The events of this night had greatly changed her view of demons.

As their conversation continued, Zhou Qing recounted an incident he had experienced in Datian Village, involving a demon he had met there.

“The difference between humans and demons is really not so great. As I passed through Datian Village, if not for that demon’s tendency to prey on the weak and avoid the strong, I might have lost my life there.”

...

After the night’s events and their long discussion, the idea that humans and demons were natural enemies was completely overturned in Lin Yunxi’s heart.

At dawn, after a thorough discussion, the two decided to head north through the Savage Forest, to find the northern sea and skirt around the woods along the shoreline.

After a day of tending to his wounds, Zhou Qing’s right arm was nearly healed. Sword in hand, he led Lin Yunxi into the dense forest.

They crossed several mountains, encountering only harmless small beasts along the way. Eventually, they descended a hill and reached a small river, seven or eight yards wide, winding at the base.

Standing by the river, Zhou Qing noticed an ancient tree lying across the water not far away, forming a natural bridge.

If he had been alone, Zhou Qing would have crossed the river directly, gliding over the surface with ease. But as he was accompanied, he led Lin Yunxi toward the fallen tree.

Soon, they reached the tree. Its trunk was thick and level, making it an easy crossing. Together, they stepped onto the trunk and started toward the opposite bank.

The river was only a few dozen paces wide; after twenty steps, a sudden splash erupted below the trunk.

A large golden carp, nearly four feet long, leaped from the water, arced around the trunk, and plunged back into the river on the other side. In doing so, it struck Lin Yunxi with its body, sending her tumbling into the water.

It all happened in a flash. As Zhou Qing turned, he caught only a glimpse of Lin Yunxi’s figure falling into the river, and beneath her, a golden shadow in the depths.

The golden shadow dragged her beneath the surface and swiftly swam toward the far end of the river.

Seeing this, Zhou Qing dived in after them.

He raced through the water, but the golden figure was faster. After less than a mile, as the river merged into a broader channel, he lost sight of the golden shadow carrying Lin Yunxi.

Though he had lost them, Zhou Qing did not give up. He continued to pursue in the direction Lin Yunxi had vanished, his anxiety slowly giving way to sorrow.

Because, unlike him, Lin Yunxi did not possess the ability to control water. After being dragged under for so long, she must already...

With this realization, the grief in Zhou Qing’s heart only deepened.

He had only known such pain once before, on the night seven years ago when Elder Wu entered Sumeru Temple and never returned.