Stepping slowly through the deep pools of blood.
The mountains of corpses and the cliffs are now just familiar scenery.
The rotting and decaying bodies, with not a single unscathed spot, and the pungent smell mixed in the air was undoubtedly a deadly poison.
The once intact land was now soaked in poison, turning into a cracked and decaying ground.
How long would it take for this vast land to return to its original state?
It would probably take at least a few centuries.
While walking, I continuously circulated energy within my body to block the poison.
The once vibrant and splendid land of Sichuan had now become cursed.
It was no longer a place where humans could live.
After trudging through the pools of blood, I finally reached the source of the surging poison, where the original owner sat quietly.
The two eyes, once filled with a green hue, had been cruelly gouged out, leaving only a steady stream of blood trickling down her cheeks.
[Is it over, Poison Consort?]
Poison Consort Tang Xiaoyue, who had merely closed her eyes and bowed her head, lifted her face at the sound of my voice.
The once clear and refreshing voice was now a hoarse and exhausted one, filled with phlegm.
[What a pitiful sight. Your bloodline has long since fled to other lands... Did you think that by guarding this place alone, anything would change?]
At my words, Tang Xiaoyue covered her mouth with her sleeve and laughed.
[A foolish question. Isn't it obvious? I'm here to cut off your last remaining breath.]
I slowly approached Tang Xiaoyue. Strangely, the poison seemed to thin out the closer I got.
While Tang Xiaoyue remained here, the bloodline of the Tang family could safely evacuate to Shaolin.
Thanks to this, they could plan for the future.
Then what about Tang Xiaoyue?
What was left for her, who was left behind alone?
If the righteous factions ever won the war, perhaps a short line would be added to history.
-Thanks to the sacrifice of Poison Consort Tang Xiaoyue, the future could be anticipated.
That would be all. Truly a futile story.
The time Tang Xiaoyue spent fighting the overwhelming number of demons and defending Sichuan alone.
Her eyes were gouged out, and the land around the Tang family was filled with intense poison.
During this time, countless demons were killed.
But it was all for naught.
As long as the Heavenly Demon did not die, this war would never end.
As I approached her, Tang Xiaoyue spoke.
[...I am truly sorry to you.]
I frowned at her absurd words.
[Apologize to the demons? You've truly lost your mind, Poison Consort.]
[Yes, I finally lost my mind. I wish I had let go a little earlier... I can see so much more now that I've lost my eyes.]
[Enough nonsense. Is that all you have to say?]
I slowly grabbed her neck with my hand. It was so thin that it would break with just a little force.
[It's not something you can do, but if you have any time left in this world,]
Her trembling body, I couldn't tell what emotions she was feeling.
Perhaps it was just the ramblings of a survivor, or regret over the sacrifice she was now experiencing.
None of it mattered to me.
Tang Xiaoyue tried to continue, but her voice was too weak to hear what she said.
I then applied force to my hand without hesitation.
With a cracking sound, Tang Xiaoyue bowed her head deeply.
As I released my hand and stepped back, her body fell to the ground lifelessly.
The surrounding blood was all eroded by the poison.
No matter how resistant to poison she was, her body would quickly rot and dissolve once her breath was cut off.
Her sacrifice was great, but not even a piece of her body would remain.
That's the nature of sacrifice.
I immediately turned around and started to leave the land of Sichuan.
Perhaps due to the surrounding poison, standing here was too disgusting.
I hated how well I remembered things like this, especially at times like these. I met Tang Xiaoyue's eyes.
Due to the incomplete state of her resistance to all poisons, only one of her eyes was green.
In a few years, both of her eyes would turn green.
Poison Consort Tang Xiaoyue, or now, Poison Phoenix.
“If you won't answer, I'll...”
As Tang Xiaoyue was about to speak, Nangong Bia came up beside her and whispered something.
Nangong Bia's words seemed to calm Tang Xiaoyue's frown.
She then took a step closer to me and bowed.
“I am Tang Xiaoyue of the Tang family. I apologize for raising my voice to the guest who has come to our main house.”
A quick and decisive judgment.
“...My name is Jiu Jieye.”
I responded, but I was using the name Jiu Jieye.
I should probably stop using this name... or just drop it now?
If I were even a little famous, this wouldn't work, but why does no one question my name?
If it had been a year later, just mentioning my name would have made me known as the bastard of Shanxi.
While I was deeply considering this, Tang Xiaoyue spoke.
“I see. Master Jiu, this is a place where only members of our sect can enter.”
“...Isn't Nangong also an outsider?”
“She is allowed because the bloodline has given permission.”
In other words, since I haven't been given permission, she was asking me to leave.
How despicable... but since I was planning to leave anyway, it didn't matter.
Moreover, Tang Xiaoyue's sharp gaze was making me uncomfortable.
Why was she glaring at me like that? Was she so displeased with me entering here?
“Then I'll take my leave.”
I ended the conversation and turned to leave with Weixiaoa.
After we left, Nangong Bia turned to Tang Xiaoyue and asked.
“Why did you glare at him so fiercely?”
“...I pointed out that he was in the wrong, but he didn't even apologize, which I found displeasing.”
“Is he handsome? Anyway, I don't like people who only care about their looks.”
Nangong Bia carefully examined the face of the boy who had just passed by.
He had a sharp, angular face with a wide-set gaze.
While his features were flawless, when combined, they gave off a fierce and intimidating appearance rather than a handsome one.
He wasn't ugly, but it was a stretch to call him handsome.
Even Nangong Bia, who usually had a hard time remembering faces, could clearly recall his features.
“...Sigh, I guess I prefer people who are a bit less attractive but kind and warm.”
‘Anyway, handsome people...’ Nangong Bia muttered as Tang Xiaoyue walked ahead, and she slowly followed.
The question mark above Nangong Bia's head didn't disappear as she walked.
The next morning after entering the Tang family compound.
Opening the door with half-asleep eyes, I saw two faces I didn't want to see.
The pale siblings were in front of me.
...Why do they keep coming and causing trouble?
If they had arrived at the Tang family, couldn't they just pretend not to know me?
I opened my mouth at the sight of the annoying scene.
“...Why are you here again?”
Since Nangong Tianjun wouldn't come to me on his own, I looked at Nangong Bia.
It was obvious that the Nangong son had just tagged along.
Nangong Bia, who had been looking at me, answered my question.
If you're hungry, just eat. Why are you telling me this?
Nangong Tianjun, who had been listening quietly, seemed a bit frustrated and added.
“The Tang family has invited us to a meal, and my sister thought it would be good if Brother Jiu also joined us.”
“I see, I understand. I'll pass, so go ahead and eat.”
Hearing the explanation made me even more reluctant. I wasn't going to sit and eat with them like I was crazy.
Nangong Tianjun's frown deepened, as if he hadn't expected my refusal.
A strong sense of ‘How dare you?’ emanated from him.
Though he quickly composed his expression.
“I don't have much of an appetite.”
“It's a good opportunity for the righteous factions to bond. Brother Jiu.”
“I'm a bit shy. I prefer to eat in peace.”
The last word was from Nangong Bia.
I glared at her, and she immediately averted her gaze.
“Anyway, I'm not going. I'm not going, so go ahead and eat.”
The Tangbingzhuan meeting will be held around mid-afternoon tomorrow.
Until then, I planned to eat lightly and focus on the training I hadn't finished.
Moreover, I didn't think I could keep a clear head if I ate with them.
Finally, Nangong Tianjun, whose face showed a bit of frustration from the continuous refusals, approached me.
“Don't be like that, let's go together.”
Nangong Tianjun said this while grabbing my arm.
Perhaps because he was out of Nangong Bia's line of sight, he wasn't managing his expression at all.
Nangong Tianjun's eyes, looking down at me, were filled with intense disgust and irritation.
The grip on my arm tightened.
He was probably thinking of dragging me along by force if I refused.
It's annoying and frustrating.
Why are there so many people bothering me like this since last time?
I was trying to tolerate it, but if they keep this up, it's not good.
I had already sensed the small amount of killing intent he harbored towards me.
Even if he seemed insane to me, I thought he might be useful later.
Since he had the Nangong name, I was trying to ignore it, but if he kept this up, I'd want to punch him.
Perhaps because I unconsciously harbored a bit of killing intent, a shallow aura of it escaped.
Nangong Tianjun, surprised, took a step back from me.
...Ah, this is a real mistake.
I immediately calmed my mind and gathered my energy, but it was too late. Nangong Tianjun was looking at me with wide eyes.
Perhaps due to my weakened body, I couldn't easily control my emotions and the resulting aura.
Fortunately, the killing intent didn't reach Nangong Bia, who was standing a bit away, and she was looking around confused.
I awkwardly smiled at Nangong Tianjun. I needed to go.
“Since you insist, I have no choice but to go with you.”
As I spoke, I naturally put my arm around Nangong Tianjun's shoulder. It was quite uncomfortable since he was taller than me.
He momentarily stepped back, perhaps hurt by his pride, and then looked at me with burning eyes.
As he tried to remove my arm, I applied force and quietly whispered.
‘Manage your expression, your sister who can't live without you is watching.’
His jaw tightened, displeased that I mentioned Nangong Bia.
I smiled again at his reaction.
But, to some extent, he seemed to take my advice and quickly returned to his usual refined self.
“Thank you for agreeing. Brother Jiu.”
“No problem, I couldn't refuse such a request.”
Ha ha ha. We both laughed, hiding our true intentions.
If he only harbored killing intent towards me, I didn't really care.
Once we parted ways, I wouldn't see him again.
If I had to, I might run into him a couple of times at righteous faction gatherings.
He had eyes, so he wouldn't rashly try to bother me again.
But since it was the Nangong family, he would think before acting...
Thinking so simply, I soon realized.
This guy has no thoughts at all...
That afternoon, Nangong Tianjun asked me.
“Brother, would you like to spar with me once?”
...Ah, this Jiu Jieye-like kid.