Zanxing

Chapter 105

"You... know me?" Yinli felt a bit uneasy.

"Of course, I know you," Zanxing replied. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have ended up here. But..." She leaned forward, scrutinizing Yinli closely. "You're a bit different from what I imagined."

The demonic merfolks of Li'er Country, as rumored, are ugly and fierce, with a violent temperament, like a bloodthirsty monster. 

The merman Zanxing had heard about since childhood was lively, adorable, and kind-hearted.

Yet the Yinli before her looked like an ordinary beautiful young man. He wore the guard uniform of the Li'er Kingdom palace, strikingly beautiful, evoking a protective instinct in those who saw him. 

He also seemed quite delicate, shy, and bashful; when Zanxing approached to speak, his face gradually reddened, like a layer of rouge floating on white jade, very vibrant.

Seeing Yinli growing increasingly uncomfortable, Zanxing withdrew her gaze and pondered, "But you're a spirit, and there's another person outside who looks exactly like you. He's also a merman, but he has scales on his face, and he should be a real demonic merman, not a spirit. Why is that?"

Yinli was taken aback by her words, furrowing his brows tightly. After a while, he spoke softly, "You must be talking about my twin brother, Yin Ying."

"Brother?" Zanxing thought for a moment. "Could it be he is trying to help you take revenge?"

Yinli's expression changed, as if he wanted to say something but ultimately remained silent.

Zhanxing stood up. "Never mind, I need to get out of here. I don't know what's going on outside. Your brother is quite powerful; even my master is struggling against him. I need to help."

 However, as soon as she stood, she felt dizzy and nearly collapsed to the ground.

Yinli hurried to support her, saying, "This place is connected to the core of the demon-slaying array. Although it won't directly shatter your soul, you're a living person, and there's still demonic energy in you. The longer you stay here, the more your spiritual energy will deplete. In the end, you'll die here." He looked into the distance. "I know of another exit; I'll take you out."

...

By the Xingxiu Platform, in front of the White Jade Palace, chaos reigned.

Cultivators lay scattered all over the ground, and bloodstains were everywhere. Some splattered onto the jade steps, slowly trickling down as if trying to dye the steps red. Even the silver moon in the sky seemed to turn blood-red at that moment.

However, in the deep night, the spear's edge shone like silver clouds, violently tearing a hole in the night sky. A flurry of snowflakes twinkled like a silver sea, entwined in a mass of black mist.

 Layers of snow fell to the ground, but the fields did not turn white. Suddenly, a loud noise echoed from the night sky, and everyone looked up to see a beautifully robed merman landing on the rooftop, pressing down a bloodied arm.

He coldly laughed, "Immortal Gu is indeed much more formidable than I imagined."

Facing the merman was a young man, also injured, his pearl-colored robe stained red with blood, like crimson flowers embroidered on his garment, growing even more striking. Gu Baiying's eyes were indifferent, and without saying a word, he charged forward again with his spear.

"You don't even want to speak to me," The demonic merman taunted. "It seems your partner is dead, and you're quite heartbroken."

As soon as he spoke, Gu Baiying's movement with the spear paused momentarily, and his frosty face suddenly turned angry as he shouted, "What partner? What nonsense are you talking about?"