Born in the Morning, Dies in the Evening

Liu Qiushui watched Ling Xuanxiao, who had entered the Mountain God Temple alone, and let out a barely audible sigh.

The key to this forbidden area was in the Mountain God Temple; Ling Xuanxiao was indeed very clever.

It's a shame he only guessed half of it right.

I will remember you.

You saved me, little one, but that's all there is to it.

Consider this misfortune fated for you.

Liu Qiushui, having reached her current position, naturally understood the art of sacrifice.

Liu Qiushui glanced once more at the figure of the young man within the forbidden area, then turned and left.

"You few guard this place and await Elder Sikong's revival."

"Yes!"

The power of the forbidden area was already sufficient; it would likely be a matter of a day or two.

Elder Sikong would revive, and at that time, everyone within the forbidden area would die.

Liu Qiushui couldn't bear to watch the young man die unjustly.

Forget it, let it be.

Luoshui Town.

Ling Xuanxiao stood within the Mountain God Temple, completely unfazed by the Azure Dragon coiled there.

"Quickly! Quickly!"

A constable in black clothes rushed to the front of the Mountain God Temple.

"You inside, listen up and come out quickly!"

The rules of Luoshui Town dictated that one must obey the constables, but now he was a constable himself.

Ling Xuanxiao glanced at the clothes he was wearing.

Just as the constables outside were shouting, Zhang Tianxin suddenly appeared.

With a single palm strike, she shattered the throat of a constable.

Though her cultivation was gone, her physical strength remained.

"Stop!"

A constable shouted.

Zhang Tianxin didn't stop at all, throwing punches and kicks.

Under the night sky, dressed in black, he seemed to blend into the darkness. In a flash, he dealt with all the constables outside the Mountain God Temple.

Seeing this, Ling Xuanxiao began to consider his next move.

He took off the black clothes, dispelling his constable status.

Revealing a red garment underneath.

Upon closer inspection, it wasn't actually a red garment.

It was his inner lining, which had been soaked in blood, turning the originally white fabric into a vibrant red.

[Rule Three: Red clothing is not allowed in Luoshui Town]

There was no red clothing in Luoshui Town at all.

[Rule Seven: The Mountain God Temple is safe]

Ling Xuanxiao pointed his sword at the statue of the Mountain God.

The moment he put on the red clothing, new rules appeared before his eyes.

[Rule Thirteen: Destroy the Mountain God to leave Luoshui Town]

The thirteenth rule.

The shrine revived, appearing before Ling Xuanxiao.

Ling Xuanxiao exuded killing intent, ready for battle.

It was a middle-aged man exuding scholarly aura, gentle and refined, even carrying a righteous presence.

He seemed like a Confucian cultivator.

What was going on?

"My young friend, how about you listen to me for a moment?" the middle-aged man said urgently.

Buying time?

Ling Xuanxiao sank to his knees, poised to spring up at any moment.

The middle-aged man pointed with one hand.

Memories that did not belong to Ling Xuanxiao flooded his mind.

"..."

Zhang Haoran, the Haoran Sword.

He was somewhat famous, having established a sect all by himself.

However, his sword had a flaw. To compensate for it, he secretly joined the Heavenly Fiend Hall.

During a breakthrough, he lost control and unintentionally slaughtered all the disciples within his sect.

Zhang Haoran completely lost his will to live, desiring only death.

But on his way to commit suicide, he encountered a small monster that had transformed from a mayfly.

The girl, transformed from the mayfly, said, "Since you wish to die, why not keep me company for a day?"

That single day felt like a lifetime to Zhang Haoran.

The girl gave him a reason to live.

However, mayflies are born in the morning and die by evening. To encounter spiritual energy, transform into human form, and live a lifetime in a single day was already a great honor.

Zhang Haoran said, "We did many things. We bowed to heaven and earth; she is already my wife.

But even so, I couldn't save her. I had never seen a mayfly before. By the time I realized what was happening, my wife had already passed away. That was her entire life.

I couldn't save her. Even as a powerful cultivator at the Body Integration Stage, I couldn't bring the dead back to life.

But... but if I die, I can do it.

Using this confinement, I can use all my strength to let her live another life.

Like a normal person, she can live the life she desires."

Zhang Haoran looked at Ling Xuanxiao with tears in his eyes, choking out his words:

"So, fellow Daoist, this is not for myself. I am already a man who deserves to die. I only want to fulfill her dream.

I beg you, she is innocent.

It's almost done, almost there.

Can you wait a little longer? This confinement will disappear soon.

She... she hasn't seen the sea, hasn't seen the bustling capital, hasn't ridden in a carriage, hasn't eaten candied haw... She deserves all of it..."

As he spoke, the shrine, which was the manifestation of the Body Integration Stage cultivator, actually knelt before Ling Xuanxiao.

"I will give you anything you want. After I die, I will repay your kindness. I only ask that you give her a chance. If you have to descend into the eighteen layers of hell, let me go."

"I only want... your life!!"

Ling Xuanxiao pierced the shrine's head with his sword.

"Ah..."

Zhang Haoran was shocked, staring at Ling Xuanxiao with rage.

"Why... why?"

Ling Xuanxiao offered no explanation, severing the shrine's head with his sword.

He fully adhered to the principle of killing first and talking later.

"She gave you a chance. Since a mayfly's fate is to be born in the morning and die by evening, why did you insist on defying it?

Her life was graced by meeting you, and you, who were on the verge of suicide in despair, were saved by her. You accompanied her for a lifetime.

Alas, your obsession was too great, and you stubbornly insisted on forcing things.

Because of this, how many innocent people have perished by your hand? You only know that your girl hasn't seen the prosperity of the capital, hasn't ridden in a carriage, hasn't eaten candied haw.

But those innocent people you killed, whose wonderful lives will you seek justice for?

Zhang Haoran, I now understand why your swordsmanship had a flaw and why you lost control during your cultivation. Your choices have made you who you are today."

"Ahhhhhh!!!"

"I'm not reconciled! I'm not reconciled!!"

The confinement in Luoshui Town was gradually disappearing, and Zhang Haoran's voice echoed throughout the entire town.

"I won't let you go even as a ghost! I won't let you go!"

"I will watch you forever, I will drag you into the abyss of hell!!"

"..."

Ling Xuanxiao remained indifferent to Zhang Haoran's curses.

"Everything Zhang Haoran is experiencing now is what he deserves."

"I'm going to kill you!!!"

Ling Xuanxiao turned a deaf ear.

Luoshui Town completely vanished.

Buried along with Luoshui Town were the countless bones of those who had mistakenly entered it.