Ambush

In the small pavilion, Nie Xiaoqian looked sorrowful as she leaned against the railing and said, "You heard it too. Grandmother has already betrothed me to someone else. You should leave."

An Yang said, "I'm not leaving. The Black Mountain Lord is just a demon after all. You don't truly want to marry him."

No way was he leaving now. If he did and the mission failed, he'd just have to start all over again!

Besides, even if it meant letting Nie Xiaoqian wander the world as a lonely ghost forever, he couldn't bear to let her marry the Black Mountain Old Demon!

Nie Xiaoqian's emotions became unstable, and she shouted at him, "Go! If you don't leave, you'll die here!"

An Yang paused for a moment, then shook his head again. "I'm not going. Don't be afraid. I will definitely rescue you from Grandmother's grasp. You won't marry the Black Mountain Lord!"

Nie Xiaoqian looked at him with bitter anguish, her expression so pitiable it tugged at the heart. "I'm to marry the Black Mountain Lord in three days. Please, can you stop pestering me?"

"No!"

An Yang's words rang out firm and resolute, his expression unshakable. He wasn't Ning Caichen; he wouldn't be driven away by such petty tricks.

Nie Xiaoqian stared at him blankly, a stream of clear tears flowing down her cheeks.

"Why? I'm already pitiful enough. Why do you still cling to me? You know I don't want to marry the Black Mountain Lord. I was sold off by Grandmother. But I've already accepted my fate. Why can't you accept yours?"

Nie Xiaoqian gritted her teeth and tore off her clothes in one motion, revealing a flawless, pure white body!

"Look! I'm already covered in bruises today. If you still won't leave, do you want me to suffer even more wounds?"

An Yang was stunned for a moment, then said, "You're of no further use to Grandmother. If you marry the Black Mountain Lord, you'll suffer far more—a thousand times worse than this!"

Nie Xiaoqian glanced at the sky outside, which was gradually brightening, and shoved him away, shouting, "I don't need your pity! I'm used to this life. I'm used to being pitied. I just want you to leave and never come back!"

An Yang thought it over, not wanting to keep arguing with Nie Xiaoqian, and nodded. "Fine. I'll go."

His figure gradually faded away, leaving Nie Xiaoqian standing dazedly in the Lake Heart Pavilion, two streams of clear tears tracing down her cheeks.

An Yang discussed with Yan Chixia for a while about eliminating the Thousand-Year Tree Demon, then took a detour through Guo Bei County before stealing a horse there and heading back.

The sound of hooves beat fast, drawing steadily closer to Lanruo Temple!

Ahead, the whistling of a sword rang out. A man stood sword in hand atop one of the Four Heavenly Kings, tilting his head back to drink. He tossed his gourd aside as wind and rain swirled around him, lightning and thunder flashing, and began to dance wildly with his blade, the sword light as dazzling as the lightning!

As he danced, he chanted loudly, dead leaves scattering chaotically in the air, the lightning making the statues of the Four Heavenly Kings look especially terrifying!

"Dao! Dao! Dao! Dao! Dao, dao, dao, dao!..."

"The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao! The Dao of heaven, the Dao of earth, the Dao of man, the Dao of the sword, the black Dao, the yellow Dao... Bah! Utter! Non! Sense!"

"..."

"I seek my own Dao! I... seek... my own Dao!"

Yan Chixia's figure spun across the stone statues of the Four Heavenly Kings, finally stopping mid-stance among them, looking half-mad!

"Jingle, jingle..."

A bell rang out. Yan Chixia's expression sharpened. He turned his head to look at the swaying bell under the eaves, then vanished from the spot in an instant.

Seeing this, An Yang quickly turned his horse around and headed back, stopping only beneath Nie Xiaoqian's tower.

As expected, Nie Xiaoqian soon appeared. She took his hand and crouched down on the ground, asking worriedly, "Why are you back again?"

An Yang said, "Brother Yan and I have agreed to kill the Thousand-Year Tree Demon and rescue you. I came back specially to get you!"

Nie Xiaoqian hesitated for a moment, then covered his mouth. "Don't speak first. It's too dangerous here. Let's go to the pavilion and talk."

In the pavilion—

The rain outside poured without stop, the wind blew relentlessly, and the white gauze around the Lake Heart Pavilion was completely soaked through, turning a translucent color. Both of their clothes were drenched as well.

Nie Xiaoqian's face was full of emotion as she gazed directly at An Yang's face.

"Did you really come back just to save me?"

"Of course. I will definitely save you!"

"Is that Taoist in Lanruo Temple really going to kill Grandmother?"

"I wouldn't lie to you!"

A glimmer of hope rose in Nie Xiaoqian's eyes, but it quickly dimmed again. "So what? Grandmother has already betrothed me to the Black Mountain Lord of the underworld. His magical power is so strong that even Grandmother is no match for him. That Taoist won't be able to do it either."

The pavilion had a few leaks. An Yang shielded her from the rain and said, "Since ancient times, evil has never triumphed over good. Don't worry!"

Nie Xiaoqian's expression was pitifully delicate, but it calmed only when she looked at him. She gently pressed herself against his chest, took his hand and placed it over her own heart, then looked up at him and said, "Don't talk about that now, Master An Yang. If I can't escape, I hope I won't leave any regrets behind."

An Yang was stunned. He remembered this was something that happened to Ning Caichen in the original story. He never expected it would replay with him. The palm of his hand felt a soft, full sensation, and Nie Xiaoqian's gentle voice seemed to whisper right by his ear.

He admitted it—his mind was wandering!

The rain outside fell even harder, pattering loudly against the pavilion roof, but it couldn't drown out the heat within.

Nie Xiaoqian cupped An Yang's face and gently kissed him, a brief touch before pulling away. She gazed at him dazedly, tears spilling from her eyes again.

She recalled their first meeting, when An Yang had acted as if she didn't exist. It had only been four days since then, yet the memories in her mind were so vivid. In fact, in the original story, when she and Ning Caichen reached this point, they had only known each other for three days.

An Yang lay on top of her, feeling nothing but softness. A faint, delicate fragrance drifted to his nose. Nie Xiaoqian's skin was smooth and tender, intoxicating him completely.

He gently unfastened her clothes, lowered his head, and kissed her.

A storm of passion ensued.

When the rain stopped, Nie Xiaoqian draped a pale, slender leg across him, gazing at him with infatuation. The Lake Heart Pavilion was still brightly lit, its light shimmering on the water's surface.

"Scholar An Yang, if I weren't a female ghost, if I weren't controlled by Grandmother, if I had been born into an official family, I would definitely marry you."

An Yang caressed her smooth leg, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at the string of silver bells around her ankle. "Don't worry," he said. "I'll set you free."

Suddenly, a sword's cry rang out in the distance. Under the moonlight, a bearded man could be seen striding across the water, a long sword in hand, his eyes like copper bells, his face full of murderous intent.

"Hey, you female ghost! How dare you harm my young brother An Yang? Do you want to die or not?!"

"Don't be afraid, little brother An Yang! I'm here to save you!"

An Yang's expression shifted. He quickly said to Nie Xiaoqian, "Leave here first. I'll explain things to Brother Yan right away."

Nie Xiaoqian nodded frantically, leaped out of the pavilion, and vanished with the wind.

Yan Chixia vaulted into the pavilion in one bound and grabbed An Yang by the clothes. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

An Yang struggled to break free from his grip. Despite having a physique far beyond ordinary men, he was clearly powerless against Yan Chixia.

"I'm fine, Brother Yan. Ease up a bit—I can't breathe."

"Ah... I didn't mean to. Good that you're fine. Now let me go capture that female ghost. She's already shown herself—she can't escape!"

With that, Yan Chixia gripped his sword and prepared to chase after Nie Xiaoqian.

"Wait!"

An Yang quickly grabbed hold of him.

Yan Chixia frowned, glancing anxiously into the distance. "Speak quickly if you have something to say. If we wait any longer, that female ghost will get away!"

An Yang sighed. "Brother Yan, the truth is, Xiaoqian only harmed people because she had no choice. She's being forced by the Thousand-Year Tree Demon. Her life story is very tragic."

"What?! What are you talking about? Who is Xiaoqian?"

"Xiaoqian is the female ghost from just now. Please don't go after her yet. Let me explain slowly."

After a long while, Yan Chixia finally understood.

"So, you're saying you've fallen in love with that female ghost?"

An Yang was stunned, then nodded. "I suppose so."

"How can you love her? Humans and ghosts walk different paths. She'll drain your yang energy. You can't be together!"

"Well... Brother Yan, just leave this to me."

An Yang wasn't worried at all. With the Time-Space Travel Phone in hand, he was confident he could find a solution across countless dimensions.

Yan Chixia curled his lip. "I really don't understand you scholars. You're so romantic you won't even spare a female ghost!"

An Yang coughed dryly. "Xiaoqian is actually very kind. And very pitiful."

Yan Chixia's expression froze, as if something had occurred to him. His face fell. "So you're saying you stayed not to help me deal with the tree demon, but for that female ghost?"

An Yang was taken aback, a look of embarrassment crossing his face. "That's not entirely true. It's both reasons. I want to help you get rid of the tree demon, and I also want to save Xiaoqian."

Yan Chixia waved his hand. "Spare me the excuses. Even a ghost wouldn't believe that. I knew it—how could a frail scholar like you dare to face a Thousand-Year Tree Demon? Turns out it was for a female ghost. The power of love is truly something."

An Yang smiled, thinking to himself, Who says a ghost wouldn't believe it? Nie Xiaoqian believes every word I say!

"Brother Yan, let's discuss how to deal with the Thousand-Year Tree Demon."

Yan Chixia paused. "Do you have a plan?"

An Yang thought for a moment. "Actually, Brother Yan is no weaker than the Thousand-Year Tree Demon. The problem is just killing her. We just need to find a place, set up a Heaven Net in advance, and prepare Fuel Talismans to make sure the tree demon can't escape."

Yan Chixia frowned in thought. "The plan is feasible, but how will you lure the tree demon here?"

An Yang smiled. "Xiaoqian has a bell on her. As soon as it rings, the tree demon will definitely come!"

Yan Chixia was startled. "That female ghost is willing to help us?"

"Of course. As long as Brother Yan promises not to harm her after killing the Thousand-Year Tree Demon, I can convince Xiaoqian to help us."

Yan Chixia thought it over for a while, then nodded. "Fine. As long as you guarantee that female ghost won't harm anyone again, and she helps me eliminate the Thousand-Year Tree Demon, I'll let her go!"

"As long as I'm alive, Xiaoqian will never harm anyone!"

"Good. Then you go prepare the fuel. I'll head to Guo Bei County to buy some cinnabar and Yellow Paper to draw talismans!"

PS: Sorry, I wrote this chapter a few days ago and thought it was finished, but when I went to post it today, I found the chapter was lost. I had to rewrite it, but my thoughts have already moved on to later chapters, so it's inevitably a bit messy. Please forgive any mistakes. Also, thanks to the classmates for their support and tips!