Exposed

As soon as Xiao Qinghe heard him finish speaking, his body became a blur, shooting toward the Ghost King.

Catching him off guard, he drove his sword through his head.

A bloody hole opened in that featureless face, and a shrill, dying shriek rang out.

The sword formation scattered the monster energy that blotted out the sky and moon. The thick fog shrouding the barrier finally began to clear, letting the light through.

The Human-Faced Ghost King refused to accept defeat, but there was no saving him now. His body dissolved into billowing smoke, leaving only a glowing Spirit Pills to drift slowly down into Xie Jun's palm.

Xie Jun was drenched in blood. Suddenly, the bloodstains on her palm flowed toward the Spirit Pills, clinging to its surface before slowly seeping inside.

After drinking her blood, the Spirit Pills' glow took on a reddish hue. Clearly, the blood had become one with it.

That was Xie Jun's blood.

Now, Xiao Qinghe only had to swallow the Spirit Pills to purge the poison. But under the Ghost King Spirit Pill's influence, someone would also have to willingly become his Ghost Slave, sustaining him with blood and vital energy.

Her blood had fused with the Spirit Pills, nourishing it. Once her senior brother swallowed it, their souls would be linked. She would be able to sense his presence, and even his emotions.

Xie Jun smiled softly and looked up at Xiao Qinghe.

Realizing what Xie Jun intended, Xiao Qinghe was dumbfounded.

Kid, this thing is the legendary "Soul-Tying Thread" item! You should give it to your wife, Ouyang Susu. Why are you giving it to me?

"Junior sister, wait..."

The Spirit Pills reached his lips. Xiao Qinghe tried to retreat, but his body was as stiff as ice. Unable to move, he could only watch as Xie Jun pushed the Spirit Pills into his mouth.

Warmth spread through his limbs and bones as the Spirit Pills entered his body. Xiao Qinghe relaxed, the icy stiffness seemingly dispelled.

Before he could breathe a sigh of relief, Bai Yuqing descended slowly from the air, his robes billowing.

The next instant, the Wind-Piercing Sword rose, its tip aimed at Xie Jun.

"You belong to the Demon Clan." Bai Yuqing enunciated each word, his voice chilling.

The warmth that had just returned to Xiao Qinghe's body vanished, as though he had plunged into an ice cellar. He snapped his gaze toward Xie Jun's face.

Apart from flecks of blood, there were no demon marks on Xie Jun's face. The Ring of Deception that concealed her demonic energy was still on her finger, too. How had Master discovered her identity?

Bai Liuli had also caught up. Noticing Xiao Qinghe looking at her, she immediately shook her head.

She hadn't said a word!

Xiao Qinghe steeled himself. "Master, could there be some misunderstanding?"

Bai Yuqing's expression was icy, his sword tip pressed between Xie Jun's brows.

A trickle of blood ran down from the point between Xie Jun's brows.

Bai Yuqing remained unmoved, murderous intent laid bare in his cold eyes. "You disguised yourself as a member of the Human Clan and infiltrated the Demon-Slaying Sect. What exactly are you after?"

Xie Jun neither moved nor offered any defense.

She had known all along that she could not fool Bai Yuqing's keen eyes for long. Even the slightest trace of demonic energy would not escape his notice.

She looked toward Xiao Qinghe, a flicker of tenderness in her eyes. "You can't kill me yet. Senior brother's poison hasn't been fully cured. He needs me."

Bai Liuli was startled.

The Human-Faced Ghost King was an S-rank great monster. To think they had actually killed him-and Xiao Qinghe had already swallowed his Spirit Pills.

Judging by Xie Jun's words, the Ghost King Spirit Pill must have absorbed her blood. In other words, she had made herself Xiao Qinghe's Ghost Slave!

What kind of feelings must she harbor for someone to willingly sustain him with her blood?

Bai Liuli did not dare dwell on it. All she knew now was that Xie Jun could not die.

"Immortal Venerable Bai, wait! Immortal Master Xiao has been poisoned by a Human-Faced Ghost. Only a Ghost King Spirit Pill can cure him, and that pill requires a Ghost Slave to sustain it with vital energy and fresh blood. Immortal Master Xie cannot die!"

"Despicable Demon Clan!" Bai Yuqing flew into a rage. "You think binding Qinghe's life to yours leaves me powerless against you? I need only find Qinghe another Ghost Slave!"

With that, he raised his sword without a shred of mercy.

Just as the blade was about to strike Xie Jun, Xiao Qinghe suddenly lunged in front of her.

Bai Yuqing's hand trembled. "My disciple, get out of the way! He's Demon Clan, not one of us!"

Xiao Qinghe smiled bitterly. "Master, with your wisdom and insight, you must have realized that I already knew she belonged to the Demon Clan. I was the one who deceived you."

"You!" Bai Yuqing was struck speechless.

He had clung to a sliver of hope that his disciple had been bewitched and deceived by the Demon Clan. Instead, Xiao Qinghe had known all along, even conspiring with the Demon Clan to deceive him.

Bai Yuqing closed his eyes. The Immortal Venerable who had always stood so far above others now showed a trace of the disarray of betrayal.

He gazed at his beloved disciple, the corners of his eyes red, his voice hoarse. "You knew from the beginning?"

"No!" Xie Jun immediately denied it.

Everyone knew of Bai Yuqing's hatred for the Demon Clan.

If Bai Yuqing learned the truth, he might not spare even Xiao Qinghe.

Determined to shoulder all the blame, she said, "I deceived senior brother! He knew nothing from beginning to end!"

"I knew." Xiao Qinghe took two steps forward.

Meeting Bai Yuqing's disbelieving eyes, he felt a pang in his heart. Suddenly, he felt like a complete bastard.

For three years, Master had treated him well. Whenever he was in danger, Master always rushed to his rescue without a thought for his own safety.

He had known how deeply Master hated the Demon Clan, yet he had concealed the truth and even persuaded him to accept Xie Jun as a disciple. It was no different from stabbing him in the back.

Though he could excuse himself by saying he had only been following the plot, Xiao Qinghe still felt like a bastard. So he chose to confess.

"I knew from the beginning."

"And the claim that you knew her as a child-was that also a fabrication meant to deceive me?"

"...Yes."

Bai Yuqing's hand shook. With difficulty, he asked, "Why?"

Bai Yuqing held an exalted position and was revered by countless people. Aloof and proud by nature, he stood above everyone, seldom showing anyone special favor-except his sole final disciple.

The only tenderness he had offered had earned him nothing but searing pain.

Xiao Qinghe could not bear to look at him.

Bai Yuqing's face was expressionless, as noble and proud as ever. Yet the redness at the corners of his eyes and the pain flickering within them made Xiao Qinghe feel like the worst sinner in history.

But he could offer no explanation.

Could he really say that Master would one day put righteousness before their bond and kill him, and that Xie Jun was the protector he had found to save his life when that day came?

Saying that would only add fuel to the fire, driving a fatal blade into Master's heart.

Even if he apologized to Master ten thousand times in his heart, he could say none of it aloud.

He could only remain silent.

At that moment, silence was the cruelest answer of all.

Unable to bear hurting his beloved disciple, Bai Yuqing turned his blade and drove it into Xie Jun's chest. "I said before that you were no good, that you had bewitched Qinghe. Now I see I was right! The Demon Clan is treacherous and cunning, adept at toying with people's hearts. What exactly were you after when you approached Qinghe and deceived him?"

Xie Jun neither dodged nor flinched, taking the sword head-on.

Blood poured from her wound, worsening her already battered condition.

If this keeps up, she really will die!

But if she dies, who else can I rely on?

Xiao Qinghe dropped to his knees before Bai Yuqing with a thud. "Master, all of this is my fault. If you must punish someone, punish me. None of it has anything to do with Xie Jun."

Xie Jun shuddered and stared at him in disbelief.

She had never imagined that one day, her senior brother would kneel and plead for her life.

"You would actually defend a Demon Clan!" Bai Yuqing was beside himself with fury.

Xiao Qinghe smiled bitterly. "I was gravely poisoned, and now I've swallowed the Ghost King Spirit Pill to cure it. With its influence corrupting me, I'm already half a Demon Clan myself. Will you uphold heavenly justice and put righteousness before our bond by killing me too, Master?"

Bai Yuqing's expression shifted slightly.