"Impossible, you were clearly only nine back then..." the head of a sect involved in the matter blurted out despite himself.
Yin Fan gave a mocking smile and said nothing more.
The others, however, were startled. Could everything Yin Fan had said be true?
The Heavenly Sword Sect master's gaze wavered, disbelief gradually giving way to coldness. "Since you have fallen to the demonic path, I can only cleanse our sect and slay a demonic abomination like you."
"Wait."
At that tense moment, a voice suddenly came from the crowd, carried by Divine Sense into everyone's ears and minds.
Yin Fan paused slightly, forcibly concealing the trace of apprehension deep in his eyes. His ink-dark eyes shifted toward the white-robed Buddhist disciple slowly emerging from the crowd, and even the demonic qi around him briefly stilled.
"Wu Fei?" Jingguan's expression changed at the sight. Seeming to guess what Wu Fei intended to do, he moved to stop him.
Wu Fei's clear eyes swept over everyone in the square, taking in all their expressions, before finally meeting Jingguan's gaze. "Master, Junior Brother Jing is not an evil man."
Those words were meant for Jingguan, but also for everyone present, and above all for a certain person who still did not dare meet his eyes.
Seeing the protagonist like this made his heart ache a little.
At this scene, the Heavenly Sword Sect master's expression grew colder. "Jingguan, are you going to indulge your disciple in associating with a Devil Cultivator?"
Jingguan knew Wu Fei: his Buddhist heart was clear, yet he was deeply persistent. He glanced over certain people's expressions and, considering what Yin Fan had just said, replied, "Sect Master Cang is doing what he believes to be right. So is my disciple."
"We Buddhist cultivators have always sought to deliver all living beings."
The Buddha Spirit Sect disciples behind him echoed, "Deliver all living beings."
In short, the Buddha Spirit Sect's stance was that whatever their Buddhist disciple wanted to do was right.
"Then do not blame me for slaying your disciple along with him!" Anger rose on the Heavenly Sword Sect master's face. He raised his sword, and a dazzling white light slashed toward Wu Fei and Yin Fan.
Yin Fan's gaze sharpened, and the Blazing Cold Sword flew from his hand.
Clang-
The two swords collided. No one had expected the sword sent flying to be the Heavenly Sword Sect master's. With his lifebound spirit sword damaged, Cang Xiao could not help violently coughing up a mouthful of blood.
"How is that possible..." They were clearly both at mid-Mahayana...
The Blazing Cold Sword stood firmly before Yin Fan and Wu Fei, shielding them. Firelight and icy cold mingled with demonic qi, its might far surpassing what it had possessed before.
Wu Fei's gaze flickered. The protagonist had already refined and fused the Blazing Cold Tree.
"Buddhist cultivators deliver all living beings..." Yin Fan finally looked at Wu Fei. Meeting those exceptionally clear eyes that seemed to see through people's hearts, he suddenly began to laugh softly.
Then he no longer concealed any of the obsession in his eyes. The demonic qi around him surged with its master's state of mind, unleashing an overwhelming force. He stared fixedly at Wu Fei, his laughter gradually taking on a hint of intimate entanglement. "Wu Fei, how will you deliver me?"
How would I deliver him... A dark gleam crossed the depths of Wu Fei's eyes before he raised them slightly, his manner calm. "Only by... offering my body to the demon."
His tone was mild, as though he had spoken casually, yet every word struck Yin Fan's heart.
At those words, Yin Fan's spirit stirred. He glanced at the sect master who wanted him dead, then at his fellow disciples, who had once respected him but now had nothing but fear in their eyes.
In the end, only the white-robed Buddhist disciple's figure remained reflected in his eyes. He abruptly pressed close to Wu Fei, his voice fierce, though his grip on him was gentle. "You had better not regret this, Buddhist disciple."
Then the demonic qi around him surged up, enveloping them both and carrying them away.
Everyone was startled. That was the entrance to the Flame Spirit Realm. As the demonic qi was about to enter the spatial rift, the Heavenly Sword Sect master called out, "Three seniors, please subdue the demon!"
Unexpectedly, the three Tribulation Transcendence Stage seniors remained unmoved. One of them said, "We are only responsible for guarding the Flame Spirit Realm. It is now open. You may enter."
"The Flame Spirit Realm will remain open for only one month. If you do not come out after that month, it will not open again for another two hundred years."
Within the Flame Spirit Realm, a mass of demonic qi flew at tremendous speed, passing the pale red leaves of the Dao Comprehension Trees and shallow, burbling streams before finally landing deep within the realm.
The demonic qi dispersed, revealing two figures. Yin Fan's eyes were fathomless as he raised a hand to stroke Wu Fei's face. "Is there nothing you wish to ask this venerable one, Buddhist disciple?"
Discreetly releasing his Divine Sense to monitor their surroundings, Wu Fei replied with a calm expression, "Naturally, I am somewhat surprised..."
"To think all three strings of prayer beads I gave away went to the same person."
"That is what surprises you?" Yin Fan was briefly taken aback.
Wu Fei nodded mildly, then paused. "Not only that..."
Yin Fan's heart suddenly rose into his throat again.
"There is also this." Inwardly amused by his reaction, Wu Fei took a pure white mask with faint gold patterns from his storage ring and said seriously, "That makes four."
Yin Fan's gaze fell on the mask, and he suddenly laughed, unmistakable pleasure appearing in his features. "You truly are..."
He left the rest unsaid. Leaning very close, he curled his lips. "Why are you not surprised that this venerable one and your Junior Brother Jing are actually the same person, Senior Brother Wu Fei?"
Familiar breath brushed his cheek, but Wu Fei remained composed. "Naturally, I am surprised."
Though he spoke of surprise, his expression and gaze were like a tranquil lake, without a single ripple.
Wu Fei lowered his eyes. "Does the Demon Venerable still remember what I once said? Living beings take myriad forms; what I see is the Demon Venerable's heart."
At those words, Yin Fan's pupils widened slightly. Wu Fei had said this back in the great inheritance tomb. He had not believed it then; only now did he truly believe Wu Fei's words.
The surprise Wu Fei spoke of was merely surprise, wholly different from that of the other cultivators and the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples. Yin Fan felt as though a warm current had arisen in his chest. This peculiar feeling unsettled him, yet he willingly sank into it.
Seeing the protagonist slightly lost in thought, thinking who knew what, Wu Fei's lips curved almost imperceptibly. He raised his hand and placed the mask over the Demon Venerable's handsome, refined face.
With the white mask set against Yin Fan's somewhat bewildered eyes as he came back to himself, Wu Fei's lips curved into a very faint smile. He looked him over briefly and said, "A perfect fit."