Appreciating New Tea with an Inkstone - Chapter 53

Yuheng frowned as he watched Gu Xiyan locked in a fierce battle with Jiuxuan, but he didn’t want to dwell on it. Instead, he cast a glance at Yuxi, his eyes filled with unbearable pain. Right now, his only goal was to eliminate all these demons.

With a tremor of his sword, he immediately changed direction, thrusting toward the demons fighting against the disciples of Dongzhou. Chaos erupted in an instant. Humans and demons were split into three factions: the disciples of Dongzhou, Jiuxuan’s subordinates, and the demons led by Mujin, including Qingwu.

The disciples of the Fifth Peak hesitated as they observed the chaotic battle. Many of them had followed Gu Xiyan down the mountain to exterminate demons, and in their hearts, they did not fully believe that she would betray her shizun and sect. However, bound by Yuheng’s orders, they found themselves caught in a dilemma. Liang Jin glanced at Han Dan and whispered, “Han Dan-shixiong?”

Han Dan’s eyes lowered slightly. “I trust her. Let’s help them.” With that, he brandished his sword and flew straight to the mint demon’s side, dispersing a demon attack aimed at her.

The mint demon shuddered in fear upon seeing him, her eyes full of wariness. Yet the cold-faced man only cast her a brief glance before immediately striking down the demons surrounding her. She was momentarily stunned.

As soon as Han Dan took action, Liang Jin and the others hesitated for a moment before following suit, joining forces with Qingwu’s group to fend off the enemy.

With them protecting the area, the disciples of Dongzhou who had initially planned to attack froze in confusion, unsure of whether they should act. Left with no other choice, they redirected their efforts against Jiuxuan’s demons, allowing Qingwu and the others a chance to retreat to the outskirts.

Meanwhile, Yuheng was locked in a heated battle with two powerful demons under Jiuxuan’s command. Catching a glimpse of the unfolding scene, his fury ignited. “Han Dan! Are you openly shielding demons?!”

Handan’s brow furrowed, but his hands did not stop moving. “Shibo, I trust Shijie. Even if she isn’t rescuing us, the enemy of our enemy is still our ally.”

“Insolence! Utter insolence!” Yuheng roared in rage, but he was unable to stop Han Dan and the others.

Gu Xiyan was struggling against Jiuxuan, barely holding her ground. Yet, she heard every word of their conversation loud and clear. The suffocating weight in her heart vanished completely. Though blood trickled from the corner of her lips, she couldn’t help but smile. In a soft voice, she murmured, “You wish to drive me into despair, but you’ve never succeeded. Even now, there are still people willing to stand by me. That means everything I’ve done has been worthwhile—more than I even expected.”

Jiuxuan’s facial muscles twitched slightly, his eyes dark and cold. He had never intended to let Gu Xiyan go, but the outcome not aligning with his expectations frustrated him. Looking at the person before him—someone who clearly knew death was imminent yet remained so calm—his fury grew. He longed to see this so-called Divine Lord, who always carried herself as a savior, fall into the depths of hell.

He had been thrilled to hear of her soul’s destruction, only to find that her life was far more resilient than expected. The Three Realms all believed she was dead, yet she had evaded reincarnation and become a mere mortal. Once, he had been defeated by her. Now, she was nothing more than an insignificant insect—so why did she still dare to act as though she was above him?

“Heh, Gu Xiyan,” Jiuxuan sneered, his voice dripping with malice. “A thousand years ago, you were allowed to live. But you will die now and disappear from existence forever. You will never have another chance at reincarnation. Tell me, what gives you the confidence to remain so calm?”

With that, he swept his sleeves wide, his demonic power surging around him. With a thunderous shout, he unleashed his might, causing the very heavens and earth to tremble. His vast sleeves whipped through the air, striking down toward Gu Xiyan.

“My lady!” The sudden change stunned everyone. Mujin, seeing the attack, immediately abandoned her opponent and rushed toward her.

“Don’t come any closer!” Gu Xiyan shouted. She gripped her sword tightly, pushing her body to its limits. The demon core given to her by Ye Qinming long ago was now fully activated, its power surging through her. White spiritual energy interwoven with an overwhelming demonic force flooded her sword, enveloping the blade in a brilliant aura. With a furrowed brow, she raised her sword and met the attack head-on.

The clash of their energies caused Jiuxuan’s expression to shift. He gritted his teeth, increasing the pressure. This woman—she was truly monstrous. That demonic power… Was it from a demon core?

With a furious roar, he unleashed a crushing force, like a mountain crashing down upon Gu Xiyan. The webbing between her fingers tore open, and blood dripped down her wrists. The sword in her grip trembled violently, letting out a sorrowful hum.

Gu Xiyan’s pale face turned red with exertion. Clenching her teeth, she shouted, “Everyone, fall back!”

The combatants below had already been cursing her for using demonic power, calling for her execution. But upon hearing her command and seeing the scene before them, panic overtook them, and they hastily withdrew, dispersing in all directions.

Gu Xiyan gritted her teeth, enduring the pressure. Finally, her sword bent beyond recovery. With a loud clang, it snapped in two. The resulting explosion sent shockwaves crashing to the ground.

A tremendous force struck Gu Xiyan in the chest, pain engulfing her as though her entire body was being torn apart. It felt as if her organs were about to be crushed. She coughed up several mouthfuls of blood before being violently thrown into the air.

This time, Jiuxuan had no intention of playing games anymore. He had to admit that even as a mortal, Gu Xiyan still posed a threat to him. Although her cultivation had only partially recovered, if he could refine her power, it would be enough for him to reestablish his place in the Three Realms.

His eyes burned with greed as he conjured a ball of demonic energy in his right hand, launching it toward the severely wounded Gu Xiyan. His figure moved swiftly, closing in. He was elated.

For thirteen hundred years, he had suffered. He had been tortured in a hellish abyss for a thousand years, then wandered the human world like a forsaken ghost for several hundred more. Now, at long last, he had a chance to regain his true form and reclaim his life.

Gu Xiyan had no strength left. Her battle with Jiuxuan had exhausted every last drop of her spiritual energy. The moment her sword had broken, nearly half of the force had slammed directly into her.

She could sense Jiuxuan’s killing blow approaching, but she no longer had the strength to resist.

She was in a daze, and amidst the intense physical pain, another ache emerged—an inexplicable, deeper pain spreading from her heart, tighter and harder to endure. She couldn’t quite understand it. Her bond with Ye Qinming had lasted only a year, yet she had inexplicably fallen for her. Now, eight years later, those feelings hadn’t faded.

She closed her eyes and sighed softly. Ye Qinming, you wanted me to become an immortal, but I failed. Our parting back then—was it truly the last time we would ever meet?

Mujin was entangled by two demons. Seeing Gu Xiyan about to be struck by Jiuxuan, she flew into a rage. With a furious roar, her entire aura transformed into black energy, a pair of black horns sprouting from her forehead, and her eyes turned blood-red. In the next moment, she shifted into her beast form, shredding the demons that held her captive and leaping through the air toward Gu Xiyan.

“Devil! Devil!” Amid the chaos, the terrified cries rang out clearly—but Gu Xiyan could no longer hear them.

At that very moment, a streak of emerald light shot across the sky from the breach in the Demon Realm’s barrier, heading straight for Gu Xiyan.

Dazed and barely conscious, Gu Xiyan no longer felt the pain. Instead, she suddenly fell into a warm embrace. The figure holding her was damp with mist from the clouds, yet the touch was soft, carrying a scent she recognized to the core. She tensed slightly, thinking she must be hallucinating.

The person holding her radiated an overwhelming aura, and with a mere wave of their hand, they shattered Jiuxuan’s killing blow. Then, that all-too-familiar voice rang in her ears.

“Gu Xiyan, didn’t I tell you to become an immortal? How did you end up in such a sorry state?”

Her chest burned with pain, but Gu Xiyan couldn’t help but laugh softly. The slight tremor caused her to cough up the blood she had been struggling to suppress.

When Ye Qinming saw the blood, her expression changed. She instinctively loosened her grip, only to hold her tighter the next moment. “Gu Xiyan, how are you?”

She opened her mouth and, with effort, whispered, “I… I thought I would never see you again.”

A sharp pang twisted Ye Qinming’s heart, but she forced herself to sound cold and indifferent. “You weren’t supposed to see me. And isn’t that still the case?”

At that, Gu Xiyan couldn’t hold back any longer and burst into quiet laughter, only to cough up another mouthful of blood. Alarmed, Ye Qinming immediately channeled spiritual energy into her, only to discover that her body was in a disastrous state—her internal organs severely damaged.

Her teeth clenched as she lifted her gaze to the relentless Jiuxuan, who was still attacking. Fury blazed in her heart, and her expression turned icy. “You dare hurt her—you must have a death wish!”

Jiuxuan watched helplessly as this newcomer effortlessly nullified his strongest blow. His hatred flared even hotter. Damn it! This person was clearly from the Demon Clan—why did she keep interfering to save a reincarnated deity? And her power… It was terrifying. Someone of this level had to be a major figure in the Demon Realm—but who? Ever since waking from the void, Jiuxuan had only one clear memory—Gu Xiyan. Everything else was a blur.

“Why must you oppose me?” he snarled. “She’s a deity reborn—the greatest enemy of the Demon Realm. Why are you protecting her?”

Ye Qinming glanced down at Gu Xiyan, pale and bloodied in her arms, her white robes stained crimson, barely clinging to life. Her eyes turned frighteningly cold.

“I don’t care who you are. As long as I’m here, you won’t touch a single hair on her head. You hurt her—now you pay the price.”

With Gu Xiyan cradled in one arm, Ye Qinming swept her emerald sword across the air. Waves of energy surged forth, tearing through the sky, the violent storm engulfing Jiuxuan. Everything in the path—people, demons—was sent flying.

Ye Qinming’s heart ached with fury. This strike showed no mercy, and those caught in the blast scattered like leaves in the wind. At the epicenter, Jiuxuan’s earlier arrogance vanished. He realized, too late, that Ye Qinming was far beyond his power. Even as he poured everything into defending himself, he turned pale under the onslaught.

The sudden turn of events shocked Yuheng as well. When he recognized Ye Qinming, his expression darkened. Seeing such a powerful demon holding Gu Xiyan so intimately erased any doubts—he was now certain she had betrayed them.

Meanwhile, Jiuxuan was seething. No matter how he fought back, Ye Qinming overwhelmed him. A slash of sword energy tore through his abdomen, leaving a deep gash. He coughed up blood, his headpiece sliced away, long hair falling loose in utter disarray.

Only when Jiuxuan was beaten into such a pitiful state did Ye Qinming finally stop. Sensing the danger, Jiuxuan staggered backward, attempting to flee. But Ye Qinming’s palm ignited with spiritual energy, her sword trembling in the air.

Her gaze sharpened as she flicked her wrist—the sword flew toward Jiuxuan, piercing through his defenses and pinning him to the ground!

The sheer power of that strike sent shockwaves through the battlefield. The demons who had been resisting froze in place, and even the disciples of Dongzhou stood rooted to the ground, staring in stunned silence at the woman who had appeared out of nowhere and effortlessly slaughtered Jiuxuan.

Without sparing them a glance, Ye Qinming only cast a cold look at Jiuxuan’s lifeless body. She reached out and seized the remnants of his shattered soul, frowning briefly before crushing it mercilessly in her palm. Lowering her gaze to Gu Xiyan, she gently brushed a few strands of hair from her temple with her fingertips and called softly, “Xiyan?”

The tension that had held Gu Xiyan rigid eased the moment she confirmed Ye Qinming’s presence. But she was so gravely injured that her consciousness was already fading. When Ye Qinming spoke, her eyelashes fluttered slightly, yet she remained unable to open her eyes.

Among those present, Mujin was the first to move. She leaped forward and landed in front of Ye Qinming, her blood-red eyes locking onto Gu Xiyan. Despite her fierce and terrifying appearance, her gaze was filled with obvious worry.

Ye Qinming narrowed her eyes. “A devil?”

Mujin let out a low growl before shifting back into her human form. “Who are you? Give my lady back to me.”

“Your lady?” Ye Qinming lowered her gaze to Gu Xiyan again, something flickering in her thoughts. After a brief pause, she motioned for Mujin to come closer and said softly, “Come here. I’m her… friend. I won’t harm her.”

Recognizing that this woman had saved Gu Xiyan, Mujin hesitated only for a moment before stepping forward cautiously, though still on guard.

“Who are you, barging into the Mortal Realm like this?” Yuheng forced himself to remain composed despite the chill in his heart. Given that Ye Qinming had slain Jiuxuan, perhaps there was still a glimmer of hope.

Ye Qinming spared him a brief glance—she remembered him. The urgency of the situation earlier had left her no time to pay attention to the others, but now a quick scan of the scene revealed that something was clearly amiss.

Ignoring his question, she turned to Mujin and asked, “Explain—what’s going on here?”

Her tone was calm, but beneath the surface lay a dangerous undercurrent. Mujin could sense it, even though the woman’s demeanor seemed mild. But one thing was clear—she genuinely cared about Gu Xiyan.

Without hesitation, Mujin began to recount what had happened: how Gu Xiyan had been framed, how Jiuxuan had relentlessly pursued her, and how these people accused her of colluding with demons and betraying her sect. Her words dripped with disdain for the ungrateful mortals who had turned on her lady.

By the time Mujin finished, Yuheng and the others stood red-faced with shame. Still, Yuheng gritted his teeth and snapped, “Her secret dealings with demons are undeniable. We saw my shidi die with our own eyes, and my senior disciple was killed by her—these are undeniable facts. Gu Xiyan is a traitor to Dongzhou and must be executed.”

Ye Qinming cast a cold, sidelong glance at him. “She deserves to die?”

She passed Gu Xiyan into Mujin’s arms, preparing to withdraw her hand—but found her sleeve clutched tightly by Gu Xiyan. The icy edge in her expression softened instantly. “Let go for now—I’ll be back soon.”

Seeing Gu Xiyan in such a fragile state made Ye Qinming’s heart ache. From Mujin’s account, she could already imagine how much Gu Xiyan had suffered.

“You asked who I am—then I’ll tell you. I am also a demon. I have no interest in your Mortal Realm. But her—whether she’s human or demon—no one will touch her. And from now on, I had better not hear anyone accuse her of killing her shizun. Otherwise…”

With a swift strike of her palm against the ground, the earth trembled beneath their feet. Everyone staggered backward, unable to suppress the fear rising in their hearts.

Yuheng seethed with resentment over Yuxi’s death but dared not speak further—Ye Qinming’s overwhelming power left him powerless.

Noting his expression, Ye Qinming turned back to Gu Xiyan and leaned down, her voice gentler. “Xiyan, tell me—what happened?”

Gu Xiyan’s eyelashes trembled again, pain flickering across her face. With effort, she whispered, “Han… Wenshan ambushed my shizun… I… I couldn’t protect him.”

A tremor passed through Ye Qinming’s eyes, and her heart clenched with pain. “It’s not your fault.” Her gaze swept across the gathered demons, and her voice rang out, cold and commanding, “All demons, withdraw from Ying City immediately. Do not harm a single innocent citizen. Any who disobey will die. Elder Yuxi of Dongzhou’s Five Peaks was killed by Jiuxuan and Han Wenshan. Any Dongzhou disciple who dares accuse Gu Xiyan again will die. She is kind-hearted and has protected you mortals. But if any of you, out of ignorance and ingratitude, dare to slander her again, you will die!”

She bent down, lifting Gu Xiyan from Mujin’s arms and holding her close. Her words, laced with chilling intent, echoed far and wide. No one—whether demon or human—dared to speak. Many lowered their heads in fear, faces pale as death.

Hearing those words, Gu Xiyan closed her eyes tightly, allowing herself to slip into unconsciousness. She was exhausted—but for the first time in a long while, she felt at ease.

Ye Qinming’s brow furrowed deeply as she turned her gaze toward Yuxi’s bloodied, lifeless form. Her heart sank under the weight of sorrow as she whispered, “I’m sorry—I was too late again.”

Author’s Note:
Here she comes, here she comes—bringing her “leaves” along!

Some readers said they’re running low on water and carbon dioxide.

Well, you provide the carbon dioxide. As for water—there’s no shortage of it, with the white lotus being all watery and the green tea brimming with juice! 🌱💧