Conquering That Great Demon Lord [Xian Ni Fan Fiction] - Chapter 42: Retrieval

Chapter 42: Retrieval

It had been some time since Xiao Ling heard her play the zither. Whenever it wanted to listen, it would sit on the zither platform. When Li Muwan noticed it sitting there in a daze, she would take out her zither from the Storage Bag and play facing the valley. Occasionally, faint melodies would drift through the mountain gates of the Azure Water Sect.

Spring passed and autumn cameLi Muwan spent fifty years in that valley.

Fifty years later, Wang Lin returned to Vermilion Bird Star from the Immortal Realm of Rain, having gained much from his journey there. In the pool outside Tiger-shaped Mountain, he had gathered many Immortal Herbs for Li Muwan.

Yet in distant Chu Kingdom, there was still no news of her from one of the mountain sects. Wang Lin rushed back from the Sea of Demonic Cultivation to Cloud Heaven Sect, deliberately buying gifts for Li Muwan along the way. Over several days, he purchased eight Rank Six Pill Formulas.

Holding these pill formulas, he felt both anticipation and fear. Last time she had left without saying goodbyewould she still be there when he returned to Cloud Heaven Sect?

Wang Lin wasn’t certain, though he carried a thread of hope. Over the years, Cloud Heaven Sect had secretly been searching for their sect leader’s whereabouts. After all, the Soul Blood of every disciple in the sect remained in the missing Li Muwan’s possession.

The Southern Garden, aside from occasional cleanings by Zhou Lin, had seen no other visitors all these years. Wang Lin gazed at the familiar courtyard scenery and the chambers within the pavilioneverything remained exactly as before.

The only difference was her absence.

Zhou Lin observed Wang Lin, whose Cultivation level had advanced yet again, and couldn’t help but marvel at his rapid progress, though words failed him.

“The Grand Ancestor has been sending people out all these years to search for our master’s whereabouts, but nothing has been found.”

Wang Lin’s fingertips brushed across the old zither platform, now coated in a thin layer of dust, as if caressing the shadow of her presence.

“So many years have passed.” Wang Lin’s gaze grew distant, condensing years of longing from the Immortal Realm of Rain into an invisible mist of moisture. “Why have you been avoiding me for so long?”

“Wan’er, are you truly so heartless as to never see me again in this lifetime?”

Wang Lin still remembered how, on the eve of his previous departure from Zhao Kingdom, Li Muwan had embraced him, promising to wait for his return here, no matter how long it took.

Thus, after slaughtering all his lifelong enemies, he could recklessly proceed to mortal transformation to enhance his Cultivation level, preparing everything before planning to reunite with her at Cloud Heaven Sect.

He had thought she would always be there, but after that night of tenderness, there came no further news of her.

During his years in the Immortal Realm of Rain, amidst life-and-death escapes and killing for treasure, he had pondered countless timeseven if her drunken words were true, he could overlook it all. He only needed her to return, to see her again.

After several days of secluded meditation at Cloud Heaven Sect to regulate his breathing, Wang Lin knew it was time to retrieve Li Muwan.

Once recovered, he didn’t linger. He embarked on the perilous journey to find Li Muwan, traversing the Sea of Demonic Cultivation and seeking countless ancient teleportation arrays.

He traveled tens of thousands of miles across Vermilion Bird Star, searched through thousands of countries, and spent decadesyet there remained no trace of her.

Wang Lin fell into despair. The accumulated longing over the years eventually transformed into malice, and the intertwining of love and hatred made him grow increasingly frenzied.

In a city of Tian Shu Kingdom, Wang Lin wandered aimlessly through the streets, his white robes fluttering in the wind, silver hair drifting before his forehead. This marketplace bore striking resemblance to the scene where he and Li Muwan had once traded for a zither.

Memories surfaced, emotions welled up. Wang Lin chose a tea stall to sit, overhearing conversations from several resting Cultivators nearby.

“Recently, Azure Water Sect has been widely inviting Cultivators from various sects across Tian Shu Kingdom to attend their dao lectures. Fellow daoists, have any of you received invitations from your sects?”

“We’ve received it. This Guest Elder of the Azure Water Sect is said to be a sixth-grade pill master who primarily teaches Pill Crafting. The spots are limited, and even within the sect, one must pass qualifications to attend the lectures at Azure Water Sect. We barely managed to obtain this precious invitation after overcoming numerous assessments.”

“I heard this Guest Elder possesses peerless beauty and has made remarkable progress in Pill Crafting, though it’s a pity she’s only at the Core Formation Stage.”

“That’s not the most astonishing part. What’s truly astonishing is that she’s constantly accompanied by a strange-looking Demon Beast. Anyone trying to get close to her gets scared off by it.”

Wang Lin listened to their description, forming a mental image of the person they spoke of. After a moment of contemplation, he approached them and cupped his hands in greeting. “May I ask, fellow cultivators, what is the name of this Guest Elder you speak of?”

The conversing cultivators were interrupted by Wang Lin’s inquiry. Though he had concealed his cultivation level, his striking presence still drew their scrutiny.

“No one knows the name of that Core Formation Stage elder. The disciples of Azure Water Sect only respectfully address her as Guest Elder.”

Suppressing his urgency, Wang Lin asked, “Then do you know where she came from?”

“What? Are you also interested in pill crafting techniques?”

Wang Lin tacitly acknowledged.

“Only those who obtain the sect’s invitation can enter Azure Water Sect to attend her Pill Crafting lectures. If you’re merely a rogue cultivator, I’m afraid there’s no hope in this lifetime.” The speaker’s tone was regretful as he shook his head and fell silent.

“Why?”

“Rumor has it the young master of Azure Water Sect intends to form a marriage alliance with that Guest Elder.”

Suddenly, Wang Lin clenched his fist, spiritual power fluctuating around him as an undetectable killing intent emerged. For some reason, hearing the description made him sense that this person was exactly who he had in mind.

Wang Lin probed further, “You mentioned earlier that this Guest Elder is accustomed to solitude. If Azure Water Sect wants to arrange a marriage, their goal is likely to keep her permanently in the sect. Is she willing?”

“That remains unknown. However, Azure Water Sect disciples say the elder treats the young master quite well. The young master is young, exceptionally handsome, and knows how to amuse. The Guest Elder has lived for centuries with only a Demon Beast accompanying her for a hundred years. After all, loneliness is hard to endure. Wouldn’t having a young husband by her side be a delightful affair?” One of the cultivators laughed heartily.

A century had passed, yet fate seemed to repeat itself. If it truly was her, a bitter smile touched Wang Lin’s lips.

“Wan’er, have you forgotten? Your husband is me, Wang Lin.” A fierce light gleamed in his eyes.

“Fellow cultivators, are you heading to Azure Water Sect to attend the Guest Elder’s lecture?”

The cultivators raised their heads proudly, displaying the jade slips that served as Azure Water Sect’s invitations. “Indeed.”

Wang Lin lowered his gaze, a red light flashing in his narrow eyes as he marked the group.

“Thank you for clearing my doubts. Farewell.”

After leaving the market, the group remained exhilarated at the prospect of meeting the legendary sixth-grade pill master. Their laughter echoed through the air as they rode their flying swords, unaware that a cold gaze had been tracking them since their departure from the market.

Three days later, in a tranquil courtyard of Azure Water Sect, Li Muwan sat on the high platform with closed eyes, awaiting the students’ seating. Among the crowd, countless eyes scrutinized the woman on the platform, whose beauty was beyond comparison.

A pair of profound eyes pierced through the crowd, settling on Li Muwan meditating on the high platform. Upon recognizing the familiar face and figure, his entire being grew intensely restless, crushing the bitterness of years of searching into sheer ferocity.

It was her!

“Wan’er, it really is you.”

Li Muwan lifted her eyelids and gazed out at the gathering of cultivators. Amid the crowd, she maintained an aura of detached composure, yet detected an unusual fluctuation of Spiritual Power that others couldn’t perceive. Though vaguely unsettled, she couldn’t pinpoint the source of this feeling.

In an instant, she dismissed these distracting thoughts. Perhaps her recent physical decline was causing this restlessness. After concluding this Pill Crafting lecture, she would need to retreat to the warm springs for recuperation and enter seclusion for several days.

Her contemplation was interrupted by a youthful voice. The speaker was a bright-eyed youth in his capping years, radiating youthful vigor and open-hearted charm. To Li Muwan, he was merely an energetic child.

This was none other than Tang Heng, young master of the Bihua Sect.

“Sister,” Tang Heng smiled as he settled on the cushion beside Li Muwan, “I successfully refined the Wuji Elixir following the pill formula you taught last time. What elixir will you be teaching today?”

“You have talent for pill refining. With continued dedication to research, you’re bound to achieve great success,” Li Muwan replied with gentle expression.

“Elder, Elder! I’ve also succeeded in refining…”

Several disciples swarmed forward, surrounding Li Muwan until she was completely obscured from view. Just as Wang Lin considered using his Divine Sense to push them away, Xiao Ling appeared from the peach branch, baring teeth to scare off the crowd.

Tang Heng remained unfazed. While others retreated several zhang away, he alone dared to stare directly at Xiao Ling. Having understood the creature’s temperament, he knew it wouldn’t kill or injure anyone without Li Muwan’s command. The demonstration pills Li Muwan refined during her lectures were casually given to it as treats – a mere Demon Beast enjoying elixirs as snacks, enough to make others green with envy.

“Xiao Ling, scaring people again,” Tang Heng poked its wing. Unwilling to be touched, Xiao Ling circled around to stand behind Li Muwan, fluttering its wings twice to signal Tang Heng to step back.

With no other choice, Tang Heng retreated several steps.

As sunset approached and Li Muwan’s Pill Crafting lecture concluded, disciples lingered to consult her about problems encountered during pill refinement, each receiving thorough answers.

Among the seated crowd, one person remained perfectly still, their gaze never wavering.

When most disciples had received their answers and were departing in small groups, Wang Lin – who had stolen another disciple’s Jade Slip identity – remained with concealed appearance and voice.

“May I ask, Elder, what should be done if the Pill Furnace breaks?”

In the art of pill refining, controlling Earth Fire intensity was most fundamental. These cultivators had been meticulously selected by their sects to study pill techniques at the Azure Water Sect, and they couldn’t suppress their laughter at such a basic question, their mockery echoing through the branches.

Though she couldn’t see the speaker, Li Muwan patiently explained: “If the Pill Furnace breaks, it must be because your internal Spiritual Power surged too rapidly, making you unable to control the Earth Fire intensity. You simply need to regulate the Earth Fire’s strength…”

Mid-sentence, she suddenly found the scene strangely familiar. Her eyes searched for the source of the voice.

When she looked up, the person stood before her. Both appearance and voice were unfamiliar, yet the expression and aura made her momentarily illusionary. In the blink of an eye, she seemed to clearly see the person’s true features.

Wang Lin hadn’t yet resumed his original appearance, but Li Muwan’s heart sank as if confirming something. The person she longed to see yet dared not face had finally appeared before her after a century.

Li Muwan instinctively wanted to flee, yet remained perfectly clear-headed: Wang Lin’s presence here couldn’t possibly be coincidental.

Wang Lin, who had remained still for a long time, instantly reverted to his original formwhite robes and silver hair, the very image of a refined and gentle scholar. With a jade-like warmth, he cast her a teasing smile and murmured, “Wan’er, do you still wish to run?”

Though his voice was nearly inaudible, Li Muwan felt it thunder in her ears.

Her mind reeled. Disregarding everything else, the figure on the platform vanished in an instant, leaving only a faint afterimage. Tang Heng and the other disciples stood frozen, having never seen Li Muwan in such a frantic state.

Wang Lin followed at a leisurely pace. From the Azure Water Sect to the valley cottage in the back mountains, Restrictions had been laid everywhere. Yet, to Wang Lin, breaking through Li Muwan’s Restrictions was effortless. With nowhere left to flee, she could only return to the cottage.

Above the valley cottage, Wang Lin paused before Li Muwan’s Restriction, in no hurry to dismantle it. He gazed down at the valleywas this where she had lived for a century?

“Wan’er, you know I am here.”

“Why do you still hide from me?”

His voice drifted gently into the cottage. Inside, Li Muwan sat before her dressing table, supporting herself with her hands, her heart in turmoil. She longed to escape but had no path forward. She needed to devise a way to explain herself to this Fiend, to placate his anger.

Neither the Soul Pearl nor the Soul Blood showed any reaction. She knew the Wang Lin before her was merely a Clone.

“If you refuse to see me, I will reduce the Azure Water Sect to rubble.” Wang Lin’s voice shook the heavens.

Li Muwan hesitated upon hearing his words, his threat undeniably terrifying. The cottage remained silent, and her lack of response only fueled Wang Lin’s growing frenzy.

“True Body!”

With a low roar, immense power surged from Wang Lin, tearing through the valley floor. Drawn by the commotion, Li Muwan moved to the window and peered through a crack. In the clouds above, she saw Wang Lin’s red-haired Ancient God True Body merge with his silver-haired Clone, multiple Restrictions encircling the valley.

Tang Heng, who had witnessed Li Muwan’s abrupt departure from the Azure Water Sect, grew concerned and followed her to the valley cottage. There, he saw an unfamiliar figure hovering mid-air, surrounded by such intense Spiritual Power that no one could approach.

Surveying the empty cottage below, Tang Heng cupped his hands toward Wang Lin from a distance. “Senior, have you also come to pay respects to Elder Sister?”

The memory of Tang Heng’s earlier closeness to Li Muwan on the platform ignited Wang Lin’s fury. His red hair lifted, swirling with intangible killing intent.

Raising a hand, Wang Lin exerted his divine will, and with a mere gesture, Tang Heng was dragged through the air into his grasp. Bone-white fingers clamped ruthlessly around Tang Heng’s throat; one more ounce of pressure would snap it. Tang Heng gasped for air, suffocating.

“Se-Senior? We… we have no grievance… no enmity… why…?” The man before him had blood-red pupils and blood trickling from his lips. The sky darkened abruptly, and baleful energy coalesced into a longsword hovering above the Azure Water Sect.

“The Azure Water Sect dared to coerce my Wan’er. Today, I shall erase it from the Tian Shu Kingdom.” The baleful sword shattered the sect’s protective mountain array.

The aftershocks reverberated through the valley. Wang Lin was capable of such destructionhe could annihilate the Mountain Sea Sect with a mere thought, let alone the Azure Water Sect.

By now, several Nascent Soul Formation and Core Formation Stage Cultivators from the Azure Water Sect had rushed toward the source of the Spiritual Power fluctuations, only to find their young master Tang Heng gripped in Wang Lin’s palm.

“Fellow Daoist, for what reason have you broken our protective array? Has our young master offended you?”

Wang Lin remained silent.

The Grand Ancestors exchanged glances, noting that his gaze remained fixed on Li Muwan’s cottage, never once turning to acknowledge them.

“Fellow Daoist, have you come seeking fame, wishing to attend the Pill Crafting lecture of Azure Water Sect’s Guest Elder?”

Wang Lin let out a light scoff. “Azure Water Sect coerced my wife into teaching your sect Pill Crafting for a century, even demanding she form a cultivation partnership with your young master to consolidate the sect’s reputation. You call this without cause?”

Suddenly, his Divine Sense stirred as a murderous light-sword shot toward several Nascent Soul Grand Ancestors. His mid-stage Spirit Transformation cultivation level was unfathomable, leaving the Grand Ancestors utterly powerless to resist. Immediately after, Wang Lin launched a Restriction attack toward the mountain gate, reducing the majestic structure to rubble in an instant.

“Young friend,” the Grand Ancestors urgently explained, “This is a misunderstanding. We never coerced anyone.”

Wang Lin withdrew his Spiritual Power. “Is that so? How will you prove it?”

The very Nascent Soul cultivator who had invited Li Muwan to join the sect all those years ago was present. Seeing the situation, he stepped forward. “Senior, the Guest Elder joined our sect voluntarily to teach Pill Crafting. If you don’t believe us, you can have her come out and confront us directly.”

Wang Lin smiled bitterly, knowing Li Muwan could hear everything. “Wan’er, are you still unwilling to see me?”

“If you don’t appear today, I will make Azure Water Sect pay in blood for all these years of separation that have tormented us as husband and wife.” Spiritual Power descended like a tidal wave, nearly sucking Tang Heng’s soul from his body.

The door to the main room in the small courtyard burst open, revealing a graceful figure standing under the eaves. Her cloud-like hair was lightly veiled like cicada wings, her delicate eyebrows resembling spring mountains, her complexion as pale as pear blossoms bathed in rain, her beauty like peach petals dancing in the wind.

A single glance felt like ten thousand years.

Wang Lin’s gaze deeply settled upon her, then a cunning smile appeared at the corner of his lips. “Has Wan’er finally decided to see me?”

“Wang Lin, this matter has nothing to do with Azure Water Sect. Release them.” Li Muwan waved her sleeve, withdrawing the Restriction.

Crimson hair stretched through the air toward Li Muwan as Wang Lin released Tang Heng’s neck.

“Scram.” The heartless voice echoed through the valley.

The crowd instantly vanished beyond the valley. Looking at the broken walls and ruins within Azure Water Sect, the Grand Ancestors felt fortunate to have escaped with their lives.

“We thought having a sixth-grade alchemist presiding over our sect would make us famous throughout Tian Shu Kingdom, never expecting it would bring such calamity.”

From what they learned from Wang Lin, the two were husband and wife. With Li Muwan having such a cultivation partner, Azure Water Sect wouldn’t dare scheme against her again.

Tang Heng, simple-minded and still delusional, said, “Since Elder Sister has been hiding from this person unwilling to meet him, it shows their relationship has broken. Grand Ancestors, about my marriage with Elder Sister…”

The Grand Ancestors were furious at his foolishness. “If you want the sect to remain safe and keep your life, never mention this matter again.”

Silence fell over the valley courtyard.

“W-Wang Lin…” Li Muwan’s arms were tightly bound by the crimson hair, fear shining in her eyes.

“When you left Cloud Heaven Sect without word a century ago, do you know how long I searched for you?” Wang Lin’s voice choked up, his blood-red eyes becoming moist.

A large hand seized Li Muwan’s slender neck, pulling her close until they were almost touching.

This face – the countenance he had dreamed of countless times day and night – now appeared before him.

But in her starry eyes, Wang Lin saw no mutual deep affection, only fear.

This realization stimulated him to greater frenzy. Li Muwan could barely make a sound. After a century apart, the Fiend had grown even more mad. Her originally peaceful life had been shattered, and she had prepared herself for death. But the moment she closed her eyes, her lips felt a long-lost warmth.

The person before her was kissing her passionately, forgetting everything else. Li Muwan’s body went limp, collapsing weakly into his hair.

Without waiting for any response from her, Wang Lin kissed her until he was satisfied, then the large hand on her neck moved to her cheek, pinching her small face until it turned crimson.
“I heard the Azure Water Sect’s Guest Elder is to marry the young sect master?” Wang Lin’s voice was icy, his breath sweeping over her face. “Wan’er, have you forgotten we are already husband and wife?”

“N-no, it’s not true,” Li Muwan hurriedly explained. “It was merely that child’s playful words.”

“Then do you still remember there exists someone like me, Wang Lin?” Wang Lin’s eyes were bloodshot, with unfathomable desire and emotion forming a bottomless vortex that consumed him.

Together with that delicate frame, he had repeatedly dragged her into the abyss.

“I remember.” Mist veiled her eyes, evoking pity in any who saw her.

Still the same appearanceunconsciously alluring. Wang Lin cupped her face and buried it against his chest. “Wan’er, don’t run away anymore.”

“Even to the ends of the earth, I would find you,” Wang Lin murmured to himself.

Li Muwan was trapped too tightly to make a sound. “If Wan’er dares to run again, I will make the Azure Water Sect, and even the entire Tian Shu Kingdom, run with rivers of blood.”

Her body trembled as she struggled to form words, her voice shaking. “S-Senior Brother, Wan’er won’t leave.”

Wang Lin caressed her cheek, examining it repeatedly, then embraced her again as if admiring a pet. “Wan’er isn’t lying to me?”

The familiar contours were there, yet the Wang Lin before her now felt utterly alien. How had he become so morbid?

Her robes were long beyond recognition, her long hair tangled around her completely exposed body like a crimson wedding gown. She pleaded pitifully, “Wan’er, show me some tenderness, won’t you?”