Chapter 108: Will You Come?

Mist Marsh, just as its name suggests, is shrouded in dense, grayish-white fog all year round.

The air is filled with miasma, mud sprawls everywhere, and twisted monstrous trees claw at the sky; ordinary living creatures have long since vanished from this place.

Here, space itself appears unstable and folded, with distorted flashes of light flickering from time to time, as if connecting to unknown realms.

Deep within this forbidden zone of life, an Ancient Altar lies hidden.

The altar is built from massive, weathered, bluish-gray stones, crawling with slick moss and deep purple vines.

The carved runes are already blurred beyond recognition, with only faint, ancient, and obscure energy fluctuations lingering.

This is the “elopement” place chosen by Nongli.

At the center of the altar, a small clean area had been cleared.

Qing Mu sat cross-legged on a broken stone seat, eyes closed in meditation, channeling the Soul Qi Method.

This method, obtained from Benji, was indeed mysterious—especially in such a space-warped land, where it seemed even easier to perceive a force beyond ordinary spiritual energy, something that touched upon the origin of soul and existence itself.

He needed to master it as quickly as possible; it was one of the keys to facing Yue Qi.

Nongli, meanwhile, flitted about like a busy and happy little bee, darting in and out of the grand, empty altar.

She carefully dispelled the most poisonous miasma nearby, constructed a simple purification barrier with her demonic power, and somehow managed to pick some oddly colored berries—tenaciously thriving in the marsh.

She placed them on a broad leaf and set them next to Qing Mu.

Watching Qing Mu’s profile as he quietly cultivated, her red eyes brimmed with happiness and satisfaction that almost overflowed.

There were no bothersome Demon King council meetings here, no vicious gossip, just her and her master.

Though the environment was harsh, to her, it was like a paradise outside the world.

“Master, are you hungry? Try this fruit—it looks strange, but it’s really sweet!” she whispered, sidling up to Qing Mu for fear of disturbing him.

Qing Mu slowly opened his eyes and glanced at the colorful berries in her hand, which truly did not look edible at all.

He paused for a moment, but still reached out, took one, and put it in his mouth.

An indescribable flavor, a mix of sour, astringent, and oddly cloying sweetness, exploded across his tongue, making his brow twitch ever so slightly.

“How is it?” Nongli looked at him expectantly.

“…It’s acceptable.” Qing Mu swallowed it down without a change of expression.

Nongli’s face immediately broke into a wide smile, and she happily picked up a berry herself, savoring it as if it were the most delicious thing in the world.

Seeing her so completely trusting, lost in a false happiness, Qing Mu felt a pang of guilt, but quickly forced it down.

He had to help Nongli adapt to the real world as soon as possible—and get her to stand with him against Yue Qi.

“Nongli,” he spoke, his voice echoing low in the empty altar, “if… I mean, if I had to leave, to go to a… very different place…”

Nongli’s hand froze, and she looked at him in fright, “Leave? Go where? Isn’t it good here?”

“It is good here,” Qing Mu chose his words carefully, “I’m just curious, if I went to that place, what would you do?”

“If you went, what would I do?” Nongli’s ears instantly stood up alertly, her red eyes dimmed with disappointment, “Didn’t you say we’d elope together?”

“I’m not abandoning you.” Qing Mu prepared her for what was to come.

“Then what do you mean?” Nongli’s ears drooped. “You just said you want to leave…”

“Would you come to find me?” Qing Mu soothed her, “If I left, would you come after me?”

Nongli was a little puzzled, tilting her head, “I would. Wherever Master goes, Nongli will follow. I will.”

As she spoke, she nodded solemnly, as if accepting a sacred mission, and even tidied up the berries more efficiently.

Qing Mu watched her busy figure, his gaze complicated.

He was dragging a disciple, who only longed for a peaceful life with him, into a world of life-and-death struggle.

This sin—he could only bear it alone.

Frontline of the continent, border of the Rose Kingdom.

Yue Qi stood atop the battered city walls, long sword blazing with holy light in hand.

Her armor was stained with dark red magic blood, and her golden hair streamed in the wind tinged with gunpowder and blood.

Behind her were the allied soldiers, temporarily holding the line and urgently regrouping; their eyes brimmed with reverence, reliance, and a trace of indescribable complexity.

A few days ago, it was her sudden appearance—striking down a ferocious Demon King attack with thunderous might—that prevented the line from completely collapsing.

Her overwhelming power and commanding presence seemed to recall the very image of the hero who once saved the continent.

But wasn’t the Hero assassinated?

Regardless, this was a miracle!

Yet only Yue Qi herself knew that her heart was far less calm than it appeared.

The Demon King Army’s assault was even fiercer and more unpredictable than she’d expected.

These Magic Beasts seemed endless, and among them lurked strange individuals with unusual abilities, not like ordinary Magic Beasts.

Their objectives were clear, their tactics cunning—they had caused immense trouble and casualties for the allied forces.

What disturbed her even more was that, while fighting the Demon King Army, she hadn’t given up searching for Qing Mu.

She dispatched squads that once served her loyally to scout the mountains based on the previously tracked direction.

But the reports were disappointing—Qing Mu had vanished without a trace.

Where was he hiding? Deeper within the halfling tribe? Or had he already moved on?

Was he plotting something again?

Whenever her thoughts turned to Qing Mu, Yue Qi’s heart surged with uncontrollable agitation and killing intent.

Now, she was the embodiment of the Hero’s will—all past feelings for Qing Mu erased.

Qing Mu was like a malignant tumor; he had to be eliminated!

Otherwise, even if the Demon King Army was repelled for now, the very foundation of this world would continue to rot.

“Lady Yue Qi!” A middle-aged man, hurried and dressed in silver-white cleric robes, ascended the wall and saluted respectfully beside her.

He was the highest-ranking church official remaining in the battered coalition—his name was Ericus.

“What is it?” Yue Qi didn’t turn, her gaze still sharp as she scanned the distant, miasma-wreathed horizon.

Ericus’s face was troubled as he lowered his voice, “We just received the latest message from Saint Mountain. His Holiness the Pope and the Cardinals have some… disagreements regarding your return and the recent upheavals across the continent.”

After all this time, the blood-soaked, internally strife-ridden church had reformed.

Yet Yue Qi knew—this was a revision, not the truth.

But she didn’t know what the truth really was; as the Hero, she could see only so much.

Yue Qi turned her head, cold eyes fixed on him, “Disagreements?”

“Yes,” the cleric felt an invisible pressure—this was the Hero who had returned from the underworld.

He swallowed hard, “Some cardinals believe that your return at this critical moment, turning the tide, is the guidance of the holy light—the key to saving the continent in its hour of need. They think you should immediately be reinstated as ‘Holy Judge,’ to command all the church’s armed forces and coordinate all nations against the Demon King Army.”

Yue Qi listened without a change in expression.

“But… others,” Ericus’s voice dropped lower, “they are troubled by your previous ‘disappearance’ and… and certain ‘unusual’ auras in your power. They say you must undergo a full ‘examination’ and ‘hearing’ to confirm your… ‘purity’ before being granted such authority.”

“Examination? Hearing?” Yue Qi’s lips curled into an icy, nearly mocking smile. “With the enemy at the gates, they’re still playing these power games.”

Her tone was calm, yet Ericus felt a chill run through him.

“Tell them,” Yue Qi’s voice allowed no argument, “I have no interest in playing their games. The Demon King Army is the real threat right now. If they’re willing to follow my command and fight together, they’re welcome. If they just want to hold us back…”

She paused, a glint of murderous intent flashing in her eyes.

“I won’t mind ‘purifying’ Saint Mountain before cleansing the demons.”

Ericus trembled all over, cold sweat breaking out instantly as he bowed his head, “Y-Yes, I understand. I’ll relay your words back.”

He dared say no more, saluting hastily before retreating.

A terrifying thought took root in his heart—this Hero no longer seemed like a Hero.

There was a demonic air about her.

Yue Qi turned her gaze to the distant horizon once more, her eyes growing colder.

Internal shackles, the threat of the demons, and that Qing—lurking in the shadows—all troubles were piling up.

But she did not care.

Be it the Demon King Army’s legions or the church’s scheming insects, nothing would stop her from completing her mission.

Purge the poison of otherworlders. Safeguard the “purity” of this world.

She gripped the holy sword tighter.

The blade hummed, radiating holy light.

Qing Mu, no matter where you hide, no matter what schemes you have, I will find you and wipe you from this world—utterly.