The formation that enveloped the Forbidden Waters collapsed along with the shattered statue of the evil god.
The heavy rain ceased, and the dense clouds gradually dispersed, revealing a faint, deep blue hue on the horizon.
River lanterns.
Unbeknownst to them, the night had already passed.
Bai Wanmu exclaimed in surprise, “Look, those are the river lanterns we released!”
In the depths of the vast, dark Forbidden Waters, countless red lights suddenly flickered into view.
Upon closer inspection, they were lotus- shaped lanterns.
This was a section of the Meng River.
The river lanterns released by the Xuanmen had always passed through here, but they had been trapped underwater by the evil god’s formation.
Now that the formation had dissipated, the lanterns finally surfaced.
These special river lanterns were not lit by fire; they emitted light without flames, allowing them to remain submerged without extinguishing.
They were specifically designed to guide lost souls.
The lanterns rose higher and higher, eventually fully emerging from the water.
Soon, the entire river was covered with glowing lotus lanterns, their warm light piercing through the dark waters and illuminating the underwater world.
Everyone’s hearts ached at the sight.
Beneath each lantern, a hazy, mist-like shadow swirled these were the tormented souls that had been imprisoned in the Forbidden Waters by the Longevity Island.
The underwater world was mysterious and dark, a place where lost souls languished.
By holding onto a guiding lantern, these wandering spirits could find their way home.
Suddenly, a faint chanting echoed in their ears, deep and resonant, as if it had traveled through the ages or emerged from the depths of their hearts.
It was the chanting from the Xuanmen’s Universal Salvation Ceremony.
Bai Wanmu suddenly realized, “Pengpeng, did you bring the power of the Universal Salvation Ceremony here?”
“Yes,” Shi Pengpeng nodded with a sigh.
“There’s strength in numbers.”
In her weakened state, it would have been difficult for her alone to break the evil god’s formation.
But the Xuanmen had released many river lanterns on the water, attempting to forcibly open the boundary to the underworld here.
Shi Pengpeng used the Qin Banliang to gather the righteous energy from all directions, following the drifting lanterns to guide the Xuanmen’s power into this realm.
Only by pooling the Xuanmen’s spiritual energy were they able to shatter the formation and restore the lingering might of the First Emperor.
The chanting grew clearer, and a gentle breeze swept in from one end of the Meng River, carrying the compassionate power of universal salvation as it lightly brushed over the water’s surface.
The flame-less light at the center of the lanterns rose with the wind, lifting the misty souls from the depths into the air.
Not only in the Forbidden Waters but also in the ruined mausoleum, the fragmented souls attached to the shattered clay figures were summoned.
They detached from the broken remains and floated toward the Forbidden Waters, holding onto the lanterns.
The lanterns gathered in greater numbers, forming a dazzling river of stars.
Then, carrying the clusters of lost souls, they drifted against the current, heading back in the direction of the south.
That was the direction of Biannan, the homeland of these rootless spirits.
The guiding lanterns gradually faded into the distance, disappearing into the horizon as the sky brightened.
Shi Pengpeng relaxed, her strength completely drained as she slumped forward onto Yan Jing’s back.
Exhausted, she murmured, “Brother, I’m so tired.”
“Pengpeng!” Yan Jing’s heart tightened, and he quickly turned to catch her.
“Are you alright?”
Shi Pengpeng’s face was pale, and a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of her lips.
She looked extremely weak.
Her body was limp, and she clung to Yan Jing’s neck to keep from falling, but she still managed a faint smile.
“Don’t worry, it’s not life-threatening. I just damaged a bit of my spiritual meridians…”
Bai Wanmu and Shan Ren, who had followed them, both gasped in shock upon hearing this.
Bai Wanmu immediately pressed Shi Pengpeng’s pulse to check.
After a moment, she sighed heavily, “The meridians are truly damaged, alas.”
In fact, it was easy to guess.
Shi Pengpeng had used two talisman blade, which already drained her life force.
Then, she forcefully activated the Qin Banliang, making it impossible to pass through unscathed.
Although Yan Jing had never formally cultivated, his long-term dealings with demons and spirits had familiarized him with some concepts of the mystical arts.
The meridians are the channels connecting the Dao, the original heart, and the innate nature.
They are also the primordial qi of the origin, serving as the foundation for mystical cultivation.
Damaging the meridians means damaging the very root of cultivation.
Progress in the future will be difficult, and it’s uncertain whether one can even maintain their current level of cultivation.
“Pengpeng, you…” Yan Jing felt a heavy weight in his heart, wanting to say something, but he was never good with words.
Moreover, he knew that in the situation they were in, they had no other choice.
If Shi Pengpeng hadn’t risked it all, they would all have perished in the Forbidden Waters, likely without even their souls remaining.
Shi Pengpeng’s mental state was remarkably stable, only reminding them, “Wuwuwu, senior sister, master, when you go back, please promote my hard work to the anti-fraud team and try to get me some subsidies!”
Bai Wanmu and Shan Ren nodded in unison, “Definitely, definitely.”
At that moment, Bai Wanmu’s phone rang-communication had finally been restored.
It turned out that the mystical sect had noticed her and Shan Ren’s disappearance and had been searching for them all night.
Bai Wanmu quickly reported the situation and sent their location back.
Thanks to the country’s strong infrastructure, the signal was still full even on the boundary river of the Forbidden Waters.
“Alright, the teacher said the patrol has arranged a helicopter to pick us up,” Bai Wanmu said.
“Amitabha, praise the heavens,” Shan Ren sighed in relief.
“Yiyi,” the wooden figure with its abstract carved eyes looked at them eagerly, “Can I ride the helicopter too?”
It had never experienced such high-tech transportation before and was quite curious.
“Of course,” Bai Wanmu glanced at it, “But we’ll have to interrogate you properly when we get back.”
The wooden figure: “…”
The stone elephant stopped and transformed back into a stone mountain on the Meng River.
Bai Wanmu controlled the silver snake to retrieve the Qin Banliang and returned it to Shi Pengpeng.
“Thank you.”
Shi Pengpeng put away the Qin Banliang, feeling her strength returning a bit, and let go of Yan Jing’s neck.
Just as she was about to stand up, Yan Jing silently turned around, presenting his back to her, “Get on.”
Shi Pengpeng was momentarily stunned, then suddenly recalled a scene from long ago, her eyes curving into a smile.
She was indeed too tired, so she didn’t hesitate, leaping lightly onto his back and resting her head on his shoulder, teasing, “Brother, you’ve changed. You wouldn’t have carried me before.”
Yan Jing felt the weight on his back and the corner of his mouth twitched, “Yes, I’ve changed.”
***
Long ago, on that night when Shi Pengpeng had just defeated the great demon, the sky was almost dawn.
She was utterly exhausted, her eyes barely able to stay open, so she didn’t care about the grudges and affections between her and Yan Jing.
She jumped onto his back and declared confidently, “Jingjing, carry me back.”
Yan Jing was nearly scared to death by his own frantic heartbeat at that time, too afraid to have any contact with her.
So, he kept a cool, aloof expression and said coldly, “No, you’re too heavy. Walk by yourself.”
Shi Pengpeng immediately wrapped her arm around his neck, “I just saved you, and this is how you treat your savior?”
Her strength was immense, and in an instant, she had him gasping for air, his eyes bulging.
“Cough, cough, cough!” Yan Jing coughed violently, his heart racing even faster.
Panicked, he said, “But I don’t want to carry you on my back.”
“I don’t care,” Shi Pengpeng stubbornly refused, bumping her forehead against the back of his neck.
“I’m so tired, I’m going to sleep. You have to take me home, or I’ll call that ghost back to eat you.”
Yan Jing: “…How can you be like this?”
Shi Pengpeng: “Giddy up.”
Yan Jing:”…..”
She’s really terrifying.
Yan Jing thought resentfully, but when he felt her warm breath on his back, he unconsciously reached behind to support her.
His tone carried a hint of concern he hadn’t even realized, “Are you really that tired?”
“Yeah,” Shi Pengpeng mumbled in response, “Otherwise, who’d want you to carry me…”
Yan Jing:”…..”
Now she’s even disdainful!
For some reason, his heart suddenly felt heavy, more uncomfortable than when he’d seen the ghost.
But in the end, he didn’t say anything more and just carried her, slowly making his way back along the mountain path.
The sky was on the verge of dawn, a deep blue hue at the horizon.
The morning breeze blew past, carrying the scent of grass, cool and refreshing.
Behind him came the steady sound of breathing-the little witch had already fallen asleep.
Yan Jing thought for a moment, then tightened his arms slightly, pulling her closer to his back so she wouldn’t catch a chill from the wind.
Shi Pengpeng seemed to sense his movement, nuzzling her head against his back before burying her face into it.
Sleepily, she asked, “Are we home yet?”
Yan Jing looked ahead at the village, now within reach, and after a moment of silence, he inexplicably said, “Not yet, just sleep.”
Shi Pengpeng didn’t doubt him, only murmuring in complaint, “It’s so far.”
Yan Jing: “Yeah, it really is.”
He stood there at the village entrance, quietly carrying her.
It wasn’t until the sky was fully bright that his grandfather, Yan Fengshu, and Shi Pengpeng’s grandfather, Ding Liushui, realized they weren’t home and came out to find them.
Only then did they slowly follow them back.
That time, Yan Fengshu thought it was outrageous that they had gone out to catch ghosts in the middle of the night.
In a fit of anger, he said he might as well arrange a marriage between the two of them so they could be together every day.
Of course, Yan Jing didn’t believe his grandfather’s angry words, but that unsettling feeling lingered in his heart.
Every time he saw Shi Pengpeng, he would become unusually awkward.
So after that, he quieted down.
Yan Fengshu thought his threat had worked and was quite pleased with his strategy.
Shi Pengpeng, on the other hand, didn’t care at all.
She just found it incredible that a top student like him could fall for such a clumsy trick.
That summer passed in a flash, and before Yan Jing could figure out the true reason behind that terrifying palpitation, he left the Shi family with his grandfather.
Later, under his family’s arrangements, he went abroad and never saw Shi Pengpeng again.
***
The sound of helicopter blades echoed from the sky.
Bai Wanmu pointed to the horizon, saying joyfully, “The helicopter’s here.”
Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Shi Pengpeng said, “Brother, let me down.”
Yan Jing: “No.”
“So domineering again, brother.”
She found it somewhat amusing and didn’t bother arguing with him.
“Alright, as long as you don’t mind the effort.”
Yan Jing fell silent for a moment, then suddenly said, “Pengpeng, actually, I haven’t changed. It’s just that I didn’t understand before.”
Shi Pengpeng: ?
She honestly replied, “Bro, I don’t get it.”
Yan Jing chuckled softly but didn’t explain further.
He simply said, “Now I think it’s really great that Grandpa arranged for us to be together.”
Shi Pengpeng suddenly understood this was his way of acknowledging her professional skills.
She immediately nodded vigorously in agreement, “Right? Grandpa Yan has such sharp eyes. He picked me out in an instant. There’s no one in this world more suited for you than me.”
Listening to her unapologetic self-praise, Yan Jing no longer found her immodest.
Instead, he felt it was truly wonderful that her thoughts hadn’t changed.
“Good.”
Yan Jing’s smile deepened.
“Then, when we get back, I’ll tell Grandpa that we agree to his arrangement?”
Shi Pengpeng was puzzled.
“Does it need to be so formal?”
She’d already been working for him for so long.
The red envelope she received from Yan Fengshu had long been spent.
Was there really a need to go through the process again?
Yan Jing nodded. “Yes, it should be more official.”
Shi Pengpeng hadn’t expected him to be so particular about ceremony, but since he was the boss, he had the final say.
“Oh, then you handle it.”
However, she suddenly remembered something and let out a sigh.
“Bro, my spiritual veins are damaged. I might not be as powerful in the future.”
Yan Jing: “It’s fine.”
As long as she was by his side, that was enough.
Shi Pengpeng: “Wuwuwu, will you cut my salary then?”
Yan Jing: “……?”
This little money-grubber really had her mind set on cash.
Yan Jing was both amused and exasperated.
He said seriously, “No, from now on, all my money will be yours.”
“Wow, as expected of the big CEO, so bold with promises!”
Fortunately, she was already a seasoned workhorse and didn’t take it seriously.
She just enthusiastically played along, “Great, great! Wuwuwu, bro, you’re really the best!”