Chapter 95: Bloodmoon

“Not leaving.” Qiao Xiaoxian’s reply was just as blunt.

Jiang Ke’er was fuming. She flicked her sleeves and stormed out, leaving Qiao Xiaoxian’s line of sight.

She leapt onto the roof beam at the edge of the village, drew her sword, and sat down, gently wiping it clean.

But it wasn’t long before the persistent Qiao Xiaoxian found her again. Lifting the hem of her skirt, she quietly sat down beside her.

Helpless, Jiang Ke’er could only continue wiping her sword in silence, ignoring Qiao Xiaoxian completely.

She started to feel a little homesick.

She missed those peaceful and tranquil days, standing at the top of Earth’s food chain, able to enjoy the prosperity and peace with a carefree heart, without worrying about freedom or survival.

Whenever she was bored, she’d play some games, and when she got tired of them, she’d grab her keyboard and spar with other overfed internet warriors for hundreds of rounds.

It was only after leaving that she realized just how wonderful it had been.

“I miss home.”

Qiao Xiaoxian suddenly spoke, voicing the very words Jiang Ke’er wanted to say, leaving her momentarily stunned.

Even the evil dragon gets homesick?

Looking at Qiao Xiaoxian’s still indifferent, unflinching expression… That was the calmness born from enduring too much despair, not allowing herself to show even a hint of weakness.

Jiang Ke’er’s chest tightened, as if something was stabbing at her heart, making it hard to breathe. She didn’t want to believe it, didn’t want to face it.

Don’t trust her, Jiang Ke’er, absolutely don’t trust her!

She’s just trying to raise your favorability, fishing for sympathy, you know this better than anyone… Don’t fall for her tricks! If you go soft, you’ll lose for sure!

“Hmph,” Jiang Ke’er sneered, “If you miss home, why don’t you go back and see it?”

“I can’t go back yet,” Qiao Xiaoxian shook her head, her long lashes drooping as she squinted at the sky, “I’m still too weak.”

“……”

Jiang Ke’er didn’t know what to say.

Just then, Qiao Xiaoxian’s body trembled slightly… At some point, Jiang Ke’er’s hand had gently pressed down on the back of hers.

Jiang Ke’er hadn’t even realized what she’d done unconsciously. When she snapped back to herself, her face flushed red, and she snapped angrily, “Don’t overthink it! I’m just giving you a little dignity since you’re about to die, that’s all!”

“…About to die?” Qiao Xiaoxian raised her eyebrows.

Jiang Ke’er’s heart skipped a beat: “Going against the Tribulation Immortal Hall, isn’t getting killed just a matter of time? How many more days do you think you have left?”

A thick smile appeared at the corner of Qiao Xiaoxian’s lips, as if she was a little happy.

Her happiness was so simple.

Jiang Ke’er let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness she came up with an excuse on the spot, otherwise the plan would have been exposed.

If Qiao Xiaoxian got suspicious, with her battle-hardened experience as a former exalted one, even the colorless and tasteless Sleepy Black Tea might not escape her notice.

By then, it would be a true assassination failure, with a heavy price to pay.

“What about you?” Qiao Xiaoxian suddenly asked curiously, “Do you miss your homeland?”

“No, I still have a lot to do.”

Leaving behind this inexplicable sentence, Jiang Ke’er sheathed her sword and jumped down from the roof beam.

She walked along the path, patrolling Sandao Village. By this time, most of the villagers had already retreated to the entrance of the refuge behind the village, waiting for the door to open.

The green-robed girl they saw earlier ran over to find Jiang Ke’er and Qiao Xiaoxian, expressing her thanks.

“Thank you both, Chong Nainai can finally leave in peace.” The green-robed girl repeatedly thanked Jiang Ke’er and Qiao Xiaoxian, then gave Jie Shui a kick, saying, “If you were as stubborn as this fool, only knowing how to read letters, Chong Nainai might not have died in peace!”

“Hey, last time you said the boy who read letters for Chong Nainai was the gentlest…” Jie Shui looked aggrieved.

So that’s how it was.

Jiang Ke’er understood now. No wonder Jie Shui was so intent on coming to Sandao Village—not just to deliver a letter, but also for the girl he liked.

“My name is Ming Ling,” the girl said with a bright smile, her big eyes lively and spirited.

Jiang Ke’er noticed her pupils were a deep purple, and so were her eyelashes and hair.

Come to think of it, many of the people in these three villages had somewhat purplish hair. Although not as vivid as Ming Ling’s, it was still different from any other race in Shenzhou, giving them an eerie, otherworldly beauty.

“Your purple hair is beautiful,” Jiang Ke’er praised sincerely, then asked offhandedly, “Were you born with it?”

“Yes~” Ming Ling replied with surprising candor. She looked at Jiang Ke’er with envy, “But it’s nothing compared to you. You’re the prettiest I’ve ever seen. I’m afraid all of the Nine Provinces would go crazy for you.”

Nine Provinces—Jiang Ke’er took note of her wording. Ming Ling said Nine Provinces, not Shenzhou.

Dongsheng Shenzhou, Xiniu Hezhou, Nanzhan Buzhou, Beiju Luzhou—these four continents, plus Central Mount Sumeru, all belong to Shenzhou Haotu.

But the Nine Provinces is the name the ancient beings used for the great world of the Nine Provinces; the vast Shenzhou Haotu is just one of them.

Moreover, from her words, Ming Ling had probably seen through her Disguise Technique. This was the first time her Disguise Technique had failed.

Qiao Xiaoxian realized this too, and exchanged a frown with Jiang Ke’er.

This village must have a remarkable background—it’s definitely not just a Servant Boundary Village.

There were still many questions left unanswered. While she was deep in thought, a loud boom suddenly came from the distance!

The crash of thunder made everyone widen their eyes. Jiang Ke’er quickly climbed up for a better view, only to see dense, oppressive black clouds, like a charging army, rapidly sweeping toward Sandao Village!

Jiang Ke’er still remembered the day she first encountered a Xubeast—once the black clouds covered the sun and the sunlight was gone, the Xubeasts would arrive early. The condition for their arrival was darkness, not necessarily night.

“Boom—crack!”

Another bolt of lightning split the sky. Jiang Keer’s hands and feet turned cold—she had clearly seen, within that lightning, an unimaginably huge eye, standing proud on the other side of the dark world.

Beneath that eye were countless writhing shadows, as if waiting for a feast.

Along with the stormy winds brought by the black clouds, what blew in wasn’t moisture, but a sickening stench of blood.

“That’s the Void Realm,” Qiao Xiaoxian said, “The lightning briefly illuminates the Void Realm on the other side.”

“Hurry into the refuge!” Ming Ling’s face was as white as a sheet. “The Xu Tide has arrived early! It’s three days early!”

Why did it come early? And what about the promised Blood Moon Xu Tide… Where’s the Blood Moon?

Soon, Jiang Ke’er understood the origin of the Blood Moon. Lightning flashed again, illuminating the Void Realm, and Jiang Ke’er saw a blood-red moon hanging above the heads of those ferocious figures.

Blood Moon referred to the moon of the Void Realm, and it wasn’t the lunar eclipse phenomenon Jiang Ke’er knew from astronomy.

So what was the principle behind it? Why did the Xubeasts invade at times like this?

“Whenever the Blood Moon rises, the boundary wall between the Void Realm and the Ancient Scholarly Realm becomes at its weakest, and the Xubeasts use this chance to launch a massive invasion, trying to drag other living beings into the Void Realm as reserve food.” Qiao Xiaoxian saw Jiang Ke’er’s confusion and explained at the right moment.

However, just as Qiao Xiaoxian was speaking, Jiang Ke’er’s face turned pale with terror, staring deathly at something behind Qiao Xiaoxian.

“Dodge!”

Jiang Ke’er drew her sword without hesitation, but she was still a step too late.