Chapter 033: The Mute Girl

After all the puppets left behind by the Bone Demon Sovereign had been burned to ashes, Song Ye gathered the remains and buried them on a small hill north of the village. After all, these puppets had been forged from living bones; it seemed only proper to raise a grave for them. The tombstone was rather crude—Song Ye simply picked up a wooden sign, stuck it at the head of the grave, and wrote “Unknown” upon it. In any case, no one would ever know who was buried here, nor would anyone come to pay their respects. Song Ye did this merely as a token gesture.

By this time, Zhou Nongshan and Chen Huaiyin had both run back to the teahouse. Zhou Nongshan sat down at his original table and continued eating the dishes laid out before him, while Chen Huaiyin, following Yi Qing’s instructions, held the sobering pill under her master’s nose in hopes that she would awaken before dusk, allowing them to reach Xuanqing Palace before nightfall. There were now less than two hours left before evening.

After returning from the northern outskirts of the village, Song Ye went to the backyard to look for his young wife. He had seen Qin Xuanxi heading in that direction earlier, but the yard was empty; only the sturdy black-armored goat remained, with no sign of Qin Xuanxi. Song Ye shook his head helplessly. It seemed his little wife had slipped away again!

Yet last time Qin Xuanxi had at least said farewell before leaving; why had she vanished this time without a word? Still, it was not so surprising. The persona of a demonic heroine was, after all, eccentric in nature—capricious, unpredictable, as elusive as a dragon that shows only its head. But what had brought her back so suddenly, only for her to depart just as abruptly? Had she returned simply to deceive him again? The previous time was a false marriage—had she come this time to toy with his feelings? Why not simply seduce him outright and be done with it?

But in truth, Qin Xuanxi had not left at all; she was simply out of his sight, for she had stepped into her own “Arcane Domain.”

A quarter of an hour earlier, at Xuyu Mountain, sacred ground of the Brahma Abyss Sect: A plainly dressed, middle-aged woman led a three-year-old girl to the foot of the mountain gate. For many, Xuyu Mountain was a forbidden place where strangers dared not tread; even many Immortal and Demon Sovereigns would never risk trespassing, for the mountain was now under the protection of the renowned and ruthless demonic heroine, Qin Xuanxi.

Yet this woman, leading a three-year-old girl, passed unhindered up Xuyu Mountain. Not a single disciple dared bar her way, for in her hand she carried the “Arcane Abyss Token,” personally bestowed by Sect Leader Qin Xuanxi herself. Because she bore this token, the Right Envoy of the Brahma Abyss Sect came out to greet her in person and recognized her at once. “Liang Fang, what brings you here? Is this your daughter?”

Liang Fang’s complexion was deathly pale. She nodded. “She’s my daughter. She’s three this year.”

“Liang Fang, your daughter is adorable,” the Right Envoy crouched down and patted the little girl’s head. “Little sister, be good, call me ‘Sister’ and I’ll give you some candy.”

Liang Fang forced a bitter smile. “She’s never been able to speak since birth...”

The Right Envoy paused, momentarily lost for words. Such a lovely child, yet born mute—it was truly a pity.

“Liang Fang, you don’t look well. Has something happened?” the Right Envoy asked.

“I... I need to see the Sect Leader,” Liang Fang replied.

“The Sect Leader isn’t here, but since you have the Arcane Abyss Token she gave you, I can take you to the ‘Gate of the Arcane Domain’ to meet her.”

The Right Envoy led Liang Fang and her daughter into the Sect Leader’s Hall and activated the Gate of the Arcane Domain within. This gate had been left by Qin Xuanxi herself; by stepping through it, one could enter her personal domain. Only demon cultivators at the Sovereign Soul, Empyreal Demon level, or immortals at the Empyreal Spirit level could create such a domain of their own. Across the entire continent of Xuan Ying, those capable of forging an Arcane Domain were exceedingly rare. Within one’s own Arcane Domain, the creator was absolutely safe and invincible. Of course, no one would be foolish enough to enter another’s domain uninvited, seeking death.

Additionally, those with such a domain could set up a Gate of the Arcane Domain anywhere on the continent, permitting outsiders to enter. Even if separated by thousands of miles, stepping through the gate would bring one face to face within the domain’s realm. Naturally, setting foot in another’s domain was tantamount to placing one’s life in their hands—an act not to be taken lightly.

Qin Xuanxi had set her gate within the Sect Leader’s Hall of the Brahma Abyss Sect. In this way, should anyone of importance come seeking her when she was far from the sect, the disciples could lead the visitor through the gate for an audience.

Liang Fang asked the Right Envoy, “May I bring my daughter with me through the Gate of the Arcane Domain to see the Sect Leader?”

The Right Envoy hesitated, then nodded. “You may.”

“Thank you.”

Liang Fang bowed her head in gratitude, then led her mute three-year-old daughter through the Gate of the Arcane Domain.

Beyond the gate was boundless darkness, so thick one could not see one’s own hand. The little girl clung in fear to her mother’s legs.

“Yan’er, don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid,” Liang Fang soothed, stroking her daughter’s head.

At that moment, Qin Xuanxi, having just walked into the backyard of the teahouse, sensed someone entering her domain. Immediately, she too stepped into her Arcane Domain to see who the visitor might be.

As she entered, light finally pierced the darkness. Liang Fang looked toward the glow and saw a throne suspended in midair. Upon it sat Qin Xuanxi, clad in the Nine Hells Robe of the Arcane Abyss, her face hidden behind a violet demon mask.

Liang Fang immediately bowed toward the throne. “Sect Leader Qin!”

Qin Xuanxi asked, “Liang Fang, you have come all this way with the Arcane Abyss Token I once gave to Su Nian. Has something happened to him?”

At the mention of Su Nian’s name, tears welled in Liang Fang’s eyes. “Su Nian... he is dead...”

Qin Xuanxi’s brow furrowed slightly. “Su Nian chose to become your husband and live in seclusion, yet in the end he could not escape his enemies’ pursuit.”

“Su Nian once did me a great kindness. That is why I gave him the Arcane Abyss Token years ago. As his wife, you have come to see me with the token—do you wish me to avenge him?”

“Tell me, who killed Su Nian? I will see to it that they pay for his death in blood!”

Liang Fang gritted her teeth. “It was the entire Murong clan that caused Su Nian’s death. I want the whole Murong family to pay with their lives for what they did to him!”