Xiao XingChen’s smile froze.

The words “Xue Yang” were too big of a shock to him. His complexion was quite pale to start with. After he heard the name, all of the blood drained from his face. His lips were almost a shade of pink-tinted white.

"Who wouldn't be shock when you suddenly heard your enemy's name?" asked Jin Zixuan.

As if he wasn’t sure, Xiao XingChen asked in a low voice, “… Xue Yang?” He was suddenly startled, “A-Qing, how did you learn of this name?”

A-Qing, “Xue Yang is the person with us! He’s that bastard!”

"So brave of her to call me bastard." said Xue Yang.

"Are you not?" asked Jin Zixun.

Xue Yang just smiled at him with a glint in his eyes.

Xiao XingChen stammered in confusion, “The person with us? … The person with us…” He shook his head, as though he was feeling somewhat dizzy, “How did you know?”

A-Qing, “I heard him kill someone!”

Xiao XingChen, “He killed someone? Who did he kill?”

A-Qing, “A woman! She’s very young. I think she had a sword with her. Xue Yang was hiding a sword on him as well. It was because I heard them fighting. They were really loud. The woman kept on calling him ‘Xue Yang’, and said that he ‘wiped out the temple’, that he ‘killed countless people’, and that he should be ‘rightfully punished’. Oh heaven, he’s out of his mind! He’s been hiding beside us all along, and I don’t even know what he’s trying to do!”

"For a moment, I though she would say that Xue Yang killed Song Lan." said Nie Huaisang.

"But it was Xiao Xingchen who killed him." said Jiang Cheng.

"Don't remind them." said Wei Wuxian as he saw how Xiao Xingchen lowered his head.

A-Qing stayed awake the whole night, making up lies in her mind. First, she definitely couldn’t let Daozhang know that he killed living humans thinking that they were walking corpses. She couldn’t let him know that he killed Song Lan with his own hands either. So, although it’d be unfair to Daozhang, she couldn’t tell him about Daozhang Song’s death no matter what. The best would be for Xiao XingChen to run away as far as he could after he discovered who Xue Yang was!

"I don't he will runaway just like that." said Jin Zixuan.

"He must settle the account with the man first." said Wei Wuxian.

"That leads to his death." said Jiang Cheng.

"What?" asked MianMian.

"Have you forgot? Xiao Xingchen is dead in the future." said Jiang Cheng.

Yet, the news was too hard for him to accept. And, it also sounded rather absurd. Xiao XingChen couldn’t believe it at all, “But his voice is different. And…”

A-Qing was so frustrated that she kept on knocking her pole on the ground, “He purposely made it so that his voice is different! He’s afraid that you’ll recognize him!” Suddenly, an idea popped up, “Oh right! Right, right! He has nine fingers. Daozhang, do you know? Did Xue Yang also have nine fingers? You’ve definitely seen him before, right?”

"How did he lose his finger though?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"Why don't they just runaway from there then talk about it when they are far?" asked Jin Zixuan.

"If they are still there, it is impossible for them to stay safe." he added.

Xiao XingChen staggered, almost falling to the ground.

A-Qing immediately helped him to the table, where they both sat down slowly. After a while, Xiao XingChen spoke again, “But, A-Qing, how did you find out that he has nine fingers? Have you touched his hand before? If he really is Xue Yang, though, how would he have let you touch his left hand for you to discover it?”

A-Qing clenched her teeth, “… Daozhang! Let me tell you the truth! I’m not blind. I can see! I didn’t touch his hands, but saw them instead!”

"She finally told him." said MianMian.

"She can't lie anymore." said Jiang Cheng.

"I'm getting frustrated." he added.

"You're never calm in the first place." said Wei Wuxian.

"Oh come on, just runaway from there already." said Jin Zixuan making Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng to look at him.

"Stop fooling yourself. It is already obvious that they didn't get to runaway." said Wei Wuxian.

Each shock was greater than the previous. Xiao XingChen was almost at a loss for words, “What did you say? You can see?”

Although A-Qing was afraid, she couldn’t hide the truth any longer. She apologized and apologized, “I’m sorry, Daozhang! I didn’t lie to you on purpose! I was scared that if you knew that I’m not blind, you’d chase me away! But please don’t blame me for now. Let’s run away together. He’ll be back after he finishes shopping for food!”

Suddenly, she closed her mouth.

"Now what?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"My patience is running out." said Jiang Cheng.

"It always did." said Wei Wuxian.

"Just get out of there already." said Jin Zixuan.

Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng took a deep breath. One is worried, the other is frustrated.

The bandages that wrapped around Xiao XingChen’s eyes were initially white. Now, though, two smudges of red seeped from within. The blood grew more and more and eventually leaked through the bandages, trickling down from where his eyes once were.

A-Qing cried out, “Daozhang, you’re bleeding!”

Xiao XingChen seemed as if he had just noticed. With a faint exclamation, he reached his hand to his face. When he took it away, it was covered in blood. With quivering hands, A-Qing helped him wipe some off. Yet, the harder she tried, the more blood there was. Xiao XingChen raised a hand, “I’m fine… I’m fine.”

"Why is he bleeding?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"He has no eyes." said Wen Qing.

"Is there anyone who more straightforward that you?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"If there is no eyes, then there is also no tears." said Wen Qing with an eye roll.

Song Lan was looking down.

Originally, the injury of his eyes would bleed whenever he had excessive thoughts or emotions, but it hadn’t recurred in quite a long while. Wei WuXian even thought that it had healed already. Today, though, it started to bleed again.

Xiao XingChen murmured, “But… But if he really is Xue Yang, why would it be like this? Why didn’t he kill me in the beginning, and even stayed by my side for so many years? Why would this be Xue Yang?”

"Because he is already used of having you." said Wei Wuxian.

"He is slowly accepting you." he added.

"Please, don't forget that the man you are talking about is the same man who killed your shishu best friend." said Jiang Cheng.

"Wei Ying is right." said Lan Wangji.

"I can see it." he added.

Xue Yang gave him a look.

A-Qing, “Of course he wanted to kill you in the beginning! I’ve seen his eyes before. They were meaner than mean and scarier than scary! But since he was injured and couldn’t move, he needed someone to care for him! I didn’t know him. If I did and knew that he was a killing machine, I would’ve stabbed him to death when he was in the bush! Daozhang, let’s run! Alright?”

"A maiden like her could also be cruel." said Meng Yao.

"It is rightful though." said Nie Huaisang.

"But you can't just simply do that. Remember, he has reason why he did such thing which is revenge." said Jiang Cheng.

"I'm getting confused on which side you are taking." said Wei Wuxian.

"I took none. I'm saying what I think is right." said Jiang Cheng.

Yet, in his heart, Wei WuXian sighed, That’d be impossible. If she didn’t tell Xiao XingChen, he would’ve continued living like this with Xue Yang. Now that she told Xiao XingChen, he wouldn’t simply run away either. He’d definitely ask Xue Yang directly. There’s no solution to this.

"I agree." said Wei Wuxian.

"If I am the one who is in that situation, I prefer to face it that running off. Settle it first and if I die, then death it is then." he added.

"Wei Ying won't die." said Lan Wangji while holding him tightly.

"Of course I won't. I have you to protect me." said Wei Wuxian with a smile.

"Mn." said Lan Wangji and kissed Wei Wuxian's forehead making Wei Wuxian flushed red.

As he had expected, after Xiao XingChen managed to calm down, he told A-Qing, “A-Qing, run away.”

His voice was slightly hoarse. A-Qing sounded somewhat scared, “Me? Daozhang, let’s run away together!”

"He won't come with you." said Jiang Cheng.

"I already expected that. Can we skip this? I don't want to see how he died." said Nie Huaisang.

"No. You must watch it for your own knowledge. It will help you become more braver." said Wei Wuxian.

Xiao XingChen shook his head, “I can’t go. I need to find out what exactly he’s trying to do. He definitely has a goal, and tried to reach this goal in the past few years by pretending to somebody else and staying by my side. If I left him here alone, I’m afraid that the people of Yi City would sink into his hands. Xue Yang has always been this way.”

"And it did." said Jiang Cheng.

"Poor innocent people." said MianMian.

This time, A-Qing’s sobs weren’t faked anymore. She tossed the bamboo pole to the side and clung to Xiao XingChen’s leg, “Me? Daozhang, how can I go by myself? I wanna stay with you. If you’re not leaving, then I’m not leaving either. If worst comes to worst we’ll just be murdered by him. I’ll be so lonely that I die if I’m roaming outside by myself anyways. I know you don’t want this to happen so me, so let’s run away together!”

Unfortunately, after the secret that she wasn’t blind was revealed, her tactic of using this to gain sympathy no longer worked. Xiao XingChen replied, “A-Qing, you can see and you’re very clever. I trust that you’ll be able to live a good life. You don’t know how scary Xue Yang is. You can’t stay. You mustn’t go near him again, either.”

Wei WuXian could even hear A-Qing silent screaming, I do know! I know how scary he is!

"Just leave from there already." said Jin Zixuan.

"As I said for a lot of times already, it's impossible." said Jiang Cheng.

"Stop hoping for things that you can never change." he added.

"I know she survive on her own." said Xiao Xingchen.

"Am I the only one who is having a bad feeling about the next scenes?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"This can give me trauma and headache." said Jiang Cheng.

"What kind of trauma?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Too much trust." answered Jiang Cheng.

But she couldn’t open her mouth and speak the truth.

Suddenly, a series of brisk footsteps came from outside.

Xue Yang was back!

"They're dead." said MianMian.

"You're right. They're dead." said Nie Huaisang.

Xiao XingChen looked up in alarm, returning to the level of keenness he had when he night-hunted. He quickly pulled A-Qing over and whispered, “When he comes in, I’ll handle him while you use the chance to escape. Listen to me!”

"Yes, at least let the maiden escape." said Nue Huaisang.

"I'm getting anxious." said Wei Wuxian.

A-Qing was so scared that she could only nod, tears still brimming in her eyes. Xue Yang kicked the door, “What are you guys doing? I’m already back, and you haven’t left yet? If you’re still in there then open the hatch and let me inside. I’m so tired.”

Simply from the tone and the voice, one would think that he was only a boy-next-door, a cheerful shidi. However, who’d ever imagine that the person who stood outside was a villain who had no sense of morality, a demon who wore the facade of a human!

"I'm not a demon." said Xue Yang.

"Surely, you are." said Jin Guangshan.

"You better shut that useless mouth of yours before I cut off that disgusting tongue of yours." said Xue Yang.

"I'll support you, but only on that." said Jingyi and Jin Ling.

Although the door wasn’t locked, it had been bolted from the inside. If they didn’t open the door anytime soon, Xue Yang would definitely be suspicious. Then, when he entered, he’d definitely be somewhat vigilant. AQing wiped her face, “How are you tired?! It’s only such a small distance from here to the market, and you’re already tired?! I’m just a bit slow since I’m seeing which outfit is better. How does it concern you?!”

Xue Yang mocked, “How many outfits do you even have? No matter how much you change, you’ll look the same. Come, come, open the door.”

"If I was there, I will never doubt that he is a devil." said MianMian.

"How I wish he would stay like that, a friendly man." said Wei Wuxian.

"His experiences changed him which didn't do him good." he added.

Even when A-Qing’s legs wobbled, she still spat in a strong voice, “Hmph! I’m not gonna open it for you. Kick however you please.”

Xue Yang laughed, “Mark your words. Daozhang, fix the door afterwards. Don’t blame it on me.”

After he spoke, he immediately kicked the wooden door open. He stepped over the high threshold and walked inside. He held the basket filled with vegetables on one hand, and a crimson apple on the other. Just as he took a bite out of it, he looked down only to see Shuanghua, which sunk into his stomach.

The basket dropped to the ground. The cabbage, carrots, apples, and steam buns rolled onto the floor.

"Oh My God!" exclaimed MianMian.

"There's only one thing that is possible in the moment. Death." said Nie Huaisang.

"I don't know who is the one I am going to took a pity on, Xue Yang or Xiao Xingchen." said a random cultivator.

"I don't need your pity." said Xue Yang.

"Let just get this over with." said Jiang Cheng