The sky was clear for ten thousand li, the blazing sun rivaling the green leaves.
Yun Rong stood before the yamen, turning to look at the bustling street.
He rose onto his toes to look into the distance.
Finally, he walked resolutely into the main hall.
He confessed without reservation to murdering Yun Hua.
And signed and fingerprinted the confession.
The county magistrate, considering his voluntary surrender, sentenced him to execution after the autumn assizes.
A ray of the setting sun shone into the gloomy prison cell.
A jailer led Yun Rong inside.
Iron chains hung upon Yun Rong's emaciated body, clanking.
The jailer sighed. "Master Yun, though your sins are grave,"
"your family is well-off. Why not spend a little money to smooth this over?"
"Surely the magistrate would turn a blind eye."
"Why must you insist on suffering like this?"
Yun Rong sat on his own cold, straw-padded cot.
He looked at the sliver of sunlight filtering through the brick cracks, smelling the mold in the cell.
"I want to become a new man."
"Only then can I be worthy of my wife."
The jailer didn't quite understand his meaning. "But if you're executed after autumn, once your head falls, won't you be unable to see her?"
He fidgeted with his hands, leaning close to Yun Rong's ear. "How about I go to the Yun family to send word for you?"
Yun Rong glared at him, shoved him outside, and shut the cell door himself.
He sat alone quietly on the bed.
The jailer snorted coldly at the sight. "Everyone who comes in says they're not afraid of death, but when the moment truly arrives, I've never seen anyone not beg for mercy."
With that, he left.
At night, Yun Rong leaned in the corner by the wall, holding a sachet in his hand.
It was what Chun Lu had given him when they pledged their love.
A gust of Yin wind blew past.
Coughing sounds came from the adjacent cell.
Yun Rong looked over and saw the person was thinly dressed and an old man.
Kindly, he grabbed a handful of straw from his bed and passed it over.
But a childish, immature voice sounded behind him. "You've done evil all your life. What are you pretending to be a good person for?"
Yun Rong whipped around and saw a child in white robes, floating in the air before him.
He lunged at the other in fury, but crashed into the wall.
Nearly weeping in despair. "It was you who bewitched me into killing Yun Hua."
"You demon, you never should have appeared in the Yun family."
The child in white didn't respond, but instead asked him, "Do you still remember the promise you made to me?"
This question seemed to remind Yun Rong of something. He looked at the child in white. "My father was beyond saving. It had nothing to do with me."
"Even if we had that medicine at the time, it would have been useless."
"This truly had nothing to do with me."
The child in white smiled sinisterly. "Since you've broken your oath, you must pay the price."
Just as he was about to act, Yun Rong shouted, "What about your promise to me?"
"You promised me that as long as I killed my younger brother, I could become your master, and you would unconditionally grant my wish."
The child in white laughed heartily. "I'm already a demon. Why should I keep my promises?"
With that, he crooked his finger, and thousands upon thousands of rats surged forth madly, gnawing at Yun Rong's body.
White bone gradually became visible.
Yun Rong shouted in panic, but the people around him looked on with indifferent gazes.
Even the old man he had just helped didn't respond.
Thus, he slowly died in immense agony.
The moment his soul left his body, it was snuffed out by the child in white.
The sounds from the cell alarmed the jailers, and they rushed in.
Though they had administered countless tortures, they still froze in place at the sight.
The child in white slowly passed through the crowd. Not a single person could see him.
But just then, Feng Xing thrust his sword.
Sending the child in white flying.
"Who are you?"
Feng Xing didn't answer, but instead smoothly unleashed two moves.
As sword qi slashed toward the opponent, a sudden mist rose.
By the time Feng Xing dispersed it, the figure was long gone.
Based on the aura he had grasped from their brief exchange.
Feng Xing pursued him all the way to the Yun residence.
He had just stepped onto the roof when he ran into Chang Ming admiring the moon.
"Oh, Lord Feng Xing, are you here to admire the moon too?"
Feng Xing glanced at Chang Ming. "Did you just see a white figure?"
Chang Ming thought for a moment. "No."
Feng Xing didn't hesitate, continuing toward the Yun manor, but was blocked by Chang Ming.
His expression was cold as he drew his sword. "Don't block my path."
Yet Chang Ming merely smiled, opening the Soul Summoning Umbrella, and leisurely walked to his side, whispering in his ear.
"What? Failed to catch your quarry, so now you're venting your anger?"
Feng Xing thrust his sword, but Chang Ming caught it easily.
"It's a good sword, but unfortunately it's merely a mortal grade."
"Interested in working with me?"
"I can give you a better sword."
The moment the words fell, Feng Xing's sword was reduced to powder by Chang Ming.
Feng Xing threw away the hilt and took out a sword scabbard.
Under the moonlight, the scabbard emitted a faint blue glow.
Chang Ming's eyes lit up. "This is a Profound Heaven supreme treasure."
"If the sword were still here, it would certainly have already taken form and developed a spirit."
Feng Xing's voice was icy. "In all the world, I only want this sword."
Chang Ming pursed her lips. "Finding it might take some effort."
"But those who sign a spirit contract with me, even if it takes thousands or tens of thousands of years, may not necessarily lack the opportunity."
Feng Xing glanced at her and sent a palm strike flying.
Chang Ming used the Soul Summoning Umbrella to teleport before Feng Xing, dodging the palm.
Feng Xing snapped sternly. "Move."
Chang Ming laughed upon hearing this, pointing at the sky.
"See that clearly?"
"You can't fail to understand, right?"
Feng Xing looked up to see tribulation clouds gathering, seemingly ready to descend at any moment.
Chang Ming added, "For the next few days, it's best we do nothing and conceal our divine abilities."
"Lest we be dragged into it."
Feng Xing didn't move.
Chang Ming continued, "That little thing doesn't know what massive trouble it's caused."
"It's made the heavens want to send down heavenly thunder."
Feng Xing was silent for a moment before speaking. "It devoured Yun Rong's soul."
Chang Ming was stunned for a moment, then smiled. "No wonder it made Lord Feng Xing chase it for three streets."
She poked Feng Xing's shoulder. "Don't worry. When the heavenly thunder descends, that's when it will reveal its true form."
Feng Xing looked for a long time, then asked Chang Ming a strange question.
"If I were to save it beneath the heavenly thunder, what are the odds of success?"
Chang Ming answered softly. "No chance."
"I've never seen anyone who can challenge the Heavens."
At dawn, Feng Xing ultimately left the Yun residence.
He didn't pursue.
Chang Ming found Yun Ruosheng huddled in a corner.
"A great tribulation is coming to the Yun family recently. Hide well, lest you be dragged into it."
"I'll have Yun Yichu bury you as soon as possible, so you can reincarnate."
Yun Ruosheng thanked Chang Ming. "Thank you, Miss."
Chang Ming waved at him with narrowed eyes. "No need, no need."
She was in quite a good mood.
"Bang, bang, bang!"
The Yun family's main gate was knocked upon, and Laifu hurried to open it.
These past days, the Yun family had been too chaotic. To avoid letting random people take advantage of the disorder to enter,
Laifu had been guarding by the gate.
Opening the door, he saw a woman wearing an embroidered gray jacket.
Before Laifu could ask, she bowed and introduced herself. "I'm the matchmaker from the street, Hua Liu."
"The neighbors all call me Granny Hua."
"I heard your family's First Madam is remarrying. I've selected several suitable matches and want the First Madam to choose."
Laifu rolled his eyes and cursed. "What nonsense did you hear that from!"
He then shut the door and deliberately barred it.
But not long after, a clear, beautiful voice transmitted through.
"Is Yichu home?"