"What in the world is going on?"

Jiang Chen stared at Qingyi in disbelief.

’They’re all dead?’

The image of the cute, lively little girl, Yaya, surfaced in his mind...

That sensible little girl, who, despite being a total glutton, always remembered to give her mother the first bite. That kind little girl, who, thinking he was hungry, had offered him her own beloved candied hawthorns.

Those amiable townsfolk, the simple and honest old farmers, the wealthy who were both rich and benevolent...

’They were all dead?’

’All of them?’

Jiang Chen couldn’t help but think of the two Cyan Rock Lions guarding the town’s entrance.

Little Black had said those two Cyan Rock Lions were already dead, merely being controlled by someone.

Jiang Chen fixed Qingyi with a burning gaze. "If they’re dead, then why are they still here? And you... are you the one controlling them? What is your goal in doing all this?"

"My goal?"

Qingyi faltered.

She slowly lifted her head to the vast Celestial Vault. Stars dotted the sky and the bright moon hung high, but a dark cloud now drifted over, obscuring it all—a reflection of her own heavy heart.

"Haaa..."

Qingyi let out a long breath. Her eyes, like misty autumn waters, flickered as her cool, clear voice drifted out. "Young Master, would you be willing to listen to a story?"

"Go ahead," Jiang Chen said.

"Thank you."

Qingyi offered a faint, lovely smile, as if she had stepped out of a painting.

A single smile could topple a city, a second could overthrow a nation, and a third could conquer the hearts of all men.

Even the most perfect and precious adjectives in the world could not begin to describe her beauty.

Qingyi began her story in a quiet voice. "Once, nestled within the Hundred Beasts Mountains and Rivers, there was a small town called Taoyuan Town. Its people didn’t worship the Martial Dao or strength; they cherished peace and tranquility. They worked at sunrise and rested at sunset. The men farmed, the women wove. Husbands and wives supported each other through hardship, parents were kind and gentle, and children were filial..."

"Fifteen years ago, a woman carrying a baby girl arrived in our town. The townsfolk quickly accepted them and helped them settle in. They built a house for the woman and her daughter, gave them clothes, food..."

"As the years passed, the girl grew up, blossoming into a peerless beauty who captivated everyone."

"Men and women alike, everyone adored the young woman she had become..."

Qingyi’s gaze grew distant. She was telling a story, but Jiang Chen knew she was talking about herself.

"’Everything was peaceful and happy, until one day... A band of Demon Hunters appeared in town. One of them, a man from a powerful background, took an interest in the young woman and tried to take her by force. The entire town rose up to resist the Demon Hunters’ brutality. However..."

Qingyi’s body trembled, her eyes filled with hatred. "It was our resistance that truly enraged those depraved fiends. They began a slaughter. They burned our homes, they pillaged, they didn’t even spare the elderly or babes in arms... The entire town, thousands of people, was almost completely massacred. Only the young woman and her guardian were left."

"Those bastards..."

Jiang Chen cursed under his breath, his fists clenched so tight they cracked.

Although Qingyi hadn’t said it explicitly, Jiang Chen had already guessed that the girl was the very same peerless, nation-toppling beauty before him.

’He recalled the news of the Luo Family’s Demon Hunter team being annihilated, and how the Luo Family Patriarch’s youngest son had been killed by the Vampire Witch, enraging the family.’ 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

’Jiang Chen knew now that the Demon Hunter team Qingyi mentioned had been from the Luo Family.’

’And the man from a powerful background who had tried to abduct her was none other than the Luo Family Patriarch’s youngest son.’

At this realization, Jiang Chen’s heart trembled. He stared intently at Qingyi, swallowed hard, and asked, "Miss Qingyi, does that mean... you’re the Vampire Witch?"

"Vampire Witch?"

Qingyi blinked, then shook her head. "No, not me... It was Aunt Yun, the woman who raised me. When those wicked men tried to capture me, at the moment of life and death, Aunt Yun underwent a heaven-and-earth-shattering transformation. She—she became a demon and slaughtered all those unforgivable fiends."

She slowly rose to her feet, her steps as graceful as a lotus.

Jiang Chen followed close behind her. Qingyi led him on a stroll through Taoyuan Town. As she peered through the windows at the peacefully sleeping townsfolk, her face filled with sorrow and nostalgia. "After she killed those men, Aunt Yun could never change back. But she still loved me dearly. She knew I couldn’t bear to lose the people of Taoyuan Town, so she taught me the Reincarnation Secret Technique and moved the entire Taoyuan Town into Yunxian Valley."

"And so the townsfolk, under the control of my Reincarnation Secret Technique, came back to life. The only thing is... they’re forced to repeat the day the town was destroyed, over and over. Every night, I must play the melody ’Reincarnation’ to lull them into a deep sleep, so they can begin again the next day..."

Qingyi’s voice was gentle.

Her slender, jade-like hand rested on the windowsill. She looked inside at Yaya, who was sound asleep with her bottom sticking up like a little piglet, and a contented smile graced her lips.

Jiang Chen fell silent.

’So that’s the truth...’

’He could imagine the helplessness and exhaustion in Qingyi’s heart. It had been over a year! The dead townsfolk were simply living the same day over and over, blissfully unaware, still happy and peaceful. But she was different. For her, the pain and suffering accumulated with each passing day.’

’It was hard to imagine how such a seemingly fragile woman had managed to endure for so long.’

Looking at the slender figure before him, Jiang Chen’s heart ached for her. "You know... you don’t have to carry this burden," he said, his voice heavy. "None of this was your fault. The blame lies with the Luo Family and their arrogance and tyranny. Why do you torment yourself like this?"

"They died protecting me," Qingyi said with a faint smile. "Compared to what they gave, what is my suffering?"

"Then how long do you plan to keep this up?" Jiang Chen asked, clenching his fists. "A year? Ten years? A lifetime?"

Qingyi faltered, a blank look in her eyes. She shook her head gently. "I don’t know how long I can keep going... As long as I draw breath, I have to let them live another happy day. Perhaps I’ll only give up when I’m finally too exhausted to play ’Reincarnation’ anymore."

Jiang Chen was speechless.

Sensing the heavy atmosphere, Qingyi blinked and offered a lighthearted chuckle. "Don’t worry about me. I’m used to it! Oh, by the way, Young Master, we’ve been talking for so long, and I still don’t even know your name."

"My name is Jiang Chen, and I’m sixteen!" Jiang Chen blurted out.

The moment the words left his mouth, he froze. He had no idea why he’d also blurted out his age, and an embarrassed look crept onto his face.

"Hee hee!"

Qingyi covered her mouth and giggled. "I am Xiao Qingyi. I’m one year younger than you, so I’ll call you Brother Jiang Chen!"

"Okay!"

Jiang Chen nodded. "And I’ll keep calling you Qingyi. Qingyi, about Aunt Yun... where is she now? The entire Hundred Beasts Mountains and Rivers is crawling with powerful warriors, all looking for the Vampire Witch. If Aunt Yun runs into them, her chances are slim."

"Aunt Yun usually patrols the area around Yunxian Valley to keep anyone from finding this place. She should have returned two days ago, but there’s been no sign of her!" Xiao Qingyi’s brow was etched with deep worry.

Jiang Chen comforted her, "Don’t worry. Aunt Yun is kind, and she’s powerful. I’m sure she’ll be alright."

Before hearing her story, Jiang Chen had also thought of the Vampire Witch as a menace to be eliminated for the public good.

But now...

Knowing the truth, he felt nothing but sympathy and respect for the Vampire Witch. To become a demon to protect those you cherish—what a noble sacrifice.

As the two of them were talking.

Suddenly...

The entire Taoyuan Town shook violently, as if struck by an earthquake, and the expressions on Jiang Chen and Xiao Qingyi’s faces changed instantly.

"Hahaha, Vampire Witch! Let’s see you try to escape now!"

"The bounty of a trillion taels of silver is mine!"

"Die, Witch!"

Maniacal shouts echoed from outside Taoyuan Town.

The color drained from Jiang Chen and Xiao Qingyi’s faces. "Oh no, Aunt Yun’s in danger!" Xiao Qingyi cried, her face a mask of worry and panic. "Brother Jiang Chen, wait here! I have to go help her!"

"Wait!"

But Jiang Chen grabbed her arm. He gently tapped her perfect nose with his finger and grinned. "Silly girl, since you’ve already started calling me Brother Jiang Chen, how could I possibly let you face danger alone? I’m going with you..."

Without another word...

Jiang Chen took Xiao Qingyi’s soft, boneless hand in his and strode toward the outskirts of Taoyuan Town...

PS: If you have a spare moment, come join our "Eight Desolates and Six Harmonies, I Alone Am Lord" group! I’ll be in there waiting for you. QQ Group: 605481292