The Dark Border—Wang Mu wasn't too fond of this place, whether in the game or in reality. After all, who would like a world devoid of light and filled with darkness? You couldn't see anything, and it was full of endless dangers. But at this moment, Wang Mu suddenly discovered that this place… was actually quite nice. At least, it could avoid many awkward situations. In the darkness, no one could see anyone else anyway.

"Ying… I didn't expect you to still be here…"

Facing such circumstances, Wang Mu felt somewhat conflicted. Although one crisis had been resolved, it seemed another had emerged… Whether it would be deadly wasn't clear, but it was certainly much better than dealing with Piao Miaoxu.

"Why aren't you speaking?"

The darkness quieted for a while, then that crisp, somewhat flat voice sounded again.

"How… how did you know I am Dongfang Mu?" Wang Mu, silent for a long time, finally spoke.

"Because of the Shadow Hong Saber," said the voice. "Oh, and the Silent Annihilation Saber Skill. I sensed it just now and awakened from my slumber… I thought you wouldn't come here anymore…"

So that was it… Heroine Yan turned her head to glance at Wang Mu, then turned away and walked off on her own.

"Did you bring a friend with you?" the voice suddenly added. "That's nice. No one has visited this place in a long time…"

Heroine Yan paused.

"Yes…" Wang Mu nodded.

"Is that person over there your friend too?" In the darkness, the ancient Guardian gazed forward at Piao Miaoxu. "Why does she bear the aura of the Dark Alien Race…"

"That one is not a friend," Wang Mu said. "She is an enemy."

"Oh." The owner of the voice paused.

The next second, WHOOSH.

A blade aura, imbued with ancient intimidation, tore through the darkness, instantly slicing Piao Miaoxu in two.

A Residual Soul darted out, its eyes fiercely glaring at Wang Mu for a moment, as if considering something. Piao Miaoxu flicked her finger, shooting a strand of black light at Wang Mu.

"Dongfang Mu, you just wait!"

The weak voice, mingled with the Residual Soul, carried through.

Wang Mu frowned. He raised his hand and scattered the black light, only to discover that the moment it touched him, it transformed into a mysterious Divine Skill and rushed into his Sea of Consciousness.

This is definitely not anything good! Wang Mu thought. Piao Miaoxu wouldn't be so kind.

Just as Wang Mu was about to expel this Divine Skill from his Sea of Consciousness, the Evil Qi in his body trembled, and he found himself unconsciously drawn to the Divine Skill.

[Wuji Treasure Book]

A Demon Skill.

Wang Mu was startled. What's going on? I clearly didn't want to look… Oh well, I'll just ignore it and not cultivate it.

Could he not understand Piao Miaoxu's insidious tricks? 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Eh, this is so strange…" After a millennium, her voice hadn't changed at all. "She isn't part of the Dark Alien Race… It's curious that I can't annihilate her."

Of course, it's strange, Wang Mu thought. The Sky Demon Emperor Chen wouldn't be that simple.

Reduced to a Residual Soul once more, Piao Miaoxu couldn't cause any more trouble. Moreover, she likely wouldn't be stupid enough to target the Dark Border again; she would probably flee as far as possible.

"She's gone. I don't seem to be able to annihilate her."

"It's okay, as long as those Dark Alien Race members have retreated."

"Hmm… It's been a long time since you've been here. My place has changed…"

The voice held a hint of long-lost joy. "Those dried meats, I finished them a long time ago… I tried making them myself, but the taste is so different from yours…"

Wang Mu remained silent. Don't say any more.

That was all so many years ago…

"He came to you a long time ago?" Heroine Yan suddenly asked.

"Yes…" the voice, merged with the darkness, replied. "Are you his friend?"

Heroine Yan was silent for a few seconds, then said, "I don't know."

"You don't know?" the voice asked in surprise. "Then what is your relationship?"

"What do you think?" Heroine Yan's gaze fell on Wang Mu.

At this moment, Wang Mu was immensely grateful to be in the dark. Heroine Yan's gaze was a bit terrifying, but he didn't have to face it directly.

"Dongfang Mu, aren't you two friends?" Ying seemed to sense something slightly strange.

Wang Mu was speechless. How should he reply?

For a moment, Wang Mu remained silent.

"We aren't friends…" Wang Mu thought for a moment and decided to answer truthfully. His relationship with Ying was limited to that one year. But with Heroine Yan, the relationship was different.

"We are Taoist couples," Wang Mu said solemnly.

The air stilled. Heroine Yan turned around, her gaze no longer on Wang Mu, but her lips curved slightly into a small arc.

"What is a Taoist couple?" After a moment of silence, Ying asked.

In the Cultivation World, they are called Taoist couples. The term didn't exist in Ying's era.

"It's like…" Wang Mu thought for a moment.

"A married couple?" Ying seemed to have high Comprehension. "Or companions who engage in Cultivation together?"

Wang Mu didn't answer, which was tantamount to affirmation.

One shouldn't be too greedy…

There are several others out there.

As for Ying… hmm… best to leave that for now…

In the game, courting Ying wasn't like courting the other female leads; it was somewhat similar to Xiao Li's route. There was no explicitly defined substantial relationship.

Wang Mu didn't answer, and silence fell again in the darkness.

Ying's character differed greatly from the other female leads. She had lived in the dark all her life and had been assigned significant responsibilities from a young age. To say her mind was pure and untainted was an understatement. However, Ying had a natural sense of right and wrong. Gui Li's Buddha Heart, an item of such caliber, was enough to demonstrate Ying's extraordinary nature as a heroine in the game. But her influence was limited to within the Dark Border.

In the silence, Wang Mu thought that was the end of it, but unexpectedly… the voice suddenly spoke again, "Like us back then?"

Wang Mu was speechless.