yù hé bèi hēi hǔ tiē shēn cáng gàn huái lǐ ， bú yòng shuō ， kěn dìng shì fēi cháng jǐn yào de dōng xī ， lín xuān yǎn jīng yī mī ， liú lù chū xiē xǔ xìng qù 。
玉盒被黑虎贴身藏干怀里，不用说，肯定是非常紧要的东西，林轩眼睛一眯，流露出些许兴趣。
The jade box was hidden tightly in the black tiger's chest, undoubtedly a very important item. Lin Xuan's eyes narrowed slightly as he showed some interest.
qū zhǐ yī dàn ， yī dào guāng xiá fēi lüè chū lái 。 jiāng nà yù hé juǎn dào le shēn qián 。
屈指一弹，一道光霞飞掠出来。将那玉盒卷到了身前。
With a flick of his fingers, a beam of light shot out and flew over to him, bringing the jade box before him.
hé gài dǎ kāi ， lǐ miàn yǒu yí gè yù wǎn 。 yī lì lóng yǎn dà xiǎo de fěn hóng sè dān yào tǎng zài lǐ miàn 。
盒盖打开，里面有一个玉碗。一粒龙眼大小的粉红色丹药躺在里面。
Opening the lid, inside was an jade bowl containing a pill about the size of a longan. A sweet fragrance wafted out...
tián tián nì nì de xiāng ér mí sàn chū lái ……
甜甜腻腻的香儿弥散出来……
Lin Xuan had been born in Spirit Herb Mountain, so he was naturally familiar with alchemy techniques. However, this pill's appearance and color were unfamiliar to him; he didn't know what its effects might be.
lín xuān chū shēn líng yào shān ， duì yú dān dào zhī shù 。 zì rán méi yǒu sī háo mò shēng zhī chù ， rán ér kàn xíng xiàng ， guān sè zé ， yǎn qián de dān yào què cóng wèi jiàn guò ， yě bù zhī shěng yǒu hé zuò yòng 。
林轩出身灵药山，对于丹道之术。自然没有丝毫陌生之处，然而看形象，观色泽，眼前的丹药却从未见过，也不知省有何作用。
After some hesitation, Lin Xuan put it away in his storage bag for further analysis at a later time.
lüè yī chóu chú ， lín xuān yě jiāng tā zhuāng rù le chǔ wù dài lǐ ， yǐ hòu yǒu shí jiān zài màn màn fēn xī 。
略一踌躇，林轩也将它装入了储物袋里，以后有时间再慢慢分析。
Footsteps approached, and without turning around, Lin Xuan knew that Peacock had arrived behind him. As a celestial spirit race, this woman not only exuded unparalleled beauty but also emitted an elusive fragrance.
xì suì de jiǎo bù shēng chuán rù ěr lǐ ， lín xuān bù yòng huí tóu ， yě zhī dào shì kǒng què lái dào le shēn hòu 。 zuò wèi tiān dì líng zú ， cǐ nǚ bù jǐn fēng huá jué dài ， ér qiě shēn shàng yǐn yǐn yǒu yī gǔ yì xiāng sàn chū lái 。
细碎的脚步声传入耳里，林轩不用回头，也知道是孔雀来到了身后。做为天地灵族，此女不仅风华绝代，而且身上隐隐有一股异香散出来。
Peacock sighed as she looked at the corpse before her.
kàn zhuó yǎn qián de shī tǐ ， kǒng què yōu yōu de tàn le kǒu qì 。
看着眼前的尸体，孔雀幽幽的叹了口气。
"How so? Do you know this fellow?" Lin Xuan frowned and asked.
“ zěn me ， xiān zi rèn shí zhè jiā huo ？” lín xuān méi tou yí zhòu de kāi kǒu le 。
“怎么，仙子认识这家伙？”林轩眉头一皱的开口了。
"Yes, I've met him and even fought with him," Peacock replied indifferently, subtly indicating that she had no connection to the tiger.
“ shì jiàn guò ， hái jiāo guò shǒu 。” kǒng què dàn dàn de shuō ， yǔ qì píng dàn zhī jí ， dàn àn lǐ ， yǐ biǎo míng zì jǐ yǔ zhè lǎo hǔ méi yǒu guān xì 。
“是见过，还交过手。”孔雀淡淡的说，语气平淡之极，但暗里，已表明自己与这老虎没有关系。
"I suspected as much. Although he is a demon race like us, if he were your friend, he wouldn't have set such a trap here with the Primordial One," Lin Xuan said while sitting down.
“ wǒ xiǎng yě shì ， zhè jiā huo suī tóng wèi yāo zú ， dàn rú guǒ shì xiān zi de péng yǒu ， jiù bú huì yǔ hùn yuán lǎo zǔ guǐ guǐ suì suì de zài zhè lǐ shè xià xiàn jǐng le 。” lín xuān zuò le de shuō 。
“我想也是，这家伙虽同为妖族，但如果是仙子的朋友，就不会与混元老祖鬼鬼祟祟的在这里设下陷阱了。”林轩坐了的说。
"What? The Primordial One?" Miao You's voice echoed in his ears, surprised at the news. With her husband dead and now fearing this man, she was shocked to learn that he had arrived on Cold Mist Mountain as well.
“ shén me ， hùn yuán lǎo zǔ ？” miào yōu xiān zi jīng chà de shēng pǔ chuán rù ěr zhōng ， zhàng fū yǔn luò ， rú jīn tā zuì jì dàn de jiù shì zhè jiā huo ， méi xiǎng dào duì fāng yě dào lěng míng shān lái le 。
“什么，混元老祖？”妙幽仙子惊诧的声普传入耳中，丈夫陨落，如今她最忌惮的就是这家伙，没想到对方也到冷溟山来了。
"Indeed, the Primordial One and the black tiger set a trap here but both have been eliminated by me. Do not worry," Lin Xuan said, knowing Miao You's enmity with the Cloudy Water Clan and thus not needing to hide anything.
“ bù cuò ， hùn yuán yǔ hēi hǔ zài cǐ chù shè xià mái fú ， bù guò liǎng rén rú jīn dōu yǐ bèi wǒ jiǎn chú 。 xiān zi bù yòng dān xīn shén me 。” lín xuān zhī dào miào yōu yǔ hùn yún shuǐ huǒ bù róng ， gù ér yě wú xū yǐn mán shén me 。
“不错，混元与黑虎在此处设下埋伏，不过两人如今都已被我剪除。仙子不用担心什么。”林轩知道妙幽与混云水火不容，故而也无需隐瞒什么。
"The Primordial One is dead at your hands?"
“ hùn yuán lǎo zǔ yǐ bèi nǐ shā le ？”
“混元老祖已被你杀了？”
Miao You was stunned, her eyes wide with shock and joy. She had seen Lin Xuan's power; even compared to a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, he was on par. Killing the Primordial One was merely a matter of effort for him.
miào yōu yī dāi ， yòu jīng yòu xǐ le qǐ lái 。 lín xuān de shén tōng tā jiàn guò ， jiù suàn bǐ zhī yuán yīng hòu qī de dà xiū xiān zhě ， yě xiāng chà fǎng fú 。 miè shā hùn yuán lǎo zǔ bù guò shì jǔ shǒu zhī láo de 。
妙幽一呆，又惊又喜了起来。林轩的神通她见过，就算比之元婴后期的大修仙者，也相差仿佛。灭杀混元老祖不过是举手之劳的。
The woman felt deeply grateful and knelt before Lin Xuan.
cǐ nǚ bù yóu dà wèi gǎn jī ， xiàng lín xuān yíng yíng bài le xià qù 。
此女不由大为感激，像林轩盈盈拜了下去。
"I do not need such formalities. I only avenged my friend," Lin Xuan's light laughter echoed in her ears.
“ xiān zi bù bì duō lǐ ， zài xià yě zhǐ shì tì hǎo yǒu bào chóu ér yǐ 。” lín xuān qīng xiào de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr zhōng 。
“仙子不必多礼，在下也只是替好友报仇而已。”林轩轻笑的声音传入耳中。
"Avenging your friend, could it be that one of your friends fell to the Primordial One?"
“ tì hǎo yǒu bào chóu ， mò fēi lín xiōng de mǒu wèi péng yǒu yě sǐ zài le hùn yuán lǎo zǔ shǒu zhōng 。”
“替好友报仇，莫非林兄的某位朋友也死在了混元老祖手中。”
"Yes, this person is familiar to you as well. It was the witch known as the Hundred Toxin Sage from the Moon Ink Clan."
“ bù cuò ， nà rén xiān zi yě rèn shí 。 tóng yàng shì mò yuè zú de wū shī jiào zuò bǎi dú shén jūn de jiù shì 。”
“不错，那人仙子也认识。同样是墨月族的巫师叫做百毒神君的就是。”
"What? The Hundred Toxin Sage?"
“ shén me ， bǎi dú shén jūn ？”
“什么，百毒神君？”
Miao You's expression turned alarmed but she soon realized Lin Xuan wasn't lying. This mid-stage Golden Core cultivator had used Green Illusion Mystic Fire, which must be a technique passed down by the Hundred Toxin Sage.
miào yōu xiān zi dà jīng shī sè ， dàn xiǎng xiǎng què zhī dào lín xuān jué fēi hú shuō ， zhè wèi yuán yīng zhōng qī de lǎo guài wù ， gāng gāng céng shǐ yòng le bì huàn yōu huǒ ， kàn lái jiù shì bǎi zhe shén jūn chuán yǔ tā de 。
妙幽仙子大惊失色，但想想却知道林轩绝非胡说，这位元婴中期的老怪物，刚刚曾使用了碧幻幽火，看来就是百着神君传与他的。
Seeing her shocked reaction, Lin Xuan smiled. He revealed this secret for his own reasons. Moon Ink Clan witches had their unique cultivation system and excelled in cultivating various poisons. His jade lotus bees were not yet mature; perhaps the Moon Ink Clan had some method to hasten their growth.
jiāng duì fāng zhèn jīng de biǎo qíng jìn shōu yǎn dǐ ， lín xuān liǎn shàng lù chū mǎn yīn ， tā diǎn suǒ yǐ jiāng mì mì shuō chū ， dāng rán shì yǒu zì jǐ de lǐ yóu 。
将对方震惊的表情尽收眼底，林轩脸上露出满音，他点所以将秘密说出，当然是有自己的理由。
Lin Xuan didn't want to forcefully take anything, so he revealed his connection with the Hundred Toxin Sage, offering his gratitude for killing the Primordial One. The other would surely hand over any precious texts from within their clan.
mò yuè zú wū shī ， zì chéng yī xiū liàn tǐ xì 。 yóu qí zài jì zhe fāng miàn yǒu jí shēn hào yì ， shàn yú huàn yǎng gè zhǒng dú shòu dú chóng ， ér lín xuān de yù luó fēng ， shàng wèi chéng shú ， shuō bù dìng mò yuè zú huì yǒu shén me cuī shú zhī shù 。
墨月族巫师，自成一修炼体系。尤其在继着方面有极深浩诣，善于豢养各种毒兽毒虫，而林轩的玉罗蜂，尚未成熟，说不定墨月族会有什么催熟之术。
Miao You was indeed grateful and repeatedly thanked Lin Xuan.
lín xuān bìng bù xiǎng qiǎo qǔ háo duó ， gù ér jiāng zì jǐ hé bǎi dú shén jūn de guān xì huì hú chán chū zài shì yǐ miè shā hùn yuán lǎo zǔ de ēn dé ， duì fāng kěn dìng jiù huì jiāng zú nèi shōu cáng de bǎo diǎn guāi guāi fèng shàng le 。
林轩并不想巧取豪夺，故而将自己和百毒神君的关系会糊禅出再示以灭杀混元老祖的恩德，对方肯定就会将族内收藏的宝典乖乖奉上了。
After tidying up the black tiger's corpse, Lin Xuan and the two women flew towards Peacock's lair.
guǒ rán miào yōu xiān zi dà shì gǎn jī 。 yī zài xiàng lín xuān chēng xiè bù sì 。
果然妙幽仙子大是感激。一再向林轩称谢不巳。
As the lord of this region for ten thousand miles, Peacock's lair was built at the center of Grief Sea Mountain. The environment was elegant with picturesque scenery, and the aura of spiritual energy wasn't weak either. For demons, a demon vein was perfect, but such treasures were rare in the mortal world.
shōu shí hǎo hēi hǔ yāo wáng de shī tǐ ， lín xuān hé èr nǚ yì qǐ xiàng kǒng què de dòng fǔ fēi qù 。
收拾好黑虎妖王的尸体，林轩和二女一起像孔雀的洞府飞去。
Unlike ordinary cultivators' secluded abodes, Peacock's lair was more refined, almost like a princess's chamber. However, she didn't immediately entertain guests; instead, they each went to their own quiet rooms to meditate after the arduous battle. Each of them had some injuries.
zuò wèi zhè fāng yuán wàn lǐ nèi de lǐng zhǔ ， kǒng què dòng fǔ jiàn zài cāng míng shān zhōng xīn zhī chù ， huán jìng yōu yǎ ， fēng jǐng rú huà ， líng qì yě bù ruò ， suī rán duì yú yāo zú ， yāo mài shì zuì hǎo bù guò ， rán ér nà zhǒng bǎo wù ， rén jiè kě shì fèng máo lín jiǎo de 。
做为这方圆万里内的领主，孔雀洞府建在沧溟山中心之处，环境优雅，风景如画，灵气也不弱，虽然对于妖族，妖脉是最好不过，然而那种宝物，人界可是凤毛麟角的。
Although Miao You's powers were weakest, as a late-stage Golden Core cultivator who had lived for hundreds of years, her eyes were clear and sharp. Lin Xuan's origins might be unclear, but he was clearly close to Peacock. If she stayed here, it would make her too uncomfortable.
yǔ yì bān xiū shì de yǐn jū zhī chù bù tóng ， kǒng què de dòng fǔ bù zhì dé diǎn yǎ dé duō yǔ qí shuō shì qīng xiū zhī suǒ ， dào gèng yǒu jǐ fēn xiàng shì sú gōng zhǔ de guī fáng le 。
与一般修士的隐居之处不同，孔雀的洞府布置得典雅得多与其说是清修之所，倒更有几分像世俗公主的闺房了。
Moreover, with the Primordial One dead, only one mid-stage Golden Core witch remained in their clan. She needed to return to take charge of matters.
bù guò kǒng què méi yǒu máng zhe zhāo dài wài kè ， ér shì sān rén gè zì qù yī jìng shì nèi dǎ zuò ， gāng gāng zhàn dòu dé nà me xīn kǔ ， měi rén shēn shàng ， duō shǎo dōu yǒu yī xiē shāng 。
不过孔雀没有忙着招待外客，而是三人各自去一静室内打坐，刚刚战斗得那么辛苦，每人身上，多少都有一些伤。
Thus, without waiting for her injuries to heal, she left a handwritten note and didn't bother greeting Lin Xuan or Peacock before returning to the Moon Ink Clan.
ér miào yōu suī rán shén tōng zuì ruò ， dàn dào dǐ shì huó le shù bǎi nián de yuán yīng gāo nián méi yǎn tī tòu 。 lín xuān lái lì suī bù qīng chǔ ， dàn yǔ kǒng què míng xiǎn yǒu zhe bù yī bān de guān xì zì jǐ liú zài zhè lǐ ， kě jiù tài zhāo rén tǎo yàn le xiē 。
而妙幽虽然神通最弱，但到底是活了数百年的元婴高年眉眼剔透。林轩来历虽不清楚，但与孔雀明显有着不一般的关系自己留在这里，可就太招人讨厌了些。
As for Lin Xuan, he wasn't in a hurry to leave. He and Peacock were neither enemies nor foes; they could be described as soulmates since their parting on Spirit Herb Mountain over sixty years ago. There was much to discuss.
hé kuàng hùn yuán yǐ sǐ ， zhěng gè mò yuè zú jiù zhǐ shèng xià zì jǐ yī yuán yīng wū shī ， tā hái xū yào huí qù zhǔ chí dà jú 。
何况混元已死，整个墨月族就只剩下自己一元婴巫师，她还需要回去主持大局。
Peacock's attitude towards Lin Xuan was also intriguing.
gù ér cǐ nǚ yě bù děng shāng shì huī fù ， xiē xī zhī hòu biàn zài jìng shì zhōng liú xià shǒu shū ， yě bù hé lín xuān kǒng què zhāo hū ， jìng zhí huí dào le mò yuè zú 。
故而此女也不等伤势恢复，歇息之后便在静室中留下手书，也不和林轩孔雀招呼，径直回到了墨月族。
In truth, it was simple.
zhì yú lín xuān ， lái dōu lái le ， tā dào bù jí zhe zǒu 。
至于林轩，来都来了，他倒不急着走。
Back then, they had many grievances but ended up becoming good friends after a fight. As an arrogant celestial spirit race, Peacock didn't have many friends, and among the opposite sex, only Lin Xuan stood out.
zì jǐ hé kǒng què rú jīn fēi dí shì yǒu 。 ér qiě kě yòng hóng yán zhī zhǐ lái xíng róng dāng nián líng yào shān yī bié zhī hòu ， liù shí yú zài zhuǎn yǎn jiù guò qù le 。 liǎng rén zì rán yǒu xǔ duō huà yào shuō 。
自己和孔雀如今非敌是友。而且可用红颜知只来形容当年灵药山一别之后，六十余载转眼就过去了。两人自然有许多话要说。
The relationship between men and women was hard to define—friendship or love. She wouldn't have invited Lin Xuan to Grief Sea Mountain back then if she weren't fond of him.
ér kǒng què duì lín xuān de tài dù gèng shì lìng rén zhēn zhuó 。
而孔雀对林轩的态度更是令人斟酌。
However, her feelings were new, so at that time, she wasn't quite sure herself. Worried about his safety, she had invited him anyway.
qí shí shuō chuān le yě méi shén me 。
其实说穿了也没什么。
But Lin Xuan didn't appreciate it; as a man, he couldn't rely on a woman's protection.
dāng nián liǎng rén ēn yuàn jiū gé ， kě nòng dào zuì hòu 。 bù dǎ bù xiāng shí què fáng le hǎo yǒu ， zuò wèi jiāo ào de tiān dì líng zú ， kǒng què péng yǒu běn lái jiù bù duō ， yì xìng de gèng zhǐ yǒu lín xuān yí gè 。
当年两人恩怨纠葛，可弄到最后。不打不相识却房了好友，做为骄傲的天地灵族，孔雀朋友本来就不多，异性的更只有林轩一个。
Lin Xuan chose a more difficult path of cultivation with unwavering determination. Fortunately, the heavens rewarded diligence. Despite the hardships in Cloudy Sea and Demon Spirit Island, his life was like a flickering candle.
ér zhè nán nǚ zhī jiān 。 yǒu qíng yǔ ài qíng běn jiù hěn nán jiě shì qīng chǔ 。
而这男女之间。友情与爱情本就很难解释清楚。
However, Lin Xuan's resolve to pursue Dao was unshakable; no matter how dire the situation, he never considered giving up. With his cunning, persistence, and indomitable will, coupled with some luck, he eventually turned danger into safety and reached mid-stage Golden Core.
tā ruò bú shì duì lín xuān yǒu hǎo gǎn ！ dāng nián yōu zhōu dà luàn yě bú huì yāo qǐng lín xuān lái cāng míng shān 。
她若不是对林轩有好感！当年幽州大乱也不会邀请林轩来沧溟山。
When Tug of War descended this time, Peacock faced unprecedented peril. The Primordial One was one of the Four Evils in the Spirit Realm and a natural enemy to their clan. She thought she would fall here but was saved by Lin Xuan at the most dangerous moment with nearly equal power to a Golden Core cultivator.
zhǐ bù guò gǎn qíng kǒng què yě cóng wèi jīng lì guò ， suǒ yǐ nà shí hòu tā mí mí hū hū zì jǐ yě bù tài nòng dé qīng chǔ ， dān xīn lín xuān ， jiù yāo qǐng tā lái le 。
只不过感情孔雀也从未经历过，所以那时候她迷迷糊糊自己也不太弄得清楚，担心林轩，就邀请他来了。
Though Peacock didn't say anything, her gratitude was immense. Even strong women wished for a warm and safe shoulder to lean on. Now that Lin Xuan had grown from a mere condensation period cultivator, his broad chest was enough for her to rely on.
rán ér lín xuān bìng wèi lǐng qíng ， nán zi hàn dà zhàng fū 。 qǐ néng tuō yú nǚ rén de bì hù 。
然而林轩并未领情，男子汉大丈夫。岂能托于女人的庇护。
Peacock offered herself to him, but Lin Xuan felt nothing in return; his heart was deep like the sea, but he lacked courage.
lín xuān yì wú fǎn gù ， xuǎn zé le yī tiáo gèng wéi jiān nán de xiū liàn shěng lù 。
林轩义无反顾，选择了一条更为艰难的修炼省路。
This was something neither girl nor boy asked others to do. Despite their intimate evenings, Lin Xuan didn't dare step into Peacock's chamber at night, finding it more terrifying than Tug of War's den. Peacock felt both embarrassed and frustrated, so she came up with a plan after months...
The jade box was hidden tightly in the black tiger's chest, undoubtedly a very important item. Lin Xuan's eyes narrowed slightly as he showed some interest.
With a flick of his fingers, a beam of light shot out and flew over to him, bringing the jade box before him.
Opening the lid, inside was an jade bowl containing a pill about the size of a longan. A sweet fragrance wafted out...
Lin Xuan had been born in Spirit Herb Mountain, so he was naturally familiar with alchemy techniques. However, this pill's appearance and color were unfamiliar to him; he didn't know what its effects might be.
After some hesitation, Lin Xuan put it away in his storage bag for further analysis at a later time.
Footsteps approached, and without turning around, Lin Xuan knew that Peacock had arrived behind him. As a celestial spirit race, this woman not only exuded unparalleled beauty but also emitted an elusive fragrance.
Peacock sighed as she looked at the corpse before her.
"How so? Do you know this fellow?" Lin Xuan frowned and asked.
"Yes, I've met him and even fought with him," Peacock replied indifferently, subtly indicating that she had no connection to the tiger.
"I suspected as much. Although he is a demon race like us, if he were your friend, he wouldn't have set such a trap here with the Primordial One," Lin Xuan said while sitting down.
"What? The Primordial One?" Miao You's voice echoed in his ears, surprised at the news. With her husband dead and now fearing this man, she was shocked to learn that he had arrived on Cold Mist Mountain as well.
"Indeed, the Primordial One and the black tiger set a trap here but both have been eliminated by me. Do not worry," Lin Xuan said, knowing Miao You's enmity with the Cloudy Water Clan and thus not needing to hide anything.
"The Primordial One is dead at your hands?"
Miao You was stunned, her eyes wide with shock and joy. She had seen Lin Xuan's power; even compared to a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, he was on par. Killing the Primordial One was merely a matter of effort for him.
The woman felt deeply grateful and knelt before Lin Xuan.
"I do not need such formalities. I only avenged my friend," Lin Xuan's light laughter echoed in her ears.
"Avenging your friend, could it be that one of your friends fell to the Primordial One?"
"Yes, this person is familiar to you as well. It was the witch known as the Hundred Toxin Sage from the Moon Ink Clan."
"What? The Hundred Toxin Sage?"
Miao You's expression turned alarmed but she soon realized Lin Xuan wasn't lying. This mid-stage Golden Core cultivator had used Green Illusion Mystic Fire, which must be a technique passed down by the Hundred Toxin Sage.
Seeing her shocked reaction, Lin Xuan smiled. He revealed this secret for his own reasons. Moon Ink Clan witches had their unique cultivation system and excelled in cultivating various poisons. His jade lotus bees were not yet mature; perhaps the Moon Ink Clan had some method to hasten their growth.
Lin Xuan didn't want to forcefully take anything, so he revealed his connection with the Hundred Toxin Sage, offering his gratitude for killing the Primordial One. The other would surely hand over any precious texts from within their clan.
Miao You was indeed grateful and repeatedly thanked Lin Xuan.
After tidying up the black tiger's corpse, Lin Xuan and the two women flew towards Peacock's lair.
As the lord of this region for ten thousand miles, Peacock's lair was built at the center of Grief Sea Mountain. The environment was elegant with picturesque scenery, and the aura of spiritual energy wasn't weak either. For demons, a demon vein was perfect, but such treasures were rare in the mortal world.
Unlike ordinary cultivators' secluded abodes, Peacock's lair was more refined, almost like a princess's chamber. However, she didn't immediately entertain guests; instead, they each went to their own quiet rooms to meditate after the arduous battle. Each of them had some injuries.
Although Miao You's powers were weakest, as a late-stage Golden Core cultivator who had lived for hundreds of years, her eyes were clear and sharp. Lin Xuan's origins might be unclear, but he was clearly close to Peacock. If she stayed here, it would make her too uncomfortable.
Moreover, with the Primordial One dead, only one mid-stage Golden Core witch remained in their clan. She needed to return to take charge of matters.
Thus, without waiting for her injuries to heal, she left a handwritten note and didn't bother greeting Lin Xuan or Peacock before returning to the Moon Ink Clan.
As for Lin Xuan, he wasn't in a hurry to leave. He and Peacock were neither enemies nor foes; they could be described as soulmates since their parting on Spirit Herb Mountain over sixty years ago. There was much to discuss.
Peacock's attitude towards Lin Xuan was also intriguing.
In truth, it was simple.
Back then, they had many grievances but ended up becoming good friends after a fight. As an arrogant celestial spirit race, Peacock didn't have many friends, and among the opposite sex, only Lin Xuan stood out.
The relationship between men and women was hard to define—friendship or love. She wouldn't have invited Lin Xuan to Grief Sea Mountain back then if she weren't fond of him.
However, her feelings were new, so at that time, she wasn't quite sure herself. Worried about his safety, she had invited him anyway.
But Lin Xuan didn't appreciate it; as a man, he couldn't rely on a woman's protection.
Lin Xuan chose a more difficult path of cultivation with unwavering determination. Fortunately, the heavens rewarded diligence. Despite the hardships in Cloudy Sea and Demon Spirit Island, his life was like a flickering candle.
However, Lin Xuan's resolve to pursue Dao was unshakable; no matter how dire the situation, he never considered giving up. With his cunning, persistence, and indomitable will, coupled with some luck, he eventually turned danger into safety and reached mid-stage Golden Core.
When Tug of War descended this time, Peacock faced unprecedented peril. The Primordial One was one of the Four Evils in the Spirit Realm and a natural enemy to their clan. She thought she would fall here but was saved by Lin Xuan at the most dangerous moment with nearly equal power to a Golden Core cultivator.
Though Peacock didn't say anything, her gratitude was immense. Even strong women wished for a warm and safe shoulder to lean on. Now that Lin Xuan had grown from a mere condensation period cultivator, his broad chest was enough for her to rely on.
Peacock offered herself to him, but Lin Xuan felt nothing in return; his heart was deep like the sea, but he lacked courage.
This was something neither girl nor boy asked others to do. Despite their intimate evenings, Lin Xuan didn't dare step into Peacock's chamber at night, finding it more terrifying than Tug of War's den. Peacock felt both embarrassed and frustrated, so she came up with a plan after months...