Demons and monsters wreak havoc: gain one new confidante every day.

That night, Shen You hesitated about whether to go find San Niang. Ever since learning the story of Bi Lin Lang Jun and San Niang, he could no longer bring himself to take Liu Lang's place.

He wasn't the real Liu Lang; the real Liu Lang was dead, and he would tell San Niang about it sooner or later. He couldn't imagine what San Niang's expression would be then, or how he would face her.

However, there was clearly no time to hesitate any longer tonight. He saw Jingxin's name on the white banner. It turned out that Jingxin was the ghost of the man killed by Bilin Langjun, which meant that Third Sister was very likely hated to the bone by Huang Yaoshi.

Shen You realized that San Niang's situation was more dangerous than she had originally thought. She thought she had to go find her and perhaps find a new place for her so that she would no longer be threatened by Huang Yaoshi.

Before they could act, a knock came at the door.

Tian Yi'er went to open the door, and the person who walked in was still Senior Brother Song with a solemn expression.

Accompanying him was Yao Shan. Shen You wasn't particularly familiar with this senior brother, but he also looked grave. The two senior brothers seemed to have come for some very important purpose. Shen You invited them into the side room and closed the door.

"Junior Brother Shen." Song Zhiqing was more serious this time, and seemed preoccupied. He paced back and forth in the room, remaining silent for a long while before finally speaking with determination, "We have no choice but to act!"

"What action?" Shen You asked in surprise.

Song Zhiqing took a deep breath and said, "Send Junior Brother Zhu away!"

"Huh?" Shen You raised an eyebrow.

Song Zhiqing said in a low voice, "Ever since I took you to see Junior Brother Zhu last time, Master Huang has brought him there several more times, each time making him even weaker and more insane. If this continues, he has no hope of recovery!"

Shen You was speechless. He remembered the last time he saw Senior Brother Zhu, huddled in a corner of the woodshed, trembling like a frightened little animal. He himself was also practicing the "Five Immortals' True Method" with Huang Yaoshi, and that could very well be his fate.

Song, the educated youth, said, "So we had no choice but to send him away! The Zhu family probably wouldn't take him in, so I secretly bought a house in the city and found a few maids to take care of him."

Song Zhiqing was also the young master of the Song family, with considerable wealth, so settling Zhu Rusong was not a big deal at all. The real difficulty was how to get Zhu Rusong out of Huangfeng Courtyard.

Yao Shan, who had been silent since entering, finally spoke hesitantly: "I still think that perhaps we should plead with Master again. Perhaps Junior Brother Zhu just accidentally offended Master and was punished..."

"Junior Brother Zhu has been driven mad by torture, hasn't he?" Song Zhiqing looked at Yao Shan, a strange light in his eyes. "The three of us brothers entered Huangfeng Academy together and have always been as close as siblings, but as you just saw, Junior Brother Zhu has completely gone insane!"

"You mean..." Seeing Song Zhiqing looking at him like that, Yao Shan finally let out a long sigh, "Perhaps this is really all we can do..."

Shen You silently watched his senior brother. Although Senior Brother Yao looked bold and strong, he was actually so indecisive. He had witnessed Zhu Rusong's miserable state, yet he still seemed to have a glimmer of hope for Huang Yaoshi.

"Huang Yaoshi is a very cunning, selfish, and cruel person," Shen You said. "His next target is me, so if you want to send Senior Brother Zhu away, I will help!"

"Very good!" Song Zhiqing said hurriedly, "I know that you are highly valued by Master Huang now, so I need you to keep Master Huang occupied during tomorrow's morning class and prevent him from wandering around. Senior Brother Yao and I will take the opportunity to send Junior Brother Zhu out of Huangfeng Academy."

"I understand!" Shen You nodded. "I'll ask him about the techniques I'm currently practicing. He should be very willing to answer my questions."

The group finalized their plan, and Yao Shan seemed somewhat hesitant throughout, but ultimately didn't say anything more.

Having decided to rescue Zhu Rusong tomorrow, Shen You also made up her mind to go see Third Sister.

Under the cover of night, he slipped out of Huangfeng Courtyard and headed towards the lotus pond. He had walked this path many times, but this was the first time he had felt so uneasy.

If possible, he might confess everything to San Niang tonight and persuade her to leave and find a place to hide.

He wanted to admit to San Niang that he was not Liu Lang, and that the real Liu Lang had always loved her.

Shen You lingered in front of the lotus pond for a long time before finally going in. The lotus pond shimmered with a hazy white light, and as always, Third Sister greeted her with joy.

"Shen Lang, you haven't come to see me in so long." Her tone was somewhat reproachful.

"Yeah, I've been really busy lately..." Shen You replied vaguely.

After chatting with Third Sister by the lotus pond for a while, as usual, and admiring the twinkling stars in the sky, Shen You finally made up his mind and said, "Third Sister, I want to tell you a story."

"What story?" Third Sister looked up with great interest.

"A story about a human who transformed into a snake demon, lived in the city for fifty years, committed evil deeds and murders twice, and finally achieved his wish, but also died a tragic death..."

Shen You's expression was very serious, and San Niang seemed to have noticed something as well, her beautiful face becoming more ethereal than before.

She said softly, "Go ahead and speak... Third Sister is listening..."

So Shen You told San Niang about a drowning victim who should have died in the water, but by chance obtained the blood of a dragon and became a snake demon. He lay low for fifty years and started the first massacre in the city, but was stopped by Liu Canglan. He recuperated for another fifty years and started the second massacre, but almost failed in the end. He sacrificed himself and finally refined the secret medicine he had been longing for - the Creation Dew.

"That man did this for a woman, and for the past hundred years, he has always remembered her..."

Shen You took a deep breath and said, "He wanted to see that woman every day, but he felt guilty and couldn't muster the courage. So, in the place where the woman was, he found a pharmacist apprentice who was willing to help, and had the apprentice impersonate him to get close to the woman... He had always cared for the woman in his own way, and now, he has finally succeeded in concocting a secret medicine that can bring the woman back to life, but he himself has lost his life in the process..."

"Third Sister," Shen You said softly, "I am the apprentice he found to help... I'm sorry, I lied to you... The person who truly loved you is already dead..."

Shen You tensed up as she faced Third Sister, as if awaiting a trial.

Third Sister remained rooted to the spot, making no move for a long time.

Shen You looked at her cautiously, only to see tears welling up in her eyes, and her face showing fear, surprise, and bewilderment.

Her appearance pained Shen You, but there was nothing Shen You could do. She had already told the truth, and doing anything now would be an offense to Third Sister.

"No, that's not it..."

Third Sister finally spoke slowly, and Shen You blinked in surprise.

The next moment, Third Sister suddenly threw herself into Shen You's arms, crying out:

"I know you are Liu Lang... Shen Lang, you are the Liu Lang of the past... You're telling me this story to drive me away, aren't you? I don't want to leave, I don't want to leave you... Please, I've finally met you, don't try to fool me with this kind of story, okay...?"

Tears, glistening with moisture, slid down Shen You's chest. Shen You froze, completely unprepared for Third Sister's reaction.

San Niang simply couldn't accept the reality she was talking about, and chose to continue immersing herself in the dream of "Shen Lang".

Shen You was at a loss for what to do.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of a tree branch snapping behind me.

Shen You turned around and saw a figure in red running out.

Shen You's heart skipped a beat.

That's Hong Xiugu!