Film & TV: Public Enemy of Justice

"A golden sphere of light gathered in his palm, and, disciple, it seems I heard the sound of the Netherworld Flower..."

Luo Shiyi recalled as he spoke.

"Netherworld Flower?"

Mo Yan chewed on those three words repeatedly, then suddenly his eyes widened, and a faint wisp of blazing fire shot out.

"Are you sure you didn't mishear? It's the Netherworld Flower?"

“You heard me right. First I heard about the Spirit Valley, and then I heard about the Netherworld Flower.”

Luo Shiyi recalled for a moment, then said with certainty.

"The Netherworld Flower, it really exists?" Mo Yan frowned, speaking with some speculation. "Wasn't it supposed to have perished in ancient times?" "Master...disciple? Shall we leave first?" Luo Shiyi asked.

Wait a minute, what exactly is this Dongfang guy's identity? Lin Yaoxie didn't come looking for you after returning, but instead went to him and told him so many secrets?

Mo Yan said with some surprise, "This Dongfang seems to be a mortal, so how does he know so much about the immortal realm?"

“But he is a mortal. I have tested him openly and secretly many times, but he does not seem to be a cultivator.”

Luo Shiyi was also a little puzzled. In fact, when Lin Yaoxie asked Dongfang to follow their group, he felt something was off.

"Investigate him thoroughly; he's definitely not as simple as he seems!"

As Mo Yan spoke, he closed his eyes and gestured for Luo Shiyi to step back.

The half-moon was quickly pushed away by the rising sun, and the sunrise shone on the Changliu disciples who were up early in the morning, making the place exceptionally quiet.

"Little Bone Mother! Wake up!" Tang Bao shouted loudly in Hua Qiangu's ear.

"Ah..." Hua Qiangu rubbed her ears and slowly woke up. "Tang Bao, what are you doing? It's so noisy!" The evil brother was back. Hua Qiangu was finally able to get a good night's sleep, but Tang Bao woke her up.

"No, Little Bone Mother, the evil father is here, and so is Dongfang! And Qingshui! And Ni Mantian, Shuofeng, and Luo Shiyi!" Tang Bao lowered her voice this time, "I didn't mean to..."

"I'm not disturbing you, but your evil father said you need to undergo a marrow cleansing and bone-refining process today, so you shouldn't stay up so late!"

Hua Qiangu nodded, remembering what her demon brother had told her yesterday.

"Okay, I'm getting up now!" Hua Qiangu quickly finished getting ready and walked into the main hall.

"Brother Yaoxie?" As soon as Hua Qiangu entered, she ran to Lin Yaoxie's side. "Brother Yaoxie, I'm sorry for making you wait so long!"

Lin Yaoxie watched her bounce around again and said softly, "It's okay."

Luo Shiyi saw that Hua Qiangu had arrived: "Now that Qiangu is here, shall we begin?" He looked at Lin Yaoxie.

Lin Yaoxie nodded slightly, then explained to Hua Qiangu, "Little Bone, the process of cleansing the marrow and refining the bones will be very painful."

Hua Qiangu's face didn't show the expected bitterness; instead, she said firmly, "Don't worry! Brother Yaoxie, Xiaogu will hold on!"

Lin Yaoxie nodded and patted Hua Qiangu's head: "The first step, which is also the easiest, is to sit quietly in the Changliu Spring for one hour."

Hua Qiangu looked at the large bucket that had been prepared in the main hall and nodded: "This is no problem."

Lin Yaoxie carefully observed her complexion:

"The second step is to add a small amount of water from the Pool of Heartbreak to the Changliu Spring to keep your mind pure. This may burn your skin in the early stages."

Hua Qiangu's expression began to turn somewhat serious. "Will it burn my skin?"

"It's just a small amount; it should turn red, but it won't actually break the skin."

Qing Shui saw through Hua Qiangu's predicament and explained.

They had just considered adding water from the Heartbreak Pool, but adding it would help Xiao Gu adapt better, even though the process would be more painful.

When Hua Qiangu heard Qingshui say that, she nodded firmly, indicating that she could do it!

The third and most crucial step is for you to consume the Marrow Cleansing Pill. This will begin the process of cleansing the marrow and refining the bones, which will last approximately one day and one night.” Lin Yaoxie looked at Xiao Gu, who still seemed somewhat uneasy.

"And, once the marrow cleansing begins, it cannot be stopped halfway through!"

Hua Qiangu blinked her big, innocent eyes and asked, "So, will it hurt a lot?"

Lin Yaoxie nodded: "You still have a chance. You don't necessarily have to endure this kind of pain!"

Hua Qiangu shook her head:

“Brother Yaoxie, I have always lived under your protection. I also want to be like Qingshui and Mantian, to stand by your side when things happen, to fight alongside you against the enemy, instead of hiding in the back and watching everyone charge into battle!”

Looking at Hua Qiangu's determined eyes, Lin Yaoxie suddenly realized that he had nothing left to say to comfort her.

"Brother Yao Xie, I want to stand by your side. I want to help you when you encounter difficulties. I want to slowly see this world with you. I don't want to grow old and ugly alone in the future. So, I want to cleanse my marrow. I want to cherish the Marrow Cleansing Pill that you went through so much trouble to get back for me. I want to cleanse my marrow, and I believe that I can definitely persevere!"

Lin Yaoxie unconsciously reached out and pulled Hua Qiangu into his arms: "You silly girl!"

"We agreed that from now on we'll do what we like. I can't let you protect me forever!"

A happy smile spread across Hua Qiangu's face. She wanted to stand openly and proudly beside Lin Yaoxie; she didn't want to be a burden.

"Shall we begin?" Dongfang coughed lightly, interrupting their embrace.

Hua Qiangu broke free from Lin Yaoxie's embrace: "Brother Yaoxie, am I going to start?"

Lin Yaoxie nodded and personally placed her into the large barrel:

"Don't worry, I'll always be here. Just tell me if you can't hold on any longer!"

Hua Qiangu shook her head: "Brother Yao Xie, you have to believe me, I can do it!"

As she spoke, she closed her eyes and, mimicking Lin Yaoxie's usual posture, sat cross-legged in the Changliu Spring.

"You all go about your business! I'll stay here with her!" Lin Yaoxie said to his companions.

This morning was the first time Ni Mantian had seen Lin Yaoxie since their last parting. She had intended to talk to him alone for a while, but seeing this scene, she was only a little annoyed and left with a long face.

Chapter Sixty-One: The Unpredictability of Human Hearts

"Sect Leader, Junior Brother! How come you're still in the mood to paint!"

Mo Yan flew into the Jueqing Palace and saw Bai Zihua painting earnestly. He walked up to him anxiously and grabbed his hand.

"Lin Yaoxie is about to ascend to heaven, why are you still painting?!"

Mo Yan's tone unconsciously carried a hint of resentment.

"Shh..." Bai Zihua, however, had a mysterious expression and made a gesture to be quiet.

"Sect Leader, Junior Brother!" Upon seeing his reaction, Mo Yan was so angry that he threw the pen aside. "Sect Leader, Junior Brother!"

Seeing this, Bai Zihua could only silently pick up his paintbrush: "What are you doing, Senior Brother?"

Seeing that Bai Zihua seemed to have returned to normal, Mo Yan quickly asked, "Do you know where Lin Yaoxie went this time?"

At such a critical juncture, he still had the mind to keep everyone in suspense.

"Didn't he go looking for the Marrow Cleansing Pill? He wanted to force my disciple to cleanse his marrow first or something!"

Bai Zihua said nonchalantly.

Since Lin Yaoxie is definitely no match for us, why bother getting entangled with him all the time?

"What! He even found the Marrow Cleansing Pill?!"

Mo Yan was immediately overwhelmed. It seemed that Lin Yaoxie had made quite a haul on this trip!

“That’s right, he originally went there for the Marrow Cleansing Pill!” Bai Zihua said, and started drawing again.

"Stop drawing! Who did he ask for that Marrow Cleansing Pill from?"

Mo Yan said somewhat awkwardly, deliberately omitting Zi Xun's name.

Bai Zihua nodded: "In this world, besides her, who else is there?"

Mo Yan was secretly amazed: "He actually managed to get the Marrow Cleansing Pill from that person? He really has some tricks up his sleeve!"

Ever since Zi Xun became possessed by a demon, she has always done the opposite of everything Changliu does.

The news that Lin Yaoxie had gathered all ten divine artifacts for Changliu was already widely known, so there was no reason for her not to know.

"Lin Yaoxie is far more terrifying than he appears!"

As Bai Zihua spoke, the tip of his pen trembled slightly. Was this fear from his body?

"No, I didn't come here to talk about the Marrow Cleansing Pill!"

Mo Yan, in a daze and belatedly realizing what was happening, almost fell into Bai Zihua's trap.

"So, what did you come here to say, senior brother?"

Bai Zihua pretended to listen to Mo Yan's words and put down his pen. In reality, he had only mentioned Lin Yaoxie and his pen was already a little unsteady.

“I, no, Luo Shiyi said that last night, Lin Yaoxie returned to Changliu in the middle of the night and went to find Dongfang. Then, the two of them had a private talk and mentioned a kind of flower.”

"What flower?" Bai Zihua asked.

"Netherworld Flower".

Mo Yan spoke in a sly tone, his voice growing softer and softer, as if there were a third person listening beside them.

"Netherworld Flower?" Bai Zihua frowned. "Wasn't this flower extinct in ancient times?"

"However, Eleven saw golden light appear in Lin Yaoxie's palm, and the two of them also mentioned Lingyou Valley."

“Lingyou Valley? Could it be the place where the Netherworld Flower last appeared in legend?” Bai Zihua recalled.

"Yes, that's what I was thinking too, but I didn't say it out loud. I just came to discuss it with you, my junior brother, to see what we should do!"

“If it really is the Netherworld Flower…” Mo Yan made a gesture.

Bai Zihua shook his head with a wry smile: "Senior brother, do you know that Hua Qiangu is my life-or-death tribulation!"

Mo Yan was shocked: "What!? Then you're still keeping her in Changliu?"

Bai Zihua pushed the painting he had just painted towards Mo Yan: "Senior brother, I can barely protect myself right now, so how can I compete for the Netherworld Flower?"

Mo Yan stared at the figure in the painting, speechless for a long time.

"What's going on?"

Bai Zihua's face was very pale; he could only slightly lift the corner of his eye as he explained to Mo Yan:

“Previously, Zi Xun used An Ying’s wooden figure to provoke me, and I had a tendency to become a demon that I couldn’t suppress. Fortunately, Sheng Xiao Mo arrived in time. Later, I considered that I should take advantage of my remaining rationality to eliminate the life-and-death calamity, so as to avoid the suffering of living beings.”

He paused, then looked into the distance, as if he had spotted Lin Yaoxie.

"I originally thought Lin Yaoxie was my mortal calamity, but I never expected that Hua Qiangu would be. I had already stabbed Hua Qiangu with my sword when Lin Yaoxie suddenly appeared, and then..."