I am Guhuoniao, not an umbrella demon, please do not disturb me.

Bai Qingyu narrowed her eyes.

This guy actually wanted to use this method to persuade Kiyohime not to take her own life.

That being said, the changes in An Zhen are real; he is developing in the direction of a demon.

Ultimately, his obsession was too deep. After meeting Kiyohime, he was unable to resolve his inner conflict. On the contrary, meeting Kiyohime only deepened his obsession, because he saw Kiyohime's beauty and began to regret his past actions.

Since he is a ghost, any negative emotions will be amplified on his body.

Anzhen was just an ordinary little monk; how could he possibly withstand such amplified negative emotions?

Not only Bai Qingyu thought so, but Qingfangzhu thought so too.

The moment he saw the black aura surrounding An Zhen, he knew things were going to get bad.

Without this black energy, Bai Qingyu might not have killed him, but with this black energy, he would definitely die.

Even if Bai Qingyu doesn't make a move, he will.

If we don't perform a ritual to help him pass on to the afterlife now, it will be too late once he has completely transformed into a vengeful ghost; all that will happen is for his soul to be scattered.

He quickly stepped forward and said, "Amitabha, let this humble monk handle him."

An Zhen is a complex yet pure person. Even when Bai Qingyu was about to kill him, he still managed to give an unexpected reason.

The Blue Monk's ritual for the deceased began. Layers of Buddhist light enveloped Anzhen, dispelling the dark aura around him. Golden scriptures appeared beside him, slowly rotating. As the Blue Monk chanted the scriptures, Anzhen's eyes gradually cleared.

At the very last moment, Bai Qingyu didn't know if he regretted his extremely irresponsible vow. She only saw his ghost kowtow to her several times and silently say something. Judging from his lip movements, he said...

Take good care of her.

Bai Qingyu glanced at An Zhen, who was disappearing, then at the wooden umbrella in her hand, and then at the courtyard behind her, which was separated by a barrier.

She just felt that she really didn't understand these kinds of romantic relationships.

They said Anzhen deserved to die, but it turned out he actually wanted Kiyohime to live.

To say he shouldn't have died is an understatement; among so many options, this guy chose the worst one.

Even after he dies, he still drags Kiyohime down with him for the rest of his life.

He left so easily, leaving behind such a mess.

"We need to talk to Kiyohime and give her some advice."

Bai Qingyu only felt a headache.

Given Kiyohime's current state, telling her everything now is definitely not an option.

Perhaps, let her immerse herself in this fantasy first, and let her calm down before telling her.

But doing so would be another serious harm to her.

Kiyohime, that child, has such a hard life.

In reality, no matter what she does in the end, Kiyohime will suffer again, only to varying degrees.

"In this world, sins can never be completely eradicated. Life and death alternate, love and hate are intertwined, lies beget lies, and hatred nurtures hatred. In the final, raging sea of ​​rage that devours everything, not a single innocent tear falls. All reasons are nothing more than obsession."

After Qingfangzhu finished performing the ritual for Anzhen, he looked up and watched him leave.

In those scattered specks of light, Anzhen's silhouette seemed to form, his back to Kiyohime's courtyard, his expression unreadable.

It seems to be saying...

It would be best if we never met, to spare me worry; it would be best if we never knew each other, to spare me longing. But since we have met and known each other, how can meeting be better than never meeting at all? How can I part ways with you, to avoid the pain of longing that comes with death?

Perhaps, it would have been best if he had never met Kiyohime.

Aobozu adjusted his straw hat and started to walk away.

As he was leaving, he paused and said, "I'll leave that child in your care, young lady."

"As a thank you, I can tell the girl some news."

"The Styx Flower has quietly bloomed, and its tendrils have already touched the human world. If you are interested, you can go to Shangchuan Prefecture to take a look."

Aobozu left with this ambiguous remark.

Bai Qingyu shook her head, but she did remember it.

What is the Flower of the Styx?

"These monks always talk like that; they only say half of what they mean."

Please vote for me, sob sob sob.

Volume 1: Chapter 154 Kiyohime, Be My Child!

Monks always talk like that, in a mysterious and cryptic way, and Bai Qingyu was used to it.

Compared to the so-called Styx Flower, Bai Qingyu was more concerned about Qingji in the courtyard behind her. She didn't know if Qingji had become a human-bodied, snake-tailed monster because of this incident, but that seemed to be the only possibility. Qingji's life had been too tragic, and she couldn't bear to experience any more major setbacks.

In the sky, the golden stardust belonging to Anzhen is disappearing.

Whether he is reincarnated or not is no longer important. Anzhen is already dead. Even if he is reincarnated, he will only be a stranger with the same soul.

"This guy died quite easily, he just let go and didn't have to worry about anything. We'll have to deal with the sins he committed."

Bai Qingyu raised her hand and swept her demonic power away all the remaining stardust from An Zhen.

Bai Qingyu didn't care or ask about An Zhen's love life. His biggest mistake was making a promise to Qing Ji that was impossible to keep in this state.

“He’s already dead, and besides, he’s no longer of any use. This isn’t your fault, sister. I never expected him to do that.” Zhen Tian stepped forward and stood beside Bai Qingyu, speaking gently.

"As for Kiyohime, I think we should continue down this lie for now. Anjin's promise did give that child the motivation to live. Once she calms down, we might try to use her hatred to weave a beautiful lie for her."

Bai Qingyu was puzzled upon hearing this, "A beautiful lie?"

"Yes, Kiyohime won't be able to get over this in a short time, and telling her the truth will only break her heart. It would be better to use another emotion to ease her pain, which is hatred."

"Tell me more about it?"

"Here's what I'm thinking: no matter what we do, Kiyohime will be heartbroken when she finds out the truth. So why not gradually fade Anzhen's image in her mind, and then casually reveal to her that Anzhen isn't a good man? Step by step, we can stir up her emotions and make her slowly start to think the same way."

"Finally, tell her the truth and that when you have the chance to find Anzhen, you will definitely make him explain it clearly."

After Zhen Tian finished speaking, Bai Qingyu frowned and pondered. She roughly understood what Zhen Tian meant. In short, he wanted Qing Ji to think that An Zhen was a scumbag, and when he finally told her the truth, he would guide her grief towards hatred.

"Will this really work? Wouldn't turning grief into hatred be too much...?"

After Bai Qingyu finished speaking, Zhen Tian put her two small hands on her shoulders and said softly, "I think it can work. As long as the emotions are guided well enough in the beginning to make Qingji wake up, and then you stay by her side to guide her properly in the last step, this hatred will not turn into a deep-seated hatred, and it will not affect her."

Hatred is acceptable, but it must be kept within limits. As long as it remains within those limits, hatred will not affect Kiyohime; on the contrary, it will bring her a sense of relief.

The most important thing is guidance.

Let's do it this way for now.

How to deal with Kiyohime's situation later is another matter. What needs to be done now is to stabilize Kiyohime and continue with Anjin's lie.

Bai Qingyu released the barrier, knocked on the door, and waited for Qingji to open it from the courtyard.

Soon the door was opened, and Kiyohime's pitiful appearance came into Bai Qingyu's sight. Ironically, Anzhen's lie had driven Kiyohime from despair, but it had also given her renewed hope to live.

In this world, lies are indeed the most beautiful words.

"My lord, I'm so sorry, but this door suddenly wouldn't open for some reason," Kiyohime said softly, looking quite troubled.

She had tried to open the door to see Bai Qingyu off, but the door wouldn't open no matter what she tried.

"It's nothing, I just went out for a bit to take care of something."

"Hmm, where did An Zhen go, Immortal?"

“I took him away and handed him over to his master. I knew he had unfulfilled wishes and I also knew about his relationship with you. I couldn’t bear to see it go, so I brought him from his master and let him fulfill his wishes before leaving.”

Bai Qingyu could only tell Qingji this; he couldn't possibly tell her that An Zhen was actually dead and would never come back.

Kiyohime's eyes inevitably showed disappointment, but she quickly regained her composure, constantly telling herself and hypnotizing herself that Anzhen had gone to pray to Buddha, and that he would marry her when he returned.

"Thank you, Immortal."

"No need. You and I are destined to meet. It's just a small favor." Bai Qingyu and Zhen Tian entered the courtyard. She glanced inside the house. "Qingji, I heard that your father is seriously ill."

"Yes, Father has passed away."

"This... perhaps I should have come a few days earlier."

"No, getting old, sick and dying is the natural course of life. How can we force our fate? I am already extremely grateful to the immortal for saving my mother."

Kiyohime led Bai Qingyu and Zhentian into the house, personally poured them a cup of tea, and served them with great courtesy. Moreover, the girl spoke softly and gently, clearly a lady from a respectable family. No wonder she could make Anzhen, a monk, fall in love with her.

"Why don't you stay a few more days, fairy sister?"

"No, no, and you don't need to call me any immortal, just call me Aunt Yisheng."

"Aunt," Kiyohime called softly, "and this older sister..."

"Her name is Zhentian, she's my younger sister, you can just call her 'older sister'."

In Bai Qingyu's eyes, seniority was never very accurate. Even his daughter, Peach Blossom Fairy, called Zhen Tian "elder sister," so it seemed much more normal for Qing Ji to call her "elder sister" as well.

"Sister Zhentian!"

Zhen Tian nodded, picked up her teacup and took a sip. She never tried to overshadow Bai Qingyu in public and always obeyed Bai Qingyu in everything.

After Kiyohime sat down, Bai Qingyu asked, "How is your mother's health?"

"Thanks to my aunt, my mother's health has improved a lot, and she is resting in the house now."

"Ah That's good."

“But I can only stay with her for a year.” Kiyohime’s eyes were filled with melancholy. “My elder brother has settled down in the capital. Once he’s settled, he will bring our mother to live in the capital.”

"Is your brother an official in the imperial court?"

"Yes, my brother is an official under the Imperial Preceptor Xu in the imperial court."

When she mentioned her brother, Kiyohime sounded quite proud, even though her brother didn't really like her.

“I do know the Imperial Preceptor Xu.”

They're more than just acquaintances; not long ago, this guy was kneeling at her doorstep crying and pleading.

Bai Qingyu calmly took a sip of tea. "Will my brother take you with him?"