an we discuss the price again""No." Shen Qingrui's refusal was cold and merciless: "Young Master Hou, I don't care how your project goes. All I care about is that my reputation as Shen Qingrui and the...Jiang Qiyun's image was ethereal and indistinct, like a mirage.

But the voice that came through was so real, trailing off with an invisible tension. This feeling was all too familiar.

I turned back obediently, but I was holding onto Da Mao in my hand, and I couldn't let go.

"Xiao Qiao, quickly pull Big Mao up! This is a pit, the soil shell has collapsed!" My brother said urgently.

I'm caught between a rock and a hard place. Should I go back to see what Jiang Qiyun has instructed, or should I get Da Mao and my brother out of here as quickly as possible

Damo might have been hurt by my brother. He was looking pitiful, holding back tears as if he wanted to cry. This sight made my heart ache.

I immediately loosened the buckle on my waist, allowing my whole body to tilt sharply downward into the pit. The Hsui-Ching monk and the young monk strained at the entrance, shouting anxiously, "Be careful!"

With my other hand, I finally hugged Big Mao and held him tightly in my arms.

I wonder if all mothers in the world have this illusion, feeling that as long as they hold their children tightly in their arms, their own life and death don't seem to matter, and they would even fight to the death to protect their children.

Although Damao is not my biological child, the familial bond we share is incredibly strong.

My brother saw me hugging Damo tightly and smirked, letting out a relieved breath.

“Just take Damo up there.” His tone had softened considerably.

Whew… whew…

I seemed to hear an ominous sound, and as I looked down into the hole below, a pair of crimson eyes emerged.

The true nest is underground!

"Brother, brother! Be careful—" I cried out in alarm.

At the same time, those demonic beasts with tough gray-black fur suddenly sprang up, their movements as swift as ghosts, leaping out of the darkness and biting at my brother.

The moment blood splattered onto my cheek, I felt like the strings of my reason snapped.

I almost instinctively ducked aside, hurling the still-held big fur toward the light behind me.

I didn't think about whether or not Big Mao would get hurt, nor did I consider the success rate of doing this myself.

Blood seemed to splash into my eyes, and a veil of blood mist clouded my vision.

"Brother——!!"

》》》

Light behind, darkness before.

Then, amidst the brightness, Jiang Qi rose with a cloud of mist, his brow furrowed and gaze lowered. His handsome brows were slightly creased.

In the instant I hurled the big clump of hair back at him, I seemed to see Jiang Qiyun gently close his eyes.

Just for a brief moment, my heart skipped a beat.

It could have just been a momentary lapse, my mind simply had no time to contemplate the meaning behind his actions.

Master Huiqing was someone you could trust with your back. He was cheerful and jovial, yet gifted, fortunate, and quick-witted.

When he shouted my name, he was already stepping towards the pit that was falling apart. I vaguely saw him reach out and grab Da Mao's leg.

At that moment, a sense of calm washed over me... at least I could save Big Mao.

Jiang Qiyun in the light behind them.

Despite being a deity of the underworld, he carried the radiance of a guide.

All beings return to their true nature.

When I thought of him appearing behind me, a slight sense of security filled my heart, and I ignored the fleeting moment when he had closed his eyes.

I unbuckled my waist and dove toward my brother quickly.

Here, the cave resembled an hourglass. The beasts were extremely nimble, and even with his sword drawn for defense, he was like bait in a cage, his clothes and flesh torn to shreds, blood staining everything crimson.

"Xia Qiao, don't come over!" My brother yelled at me.

But how could I just leave him!

He hung there, if I really held onto Da Mao and climbed back, then came back to help him, I'm afraid the rope would be torn apart!

If it falls, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"You jump down, how am I supposed to fight! Get back!" My brother was furious and waved his sword at me.

He was afraid the sword tip would pierce me, but because of this moment of weakness, a demonic beast suddenly bit my brother's wrist—

The impact of the scene was beyond description, my mind went blank.

What coercion, threats, wanton violence and injury…

What goes in accordance with the Way advances, and what goes against it retreats.

I don't care about anything anymore.

The violet sword glow of the Purple Jade Sword illuminated the cave. I scattered three Demon Thunder Talismans from my hand.

Sword light like fire, talisman draws demonic lightning.

Three bolts of demonic lightning flashed within the narrow cave, striking down several of the most ferocious demon beasts.

But here it was too small, the rope around my waist was split too, "pop!" it snapped, leaving only a thin thread, shredding away bit by bit!

It's going to fall.

The moment the thought crossed my mind, the rope snapped.

My brother and I plummeted into darkness, our waists still connected by half a rope.

In the darkness, I suddenly bumped into a chest, carrying the familiar scent and metallic tang of blood.

"Brother—" I was about to call out when I felt him pull me into a tight embrace.

He wants to protect me

A light chuckle came from above my head.

The Zixiao Ruyi in my hand and his Qianshun Sword both fell, their light gradually dimming.

I strained to look up at him, but my chin was gently held in place.

"Little Qiao, Little Qiao..."

His tone was odd, I looked at him with suspicion.

His face was still familiar to me, but the aura surrounding him was increasingly beyond my expectations.

Things have felt different ever since.

When did my brother become so awesome And the sharpness in his eyes even makes me hesitate to question him.

"Little Qiao~~" he trailed off, a mischievous grin spreading across his face as he reached out and gave me a hard pinch at the back of my neck.

The last thing I saw was a glamorous butterfly swirling around his ear.

Misfortune and good fortune come from one's own actions.

It is said that the heavenly officials and deities of heaven and earth, according to the severity of human transgressions, impose punishments on them.

If it aligns with the Tao, advance. If not, retreat.

Do not walk crooked paths, nor deceive in the dark.

Accumulate virtue and merit, cultivate compassion for all beings…

This desolate darkness, is this a punishment for me

The clouds rise...

It's no wonder he closed his eyes slightly.

It was my emotional entanglement that clouded my judgment, preventing me from seeing the abnormalities before me.

But he was indeed my brother, impossible for it to be anyone else. His aura could not be faked. Having lived under the same roof for so long, how could I possibly be mistaken

"...You're awake You're up fast." A woman's voice sounded, suddenly pulling up the bamboo curtains by the window.

A sudden crimson sunset blazed into view, making my eyes ache.

"Who are you" I croaked.

"The one who takes care of you, or watches over you," she shrugged, standing by the window with the light behind her, pulling the curtain closed so that the light in the room softened.

"Where's my brother" I sat up, rubbing my face, and noticed I had several cuts and bruises.

She walked two steps and came before me. She wore a finely crafted outfit, the texture intricate. Although the style was archaic, the cuffs were of a vigorous design, not the kind of flowing cloud sleeves.

"Your brother" she smirked. "Shouldn't you be more worried about the Northern Emperor instead"

I furrowed my brow. She seemed to know a lot.

"Hee hee... Don't stay silent, don't put on such an angry face. Right now~~ I wouldn't dare to offend you, your brother~~ is waiting for you in the main hall." After she finished speaking, she threw a set of clothes in her hand to me and left.

PS: My Husband is the Hades Lord book group: 1080642757. All my Hades Queens, assemble!Liang from my hair. He placed it on the railing beside him and said to me, "Little sister, come here, I have something to tell you." 。"Good 。I followed him to the moon gate of a small courtyard. 。This...