Ye Danxia didn't care what consequences her actions might bring. She quickly gathered all the spiritual herbs Yang Yun might need and, under the cover of night, delivered them to the cave.
Her efficiency was impeccable. Yang Yun grew even more satisfied with her and couldn't help but show a few more friendly expressions.
Ye Danxia blushed furiously each time she looked at his handsome face. She completely forgot he was a demon. Forgot that the Black Demon Core was still buried deep within her body.
"Once I've used up the medicinal power and recovered from my injuries, you'll lead me into Tianxing Sect." Yang Yun spoke in a tone that left no room for argument.
Ye Danxia seemed to enjoy this commanding demeanor. She nodded obediently, but then hesitated, voicing her concern. "But... you're from the demon race. Won't they notice your identity?"
Yang Yun let out a cold laugh. "Don't worry. My cultivation method is unique. As long as I don't deliberately expose myself, no one will be able to tell. Even if Ji Wusi came in person, he might not recognize me at first glance."
"Ji Wusi?" Ye Danxia's expression flickered. A thought came to her.
She remembered... when Sect Master Lin Xiao was speaking to the Kunlun Sword Sect leader, he had addressed him as... Sect Master Ji!
Yang Yun noticed the change in her face and narrowed his eyes. "What? You've heard that name before?"
A cultivator at Ye Danxia's level shouldn't have had any contact with someone like Ji Wusi. Ye Danxia asked carefully, "Ji Wusi... is that the name of the Kunlun Sword Sect's leader?"
Yang Yun's expression changed instantly. He grabbed her throat. "How do you know that?"
Ye Danxia struggled to breathe, grasping at his hand. "He... he was at Tianxing Sect a few days ago."
Yang Yun's eyes narrowed. "Impossible."
Tianxing Sect? Just a small, mid-tier sect. Why would Ji Wusi go to such a place? Now that he thought about Ji Wusi, a chill ran down Yang Yun's spine. The title of the number one among humanity wasn't an exaggeration. Yang Yun still wasn't a match for Ji Wusi.
The dragnet laid down a few months ago... if not for his unique cultivation technique, and someone secretly letting him go, he wouldn't have escaped.
"It's true," Ye Danxia said quickly. "He stayed here for quite some time. It was for a Tianxing Sect disciple named Yun Jin."
At the mention of Yun Jin, bitterness flashed in Ye Danxia's eyes. But she gritted her teeth and went on. "That Yun Jin... she's apparently a sword cultivator prodigy. Ji Wusi came just for her. Everyone in Tianxing Sect knows this. Once you're out, you can ask anyone and they'll tell you. I'm not lying."
A sword cultivator prodigy?
Yang Yun gave Ye Danxia a suspicious glance, but could tell she was telling the truth. He let go of her and said coldly, "Tell me everything about this Yun Jin."
Ye Danxia rubbed her neck and didn't dare slack off. She quickly recounted the events. Of course, she skipped over the details of her personal grudges with Yun Jin—afraid Yang Yun might realize she wasn't as favored in the sect as she claimed. She focused instead on Yun Jin's talent and how many elders had fought over the right to take her in as a disciple.
In Ye Danxia's telling, Yun Jin was arrogant, lawless, and used her gifts to do whatever she pleased. Yet somehow, Ji Wusi and others still valued her. Which only made her more fearless.
Yang Yun ignored Ye Danxia's resentment. What caught his attention was Yun Jin herself. Sword prodigies weren't uncommon, but for Ji Wusi to seek one out personally... she might be the only one.
Could it be...
She's a Innate Sword Body?
Yang Yun quickly dismissed the idea with a shake of his head. If that were the case, Ji Wusi would've taken her away already. There was no way he'd leave her in Tianxing Sect.
So Yun Jin was likely a sword prodigy, yes—but at most, another Cang Li.
She had a long way to go before she could pose any real threat.
What truly intrigued Yang Yun was that even Liu Li of the Beastmaster Sect and Qing Yun of Xuandan Gate had wanted to take Yun Jin as their disciple.
Did she have no weaknesses in her aptitude?
A glint of calculation flashed through Yang Yun's eyes.
Coming to Tianxing Sect had been the right decision after all. What began as a temporary place to recover from his wounds... was now proving far more interesting than he expected.
Yun Jin might just be the perfect entry point.
Once he recovered...
He'd meet this woman.
And if he killed her—would it shake Ji Wusi's Dao Heart?
Ye Danxia glanced at Yang Yun uneasily and murmured, "That Yun Jin really is hateful. In Tianxing Sect, she gets whatever she wants."
Yang Yun looked at her with an amused expression. "You and this Yun Jin don't get along, do you? You were hiding something earlier."
"I..." Ye Danxia flushed with embarrassment.
Fortunately, Yang Yun didn't press further. He waved her away. "Go. I need to focus on healing. Once I've recovered, I'll go with you to meet Yun Jin."
Ye Danxia's eyes lit up.
To her, it sounded like Yang Yun was offering to back her up. She quickly agreed, beaming, and tiptoed out of the cave. Back at the sect, Ye Danxia replayed the entire conversation in her head, eyes glinting with thought. If the Kunlun Sword Sect's leader really was Ji Wusi, just as Yang Yun said...
What did that mean?
It meant that Yang Yun's identity was on par with Ji Wusi's. Otherwise, he wouldn't have spoken about him in such a casual tone.
Seriously injured...
From the demon race...
Of equal standing with Ji Wusi...
Ye Danxia could guess who he was now.
Her heart trembled in fear, but even more than that—excitement.
Yang Yun... was the legendary ruler of the demon realm.
The Demon Sovereign, Jia Lou!
Right now, Jia Lou had merely fallen on hard times. But sooner or later, he would return to his throne. And what about her, the one who helped him?
Wouldn't she reap immense rewards?
The thought that humans and demons should never mix only flashed briefly in Ye Danxia's mind before being completely overridden by ambition. Whether cultivating as a human or a demon—
She wanted power. She needed power.
As long as she could become stronger... as long as she could trample Yun Jin underfoot...
Then becoming a demon would be a price worth paying. That night, Ye Danxia was too consumed by fantasies of her future to fall asleep.
The next morning.
Just as she stepped outside, Ma Hongyu appeared, walking toward her. Ye Danxia immediately felt guilty and tried to slip away, but Ma Hongyu reached her first.
"Martial Niece Ye," Ma Hongyu greeted her with a pleasant smile. "Have you gathered all the spiritual herbs? Have you reported back to the Sect Master yet?"
There were so many missing herbs—how could Ye Danxia dare to report it herself?
She hurriedly pulled out a storage pouch. "Martial Uncle Ma, I've already collected the herbs. Why don't you report back in my place?"
Ma Hongyu quickly stepped back, his recording stone activating at the same time.
Still smiling, he replied, "The sect master's token was in your hands. This task was given to you, Martial Niece. It wouldn't be proper for me to interfere. However, I'd be happy to accompany you."
He didn't touch the storage pouch at all.
Ye Danxia pressed her lips together. A ripple of anxiety stirred in her chest. Zhao Wuji's favor toward her wasn't what it used to be. If he discovered that she had been pocketing spiritual herbs...
She wouldn't be able to get away with it.
Ma Hongyu, the old fox, not only refused to take the fall, but also continued to push her toward the fire.
Left with no other option, Ye Danxia forced herself to nod.
The two of them set off together to report to Zhao Wuji.