Chapter 309: Saving for a Moment, But Not for a Lifetime

“Master! Master!”

“Master, please undo the seal and let me out!”

“My father crushed the communication jade, and I sensed a trace of demonic energy!”

“The power within that jade isn’t enough to resist it!”

While shouting, Ye Zhiqing pounded on the wooden door of the Scripture Copying Room, making loud “bang bang” sounds.

However, no matter how much she called out, there was no response from outside.

Anxious beyond measure, she dropped heavily to her knees, continuously kowtowing toward the door. With each bow, she pleaded, “Master, please let me out.”

After she had kowtowed dozens of times, a cold and clear voice finally echoed from within the Scripture Copying Room:

“Zhiqing, your father is entangled in karmic retribution. The calamity he faces today is the consequence of his past actions. Even if you save him this time, you cannot save him for a lifetime.”

“Moreover, you have repeatedly intervened in worldly affairs for the sake of Great Wu and your father. Though some of these actions may seem virtuous, they have not necessarily yielded good results.”

“If you cannot sever your ties with the mortal world, I fear your path of cultivation will end here…”

Hearing this, Ye Zhiqing was about to speak when a streak of flowing light slipped through the door’s crevice and surged into her mind.

In the next instant, a familiar figure appeared in her consciousness—her father, Royal Prince Ye!

At this moment, she saw that her father was shrouded in an overwhelming mass of resentful and murderous energy!

“You have already embarked on the path of cultivation. You should understand how many grievous sins must have been committed to be enveloped in such immense resentment and slaughter.”

Daoist Ling Xi’s voice echoed once more!

Seeing this, hesitation flickered in Ye Zhiqing’s eyes. She reached out to touch the figure of her “father,” who was wrapped in the killing intent.

The moment she made contact, that terrifying mass of resentment surged toward her!

In an instant, she was completely swallowed by it.

“Waaah! Waaah!”

A baby’s wails pierced the air, heartrending and desperate!

A raging fire mercilessly consumed an ancient, elegant manor!

Corpses lay strewn across the courtyard, rivers of blood staining the ground. Countless masked assailants wielded blades, slaughtering every living soul within the residence!

It was a one-sided massacre. The manor had many guards, but they were no match for the highly trained killers. In less than the time it took to steep a cup of tea, the entire estate fell silent, save for the cries of an infant.

Then, with a sharp crack, a burning beam collapsed, and the baby’s wails were snuffed out.

The scene shifted.

Now, it was an official’s residence in the capital of Great Wu, once again drenched in blood!

A disheveled vice minister, clad in his official robes, knelt on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing to Prince Ye.

“Prince Ye! Prince Ye!”

“I swear I never betrayed you!”

“I never spoke a single word about your plans for rebellion, Your Highness—!”

Before the vice minister could finish his sentence, Prince Ye, clad in a scholar’s robe, raised his blade and swiftly beheaded him.

“Your Highness, rest assured. The Third Prince’s cavalry has all been poisoned with Gu. Once you play this flute, the parasites within them will dissolve, releasing lethal venom…”

“Prince Ye! This silver is meant for disaster relief! If you seize it, how will the displaced refugees survive?”

One after another, scene after scene of atrocities unfolded in Ye Zhiqing’s mind!

And the mastermind behind them all—was her father!

Trapped within the suffocating mass of resentment, Ye Zhiqing stood frozen in place. Her face had turned deathly pale, her body drenched in sweat. She breathed heavily, gripping her fists so tightly that her nails dug deep into her palms, drawing streams of crimson blood between her fingers!

No one knew how much time had passed when a soft sigh echoed from within the Scripture Copying Room. The “nightmare” that had ensnared Ye Zhiqing, trapping her in a vision she desperately wished to escape, finally dissipated completely.

She collapsed onto the ground, drenched in sweat, as if she had just been pulled out of deep water. Beads of perspiration rolled down her forehead in torrents.

“Do you understand now? Have you seen clearly?”

“Do you think that when I ask you to sever your ties with the mortal world, it is to make you into a heartless person?”

At this point, Daoist Ling Xi’s voice paused slightly. When she spoke again, her tone had softened somewhat.

“Karma is as it is—there is no forcing it… But if he is slain by that tree demon, I will personally cut it down for you…”

“The body and hair are received from one’s parents. No matter how many sins my father has committed, he is still my father…”

“Master, I beg you, please let me go…”

“My father gave me life and raised me. That is a debt I cannot sever. If he must bear his sins, then I will bear them in his place… Just this once…”

“Regardless of whether I can save him or not, I am willing to erase all mortal memories and devote myself entirely to the Dao…”

With those words, Ye Zhiqing kowtowed once more.

Creak—

The wooden door of the Scripture Copying Room swung open on its own!

Seeing this, Ye Zhiqing immediately transformed into a streak of light and shot out of the Scripture Copying Room.

By the shores of Half-Moon Lake.

At this moment, Prince Ye was already surrounded by countless tree branches stretching out from all directions!

But all he could do was cling tightly to the trunk of a willow tree, struggling desperately in his final moments!

The Red Plum Tree Demon let out a silvery laugh.

“Young Master, we’ve found Prince Ye. Shall we kill him immediately, or…?”

Before the Red Plum Tree Demon could finish speaking, a dazzling streak of light shot across Half-Moon Lake and crashed heavily toward her!

The Red Plum Tree Demon reacted swiftly, letting out a cold chuckle. In an instant, the branches in front of her twisted and wove together, forming a solid wall of ironwood!

Boom!

The two forces collided, sending branches flying and dust billowing in all directions!

As the dust settled, a long-haired figure emerged from within!

It was Ye Zhiqing!

Her face was dark with fury, her lips curled into a cold, anger-filled sneer as she hovered in midair!

“No wonder you caught the attention of an immortal. You haven’t cultivated for long, yet your Dao attainments are already quite impressive,” the Red Plum Tree Demon said with a soft chuckle before turning toward the Fifth Prince.

“Young Master, how do you wish to proceed? Shall we kill your dear uncle right in front of your cousin, or…?”

Though there was no trace of fear in the Red Plum Tree Demon’s voice, the fact that she did not outright declare her intent to kill Ye Zhiqing was already a concession.

Even though her cultivation was significantly higher than Ye Zhiqing’s, she dared not kill the disciple of a True Immortal right in front of her master!

That would be no different from seeking death!

Right now, the True Immortal had not appeared, only the disciple had. That meant the immortal was deliberately refraining from interfering—whether to temper the disciple or simply because dealing with a “minor demon” like her was beneath them, either outcome was favorable for her.

Thus, she carefully avoided mentioning slaying Ye Zhiqing, hoping to temporarily appease the True Immortal of Hunling Immortal Sect…

While awaiting the opportunity that the Flood Dragon Emperor had spoken of…