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墨書 Inktalez
The sound of bells echoed, sometimes distant, sometimes near, almost imperceptible. A faint melody seemed to rise slowly from the horizon, as if it were right beside the listener, yet remained just out of reach. At times, it felt like a gentle breeze brushing against the face; at others, it resembled the eerie cries of ghosts or the calls of eagles, overwhelming and piercing, as if it could drown everything in its wake. Accompanied by the rhythm, the lyrics of "Phoenix Maiden" floated like an unsinkable boat, though soft in volume, they contained a captivating magic. The transitions and connections in the melody were seamless, devoid of any hint of violence.
The bell sounds and the lyrics, initially incongruous, blended together seamlessly, making the listeners forget their surroundings, entranced to the point of near obsession.
Wei Ning realized that what he heard this time was even more enchanting than Qing's previous performance; this must be the true Phoenix Maiden.
"Under Phoenix Mountain lies Phoenix City; within Phoenix City resides the Phoenix Deity; the Phoenix Deity transforms into the Phoenix Tree; the Phoenix Tree conceals the Phoenix Heart."
As the bells rang in his ears, Fang Zhi felt as if he had heard the most haunting melody in existence. His face turned pale as blood dripped from his severed arm onto his clothing, a shocking sight. Yet at that moment, Fang Zhi could hardly care about the pain of his lost limb. The magical sound of "Phoenix Maiden" pierced through him like a knife, causing his heart to feel as if it were being sliced apart piece by piece. His legs began to tremble uncontrollably.
Upon hearing this music, Gu Corpse felt its once-vibrant energy being slowly drawn back into its body like air through a straw. Gradually, the dark aura dissipated completely, and everything came to a halt. Gu Corpse stood there with lowered eyes and a blank expression.
Fang Zhi seemed to finally snap back to reality. Steeling himself, he uttered, "I will avenge this grudge another day," before hurriedly attempting to flee.
"Trying to escape? Dog Thief! Let's see where you think you can run!" A sharp voice called out as Qing emerged from the forest, blocking Fang Zhi's path. Her expression was as cold as frost as she said, "Thief! You stole something from my Phoenix Mountain and think you can just run away? Do you really believe there’s no one here?" The four broken teeth she had lost when biting Wei Ning had clearly been repaired but were no longer as pristine as before.
The Phoenix Maiden slowly walked into the woods, casting a glance at Wei Ning and seemingly at Ding Ying as well before addressing Fang Zhi: "The Gu God is the culmination of hundreds of years of effort from generations of Phoenix Maidens on my Phoenix Mountain. Yet you took advantage of this opportunity to bring it down. We—Qing and I—have come down from the mountain specifically for you. What do you think your punishment should be?"
Fang Zhi's face changed three times as he glanced between the Phoenix Maiden and Wei Ning. He realized he was outnumbered five to one; whether it was Wei Ning's faction or that of the Phoenix Maiden's, he was likely no match for either side at this moment. With one arm severed by Wei Ning, he could not summon Zhu You Ruler for assistance. He had no choice but to endure the excruciating pain while desperately searching for an escape plan. With a forced smile, he said, "How could the Phoenix Maiden speak so? This Gu Corpse—cough cough—Gu God was merely borrowed for a while. After using it, I will certainly return it intact. Cough cough! Today I happen to encounter you; I will return it today… Look! It’s still perfectly fine." He chuckled nervously.
"Bah!" Qing spat in disdain. "You’re just greedy and took advantage while we weren't looking to steal Gu God! And now you dare speak like this? I really don’t know how you can be so shameless. Sister, let’s not waste any more words with him; let’s kill him today and take his head back to Phoenix Mountain. Surely we will earn merit with the Phoenix Divine Tree." As Qing looked at Fang Zhi, her gaze grew increasingly unsettling; her tongue kept licking her lips as if Fang Zhi were no longer just a person but a delicious feast.
Seeing Qing's demeanor shift again made the Phoenix Maiden realize her eating disorder had flared up once more. She called out Qing's name disapprovingly, causing Qing to quickly compose herself and lower her gaze.
With a swift motion, the Phoenix Maiden retracted the Phoenix Bell, silencing its chime. She looked at Qing with a cold expression and said, "Today, we descend the mountain for you. Anyone who offends Phoenix Mountain or the Gu God will meet their end at Cape of the Horizon. If you bind your hands and come with me to Phoenix Mountain, obeying the decree of the Phoenix Divine Tree, all will be well. Otherwise, this time next year will mark your demise!"
Fang Zhi forced a smile and replied, "Why must the Phoenix Maiden be so harsh? I am the only son of Fang Yu Jue, head of the Zhu You Fang Family. If anything were to happen to me today, it would be a loss not worth mourning. However, if this stirs up trouble for the Fang Family, I fear there may be some unpleasantness between them and Phoenix Mountain."
His words carried a subtle firmness, hinting at a threat. By mentioning the Fang Family, he aimed to leverage their influence to dissuade the Phoenix Maiden. However, Qing disdainfully spat on the ground and retorted, "What nonsense about the Fang Family? There isn't a decent person in Zhu You School."
Wei Ning couldn't help but chuckle inwardly; it seemed this girl still held a grudge against him and had included him in her insults.
The Phoenix Maiden's voice turned icy. "Are you threatening me?"
Fang Zhi responded, "I'm merely giving you a reminder; let’s not ruin our peace."
"Hmph! Who do you think you are to speak to my sister like that..."
Fang Zhi shot a glance at Qingyi. If it weren't for his concern about Wei Ning and the Phoenix Maiden, he would have liked to teach this arrogant girl a lesson. Angrily, he said, "I am speaking with the Phoenix Maiden; what right do you have to interfere?"
The Phoenix Maiden replied calmly, "She is my sister; her words are my words."
Fang Zhi seethed with anger. "Today I return what belongs to the Gu God. I swear that as long as I live, I will never set foot on Phoenix Mountain again. Will that suffice?"
"Not acceptable."
Fang Zhi's voice turned hoarse. "Then what do you want?"
"Bind your hands and come back with me to apologize. Submit to the judgment of Phoenix Mountain," the Phoenix Maiden said calmly.
Fang Zhi was not foolish; if he truly followed the Phoenix Maiden back to the mountain, his fate would be entirely in her hands. He steeled his heart and glanced at Wei Ning, a hint of pleading in his eyes. "Brother Wei, no matter what, this is an internal matter of Zhu You Men. We can settle things behind closed doors, but now, the people from Phoenix Mountain are bullying us too much. As the leader of Zhu You School, can you really just stand by and watch as they mistreat our people?"
At that moment, it seemed Fang Zhi finally understood Wei Ning's identity. However, Wei Ning turned his back and replied indifferently, "Zhu You School does not need someone like you. I have seen nothing. You should resolve your own issues; it has nothing to do with me." He stepped back with Ding Ying and Liu Linglang, clearly stating his position.
Azure Cold snorted and said, "At least you know how to be sensible."
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