Chapter 78: What Is Love in This World?

In the face of Yu Yun’s threats, Kongwu remained unperturbed. He understood that though Yu Yun was wanton in temperament, deep down she was not malicious; on the contrary, she was kind-hearted.

Whether one followed the demonic or the orthodox path, goodness or evil depended on the person and their heart, not on the cultivation technique itself.

Yet it was precisely his indifference that wounded Yu Yun to the core.

She succumbed to demonic cultivation.

There is a world of difference between succumbing to demonic cultivation passively and embracing it by one’s own will—one loses control in the former, while in the latter, every thought and action remains conscious and deliberate.

After Yu Yun became a demon, she acted as she had warned: she sought out the Brahma Sky Sect, blaming the bald-headed Buddhist cultivators for the harm done to her and Kongwu.

She did not truly kill anyone; she merely destroyed their cultivation. She even rallied many female cultivators from the Wind and Moon Sect to seduce those monks and break their vows of chastity.

The methods of the Wind and Moon Sect were endless and impossible for ordinary men to resist—if not for the intervention of the highest monks, none would have withstood it!

For a time, the Brahma Sky Sect was engulfed in chaos. Those whose cultivation was ruined fell into despair, while those who broke their vows were shamed nearly to death.

Of course, there were also some who came to their senses and left the monastic life altogether.

In short, after this upheaval, the Brahma Sky Sect became the laughingstock of the entire cultivation world.

It is said that a scholar may be killed but not humiliated. The Buddhist disciples were enraged and joined forces to hunt Yu Yun down. Not knowing her full name, only that her surname was Yu, they dubbed her Demon Yu.

On the day Yu Yun was besieged by the Buddhist cultivators, Kongwu rushed to the scene.

Seeing Yu Yun already consumed by demonic energy, for the first time, Kongwu felt regret.

But the deed was done. Though Yu Yun had not killed, the hatred she incurred was no less than if she had. With Kongwu's pleas and the sect leader’s intervention, the Buddhist cultivators, though grudging, handed Yu Yun over to Kongwu for punishment.

There was no turning back.

Yu Yun no longer cared for her own life or death. She wanted only one answer—had Kongwu ever loved her, even the slightest bit?

She conjured one illusion after another, hoping to see whether, if given another chance or under different circumstances, he would choose to be with her.

Yet Kongwu’s soul-bound artifact was the Lotus of Karma’s Fire. Though it could not break illusions, it kept his mind clear.

But no matter how strong an artifact, it could not withstand the stirrings of the heart. More than once, Kongwu, though knowing all before him was false, nearly gave in to his true feelings and wanted to be with her, consequences be damned.

But the enmity between sects, the chasm between Buddha and demon, stood between them like an impassable gulf.

Kongwu had no choice but to consume a lotus leaf from the Lotus of Karma’s Fire, thus forcing himself to make a heartless decision.

The effect was immediate.

Yu Yun’s spirit was utterly crushed. Kongwu chose a quiet, undisturbed cavern, sealed Yu Yun inside, and summoned his own soul-bound artifact, hoping to purge the demonic energy from her with the Lotus of Karma’s Fire.

He kept vigil outside, in a place where Yu Yun could not sense him.

Kongwu cultivated the Path of No Emotion, meant to sever all attachment and love, yet he had fallen for her, unable to restrain himself.

His foundation was damaged, but unwilling for Yu Yun to notice, he left alone.

Before departing, he expended most of his cultivation to set a powerful barrier on the sealed domain—none could enter without his spiritual guidance.

It was both protection and selfishness—he did not wish others to disturb or harm her.

But after Kongwu left the sealed domain, somehow, the Brahma Sky Secret Realm suddenly appeared, and the sealed place was drawn into it, lost even to Kongwu.

Upon hearing this, Yan Shu suddenly understood everything.

She looked at Yu Wenche and said, “Only with Master Kongwu’s spiritual energy could one enter the sealed domain. So it was because of that sash that we were accidentally transported inside!”

Yu Wenche nodded. “It was all fate. Had you not given Brother Xiao the Hao Yuan Pill, then come to find me, and by coincidence we reached the mountaintop, and then I summoned the sash to deter the demons—otherwise, we never would have found the sealed place, nor allowed Master Kongwu and Senior Yu to meet one last time.”

It all sounded so improbable, chances even slimmer than winning a lottery, but it had happened by sheer happenstance.

Yan Shu sighed. “The world believes Master Kongwu ascended, never realizing he perished. He entrusted the sash to the Yu Wen clan, leaving a remnant soul within—he must have foreseen this final meeting.”

Yu Wenche nodded. “After entering the sealed place and sensing the familiar illusion, Master Kongwu guided me to break the barrier and release Senior Yu. It was his final wish.”

No wonder he saw through the illusion and so decisively slew the false ‘her.’

Such are the wondrous workings of fate.

Yan Shu’s heart ached, for Yu Yun and for Kongwu alike.

It was impossible to say who was right or wrong, but the one most at fault was that demon king, Mu Weili!

Yan Shu, somewhat indignant, exclaimed, “That demon king really had to meddle in what was none of his business!”

At these words, Yu Wenche smiled. “The demon king’s loose tongue implicated him as well. He expended his life’s cultivation to rebuild the foundation and cores of those Brahma Sky Sect disciples whose cultivation had been ruined, and passed away early. In this way, he repaid his karmic debt.”

Yan Shu’s feelings grew even more complicated—this web of cause and effect had truly made everyone suffer bitterly.

She wondered how that final meeting between Yu Yun and Master Kongwu had ended—had she truly let go at last?

Yan Shu let out a long sigh and softly recited the poem that always stirred her heart:

“Ask the world, what is love, that compels life and death in its name?
From north to south, two soaring souls, how many winters and summers have their old wings endured?
Joys and delights, the pain of parting, and among them, the most infatuated hearts.
You must have words: across miles of layered clouds, mountains in evening snow—whose side will your solitary shadow seek?
Along Hengfen Road, lonely pipes and drums echo as in years past, while wild mist still shrouds the plain.
Summoning souls in Chu is all in vain, mountain spirits weep in the storm.
Even heaven is jealous, unwilling to believe that oriole and swallow alike turn to dust.
For a thousand autumns and eternity, let poets, with mad songs and bitter wine, come visit the wild geese’s mound.”

Her low voice echoed through the valley. Yu Wenche and Xiao Jihan pressed their lips together, gazing into the lush greenery ahead.

After a long while, Xiao Jihan spoke calmly: “For now, we should think about how to get out of here.”

His words pulled Yan Shu back to reality. She looked down, then up, and her face fell. “It’s dozens of yards both up and down. A fall would mean certain death, and even if we climbed down, who knows how long it would take to escape these mountains? As for climbing up, who can say if there’s a safe path?”

Yu Wenche and Xiao Jihan both leaned out to survey the cliff.

After a moment, Xiao Jihan spoke: “We should climb up. We’ve been trapped here over ten days. In less than ten more, the secret realm will close. There’s no time left to seek a path out of the valley.”