Chapter 850: Li Li Lingjing

Li Luo hadn't expected this conversation with Li Feng to yield such a substantial gain; though he deemed Zhao Zhao Jingyu a fool, he had nonetheless elevated the man's level of danger in his mind.

To rise to second place among Zhao Li Tianwang's younger generation, Zhao Zhao Jingyu, even if a fool, was the kind of dangerous fool.

Li Luo never underestimated his enemies, so if he encountered Zhao Zhao Jingyu in the An Yu Feng Yin, he would strike to kill if given the chance.

Since both sides belonged to opposing factions, there was no need for excessive restraint.

"Li Luo, Grand Flag Captain, Zhao Zhao Jingyu's arrival likely means a Marquis-strength elder from Zhao Li Tianwang's line will accompany him. For safety's sake, I'll lead a team to escort you into the An Yu Feng Yin, and I'll wait outside the seal for your return," Li Feng said after a moment's thought, smiling.

Hearing this, Li Luo said, "Director Li Feng fears Zhao Li Tianwang's Marquis-strength elders will attack us? Are they so disregardful of rules?"

"Mainly because Zhao Zhao Jingyu's reputation for arrogance and brutality is too well-known—I worry he'll go mad and forcibly order his Marquis-strength elders to strike you. Though such behavior is vile and invites condemnation, we must still guard against it."

Li Feng gave a helpless smile. "To be honest, if any misfortune befalls you three within Xi Ling Jing, my position here is finished."

Li Luo exchanged glances with Li Li Fengyi and the others, then nodded. "Then we're in your debt, Director Li Feng."

Since he had said so, they could hardly refuse; moreover, Li Feng was merely escorting them to the An Yu Feng Yin and not directly completing their mission, so it wasn't a violation.

Afterward, Li Feng changed the subject, speaking of local customs in Xi Ling Jing, and the atmosphere grew increasingly warm, with host and guests both delighted.

As the banquet neared its end, Li Luo finally spoke: "When I set out, Aunt Yun specifically instructed me to meet my cousin Li Li Lingjing. Could I trouble the Director?"

Hearing this, Li Feng paused, then sighed bitterly. "Li Rouyun still cares for that girl."

He stood up. "Then Grand Flag Captain Li Luo, follow me. After what happened to her, her temperament changed drastically—she no longer sees outsiders, which is why I didn't bring her to this gathering."

Li Luo nodded, exchanged a few words with Li Li Fengyi and the others, then followed Li Feng to the back courtyard.

As they walked side by side along the corridor, Li Luo asked curiously: "I heard this cousin Li Li Lingjing was once a rare prodigy of the Xi Ling Li Shi?"

Li Feng nodded, sighing. "Li Lingjing was indeed the most outstanding prodigy of Xi Ling Li Shi in a hundred years. She was a few years older than you; had she not suffered that accident, she would surely have been selected for the previous generation's Four Flags, and very likely, due to Li Rouyun's influence, entered the Qingming Flag."

"Had that been the case, I'd swear Li Lingjing had every right to compete for Dragon Chief among the previous generation's Twenty Flags!"

Hearing this, Li Luo was somewhat surprised—this cousin had nearly entered the Qingming Flag? If Li Feng wasn't exaggerating, then under normal circumstances, the Qingming Flag should have risen in the previous generation, without waiting for his return.

The affairs of this world were truly mysterious.

Li Feng's aged face darkened. "Unfortunately, just as she was at the peak of her glory, she encountered a True Demon aberration within the An Yu Feng Yin. Though she survived, her spirit and foundation were damaged, and she was even tainted by malevolent qi."

"Though we later purified the taint, her spirit had already scattered—her once-unyielding fighting spirit was shattered, her cultivation progress slowed drastically, and those who had once lagged far behind her have since surpassed her one by one."

Li Feng's expression was bitter; he still remembered the sword-wielding girl who had once dazzled all of Xi Ling City—she had been destined to become a brilliant new star in Li Li Tianwang's line.

"Because of all this, Li Lingjing became far more reclusive, growing distant even from close kin. Some grew resentful, and rumors only made her more unwilling to interact with others."

"This child once had an exceptionally close bond with Li Rouyun. Over the years, while managing the Longya Mountains, Li Rouyun frequently gathered rare medicinal herbs and treasures for her, attempting to heal her—but with little effect. Her mind seems to have been especially severely corrupted by that True Demon aberration."

Li Luo listened, deeply saddened—such a prodigy, reduced to this. It was truly a most unfortunate fate.

As they walked and spoke, Li Feng's pace slowed, and Li Luo saw before them a quiet courtyard, its ground covered in weeds and dead leaves, radiating decay, as if permeated by an unsettling chill.

They entered the courtyard, and Li Luo's gaze fell upon a stone pavilion, its surface blanketed in dead leaves—inside sat a woman in a wheelchair.

The woman's appearance was plain, her skin pale, her features exquisitely beautiful, yet her eyes held a faint emptiness, staring blankly at the falling leaves, her body occasionally emitting a chilling aura that deterred approach.

Li Feng led Li Luo into the pavilion, but the woman showed no reaction.

"Li Lingjing."

Li Feng lowered his voice, softly calling her name. "This is Li Luo, Grand Flag Captain of the Qingming Flag. He came at Aunt Li Rouyun's request to see you."

The white-clad woman showed no response until she heard "Li Rouyun"—then her vacant eyes flickered slightly, and a faint sound emerged from her lips: "Aunt… aunt…"

Slowly, she raised her pale face and looked at Li Luo.

Li Luo smiled gently at her, then took from his space orb the herbs and pills Li Rouyun had entrusted him to bring, placing them before her.

Li Li Lingjing stared blankly at the herbs, saying nothing—her pallid state evoked sighs of pity.

Li Feng could not bear to see her like this; his aged face grew even more somber. He waved Li Luo away, then turned and left the courtyard.

Li Luo sat down beside her. He felt deep sorrow for her fate; moreover, since Aunt Li Rouyun had used the precious treasure originally reserved for Li Li Lingjing to alleviate Jiang Jiang Qinge's Ming Guang Xin Ji problem, he now felt a measure of gratitude toward Li Li Lingjing as well.

"Cousin Li Lingjing, don't lose hope. Every problem has a solution," Li Luo said gently.

Li Li Lingjing's eyes remained vacant; she said nothing.

Li Luo spoke to himself: "Once, I was a Kongxiang, unable to cultivate. I, too, was utterly hopeless—but later, I still found a way."

Li Li Lingjing looked at him slowly, finally speaking, though her voice held no emotion: "It's useless. Half my mind was devoured by it. I'm already a waste—no further progress is possible."

"It? Was it a True Demon?" Li Luo asked.

Li Li Lingjing fell silent for a long while, then said: "Shi Ling Zhen Mo. If you enter Xi Ling Jing's An Yu Feng Yin, be careful. This aberration especially targets those with exceptional talent."

Li Luo frowned slightly—this True Demon aberration was so strange? It specifically hunted those with high talent?

"Such a dangerous aberration should be hunted down and eliminated by strong elders," Li Luo said.

Li Li Lingjing slowly shook her head. "It differs from ordinary True Demons. Its intellect is extremely high. Our clan leader once attempted to encircle and eliminate it—but they couldn't even find its trail. It is the most mysterious aberration in Xi Ling Jing's An Yu Feng Yin."

Li Luo paused, then asked: "If you killed this True Demon aberration, could you recover?"

Li Li Lingjing fell silent for a moment. "I don't know. Perhaps half my mind has already been consumed by it, turned into malevolent qi."

Li Luo sighed inwardly—if so, it would be truly troublesome.

"After I complete this mission, Cousin Li Lingjing, you may come with me to the Longya Mountains. I can ask the Old Master to see if there's any way to help you," Li Luo said after a moment's thought.

"Flag Chief?" Li Li Lingjing murmured, but only shook her head silently.

Li Luo was puzzled by her reaction.

But Li Li Lingjing said no more. She gazed at the herbs and pills on the stone table, then took a jade pendant from her bosom and handed it to Li Luo.

"Please deliver this pendant to Auntie. And tell her… don't bother gathering more herbs for me anymore."

With that, she closed her eyes and said nothing more.

"Go now. Be careful within the An Yu Feng Yin."

Li Luo took the pendant, gazed at the unresponsive Li Li Lingjing before him, sighed inwardly, and turned to leave.

(End of Chapter)