Chapter 937: The Path of Choice (2/2, Requesting Moon Tickets)

Although Niu Niu's current situation isn't great, it's still far better than most people's, and infinitely better than back in Mo Cun, when he was poisoned into silence and could barely speak.

After verification, Fang Yue was certain—the Niu Niu standing before him was truly the old Niu Niu!

Fang Yue's heart surged with emotion; he circled Niu Niu several times, laughing: "Damn, I'm seriously impressed—you actually made it into the Flame Sect? I used to pretend to be… uh, never mind. How did you even know I was here?"

Niu Niu wasn't fazed; he first had his two underlings greet Master Fang Yue.

"So this is the Ye Ge that Brother Niu mentioned! I'm a disciple of the Flame Sect, nicknamed 'Waizui Xiaowang'!"

"I'm Ye Shao!"

Fang Yue glanced at the first underling's crooked mouth and the second's cold, stoic demeanor.

Could this be the legendary Waizui Zhanshen and Ye Liangchen?

With these two dragon-and-phoenix talents, no wonder Niu Niu soared so high.

Fang Yue's lip twitched—he realized he shouldn't judge by appearances, and politely greeted the two.

After introducing his underlings, Niu Niu grinned proudly: "Ye Ge, I've wanted to join you for ages, but the Flame Sect has too many rules—I never found a good chance to escape. This time, I finally got one, so I rushed over. From now on, I'm yours!"

As he spoke, Niu Niu winked at Fang Yue—the air suddenly grew tense.

Fang Yue shuddered with revulsion, but he was still glad Niu Niu had come to him.

"You're betraying the Flame Sect? That'll bring huge trouble…" Wei Ba hesitated, knowing Fang Yue was strong—but facing the Flame Sect was still overwhelming.

Both Niu Niu and Jing Yan— they… relied too much on Fang Yue. This was adding burden to him, and pressure to everyone.

Wei Ba had always believed: if you can handle your own affairs within your ability, you should. Relying on others for everything makes you nothing but a parasite.

"It's not betrayal—I'm still running errands for the Flame Sect. At most, I'm just working for Ye Ge for now, temporarily not returning to the sect."

Niu Niu chuckled, then handed a crimson box to Wei Ba.

"Here—it's something the Flame Sect asked me to deliver to you. It was supposed to be someone else's task, but I specifically grabbed it just to bring it to you myself."

"Delivered… to me?"

Wei Ba froze slightly.

Being discovered by the Flame Sect was within her expectations.

The Flame Sect had kept close watch on her—unless she kept moving constantly, never staying long in one place, discovery was inevitable.

Staying in You Mansion, such a conspicuous place, made discovery by the Flame Sect unavoidable.

But hiding in You Mansion meant even the Flame Sect wouldn't dare act rashly—even if they knew her location, it wasn't critical.

The trouble was: future outings would require extreme caution.

She had never imagined the Flame Sect would send her a gift.

Most likely… it was a trap.

As Wei Ba's expression darkened, Fang Yue asked directly: "The Flame Sect and Jibing Sect are mortal enemies. Why are they sending you a gift? What's inside? Not some explosive device, I hope?"

"What kind of talk is that, Ye Ge? If it were something like that, wouldn't I, the courier, be dead too? The Flame Sect isn't that cruel to their own disciples—they're still a reputable sect."

That's uncertain. Fang Yue still remembered the Flame Sect's cultivation method he once obtained—its main function was self-explosion.

What such a sect might do? No one could predict.

"Give it to me."

Fang Yue was just considering whether to inspect it himself before handing it to Wei Ba—when she snatched the box from Niu Niu's hands.

The box felt slightly heavy.

As she opened it, Wei Ba's pupils shrank instantly—her mind rang hollow, blank. The box slipped from her grip and crashed to the floor; its contents tumbled out.

It was… Ni Dongmei's head.

"How?!" Jing Yan's face changed.

"How could the goddess's head…?" Niu Niu, who had been laughing moments ago, froze. Back in Mo Cun, he'd fallen head over heels for Ni Dongmei—even though she was an old woman, her beauty had utterly bewitched him; he'd only reluctantly let go later.

He never imagined their next meeting would be like this.

The box he'd carried all this way… contained Ni Dongmei's head!

"…"

After initial shock, Fang Yue's expression turned icy, his fist slowly clenching as he ground out three words: "Flame Sect!"

Though his first impression of Ni Dongmei had been poor, their prolonged contact changed everything—she'd helped him greatly, their relationship gradually shifted, and later she became Wei Ba's guide, caring for her in every way within Jibing Sect.

In many ways, Ni Dongmei had been a mutual friend to Fang Yue and the others.

Now, this friend was dead—her head severed, delivered to them as a trophy by the Flame Sect.

Rage surged in Fang Yue's heart—while Wei Ba, already lifting Ni Dongmei's head, walked past them all, heading outward.

"Wei Ba?! Where are you going?"

"Flame Sect."

Wei Ba's voice, colder than ice, made Fang Yue realize for the first time: the title "Jibing Shengnyu" didn't just mean she was the Saintess of Jibing Sect—it meant that in certain moments, she could become as frigid as absolute frost, so cold it froze blood and kept all others at an unbreachable distance!

"Ye Ge, I've stayed in Jingcheng too long—I thought I'd have a few days to rest. But Ni Dongmei's head has woken me up. This war between Jibing Sect and Flame Sect began as a fight to the death—and as Jibing Sect's Saintess, I cannot step away even a single step!"

"So I'm going back. I'm going to end this war."

Watching frost slowly crystallize along Wei Ba's back, and frost cracks spreading across the ground beneath her feet, Fang Yue cried out: "Wait! I'm coming with you!"

Wei Ba, who had already turned to leave, paused—then glanced back at Fang Yue, her gaze shifting to Jing Yan, saying nothing.

"…" Jing Yan lowered his head, fists clenched.

He wanted to urge Fang Yue to go help Wei Ba—but his selfishness choked the words in his throat.

Morning had been missing for many days now.

How much longer he could hold on? No one knew.

Perhaps today was the limit—the last chance to save him. Miss this, and Morning would be beyond rescue…

And if I just "generously" let Fang Yue go, losing his aid, I might truly kill Morning.

So he couldn't speak.

(End of chapter)