Chang Dong had originally thought that when he finally reached the truth, he would be overwhelmed with emotion—yet instead, he remained calm, both in demeanor and tone. "Were you there at that time?" "Of course. Qingzhu needed to set up his bago gua yao platform, bringing the Jin Xie guild and the guards along. I managed to secure a spot close enough to accompany him, so I was certainly there. By the way, I'd like to thank that incident at Yumen Pass where my body and soul were separated. Without that creating such a vast gray zone, I wouldn't have had the chance to meet you at all. The odds of that happening are far lower than winning the lottery." She chuckled, then looked at Zhao Guanshou with a suddenly playful scolding, "Master Zhao, you've kept me going on and on—could you please send your young tea boy to serve me a cup of tea?" Then she turned to Chang Dong, showing proper courtesy, "And you? Would you like one as well?" Chang Dong replied, "Thank you, but I'm not in the mood." He sat in silence, watching the vigilant guards from outside serve tea. The teapot had a slender handle, made of Gong窑 with open cracks in celadon glaze, displaying a delicate ice-crack pattern. The tea cups had shallow mouths, and the table surface was uneven. As Long Zhi poured the tea, the clear, bright, rich stream of liquid trembled slightly, tilting toward Chang Dong, as if it would spill over at any moment. "Actually, Chang Dong, you should have realized long ago that it was your Li Liu Xi who awakened the ancient spirit cabinet—the cabinet serves as the gateway at Yumen Pass. And she carries the very essence of Li Liu Xi, moving freely in and out. Her blood can also dissolve the seals on the spirits and ghosts—no one else has this ability. I remember when she was injured and bled at Jin Yang's cave, Jin Yang suddenly became agitated—this connection must be no coincidence." Chang Dong glanced at her. "You call yourself Ye Liu Xi, and you've managed to accompany us so closely—yet Liu Xi shows no reaction at all?" Long Zhi smiled gently: "I first chose this name to deceive Jiang Zhan. If there truly was a woman named Ye Liuxi in Xie's eyes, he would surely have been surprised. Yet he showed no such reaction." "Ye Liuxi, on the other hand, was different. When Jiang Zhan introduced me to her, he mentioned my name, and she clearly paused—women, especially elegant and proud ones, generally dislike having someone similar to themselves. Interestingly, Jiang Zhan himself seemed unaware of this, and instead, he enthusiastically pointed out that Qing Zhi and Liuxi shared the same surname." "It was clear that Ye Qingzhi intended to follow Li Wei Dong's example—after taking over Black Stone City, she would change her destined name. Perhaps changing it too early wouldn't have been enough to carry the required destiny. But simply from Jiang Zhan's one remark, I already knew that I could find room to maneuver between Ye Qingzhi and Jiang Zhan, because she wasn't sharing everything with him." “Changdong, I heard you’ve been quite fond of Ye Liuxi. When you were in Jin Yang’s cave, you gave your life for her—indeed, it makes sense, after all, she’s young and beautiful, and her personality hasn’t been as unappealing as it once was.” Changdong replied coldly, “People’s memories can be manipulated; but personality remains consistent.” Qingzhi shook her head, “That’s where you’re mistaken. When someone is consistently overlooked or trampled upon by the outside world, unless she’s a bodhisattva, she inevitably grows cold and sharp. Ye Liuxi has forgotten everything from the interior region—she doesn’t remember her father being devoured right before her eyes, doesn’t recall days of hunger, doesn’t remember being beaten for stealing, nor does she remember the hidden underground mining days that never saw the light of day.” “We may not be able to access her memories directly, but we can sense which ones trigger emotional fluctuations. The memories from the interior region have almost been entirely absorbed. Even those from the exterior region—any memories that stirred strong emotions in her—we’ve instructed the Tungui to suppress. As a result, her personality will naturally become more But in fact, back in her childhood, due to her early experiences, she had a strong sense of suspicion—she never fully trusted others, always held back three parts of what she said, and was quite self-centered, insisting on getting what she wanted no matter what. "Yet you're right—personality tends to carry over. Having known her for so long, haven't you noticed certain instances when she reveals herself, such as being indifferent or even harsh in her actions?" Chang Dong remained silent. Indeed, there were such moments: during her time at the banner, there was a time when Ye Liuxi nearly froze her patron to death, an incident he never forgot. Moreover, Ye Liuxi was someone who could not be overlooked—Li Qi mentioned that during her early career, she had been ambushed three times, and each time, she had lost a finger. He asked, "Since the interior region almost completely absorbed everything, why specifically preserve the scene of Yinzhong swallowing up the scene of Liuxi’s father’s passing?" Long Zhi shrugged, "Water that is too clear has no fish. The most vivid and memorable scenes simply cannot be swallowed." When she was young, she witnessed her father being devoured—she would surely carry that experience as a lifelong nightmare. We calculated the timeline and concluded that the events at that time were not significant, so they no longer mattered. "Chang Dong smiled, "You've built up so much context—aren't you trying to tell me that the ancient spirit pavilion was opened by her, that the tea mountain's disaster stemmed from her, and that the tea mountain's people were ordered by her to be fed into the Eye Tomb, aren't you?" Long Zhi was surprised, "Could there be any doubt about this? Indeed, it was her. We merely carried out orders. As the foremost immortal scholar enjoying all privileges, what would I possibly have done to open the ancient spirit pavilion? The Jiang Clan's ruin and the deaths of its members were merely due to their feud with the Fei Lin Guard. Why would he have taken issue with spirits and ghosts?" "Only Ye Liuxi remains. She is protected by the Nandou Star, born with a desire to break through the Jade Gate. After her family was wiped out by the Eye Tomb, she has endured constant upheaval. Given her nature, would she simply let this grievance pass In the grand museum, my uncle Zhao mentioned to you two years ago that the Yanzong clan had already gone extinct—do you think it was someone who killed them? "Ever since then, she has preserved the Yanzong clan, feigning care by feeding them and restoring their condition, all in order to learn the precise location of the Bogu妖jia. Once she secured that location and opened the Bogu妖jia, the first clan she eliminated was the Yanzong. As for why she fed them before killing them—let me explain: when the Yanzong clan is in deep slumber, they typically choose a highly secluded spot within the pile of corpses, protected by surrounding living tombs, forming an array of eighteen linked tombs. The living tombs themselves—people consume people, and spirits consume spirits—but few are aware of their drawback: after consuming someone, they lose their vitality for a short period, much like a tiger that has just swallowed a sheep can no longer hold onto a rabbit. The people from Shancha were taken precisely to test the living tombs and clear the way." Chang Dong slowly tightened his grip, his fingernails nearly piercing his palm, "All of this you've told Long Zhi stared at him for a long while, then suddenly burst into laughter—laughing so hard that she nearly gasped for breath. "It's truly amusing. For over a year now, I've been by Jiang Zhan's side, constantly telling him lies, and he has always believed me. I told him about the sandstorm at Huyang City, that it had weakened me, and that I would be unable to enter or leave the pass for a while. He believed me, even urged me to rest properly. He couldn't recall the matter of my tattoos—when I explained it was a side effect of the sandstorm causing some memory confusion, he believed that too. After all, it's widely rumored that Lady Long fell seriously ill due to that very storm. Now, Lady Long is bedridden, and our minor injuries and small disruptions—what are they, really?" Long Zhi's lips curled into a warm smile, her long, slender brows gleaming with persuasive grace: "Once the illness of Tun Kui takes hold, it never ceases. To escape it, there are only two options: one is to die, and the other is to amputate your left hand." Chang Dong's lips felt slightly dry. Long Zhi continued: "I know that beyond the pass, you often surprise us—promising to be the number one, only to fall short against a mere floor-sweeping monk; claiming there's no remedy, only to suddenly summon Hua Tuo, who revives the dead. In comparison, we within the pass are far more consistent. Tun Kui offers only these two solutions—none other. If you still doubt my words, go find Ye Liuxi to verify. As long as she is willing to cut off her hand, once Tun Kui passes, her memories will return fully, and she will remember everything." "Then you ask her directly—when the blood was used to establish the ancient spirit framework, when the framework collapsed and the souls of the Jade Gate separated, and we found the off-road vehicle and the buried bodies on the scene—did she say, 'It's perfect; I'll take them away to deliver the eyes to the Eye Tomb and return to heaven'? Go ask her! As I speak, my tone grows more forceful, and my eyes shine with intensity. She's so assertive, and yet Chang Dong suddenly calms down. After looking at me for a while, she smiles: 'I never realized before that women become less attractive when they're angry—now I see it.' 'If what you're saying is truly heartfelt, if you've poured your soul into every word, then you must have invested far more attention than anyone would expect in someone like me—a minor character. So, what's your real purpose?' It's finally time for the moment when the dagger is revealed. Zhao Guanshou suddenly feels nervous—this is the first time in a long time that he's noticed the air in this study is stagnant, and even breathing feels difficult. Long Zhi spoke slowly, as if afraid he might not hear clearly, each word precise and emphasized: "Ye Liuxi is now about to step out of the pass. When she departs, a sandstorm usually accompanies her, shielding her, and the Yu Men Pass itself will experience a temporary separation of body and spirit—you will be there, and you will kill her. After that, you will naturally emerge from the pass. The Sand-Covered Eye will assist in her burial, and thus, all matters within and beyond the pass will be settled, and peace will be restored." Chang Dong wanted to smile; he looked up at Zhao Guanshou. "I remember someone saying that Liuxi is never truly killed." Zhao Guanshou remained composed. "I recall my exact words: she can enjoy a long and peaceful life within the pass, and neither the Yulin Guard, the scholars, nor the spirits or demons can kill her. Have you understood? Within the pass, no one can kill her, nor can anyone move her—yet, are you someone from within the pass?" Chang Dong leaned back in his chair, silent for a while. After a moment, he placed a hand on his forehead and chuckled softly. "Now I It's no wonder she's been paying close attention to him—after all, at that time, he was the only living person outside the borders she had ever personally encountered who could be used to counter Ye Liuxi. Speaking of keeping Ye Liuxi for her own purposes is mere nonsense; her ultimate goal was always to kill her and reduce her back to a mere shadow. The collapse of the Scorpion's Eye and the confrontation with Ye Liuxi were two parallel endeavors—neither could be taken lightly. "Ye Liuxi grew up in a remote village, with no family influence or power. In just a few decades, she has risen to stand at the peak of opposition to Black Stone City. Do you really think she achieved this merely through her kindness and gentle demeanor? As long as she remains alive, no one can find peace of mind. If we imprison her, haven't you heard the saying, 'the longer the night, the more dreams come'? Who can guarantee there won't be a breakdown? That very night when the ancient library of the Bo Gu Yao collapsed, I encountered you—wasn't that the perfect moment sent by heaven? I couldn't have missed it. Chang Dong laughed heartily; if his chest hadn't truly been pressing with pain, he might have continued laughing even longer. He said, "Then you truly don't understand me well." Even if you're right—Liuxi opened the Bo Gu Yao and triggered a catastrophic storm—Mr. Zhao himself once remarked that no one had anticipated the consequences to be so severe, especially the profound separation of body "Yes, I've lost Kong Yang and my teammates, but does that mean it's entirely流西's fault? Can you really conclude that with just a few sentences? Her role in this isn't comparable to that of a刽子手 who cuts down with a sword—something that can't be easily mixed up." "Moreover, I'm from outside the region. In our place, it's not customary to settle scores with blood for blood. You've told me a story you claim to be true, and now you expect me to kill流西—doesn't that sound overly confident? I've never killed anyone in my life." Long Zhi raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Then does the neck-breaking of Kong Yang not count?" Chang Dong replied: "I can distinguish between a person and a monster. I never sought attachment or memories in a monster." "Have I finished speaking? May I now leave? When they sent me, they said it was just to chat and that I'd be released quickly. Or perhaps I'm too naive—perhaps I'm expected to stay here indefinitely?" Long Zhi smiled gracefully, her face showing not the slightest sign of frustration or indignation at being rejected—instead, an air of composed confidence that made Chen Dong feel uneasy: "Very well. The door is there. Go ahead." Chen Dong hesitated slightly, then rose and departed. As his hand touched the door handle, a sudden, loud burst of laughter erupted from behind him. "Chen Dong," Long Zhi exclaimed, "do you really think I'm that foolish? That because Ye Liuxi's ancient altar caused the tea mountain to suffer, you're certain to listen to me and go straight to kill Ye Liuxi? Of course not. The most crucial point—I haven't revealed it yet." "I'd like to ask you something: Do you know that you've already died two years ago?" Chen Dong was struck dumb, standing frozen for a moment before slowly turning around. Long Zhi gently supported the edge of the table, rising steadily. "When the ancient altar collapsed, it triggered a massive surge of sandstorms. The people of the scorpion's eye had taken protective measures before the altar was opened, but you hadn't. What you encountered was nothing short of a catastrophic disaster." "What's special about you? You're not some Western-bred, Eastern-souled dreamer. Why should heaven favor you? Why should a natural disaster spare you? Eighteen people have died—yet you've never found it strange that you're still alive?"