Chapter 243: Fragments

“So… did we miss something?”

A black projection loomed above like a pillar supporting the skies, while fierce, icy-blue flames burned in its cavernous eye sockets. Though the air was still, its thick black gown shifted and swayed.

As if responding to some unseen command, the projection slowly raised its head, its withered skeletal hands firmly grasping its scythe.

“Whoosh!!…” A powerful surge of [magic] erupted outwards along with its movements, unleashing an anguished howl as the wind whipped into a frenzy and sinister cracks began to tear the earth asunder.

The sky lost its glow in that instant, the air turning heavy and still as the ground began to tremble without pause.

The area turned deathly silent and still, as if holding its breath, bracing for the onslaught of the incoming storm.

Despite their varied complexions, a collective astonishment was written all over their faces.

It was unknown what Lin had sensed, as she gazed fixedly at the projection looming in the boundary between heaven and the earth. Her eyes narrowed, as her lips moved — murmuring words that no one could understand.

Through the slits of his cross-shaped helmet, Ji Bai had also locked his gaze onto the astonishing figure in the air.

Unlike his companions, he was no stranger to this oppressive aura. But now, instead of being the controller of such might, he was its target.

The storm unleashed its fury, hurling sand that swept away everything in its path. In the heart of the tempest, the scythe that was raised in the air abruptly began its descent.

“Snap out of it and run!” Ji Bai was the first to respond, leaping to his feet and giving Huo Lei a swift smack on the head. He then scooped Lin up and hurried to safety.

“Boom!!” The earth ripped apart with a deafening roar. A jagged chasm, as if cleaved by a monstrous blade, speedily tore through the ground, swallowing sand, rock, and everything in its wake.

“Ouch!” Clumps of dirt and mud exploded upward, throwing Huo Lei off balance and sending him crashing towards a thin barrier.

“Nice work.” Ji Bai remarked admirably.

“You’re too kind.” Pian Zi did not forget to spare a moment for modesty as he sustained the barrier.

“You make it look quite effortless. Do you practice defensive magic often?”

“Not really; I just spend my time carving magic scrolls, that’s all.” Pian Zi said while shaking his head.

‘Engraving magical scrolls?…’

The sight of Pian Zi in his Daoist priest attire plunged Ji Bai into deep thought.

Though Pian Zi’s true nature remained an enigma, one thing was certain to Ji Bai: he was the only human of the group.

However, this realization was quickly overshadowed by the intensity of their surroundings. Even at the storm’s outer edges, where its fury should have been abated, the pressure bearing down on them was relentless and crushing.

The barrier around them was barely holding against the secondary shockwaves from the [Primordial Vein] spell.

The maelstrom of [Magical Energy] coalesced into a mushroom cloud that towered in the sky. A battered figure was flung from its center, tumbling lifelessly in the air like a puppet with its string cut before crashing wretchedly onto the ground.

“Hmm…” Ji Bai narrowed his eyes, observing the figure sprawled out a short distance from him.

The distance made it tough for him to make out the figure clearly.

However, he could not shake the feeling he had seen them somewhere before. Could his mind be playing a trick on him?

“Pian Zi, open up – let me through.”

“Are you sure about this, Master Ji?” Pian Zi was taken aback.

Outside the protective barrier, the whirlwind of sand and stone raged on like a crazed, insatiable beast, pulverizing even the sturdiest boulders into dust.

Anyone with a lick of sense knew that venturing beyond that barrier was tantamount to suicide.

“A human life is at stake here.” Ji Bai remarked, his gaze locked onto the slender figure being tossed around in the sandstorm.

He could tell they had lost consciousness. Their life, he realized, was no different than a weak flame flickering in the wind, fragile and at the mercy of the elements.

“In that case, allow this humble Taoist to divine and prepare a life-preserving talisman for you.” Pian Zi waved his horsetail whisk and recited a chant.

“Thanks for the help.” Ji Bai held [Tranquility] before him as he charged through the opening Pian Zi had created in the protective barrier.

“Clink…” The moment he emerged, a barrage of sand particles, each a tiny projectile charged with terrifying kinetic energy, bombarded the human-shaped barrier that Pian Zi’s talisman had conjured. The sound of their impact echoed like hailstones striking glass.

In one swift move, he dragged a wounded, feminine figure into the protection of the barrier.

“As I suspected, she looks familiar.” Ji Bai examined the ‘girl’ closely, stroking his chin in deep contemplation.

“You recognize her? I don’t.” Seeing the matching expressions on Ji Bai and Lin’s face, Huo Lei rubbed the back of his head. He had a nagging feeling that he was missing something big here.

“That couldn’t be…” It was evident that Lin reached the same conclusion as Ji Bai. Yet, like him, she struggled to come to terms with the answer that had dawned on her.

“…” Lost in thought, Ji Bai furrowed his brows and tilted his head. He intently observed the ‘girl’s’ face, which seemed strikingly familiar to him, and soon devised the most effective method to confirm his suspicions.

As the saying went, practice was the sole criterion of the truth.

Without hesitation, Ji Bai lifted the edge of the ‘girl’s’ skirt.

“…?! Whoa, what are you doing, Ji Bai?” The alarm in Huo Lei’s face quickly gave way to a frown. To him, taking advantage of someone at this state was not a conduct befitting of a knight.

Meanwhile, Pian Zi remained focused on maintaining the barrier, while silently repeating the heart sutra under his breath, “Form is emptiness, emptiness is form..”

Only Lin seemed unfazed, hesitating for a brief moment before giving Ji Bai her silent assent.

“…” After restoring the edge of ‘her’ skirt to its original position, Ji Bai stood up and gave Lin a nod.

“We have our answer.”

“So that’s really…” Lin had a complicated expression on her face as she stared at the young and beautiful ‘girl’, who had fallen unconscious on the ground.

She had used to scoff at the idea that men could outshine women in the game of seduction…

“I never would’ve pegged him for a crossdresser.” Ji Bai muttered, recalling his teacher’s words: Don’t judge a book by its cover, especially when it comes to those who appear righteous. He had emphasized that deception often lurked behind a virtuous facade, with the most convincing lies often told by those who appeared beyond reproach.

Was the figure before him not a perfect example? He was outwardly positive and upright, yet privately…

Though rigid and opinionated in some respects, Ji Bai wasn’t one to judge someone for their personal hobbies. The man’s hidden disposition didn’t change his view of him one bit.

Humanity itself was a tapestry of contradictions, light and shadow interwoven. Its light manifested itself in morals and laws, yet within every heart lay its darkness, driven to seek expression in the shadows of privacy.

In this world , no one was perfect.

It was a truth that applied to all sentient beings, including demons themselves.

Even Ji Bai was not exempt from this struggle.

Compared to the sheer depravity some hid behind a facade of decency, a cross-dressing fetish was relatively harmless.

He saw no reason to treat the man any differently than before.

However, while acceptance was one thing, duty was another. There was something he must carry out…

“Click.”

“What are you doing?”

“Good question. It’s just a hunch, but something tells me this kind of opportunity won’t come knocking twice. Best to have some insurance for later.” Ji Bai snapped off several pictures in succession before putting his phone away.

“…” Lin’s gaze lingered on his back.

“What’s the matter?”

“You’re more of a deviant than I thought, cockroach.” Lin took a step back expressionlessly.

“Is that so?” Ji Bai mused, patting his cheek thoughtfully.

It had never occurred to him that his own inclinations would be perceived as perverted by anyone, ever.

‘She’s right… Why would I act on impulse like that? I guess old habits die hard – like my time in the palace, where I would dig up dirt on people just to stir up trouble.’

Over time, though, those mischievous impulses of his had dulled somewhat.

If someone were to inquire about his transformation, he would say it likely began with a sudden bright idea to set up a magical recording device in Lilias’ room to collect dirt on her.

And that was all there was to the matter… or so he wished.

He had spent that whole night in tears due to the pain in his buttocks…

Ji Bai rapped on his metal helmet in frustration.

Why couldn’t he just erase those dark histories from his mind?

“So, what in the world just happened? Why haven’t we seen anyone from the Chivalric Group?” The shockwaves from the [Primordial Vein] skill had yet to dissipate, forcing the group of four – along with the unconscious crossdresser – to remain huddled behind Pian Zi’s barrier.

“Perhaps, that’s something we need to hear from him directly.” Ji Bai glanced at Gordon, who was lying on the ground.

Even though he knew very little about this young man who was proficient in both swordsmanship and magic, it was clear from his actions and behaviors he harbored an unusual amount of obsession and hatred towards the Ancestral God Sect.

His presence here had all but confirmed their suspicions.

Ji Bai’s heart sank a little.

“Pian Zi, undo the barrier.”

“Mhm? Benefactor Ji, are you certain about this? We would be caught completely off-guard if someone attacks us.”

“Do it—I’m certain,” Ji Bai declared firmly. ““And let’s be clear—if we draw their attention, it won’t be a fight, but rather instant annihilation. Barrier or not, it won’t matter.”

Human logic was simply incapable of grasping the sheer terror embodied by magic of [Primordial Vein] tier and above.

This experience had been seared into Ji Bai’s mind after being defeated by Lilias in battle.

The frivolous nature of youth meant that few among them had been tempered by the fires of true hardship. His past self served as a clear example of that — He had naively underestimated her power, kicking the hornet’s nest in a misguided attempt to reclaim lost territory.

This time, he was determined not to repeat the same mistake. Having encountered an opponent capable of effortlessly casting a [Primordial Vein] skill, Ji Bai had discarded any notions of a direct confrontation; His focus was now on devising a strategy to slip away undetected instead.

“Huo Lei, carry him.”

“Ah? That seems a bit inappropriate, doesn’t it?” Huo Lei said, dumbfounded.

“That’s a guy.”

“I know that’s a guy, but-… Ah?! A guy??” His eyes widened as he stared at the beautiful ‘girl’, at the height of ‘her’ youth. He could feel his worldview being shaken to the core.

‘Those arms, legs, and face… how can this be a guy??’

However, there was no time for him to calm down and process his shock.

“Quickly, we won’t have a chance if the old monster nearby discovers us.” Ji Bai urged Huo Lei.

“…O-Oh! Okay.” Huo Lei swallowed his doubts and began to carry the unconscious Gordon over his shoulders without another word.

“Unfortunately for you, your chance has just run out.” A voice like the chirps of a yellow oriole resounded, causing their scalps to uncontrollably tingle.

“Crack…” Without any warning, cracks started to appear on the barrier.

“It’s over. Looks like we ran out of time.” Ji Bai shook his head silently.

A strand of silver hair, tinged with cherry blossom pink, shimmered faintly amidst the swirling black sand.

A petite figure emerged from the swirling scarlet cloud of countless bats, each step measured and unhurried…

…Revealing a girl, clad in a single dress that exposed the youthful skin of her delicate back. Behind her, twelve black demonic wings extended outward, while her eyes glittered with wine-red light, resembling blood-drop gemstones in its entirety.

“So, you’ve all come here to join the vermin, have you?” An icy scarlet flame glowed in her eyes.

The scrutiny from her eyes alone was enough to intensify the pressure on everyone present.

“Silver hair, red irises… you are…” Lin’s eyes widened slightly as the girl’s emotionless gaze swept past her.

Pieces of memories began to flash in her mind.