In Mo Fan’s view, Xiao Bao’s future was already very good.
Although the child’s early years had been unimaginably tragic, from now on he would be far happier than most people.
On the way to collect Xiao Bao, Mo Fan also learned some information about the bridal-clad female ghost from her.
The female ghost’s original name was Wu Qiuyue. More than a hundred years ago, she was the daughter of a merchant, born with flower-like beauty. At that time, she was extremely famous throughout Nanyang Island.
After coming of age, Wu Qiuyue met a handsome young gentleman. It was love at first sight, and eventually the two reached the point of marriage.
But on that very night, a female demonic cultivator broke into Wu Qiuyue’s home and slaughtered her entire family.
It was only then that Wu Qiuyue realised the man she loved was actually a demonic cultivator. His love for her had merely been to temper his heart.
And that female demonic cultivator was none other than his master. Her actions were simply to help him break through in cultivation.
“The technique of my lineage is originally about extinguishing emotions and severing love. You wish to temper your heart in the mortal world. Without slaying your inner demons, what can you achieve?”
“Today, as your master, I shall sever all your inner demons for you and help you transform in this tumultuous mortal realm!”
In the end, the female cultivator pierced Wu Qiuyue with a sword. At the same time, the child in Wu Qiuyue’s womb was also killed.
After Wu Qiuyue died, the female cultivator originally intended to extract her soul and refine it. However, she was ultimately stopped by her disciple.
Looking at her disciple who had broken through, the female cultivator did not press further. Instead, she complied with his request, strengthened Wu Qiuyue’s soul, and sneered coldly, “Very well. Leaving this wisp of soul behind might even help you break through again in the future!”
With that, the female cultivator locked Wu Qiuyue’s soul into her hair strands. Then she threw her corpse, along with the bodies of her entire family, into the well in the courtyard.
In this way, Wu Qiuyue wept in the well, constantly feeling loneliness and fear.
Because the well was a place of extreme yin, even sunlight could not reach its depths. Over time, Wu Qiuyue’s soul not only did not dissipate but gradually grew stronger.
And because she was locked in those hair strands, she watched with her own eyes as her family members and her own corpse rotted in the water until they turned completely into dry bones. Yet she could not enter reincarnation.
Perhaps because her obsession was too deep, although she became a ghost, she did not lose her sanity.
She did not know how much time had passed until one day her former fiancé returned.
Not only did he return, but he also brought a head with him. At the same time, he released Wu Qiuyue from her hair strands.
“I have killed her. From now on, we go our separate ways!”
“I am sorry for wronging you, but this is the path I must take!”
“She was right about one thing. In our lineage, we must extinguish emotions and sever love!”
After leaving those words, the man threw the head of his former master into the well. As he departed, he used his mana to lay a restriction around the abandoned residence.
“Next, I will pursue my dao. Perhaps I will never return!”
The man ultimately left, abandoning Wu Qiuyue to spend her days in solitude in the dilapidated old residence.
During this period, many people mistakenly entered the old residence. For these people, Wu Qiuyue would transform into a beautiful woman to seduce them. Anyone overcome by lust would die tragically in the well.
But for those with pure and kind hearts, Wu Qiuyue would let them leave.
However, this very behaviour planted the seeds of trouble for her, eventually attracting a powerful expert from the Orthodox Dao Sect.
That expert originally intended to destroy Wu Qiuyue. But after hearing her story, he ultimately softened.
“Love in this world is the most incomprehensible thing. Even demonic cultivators may not truly extinguish emotions and sever love.
The restriction around this residence is both your prison and your protection. I hope you take care of yourself. Do not commit harmful acts in the future, or this poor daoist will certainly not spare you!”
With those words, the old daoist left.
Although the old daoist departed, from then on, batches of Orthodox Dao Sect disciples arrived on Nanyang Island one after another.
As time passed, the well gradually dried up, yet the resentment in Wu Qiuyue’s heart did not diminish in the slightest. She hated her former fiancé intensely.
In her view, her family and her child had all died because of him. Therefore, she was unwilling to accept this and wanted to leave to find him and take revenge.
After hearing Wu Qiuyue’s story, Mo Fan could not help but sigh softly in his heart. Then he casually asked, “What is his name?”
“Both our names contain the character for moon. He is called Dongfang Shuiyue!”
When Wu Qiuyue mentioned this name, a trace of inexplicable tenderness appeared in her eyes, though it quickly vanished, turning back into hatred.
Dongfang Shuiyue…
Upon hearing this name, a flash of surprise passed through Mo Fan’s eyes.
He had heard this name before. Or rather, he knew it from the memories of many human cultivators.
One of the personal disciples of the Soul Refining Sect, Dongfang Shuiyue!
At the same time, this Dongfang Shuiyue had a very renowned title, Prince Shuiyue!
Soon, Mo Fan’s gaze calmed again. He did not know if the Dongfang Shuiyue in Wu Qiuyue’s story was the same as Prince Shuiyue. After all, the world was vast, and many shared names.
However, in his view, it was very likely the same person, since both were demonic cultivators.
“From your story, it is not hard to see that before he left, he was already at least a Core Formation cultivator. Now, with a hundred years passed, he is probably even stronger, far beyond what you can handle.
Since you now follow me, I will give you a chance.
In a while, I will collect a child and leave him at the city lord’s mansion in Nanyang from then on. You will secretly protect his safety and let him live out his life peacefully.
As long as you can do this, if I encounter that Dongfang Shuiyue in the future, I will definitely bring him to see you. How about that?”
“Good!”
Wu Qiuyue did not hesitate at all in response to Mo Fan’s words, because she also understood that with her own strength alone, revenge was impossible. Even finding him would be difficult.
“You trust me just like that?” Mo Fan asked, surprised.
“Apart from trusting you, I have no other choice.”
Wu Qiuyue smiled bitterly. In her view, this was perhaps her last hope.
“Good. Then let us make an agreement. Before I return, you must not harm anyone, nor reveal yourself casually to others. Otherwise, you might be slain by those righteous cultivators before I come back!”
“Good. Everything will be as senior arranges!”
In this way, the female ghost Wu Qiuyue was left by Mo Fan at the city lord’s mansion in Nanyang.
When he returned once more to the seaside cave dwelling, he discovered that the holy maiden Yue Liu had already awakened. Although her complexion was still somewhat pale and she appeared overall rather weak, her life was no longer in danger.
“What are your plans next?”
Holy Maiden Yue Liu looked at Mo Fan.
“This line seems like it should be mine to say, no?” Mo Fan smiled and spread his hands.
“Naturally, I plan to return to the sacred sect first. So, do you wish to come with this holy maiden?”
Yue Liu looked at Mo Fan with a playful expression.
From their previous encounters, she had already seen through many things and understood that Mo Fan might not truly intend to join the sacred sect.
“Uh… This is my first time in the Divine Domain continent, so could you let me travel around a bit first?” Mo Fan rolled his eyes, then chuckled.
“Of course you can. However, you have cultivated my sect’s technique. In the future, no matter where you go, you will be seen as a demonic cultivator by righteous cultivators. So if you do not return to the sacred sect with me, there will naturally be times when you cry!”
“If that is the case, then I can just cultivate another righteous technique, right?”
Mo Fan winked at her, then smiled, “I think Your Highness the Holy Maiden must have a way to get me into a righteous sect, yes?”
“What exactly do you want to do?”
Yue Liu frowned slightly, looking seriously at Mo Fan.
“I am very interested in the Tianlu Derived Spirit Art, so I hope to enter the Tianlu Holy Land!”
Mo Fan did not conceal it. He directly stated his goal, then stared straight at Yue Liu and asked, “So, can Your Highness the Holy Maiden help me?”
