In my conversation with Qing Dai, I learned that some of her forces had already been dispatched. When the real battle began, all I needed to do was give her a signal, and she would bring her people to join the fray. I trusted Qing Dai implicitly. I was uncertain of the current situation on their end. However, time with Qing Dai always passed so quickly. It felt like no time at all had passed before dawn was approaching.
At this moment, Qing Dai spoke to me, "Qin Ze, dawn is breaking. You should go! On the day you depart, I will also head to Jian Dao Peak."
I felt a pang of reluctance, but I nodded heavily. "Alright! Once we eliminate the Black Demon faction, the remnants of the New Dynasty and the Netherworld Sect will be like a broken limb. Eradicating them won't take much longer."
Qing Dai smiled upon hearing this and nodded vigorously. She had waited for this day for far too long. Although dynasties had changed and two thousand years had passed, for her, revenge for the nation's destruction was paramount. At the same time, she did not want the New Dynasty to ever rise again. It was a destiny that had continued to cycle, reaching this day.
Meanwhile, I noticed that the entire Nine Saint Mansion seemed to be disintegrating. The surrounding buildings and structures were emitting black mist. This was the Nine Saint Mansion, a ghost building, dissipating with the passage of time.
Looking around, I said, "Qing Dai, I'm leaving!" My eyes held a lingering affection. Qing Dai looked at me, her gaze filled with tenderness. She didn't speak but softly murmured an "Mm." Looking at my spectral girlfriend before me, so stunningly beautiful, and with a surge of emotion, I couldn't hold back anymore. I grabbed Qing Dai's arm. Qing Dai was momentarily stunned and before she could react, I pulled her into my embrace.
"Ah! Qin Ze, what are you doing?" Qing Dai was a little shy. Despite being a thousand-year-old female ghost, she was, in essence, a girlfriend in love. Seeing her bashful expression, I didn't hesitate and kissed her directly...
In that instant, Qing Dai's body trembled slightly. I didn't care and maintained the kiss for several minutes. It was only as dawn was breaking that I released her. Then, with a triumphant look, I gazed at this thousand-year-old female ghost, the leader who commanded legions of spirits and ruled a spectral realm. Qing Dai, however, acted like a young girl, pouting at me, "Alright, hurry up and go!"
"Hehehe, then I'm leaving!"
"Mm!" Qing Dai nodded at me, her gaze still filled with affection. If I could, I truly wished I could stay. To become a ghostly pair with her after death, that wouldn't be impossible...
With a wave, I turned and left. At the entrance, the Twelve Demon Souls looked at me and respectfully cupped their fists. "Young Master Qin!"
"Yes, esteemed brothers and sisters, you may return!"
"Yes!" The Twelve Demon Souls, without a word of waste, transformed into wisps of smoke and merged into the Purple Bone Vine. Granny Long, however, looked at me like an experienced observer and gave me a sly grin. It made me feel uneasy.
"Young Master, dawn is near. Shall this old woman not see you out?"
"Alright, Granny Long, suit yourself! I can find my way back." Granny Long nodded. "Young Master, I won't see you off." With that, her body became ethereal and vanished before my eyes. Seeing this, I didn't linger and walked out. Before I could reach the main gate of the Nine Saint Mansion, the surrounding Nine Saint Mansion visibly decomposed and disappeared. After walking only about twenty meters, the area had turned into barren land. Apart from those tattered paper figures, there was nothing but weeds.
I quickened my pace and left the mountains. In my heart, I continuously savored the sweetness of my time with Qing Dai. Some might say that humans and ghosts are worlds apart, and that Qing Dai and I were destined to have no outcome. But I didn't care. She had waited for me for so many years. Ten lifetimes ago, she had sacrificed her own life to give me a chance at rebirth. In this life, even if it meant descending into the lowest levels of hell, I was willing to be with her...
Unconsciously, I had returned to the shop. As soon as I opened the door, I saw Xiao Mei. She was covered in blood, devouring a yellow chicken. "Xiao Mei! Eating?"
"Mm-hmm, you're finally back. These past few days, I've had to hunt for myself in the mountains." Xiao Mei looked somewhat wronged. "Oh? Didn't I ask Old Mo to buy for you?"
Xiao Mei rolled her eyes. "What he bought for me were all feed-grade chickens, and they tasted terrible. Plus, he forgot to buy for me several times when he was with his girlfriend."
I chuckled upon hearing this. "It's alright! Now that I'm back, I'll buy you free-range chickens. By the way, has there been any movement from the Fox Clan? We're setting off in two days." I immediately got down to business.
Xiao Mei nodded. "Don't worry, I sent the message back long ago. Our Fox Clan set out five days ago, and it's similar for the Gray family of the Bottomless Pit!"
Hearing that everything was settled, I felt much more at ease. I drank some water and then went out for breakfast and to buy chickens for Xiao Mei. The battle at Jian Dao Peak was destined to be a large-scale event. Furthermore, almost all the sects of the Dao Alliance were involved. It wasn't a complete mobilization, but they had all sent their elite forces.
The last two days were the last two days of peace. Perhaps this was the calm before the storm. What followed would be the most brutal demon-slaying war in centuries...