East of the secret realm, another fierce battle raged.

Lu Qi found Lu Er with ease, just as Lu Er had appeared right behind him the moment he reached the secret realm’s entrance.

Dao Companions… Even separated Dao Companions are bound by the Heavenly Dao’s shackles, guiding them to each other’s locations.

The Dao Companion Oath is a Heavenly Dao vow second only to the laws of Heaven and Earth.

They once invited Heaven and Earth to witness their union as Dao Companions. This bond tolerates neither betrayal nor wavering hearts. Even if they parted peacefully, the Dao would brand their souls.

Unless the other died, body and soul extinguished, that mark would never fade.

When Lu Er found Lu Qi, he was perched on a cliff—the highest vantage point in the secret realm, allowing him to observe the battle between the righteous and demonic factions.

Of course, he still held a handful of melon seeds.

Lu Er approached from behind and said, “Lu Qi.”

Lu Qi didn’t even turn around, only pausing his seed-cracking motion. “Here for a fight?”

“Without Lu Yi here, you can’t beat me.” Lu Er walked to his side and suddenly declared.

Lu Qi rose with a cold laugh. “Looks like you’re not here for a fight, but for a scolding?”

Lu Er remained calm, as if prepared to listen to any tirade. “Lu Xiao calls me ‘Dad.’ You’re not upset.”

“You are still his father! I just dislike you—not because I want my son to grow up with a single parent.”

“…”

“What’s that look for?” Lu Qi’s anger flared.

Lu Er gave a rare smile. “Because you always want to kill me.”

So, the phrase ‘not wanting my son to have a single parent’ actually came out of Lu Qi’s mouth. It struck him as unbelievable.

Lu Qi’s expression turned cold. “Lu Er, I’m doing this for the village chief and Lu Xiao. Don’t push me. If it comes to it, I’ll kill you, then go beg forgiveness from the village chief. I’ll just say I killed his second apprentice.”

Lu Er: “You can’t beat me. If I accidentally kill you, I’ll be the one begging forgiveness from the village chief.”

Lu Qi immediately drew his sword.

Lu Er retreated two steps, positioning himself at a safe distance. “You plan to kill me with that sword?”

The point wasn’t killing him, but wielding the sword. Wielding a sword to kill a Sword Immortal?

“Every sword technique you mastered before your five hundredth year was taught by me,” Lu Er added.

Lu Qi gritted his teeth. How could this man, with his expressionless face, say such infuriating things?

Lu Qi seethed with hatred.

Why hadn’t he listened to the village chief back then? Why hadn’t he learned more martial arts, mastered more weapons?

If he could start over, he’d slap himself.

He could have learned any weapon—except the sword technique!

Lu Qi swung his sword at him.

Unsurprisingly, the blade froze mid-air. Lu Er caught it barehanded, a flash of spiritual light darting across his palm as he blocked it.

Lu Qi tried—he couldn’t pull it free, nor could he strike down.

“I came to tell you something,” Lu Er said softly. With a slight twist, the sword slipped from Lu Qi’s grasp. Unnoticed, he had disarmed him.

Lu Qi wasn’t skilled in combat, even as the Supreme Patriarch of the Demon Sect. Suppressing others in the sect didn’t mean he could suppress Lu Er.

Lu Qi watched him coldly. “What is it?”

“The Righteous Alliance intends to kill Wen Jue,” Lu Er stated.

Lu Qi instinctively raised an eyebrow. “Have they finally lost their minds?”

His raised eyebrow seemed to ask: Besides you, does the Righteous Alliance have anyone else capable of fighting? What on earth possessed them to want to kill Wen Jue?

“Killing Wen Jue is the first step to taking down the Demon Sect.” Lu Er gripped the still-warm hilt of his sword, reluctant to let go. “The Sword Sect is not involved in this matter.”

The Demon Sect controlled vast territories rich in spiritual energy. It was impossible for the righteous factions not to covet them.

Besides, they were killing a demonic tyrant—a perfectly just cause.

“So, because of this, the Sword Sect has been isolated by the Righteous Alliance this time?” Lu Qi scoffed. “Uninformed observers might think I’ve planted a mole within the Sword Sect—a pillar of the esteemed order, no less.”

Lu Er: “Then my undercover work is flawless. At least no one suspects I share a son with the Demon Sect’s Supreme Patriarch.”

The comparison felt more fitting than news of his missing disciple, Jiang Huan.

Lu Qi: “…Was I telling you a joke?”

“I’m heading back.” Lu Er lifted his gaze toward the distance. “If Sword Sect disciples encounter Lu Xiao, they won’t stand a chance. Once you’ve had your fun, release Jiang Huan back to the Sword Sect. Don’t let this cause friction between Sword Sect and Demon Sect.”

Lu Qi:?

No rift? Your Sword Sect disciples practically want to hack the Demon Sect to pieces the moment they see them! Of course, the demon cultivators would do the same to Sword Sect cultivators.

“I don’t know where your disciple is. Ask your son.” Lu Qi thought for a moment. “Oh, right, Lu Xiao slept with Jiang Huan. You figure it out.”

Lu Er’s retreating steps faltered at this remark. “…My son’s grown. Who was on top?”

“Right, he’s grown. Lu Xiao was on top, I suppose.” Lu Qi agreed, then sensed something amiss and raised his voice sharply. “You approved this match?!”

Lu Er: “Is there any reason to oppose it?”

“But…”

“You locked me up and slept with me back then, too,” Lu Er said expressionlessly. Though he’d been the one on top, Lu Xiao pulling off something like this surely had some hereditary influence.

Lu Qi: “…Must you bring up ancient history?”

“Lu Qi. The rivalry between the Demon Sect and Sword Sect won’t last much longer. I want to return to the village and farm.” After leaving this statement, Lu Er grabbed Lu Qi’s sword and turned to leave.

He thought he never wanted to be some sword immortal anyway.

Better to till the village chief’s fields for a lifetime, occasionally spar with Lu Yi, then limp over to Lu Qi with a bruised arm, feigning helplessness. Watching Lu Qi’s heartache while cursing Lu Yi would bring him immense satisfaction.

But Lu Er knew returning to the past was impossible.

They had waited millennia for this chance. And now, the village chief had returned.

Understanding Lu Er’s words, Lu Qi felt a pang of bitterness in his heart. But quickly, he snapped, “…You think you can go back to the village and farm? The village chief favors Lu Yi most. If he finds out you struck Lu Yi with a sword, he’ll never take you back! You can just stand at the village entrance and watch!”

“If they won’t take me, they won’t take you either.” Lu Er halted. “You two demons.”

“Looking for a beating, are you?!” Lu Qi, enraged, charged forward again.

As if Lu Er had eyes in the back of his head, he easily dodged the flying kick. “You dare fight me unarmed? Supreme Patriarch of the Demon Sect, your strength is lacking.”

“I’ll kill you!”

Lu Qi’s hand twisted, hurling a massive sphere of spiritual energy straight at Lu Er’s forehead.

The sword on Lu Er’s back stirred at the sound. Without leaving its scabbard, it sliced through the air, striking the spiritual energy sphere.

The sphere exploded mid-air.

The shockwave rippled outward, causing the dense forest beyond the cliff’s edge to tremble.

“Someone’s coming,” Lu Er suddenly announced.

Lu Qi froze. Only then did he grasp why Lu Er had provoked him. Focusing his gaze, he spotted a cultivator who had strayed into the forest. With a little attention, one could easily see the two figures standing together.

If word spread that the Supreme Patriarch of the Demon Sect and the Cangyun Sword Immortal were standing together in friendly conversation, rumors would surely swirl once more.

“You’re not some spy I planted within the righteous sects! What are you pretending to be here for?!” Lu Qi raised his hand and struck out again.

Seeing this, Lu Er knew that today, he wouldn’t get off without sparring with Lu Qi.

The two plunged into a full-blown fight.

Meanwhile, deep within the dense forest, someone who had sensed the commotion near the cliff crouched low and squeezed through a narrow path.

Glancing up, they saw the two figures locked in a fierce aerial battle.

“Why isn’t that guy leaving? Watching us fight and still not moving—he’s got some guts.” Lu Qi fought Lu Er while glancing sideways at the cultivator emerging from the woods, surprised.

“A Golden Core cultivator. He might not recognize us.” Lu Er parried Lu Qi’s strike and replied.

“Which sect’s disciple is that?” Lu Qi asked in a hushed voice.

Lu Er: “Doesn’t look like a righteous sect. Probably an independent cultivator.”

“He’s been watching for ages. Why won’t he leave?!” Lu Qi was speechless. He’d gone all out—half the mountain beside them had been sliced away. Didn’t this cultivator fear getting caught in the crossfire?

Lu Er was equally astonished.

A Golden Core cultivator, possessing such audacity.

Most people, witnessing the immense commotion of their battle, would have fled in terror long ago.

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

At that moment, Qin Zhou—standing disguised at the cliff’s edge, having watched their fight for quite some time—not only remained but began deep contemplation.

How could he get Villager No. 2 and Villager No. 7 to stop fighting?

That was the question.

If this were a game, he could simply force them to stop.

But the problem was, he didn’t even know why these two were fighting. Moreover, their relationship was far from ordinary.

Though he was the village chief, as the saying goes, even an impartial judge finds it hard to settle family disputes.

After some thought, Qin Zhou decided intervention was necessary.

If his identity were exposed, Lu Qi would surely notify Lu Yi. Should Lu Yi learn he hadn’t gone to the Immortal-Demon City, he would undoubtedly be displeased.

Upon reflection, using ‘Lu Xiao’ as a cover seemed the only option.

Divorce was one matter, but surely both still cared about their son.

Just as Qin Zhou prepared to speak up,

A familiar voice suddenly cut through the air—

“Lu Qi, what are you doing?!”

The commanding tone halted the fight instantly.

All three turned to see a white-robed figure drifting toward them from the distance.

“Fighting again? Are you two annoying or what? What time is it, and you’re still brawling?”

His appearance made all three freeze in their tracks.

Lu Qi’s face tightened, his peripheral vision darting toward the Golden Core cultivator at the cliff’s edge.

Damn it, he’s still here.

Lu Yi mustn’t blurt anything out.

“I encountered that Sword Sect Immortal in this secret realm—naturally, I had to exchange a few blows. Why are you here?” Lu Qi feigned calmness.

Lu Er frowned and said, “Both of those fiends have arrived.”

After speaking, he feigned defeat and began to retreat.

Lu Yi:?

Though Lu Yi didn’t understand what this couple was up to, he couldn’t care less. Instead, his gaze fixed on the figure atop the cliff.

That figure… felt strangely familiar. Lu Yi stared fixedly at Qin Zhou, disguised atop the cliff.

Qin Zhou froze for a second under his gaze. Snapping out of it, he turned to leave.

Lu Yi was about to take a step to pursue.

Lu Qi hurriedly grabbed him. “Where are you going?”

Lu Yi: “That person…”

“Forget that Golden Core cultivator. It’s better he’s gone.” Lu Qi still felt uneasy from being stared at by that cultivator. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but it left him with a creepy feeling.

“Oh, and that bastard Lu Er mentioned the Righteous Alliance is planning to target you. Also, Xiao Baiyi is here too. The Righteous Alliance invited her over—who knows how much they shelled out for that.”

Lu Yi reluctantly averted his gaze, forcing himself to forget that figure’s silhouette. After all, Qin Zhou should be in the Immortal-Demon City at this hour.

Turning back, he remarked to Lu Qi, “Nice work, Old Seven. Lu Er’s practically your secret agent in the righteous faction now.”

Lu Qi lifted his chin. “He offered himself up. I didn’t force him.”

Lu Yi placed a hand on his shoulder. “Is this a second spring?”

“Shut up.”

Lu Yi sighed. “Whose hypocritical nature did you inherit?”

Lu Qi rolled his eyes. “I’m off to collect the bodies of the Demon Sect cultivators. What about you?”

“I’m going to get the village chief’s hammer.” Lu Yi’s expression turned serious. ”And retrieve the warehouse while you’re at it. After all these years, it’s time for things to return to their rightful owner.“

”…Alright.“ Lu Qi nodded.

”Oh, and about that missing Fertility Pill in the warehouse—you’ll have to explain that yourself. I’m not getting involved.“ Lu Yi spread his hands helplessly.

”…” Lu Qi was speechless.

Thinking back to his own humiliating past self, he seethed with resentment.

Had he been cursed by that dead man’s face back then? How else could he have made Lu Yi steal the Fertility Pill for him, slept with the man, and fathered Lu Xiao?

“I’ll explain it myself. I’ll bring Lu Xiao along, too. The village chief probably won’t refuse a young grandson.” Lu Qi forced a smile.

Wen Jue delivered the finishing blow with ease: “A young grandson he might not refuse, but a nine-thousand-year-old grandson? Not so sure.”

Lu Qi’s heart sank halfway.

True enough. Lu Xiao was tall and sturdy, neither pretty nor cute.

Game over.