Preparations for the Bell
On a cliff far from the sects, Xiao Yan sat in meditation. The familiar wind tugged at his robes, whispering of past events he could not fully recall.
"Why does this place feel so familiar?" he muttered. "What happened a thousand years ago? Who is playing with me?"
The emptiness around him mirrored the void inside his mind. He closed his eyes, focusing on the fragments of memories, hoping answers might come.
Back at Saint Lu Qi's place, Nem appeared.
"One of the demons wishes to speak with you," he said.
"Bring him here," Lu Qi replied.
Mi‑An arrived just then, tense and wary. The demon was escorted in, and thunder rolled across the sky as a figure descended.
"Xiao Yan!" Mi‑An cried, rushing forward.
Xiao Yan wiped her tears and kissed her softly on the cheek.
"It's my fault!" she whispered.
"Never mind," he said. "I'm back, and I won't leave you again. The Ansha… I will take him down."
"Do you have a plan?" Lu Qi asked, joining them with Nem.
"Not yet."
"I think I do," the demon said suddenly. "The Ansha cannot tolerate the Golden Eternal Bell. The previous demon lord used it to control him—but the Ansha killed him while he slept. If we can find it, maybe we can defeat him."
Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed. "Are you sure?"
"I swear I would not lie."
Nem nodded. "You may leave."
Xiao Yan turned to Nem. "What now?"
"We try," he said firmly. "I'll infiltrate the demon realm."
"I'm coming," Mi‑An said immediately.
"Me too," Nem said.
"No," Xiao Yan commanded. "Stay here in case the Ansha comes."
And with a flash of divine light, Xiao Yan and Mi‑An disappeared.
Later that night, the duo infiltrated the demon realm, their godly powers masking their presence. They found the key in the demon lord's heavily trapped abode, barriers failing before Xiao Yan's skill.
Upon returning, Mi‑An asked quietly, "Do you trust what that demon said?"
"We have no choice," Xiao Yan replied. "The Ansha is trying to instill fear. He killed Saint Gil U to prove his strength. That is why we must act."
Mi‑An looked down, overwhelmed. Xiao Yan hugged her gently.
"We've never had time for ourselves," he murmured.
Their lips met in a long, heartfelt kiss, the tension of the night melting away.
Later, Mi‑An rested her head on Xiao Yan's shoulder.
"I want this to end," she whispered.
"It will," he replied. "Once we ring the bell."
Before the Saints, Xiao Yan revealed the bell. Murmurs of hope and awe swept the hall.
"I'll fight him," Xiao Yan said. "You ring it."
"No, let's fight together, so he doesn't suspect anything," Nem replied.
"Then I'll ring it," Lu Qi decided.
Demons knelt, crying out, pleading, hoping for Ansha's end.
"Mi‑An," Xiao Yan said softly. "Stay out of this."
"I'm a fairy," she argued.
"I don't want you losing control."
She hesitated. "Fine."
And with a sigh, she stepped back, dejected. Xiao Yan signaled Di'or to follow her, and she obeyed.