At the beginning, Shi Xin was indeed touched when she saw the pair of Dao companions treating each other with such humility and deep affection.
She thought to herself that the world of cultivators was not just about slaughter—it also contained true emotions.
And when they rushed toward the woman in the red dress together, Shi Xin even considered stepping in to help them.
But what she never expected—
As they neared the red-dressed woman, they suddenly turned their swords on each other!
This completely caught Shi Xin off guard.
Their swords clashed, and both of them were sent flying backward.
They stared at each other.
Neither of them spoke, but both understood what the other intended.
Once again, they charged at each other, spells colliding.
Neither of them held back in the slightest. In fact, their battle against each other was even fiercer than when they had fought others earlier.
Each of them wanted to kill the other—take the treasure—and survive.
In the end, the man killed his Dao companion, her body exploding into a mist of blood.
He didn’t even spare her soul, completely erasing it.
“The treasure is all mine!”
The man laughed wildly, looking somewhat deranged.
Step by step, he walked toward the treasure chests, his eyes burning with excitement.
But as he walked, he suddenly noticed that his vision was growing blurry.
He rubbed his eyes and opened them again—only to see Xu Ming standing right in front of him.
“You… You’re supposed to be dead! How are you still alive?! You—”
The man stumbled back in horror, falling to the ground. His fingers trembled as he pointed at Xu Ming, his face full of disbelief.
He had seen this man and that female monk lying on the ground, their heads severed.
So why… why were they alive again?!
“Coming back to life—is that really so hard to understand?” Xu Ming stepped forward, sword in hand. “More importantly, weren’t you just saying you wanted to live and die with your Dao companion? Since she’s already dead, let me help you fulfill that wish.”
With one swift strike, Xu Ming beheaded the man. His soul was also destroyed.
Now, only Shi Xin and Xu Ming remained.
The woman in the red dress stretched lazily as she sat on a stone, her graceful curves fully on display.
She yawned and said playfully, “Well, all the other cultivators are dead. That just leaves the two of you now. Don’t forget, only one of you can leave alive~”
Her eyes gleamed with amusement. “So, between the two of you—who will be the last one standing? I can’t wait to see.”
Shi Xin lifted her delicate face and gazed calmly at Xu Ming, showing not a trace of fear.
Xu Ming turned to look at Shi Xin as well.
“First of all, let’s be clear—I don’t want to die.” Xu Ming spoke flatly.
“Amitabha,” Shi Xin pressed her palms together. “Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda. If sacrificing my life can grant yours, then it is worth it.”
Xu Ming let out a short laugh.
“You really want to die that much? You’re not even going to fight me? You’re strong too—what if you end up winning?”
Shi Xin shook her head. “I cannot bring myself to harm others just to survive. If I do not enter hell, then who will?”
Her eyes were as calm as the still waters of a spring lake. “I only hope that after you leave here, you will do more good and not let your heart be so consumed by killing.”
“Are you sure?” Xu Ming stepped forward, sword in hand. “If you refuse to fight me, then I will kill you. I have no desire to die—I want to live. That means you will remain here forever, and the path of Buddhism you have pursued will end here.”
“That is only natural.” Shi Xin nodded. “I will not blame you. This is simply my fate. Please, do as you must.”
Xu Ming stood before Shi Xin and raised his sword.
The woman in the red dress, watching from the side, had expected them to struggle for a while before eventually turning on each other—just like the Daoist couple earlier.
But to her surprise, this man named Xu Ming was so decisive that he immediately turned his sword on his own companion.
Even if they weren’t Daoist partners, wasn’t this female monk exceptionally beautiful? Did he not know how to cherish beauty? And the monk herself—she didn’t even resist.
Monks really were boring creatures.
“But then again,” the red-dressed woman mused, “a man with such sharp sword intent could never be sentimental. He is clearly decisive and ruthless. And a Buddhist disciple who has reached such a high level at a young age could never be someone bloodthirsty. This outcome was inevitable from the start.”
Shi Xin did not close her eyes. Instead, she watched as Xu Ming lifted his sword.
She could feel the sharpness of the sword energy intensifying, condensing along the blade.
She could clearly sense Xu Ming’s killing intent.
“He truly means to kill me,” Shi Xin thought.
Shi Xin didn’t understand what was happening to her.
She had already accepted death.
She had willingly placed her life in his hands.
And yet, as Xu Ming’s sword was about to strike, a strange feeling arose in her heart—one of disappointment and sorrow.
She thought—she would rather take her own life than die by his sword.
She thought—even if he only pretended to spare her, then suddenly killed her—that would be better.
Shi Xin didn’t know why she was thinking this way.
She knew such thoughts were wrong.
But she couldn’t stop them.
This feeling—it was something she had never experienced before.
Xu Ming’s sword fell.
Shi Xin felt the blade cut across her neck, leaving a shallow wound. Blood seeped out.
Three breaths passed.
But there was no pain.
Shi Xin slowly opened her eyes.
What she saw was the man in front of her—smiling.
Her gaze trembled as she stared at Xu Ming in a daze.
“Why didn’t you kill me?” she asked.
Xu Ming simply smiled. “I just suddenly changed my mind, that’s all.”