Even hybrid monsters have their day

And yet, by a twist of fate, her image grew taller in their hearts.

Seeing them standing up for her, Geng Miaowan smiled and shook her head, "I'm fine..."

Heng Yihao glanced at Bu Luoyuan and said, "See? Miaowan said she's fine now."

"They're just giving you face!" Bu Luoyuan slapped him on the head, but he nimbly dodged it.

“Exactly, exactly.” The two echoed again, making Heng Yihao grit his teeth in anger, but Geng Miaowan chuckled. She thought her teammates were quite adorable.

Unlike their cheerful conversation, Jiao Lingfeng and Peng Yuxian were tense and anxious about Zhang Zijian's fate.

By the time Geng Miaowan realized the awkward atmosphere between them, the air around them felt icy. Since she seemed to be the only one familiar with Peng Yuxian among them, she was naturally pushed forward to negotiate with him.

She stepped forward, and Jiao Lingfeng and the others automatically moved aside a little.

They were currently standing on a relatively flat part of the hilltop, with a panoramic view of the scenery below. Everywhere they looked was lush greenery—trees, meadows, and various crops—the varying shades of green intertwined to create a beautiful oil painting, a sight to behold and a delight to behold.

Further away were some farmhouses, and as it was getting close to evening, smoke was already billowing from the chimneys of some of them.

"Brother Peng, thank you so much for this. Without your help, it would have been very difficult for us to catch Zhang Zijian," she said sincerely.

“I’m not helping you, I’m actually helping myself.” Peng didn’t look at her, his voice soft and indifferent, in his usual tone. It was as if he was speaking to her, yet also to himself. “I already knew Zhang Zijian.”

"Huh?" Geng was taken aback, then remembered that Zhang Zijian and Ninth Sister had mentioned someone more than once. "Could you really be the one they were talking about?"

Peng nodded. "Our connection dates back twelve years..."

Geng Miaowan casually found a rock to sit on and listened attentively.

Twelve years ago, Peng Yuxian saved the Ninth Sister, who had been injured by the demons. After she recovered, he didn't know what to do with her. If he released her, he was afraid she would bring disaster to the human world. But if he were to end her life with his own hands, he couldn't bring himself to do such a thing. Yet, if he took her with him, it would be really inconvenient to have a female demon by his side.

One day, when he passed through this place, he met Zhang Zijian, who was practicing cultivation there.

After discovering Zhang Zijian's true identity, he initially wanted to take him in immediately. However, Zhang Zijian argued that although he was not human, he had not done anything heinous and had even helped people in nearby towns. If he were to take him in so easily, he would not be content even if his soul were to be scattered.

Peng Yuxian felt that what he said was not without reason. He observed Zhang Zijian for a period of time and found that he was indeed as he said, and had even received a lot of praise in the township.

Heaven cherishes life, and although he had always taken it upon himself to vanquish demons, he did not enjoy the feeling of ending a life with his own hands. Seeing his hesitation, Zhang Zijian offered to take care of Ninth Sister so that he could travel without any worries.

Seeing his sincere and earnest expression, Peng Yuxian handed over the Ninth Sister to him and made a promise with him that no human life should be harmed.

"I just never expected that my momentary leniency would lead to such consequences. Demons are indeed not to be trusted." He wasn't usually a talkative person, but in front of her, he told her everything without reservation.

Although his tone remained calm, Geng Miaowan could hear the sighs and regrets in his words, as well as a faint, deeply hidden disappointment.

He had witnessed too many demons' desperate struggles before death and had always hoped for another way to subdue them. Before this, he had also believed that demons had hearts, could be reformed and become good, and could live peacefully like humans.

However, Zhang Zijian and Ninth Sister gave him a bloody lesson, telling him that what he was thinking was nothing but wishful thinking.

Geng Miaowan looked at him, and now she believed that this Peng Yuxian was definitely a completely different person from the one in that space, because the Peng Yuxian in that space would never show such a sad expression. The Peng Yuxian in that space looked more like a person without emotions.

"Hypocritical!" Luan Hao suddenly said.

"What do you know? He was just expressing his true feelings."

"What genuine emotion? It's all just pretense, trying to gain sympathy. It hasn't changed over the years," Luan Hao said indignantly.

Geng Miaowan believed what she saw; Peng Yuxian couldn't be the kind of person Luan Hao described. But judging from Luan Hao's tone, he and Peng seemed to have known each other for a long time. "Is there some misunderstanding between you two?"

"Misunderstanding? Those are undeniable facts!"

"What facts? Did he kill your parents, or steal your love? That makes you grit your teeth in hatred?"

“He is…” Luan Hao suddenly stopped.

"What is it?" Geng Miaowan asked with boundless curiosity.

Luan Hao gave an unnatural "humph," and then fell silent. "What do you know!"

Geng Xiaoxiao didn't press the matter further. In her opinion, even if there was a misunderstanding between them, Peng Yuxian wouldn't be the one at fault.

"You also think my idea is ridiculous, right..." Peng Yuxian asked when he saw her laugh.

"Huh?" Geng Miaowan stopped smiling; she had accidentally laughed out loud. Seeing that he seemed a little down, she said, "I laughed not because I thought your idea was ridiculous, but because I was surprised that you would deny your idea because of a small setback."

Peng Yuxian finally met her gaze. Her rosy face radiated an unusual vitality, and her deep black eyes, like two of the finest black pearls, shone with an alluring brilliance that made one want to be captivated at first glance.

Even though it was their first meeting, he felt a sense of familiarity with her, as if someone had looked at him with similar eyes long ago.

He turned his gaze and asked softly, "What do you mean by that?"

Geng Miaowan stood up, pointed at Jiao Lingfeng and the others, and said, "I believe you've noticed as well, they are not human. But what do you think of them?"