When Rong Zheng mentioned she would recount her memories of the Mist Tower, Tao Mian's heart tightened.

He knew what the Mist Tower was and could imagine the despair Rong Zheng felt when she was left there alone—his Fifth Disciple, such a proud person.

Listening to the first part, where Rong Zheng described how she had fallen to such a state, Tao Mian felt sorrowful for her.

But then Rong Zheng's tone shifted.

She said she had given up the thought of death.

At that moment, Rong Zheng glanced back, her dark eyes reflecting the dazzling lights of the Mist Tower, radiating an astonishing brilliance.

She turned to Tao Mian behind her, smiling with her eyes, revealing a glimpse of her porcelain-white teeth and two symmetrical dimples.

She was so proud of her decisive past self, like a mischievous child who had succeeded in a prank, or a rogue swordsman cutting through ropes with a blade.

Perhaps her life was destined to be filled with many unavoidable circumstances. She held a sharp dagger in her hand, attempting several times to sever the fate binding her ankles, but she couldn't. Because around her wrists, neck... every joint of her body, threads were tightly wound, making her a puppet, dictating her every move.

Yet Rong Zheng bent down with force. Even if her skin was cut, with beads of blood clinging like shattered jade, she was determined to swing that first knife, powerfully and resolutely bidding farewell to all her nightmarish past!

"I know in my heart that the entanglement with the Floating Pavilion's past can't be resolved in an instant. But that fire was a good start, distancing me from those memories. Even if I stumble at first, not soaring as high as before, I think this time, I finally get to decide which direction to fly."

Rong Zheng's fingernails were trimmed smooth and round, stopping midway up the stairs to the second floor.

In front of her was a lively scene of singing and dancing, where she could clearly see the faces of the guests, their foreheads gleaming under the bright lights. The courtesans were enchanting, with copper bells and jade bracelets sliding off their alabaster arms, clinking melodiously.

"The fire didn't burn fiercely enough. At that time, my spiritual power was weak, barely enough to set a fire, burning the bed curtains and turning the walls pitch black with soot. I escaped through the window, feeling not quite satisfied. I secretly thought to myself, once I regain my strength, I must return and set the place ablaze."

She bit her teeth at the end, like a child. The regret from that time still lingered, making her grit her teeth in frustration whenever she thought about it.

The pursuers sent by Du Hong had already hidden among the crowd, not wanting to alert their target or disturb the guests, so they had not made a grand pursuit.

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The master and disciple had long been aware.

They moved like wisps of smoke, evading the pursuers, weaving effortlessly and lightly between shoulders, even having the leisure to chat.

Tao Mian never asked Rong Zheng what she intended to do, but the two understood each other without words.

Instead, Rong Zheng asked Tao Mian if he was afraid that Du Hong would come to Peach Blossom Mountain to settle accounts after the trouble they caused at the Mist Tower.

Tao Mian smiled silently.

He said, "My disciple, Tao Mian's disciple, is used to causing trouble."

With some time left before the spell was completed, Tao Mian recounted to his Fifth Disciple the "great achievements" of her senior brothers and sisters.

"Your Senior Brother wiped out an entire clan, Second Senior Sister made sure her enemies had no descendants, and as for Third Senior Sister and Fourth Senior Brother, there's no need to mention. The Demonic Realm and demon realm are of the same origin, and you've probably heard of the things they've done."

"And Little Tao... never blamed them?"

Tao Mian's eyelids lowered.

"I only reprimanded your Senior Brother. Back then, I blamed him for being too bloodthirsty."

Rong Zheng paused in her spell drawing.

"Little Tao... you are an immortal, seeing helping others and doing good as your duty, which is understandable..."

Tao Mian shook his head.

"That was then, this is now. If it could fulfill my disciples' wishes, what harm is there in taking all the karmic debts upon myself? I only regret that some things, once done, are hard to amend. In this life, I only wish... to meet them again.

Little Hua, don't hesitate, go and do what you want to do."

With Tao Mian's assurance, Rong Zheng smiled faintly for a moment and continued to focus on her work.

With the last stroke of the spell completed, she turned to glance at the quiet Tao Mian, then lifted her head again, surveying this decadent den of indulgence.

"Little Tao, once the fire starts... this place will soon become a sea of flames."

Tao Mian watched her quietly, amidst the uproarious noise that resembled a boiling pot, like a stream of spring water passing through by chance.

"If the building collapses, Little Hua, remember to run fast."

Rong Zheng's shoulders relaxed, finally easing a bit, even having the mood to joke with Tao Mian.

"Why don't we compete, Little Tao, to see who escapes first? The loser makes dinner for three days."

"Three days of dinner? I won't say more, I'm running now."

"...Wait, I haven't said start yet."

The two suddenly changed direction, moving against the flow of people, heading towards the exit.

Rong Zheng's index finger left the wooden railing, and as her fingertip brushed past, a spark appeared out of thin air.

Like cold water splashing into a boiling oil pot, it started from a small flame, winding and spiraling, climbing up the walls, diving under tables. From a flame to a fire snake, a dragon, it exploded and spread into a sea of fire.

Jade shattered, silver fell, the wooden beams above snaked to the ground, breaking and collapsing. The guests were in chaos, clothes disheveled, overturned wine cups and tea sets everywhere, fruits rolling off crystal plates, gathering dust on the ground, then licked black by the tongues of fire.

A grand and magnificent drama of death.

The crowd scattered like flies, crashing and rushing in panic. Rong Zheng's steps slowed, as if reluctant to leave this performance. While everyone else fled with their heads covered, she alone raised her neck high, like a crane out of place, her eyes reflecting the river of fire and dying lights.

Tao Mian was closer to the exit. As he turned to take his disciple away, a burly guest bumped into him, separating them. He saw Rong Zheng looking his way, pointing at herself, then at a nearby window.

She would escape through the window, so she gestured for Tao Mian to go first.

Tao Mian frowned deeply, seemingly worried that Rong Zheng might have a change of heart, but still insisted on going over. Rong Zheng relaxed her brows, somewhat helpless, and made a reassuring gesture to Tao Mian.

She truly intended to escape, no deception.

Tao Mian's heart eased, just as he was about to turn back, suddenly, someone blocked his path.

"Whose young master sneaked out? With the fire so fierce, what are you standing there waiting for?"

A large, water-soaked outer garment covered his head, bending his back. He let out an "ouch," feeling himself being forcibly pushed to run.

Behind them, a beam seemed to fall heavily, blocking their path. Tao Mian sensed the force pushing him weaken. Taking this chance, he lifted the wet garment from his face.

The one who saved him was a young man. From this angle, he could only see the lower half of the man's face, with a small mole at the edge of his jaw, right in the center.

That mole swayed in his vision, then suddenly disappeared.

It turned out the young man had lowered his head.

Smoke and dust filled the air around them, the smell of the fire was suffocating, and the shouts of fleeing guests were deafening.

But in this small corner of the world, time seemed to stop. Tao Mian saw someone he never expected to save him.

Many years later, Tao Mian often thought, if time could turn back, he wished he could return to that moment, let him and Shen Bozhou pass by each other, their paths never to intersect again.