CH 8

The room was instantly filled with demonic fog and the Glazed Tower started shaking, dust raining down upon them. Head hurting, Yi Ning separated them with his sword.

“You’re helping him?” Yan Xuan’s voice deepened, like he had been angered. 

Yi Ning wasn’t doing this because he was feeling softhearted towards Gong Xiuxian, he had only stopped Yan Xuan because he was worried the entire tower would collapse if they fought. Once they left the tower, he wouldn’t care one bit about how Yan Xuan dealt with Gong Xiuxian.

However, this sort of pouty, petulant tone was a little funny to Yi Ning. Yi Ning had largely figured out Yan Xuan’s temperament, to deal with him, he had to be coaxed and not coerced, and so he said lightly, “I’m not helping him. It’s almost Si-shi, aren’t we going to cure the poison?”

Hearing his words, Yan Xuan’s expression relaxed and he reached out an arm to pull Yi Ning to his side. The metal of Yinzhen’s razor-sharp blade was a little cold where it pressed against Yi Ning’s waist.

“If you help him then you’re dead.” Yan Xuan threatened lowly, lifting a hand to confiscate Yi Ning’s Guoyun. Although Yi Ning himself no longer possessed spiritual energy, his sword was still effective against demonic cultivators and Yan Xuan’s palm was burned raw by Guoyun. 

Yi Ning furrowed his brows. Yan Xuan thought he was angered by his sword getting taken away and so intended to say something, only to see Yi Ning slowly take out ointment from his storage ring and lift up his hand to spread a thin layer of ointment on his palm.

“Don’t you have any self-preservation?” Yi Ning’s fingertip rubbed against his palm, a little itchy and a little painful. He originally wanted to do this to provoke Gong Xiuxian, but upon seeing the wound on Yan Xuan’s palm, he sincerely wanted to apply medicine for him.

He wasn’t using him to show off something, but was rather genuinely applying medicine for him. When Yi Ning realised this, his finger’s movement stuttered.

He shouldn’t be thinking this way.

However, Yan Xuan’s belly full of anger was slowly being doused by his warm fingertip, little by little. He was even in the mood to look at Gong Xiuxian and shoot him a small, malicious smile. The shape of his mouth seemed to be saying, Your Shizun’s hand is so soft.

Gong Xiuxian’s expression was dark, and veins popped on the back of his hand where it had been clenched into a tight fist. His Shizun used to treat him that tenderly too.

His heart throbbed painfully, the ache unbearable, and Gong Xiuxian hated that he couldn’t snatch back Yi Ning right here, right now.

If only he knew this earlier… he would’ve tied up his Shizun with immortal-binding rope from the very beginning. This way, his Shizun’s hands would only touch him and no one else. 

He had to kill this demonic cultivator and take back his Shizun.

“Immortal Master, don’t be angry with Xiuxian anymore.” Hiding behind Gong Xiuxian, Liu Rugeng lightly gripped onto Gong Xiuxian’s clothes hem and said, “I know you don’t like me. I’ve already discussed it with Xiuxian, in the future, I’ll live in a side hall while you and Xiuxian stay in the main hall…”

What a magnanimous and understanding, silver-tongued person. Yi Ning looked at him, but aside from disgust, he actually didn’t feel anything towards him.

He didn’t hate Liu Rugeng, because he no longer cared about Gong Xiuxian. 

“If you dare to enter my main hall again, I will break your other hand.” Yi Ning said mildly. After being with Yan Xuan for a period of time, he too had become a little more ruthless.

“I mean what I say.” After speaking, Yi Ning’s body emitted tremendous pressure, pressing down on Liu Rugeng so hard that he couldn’t lift his head. No matter how much he resisted, he couldn’t prevent his knees from dropping to the floor. Unexpectedly, Gong Xiuxian didn’t make a move to stop him, because he thought that Yi Ning was acting like this out of jealousy.

If you asked him, he would like to see Shizun and Liu Rugeng get jealous and fight over him. Foolish and laughable.

Liu Rugeng’s gaze suddenly seemed tempered by poison. He stared unmovingly at Yi Ning and replied after a long while, “I understand, Immortal Master.” 

The hatred in his eyes didn’t escape Yi Ning’s notice.

Gan’er watched this all play out from the side, tremblingly shrinking into Yan Xuan’s side. How scary, the outside really was filled with terrifying human cultivators. She was never going out with the Venerable Lord ever again.

Suddenly, the Glazed Tower was filled with the tolling of a bell that permeated every room and every cranny.

It was Si-shi. 

The servant girls stood up simultaneously, lighting the wicks of the changming lanterns. The dim room was suddenly enveloped in light.

C rfa bo ectegglfv obbarafqr fmtbfv ogbw atf fcv bo atf mbgglvbg, jr lo atfs kfgf rafqqlcu bc atf alqr bo bcf’r tfjga. Tl Rlcu’r fzqgfrrlbc yfmjwf rfnfgf. Qlat rb wemt vfwbclm fcfgus lc atf abkfg, lo atf Jlas Obgv kjr atja gja vfwbc, atfc lc j ktlif, la wluta yfmbwf j oluta ab atf vfjat.

The room’s door was slowly pushed open, and everyone within waited with bated breaths.

“Bang!” 

There was the muted thud of a head colliding with the doorframe, following which an official’s hat rolled to a stop by Yi Ning’s feet.

“This is why back when the tower was being built, I told them to make the door frames taller! This hurts like hell ahhh…” The man gripped his forehead in a half-squat, appearing to be in severe pain from the collision with the door just now.

Yi Ning: …

“Oh, there are so many people. Has everyone had their evening meals?” When the man saw them, he rolled up his sleeve a little excitedly, then continued, “This one is Ganlin City’s Lord, Mu Xiaoyun. My wife has prepared a few dishes, if everyone is not against it, why don’t we enjoy a meal together?” 

“There is no need. It is imperative to deal with the rat demon first.” Yi Ning didn’t want to share a meal with Gong Xiuxian and Liu Rugeng, he wanted to leave this place immediately.

When Yan Xuan heard his words, he ground his teeth and said, “What demon are you thinking of dealing with? Didn’t you tell me you weren’t going just now?”

“Yes, I won’t go, you go.” A trace of a smile lingered on the corners of Yi Ning’s lips as he leaned against Yan Xuan’s side and said quietly, “If the Venerable Lord himself were to take action, the demon will surely be exterminated.”

His voice was like a feather tickling Yan Xuan’s heart. Even if he knew this was just Yi Ning using him, it was still super effective, and Yan Xuan even wanted Yi Ning to beg him even more gently. The fire within his heart was stoked once again. 

“Beg me.” Yan Xuan’s Adam’s apple bobbed. As long as he asked for it, even if he wanted him to massacre the entire city, Yan Xuan would be able to fulfill his wishes.

Yi Ning lowered his lashes, his finger hooking around Yan Xuan’s collar, and said mildly, “I’m begging you. Please save whoever’s left of those 18 kidnapped people.”

Even though this wasn’t the attitude of someone begging for help, but because Yi Ning had personally begged him, Yan Xuan was happy to do this for him.

Furthermore, something like this wasn’t difficult for him. The offender had already delivered themselves right to his door. 

“Fang Shilan, what are you hiding behind him for?” The next second, Yinzhen left his hand and shot towards the back of Mu Xiaoyun.

With a clash of blades, Yinzhen collided with Fang Shilan’s scimitar and caused sparks to fly from the friction. A sweetly-smiling woman emerged from behind Mu Xiaoyun and slowly walked over, all smiles as she greeted Yan Xuan.

“Venerable Lord, it has been a long time since we’ve met, but your skills are still as profound as ever.” Fang Shilan was a small woman, and when compared with Mu Xiaoyun, who could hit the doorframe just by lifting his head, she was an entire two heads shorter.

It seems like the doorframe was made according to her measurements. 

There was demonic energy emitting from her, but it wasn’t the kind of bloody demonic energy that contained killing intent.

Rather, it was very mild. Even after being sealed for nine years, the level of demonic energy coming from Yan Xuan was stronger than Fang Shilan.

“No, it’s not her.” Yi Ning spoke unconsciously. Through his experience from his many years of exterminating evil, judging from the demonic energy emitted by Fang Shilan at least, she had definitely never personally taken a life.

Yan Xuan propped up his jaw on his hand, his head tilting to the side slightly, looking at Fang Shilan. Yinzhen separated from the scimitar and flew back towards Yan Xuan like it possessed a life of its own. 

“Shilan, why did you come out? What if you get hurt or fall sick? Hurry and go back.” Mu Xiaoyun carefully protected Fang Shilan, looking towards Yan Xuan with some anger as he said, “This Esteemed Immortal, why did you attack my wife?”

So she had married him. Yan Xuan’s gaze darkened slightly as he ignored Mu Xiaoyun, turning his head to transmit to Yi Ning, “She’s the rat demon causing trouble.”

Indeed, Yi Ning could see the demonic energy on the other person’s body, and could largely guess that the wife of the City Lord wasn’t an ordinary person. However, could it be that Mu Xiaoyun didn’t know that his wife was a demonic creature?

Or was it that he turned a blind eye to the kidnapping of the 18 new brides? 

“Do not act lightly, find an opportunity to investigate further.” Yi Ning transmitted back, then addressed Mu Xiaoyun, “It is this one’s fault for failing to discipline him properly. On Yan Xuan’s behalf, I apologise to the Lady. I have a few questions I want to ask the Lady, I wonder if the City Lord…”

He hadn’t finished speaking before he was interrupted by Mu Xiaoyun. “My wife is with child, I’m afraid she won’t be able to speak with Esteemed Immortal.”

When those words were said, those seated were stunned. A demon and human marrying was already a shocking event, but Fang Shilan was also pregnant with Mu Xiaoyun’s child. Could it be that she intended to give birth to a half-demon?

“Does the City Lord intend on harbouring demons?” Gong Xiuxian suddenly spoke up, exposing Fang Shilan’s true identity. His cultivation was profound, so naturally he could also perceive Fang Shilan’s demonic energy. 

He wanted his Shizun to clearly see these demons’ true character and quickly return to the righteous path, so he might as well start with this Fang Shilan.

“How could Shilan be a demon? If she were a demon, how could she dare to marry me and have my child?” Mu Xiaoyun refuted. After all, everybody knew that humans and demons could not successfully conceive. Even if there was a pregnancy, there was an extremely high chance of death when giving birth.

A half-demon like Yan Xuan who had fortuitously survived was the rarest of the rares, and nobody would gamble their life on a child.

Gong Xiuxian was too hasty. Yi Ning watched coldly. Even though Gong Xiuxian’s cultivation was high, he was inexperienced; acting like this would only alert the enemy. 

Seeing that they were on the verge of an argument, Fang Shilan smiled indifferently and said, “Husband, please go ahead and have your meal. I will take care of matters here.”

Mu Xiaoyun seemed like he still wanted to say something, but was persuaded by Fang Shilan’s earnest request, “Hurry and go, I can handle things on my own.”

He turned to look at them and warned, “I hope the Esteemed Immortals of Mingguang Sect will not tarnish their own reputation and bully us mortals.”

Yan Xuan chuckled derisively, leaning against the altar and saying lazily, “Mortals.” Your ‘mortal’ wife isn’t much more merciful or humane than a Demon Venerable like him. 

After he left, Fang Shilan kneeled respectfully on the prayer mat and saluted Yan Xuan. “Greetings to the Venerable Lord. Mu Xiaoyun has offended, may the Venerable Lord be magnanimous and forgive his oversteps.”

The title ‘Venerable Lord’ caused great waves in his heart when it entered Gong Xiuxian’s ears. There was only one demonic cultivator who could be called Venerable Lord, and it was the Demon Venerable who had been sealed by Shizun nine years ago.

Shizun had never told him where the Demon Venerable was imprisoned, yet now he had personally set that Demon Venerable free, all for the sake of leaving his side. Gong Xiuxian looked darkly at Yan Xuan, the sword in his hand gripped so tightly it trembled slightly.

Yan Xuan cast aside his gaze, saying indifferently, “Those 18 people, where are they?” 

“I thought the Venerable Lord would first ask about the child in my womb.” Fang Shilan smiled gently, but her back had already broken out in cold sweat. “They are all doing very well, they’re being taken care of by several maids. It is just that Mu Xiaoyun is not aware of this, which is why he requested the Esteemed Immortals to exterminate evil.”

Seeing how she was freely admitting it, Yi Ning said with some shock, “Then why did you kidnap them?”

Fang Shilan lifted her gaze to look at Yi Ning. She didn’t recognise him, but knew that he was definitely no ordinary person, and so replied in the same respectful tone, “They are all women who have lived hard lives. Some were forced by their family to marry old men with one foot in the coffin, some were sold into officials’ families as concubines, others were already selling themselves in brothels from a young age before finally being sold to lowly thugs for a pittance…

“Thus, they sought me out, and asked me to help them escape.” 

Fang Shilan spoke extremely frankly, and continued, “To bring such a matter to Mu Xiaoyun’s attention is improper. Along with my identity, I have to request the Esteemed Immortals to help me keep these two secrets.”

How much of what she said was the truth, Yi Ning didn’t know, but he also knew that Fang Shilan was unlikely to dare to lie in front of Yan Xuan. After all, from her attitude, it was plain to see that Fang Shilan was most probably one of the subordinates who waited upon the Demon Venerable.

“Words from a demon, Shizun, don’t be fooled by them.” Gong Xiuxian suddenly spoke, lifting his sword to point it at Fang Shilan. “Release them at once, or else don’t blame me for being uncourteous. “

Yi Ning had never expected he would be this impulsive. What would they do if they angered Fang Shilan and provoked her murderous intent? 

Who could have predicted that Fang Shilan wouldn’t even glance at him, calmly kneeling in front of Yan Xuan and responding, “I only obey the Venerable Lord’s orders.”

Yan Xuan’s eyebrow ticked up. So, she was one who knew tact.

However, in truth, Yan Xuan didn’t give a damn about the life or death of those 18 people, he only had one thing to say. “Release the hex poison on Yi Ning’s body first.”

“Shizun, you were poisoned?” Gong Xiuxian suddenly got up, looking anxiously at Yi Ning, but didn’t receive a single glance from him. Beside him, Liu Rugeng’s pupils constricted slightly, and the hand clenched at his side tightened and began trembling. 

Yi Ning suddenly wanted to know, if Gong Xiuxian knew that this poison came from the hands of his pure and kind-hearted, unbelievably understanding childhood friend, what kind of expression would he have?

He would probably call him disgusting too.

Since everything is disgusting, then why not let everybody be disgusted together. Liu Rugeng shouldn’t expect to get away scot free.

“It was done by that fiance of yours beside you. Speaking of which, my spiritual energy was also sealed thanks to you, what a match made in Heaven.” 

The corners of Yi Ning’s lips tilted upwards as he watched a trace of panic flit through Liu Rugeng’s eyes, before it quickly settled into a masked of unfiltered shock. “How could Immortal Master falsely accuse me like this! Even if you can’t bear to give up Xiuxian, you shouldn’t say such things about an ordinary mortal like me!”

An ordinary mortal. This phrase aroused the empathy of the servant girls in the room.

He was only a simple mortal human, how could he poison the Immortal Master who had such high cultivation?

Gong Xiuxian froze for a moment. He knew that Yi Ning had never told a lie, but asking him to suspect his childhood friend, who he had grown up with, he couldn’t do that either. 

“It’s a misunderstanding,” Gong Xiuxian subconsciously blurted out, and there was not a trace of uncertainty in his voice. “Liu Rugeng is an ordinary mortal, how could he harm Shizun?”

Yan Xuan spoke coldly, “You think ordinary mortals don’t know how to poison someone?”

Gong Xiuxian’s words were caught in his throat, and he could only mumble, “Rugeng wouldn’t do such a thing, he isn’t this kind of person!”

His entire family was killed by poison at the hands of a mortal, but he still felt that Rugeng would never do such a thing. He was the person who understood Liu Rugeng best. He had always been gentle and considerate of him, and was conscientious in every manner. How could such a person possibly poison Yi Ning? 

That’s right, Gong Xiuxian had always been like this, Yi Ning didn’t hold any hope towards him either. Since he chose what he believed to be true, then there wasn’t anything he could do either.

Yi Ning moved his faze aside in disgust, and asked Fang Shilan, “Can the hex poison in my body be dispelled?”

Fang Shilan’s gaze flashed around, and she seemed to have understood the relationship between them. She looked at Yi Ning and asked, “You were struck by a hex poison?”

The hex poison was a poison unique to the rat race, other than members of the race, nobody else could dispel it. This was also the reason why when Yan Xuan found out about the hex poison, his first thought was to seek out Fang Shilan. 

“Yes.” Yi Ning nodded his head slightly. “Yan Xuan’s blood is helping me suppress the poison and prevent it from flaring up, but it isn’t a cure.”

“What?” Fang Shilan was dazed, as if she had heard something unbelievable.

The Demon Venerable extracted blood to help this human suppress the poison? How could this be? In the past, a demonic cultivator had sneakily squirrelled away some of Yan Xuan’s blood and was dissolved alive by his demonic fog.

Furthermore, the name Yi Ning sounded a little familiar– 

Wasn’t this the Immortal Master of Mingguang Sect who sealed away the Demon Venerable back then?

Fang Shilan was thoroughly stunned.