CH 20

After settling these women on the tower’s top floor, they were still crying.

The servant girls within the tower went about their work as normal, as if they didn’t know what had happened within the City Lord’s residence. 

“Immortal Master, are we going to die?” The woman who had been scared to tears by Yan Xuan stumbled up to Yi Ning and asked.

Yi Ning had received questions like this countless times. Every time he went out to eliminate evils, the pitiful common folk would ask him this. Their lives were so fragile and easily snuffed. Standing here, Yi Ning was like their saviour.

“No.” Yi Ning said seriously, “Every one of you will survive.”

If Yan Xuan couldn’t kill Fang Shilan in time and undo the hex poison, then these women would indeed be unlikely to avoid this fate. However, he believed in Yan Xuan. 

Hearing Yi Ning’s words, they all looked marginally more reassured, clustering together and encouraging each other.

“Nevermind, we’ve endured all those hardships in the past, now that we have the Immortal Master’s protection, we’ll surely be fine.”

“Right, we’ll be fine!”

No matter how much suffering life brought, they would always find a way to live on. This was what the most ordinary of mortals were like. Even if they were tricked or used, Yi Ning would expend all effort to save them. This was Yi Ning’s way.

Suddenly, an incredibly dislikeable voice sounded out.

“Xiuxian! The Immortal Master is back!” Liu Rugeng pretended to be excited and ran towards Yi Ning. Then, like he had been frightened, stopped a distance away.

Closely following which, Gong Xiuxian rushed up the wooden staircase, his gaze locking onto Yi Ning. “Shizun, where did you go?”

Yi Ning gripped tightly onto the sword in his hand, disgust rising in his heart. 

After Yan Xuan took Yi Ning away, Liu Rugeng said he wanted to play around in Ganlin City, and along the way, look for clues.

Gong Xiuxian was filled with the desire to find Yi Ning and only perfunctorily appeased Liu Rugeng at the same time. Who would have thought that no matter how much they searched, they couldn’t find even their shadow within the city.

Afterwards, they heard that a demonic cultivator had died in the Yan Clan Pharmacy.

He carefully looked around Yi Ning, but couldn’t see any trace of Yan Xuan. 

Could it be that the demonic cultivator who died was Yan Xuan?

“Shizun, have you rescued the kidnapped women?” He looked around and spotted the women who had been taken away by Fang Shilan. “If so, then come with me back to the sect for debriefing.”

As Gong Xiuxian spoke, he had already started walking towards Yi Ning.

This wasn’t a discussion, he was fully intending on forcing Yi Ning to go back with him. 

“You are no longer my disciple. From today onwards, do not call me Shizun.” Yi Ning retreated half a step, pointing his sword at Gong Xiuxian. If he tried to force him as before, then Yi Ning would call Yan Xuan over.

After hearing his words, Gong Xiuxian paused, saying lowly, “I will forever be your disciple, even if you aren’t willing. I will also be your husband.”

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These words were like a bolt from the blue. Gong Xiuxian’s face clouded over as he restrained him and said, “I don’t believe you. Shizun, don’t joke around like this, okay?”

The Gong Xiuxian now was already somewhat similar to the one in the book. Yi Ning felt that if he said something Gong Xiuxian didn’t want to hear, he would enrage him.

But he wasn’t afraid.

“Yan Xuan…” He had only chanted the name once when his thoughts were disrupted by the woman by his side. 

“You already have a fiance, but you still want to force an already-married person, what kind of man are you!?” It was the woman who had been scared to tears by Yan Xuan, but now she had gotten courage from somewhere to scold Gong Xiuxian.

Gong Xiuxian was stunned by her scolding, tightly gritting his teeth. If it wasn’t for Mingguang Sect’s rules forbidding him from raising a hand towards mortals, he would definitely properly discipline this mouthy woman.

He opened his mouth to rebuke, only to hear another girl say, “From the start, I knew you weren’t anything good. You’re just like that piece of trash I married, who only knew how to pamper his mistresses and neglect his wife!”

Very quickly, the women all started condemning Gong Xiuxian, the fires of their rage spreading onto Liu Rugeng. “You too, don’t pretend to be pitiful! This lady saw a lot of cunning ones like you back in my days in the brothel. Aren’t you a man, stop pretending!” 

Liu Rugeng’s face was green, and he gritted his teeth so hard it was a miracle they didn’t snap. They actually compared him to brothel women.

Of these women, some had been tricked by men, some were treated as objects to be sold, some were treated as playthings, and some had husbands who neglected their wives and spoiled their mistresses, causing them to fall to such a position. The reason why they had so easily agreed to Fang Shilan, was because they couldn’t take the suffering any longer.

They knew how bitter such suffering was.

Yi Ning was startled, he didn’t expect these women to speak up for him. 

The women walked over and surrounded Yi Ning, like a brittle and fragile shield. So weak, yet they chose to stand resolutely in front of him.

Yi Ning’s fingers twitched as he watched the women draw closer. Even though they didn’t say anything, Yi Ning understood their goodwill.

Thank you. Yi Ning said in his heart.

After sending away Yi Ning, Yan Xuan searched for Gan’er’s tracks. Unexpectedly, several tunnels all showed signs of Gan’er lingering in them. 

What is that silly child doing?

The tunnels were confusing, and it took much effort for Yan Xuan to find a tunnel that showed traces of Gan’er having just passed through. However, the scent trail suddenly cut off halfway.

Did something happen? Yan Xuan furrowed his brow, investigating the surrounding area for a time, yet still came up empty.

Suddenly, an unassuming bone lying in a corner attracted Yan Xuan’s attention. 

He stared at that bone for a beat, then reached out a hand and picked it up.

The instant the bone left the ground, a large hole appeared beneath Yan Xuan’s feet, sucking him in.

When he reopened his eyes, the sight before him was that of a place not dissimilar to a palace.

On top of the dark red palace wall, a silhouette swaying their little legs turned their head to look at him, hurriedly gesturing for him to keep quiet. 

It was Gan’er.

Yan Xuan’s lips twitched, flying to her side and looking at the scene within the palace walls.

It was an immense pool, with a snowy-white lotus floating on its surface.

The person lying within it was actually Mu Xiaoyun. 

Within the lotus, Fang Shilan carefully wiped his forehead and temples with a handkerchief, then gently pressed a kiss to the corner of his lips.

“How did you find this place?” Yan Xuan transmitted.

Gan’er puffed out her chest proudly, intending to brag a little, only to nearly fall off the wall. Luckily for her, Yan Xuan reached out and fished her back. She said embarrassedly, “I searched for a long time, finally discovered the breakthrough point of the Underground Movement skill, and snuck inside.

She said it so simply, but Yan Xuan knew that it wasn’t something that could be easily accomplished. 

It seemed as though Fang Shilan was still worried about Mu Xiaoyun discovering her true identity, so she used a technique to put Mu Xiaoyun to sleep.

“I will kill Fang Shilan, you take Mu Xiaoyun away.” Yan Xuan instructed quietly. Gan’er excitedly nodded her head, impatiently hopping down from the palace wall.

Fang Shilan was in the middle of transmitting energy to Mu Xiaoyun. She needed to help Mu Xiaoyun maintain his lifeforce while he was unconscious, yet what she didn’t expect was that halfway through the process, she would be interrupted by a long saber.

Her pupils shrunk and she hugged Mu Xiaoyun to her body as she barely avoided the attack. She stared disbelievingly at the attacker. 

“How did you find this place!?” Fang Shilan pulled out the scimitar hanging at her waist, the killing intent emanating off her ballooning drastically. With Mu Xiaoyun here, she would risk her life to protect him.

However, Yan Xuan didn’t intend on killing Mu Xiaoyun along with her. If he killed people indiscriminately, he would be in for a scolding again.

“As I said, no matter where you hide him, I will find him.” Yan Xuan stretched out a hand and beckoned Yinzhen to return, watching as fine black fur started to sprout on Fang Shilan’s skin.

She was about to turn into a devil. 

To go this far for a human.

“Venerable Lord, I know I can’t win against you in a fight, but I beg you to give me and Xiaoyun a chance.” Fang Shilan hugged Mu Xiaoyun tightly, her eyes filled with sorrow. “I only wish to be together with Xiaoyun.”

F*ck. Yan Xuan rubbed his temples. He didn’t like this sort of feeling, it was like he had once again become the villain who tore apart a loving couple. If it weren’t for Yi Ning begging him, he wouldn’t give two damns about what Fang Shilan was up to.

Fang Shilan supported Mu Xiaoyun’s body, gently kneeled on the ground, and said, “I beg you, Venerable Lord, you should know what it feels like to love someone. You and Immortal Master Yi Ning…” 

“Shut up.” Yan Xuan lifted his saber. Every single time, Fang Shilan tried to use Yi Ning to distract him. This time, he definitely couldn’t let her go.

Seeing Yan Xuan’s expression was unchanging, Fang Shilan’s face was pale as as sheet as she slowly exposed her neck, saying softly, “If this is how it must be, then I can only beg the Venerable Lord to let Xiaoyun go, and to not tell him that I am a demonic cultivator.”

“En.” Yan Xuan casually agreed. Then, he watched as Fang Shilan kissed Mu Xiaoyun with her eyes brimming with tears, then placed him on the ground.

Just as Yan Xuan moved towards her, she suddenly waved her saber and slashed towards Yan Xuan’s throat, only for Yan Xuan to kick her aside in the next instant. 

As expected, it was another false surrender. Yan Xuan expressionlessly lifted his hand, demonic fog entwining around Fang Shilan’s body like a venomous snake.

“Yan Xuan, if you kill me, then Yi Ning will be taken away by Fu Zhuo.” Fang Shilan said to him unwillingly, “You probably don’t know what Fu Zhuo did after you were sealed away, do you?”

When he heard those words, the saber that was about to fall finally halted.

“He found a lot of human slaves to vent… his desires. I’ve run into them a few times, each and every one of them looked like Yi Ning!” Fang Shilan revealed a smile, her eyes filled with the joy of retribution. 

Since you want to separate me and Xiaoyun, then don’t expect to get off so easily either.

“Is that so?” Yan Xuan said pensively, as if he didn’t care about what she said at all.

Seeing this, Fang Shilan refused to give up and tacked on, “If you kill me, then don’t expect to ever learn what Fu Zhuo did. Fu Zhuo is incredibly intelligent, one of these days, he’ll snatch away Yi Ning.”

Suddenly, Yan Xuan laughed coldly, the tip of his saber pressed below her chin, and said slowly, “Nine years ago, he plotted to have me sealed by Yi Ning. Did you think I didn’t know?” 

That day, the heavy rain churned up the mud, and the half-demon’s demonic fog that surrounded that corpse was evidently done by Fu Zhuo.

Fang Shilan’s face was white, she never expected that Yan Xuan would know everything.

If it was like this, then she could only use her final trump card. Fang Shilan suddenly gripped Yan Xuan’s saber. Even if her palm was sliced open by the demonic fog on Yinzhen’s blade, she didn’t retreat. Her teeth lengthened and became sharp, and she viciously bit down on Yan Xuan’s wrist.

Yan Xuan was unable to escape, his wrist turned into a mess of bloodied flesh. He cursed under his breath, stabbing through Fang Shilan’s shoulder in one strike. 

“What are you doing!?”

Fang Shilan’s body stiffened and she tremblingly let go of Yan Xuan.

Mu Xiaoyun had awakened.

“Shilan…” Mu Xiaoyun stared at her blankly. His ordinarily gentle and sensible wife had, at this time, become so foreign and terrifying. It was enough to cause him to forget to breathe, his fingertips trembling slightly. 

Fang Shilan stiffly turned her head back, wanting to smile at him. Yet, the fur on her face and the fresh blood at the corners of her mouth caused her smile to become horrifying. She saw the disbelief in Mu Xiaoyun’s eyes, and her smile slowly disappeared.

Ahh, that’s right, she should have known that this day would come.