Chapter 30
Without Helan Xue’s permission, Lin Queli didn’t dare to leave, so he knelt for a whole night.
It wasn’t until early morning that Shouyang came to call him.
Lin Queli turned his head and looked at Shouyang in a daze. He wanted to get up, but his legs were numb. He said with a wronged expression, “Senior martial brother… I can’t stand up, sob, sob…”
Shouyang sighed, went forward, pulled Lin Queli up, and rubbed the top of his head. “It’s okay, senior martial brother has prepared a carriage for you.”
“A carriage…?” Lin Queli’s world collapsed. Was he being sent back?!
Fortunately, Shouyang explained that they were leaving the inn and heading to Yuncheng to provide support.
Yesterday, Helan Xue and Shouyang had also roughly investigated the situation around them and guessed that the Demon Clan had broken the tree demon’s seal seven days ago.
The tree demon had buried his “hearts” in twenty places nearby, scattering his vital points.
Places with heavy yin energy nourished the tree hearts, so the Demon Sword fragment must be hidden in one of the tree hearts.
Lin Queli was stunned. He said, “Then doesn’t that mean the Demon Clan has to exterminate the tree hearts just like us?”
Lin Queli thought to himself, the Demon Clan is really using the tree demon as a tool. First, they let it plant its hearts, and then they have to destroy them one by one.
“Yes.” Shouyang said, “So we have to find the tree hearts one step faster than the Demon Clan, but that’s not a problem… Yesterday, you guys destroyed one, and the other young cultivators also found one. I found four, and Shizun found twelve. That is to say, we only have two left now. The fragment is either in Yuncheng or in the last place.”
Lin Queli’s eyes widened.
Wait, Helan Xue… how many?!
What kind of terrifying existence was Helan Xue…
Lin Queli thought to himself, he and Qiansui and the others had worked so hard to destroy one tree heart yesterday, and Helan Xue had directly wiped out twelve?
“The Yuncheng we are going to next also has a tree heart. This is why the Tiandi tribe wanted to massacre the city and occupy it before. Fortunately, Shizun discovered it in time, and the casualties were not heavy.”
Lin Queli paused.
The demons chasing the Demon Sword fragment were led by Elder Jin. A’Yu said they were not on the same side as Elder Jin, but Helan Xue and the others had discovered that the Tiandi tribe was helping Elder Jin massacre the city.
So either A’Yu had lied to him, or the Tiandi tribe was divided into two factions.
…Forget it.
It had nothing to do with him anyway.
Shouyang patted Lin Queli and said, “You should go and apologize to Shizun later and act cute. Don’t let Shizun be angry with you.”
“No.” Lin Queli pouted.
I’ve already accepted the punishment, do I still have to apologize… sob, sob, I’ve already been punished. It shouldn’t make a difference to Helan Xue whether I apologize or not. Bringing up old matters will just be annoying.
“Huh?” Shouyang was a little surprised. After all, in his perception, Lin Queli was extremely clingy to Helan Xue. His suggestion was also because he was worried that Lin Queli would be sad after being punished by Helan Xue.
Lin Queli lowered his head and said, “Let’s-let’s talk about it when we get to Yuncheng!”
The group rode on horseback to Yuncheng.
The disciples of the Myriad Sword Sect traveled simply when they were out, but the other disciples of the Righteous Path, especially those from wealthy families, had a lot of supplies, so they directly used carriages. There were empty seats in the carriages, so Shouyang let Lin Queli ride along.
Helan Xue, at the front of the team, rode on a white horse and frowned as he looked back.
In the past, this disciple of his would definitely come and pester him, but after he was punished by kneeling, he hadn’t come to find him until now. Could it be that he… was having a tantrum?
Helan Xue glanced at Shouyang behind him. “Is Lin Luo alright?”
“He’s fine, just his legs are a little sore from kneeling all night, and he doesn’t know how to ride a horse, so this disciple let him ride in the carriage.” Shouyang said with a grin, “Shizun… if you’re worried about him, why don’t you go and ask him yourself? Junior martial brother is young and simple. He must be sad after being punished by you like this.”
Helan Xue did not answer, just frowned slightly.
He doesn’t know how to ride a horse?
The Changming Clan didn’t even teach him this.
The group arrived at Yuncheng in less than half a day.
The city lord of Yuncheng had been on tenterhooks day and night, guarding against the Demon Clan’s return, and was also afraid of the tree demon lurking in Yuncheng, whose whereabouts were unknown. He had been looking forward to their arrival, so he personally welcomed them warmly at the city gate and took everyone to the best inn in the city to stay.
Since they had booked the best inn, there was no need to worry about not having enough rooms. Everyone could have their own room and rest well for a night. The next day, they would go out to find the Yuncheng tree heart.
Helan Xue returned to his empty and silent room and sat in meditation on the soft couch by the window, waiting.
His little disciple was timid. He must be, as usual, going to barge in and pester him, begging to stay in the same room with him.
The little disciple was very noisy and disturbed his cultivation, so Helan Xue expected to be interrupted and did not enter deep meditation first.
Half an incense stick’s time passed.
An hour passed.
…
…Night fell.
Helan Xue suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp.
…
On the other side, Lin Queli received a message from a carrier pigeon in his room.
It was a nightingale bird that only the Demon Clan could see. After Lin Queli opened it, the letter was also written in a script that only the Demon Clan could understand.
Respected Demon Lord, if you want to know the truth, please come and meet with me.
A’Yu
The other party used the title “Demon Lord.” Lin Queli didn’t dare not to go, for fear that the other party would “tear up the ticket” and expose him.
And following the nightingale, he found that the place where A’Yu had arranged to meet was… a brothel??
Lin Queli stared blankly at the beautiful women before him.
Ah, this.
Although he wasn’t a “native,” he had been Helan Xue’s disciple for a long time. As a disciple of the Myriad Sword Sect, coming to this red-light district felt strange, strange and a complete breakdown of morality…
Lin Queli wore a veiled hat and his face couldn’t be seen clearly, but after all, his clothes were exquisite, so while he was still hesitating at the door, he was pulled in by a beauty.
“Hey, wait, I’m…”
Lin Queli smelled a noseful of fragrance and was about to say something when he felt himself being dragged away.
A’Yu, wearing a veil and exotic clothes, pulled him up.
Lin Queli: “…”
To meet with me, you even disguised yourself as a male prostitute here?!
The two came to a room. A’Yu took off her veil and took a deep breath. “Your Highness the Demon Lord, the situation is urgent now, so I’ll get straight to the point and make it short!”
Wait a minute…
Lin Queli said nervously, “How do you know I’m the Demon Lord?”
A’Yu said, “Your soul, I can smell it. This is a talent of our Tiandi tribe, but currently only I, A’Lin, and my older sister have inherited this talent. If my older sister… that is, the leader of the Tiandi tribe, saw you, she would also be able to recognize you.”
Lin Queli paused.
Older sister?
A’Yu said, “I didn’t lie to you. My clansmen and I were really just passing by this place. We were looking for our older sister…”
A’Yu told Lin Queli their story.
“Our tribe was invaded by one of the sects of the Righteous Path…” A’Yu gritted his teeth. “We didn’t do anything, nor did we participate in Elder Jin’s struggles. We just worked honestly and diligently in our tribe, but we suffered such a disaster.”
“My older sister led a small group of elites to hold off the enemy so we could escape. Since then, we have been separated from my older sister and the others… But recently, we heard that the Tiandi tribe has been active in this area, massacring cities and robbing. That’s why we came to look for our family.”
A’Yu frowned. “But we find it very strange. The Tiandi tribe focuses on communicating with heaven and earth to cultivate. We never participate in struggles, let alone do these things to cause trouble. So why would my older sister work for Elder Jin…”
Lin Queli paused. He said suspiciously, “You guys… really didn’t do anything bad?”
A’Yu raised his hand. “I swear on the blood of the Demon Clan that everything I have said is true.”
If a vow made with the blood of the Demon Clan was broken, one would be struck by lightning.
Lin Queli thought to himself, so the Demon Clan is really divided into two factions. There are evil cultivators who cultivate with evil thoughts, demons who harm the people for profit, and these natural-born demons who have been cultivating diligently in their own territory and ignoring the affairs of the mortal world.
A’Yu said, “That’s why I wanted to ask for your help. If you see the so-called Tiandi tribe and Elder Jin, please send me a message. If… my older sister and the others are accidentally captured by the Myriad Sword Sect, please save their lives… I know the Demon Sword fragment is very important, but in my heart, my clansmen are just as important. For this, I am willing to make an equivalent exchange with you.”
A’Yu took a deep breath and half-knelt before him, lowering his head. “I once again promise with the blood of the Demon Clan that if you save us, the Tiandi tribe will follow you forever, not Elder Jin.”
Lin Queli paused.
“Please consider it carefully. The various tribes of the Demon Clan are closely related. If my older sister returns alive and supports you as the leader, not only the Tiandi tribe, but all forty-two tribes of the Demon Clan will obey your orders.”
A’Yu’s gaze was firm.
He had thought it through. Instead of maintaining neutrality and being trampled on by everyone, it was better to choose a wise master and seek protection.
Lin Queli was so scared he took several steps back.
Ah, this…
But these struggles have nothing to do with me!
【Host, wait! I remembered something! Now your debt is only 230 points left. Host, if you successfully sleep with the Immortal Venerable and get pregnant later, you’ll have to run away, right?】
Lin Queli: “Of course! Or should I wait to die?!”
【So Host… where will you run to?】
Lin Queli: “…”
Good question.
Lin Queli glanced at A’Yu before him.
The current Demon Palace had been taken over by Elder Jin. If he fled back to the Demon Palace, it would probably be a dead end. He would definitely be murdered by Elder Jin and replaced.
But if he got the support of the tribes and fled to the tribes…
【That’s right, Host. Don’t forget you have to survive for a full ten months while pregnant! You need protection!】
Lin Queli took a deep breath and said weakly to A’Yu, “I’ll try my best… but I have to say in advance, I can’t guarantee anything… you guys still have to think of more ways on your own.”
A’Yu was overjoyed, and hope was rekindled in his eyes. “Thank you, Demon Lord!”
Lin Queli scratched his head. “Then let’s keep in touch. If there’s anything…”
Thump!
Just then, the room door was pushed open. A’Lin, who was helping to keep a lookout, said anxiously, “Brother, are you done! I saw Taxue Xianzun coming this way, it seems he’s here to catch someone!”
Lin Queli: “?!”
Big sister, is this Chinese?!
Helan Xue isn’t cultivating, but coming to a brothel in the middle of the night… to catch him?!
Huh?
Is this something Helan Xue would do?
“You-you guys go quickly!!”
Otherwise, let alone your older sister, all three siblings can be packed up and sent away together!
The two jumped out of the window. Lin Queli frantically closed the window and was about to go downstairs.
Swoosh—
A strong gust of fierce wind came. Lin Queli was thrown onto the bed, and a strange and cold aura seemed to be beside him.
His eyes were covered by an invisible and untouchable black qi, and an ice-cold hand was choking his neck.
Lin Queli stared helplessly, his legs flailing.
He tried to drive his spiritual energy to resist, but he was horrified to find that his whole body was suppressed by the other party’s spiritual energy and he couldn’t use any strength at all.
W-what’s going on!
Who?!
Remembering that Helan Xue was coming this way, Lin Queli’s voice was faint and uncomfortable. “Shizun… save…”
