Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Qi Wuyu felt a complex mix of emotions upon seeing Liu Nanzhou—partly happy, partly guilty. He was burning with curiosity to know what had happened next.

Before the others could come out, Qi Wuyu sheathed his Frostwind Sword, rubbed his nose, and asked nonchalantly, "You came out pretty fast. What did you see?"

Liu Nanzhou pursed his lips. "My parents."

"Oh, your parents..." Qi Wuyu nodded, then paused as the words registered. He turned to him with a shocked expression. "Your parents?"

Liu Nanzhou nodded. "And my eldest brother, weaving a grasshopper for me." A faint smile touched his lips at the mention of his brother, but it vanished in an instant. "They told me abandoning me back then was unavoidable and asked if I was willing to go with them now."

Are you kidding me? Qi Wuyu felt a surge of anger. "What did you say?"

Liu Nanzhou looked at him and smiled. "I'm an orphan. I have no parents. Besides, I have a home now."

He had long stopped needing parents.

Qi Wuyu raised an eyebrow, fully agreeing. "That's the spirit!"

Liu Nanzhou looked at him. "You seemed a bit disappointed just now."

"Ah... no, you must have seen wrong." Qi Wuyu grinned.

Liu Nanzhou asked, "What did you see?"

Qi Wuyu blinked twice, guiltily turning his head away. "Um... that..."

So that demon had been messing with him all along. Could it be that what he saw was his own illusion? If it truly stemmed from his own heart, would he really imagine seducing Liu Nanzhou in a hot spring?

What nonsense! Was he that kind of frivolous person?

He knew that demon's illusion was no good! What a chaotic mess!

Qi Wuyu felt he hadn't cursed enough earlier.

Liu Nanzhou looked at him with confusion. Qi Wuyu gave an awkward laugh. Just then, Yao Shuning emerged. Qi Wuyu rushed over as if seeing a savior. "Ah, Xiao Ning, you're out! Are you hurt?"

Yao Shuning said, "I'm fine, Elder."

"Good, good."

Shen You emerged next. Qi Wuyu hurried over again. "Ah, Changxian, are you alright?"

Shen You was startled by his sudden concern, looking at Liu Nanzhou with bewilderment. Liu Nanzhou shrugged helplessly.

Shen You pulled Yao Shuning to his side and warned, "Stay away from him. Foolishness is contagious."

The others emerged one after another. Qi Wuyu checked on everyone, only calming down when he saw Liu Nanzhou had lost interest in the topic.

"Where does this lead?" Yang Zhen asked, looking at the water steps extending forward beneath their feet.

Liu Nanzhou said, "Probably the main hall."

"Let's go take a look."

The group walked along the water steps, passing by some withered seaweed on both sides. The entire seabed seemed less vibrant. When Qi Wuyu and Liu Nanzhou had come to find Han Sheng last time, it wasn't like this—the seabed had been beautifully decorated back then.

Qi Wuyu frowned. Something felt off to him.

They soon reached the end and saw the main hall. The original seashell throne was gone, replaced by a large white jade chair that looked hard and uncomfortable. A woman sat upon it. Seeing her face clearly, Qi Wuyu's heart sank. Just as he thought.

Cheng Yun sat on the chair, looking at the newcomers. In just a few short days, she seemed like a different person. Her once flamboyant demeanor had turned into one of disdain, as if even her features had grown sharper and more mean.

She recognized Qi Wuyu and Liu Nanzhou at a glance and smiled. "Familiar faces. So, how was the wine I brewed?"

The others were puzzled. Qi Wuyu took two steps forward, hands clasped behind his back, and nodded. "Boss Cheng's wine is naturally excellent. It's just... pretty damaging."

Cheng Yun looked at them with a thin, insincere smile. Yang Zhen said coldly, "Colluding with demons, throwing the cultivation world into chaos, causing innocent commoners to suffer—you've done a great service."

Cheng Yun denied it. "You're pinning the commoners' plight on me? I didn't kill those people. Didn't they all die at the hands of your so-called Orthodox Sects?"

"That's twisting words!" Yang Zhen was about to strike when Qi Wuyu stopped her. Yang Zhen looked at him, puzzled.

Qi Wuyu gave her a slight shake of his head and turned to ask Cheng Yun, "Where is Clan Leader Han?"

Only then did Yang Zhen remember that the new leader of the Yanlu Clan was a young girl, who still hadn't appeared.

Cheng Yun said, "She hasn't been feeling well these past couple of days. Clan affairs are temporarily under my management. If you have business, speak to me."

Qi Wuyu clearly didn't believe her nonsense. Watching Cheng Yun sit on the chair with a haughty posture, he guessed Han Sheng had likely been imprisoned by her.

"This is a matter of life and death. Can you die in her place?" Qi Wuyu smiled, but his words were cold.

"You'll know if you try."

As soon as Cheng Yun finished speaking, a group of Yanlu Demons swarmed in from all directions as if prepared, surrounding them within the main hall.

Shen You said, "What an unrepentant little demon."

Yang Zhen drew her sword, finding it somewhat laughable. "You don't actually think these demons can trap us, do you?"

Cheng Yun said, "I can't guarantee numbers, but with just you few, it shouldn't be a problem."

Liu Nanzhou pushed his scabbard forward, sending his longsword flying out. The hilt struck an oncoming Yanlu Demon. He then took two steps forward, grasped the hilt, and swung the sword in one fluid motion. That Yanlu Demon was killed instantly. He said coldly, "Then stop wasting words."

Cheng Yun sneered, raising her hand and giving it a light shake. The Yanlu Demons, receiving the order, all charged forward. The two sides were soon locked in battle, spiritual energy flying chaotically, wreaking havoc in the main hall. Cheng Yun stood on the platform, holding a bronze token in her hand, her thumb rubbing over the uneven pattern on its surface. She had somewhat underestimated these people's cultivation levels, but it didn't matter—someone could help her.

The commotion from their fight was immense, disturbing peace across half the seabed. Fish and shrimp fled in all directions. Han Sheng felt wave after wave of spiritual energy fluctuations. Watching an old turtle swim past, Han Sheng reached out to help it. "Get out of here!"

At that moment, she was locked in a prison cell. She never expected that by keeping to herself and not provoking external enemies, she would first invite internal trouble. No wonder He Su had said before he died, "It's too late to say anything now."

So the main course was here all along.

She wasn't worried Cheng Yun would kill her, and she knew Cheng Yun wouldn't last long in peace. The people of the cultivation world weren't fools. Her poisoning scheme wasn't clever—it was practically like pasting her name on the wine jars. It was only a matter of time before they traced it to her. See, hadn't they arrived?

She was just worried about what would happen to the Yanlu Clan after this battle. Her father had entrusted the clan to her, but she hadn't managed it well nor protected her clanspeople.

Han Sheng wallowed in self-pity for a while before pulling herself together. She had been waiting for these cultivators to come so she could escape in the chaos.

The Yanlu Demons guarding her were gone, probably dragged off to help. Han Sheng tried moving the lock on her wrist, but as soon as she did, the manacle tightened, burning her wrist like fire, instantly charring the surrounding flesh.

Han Sheng grimaced in pain. Bound and with her demonic power restricted, she couldn't even use the most basic spells now. She could hardly believe this was done by the person who was usually so gentle and kind to her.

The pain brought her out in a cold sweat; she could barely maintain her human form. She was wrong—Cheng Yun probably really did want her dead.

Han Sheng slumped, lowering her head. Suddenly, she heard a faint sound, as if someone was calling her.

"Clan Leader!"

She looked up and saw the girl who usually attended her running over, calling out to her anxiously.

"Dan Shu?" Han Sheng was taken aback to see her. "Are you alright?"

Though young, Dan Shu was a capable girl—otherwise she wouldn't have stayed by Han Sheng's side all this time. She focused energy in her palm and slammed it against the shackles, which immediately cracked. Freed from the shackles, Han Sheng staggered and fell forward. Dan Shu caught her. As Han Sheng felt her inner demonic power beginning to recover, she asked, "What's happening outside?"

"Taoist Priest Qi and the others have arrived. They're fighting Cheng Yun outside right now. I slipped away in the chaos."

It had taken Dan Shu a long time to find Han Sheng. Han Sheng wasn't too surprised. Dan Shu noticed the charred skin on Han Sheng's wrist and cried out in alarm. "Clan Leader, your hand!"

Han Sheng had managed to ignore the pain, but the reminder brought it rushing back. She forced herself to ignore it. "It's fine. Let's go check out the situation first."

But Dan Shu refused. She hovered her hand over the wound and used her demonic power to soothe it. Han Sheng gave her a grateful smile. "Thank you."

The two broke out and headed toward the main hall. Inside, items were scattered and destroyed. Han Sheng's heart ached: it was all money! Beyond the monetary loss, she was even more heartbroken over her clansmen.

*Thud!* A Yanlu Demon was kicked to the ground. Qi Wuyu landed, only to have another demon thrust a halberd at him. He leaned back to dodge, grabbed the shaft with one hand, and with a palm strike sent the demon flying. Cheng Yun scanned the room, her gaze settling on Yao Shuning, who appeared relatively vulnerable. A faint smirk played on her lips as she subtly flicked her wrist.

Yao Shuning, focused on the demon before her, was completely unaware.

Qi Wuyu, standing nearby, sensed an unusual shift in the water currents. He felt a strange flow heading toward Yao Shuning's back. Instinctively, he stepped in front of her, forming a spiritual shield with his power. But his defense failed. The water current collided with his spiritual energy and transformed into a long trident, piercing through his shoulder.

Qi Wuyu grunted in pain. Hearing the sound, Yao Shuning turned and gasped in shock. "Elder!"

Shen You also noticed. "Qi Wuyu!"

Liu Nanzhou, a moment too late to stop him, saw the blood seeping from his shoulder and his eyes instantly reddened. Qi Wuyu pulled out the trident, staggering slightly. Liu Nanzhou immediately supported him. With a swift swing of his sword, Liu Nanzhou killed an oncoming demon and raised his blade, ready to strike at Cheng Yun. But Qi Wuyu pressed down on his hand.

Just then, Han Sheng arrived. "Everyone, stop!"

Cheng Yun remained on the high platform, glancing at her indifferently. The others paused at the sound. Yao Shuning quickly fed Qi Wuyu a medicinal pill.

Cheng Yun asked, "Why are you here?"

Han Sheng replied, "If I didn't come, should I just watch you bring death upon all our clansmen?"

Cheng Yun stated matter-of-factly, "Sacrifices are inevitable when pursuing one's desires."

Han Sheng snorted coldly. "Sacrificing others for your selfish ambitions?"

"Helping me is their honor. I never forced them." Cheng Yun smiled faintly. "Since you're here, don't blame Aunt Cheng for showing no mercy."

"Do you really think you can win?"

"Why not? It's just a pity these incompetents couldn't capture a few people in all this time. But it's fine—someone else can help me."

As she spoke, she tossed the bronze token into the air and formed hand seals. The token emitted a faint silver glow but showed no further changes. No matter how many seals she formed, nothing else happened.

Cheng Yun's expression shifted from confident to panicked. Her hand seals grew increasingly unsteady. "How is this possible? He promised he would help me! He said he would help me!"

As if to clearly prove she had been deceived, the bronze token *clattered* to the ground—an utterly ordinary piece of metal.

"Impossible... Impossible!"

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Author's Note: Oi, battle-damaged master [heart]. Updates this week will follow the ranking list. Thanks for your support [floppy-eared bunny head]. Striving for a kiss in the next chapter [glasses].