Chapter 77 p1
Hearing Cui Xiaoxiao’s words, Qin Lingxiao couldn’t help but lower his gaze towards her.
At this moment, Cui Xiaoxiao was hugging her own knees, her face slightly turned, her cheeks flushed red from the alcohol.
Qin Lingxiao’s thoughts stirred as he leaned down to support her. But when he extended his hand, he ended up caressing Cui Xiaoxiao’s tender cheek – the soft, smooth sensation made him reluctant to withdraw.
His elongated fingers curved hesitantly, lingering on the closed-eyed girl’s cheeks and neck.
Gradually, he cradled Cui Xiaoxiao against his shoulder, lowering his head towards the wine-scented, full lips of the young lady…
Yet at this moment, not far from the inn’s rooftop, a man stood in the dim shadows of a pavilion, his eyes flashing with coldness as he watched the intimate scene of the drunken pair on the roof.
Tang Youshu had accompanied his master here for half the night.
Although it was deep into the night, their sharp eyesight could clearly see what was happening on the rooftop, even without hearing the sounds.
The two of them had come to Luoyi City to investigate Prince Can’s whereabouts.
If it were the previous Wei Jie, his top priority would have been indulging in food, drinks and pleasures with his beloved disciple. As for that rat Prince Can hiding away, as long as he didn’t show his face and cause trouble, he would be an irrelevant character.
But now that Wei Jie’s divine nature had been restored, nothing was more important than cultivating immortality. After reading Tang Youshu’s secret book and hearing about his ultimate fate in the original timeline, he immediately judged that Prince Can, who had usurped his divine position, could not be allowed to remain!
However, Prince Can had faked his death, so his current identity and hiding place were unknown.
So after staying at Guistone Cliff for two days, Wei Jie brought Tang Youshu back to Luoyi City, hoping to find some clues in the place where Prince Can had lived for decades.
Unexpectedly, upon entering the city, they saw Cui Xiaoxiao and the others.
After arriving in the city, the two girls indulged in endless food and drinks. Wei Jie and Tang Youshu couldn’t help but pay attention to them.
Since Prince Can had always wished ill upon Cui Xiaoxiao, they made for excellent bait, so Wei Jie secretly observed them with Tang Youshu to see if anyone would try to approach.
However, after a day of following them, all they saw was the girls wandering through various food stalls across Luoyi City.
Wei Jie coldly watched the two idle girls roaming the streets, unable to fathom why his former self would bother taking on such a lazy disciple as Cui Xiaoxiao just to kill time.
Even if it was a casual acceptance at first out of boredom, there were surely better choices in this world.
Tang Youshu carefully observed his master’s cold expression, seeing no signs of rekindled feelings, which slightly put his mind at ease.
Ever since Cui Xiaoxiao left the mountain, Wei Jie’s mood had been foul almost daily. Not that he took it out on Tang Youshu, but he would silently sit in meditation atop the peak, gazing vacantly into the distant void with an air of displeasure towards all worldly matters.
Tang Youshu had asked if there was anything Wei Jie couldn’t let go of.
But Wei Jie had looked at him like an idiot, countering, “What is there for me to be unable to let go of?”
After such a suffocating, unanswerable conversation, the master and disciple could only remain in dry silence.
At this point, even Tang Youshu started missing the days when Cui Xiaoxiao, Yu Ling’er and the others were around.
But considering the tribulations his master was about to face, Tang Youshu still felt he had done no wrong in dispersing that pair of lovebirds.
In the original timeline, after the tribulation of the Phoenix Valley’s immolation, Wei Jie returned from the Phoenix Secret Realm with a body tempered into impenetrable black scales.
He also brought back a little crow at that time. The usually cold and aloof master had a better temperament during those days after gaining the crow’s companionship, occasionally even personally feeding it pine nuts and hazelnuts.
Back then, due to his infamous reputation and icy disposition, relations with the main Wei Family had become strained.
The elderly Wei Family Matriarch seemed unwilling to let her grandson fall so far, so she secretly met with Wei Jie. However, at this meeting, Wei Jie fell into a mysterious trap that catalyzed his demonic nature, leading him to violently attack the Matriarch.
When Wei Jie’s demonic nature erupted, even ghosts and spirits dared not approach. It was only when Wei Jie was about to personally slay the Matriarch, completely possessed by his demonic side, that the little crow surprisingly revealed its true form as a black phoenix, blocking his lethal strike and awakening him.
It was only then that Tang Youshu realized the little crow Master had brought back was actually such an auspicious creature!
Unfortunately, the phoenix was critically injured from shielding him and on the verge of death. According to reason, the little phoenix should have undergone rebirth by fire, but as an inauspicious black phoenix without divine blessings, it could not be reborn.
Tang Youshu still remembered how expressionless Master looked while cradling that tiny phoenix…
Later, Master buried the little phoenix somewhere, but Tang Youshu didn’t know the location.
It was only after Master disappeared for a long time and returned that he began the process of refining and separating his demonic nature, as if determined to fully sever his dark self. This was also when Qin Lingxiao ambushed him…
Although everything had changed in this lifetime, Tang Youshu boldly speculated that the coming tribulations would likely still involve some form of inner demonic nature.
However, that black phoenix came from the timeless Phoenix Secret Realm. After its death, there would be no reincarnation, so it could no longer shield his master from calamity this time.
Cui Xiaoxiao had now completely taken over Wei Jie’s karmic destiny. If the hidden enemy still sought to catalyze her demonic nature, she would inevitably have to kill her most beloved.
If Wei Jie was still together with Cui Xiaoxiao, Tang Youshu dared not imagine the scenario of Cui Xiaoxiao’s demonic nature erupting and killing Wei Jie.
So Tang Youshu had to disperse the pair of lovebirds before that destiny arrived, removing each other’s vulnerabilities…
However, he never expected the twists of fate to reunite these two people who were never meant to meet again in Luoyi City!
As for Wei Jie, the more he watched Cui Xiaoxiao’s lack of ambition, the more displeased he became.
Look at her, it was late at night when absorbing the spiritual energies of heaven and earth was most effective. If she cultivated in meditation, her progress would surely be doubled!
But what was she doing? She had actually climbed onto the roof to drink wine while exposing herself to the winds!
Wei Jie originally didn’t want to pay attention, but for some reason, watching her solitary figure on the roof, raising a cup to invite the brilliant moon, caused a vague restlessness in his heart.
Yet he couldn’t bring himself to leave either, only coldly observing the slender silhouette, his mind wandering as he thought that she had indeed aided him. According to Tang Youshu, she was actually his grand-disciple.
Since she was his grand-disciple, how could he watch her indulge in such idleness? Once he settled matters with Prince Can, he should bring this unfilial disciple back and properly guide her cultivation…
As he contemplated this, just as he was about to leave, he saw Qin Lingxiao appear, and Cui Xiaoxiao casually invited that traitorous fellow to join her in drinking without any qualms.
The Demon Lord, who had already turned to depart, completely turned back around at this sight.
Tang Youshu, most familiar with his master, saw the flickering flames in Wei Jie’s icy gaze fixed on Qin Lingxiao and quickly advised, “Master, we are currently investigating Prince Can in secret, it would be unwise to reveal ourselves. Qin Lingxiao’s betrayal and annihilation of our ancestors will inevitably face your thunderous punishment. But for now, it’s best we remain calm and still…”
Tang Youshu’s counsel was reasonable, and Wei Jie knew it made sense, yet he continued staring fixedly at the drinking pair on the roof.
But who could have expected that girl Cui Xiaoxiao, usually so whimsical and mischievous, would actually get drunk in the presence of that despicable Qin Lingxiao?
Did her brain belong as a drunken dish for Wei Jie to devour as well?
And sure enough, Qin Lingxiao lived up to his promiscuous reputation, taking advantage of the girl’s addled state to make his lecherous advance…
Seeing this scene, Tang Youshu was also angered, for Cui Xiaoxiao was his closed-door disciple after all. As Cui Xiaoxiao’s master-uncle, Qin Lingxiao was utterly shameless!
Just as Tang Youshu prepared to throw a concealed weapon to stop Qin Lingxiao from violating Cui Xiaoxiao, his usually composed master had already swiftly shot forth like an arrow, heading straight for the pair on the roof.
Qin Lingxiao had already caught a whiff of the maiden’s wine-tinged lips when, just as he was about to press against Cui Xiaoxiao’s mouth, he sensed an incoming fierce surge of inner energy.
This inner energy was like a sharp sword carrying endless coldness, an oppressive force that left one gasping for air – in his life, Qin Lingxiao had only experienced such energy from one person.
His amorous thoughts instantly dispersed as he swiftly evaded to the side.
When Qin Lingxiao looked closely, the attacker was indeed Wei Jie!
He knew Cui Xiaoxiao and Wei Jie had broken off, so it seemed this Wei fellow had taken the regret medicine and come crawling back to Cui Xiaoxiao.
Thinking this, he let out a cold laugh, “I was sharing moonlit drinks with your master by mutual consent. Why do you suddenly intervene? Or do you wish to claim mastery over your own master?”
In the past, Wei Jie would have been angered like a petulant youth by such words, retorting coldly before arguing further.
But for some reason today, Qin Lingxiao felt this man seemed to have undergone an indescribable transformation. The piercing chill in his gaze was like being immersed in the Oblivion River waters of the underworld, bone-chillingly cold.
Moreover, he fixed Qin Lingxiao with a gaze of utter disdain, too lazy to waste words. It was only after Qin Lingxiao’s provocative taunt that Wei Jie’s black sleeves swept out, unleashing a gale-force of inner energy. The manifested qi shield no longer resembled its previous spiked form, but rather a ferocious tiger baring fangs amidst draconic roars as it crashed towards Qin Lingxiao in a raging storm.
Such an aura… in his over two hundred years of life, Qin Lingxiao had only witnessed it from one person…
This oppressive inner energy struck without room for evasion, forcing Qin Lingxiao to brace himself and receive the attack head-on.
Although Qin Lingxiao’s cultivation had improved rapidly lately, he had only expected to be on par with a Wei Jie at the initial Pill Core stage.
But he never imagined that in just a few short days, Wei Jie’s progress had reached an inhuman pace.
The result of this clash was Qin Lingxiao’s pristine white robes, befitting an exiled immortal, being shredded into fluttering shreds by Wei Jie’s draconic tiger force. He was sent hurtling backwards uncontrollably, falling from the tall building only to cough up a mouthful of fresh blood midair!
Unable to muster his inner energy, his skull was surely about to shatter like an egg upon hitting the ground.
At this critical juncture of life and death, a white fox leapt out from the inn, instantly transforming into her human form as she pounced towards Qin Lingxiao.
Yu Ling’er had actually been awake the whole time, unable to sleep soundly seeing Cui Xiaoxiao’s forced smiles.
After being immersed in the mortal world, Yu Ling’er was no longer the naive little fox from Mount Tuyun, having gained some understanding of human affairs.
So she had kept her fox ears perked, listening to Cui Xiaoxiao drinking alone on the roof.
She had originally planned to go chase Qin Lingxiao away when he arrived. But hearing Cui Xiaoxiao invite him to drink, she held back.
Although Qin Lingxiao could be petty at times, his appearance was quite impressive. Yu Ling’er felt among all the men she had seen, only Wei Jie surpassed his handsomeness.
If Cui Xiaoxiao wanted to indulge in some yang supplement to heal her heartache, this vigorous and well-endowed Young Pavilion Lord was not a bad option.
But she never expected Cui Xiaoxiao’s path to healing to encounter such an obstacle. Just as she was about to switch to a new partner, the old one suddenly appeared from who-knows-where and sent Qin Lingxiao plummeting down!
Yu Ling’er had always clearly distinguished friend from foe. Although Qin Lingxiao was no longer an object of her affections, he had still saved her life, truly a benefactor she owed.
Now seeing Qin Lingxiao about to meet a fatal end, Yu Ling’er naturally had to act.
Qin Lingxiao had been staggered by Wei Jie’s inner energy attack, his body scattered like falling leaves. It was only thanks to Yu Ling’er’s qi deflection that he was sent spinning horizontally to crash against a nearby wall instead, finally stabilizing his form.
However, Qin Lingxiao’s earlier attack had also sent the muddle-drunk Cui Xiaoxiao rolling and tumbling down from the roof.
Just as Yu Ling’er rescued her benefactor Qin Lingxiao, she looked up to see Cui Xiaoxiao also falling.
Panicking, she flashed forward with lightfoot steps, but was still a bit too late to catch her.
However, at this critical moment, a black blur flashed by, its long arm sweeping out to cradle the falling girl.
As he channeled his spiritual energy to gently descend with the girl in his arms, Cui Xiaoxiao happened to open her dazed, drunken eyes and sweetly smiled at the handsome man who had appeared in her dreams countless times, “Smelly Jie, why did you only come halfway through the wine? Did you spot a prettier beauty elsewhere to admire instead?”
When Cui Xiaoxiao smiled, her squinted eyes crinkled luminously, their radiance enough to dispel the deepest gloom.
But the man who would usually return her smile did not, only staring at her with an unnaturally cold expression.
Seeing his seeming anger, Cui Xiaoxiao smiled as she reached out, her slender arms encircling his neck as she lightly tapped his nose with a finger, “Why the long face, like a grumpy prawn? Who bullied you? Come, let me avenge you!”
Such actions towards her disciple Jie’er used to be perfectly ordinary, with everyone in the Talisman Sect aware that when deeply drunk, the unruly Sect Patriarch would tease her senior disciple.
But for the Demon Lord Wei Jie, such casual intimacy was akin to knocking on the gates of the Underworld King’s palace.
The closely following Tang Youshu saw Cui Xiaoxiao escalate further, pinching Wei Jie’s cheeks in an attempt to coax a smile from him, and couldn’t help but gasp in fear.
She… she was simply courting death, wasn’t she?
Sure enough, in the next moment, Wei Jie loosened his grip, letting the girl in his arms crash heavily to the ground.
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