Chapter 68: A Troubling Heart
Outside the prison cell, Zhao Han paced impatiently.
“What’s taking that Wang Wei so long? What’s so interesting about a bunch of scrawny little foxes?”
He pondered, a wave of suspicion washing over him.
Could it be… that guy has some kind of twisted fetish? Is he interested in young girls?
The thought sent shivers down Zhao Han’s spine, and he shrugged, trying to dismiss it.
“Whatever. They’re just a few little foxes. Let him do what he wants.”
Just as he was thinking this, Chen Yin emerged from the cell, carrying the empty food tray.
“Yo, finally done?”
Zhao Han greeted him with a chuckle. “So, how were those little foxes? Did they meet your expectations, brother?”
“Of course.”
Chen Yin smiled at him. “But there’s something that doesn’t meet my expectations.”
“What’s that?”
“…You.”
Before Zhao Han could react, a sharp dagger was pressed against his throat.
“Try moving, and you die.” A cold female voice spoke from behind him.
Zhao Han was stunned. As he tried to speak, he realized that his meridians, vocal cords, and even his ears were sealed.
He could only stare at Chen Yin, his eyes wide with fear.
“Don’t worry. I won’t kill you.”
Chen Yin smiled gently. “I promised someone they could deal with you.”
Zhao Han could only watch helplessly as a fox-eared girl emerged from behind him.
Then another, and another.
After all the fox girls had escaped, Qingying asked in a low voice, “What now?”
“Zhao Han has to go to the gate for guard duty for a certain period every day.”
“During that time, there are no other guards besides us.”
“You and Luo Luo will take advantage of that time to get them out.” Chen Yin said softly.
“But who will replace Zhao Han?”
“I will.”
As he spoke, the mask on Chen Yin’s face shifted subtly. In a matter of moments, to Zhao Han’s astonishment, he transformed into Zhao Han himself.
Even his physique and voice were identical.
“I’ll keep watch. You guys focus on getting them out.” Chen Yin whispered.
“Alright.”
***
As their shift change approached…
A young man stood by the entrance of the main altar, yawning out of boredom.
After a while, he heard a voice behind him:
“You’ve worked hard. I’m here to relieve you.”
The young man looked up and saw Chen Yin, disguised as Zhao Han. He couldn’t help but be surprised.
“Old Zhao, why are you so eager today? You usually drag your feet until the last minute.”
“Well, I decided to be proactive for once. Don’t make it sound like I’m always slacking off.”
The young man laughed. “Come on, what else are you good at besides slacking off?”
“Alright, I’ll be going now.”
“Take care.” Chen Yin smiled and watched the young man leave. His eyes flickered with a mix of emotions.
After a moment, he gestured discreetly.
Following his signal, several figures swiftly slipped out of the entrance.
Once he was sure they hadn’t been detected, Chen Yin said to Luo Luo, “Find a safe place to hide. There are many rogue demonic cultivators in Xianyun Province. Be careful not to expose yourselves.”
“What about you, Young Master?” Luo Luo asked anxiously.
“I’ll come find you after I’m done here.”
Chen Yin patted her head reassuringly. “Don’t worry. It’ll be easier for me to move around alone.”
Luo Luo nodded softly and whispered, “Be careful, Young Master.”
Chen Yin nodded and watched as Luo Luo and Qingying disappeared silently into the night. Then he stretched lazily, resuming his carefree demeanor.
“Ah~ It’s so much easier to move around alone.”
“Now, I don’t have to hold back.”
He hummed a tune as he strolled around the entrance. When the time was right, he turned and headed back inside.
But after taking a few steps, he saw a group of demonic cultivators rushing past, their expressions urgent.
Hmm?
Chen Yin stopped one of them and asked, “What’s going on? Why is everyone in such a hurry?”
“Last night, someone reported seeing an outsider entering the main altar. We’re searching for them now.”
Chen Yin narrowed his eyes.
…That shouldn’t be possible. Had they been exposed so quickly?
“Did anyone see what the intruder looked like?”
“Not clearly… but they said the person was wearing blue clothes.”
Blue clothes? Then it couldn’t be Qingying, Luo Luo, or the fox girls.
An unsettling thought crossed Chen Yin’s mind.
…It couldn’t be, right?
***
Meanwhile, in the grand hall deep within the demonic sect’s main altar…
The dimly lit but imposing hall was empty except for a lone figure sitting on the throne.
It was a man in an extravagant black fur coat. His face was thin and angular, as if sculpted by a knife, and his aura was aloof and reserved.
Despite simply sitting there, his presence felt like a churning sea of blood, its power surging endlessly.
He remained motionless, his head resting on his hand, like a statue.
After an unknown amount of time, a figure entered the hall and knelt before the throne.
“Dao Master, we haven’t found the intruder.”
The man narrowed his eyes slightly, then closed them again.
“You may leave.” His voice was deep and raspy.
The subordinate hesitated. “Should we… continue searching?”
“No need.”
The man waved his hand dismissively. “If there’s a bug in our midst, it’s only because of tomorrow’s Nether Ritual.”
“We’ll just wait for them to walk into our trap.”
“Yes.” The subordinate bowed respectfully and left.
The man tapped his fingers rhythmically on the armrest, seemingly lost in thought.
After a while, he finally said:
“Summon the Holy Maiden.”
Not long after, Yu Xiang, dressed in a simple white robe, entered the hall. She looked at the man and simply said, “Dao Master.”
Although her address was respectful, her tone lacked any deference.
“Are you prepared for tomorrow’s Nether Ritual?” the man asked calmly.
“What’s there to prepare?”
Yu Xiang snorted disdainfully. “Don’t I just have to sit there and watch?”
“Hehe. You are the Holy Maiden of our demonic path. With such a dismissive attitude, what will the other disciples think?”
The man wasn’t offended, his voice remaining calm and steady. “The Nether Ritual is a grand event that occurs only once every hundred years. As the Holy Maiden, you should set an example for the other disciples.”
Yu Xiang simply turned her head away with a dismissive humph, saying nothing.
The man pondered for a moment, then asked, “Have you encountered any bottlenecks in your cultivation recently?”
“Don’t worry about it. My cultivation is progressing smoothly.”
Her voice was cold and distant, making it difficult to continue the conversation.
“That’s good.”
The man stood up slowly, walked to the edge of the platform, and said in a clear voice:
“I allowed you to become the Holy Maiden of our demonic path, bestowing upon you vast resources and power, even granting you freedom without interference.”
“All I ask in return is that you embody the hope for the revival of the demonic path.”
“If you can cultivate the ‘Quenching Nether Mantra’ to its peak, then no one in the cultivation world will be able to stop you.”
“As long as you promise to revive the glory of our demonic path as the Demonic Sovereign of All Ages, you will have complete freedom in all other matters.”
“…Don’t forget our agreement.” The man’s tone was calm.
Yu Xiang turned her head away, her voice stiff. “Don’t worry. You say this every day, I’m already sick of hearing it. Of course I won’t forget.”
The man nodded slowly, his eyes scanning the decorated hall. A smile suddenly appeared on his lips.
“Do you know who we’re offering sacrifices to in this Nether Ritual?”
Yu Xiang shook her head. She had no interest in the demonic path’s affairs and wouldn’t bother learning about them.
“The first Demonic Sovereign of All Ages.”
The man said slowly, “He once divided the cultivation world with the renowned Primordial Immortal, bringing the demonic path to its peak.”
“But in the end, he met a rather melancholic end. It’s quite a shame.”
Yu Xiang frowned, unsure of his intentions.
“…Forget it.”
The Demonic Sovereign of All Ages waved his hand. “Go back and rest. Don’t be late for the Nether Ritual tomorrow morning.”
“Understood.”
Yu Xiang pouted and slowly backed out of the hall.
The hall returned to its usual darkness and silence. The man sat back on his throne, his expression calm and composed.
…He wondered if that little bug would add some excitement to tomorrow’s Nether Ritual.
A sly smile appeared on his lips.
***
Chen Yin, disguised as Zhao Han, had been searching with the other demonic cultivators for several hours when they finally received the order to return to their rooms and rest.
Back in his room, he was becoming increasingly convinced that the intruder wasn’t him, Luo Luo, or Qingying.
“…I hope I’m wrong. Otherwise, we’ll have a lot more to deal with.”
With that thought, Chen Yin lay down and fell asleep.
He slept soundly until the next morning, when he was awakened by the noisy commotion outside.
“What’s all the noise…?” He rubbed his eyes and stepped out of his room, only to see the usually deserted corridors of the main altar now filled with a procession of demonic cultivators, marching in an orderly manner.
They wore strange and eye-catching attire, resembling ancient shamanic ritual garments, their faces hidden behind intimidating masks. They carried torches, drums, and totems of various shapes and sizes.
As they walked, they chanted words that Chen Yin couldn’t understand, like some kind of prayer.
Chen Yin froze, taken aback by the grand spectacle.
…This is the Nether Ritual?
It was much more impressive and lively than he had imagined.
He was about to join the procession and blend in with the crowd when he inadvertently turned his head and saw someone nearby. His heart skipped a beat.
…Senior Sister?!
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