Chapter 22: Return to the Sect — Within the Great Hall, All Demons Were in Agony…
Inside the great hall, all the demons were in agony; some wailed, some begged for mercy, and others cursed loudly, but not a single one could resist the poison.
Xiao Jianming composed himself, casting an indifferent glance at the demons collapsed on the ground, and sneered inwardly. The moment he arrived in Liufang City, he had smelled the water of the Wuwang Sea. That fishy scent, radiating an aura of ultimate evil, was enough to make his head throb.
Since these demons dared to cross the Wuwang Sea, they had to bear the judgment of the Wuwang Sea Master.
It was a pity that every single one of them was greedy and evil to the core. He had released only a single drop of blood, yet for them, it was a fatal poison from which no one could survive.
Soon, demons began to spontaneously combust. They screamed in pain, trying every method to extinguish the ghostly blue flames on their bodies, but it was all in vain. They could only watch helplessly as they were swallowed by the tongues of fire.
Xiao Jianming watched as cloud after cloud of black mist burned away into nothingness, and his thoughts involuntarily drifted back to Su Huan.
…He still needed to find an opportunity to probe why he couldn’t see the “evil delusions” on Su Huan.
Over on Chi Jing’s side, Su Huan had been ordered by his Senior Sister to guard Liu Zhejun, but the wait was making him anxious.
He couldn’t help asking, “Chi Jing, do you know when he’ll wake up?”
Chi Jing huffed. “I don’t know! Hmph, you call me Grandpa when you need something, but afterwards you just call me by my full name. What a rude brat!”
Su Huan gave a sheepish smile and hurriedly called out “Grandpa Divine Beast,” coaxing it with a few gentle words. Chi Jing listened with delight, finally lowering its pouting lips. But in the blink of an eye, Su Huan began pacing back and forth again, making the beast dizzy. After a while, he started muttering incessantly: “They’ve been gone so long, they should be back by now, right? Did they fail? Impossible, impossible. The Black Lotus is the protagonist; how could he possibly fail…”
Chi Jing couldn’t bear it anymore. “Stop, stop! If you keep spinning like that, I’ll kick the bucket before they even get back! Don’t you have a Spirit Communication Token? Just ask them!”
Su Huan squeezed the emerald green jade token at his waist and shook his head. “I can’t. The demons have sealed the city; the Spirit Communication Token doesn’t work.”
If he hadn’t lost contact with his Senior Sister back then, why would he have suffered through falling into the illusion, acting out a “Perverted School Bully Falls in Love with Me” script with the Black Lotus, and even sacrificing his first kiss?
Yes, looking back at everything in the illusion, Su Huan felt that the Black Lotus, who pretended to be his friend but actually just wanted to toy with him, was an absolute pervert.
However, a pair of glazed eyes floated into Su Huan’s mind. He thought, Although the person who granted me the Golden Finger was a virtual character in the illusion, still!
I will remember this kindness, Golden Finger Mom!
Golden Finger Mom is a great person!
When he got back, he would erect a Longevity Stele for her and offer incense every day. He didn’t ask for his Golden Finger to be invincible, only that it protect him from dying at the hands of the protagonist, so he could live safely to a hundred years old—no, ten thousand years old!
Su Huan pressed his palms together and bowed to the air. “Golden Finger Mom, please bless Senior Sister and the others with safety…”
Just as the words left his mouth, the stone door of the secret chamber opened.
Feng Jiangyue entered first, her tone cheerful. “It’s resolved. We can go home!”
Xiao Jianming followed closely behind, holding a strangely carved openwork bottle in his hand containing a mass of dense black mist.
Amidst Su Huan’s joy, he accidentally caught a glimpse of that pitch-black lump out of the corner of his eye. A trace of doubt flashed through his heart, but sensing Xiao Jianming’s gaze, he immediately pretended not to see it.
He turned to look at Liu Zhejun, who was lying on the floor pallet, and asked his Senior Sister, “Shijie, what about him? Liufang City is already an empty city; do we take him back to the Xuanji Sect?”
Feng Jiangyue frowned and said, “Let’s wait until he wakes up.”
After saying that, a heartfelt smile radiated from her face. “Junior Sister Qiu and the others have been rescued. Not a single one died; they are all alive and kicking!”
Hearing this, Xiao Jianming behind her gave a light cough.
Feng Jiangyue spoke with ill grace, “Don’t worry. I won’t embezzle the credit for your elimination of the Demon Seeds this time; I will report it truthfully to the Sect Master. But one thing is one thing. After we return, you’d better go to the Cold Pool Sin Prison to receive your punishment yourself.”
“Otherwise, don’t blame my blade for having no eyes. I don’t care if you are the Sword Venerable’s personal disciple or the Sect Master’s personal disciple; whatever injury you caused my Fourth Junior Brother to suffer, I will demand it back double.”
Xiao Jianming made a sound of assent and looked at Su Huan with gentle eyes. Su Huan couldn’t help but shiver. After five years of training in the illusion that was no different from reality, he could tell at a glance that the Black Lotus was about to go crazy again.
Sure enough, Xiao Jianming spoke warmly, “This time it was I who wronged Senior Brother Su. I hope Shixiong won’t hold a grudge against me.” His tone was so deeply affectionate it could drown a dog. “If Shixiong detests me or hates me because of this, I… I won’t know how to face Shixiong in the future.”
Su Huan: “…” Please, big brother, retract your magical powers and spare your little brother.
However, the Black Lotus had no intention of letting him off. He even cast a pitiful look at him, like an unloved little cabbage, asking eagerly, “Shixiong has always been kind-hearted; surely you can’t bear to see me like this, right?”
Ahhh! Where did your arrogance, coolness, and gloominess go? Did a dog eat them?! I beg you, stop pretending to be pitiful; it really doesn’t suit you, brother!
Complaints flowed through Su Huan’s mind like a barrage of bullet comments, but he didn’t dare utter a sound. Although the Black Lotus promised not to kill him, there were still various non-lethal dirty tricks. It was best not to provoke the black-hearted protagonist if possible.
Suddenly, a figure blocked the space between him and Xiao Jianming. Feng Jiangyue looked back and smiled at him, then turned to Xiao Jianming. “Stop dreaming. You hurt my Junior Brother to this extent; not killing you is already showing leniency. It is absolutely impossible for him to be with you. Even if he agreed, everyone on my Lichen Mountain would never agree. Give up on this idea.”
“Go back and tell the Sword Venerable that my Lichen Mountain and your Lingshuang Mountain will cut off all ties from now on. We will each go our own way.”
Hearing this, Su Huan was both surprised and moved to a mess inside. He instantly felt that his Senior Sister’s figure was so magnificent, simply exploding with a sense of security!
As expected of the Xuanji Sect’s most protective mountain peak certified by the original novel. Even if he, a mediocre disciple, was hurt, they would never let one of their own suffer grievances, choosing instead to tear up relations with the world’s number one Sword Venerable.
Perhaps it was exactly this kind of sect culture that led to the tragic ending where, after the original host was killed by the Black Lotus, everyone on Lichen Mountain went one by one to seek revenge, only to deliver equipment and experience until the whole lineage was wiped out.
No, he would definitely prevent this tragedy from repeating. He would make sure his Senior Sister and Senior Brothers lived with him for ten thousand years!
Xiao Jianming seemed more composed than in the illusion. The gentle smile on his face remained unchanged as he lowered his eyes sorrowfully. “Senior Sister speaks too heavily. How would I dare ask Shixiong to be responsible for me? I was just… just unable to control my feelings…”
His voice gradually lowered, and a tear quietly slid down his cheek accompanied by an uncontrollable sob.
Su Huan’s round eyes widened. Shocking! The Best Actor is actually right beside me!
Feng Jiangyue was dumbfounded. She recalled that spiritual energy had indeed merged between the two earlier. Aside from the Lingxi Clan, who had been exterminated long ago and could attract all spiritual energy, only the most loving couples would exhibit this phenomenon.
Could it be… this brat wasn’t lying and really was controlled by demonic energy?
On the return journey, Su Huan, who had learned sword riding in the illusion but now had no Golden Core, hitched a ride on Junior Sister Qiu’s Jade Flower Hairpin Boat as usual.
Junior Sister Qiu had likely already heard about the matter between him and Xiao Jianming from her little sisters. Along the way, she would occasionally turn her head to look at his expression, her brows revealing a look of worry.
Su Huan couldn’t stand it and said, “If Senior Sister Qiu has something to ask, just ask. No need to worry.”
Qiu Xianyue ignored him. Instead, she looked at Feng Jiangyue, who was fully focused on watching Xiao Jianming nearby, and sighed with emotion, “It’s good to have Jiangyue around. Every mission is completed so easily.” Saying this, her tender white hand rested on Feng Jiangyue’s wrist, infusing spiritual energy to soothe the fatigue in her body.
Feng Jiangyue relaxed and said heroically, “Hehe, don’t worry. I’ll call you for the next mission too. I guarantee I’ll help you earn enough spirit stones!”
At the same time, a gossipy female voice transmitted into Su Huan’s mind: Senior Brother Su, I heard that Xiao Jianming not only failed you but also beat you heavily, to the point where your Golden Core is gone?
Su Huan: ?
?!
He finally knew how the rumors in the sect had spread like that.
Su Huan spoke righteously: Absolutely not. There is nothing between him and me. Senior Sister, please don’t overthink it.
Qiu Xianyue gave him a meaningful look. Speaking so decisively—then there must be something.
Sigh, I heard Senior Brother Su’s Golden Core shattered because of this. It seems Lichen Mountain and Lingshuang Mountain have thoroughly fallen out this time. Looks like I can only endure the pain and break it off with that little sword cultivator from Lingshuang.
When he saw the majestic mountain gate of the Xuanji Sect again, Su Huan was almost moved to tears.
Going out on missions was too dangerous; he should just lay flat on Lichen Mountain.
After landing, Su Huan yawned. Just as he was about to return to the mountain, his Senior Sister danced her long rope, and Xiao Jianming was bound by the Immortal-Binding Rope again.
The movements of the surrounding crowd stagnated, and they cast surprised glances over.
Su Huan’s yawning hand paused, only to hear his Senior Sister announce loudly: “Xiao Jianming, disciple of the Sword Venerable, attacked Lichen Mountain’s fourth disciple Su Huan while infected by demonic energy during a mission, causing Junior Brother’s life to hang by a thread and his Golden Core to shatter. I, Feng Jiangyue of Lichen Mountain, am here to ask the Sect Master to mete out punishment!”
The voice rolled out like waves, layer upon layer, reaching the highest peak of the Xuanji Sect, the Sect Master’s seat—Yuxiao Peak.
Everyone present heard it clearly too, and all turned pale with shock, discussing animatedly.
“What?! Aren’t they mutually in love? Even if he lost his mind due to demonic energy, he shouldn’t have struck so heavily…”
“Golden Core shattered?! Doesn’t that mean Senior Brother Su has no destiny with the Immortal path…”
“More than no destiny. The medicinal herbs to repair a Golden Core are incredibly rare. If they can’t be found, once Senior Brother Su’s lifespan runs out, there is only a dead end…”
“Foundation Establishment has two hundred years of life, Golden Core has five hundred. Being a cripple without spiritual energy for five hundred years… just thinking about it is incredibly despairing…”
For a moment, pitying and sympathetic gazes fell all over Su Huan; even his goosebumps were visible to the crowd.
Suddenly, the flowing clouds in the sky stagnated. Two lights flew from Yuxiao and Lingshuang respectively. At the same time, a shout resounded through the clouds—
“I’d like to see who dares touch my disciple!”
Oh, Su Huan remembered. The novel had described this Sword Venerable as someone extremely protective of his own. It was from him that Xiao Jianming received the care belonging to a master that he had never experienced before. That was why he stayed in the Xuanji Sect for a long time, only faking his death to return to the Wuwang Sea after the Sword Venerable fell.
Su Huan was standing right next to Feng Jiangyue. Suddenly, he felt a burst of pressure land on his head. Feng Jiangyue received an even heavier pressure, her knees trembling uncontrollably, yet she persisted in not kneeling.
Su Huan immediately supported her with concern. Just as he was about to speak, a stream of cool spiritual energy landed on them, dissolving the thousand-pound pressure.
Another voice rang out in mid-air, kind and amiable—
“Junior Brother, making a mistake requires taking responsibility. Why make things difficult for two children?”
It was the Sect Master.
Su Huan let out a light sigh of relief.
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