Chapter 13: The Naive Demon Cultivator
Upon hearing Xie Bailu’s words, the young man’s eyes widened in disbelief. He stared at her, shocked at how she knew.
He stammered, “Y-you’re talking nonsense! I-I’m not a demon cultivator!”
Xie Bailu couldn’t help but think, Is this demon cultivator’s brain not working? The wanted poster clearly states that the wanted demon cultivator has a big reaction to “love is nothing more than this.” Why is he still being so obvious about it!
But on second thought, she considered another possibility. Could it be that this demon cultivator couldn’t read?
Although she was a visitor from another world, the script of this world was a mix of traditional and simplified characters, so it wasn’t hard for her to read. But demons didn’t have to go to school like humans. They grew up wild in the wilderness, so the possibility of him being illiterate was very high.
The attitude of mortals and cultivators in this world towards demon cultivators was not particularly hostile, but not accepting either. Therefore, it was almost impossible for a demon cultivator to study in a human school.
Demon cultivators entering human cities wouldn’t be harmed as long as they didn’t cause trouble, at most receiving a few glares. Therefore, many demon cultivators would hide their auras and physical characteristics to avoid trouble, especially those who had transformed from plants, as their demonic aura was almost undetectable.
Xie Bailu couldn’t sense any difference between the young man in front of her and an ordinary human cultivator. She recalled the wanted poster mentioning wild cilantro and understood. A plant transformation, with her low-level cultivation, of course she couldn’t detect it.
Seeing the young man staring at her nervously, Xie Bailu said, “Alright, I believe you. You’re not.”
The Ling family catching a demon cultivator had nothing to do with her. The one injured was a human cultivator, not an ordinary person. Conflicts between cultivators sometimes had no right or wrong.
Besides, she didn’t want to go before the Ling family.
She was relaxed with Ling Song gone, but not that relaxed.
Hearing Xie Bailu’s words, the young man’s expression finally improved. He seemed to truly believe her words were sincere and then said righteously, “Then take back what you said! Love is so beautiful!”
Xie Bailu was speechless. “…” She was sure of it now. This demon really couldn’t read! Did she say that? It was on the wanted poster! She had just read it out loud!
Seeing Xie Bailu’s silence, the young man tried to convince her earnestly, “Haven’t you heard of True Person Muhua?”
Xie Bailu really hadn’t. Although Xiao Xing’s knowledge base was rich, it was a bit outdated in some areas and had many errors and omissions. After all, the information it heard was all from “seeing with its own eyes and hearing with its own ears.”
Seeing Xie Bailu shake her head, the young man said, “You haven’t even heard of True Person Muhua? What remote place did you come from?”
But he didn’t need Xie Bailu’s answer and continued on his own, “True Person Muhua, Yu Wenjun, was a ginkgo tree demon. She grew up in the Yu family since her transformation and was loved by everyone. But she was devoted to only one unknown male cultivator and became his Daoist companion. One day! She and her Daoist companion entered a secret realm together. In the secret realm, they encountered unimaginable difficulties. Her Daoist companion let her escape first, but when she returned with reinforcements, her Daoist companion was already dead. True Person Muhua was so deeply in love that she cut her own heart meridian and died for him!”
He said the last sentence with passion, his eyes even turning red, clearly very moved.
After he finished, he stared at Xie Bailu. “Now do you still think love is nothing more than this? Aren’t you moved by True Person Muhua’s devotion to her Daoist companion?”
Xie Bailu said, “…Moved.”
The young man didn’t hear the perfunctory tone in Xie Bailu’s voice and stubbornly repeated, “Then why don’t you take back what you said?”
Seeing how naive this plant demon was, Xie Bailu felt a little pity. She pointed to the wanted poster and said concisely, “I was just reading a line from the wanted poster. The wanted poster says that a wild cilantro demon cultivator is on the run, and he has a big reaction to the phrase ‘love is nothing more than this’.”
The young man was speechless. “…!!!”
Xie Bailu said, “Oh, I just remembered I have something to do. Goodbye.”
She acted as if she hadn’t recognized him as the demon cultivator on the wanted poster and walked past him.
The young man looked at the wanted poster, then at the retreating Xie Bailu, a little confused. He was just illiterate, not truly stupid. She must have known who he was. Then why didn’t she capture him?
Then, his eyes flickered, and he understood. He got it. She must be planning to secretly go to the Ling family to take the reward for herself! Human cultivators were indeed cunning and greedy. Zhenhui was right!
The young man quickly followed from a distance. He had to keep a close eye on her!
In Xie Bailu’s view, after her warning, the demon cultivator would either find a place to hide or leave the city. He should at least have that much vigilance. So she put the matter to the back of her mind.
She gradually realized that this world was actually very interesting, with all sorts of people. If she hadn’t met Ling Song at the beginning, she would probably have been exploring the world with great enthusiasm long ago.
After walking for a while, Xiao Xing suddenly urged in a low voice, “Master, keep going forward. I think I feel the aura of the water elemental essence stone!”
Xie Bailu didn’t let Xiao Xing speak outside, so it naturally wouldn’t make a sound unless it was very important.
Water elemental essence stone… Xie Bailu’s steps faltered, and she quickly followed Xiao Xing’s directions.
The Five-Star Cauldron had five empty slots for the five elemental essence stones of metal, wood, water, fire, and wind. Currently, only two remained on the Five-Star Cauldron: the metal and wind elemental essence stones.
The Divine Movement Art that Xie Bailu was currently using relied on the wind elemental essence stone. As for the metal elemental essence stone, it also had its corresponding effect, but she couldn’t use it with her current cultivation.
Xiao Xing had once told her with no small amount of pride that if a sufficiently high-level cultivator used the Divine Movement Art at its peak, traveling ten thousand li in a single use would be no problem. They could truly travel the entire continent in a day.
This time, she had come to White Rock City only to find it was the Ling family’s territory, and Ling Song had even arrived before her. This served as a reminder that even though the spiritual sense imprint was gone, she could still run into Ling Song at any time.
However, her cultivation couldn’t be improved in a short time. For now, she could only rely on the Five-Star Cauldron. If she had the opportunity to improve the Five-Star Cauldron’s strength, she would also benefit.
Under Xiao Xing’s guidance, Xie Bailu eventually arrived at the shore of a lake within the city.
After all, it was a water elemental essence stone, so it wasn’t particularly surprising.
Xiao Xing said eagerly, “Quick, quick, it’s under the water!”
Xie Bailu said, “Xiao Xing, will there be any demonic beasts or arrays guarding it down there?”
Xiao Xing was taken aback. “I don’t know.”
The water elemental essence stone had been pried from the Five-Star Cauldron, so Xiao Xing could ignore any arrays that blocked its aura. As long as it was close enough, it could feel it. Therefore, it didn’t know if there were any arrays blocking Xie Bailu’s approach.
Xie Bailu hesitated for a moment, then decided to go down and investigate.
If it didn’t work out, she would just retreat.
She jumped into the lake, and Xiao Xing also jumped out of the Five-Star Cauldron, swimming ahead to lead the way.
Xie Bailu was not a good swimmer, but fortunately, this world didn’t follow the laws of science. With the help of spiritual energy, a cultivator could stay underwater for a relatively long time.
The lake was not very deep, and they soon reached the bottom. Xiao Xing was pointing at a patch of mud at the bottom of the lake.
Xie Bailu took out the longsword she had just bought from her storage bag and resignedly began to dig at the mud. After digging for a long time, the bottom of the lake was stirred up and turbid. In the end, it was Xiao Xing who swam up to Xie Bailu, happily holding the already exposed water elemental essence stone.
Because she had been underwater for a while, Xie Bailu was already feeling uncomfortable. But as soon as she took the water elemental essence stone, it shot onto an empty slot on the body of the Five-Star Cauldron, fitting in perfectly. At the same time, the little white bun that was Xiao Xing’s form disappeared with a “poof.”
And the Five-Star Cauldron seemed to have a bit more luster than before.
Xie Bailu frowned and quickly swam to the shore. Ignoring the fact that she was still dripping wet, she asked in a low voice, “Xiao Xing, are you alright?”
But Xiao Xing did not reply.
Xie Bailu could only guess that the return of the water elemental essence stone required an “upgrade and maintenance,” so Xiao Xing had gone offline.
So, how long would it be offline?
Xie Bailu felt as if she were running naked for a moment. She quickly stuffed the Five-Star Cauldron into her storage bag and prepared to go back to the inn to hide.
Without Xiao Xing’s help, she couldn’t even use the Divine Movement Art. If she encountered danger, she wouldn’t be able to run away! She suspected that Xiao Xing hadn’t expected the return of the water elemental essence stone to cause it to disappear, which was why it hadn’t told her in advance. The elemental essence stones were always being lost, never returning, so it had no experience.
Xie Bailu had never expected that after just two steps, she would see the demon cultivator youth from the wanted poster standing in front of her, blocking her way, his face full of conflict as if he wanted to say something.
But before he could speak, a dozen or so cultivators suddenly appeared, surrounding the two of them.
These cultivators wore uniform light blue Daoist robes, clearly from the same organization. Considering this was under the Ling family’s jurisdiction, these cultivators were most likely from the Ling family.
“Audacious demon cultivator, how dare you sneak into White Rock City!” one of them shouted angrily.
Xie Bailu still thought this had nothing to do with her and silently complained, Sneak in? He walked in openly. It was only then that she saw some of their swords were pointed at her.
Xie Bailu was speechless. “…?” Wait, what does this have to do with me?
She quickly explained, “Fellow Daoists, I’m not a demon cultivator!”
Although she felt some sympathy for the young man being caught, this had nothing to do with her. She had already kindly warned him once. If he didn’t want to run and insisted on staying in the city, she couldn’t be his mother and take care of him all the way.
Xie Bailu knew that someone near the notice board must have heard the demon cultivator’s reaction and secretly reported him. If she had the ability, she would be willing to help, but if not, she had to protect herself first.
However, in the face of Xie Bailu’s denial, one of them said with contempt, “A human cultivator who mixes with a demon cultivator, shameless! A disgrace to human cultivators!”
Xie Bailu argued, “…We just happened to cross paths! I don’t even know him!”
But the man didn’t listen to her explanation and shouted angrily, “Cut the crap! Surrender now!”
He had never expected that after his stern shout, the female cultivator opposite him would raise her hands and say, “Alright, please don’t use force.”
For a moment, he was confused. When did he awaken the legendary power of Speech Spirit?
After a moment of stunned silence, a few of them quickly came up and restrained Xie Bailu. On the other side, the demon cultivator youth refused to surrender and was beaten up badly before being captured.
Xie Bailu watched from the side with lingering fear. Fortunately, she had compromised quickly. Otherwise, wouldn’t she have been beaten for nothing?
With Xiao Xing offline and useless, and her own cultivation limited, she had no way to escape with so many people against her. Besides, she didn’t think anything would happen to her after being caught.
Although fights between cultivators from different sects were common in the wild, the five major families had to maintain their reputation. From what she had heard from the inn waiter, “justice” was something the city administrators at least tried to maintain on the surface.
She had nothing to do with this demon cultivator. Once they got to the disciplinary hall, she just had to explain things clearly. If she really couldn’t explain… anyway, Ling Song was long gone. She might have to continue to bluff her way through with the Five-Star Cauldron. Ling Song probably wouldn’t tell the Ling family about the embarrassing fact that he had been escaped by a Foundation Establishment cultivator several times, right!
As it turned out, Xie Bailu was half right.
After arriving at the disciplinary hall, she was not interrogated immediately, but was locked up in a cell for cultivators with the young man. The cell had an array that made the prisoners as weak as mortals.
And Xie Bailu’s storage bag was hung on the wall opposite the cell, where a row of storage bags hung. It seemed that before the trial, personal belongings were in a pending state.
Not expecting that she wouldn’t even be able to see the person in charge, Xie Bailu was a little anxious. Before being locked up, she asked the jailer when their case would be handled. She was innocent!
The jailer rolled his eyes. “Everyone who comes in says they’re innocent! Just wait. The disciplinary hall deacon will interrogate you when he’s free!”
With Xiao Xing offline, Xie Bailu could only stay in the cell obediently. The young man who had come with her was not in a good state; he had been dragged in.
A clear female voice suddenly came from the dark cell next to them. “Zhenxin, is that you? How did you get caught too!”
The young man, who had looked on the verge of death, immediately looked up and gave a hearty smile. “I let them catch me on purpose! Aren’t I amazing?”
Xie Bailu was speechless. “…” Before you say something like that to save face, take a look at your injuries!
But to her surprise, the young girl in the next cell said excitedly, “You’re so amazing!”
Xie Bailu was completely convinced.
She didn’t want to talk to the fool who had implicated her and hid in a corner.
However, the female voice noticed Xie Bailu, who had been locked up with the young man, and said to her in a familiar tone, “Hey, you human cultivator over there, who are you? How did you get locked up with Zhenxin?”
The young man, called Zhenxin, answered first, “She’s a good person!”
He had followed her all the way and found that she hadn’t gone to the disciplinary hall to report him. Thinking back to how she seemed to have deliberately told him the contents of the wanted poster, he couldn’t help but feel that she was a rare good person among human cultivators!
He blessed her with a heart full of gratitude, “In the future, you will definitely meet your one true love, just like True Person Muhua!”
Xie Bailu, who considered it a curse, was speechless. “…” I’ll pass! I’m not worthy of a true love who would die for me.
Her gaze fell on the cell on the other side, and her pupils constricted when she saw what was there. Did she just see a very large cat?
Before she could take a closer look, the female voice from the opposite cell said, “If Zhenxin thinks you’re a good person, then you must be a good person. My name is Zhenyi. What’s your name?”
She also revealed her true form from the shadows. It was a cheetah!
The cheetah girl had a shiny coat and a lithe body. She came up to the bars between the two cells and sniffed hard. Below her beautiful large eyes were two black “tear streaks.”
Xie Bailu had thought the young man was a plant demon, and his partner might be one too. She hadn’t expected it to be an animal demon.
Her cat-petting instinct stirred, but she quickly suppressed it. That would be too rude. She said politely, “My name is Xie Cheng.”
Zhenyi grinned. “Xie Cheng, you’re a pretty good person. The human cultivators I’ve met before wouldn’t talk to us properly. Every one of them was so good at rolling their eyes! We’re friends now. If you want to beat someone up, call me. I’m a great fighter!”
Xie Bailu said, “…Then I’ll thank you in advance.” If you’re so great, why are you still locked up?
Zhenyi’s eyes lit up, and she said happily, “It’s great that you can accept it! Zhenhui said that if I talk like this when I make friends with people, they’ll definitely run away. But you’re still here!”
Xie Bailu was speechless. “…” Thanks, I can’t run away from this cell either!
Although this was the first time she had met these two demon cultivators, Xie Bailu felt like their mother, anxious for them. How would these two naive demon cultivators survive in the future!
Then she thought, they were both caught now. She didn’t know if they had a future. She immediately gave up.
Forget it. She should worry about her own safety first!