Chapter 14: Demonic Beast Siege
Demon cultivators were probably tough. Zhenxin had been beaten to a pulp, but after a short rest, he looked much better. He and Zhenyi were pouring their hearts out to each other through the bars.
Zhenxin looked at Zhenyi with deep affection. “Zhenyi, have you suffered? I missed you so much. If anything happens to you, I won’t live alone!”
Zhenyi laughed. “What could happen to me? I’m just too injured to transform.”
Zhenxin said, “That’s great! If you had really died, I would have died with you!”
Zhenyi comforted him, “Don’t worry. We agreed, if you don’t die, I won’t die either!”
Xie Bailu was speechless. “…”
How should she put it? It seemed like she was being fed dog food, but this dog food seemed a bit spoiled. The thought processes of demon cultivators were really different from humans… And was it necessary to admire True Person Muhua to the point of imitating her?!
Anyway, there was nothing to do in prison. Seeing that they were almost done catching up, Xie Bailu asked curiously, “I just heard you say you have another companion named Zhenhui? Is he powerful? Is there a chance he can come and rescue you?”
She had to gather all the useful information first. If her explanation wasn’t accepted, she had to think of other ways to get out. Before Xiao Xing came back online, she would stay put and focus on gathering information.
Zhenxin said, “Zhenhui is the smartest of the three of us. He will definitely be able to find a way to save us!”
He then suddenly looked at Zhenyi. “After Zhenhui saves us, you have to put in a good word for me. He kept trying to stop me from coming alone. I came secretly!”
Xie Bailu was speechless. “…” Since you know he’s the smartest, you should have listened to him! Not only did you get yourself caught, but you also implicated an innocent bystander!
Xie Bailu felt that for these two little demon cultivators to have survived this long, that Zhenhui must have put in a lot of effort.
Zhenxin remembered that he hadn’t properly introduced Zhenhui yet, so he said seriously to Xie Bailu, their acknowledged friend, “Zhenhui, Zhenyi, and I, we’ve all lived in the same place since before we transformed. After we transformed, the three of us became the best of friends.”
Xie Bailu couldn’t help but interrupt, “So you and Zhenyi are a couple? Zhenhui is just a friend?”
Even demon cultivators who hadn’t learned human etiquette probably wouldn’t be in a throuple…
Zhenxin nodded. “Of course! He’s always envious of my relationship with Zhenyi. He always hides when we’re together.”
Xie Bailu thought to herself, He probably doesn’t want to eat your spoiled dog food!
Zhenyi said, “But Zhenhui and we are very close. He must be thinking of a way to save us now, so I’m not worried at all.”
Xie Bailu was speechless. “…” I can see that.
Zhenxin also seemed to have great trust in his companion and said proudly, “Zhenhui has the bloodline of a true dragon! With him here, anything can be solved!”
Xie Bailu asked curiously, “Then what kind of demon is he?”
She had heard from Xiao Xing that there might have been true dragons in ancient times, but after the demons were expelled, there was no trace of them. In this era, no demon cultivator’s original form was related to dragons.
Zhenxin puffed out his chest. “He’s a very beautiful brown frilled lizard. It’s a pity he never likes to transform for Zhenyi and me to see.”
Xie Bailu was confused. “…?” A frilled lizard? Are you sure his ‘dragon’ is a true dragon and not a dinosaur?
Zhenyi agreed, “Zhenhui is indeed very beautiful!”
Zhenxin looked at Zhenyi with a tender expression. “But not as beautiful as your original form!”
Zhenyi laughed. “I think so too. My fur is shiny and smooth, his is so rough.”
Zhenxin chimed in, “Yes, your fur is also very nice to lick. His is not, it scratches the tongue.”
Xie Bailu was speechless. “…???”
Wild cilantro is a plant, it has no tongue. So Zhenxin licks a frilled lizard in his human form? Even if you’re demon cultivators, you don’t have to be so outrageous!
Zhenyi was very proud of her beautiful original form and said enthusiastically to Xie Bailu, “Xie Cheng, my fur is really nice to touch. You’ll know once you touch it! You can lick it too!”
Xie Bailu was speechless. “…”
She was still a little curious about what a cheetah felt like. She would never have such an opportunity in the real world. Since she had been so enthusiastically invited, it would be rude not to touch it.
She said shyly, “Then… can I touch it?”
Zhenyi very proactively turned her side to the bars to make it easier for Xie Bailu to touch.
Xie Bailu went up, rubbed her hands together, and then reached out to gently stroke it.
Zhenyi’s fur was shiny and glossy. Under her hand was a warm body, and she could feel the muscles even through the fur. This body exuded a powerful life force.
Xie Bailu couldn’t help but stroke it a few more times. Big cats were so nice to touch!
Zhenyi squinted her eyes in comfort. “Xie Cheng, you’re so good at this. It’s more comfortable than when Zhenxin does it.”
Zhenxin came over, unwilling to be outdone. “Really? Then Xie Cheng, can you teach me how to make Zhenyi more comfortable!”
Xie Bailu was speechless. “…” For some reason, she felt like their conversation had taken a turn for the suggestive.
Meeting Zhenxin’s sparkling eyes, she could only say some abstract things about being gentle and full of love. To her surprise, Zhenxin listened very seriously and even put it into practice, asking Zhenyi if she was comfortable as he stroked her.
Xie Bailu retreated to a corner of the cell. She had never been so speechless in her life.
The human and two demon cultivators lived in the cell like this, chatting from time to time. Fortunately, a cultivator’s metabolism was very slow, so it was fine not to eat, drink, or excrete for a day or two. Otherwise, it would have been quite awkward.
Of course, that was just Xie Bailu’s feeling. The two demon cultivators didn’t think there was anything wrong with excreting in front of their companion.
Zhenxin even said proudly, “The reason Zhenyi and I met was because she peed on me. There were so many wild cilantro in that field, why did she choose only me? It must be fate! We were born to be together!”
Xie Bailu was speechless. “…” Don’t… don’t say it, it’s starting to smell!
Fortunately, most of the time, Zhenxin and Zhenyi talked about demon cultivators.
Human cultivators rejected demon cultivators, and most demon cultivators also rejected human cultivators. Compared to humans who liked to live in groups, demon cultivators preferred to be alone. And to avoid trouble, they would choose the deep mountains and seas far from humans as their territory and didn’t like to interact with humans.
But Zhenxin, Zhenyi, and Zhenhui were clearly exceptions among demon cultivators. Although they hadn’t received much kindness from humans, they liked to interact with them. However, the three of them had different reasons for liking to interact with humans.
Zhenxin said, “True Person Muhua’s Daoist companion was a human cultivator, which shows that there are good people among human cultivators. I’ve been searching and searching, and didn’t I find you?”
Zhenyi said, “Human cultivators have many interesting fighting styles.”
Zhenxin scratched his head. “Zhenhui doesn’t like humans much, probably because he was hurt by them before he transformed. He says that humans are all cunning and treacherous, and he wants to see for himself just how disgusting they can be.”
He paused, then added, “Of course, Zhenyi and I don’t agree. Isn’t there you? Xie Cheng, if Zhenhui meets you, he will definitely change his mind!”
A team of three, with three different attitudes towards humans, and they hadn’t broken up yet. It was strange.
Xie Bailu didn’t pay much attention to what Zhenhui would think of her. She might not even meet him.
She stayed in the cell like this for a whole day, from dusk to dawn, but the so-called disciplinary hall deacon never came to interrogate her.
If her storage bag wasn’t still hanging on the wall opposite her, she would have been restless long ago.
Zhenxin and Zhenyi were more patient than her. The two demon cultivators were always together, talking and laughing, as if they weren’t worried at all.
Just as Xie Bailu was thinking about whether she should use Ling Song’s name again, she saw Zhenxin and Zhenyi both sit up, their ears perked up. Then Zhenyi suddenly pushed off the ground, jumped onto the wall, and in a brief moment of suspension, looked out through the small window. After landing, she was full of excitement.
“It’s really Zhenhui!” Zhenyi said happily. “I saw Feifei!”
Zhenxin was so excited he almost jumped up, then he said to the uninformed Xie Bailu, “Feifei is Zhenhui’s pet eagle!”
Xie Bailu paused. Demon cultivators were really interesting. A frilled lizard had a pet that was its natural enemy.
The window of the cell was very small, and the iron bars also had the power of an array. It was impossible to break the window and escape, but they could barely see the sky through the small window. Zhenhui’s pet, Feifei, was probably acting on his instructions, circling in the sky to let Zhenxin and Zhenyi know he was here.
Xie Bailu said, “I think I forgot to ask about his cultivation level. Can he successfully break you out of prison?”
If he could, it would be a simple matter to take her with them, right?
Zhenxin said, “He’s at the peak of Foundation Establishment, much stronger than Zhenyi and me!”
Xie Bailu was confused. “…?”
If she remembered correctly, the inn waiter had said that as soon as Ling Song arrived, he had beaten up two Golden Core cultivators from the Ling family. There must be Golden Core cultivators among the administrators of White Rock City. Did he think he could break them out of prison with just a Foundation Establishment cultivation? He was overestimating himself a bit, wasn’t he?
Xie Bailu said tactfully, “As far as I know, the Ling family in White Rock City has no less than two Golden Core cultivators.”
Zhenxin said, “It’s fine. We have many helpers!”
Zhenyi also smiled broadly. “Zhenhui can control demonic beasts that haven’t gained intelligence. He must have been gathering those demonic beasts, which is why he’s so late.”
Xie Bailu was very surprised. Zhenhui was that powerful?
In that case, what the two demon cultivators had said about the true dragon bloodline might actually be true? But a frilled lizard demon having the bloodline of a true dragon was really strange!
But since she was already friends with Zhenxin and Zhenyi, as a friend, it was normal to get a little help, right?
Xie Bailu then watched the changes outside with Zhenxin and Zhenyi. Because the disciplinary hall they were in was in a relatively central location in White Rock City, they couldn’t hear anything at first. It was only when two jailers who had just come to change shifts mentioned the demonic beast siege outside the city.
Perhaps because White Rock City was under the Ling family’s protection, their tones were not very panicked, just a little worried.
An older jailer said, “This is the first time I’ve seen a demonic beast siege. I took a peek before my shift. It’s truly a magnificent sight.”
The young jailer said worriedly, “Brother Cai, will White Rock City be alright?”
Brother Cai spat, “What are you talking about! The Ling family is protecting White Rock City, and there’s a defensive array on the city walls. What could happen?”
The young jailer said, “But what are they here for? We didn’t provoke them, did we?”
Brother Cai said, “The demonic beasts are just surrounding the city for now, they haven’t attacked yet. I don’t know what they’re waiting for. We just locked up two demon cultivators in our prison recently. Maybe it’s for them!”
The young jailer was inexperienced and asked in a low voice, “Then what should we do? Should we hand them over?”
Brother Cai laughed. “The Ling family won’t suffer such a humiliation. They might kill them on the spot rather than hand them over. Just you wait and see!”
The young jailer was still a little worried, but seeing that Brother Cai had already closed his eyes and was dozing off, he had to shut up.
The two jailers didn’t avoid anyone when they spoke, or rather, the jailer named Brother Cai might have been deliberately provoking Zhenxin and Zhenyi.
Xie Bailu and Zhenxin and Zhenyi exchanged a look. Zhenxin said, “Is the Ling family that powerful?”
Xie Bailu nodded. “Very powerful.”
There had been a powerful, crazy, and difficult person here two days ago. Fortunately, he had already left. This was a blessing in disguise.
Zhenxin said with a long face, “Then will Zhenhui be in danger?”
Zhenyi shook her head. “Probably not. He always likes to hide and only shows up after others have finished fighting. He won’t get hurt much.”
Xie Bailu was speechless. “…” What a cunning old fox!
She asked Zhenxin and Zhenyi, who knew Zhenhui better, “Then what about this time? Is he also planning to use the demonic beasts to attract the Ling family’s main force, and then take the opportunity to rescue you?”
Zhenxin and Zhenyi exchanged a look. Zhenxin said with some uncertainty and frustration, “It’s hard to say… He might be more inclined to use the demonic beasts to raze White Rock City. Some demonic beasts gain intelligence late, and are still muddle-headed even at the Golden Core stage. He can control those demonic beasts too. If he brings a few more, it might work.”
Xie Bailu was speechless. “…” What kind of villainous behavior is this!
She thought about the conversation between the two jailers just now. “Probably not. The jailer said the demonic beasts are still waiting for something and haven’t attacked yet. If he wanted to raze White Rock City, he wouldn’t wait for the Ling family to be fully prepared.”
Let’s assume Zhenhui was as smart as they said. Then the demonic beast siege should be to attract the attention of the high-level combatants in the city, while Zhenhui took the opportunity to break them out of prison. But from what the jailer said, the people in the city should also be well aware that the purpose of the demonic beasts was Zhenxin and Zhenyi. She even suspected that the prison was now heavily guarded on the outside but lax on the inside, just waiting for Zhenxin and Zhenyi’s accomplice to walk into a trap.
After all, they had met. Xie Bailu had a good impression of these two demon cultivators. They weren’t the kind of demon cultivators who killed innocents. She hoped they would be safe.
Just as she was considering what to do, she saw a white bun suddenly hop out of her storage bag on the wall opposite her.
Her eyes lit up. Xiao Xing was awake!
She had never put the Five-Star Cauldron in her storage bag since she got it, because she often needed it for warnings and escapes. This was the first time Xiao Xing had been put in her storage bag. It was quite clever and didn’t make a big show, just hopping from a distance to show its presence.
Zhenxin happened to be looking in that direction and rubbed his eyes. “Did I just see a steamed bun hopping? Am I hallucinating from hunger?”
Xie Bailu put a finger to her lips. “Shh!”
Zhenxin looked at Xie Bailu with a puzzled expression, but he cleverly kept quiet.
With Xiao Xing back online, Xie Bailu’s confidence soared. She felt she couldn’t just sit and wait anymore. Zhenhui’s plan might not work. She had to create some kind of change, to at least create better conditions for Zhenhui’s prison break. Then Zhenxin and Zhenyi would be rescued by Zhenhui, and she would escape with the Divine Movement Art.
At this moment, a group of cultivators walked into the prison, opened the cells of Zhenxin and Xie Bailu, as well as Zhenyi’s, and took Zhenxin and Zhenyi out.
Xie Bailu was immediately anxious. Were they planning to force the accomplice to act? If the accomplice acted, they would be caught along with them. If the accomplice didn’t act, they would be executed on the city wall to provoke the accomplice… In any case, the Ling family wouldn’t lose.
Now that she knew Ling Song was not here, Xie Bailu was very bold. She immediately shouted, “You’re finally here! I’ve been waiting for so long! Hurry up and call Ling Song over!”
The cultivators, who had been about to leave with the two demon cultivators, stopped in their tracks and looked over in surprise. They had never heard anyone mention Ling Song in such a tone, and so brazenly asking him to come over.
This was the reaction Xie Bailu wanted. She said with a spoiled expression, “What are you looking at! Haven’t you heard from Ling Song about my relationship with him?”
For the Ling family members who lived in Ling Song’s shadow, although Ling Song wouldn’t kill them, a beating would still hurt. If their cultivation regressed because of it, it would be even more painful. Therefore, they were actually more nervous than outsiders when facing Ling Song, and thus had a bigger reaction to his name.
After a long silence, the leading cultivator finally spoke with a tense voice, “What is your relationship with the Young Master?”
Xie Bailu first tested the waters. “You all know that the Five-Star Cauldron is with Ling Song, right?”
The leading cultivator frowned. “Everyone knows about this.”
Xie Bailu was relieved. It seemed that the people in the Eye Demon’s domain hadn’t spread the news that the Five-Star Cauldron was not in Ling Song’s hands. Then she was safe.
Xie Bailu raised her chin proudly. “The Five-Star Cauldron is in my hands. What do you think my relationship with him is?”
Just as Xie Bailu had guessed, Ling Song wouldn’t tell others about the Five-Star Cauldron. In fact, after he came to White Rock City, besides injuring two Golden Core cultivators when he first arrived, he had been in seclusion the rest of the time and had ordered the Ling family to prepare ten identical sets of red clothes for him.
Therefore, when the leading cultivator heard Xie Bailu’s words, his expression changed drastically. Everyone assumed that a Foundation Establishment cultivator like Xie Bailu couldn’t possibly snatch the Five-Star Cauldron from Ling Song. If she really had the Five-Star Cauldron, it could only have been a gift from Ling Song.
Then what was her relationship with Ling Song? Wasn’t it obvious?
The leading cultivator had business to attend to. He had been ordered to take the two demon cultivators out, but he didn’t dare to make Xie Bailu wait. Her temper seemed very bad. If it was true, and he had neglected her, and she whispered something in his ear… anyone targeted by the Young Master would not have a good end!
But the leading cultivator didn’t dare to disturb Ling Song to ask if it was true before he had any clue. So after a brief silence, he said, “Miss, please come with me.”
He had been there when Xie Bailu and Zhenxin were captured. He knew which storage bag was Xie Bailu’s, so he took it down and politely asked her to walk out.
Spiritual energy was forbidden in the prison, so they couldn’t take things out of the storage bag. The leading cultivator didn’t dare to touch Xie Bailu’s storage bag either. A cultivator’s storage bag was too personal. Touching it randomly was an offense. So he could only have his men temporarily lock the two demon cultivators back up and personally accompany Xie Bailu out of the prison, so she could use her spiritual energy outside to open the storage bag and take out the Five-Star Cauldron for verification.
Before leaving, Xie Bailu gave a look to the bewildered Zhenxin and Zhenyi, then walked out with a calm expression and took out the Five-Star Cauldron outside the prison.
The Five-Star Cauldron now had three elemental essence stones and looked a bit more lustrous than when she first saw it.
A divine artifact was a divine artifact after all. The leading cultivator could almost confirm it at first glance. He was immediately glad that he hadn’t dismissed her. His tone became much more respectful. “Miss, please wait a moment. I will go and report to the Young Master.”
Xie Bailu was speechless. “…?!” Report to who?
She couldn’t maintain her calm expression anymore. “You mean, Ling Song is still in White Rock City?”
The leading cultivator looked at Xie Bailu strangely. Didn’t she want him to call the Young Master herself?
He nodded. “That’s right. The Young Master has been in seclusion these past few days.”
Xie Bailu was speechless. “…!!” Damn it, which bastard told me Ling Song was gone!