Chapter 18: Zhenhui
Xie Bailu knew that clarifying things at this moment was useless. From the rumors she had heard from the inn waiter, there was no gossip about Ling Song. He treated men and women equally, truly achieving the principle of “whoever provokes me, regardless of your gender or appearance, will be killed.”
Such a person, although his reputation was poor, had a rare clean slate when it came to matters of the heart. Of course, others would firmly believe the rumor he had started about himself!
He had a good family background and high cultivation. What benefit could he gain from spreading rumors about an unknown female cultivator like her? No one would believe he was spreading rumors.
Only Xie Bailu knew that he was just trying to drag her down with him. He wanted to see her make a fool of herself. Making him happy was the greatest benefit to him.
Therefore, facing the shocked gazes of the crowd, Xie Bailu pretended not to see and only looked at Ling Song with a sorrowful expression. “You were the one who forced me!” His pursuit had forced her to use any means necessary.
But in the eyes of the onlookers, her words had another meaning.
The young man in black curled his lip in disdain. Hmph, humans. They say demons are shameless, but what about themselves?
The Fang brothers exchanged a look. They hadn’t expected there to be someone that the Young Master of the Ling family couldn’t get and had to resort to force…
Xiao Cui silently looked at Xie Bailu, recalling her expression when she had introduced Ling Song earlier. She didn’t seem to have been forced at that time.
Ling Song watched Xie Bailu’s excellent performance with great interest and didn’t mind taking the blame for forcing her and ruining his own reputation. He held out his hand and smiled. “Come here, and I’ll let you go.”
These were words that only Xie Bailu and Ling Song understood. He wanted her obedience now in exchange for her life.
But how could Xie Bailu believe him!
Not long ago, she had felt his killing intent. He was like a perverted serial killer who could pretend to be “devoted” to his prey, but in reality, he was just enjoying the process of hunting. How could he let the prey go in the end? Only by killing the prey would the hunting process be complete.
Therefore, Xie Bailu took another step back under Ling Song’s gaze, with a look of unyielding integrity. “I won’t!”
The atmosphere became tense, but the most uncomfortable ones were not the two in confrontation, but the onlookers. Although Ling Song still had a smile on his face, he gave off the feeling that he could kill someone at any moment. The group couldn’t help but retreat.
Only the young man in black looked at the two of them coldly, his thoughts unknown.
In the end, it was Ling Song who broke the silence. He withdrew his hand and tilted his head slightly with a smile. “Then forget it.”
After a pause, he pointed to the distance again. “Light the fire, or go there?”
Hearing his words, Xie Bailu knew that his performance time was over. She had wanted to maintain her previous persona, but seeing his deep gaze fixed on her, she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
Forget it, forget it. What if he attacks me immediately if I continue to act? Seeing how afraid the others are of him, they probably won’t help me. As for that young demon, he doesn’t seem to like humans much. I can’t count on him.
She composed herself and said, “Let’s go there.”
She turned to the others and explained, “Young Master Ling said that there’s something strange in that direction. Would you like to go and investigate together?”
The few of them looked at her silently, their expressions rather blank.
Just a moment ago, it had been a tense confrontation, on the verge of a fight. In the blink of an eye, they could discuss things in a friendly manner? So what was going on with these two?!
They couldn’t understand Xie Bailu and Ling Song’s reactions. They only knew that there must be an inside story, but they couldn’t imagine what kind of inside story could lead to the current situation!
The young man in black couldn’t be bothered with these boring twists and turns. He just wanted to get rid of the Absolute Demon and leave this domain as soon as possible. If those two idiots found out he was gone, who knew what kind of trouble they would get into. So he said faintly, “I’ll go with you.”
The Fang brothers exchanged a look. Fang Jinxue said, “Then my brother and I will go too.”
Xiao Cui also said quickly, “Please take me with you!”
Although they were all afraid of Ling Song, at the same time, they also had deep faith in his strength. So, instead of being alone and killed by the Absolute Demon, it was better to follow Ling Song closely.
After all, he hadn’t killed them on sight. As long as they behaved themselves from now on, they would be fine.
Ling Song walked in front alone, and Xie Bailu followed behind. She would occasionally take a peek at the young man in black when turning a corner.
The other three human cultivators were hopeless. They were so afraid of Ling Song that they wouldn’t even dare to kill him, let alone walk with him. They were eight hundred meters away. But this demon was different. He knew Ling Song, wasn’t afraid of him, and seemed to be very hostile towards him. Then she had a good chance.
But most demons didn’t like to interact with humans and were naturally distrustful of them. Demons like Zhenxin and Zhenyi were too rare.
If the demons she had met were Zhenxin and Zhenyi, she would probably just have to give the order, and they would dare to kill Ling Song with her without asking any questions.
There was no point in thinking too much. The demon in front of her was the only one she could win over.
The young man in black noticed Xie Bailu’s attention and gave her a cold glare, but saw her smile at him. He frowned and couldn’t be bothered with her anymore.
The group walked in silence. The streets of this town were winding, and everyone kept a certain distance from each other out of caution, so there would always be a period of time when they couldn’t see the person in front of or behind them.
Just as Xie Bailu was turning a corner, she suddenly found that the red figure that had been walking in front of her was just a step away.
Xie Bailu had been very vigilant on this journey, and she was also full of hostility towards Ling Song. Therefore, when this red figure got so close, her first reaction was to draw her knife and stab.
To her surprise, she actually hit him.
The person in front of her had very little shock in his eyes, more anger.
Xie Bailu understood, but she didn’t immediately slit his throat. Instead, she withdrew her knife and took a step back. Only the Absolute Demon couldn’t dodge her surprise attack. If it were Ling Song, she wouldn’t have been able to even touch a hair on his head.
The people following behind saw what Xie Bailu had done a moment later and were too shocked to speak.
Wait, is this Miss Xie so powerful that she even dares to kill that madman, and she even hit him!
For a moment, the Fang brothers and Xiao Cui forgot the distance between them and unconsciously came forward, watching the scene in front of them with great shock.
Then they saw another Ling Song walk back from the front. Seeing the injured “Ling Song” kneeling on the ground, he just raised an eyebrow slightly.
Only then did the few of them realize that the person Xie Bailu had stabbed was the Absolute Demon.
Xie Bailu was full of confusion. “Come on, big brother, you can’t just keep picking on one sheep, can you? What did I do to you that you’re targeting me?”
She turned to the three humans and one demon. “Have you encountered the Absolute Demon before?”
The three humans and one demon either answered “no” or shook their heads.
Xie Bailu went up and slapped him, staring at the Absolute Demon. “You’re not tired, but I’m tired of killing you!”
With the crisp sound of the slap, the three of them trembled. They looked at the “Ling Song’s” face that had been slapped crooked, then at Ling Song, afraid that Xie Bailu’s action would anger him.
They didn’t know that, let alone hitting him, Xie Bailu had already killed the Absolute Demon with Ling Song’s face twice, and Ling Song didn’t feel offended at all, and was even interested.
He walked up and said, “Why leave him alive? For interrogation?”
Xie Bailu said, “When it was pretending to be you earlier, it said that the Absolute Demon can only create one clone at a time. Is that true?”
Ling Song said, “Perhaps.”
Xie Bailu said, “Then let’s assume what it said is true. If we capture it, we won’t have to worry about it suddenly appearing.”
The Absolute Demon suddenly burst into laughter. It had to be said that his arrogant appearance was somewhat similar to Ling Song’s.
After laughing, he glared at Xie Bailu and said sternly, “Do you think you can trap me? Just you wait! I don’t believe I can’t kill you!”
He had tried to suddenly insert himself between the two, trying to take advantage of her momentary hesitation to sneak attack, not speaking and not giving her a chance to tell the difference. Who would have thought her reaction would be so fast!
But it didn’t matter. When he went back to regroup, he would come again next time!
The Absolute Demon didn’t even have to make a move like “committing suicide.” It just closed its eyes and collapsed to the ground, becoming a lifeless corpse.
Ling Song’s expression was regretful. “It’s not working anymore.”
Thanks, I have eyes and can see for myself!
Xie Bailu kicked the Absolute Demon’s body again in frustration. She had really drawn its hatred, hadn’t she? Was it because she had killed it twice in a row? Oh, now it was the third time.
Xiao Cui praised in a low voice, “Miss Xie, how did you tell the difference? They look exactly the same to me…”
Xie Bailu was speechless. “…” If she said she didn’t tell the difference, would Xiao Cui believe her?
Seeing that the Fang brothers were also looking at her curiously, Xie Bailu had to say, “It’s not that I could tell the difference. I was just startled when he suddenly jumped out, so I accidentally stabbed him.”
Ling Song, who was at the side, didn’t expose her. He seemed to have a very tolerant attitude towards her taking every opportunity to kill him.
The Fang brothers and Xiao Cui were very impressed. If they had been scared by that red figure, their first reaction would have been to turn and run, and they would never have had the courage to go up and stab him.
Xiao Cui suddenly understood. No wonder this Miss Xie was the first person to be with that madman. This kind of fierce spirit was not something an ordinary person could have.
This was just a small interlude. They still had to walk. The group bypassed the Absolute Demon’s body and continued forward.
Xie Bailu slowed down as she walked, almost walking side by side with the young man in black.
She smiled. “What’s your name, little brother?”
The young man in black glanced at her but ignored her.
Xie Bailu really wanted to get on good terms with him, so she said, “I’m different from ordinary cultivators. Humans and demons are the same to me. To be honest, I even have two demon cultivator friends.”
The young man in black quickened his pace, refusing to talk to her.
Xie Bailu chased after him again. “Can’t you even tell me your name? Let’s be friends. Once we exchange names, we’ll be friends.”
Perhaps annoyed by Xie Bailu, the young man in black said impatiently, “My name is Zhenhui. Stop bothering me!”
Xie Bailu was stunned. Zhenhui? No way, is it Zhenxin and Zhenyi’s friend, that cunning old fox Zhenhui?
Thinking of what Zhenxin and Zhenyi had told her about Zhenhui’s personality, it perfectly matched the young man in black in front of her. It was most likely him.
But, shouldn’t they be near White Rock City, a hundred li away? Why was Zhenhui alone here? What about Zhenxin and Zhenyi?
Xie Bailu was worried about the safety of the two little fools for a moment, but then she thought that Zhenhui had chosen to act with them instead of looking for the two of them, so she knew that the two of them were probably not involved. This time, the only unlucky one was Zhenhui.
Xie Bailu was wary of Ling Song in front of her, so even though she knew that this young man in black was Zhenhui, and she couldn’t help but feel a sense of closeness, she didn’t show it, let alone mention Zhenxin and Zhenyi’s names.
She was worried that if Ling Song knew about her friendly relationship with Zhenxin, Zhenyi, and Zhenhui, he would be disadvantageous to them. If she could kill Ling Song in the Absolute Demon Domain, that would be fine. If not, she would never involve unrelated people.
At this moment, Ling Song stopped. He looked back, his gaze pausing on Zhenhui for a moment, then at Xie Bailu. “We’re here.”
In front of the group was a not-so-tall tower, probably only three or four zhang high, and it had no doors or windows, only a very small window at the top, which not even a small baby could squeeze through.
The tower was made of stone and looked quite old. Its style was out of place with the surrounding buildings, and it did indeed seem to be the key to breaking the Absolute Demon Domain.
Seeing the small window, Xie Bailu’s heart stirred, and she couldn’t help but look at Zhenhui. “Can you transform into your original form in this domain?”
Zhenhui looked at Xie Bailu warily. “What do you mean?”
Xie Bailu couldn’t say that she already knew his original form was a frilled lizard. She had already prepared an excuse and said persuasively, “I have a demon cultivator friend who is a fly demon. He can enter many places that humans can’t in his original form.”
Zhenhui said, “…Can a fly become a demon?”
Xie Bailu said, “Can’t it?” If a frilled lizard like you can, why can’t a fly if it tries hard enough!
But at this moment, Ling Song laughed. “When did you make a fly demon friend? How come I don’t know?”
Xie Bailu understood what he meant. He had been chasing her all this way. When did she have time to make friends?
But in the eyes of others, this was a sign of Ling Song’s possessiveness.
Even though they knew that the person in front of them was that madman, because of his down-to-earth “jealous” performance, the Fang brothers and Xiao Cui all pretended to be nonchalantly paying attention.
How should they put it? Leaving the domain was not as important as listening to this once-in-a-lifetime gossip. With Ling Song here, wouldn’t it be easy to break the domain? But if they missed this kind of thing, they would never hear it again!