Chapter 23: A Willing Bait
Xie Bailu had faced life-and-death crises many times. Telling this small lie wouldn’t affect her expression.
The man in black stared at Xie Bailu and smiled. “You really know?”
To avoid being exposed, a lie must be surrounded by the truth, with the lie being the only important thing.
Xie Bailu said, “I was there at the time.”
The man in black said, “Oh? Tell me. I’m very curious how my junior brother died.”
Xie Bailu said, “At that time, your esteemed junior brother and his disciple were setting up an array in a village. Ling Song broke in and fought with your esteemed junior brother. As for the specifics of the fight, please forgive this junior’s low cultivation. I couldn’t understand it at all. In the end, your esteemed junior brother died.”
The man in black nodded, completely ignoring the disciple who had appeared and then disappeared in Xie Bailu’s words. To him and his senior brother, a disciple was a consumable, not worth caring about. He never would have thought that the disciple had been killed by Xie Bailu, who in her own words, was just a bystander.
He saw that Xie Bailu was not as afraid of him, an evil cultivator, as others were, and he became a little interested.
He said, “What’s your name, little girl?”
Xie Bailu said honestly, “Xie Bailu. The ‘bailu’ from ‘a line of egrets rises to the blue sky’.”
At this moment, she didn’t dare to use a fake name like Xie Lu. She would definitely see Ling Song later. If he called her name and this evil cultivator found out she was even lying about her name, what if he got angry and killed her with a single slap?
The man in black smiled. “Good name. Little Xie, you have to tell me, why is the brat Ling Song so insistent on chasing you?”
Xie Bailu knew very well that this evil cultivator was of course not that gossipy. He was just trying to use a relaxed atmosphere to find out her value to Ling Song, so he could decide on the extent of his subsequent actions.
But if she thought he was really a gentle person, she would be in trouble. If the soft approach didn’t work, she definitely wouldn’t be able to handle his hard approach.
Feeling that this evil cultivator was more difficult to deal with than his junior brother, Xie Bailu naturally wouldn’t say things like “Big Brother Ling Song” anymore.
She put on a confused and troubled expression. “How should I put it… I think there’s something wrong with his brain. Due to some coincidences, he failed to kill me several times, and he seems to find it very interesting, so he let me run for a few days, and he will continue to hunt me.”
The man in black laughed. “This brat has such an interest? But I saw him kill two people just because they injured you.”
Huh, there was such a thing? Was it the two people she had met outside the secret realm?
Xie Bailu said with certainty, “This is a kind of possessiveness! Probably something like ‘only I can kill this person, and anyone else who touches her will die’.”
The man in black smiled. “I haven’t lived long enough. This is the first time I’ve seen something like this.”
Xie Bailu gave a helpless, bitter smile.
The man in black said, “Then do you want to kill him?”
Xie Bailu said, “Of course I do! To be honest, we entered the Absolute Demon Domain together earlier, and I tried to kill him many times, but I didn’t succeed. You see, this blood on me is from when I was killing the Absolute Demon that had transformed into Ling Song.”
The man in black glanced at her, narrowed his eyes, and suddenly patted Xie Bailu’s shoulder. She could move again.
She was just a small Foundation Establishment cultivator, and she looked so cooperative. There was really no need to seal her Dantian anymore.
Even though she had regained her mobility, Xie Bailu was very obedient. The time required to activate the Divine Movement Art was too long. She didn’t dare to play tricks in front of a Nascent Soul expert.
She said gratefully, “Thank you, senior. May I ask for your name? An expert like you must be very famous in the cultivation world.”
The man in black looked at her twice. “You survived under Ling Song’s hands by flattering him like this?”
Xie Bailu thought to herself, That’s not all. I even called him ‘brother’!
She gave a fawning smile. “All my words are from the heart! My training time is still short. If I have offended you in any way, please forgive me.”
The man in black sighed. “If my stupid disciples were as eloquent as you, my life would be much more comfortable.”
At this time, if Xie Bailu was smart, she should have offered to become his disciple if he didn’t mind. But although she was saying nice things, becoming his disciple was out of the question. The methods of evil cultivators were too terrifying, and seeing how his junior brother didn’t care much about his disciple, being an evil cultivator’s disciple was too miserable.
Besides, it was one thing for a righteous cultivator to flatter an evil cultivator for their life, but to eagerly become an evil cultivator’s disciple would seem too out of place and would arouse suspicion.
Xie Bailu smiled shyly. “Maybe it’s just a talent! My neighbors all say I have a sweet tongue and love to chat with me.”
The man in black said, “It’s been a long time since I’ve chatted with a righteous cultivator like this. I have a karmic connection with you, so I’ll help you once. I’ll kill Ling Song for you today, how about it?”
You’re the one who wants to kill him, and you want to drag me in to help you!
Xie Bailu said with an excited expression, “Really? Thank you so much, senior! If there’s anything I can do, just say the word. I’ll do my best!”
If she had to choose between the evil cultivator and Ling Song, Xie Bailu would choose Ling Song. Because although Ling Song was a madman, he didn’t kill indiscriminately, but evil cultivators were different. The direction this evil cultivator had come from was where those cultivators who didn’t believe her were. She didn’t even dare to think what had happened to them.
But this didn’t stop her from agreeing to the evil cultivator and using him to cause some trouble for Ling Song. She might have been infected by Xiao Xing, and she always felt that even though this evil cultivator looked very powerful, he would eventually die at Ling Song’s hands…
Before that, she just had to do her best to save her own life. Now that Ling Song’s spiritual sense imprint had been erased, she believed that as long as she ran, he would never be able to catch her again.
The future was bright, so Xie Bailu was naturally in a good mood.
The man in black noticed Xie Bailu’s good mood, and the smile on his face also became strange.
Was the current cultivation world too peaceful, making these juniors unaware of the terror of evil cultivators? But thinking of the little brats who had almost wet their pants when they faced him, he didn’t think so.
Then it could only be this little girl’s problem. She was either exceptionally bold or too inexperienced and still didn’t know the dangers of the cultivation world.
But since she had been chased by Ling Song all this way, she couldn’t be unaware of the dangers.
He rarely felt a sense of cherishing talent, but it was only fleeting. He would kill Ling Song first, and if she was still alive after that, they would talk. But that was most likely impossible.
The man in black’s smile was creepy. “I’m preparing a big gift for Ling Song. You just need to be a good bait.”
Xie Bailu shivered. What good could come from being a bait? But she didn’t even have the right to say no.
She nodded. “Alright, senior. I’ll die if he catches me anyway. I’ll risk it!”
The man in black heard that she was willing to be a bait even though she knew it was dangerous, and he felt both comfortable and a little uncomfortable.
He said, “Little Xie, this is the first time I’ve met such a cooperative righteous cultivator. Usually, they wouldn’t give in without a few rounds of torture, but you’re so obedient, it’s a little surprising.”
Isn’t it good to be obedient? This evil cultivator is so hard to please!
Xie Bailu said sincerely, “As you said, if I’m unwilling, I’ll still have to be willing after being tortured. Isn’t that just suffering for nothing? I’m more pragmatic and afraid of pain, so I’d rather skip those and get straight to the result.”
The man in black smiled, his expression noncommittal.
At the man in black’s signal, Xie Bailu followed him closely. On the way, they encountered a group of cultivators who were training. The man in black killed them all without a word, leaving no one alive.
Xie Bailu didn’t dare to say a word and became even more cautious.
When the two of them arrived at a relatively spacious cave, the man in black stopped with satisfaction. He told Xie Bailu to wait at the side, while he took out many things that were obviously evil and began to set them up.
Xie Bailu didn’t dare to disturb him and just sat at the side, watching silently.
Perhaps because she was being particularly obedient, and a small Foundation Establishment cultivator was completely beneath the evil cultivator’s notice, after he unsealed her Dantian, he didn’t bother with her storage bag either.
Therefore, the Five-Star Cauldron was still in Xie Bailu’s hands. But she didn’t dare to use the Divine Movement Art now.
She suspected that this evil cultivator might also be afraid of her running away and had placed a spiritual sense imprint on her. Xiao Xing was very well-behaved and didn’t dare to make a sound. She didn’t dare to ask Xiao Xing if there was one.
She had finally managed to create a relatively free environment for herself. She didn’t want to ruin it herself. This was a secret realm. Even if she used the Divine Movement Art, she couldn’t escape.
Besides, this was underground, which severely affected the performance of the Divine Movement Art. She couldn’t fly a hundred li at once like she could outside.
The man in black quickly finished his setup. Then he beckoned Xie Bailu over and told her to sit cross-legged on the spot.
He stood in front of her, bending over slightly with a smile. “Little Xie, a bait has to look like a bait. It might hurt a little later. Don’t you want to kill Ling Song very much? You should be able to endure this little bit of pain, right?”
Xie Bailu’s face was not good, but there was no need to hide it. She asked, “Senior, can you tell me what this is? I will cooperate, but I also want to know.”
The man in black smiled. “There’s no harm in letting you know. This is an array that plunders life force and traps people. When the array is activated, the people inside will be sucked dry.”
Xie Bailu was speechless. “…” Damn it, I’ve been so cooperative, and this old thing still wants to kill me!
She said with a panicked expression, “Then… then can this array be stopped midway?”
Although she didn’t remember where she had buried his junior brother’s storage bag, if it came down to it, she could use this to buy time. She was the one who had taken the storage bag. Only she knew where it was. If she died, he would never be able to get it back!
The man in black didn’t answer, just looked at Xie Bailu sinisterly. “Little girl, what are you planning?”
He didn’t really believe what Xie Bailu said, but since she was cooperating, he just needed her to stay put and be a bait.
Xie Bailu said, “Senior, I just want to live! I beg you, for the sake of my cooperation, please give me a way out! Don’t you want to get your things back? What if Ling Song doesn’t have them with him? If he dies, you’ll never be able to get your things back. Why don’t I help you test him first before you make your move? If he has them with him, it’s not too late for you to make your move.”
“Test?” The man in black squatted down in front of Xie Bailu and smiled. “Is it a test, or a tip-off? Little girl, you’re too naive to play mind games with me.”
Xie Bailu quickly defended herself. “No, why would you think I would tip off Ling Song? I’m not a masochist. He’s been trying to kill me. I wish I could tear him to pieces! I’ve only managed to escape from him a few times. I really don’t want to die like this.”
Xie Bailu’s desire to live was very strong. The man in black stared at her pleading eyes and smiled. “In that case, I’ll grant you your wish.”
He suddenly struck out with his palm, landing on Xie Bailu’s Dantian. She felt a sharp pain in her Dantian, and a mouthful of sweet blood gushed from her throat. She immediately collapsed to the ground.
The man in black said, “I’ve erased Ling Song’s spiritual sense imprint. You can’t be completely unscathed. You’re so eloquent. When you see Ling Song later, you can make up your own lies. This array only targets righteous cultivators. Now that your meridians are full of my spiritual energy, it might give you a chance to live.”
As for how difficult it would be to get rid of this spiritual energy full of sinister aura if she really survived, that was a matter for later.
Xie Bailu lay on the ground, in so much pain that she could barely hear what the evil cultivator was saying. She felt as if her Dantian had been completely shattered, and the spiritual energy surging in her body was like it was wrapped in needles, pricking her meridians densely. After vomiting a few mouthfuls of blood, it finally stopped. Her whole mind was buzzing, and she had only one thought: All evil cultivators should be torn to pieces!
She struggled to look up at the evil cultivator and forced a smile. “Thank you, senior… cough, may I ask what senior is looking for? If I know, I might be able to ask Ling Song when I see him later.”
The man in black was truly amazed now. After being so seriously injured by him, this little girl’s eyes still had no resentment. If her aptitude wasn’t too poor, she would definitely become a great figure in the future.
For him, as long as Ling Song got close to check on Xie Bailu and stayed for a while, the array would be activated. It didn’t matter what she said or did. But if she could really ask something useful, it would be good.
Because of this amazement, he said, “The rest is not important. The most important thing is a black condensed core. This condensed core was formed by a blood demon dying under black water over many years and is extremely precious.”
Xie Bailu was speechless. “…” Oh, it’s the black bead that Xiao Xing told her to pick up from the pile of bones.
She put on a clueless expression and nodded. “A blood demon condensed core, is it? I understand.”
If she was lucky enough to see this evil cultivator die today, she would definitely tell him before he died that the condensed core he was looking for was in her storage bag. Let’s see if he dies of anger!
The man in black left and hid himself. If the newcomer was another cultivator, he would be killed by him.
Xie Bailu lay on the ground alone, the pain in her body never stopping. This was the most serious injury she had suffered since transmigrating. She really felt like she was going to die.
She had already thought it through. If she couldn’t survive this time, her corpse could still anger Ling Song when he came: Didn’t you want to kill her? She still died at the hands of someone else. You’re just a good-for-nothing who couldn’t kill her!
Either way, she could anger someone, which was fine.
On the ground, Ling Song felt his spiritual sense imprint disappear shortly after killing the pupil-less, giant-mouthed snake.
He frowned and quickly rushed to the place where the spiritual sense had last disappeared.
Had Xie Bailu died, or had a high-level cultivator erased his spiritual sense imprint?
If it was the latter, he would have to admire Xie Bailu. She was really capable, always able to provoke high-level cultivators. He didn’t know what kind of trap she had set for him this time.
But if it was the former…
He frowned in displeasure and stopped thinking. After arriving at the location where the spiritual sense imprint had disappeared and seeing nothing, he began to search the area.
There were cultivators killed by the evil cultivator nearby. He followed the bodies and soon saw Xie Bailu lying in a huge cave, her life and death unknown.
He walked over quickly. The closer he got, the weaker he could feel her aura, as if she could die at any moment.
When he squatted down beside Xie Bailu, he held her wrist. The moment he sent his spiritual energy in, he frowned, and then smiled ambiguously.
This was the work of an evil cultivator, but the other cultivators had all been killed with a single blow. How could he have made a mistake and left Xie Bailu alive? It was clearly aimed at him.
Even though he realized something was wrong and sensed the strangeness of the surroundings, Ling Song still didn’t react. He lifted Xie Bailu’s chin, pulled open her eyelid, and then, as expected, she slapped his hand away.
Xie Bailu, who had been drowsy and was now awake from having her eyelid pulled, saw the person in front of her clearly. “Are you crazy! What are you pulling my eyelid for!”
Ling Song smiled. “If you don’t open your eyes, how can you see me die with your own eyes?”
Xie Bailu was speechless. “…” I really wish you would die just by me looking at you!