Ch28 - The Only Light in Darkness

Editor: Sahloknir

Lan Ruo Temple.

“Jiuying has forsaken the agreement.” A blue-clothed female cultivator fumed, “He clearly signed a contract with humans, so how dare he attack a Chanshi?”

A Ying Zhou Sect cultivator added on, “Since the devils were the first to break their oath, we need not let ourselves be constrained by it either.”

Further away from those two, a Yao Wang Valley Primordial God Zhenren sighed. “An eye for an eye will only make the world blind. If we fight, there would be untold casualties.”

“Are you suggesting we let Jiuying get away with devouring the cultivation of a buddhist cultivator?!”

The discussion screeched to a halt as tempers flared. Abbot Chan Qing, who had refrained from getting involved thus far, coughed violently.

Everyone became quiet as they turned towards him, and the long silent Xuan Wei Xianjun beside him.

Based on age, it’s true that Chan Qing was the senior here. However, he was unable to easily leave the monastery due to his test of mentality. The foremost offensive pressure of this operation would have to come from Jiang Xianjun.

“The unnecessary loss of life is not what I am after.” Chan Qing said. “This old one has but one request of Xianjun.”

Jiang Yinghe replied. “Please tell me.”

“I would like for Xianjun to go as this old one’s representative to renegotiate the treaty with Jiuying.”

Jiang Yinghe was silent for a moment. “If he insists on remaining stubborn, this master will extract his devil core on behalf of the Abbot. I will do my best to minimize the destruction.”

His words were too cold and decisive. The other Zhenrens that would be accompanying him couldn’t help but shiver.

Chan Qing’s eyes were half closed. Before he could reply, Qin Jun said from his place beside Jiang Yinghe, “I will go with Shizun.”

Jiang Yinghe frowned. “You…”

That was all he managed to get out before the sound of a flute echoed in the temple. It sounded ordinary at first, even a bit choppy, but the sound gradually lengthened and became almost melodic as the howling of beasts joined in as accompaniment.

—It was the screams of devils!

Then, like an entire army was suddenly halted, the devils that surrounded Lan Ruo Temple were suppressed by the flute and could only kowtow and pray in its direction. Those that were of slightly higher cultivation were still only able to scream before falling to the ground.

Jiang Yinghe suddenly had a bad premonition. This flute seemed to only affect those of the devil race. It was…

Before he could analyze the melody for any hints, he heard a clamorous roar and then the sound of something gigantic breaking through the ceiling of the temple.

Everyone stepped back in alarm. The dust cleared to reveal a nine-headed beast snarling in front of Jiang Yinghe. Following a sharp note from the faraway flute, this foul creature was forced into its human form. His legs crashed into the ground, and his head was pushed down by an unseen force.

Jiang Yinghe was shocked. “Jiuying?”

Even in his human form, Jiuying still had beast markings on his savagely handsome face. He struggled defiantly a few times before being reigned in by an especially ear-piercing note. His throat continued to produce inhuman rumblings.

The cultivators assembled here were too stunned to speak. Only Qin Jun had a smile on his lips as he looked on at the archdevil kowtowing before them.

Jiuying was still dissatisfied and spoke out loud to an unknown person. “That baldy was rude to me, so of course I ate…”

The flute music stopped, and Jiuying spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, as if a tremendous pressure was pushing him to kneel motionlessly before Jiang Yinghe.

While Jiang Yinghe’s mind was still in the clouds, Jiuying was forced to smash his head against the floor once. He spoke through gritted teeth, “This junior’s cultivation is lacking. If it is your order, this junior must obey. But Your Majesty, if you’ve revived, why conceal yourself until now? Is there something worrying Your Majesty?”

The Devil King had revived?

Everyone drew in a cold breath. The scene before them was enough to scare them all silly. But…why does it seem like he’s bowing before the wrong person? If he’s really here to apologize, shouldn’t it be to Chan Qing?

“As long as Your Majesty is here, it’s only a matter of time before we rule the entire cultivation world! If you have someone you’d like…” Jiuying lifted his eyes, the red and blue marking on his face flashing intermittently as he glared viciously at Jiang Yinghe. “Just give me a command, and this junior’s subordinates will bring them unharmed to Your Majesty for you to play with however you’d like…”

His words seemed to touch a nerve, the melody that used to be carefree became piercing. The archdevil was crushed to the point where he could barely draw breath, letting out a high-pitched scream. His body levitated into the air, and a blue and red devil core the size of a pebble floated out from his forehead.

The devil core fractured in two as Jiuying began to scream in earnest. Half flew over to Jiang Yinghe while the other fell to the ground and rolled away.

The once mighty Devil Baron was now in so much pain that he wished he could faint already.

Jiang Yinghe accepted half the devil core, but he still had no idea what was going on. While he was lost, Chan Qing suddenly spoke from beside him. “Xianjun? This devil practitioner’s punishment will be decided by my Lan Ruo Temple.”

Jiang Yinghe reflected on this and said, “Of course.”

Abbot Chan Qing swept his gaze over Qin Jun beside him before he warned Jiang Yinghe. “Since Jiuying was speaking with the revived Devil King, they likely have intentions towards Jiang Xianjun…”

He paused, then added, “Please be more careful, Xianjun.”

Jiang Yinghe nodded, completely missing what Chan Qing was implying. He said in a serious tone, “This one welcomes a challenge. I will not act cowardly because of the malice of others, nor will I overestimate my own abilities.”

When Chan Qing saw his determined expression, he thought back to when he had helped Peng Lai remove his passion root and was rendered speechless. He sighed, “Jiang Xianjun is really one of a kind.”

How this matter was resolved in the end only concerned those of Lan Ruo Temple. Jiang Yinghe did not ask more.

But this half of the devil core… Jiang Yinghe held the crescent-shaped red and blue devil core in his hands for a long time. He finally connected the dots of what Jiuying was saying from the ground—that damned Devil King wanted to sleep with him!

But how is this possible? He was as straight as a light pole! Although his wet dream featured men…and only men confessed to him since he became a cultivator…and he still didn’t have a girlfriend after so long…

Jiang Yinghe was less and less sure of himself. He fell into a state of deep contemplation while holding the crescent core. Why did he attract only men? Was his orientation somehow wrong?

Just as he was stuck in a loop, a lively voice came from beside his ear.

“Shizun!” Chang Ye didn’t like to stand around listening to grown-ups talking, so he didn’t accompany Jiang Yinghe to the meeting before. He finally returned to Jiang Yinghe’s side now. “Is the discussion finished already?”

His dark eyes were bright as he slowly inched over. “When are we going to talk to the devils? Shizun, what’s this…”

Chang Ye reached over to touch the little crescent in Jiang Yinghe’s hand, but he changed his mind halfway and just grabbed his hand instead.

Jiang Yinghe’s hand was very shapely, but his bones were lengthy and slender. Chang Ye’s fingertip brushed over the back of his hand and softly flipped it over. His words were clear and innocent in nature.

“This is really pretty. I think it would look nice as part of a hairpin for Shizun.” Chang Ye tilted his head and smiled. “Since Shizun is also pretty it’ll definitely be a good match.”

Jiang Yinghe, “…Nonsense.”

There was no way he would describe himself as ‘pretty’, but for the sake of his little disciple he didn’t outright deny it. He changed the subject. “Chang Ye, you’ve met Hui Jing Chanshi before. Do you feel anything different coming here today?”

Chang Ye paused and blinked his eyes. “What does Shizun want me to feel?”

Jiang Yinghe thought about it. “Feelings regarding…life and death?”

Chang Ye didn’t reply directly. He looked at the other with clear eyes. “I can’t feel anything like that.”

“…You can’t?”

Chang Ye nodded and buried himself in Shizun’s chest. He softly said, “I only feel sad, jealous and angry when it involves Shizun. As for life and death, that’s something that happens to other people. Their souls will enter the cycle of reincarnation again, so why does it matter?”

Chang Ye nuzzled even closer. “Only if it happens to Shizun will this disciple be…hurt.”

Jiang Yinghe didn’t know what to say. There was something very wrong with the other person’s way of thinking. He sucked in a breath and asked, “Why?”

A knock at the door sounded before he could reply. A stranger spoke out.

“This one is Chou Yongzhou from Yao Wang valley. I heard that Xuan Wei Xianjun was searching for a way to heal the hand of his beloved disciple, so I have come to meet with you.”

Jiang Yinghe didn’t continue to correct his little disciple. “Ye-er, you should step out first.”

Chang Ye nodded and reluctantly parted from Jiang Yinghe’s lap to give his Shizun some space.

He immediately saw Qin Jun after he closed the door.

Qin Jun was staring at his half-bone limb. He glanced at his little shidi just in time to see that mask of innocence drop from his face. The fevered intensity in his eyes rose to the surface like a glacier.

“You’re not pretending anymore?” Qin Jun nonchalantly asked. “Your fakeness was just disgusting.”

Chang Ye leaned against the door and smiled at him. “But Shizun just happens to like me.”

The bone hand that was relaxed clenched at that. Qin Jun looked up with the intent to kill in his steel-grey eyes. He forcefully suppressed it and instead shifted his gaze to the flute tied at Chang Ye’s waist.

“Stepping all over his trust in you.” Qin Jun said, “Don’t regret it when you get nothing in the end.”

The words seemed to strike a nerve in Chang Ye. The pair of eyes that were clear in front of Jiang Yinghe were now completely covered by darkness. His entire body was surrounded by a sickly, twisted aura.

“You dare to say that to me?” He glanced at Qin Jun’s bone hand. His tone was derisive. “Speak for yourself.”

Author’s Corner:

“I would rather dive into the dust of worldly affairs for him, to be a person who could feel pain.” —Lyrics from ‘人非草木’

Rain: Chang Ye’s not finished being naughty yet. Not by a long shot…

Sahl: Little Chang Ye flexing on his fellow disciple while blatantly propositioning his Shizun. Multitasking at its finest!

I’ve read everyone’s lovely comments *waves* and I’m +1 Huanhan too!