A Demon's Path Chapter 62

It wasn't just Shen Nanfeng. Even Cheng Qiantai and Cheng Yu were curious about Ling Xiao's foresight.

With Shen Nanfeng asking the question, there was no way out for Ling Xiao. He had to answer. Not that it mattered. He had intended to explain the situation from the start; otherwise, it would be difficult for the Northern Jade Sect to escape suspicion.

Ling Xiao sorted out his thoughts. He slowly spoke, "We'll have to start from where we were ambushed in the valley. That was the first time I started thinking the enemy knew us a little too well. If there weren't any insiders, it'd be impossible for them know our itinerary."

"The Demonic Soul Masters had to seize the perfect opportunity to ambush both sects unnoticed. There was only one explanation for such precise execution: there's a traitor amongst us."

Ling Xiao's reasoning was very simple; a simpleton would come up with the same hypothesis if they gave it some thought. However, those present couldn't help but admire him when they heard the steps he'd taken next. "After their ambush failed, I reckoned someone would undoubtedly return to take care of the aftermath. I summoned a celestial soul with my Heroic Soul and left it hiding in a corner-"

"Wait!" Shen Nanfeng suddenly interrupted Ling Xiao. "You're only a red ranked Celestial Soul Master. How could those green ranked Demonic Soul Masters and Luo Shang fail to detect your presence?"

Shen Nanfeng managed to pinpoint the hole in Ling Xiao's story. In reality, he'd used his demonic soul. But since Ling Xiao dared to tell fibs, he had the skill to back his lies up. "I'm sure Valley Master remembers what the Castellan of Heavenly River City said outside Northern Jade City. I withstood his mental attack, so naturally I could avoid their mental detection."

When Ling Xiao brought up this name, Shen Nanfeng snorted. "Continue."

Ling Xiao rubbed his nose. "I never expected that Sect Master Luo Shang of the Sunny Spring Sect would actually be the one colluding with Demonic Soul Masters. They noticed me when I revealed my aura after losing my focus for just a moment out of shock. Thankfully, the wheels in my brain worked fast enough and I fled just in time. I sustained minor injuries but managed to protect my small life."

The members of the Northern Jade Sect recalled Ling Xiao had spat out blood not long after leaving the valley. As it turned out, he'd sustained injuries as a result of discovering this conspiracy!

Shen Nanfeng was engrossed in listening to Ling Xiao's explanation and realised he was starting to view Ling Xiao in a different light. "What happened next?"

"Next we arrived at the Moon River Sect," Ling Xiao continued. "Their disciples were waiting to receive us outside the city gates. It was already dark out then. This could mean only one thing, they were waiting for us. He who is unaccountably solicitous is most definitely hiding evil intentions. On top of that, the sect was over lavishly decorated and their disciples enjoyed an extravagant lifestyle. So much so that it clearly went against everything we Celestial Soul Masters stand for, and have always stood for."

Even though Celestial Soul Masters weren't frugal, they definitely opposed wasting money. This was an unwritten consensus.

"Such an ostentatious sect. Just where did they get their money from?" Ling Xiao continued his analysis. "Either they exploited the masses, or… they received benefits from the demonic sect."

Ling Xiao didn't have a shred of evidence to back up his claims. Everything was based on his personal assumptions, but everyone readily accepted his theory. No one would care how much dirt Ling Xiao threw at the Moon River Sect. They were the scum colluding with Demonic Soul Masters, after all. The worse he depicted them, the better!

Ling Xiao carefully observed the expressions of all those listening to him. After realising no one held suspicion to his words, he spoke, "Everyone has seen the events that transpired at the Moon River Sect, I need not say more of it. A few days later we arrived at Sunken Wind City. Qian Hai had been attempting to court Senior Sister throughout the journey, and still was despite everything that happened."

Cheng Yu's face started burning red when Ling Xiao spoke of this. She vehemently stared at Ling Xiao, the glint in her eyes revealing her intent of gobbling him up.

Ling Xiao kept his eyes firmly away from hers as he said, "Qian Gui was on Luo Shang's side at first, but he was desperate to get together with our Northern Jade Sect when they ran into us along the way toward Sunken Wind City. He used Qian Hai to seduce my Senior Sister as though he was in a rush to find a partner to put his mind at ease. This indicated something big was about to happen. You Songxi from the Moon RIver Sect kept trying to rope us into going against Valley Master. I linked the two together and concluded that the major event they were going to engage in was definitely rebelling against Valley Master."

Ling Xiao left You Songxi's words hanging there for no particular reason. His deduction held no substance to them. The main point was he'd previously built up the foundation, so the listeners would find his deduction rather impressive.

Ling Xiao continued his monologue, "Only when I reached the Sunken Wind Valley did I realise that the Northern Jade Sect and Everlasting Pool Sect were the only ones who had sustained heavy losses. The other sects seemed to be perfectly intact. This gave rise to another problem…"

Ling Xiao paused and realised many people had stretched their necks out in anticipation to his next words. He couldn't help but feel mildly pleased with himself. "Why did the demonic sect ambush us and us alone? That's impossible. But then why were the other sects alright? Only one brave conjecture could answer my queries."

"Either these sects were colluding with the demonic sect or they'd been forced to set foot on the pirate's ship. For example, they could've been threatened or had established something like a soul oath or the sorts."

Ling Xiao looked at Big Zhu and Little Zhu. "I admire these two brothers a lot and don't wish for them to die a violent death. So, I told them to inform their father he mustn't try to rebel against Valley Master at all costs. My speculations were confirmed seeing their father's reaction. They'd been threatened."

"Their father made his sons follow me. He never wished to rebel, and this proves it." Ling Xiao increased the volume of his voice. "As such, Ling Xiao boldly and earnestly requests for Valley Master to leave Sect Master Zhu's body intact."

"Fine, fine, fine. Respectable Nephew Ling Xiao's heart is bright and clear. Sect Master Cheng, your Northern Jade Sect is really fortunate to have such a disciple! Haha!" Shen Nanfeng didn't gloss over the praises he gave Ling Xiao. He even addressed him as his Respectable Nephew!

Gifted with such an exceptional mind, Ling Xiao naturally wouldn't do something unsensible like openly rejecting Shen Nanfeng's good intentions. But he clearly held some sort of leverage over Shen Nanfeng, or he wouldn't dare make such a request without fearing Shen Nanfeng's fury.

However, Shen Nanfeng didn't bother thinking about what Ling Xiao was relying on for the moment. "Continue. You haven't finished yet," he said in an amicable manner.

Ling Xiao playfully chuckled. "What I'm about to say next is merely my own conjecture. Please, do not blame me if I'm wrong."

Ling Xiao didn't seem to particularly care for Shen Nanfeng's answer as he continued without waiting for a reply. "The reason I asked Sect Master Zhu not to go against Valley Master is because you were well prepared, even going so far as to deploy your grandaunt. This only served to illustrate your impending victory."

Ling Xiao snuck a glance at Shen Mingfang who showed a hint of discontentment. She clearly didn't enjoy being called grandaunt. He quickly corrected himself, "Maiden Shen is the number one expert in the Sunken Wind Valley. Valley Master definitely has something up his sleeve if he dared to put her in the spotlight. Only an idiot would put their full power on display."

Everyone rolled their eyes at Ling Xiao. Is he covertly praising himself? The person who was best at concealing his strength this whole time was not Shen Nanfeng, but Ling Xiao.

Ling Xiao didn't care what others thought. His eyes were glued on Shen Mingfang. Only after her angry expression turned into the smallest of a smile, did he continue. "I believe Valley Master was fully aware of what Luo Shang was up to. And so, you invited Maiden Shen out to eradicate the fantasies of rebellion from running amok in their minds. After all, friendship comes first, right?"

Shen Nanfeng unconsciously nodded. Ling Xiao was right. He'd let Shen Mingfang take the stage because he wanted to restrain these restless guys with her reputation and settle the score at an opportune moment. Naturally, the ending wasn't as perfect as Shen Nanfeng had envisioned it to be.

Ling Xiao finally cleared up the last bit of fog clouding the events. "Naturally, Luo Shang wouldn't be that stupid. That was why he didn't show himself for the team battles. Only when problems occurred within the Sunken Wind Valley did Luo Shang brazenly come forth to kill everyone when the brother- oh, no, the bastard who poisoned everyone said he could deal with everything himself."

Shen Nanfeng looked at Ling Xiao pensively. "Do you know what poison that son of a bitch Hua Que administered?"

Ling Xiao shook his head and chuckled mischievously. "That's something Valley Master has to investigate for yourself."

Shen Nanfeng looked at Ling Xiao with a smile that didn't reach the eyes. "This definitely has something to do with you."

Ling Xiao cursed in his heart. Fuck your younger sister! No, your aunt! This is a lack of strictness under your jurisdiction, what the fuck has it got to do with me?

Shen Nanfeng knew Ling Xiao was unconvinced, so he clapped his hands and slowly said, "Bring them out."

Everyone averted their gazes to the duo who were being hauled over. Ling Xiao was shocked. Isn't this the pair I crippled in the second round of the team battles? Their arms seem to have been reattached!

Chapter end