A Demon's Path Chapter 74

Hua Que was a master at using poison, yet it was his demise. This was undoubtedly the highest form of mockery.

The disciples wore expressions of reverence and admiration for Ling Xiao. Thankfully, he was one of them! If not, they might never know how they died if he wanted to kill them.

The guy wearing the grey mask looked at Ling Xiao in astonishment. "Good job, Elder Ling."

A seemingly harmless smile surfaced on Ling Xiao's face. "You flatter me," he said as he retrieved the soul chain from Hua Que's corpse.

Whether it be robbing someone of their life or belongings, Ling Xiao acted so naturally when doing either. He never showed any leniency. Everyone was in a daze as they watched his every move. For goodness sake, you're an Elder! Don't you know how to behave?!

A look of admiration appeared in the eyes of the guy wearing the grey mask. "Elder Ling, it looks like there's nothing I need to do with you by the Young Master's side."

Ling Xiao frowned. The guy addressed Shen Xuan as Young Master instead of Valley Master Jr.. This was reason enough for him to harbour suspicions about their identity. At the very least, they didn't seem to think they were under the Sunken Wind Valley, but rather under Shen Nanfeng.

However, the time and place to consider these matters was not here and now. Ling Xiao put these thoughts to rest. He kicked Hua Que's corpse aside and hopped back onto his Tempest Horse. "Onward!"

…

"Interesting. Very interesting." Some time after Ling Xiao left, the air at the scene of the murder distorted into a blur. Two vague silhouettes appeared from within.

The two silhouettes gradually became clearer, their faces becoming distinct. One of them was Hua Que's Master, the Master of the Blue Moon District. Next to him stood an extremely beautiful and alluring youth. The youth acted with the utmost respect as they humbly bowed their head low.

"Xiao Mo, do you think that boy will rely on our Blue Moon District for help?" The Master of the Blue Moon District spoke with a smile on his face, deepening the dried up wrinkles on his face.

Xiao Mo answered in a soft and delicate voice, "Yes, Master. He will most definitely have to rely on us. There's not a single pill cultivator in this continent who would reject Master's invitation."

The Master of the Blue Moon District's expression suddenly turned cold. "Yet he clearly rejected me just now."

Xiao Mo's heart shuddered before hastily replying, "He rejected Hua Que, not you, Master. You don't need to take it to heart."

The Master of the Blue Moon District was very pleased with Xiao Mo's answer. "Fine. Since you think so too, I'll leave the matter of roping this guy into the Blue Moon District to you."

A puzzled expression formed on Xiao Mo's face. "Master, you will surely be able to capture him if you throw your hat into the ri-"

The Master of the Blue Moon District interrupted Xiao Mo mid-sentence. "There's no need to. Someone placed a seal on him. It'll explode if someone uses force on the boy. It won't do anyone any good by provoking him!"

"Who actually has such capabilities?" Xiao Mo asked in a whisper.

The Master of the Blue Moon District coldly snorted. "Other than that lunatic with the surname Li from Heavenly River City, who else could it be?"

…

Far off in a distant land, a city was hidden within the clouds. Castellan Li Xuanyi of Heavenly River City slowly opened his eyes in the midst of cultivating. A hint of a strange smile appeared on his otherwise cold face. His smile looked somewhat stiff, possibly because this was the first time he'd smiled in a very long time. "Gold will always shine. This young boy is so dazzling wherever he goes. I can't even help him hide even if I wanted to!"

Li Xuanyi suddenly frowned as he was talking to himself, "He really does like holding his grudges. He won't bring bad luck unto me when he's grown up powerful, right?" But the frown was quickly replaced with a bright smile. "I only struck the acupuncture point right above his ear and placed a protective seal on him. Is the boy so petty?"

Li Xuanyi's deranged monologue was for his ears alone. No one else heard him speaking. Only the heavens knew who he was narrating to.

…

"Yeowza!" Ling Xiao sneezed. He rubbed his nose and hatefully said, "Who's the bastard who actually dares to plot against this daddy?!"

Against all expectations, the rest of the journey toward Seadragon City went without so much as a hitch. Even Ling Xiao couldn't help but feel a little bewildered. Where did those demons from the demonic sect who loved to ambush go? Did they return home to give birth or something?

There was good luck in travelling without further mishap too. At long last, the procession safely arrived in Seadragon City. They headed straight for the garrison.

After entering the Castellan Hall, they met with the castellan of Seadragon City. He was a green ranked Strength Celestial Soul Master named Liu Xintang. Ling Xiao had an inexplicable feeling this middle-aged man was a reliable person with the imposing aura he exuded.

"I pay my respects to Valley Master Jr. and Elder Ling," Liu Xintang formally greeted Shen Xuan and Ling Xiao as an underling should.

Shen Xuan chuckled and said, "There's no need for such formalities, Uncle Liu. Your little nephew is in your care."

"How could I dare?" Although Liu Xintang countered, a grudging expression appeared on his face. From the looks of it, the castellan really did think Shen Xuan was imposing on him.

Ling Xiao couldn't be bothered with such pleasantries. He turned to Liu Xintang and got straight to the point. "Castellan Liu, I'm exhausted. Do you have a place for me to sleep?"

Liu Xintang went blank for a moment. It was obvious he never expected Ling Xiao to whine about wanting a place to sleep right after arriving.

The disciples who'd followed Ling Xiao and Shen Xuan to Seadragon City felt Ling Xiao was making a scene. He didn't possess the slightest image of an Elder. It was terribly embarrassing!

Liu Xintang was about to arrange for someone to show Ling Xiao his guestroom when an incomparably despicable voice rang out, catching everyone off guard, "So, the amazing Elder Ling everyone is talking about is nothing special after all."

Liu Xintang frowned and angrily shouted, "Yue'er, you mustn't be rude!"

Ling Xiao didn't seem to mind in the slightest. This small thorn couldn't harm his thick-skin! He looked over to where the voice came from and saw a man in his early twenties looking at him in contempt. A sneer was plastered on his face. It was the Seadragon City's Castellan Jr., Liu Yue.

Liu Yue didn't seem to be afraid of his father. He continued, "The ones who came last time were all small fries. And every time they come, they always make a mess of everything. They're the harbingers of our casualties. Elder Ling, you personally came this time. Do you want to annihilate our city?"

Ling Xiao understood something from the words Liu Yue spoke. In previous years, the newcomers of the Sunken Wind Valley had indeed never suffered much of any casualties. But that was only because the Celestial Soul Masters of Seadragon City had to pay the price instead!

"Castellan Jr., why must you speak of me in this way? What's it got to do with your distinguished self whether I'm like this? The ruckus those small fries caused in the past is on them. What's it got to do with us? Besides, Valley Master Jr. is the Chief Commander. Am I not nothing but an innocent party to your disdain?" After his line of questioning, Ling Xiao stared at Liu Yue with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. He was curious to see if this guy was so insane he'd even scold Shen Xuan too.

Liu Yue squinted at Shen Xuan and continued, "At the very least, you're not intending to sleep right now. Isn't that right, Valley Master Jr.?!"

"So your anger sprouts from the fact I wish to sleep? The flames of Castellan Jr.'s anger are truly overly fierce." Ling Xiao stretched his body. "If you're looking down on me purely based on this, you're nothing special either since you evaluate people based on your first impression of them."

The disciples of the Sunken Wind Valley agreed with Ling Xiao's words. Liu Yue hadn't seen Ling Xiao's abilities with his own eyes, yet he reached such a presumptuous conclusion. He really was nothing special.

"Stand down," Liu Xintang calmly said. "Yue'er, prepare 101 good guest rooms."

"Humph!" Liu Yue flourished his sleeve and unwillingly took his leave.

Ling Xiao looked at this father and son pair. He couldn't help but admire them. Interesting… One is playing the role of villain, the other is playing the role of a strict parent. This father and son pair is really in sync!

The skit of scorning Ling Xiao they acted out a moment ago was nothing more than a conspiracy the duo planned out as a front to warn Shen Xuan. How could they possibly be unaware that Shen Xuan was the Chief Commander of this operative? This was what was known as making hidden allusions and innuendos. Ling Xiao who personally thought he was pitiful and innocent was the target in insinuating Shen Xuan.

Shen Xuan was a deeply shrewd person, so it was only natural he understood the act that was played for him. He gently rolled his eyes and chuckled. "Uncle Liu, I'll leave all the commanding rights to you during this month's demon exterminating operative."

Liu Xintang was happy to take Shen Xuan up on his offer. "Sure! I'll take you all outside first to take a look at the state of affairs in the city. As for those who want to sleep, the guest rooms have been prepared. Don't hesitate to head off to sleep."

Ling Xiao knew Liu Xintang was talking about him. He chuckled and actually ran off to sleep.

A trace of unhappiness appeared on Liu Xintang's face. "Valley Master Jr., didn't you say they're under my command?"

Shen Xuan bitterly smiled. "My father said I can command anyone but Elder Ling. Even though he doesn't have the right to command the troops, he has the right to disregard any and all commands."

Liu Xintang helplessly sighed. "Let's go. We just had a battle with the Demonic Clan a few days ago. I'll let you guys judge for yourselves at what the situation is like."

Chapter end