A Demon's Path Volume 1 Chapter 17

Early the next morning, Sect Master Luo of the Sunny Spring Sect arrived at the Northern Jade Sect with Li Yuanhuan. Wang Batian's face hung low from shame, he didn't dare look his Master in the eyes.

A bitter expression overshadowed all other emotions on Luo Shang's face. He didn't exchange any pleasantries. "Yeah, yeah. I understand. Let's go home."

The disciples of the Northern Jade Sect silently watched on as their overnight guests left the premises. Just as they approached the gate, Ling Xiao suddenly smiled and shouted out, "Sect Master Luo, where's the 20% of the profit you agreed to give us? Don't tell me you haven't sold my Crimson Blood Pills yet."

Even a blind person could tell that Luo Shang was in an extremely foul mood. Yet Ling Xiao actually dared to bring this poisonous matter up. Luo Shang's temper was no secret. So when his disciples heard Ling Xiao's brazen words, they instinctively took a step back as a single thought ran through their minds, This brat has guts!

As expected, Luo Shang's body slightly trembled and a surge of powerful green soulforce charged straight at Ling Xiao.

Ling Xiao instinctually wanted to dodge. But even if he was a genius, it was impossible for him to withstand the pressuring might of a Chain Soul Master several realms higher than he was!

The instant Ling Xiao was about to be hit, a green sphere of soulforce floated in front of him, offsetting Luo Shang's attack into a gentle breeze. Ling Xiao felt relieved he wasn't killed here on the spot, but more than anything he felt his hatred toward Sect Master Luo Shang soar.

Luo Shang didn't even turn his head around as he coldly asked, "Cheng Qiantai, you're just going to indulge in your disciple's wanton behaviour?"

Cheng Qiantai snorted and said, "Even if this boy lacks etiquette, you can't attack him out of spite. You're his Elder! But more importantly, it's not up to anyone but me to discipline my disciples."

Ling Xiao laughed sarcastically. "Sect Master Luo, we can forget about those gems you owe us. Keep them, for all I care! But no, just reneging on your promises wasn't enough for you, you just had to take the next step and lower yourself to attacking a disciple. You're so righteous!"

Luo Shang clenched his fists in anger. "I'm not in a good mood today, brat. You dare to speak to me like that? Just remember your Master can't always protect you!"

It was a naked and unbridled threat.

Cheng Qiantai had an ashen look on his face as he swung his sleeve. "I wish you well on your journey, Sect Master Luo. I won't be sending you off."

Luo Shang didn't bother to retaliate as he led Wang Batian and his other disciples away. Wang Batian turned his head around and glanced at Ling Xiao and Li Yuanhuan. His eyes bore a hint of gratitude and guilt.

Li Yuanhuan nodded, indicating that he understood. Ling Xiao, however, had an indifferent look on his face, feigning ignorance.

When the group from the Sunny Spring Sect reached the foot of the mountain, a malevolent look was strewn across Luo Shang's face. "Batian, why were you exchanging flirting glances with the disciples from the Northern Jade Sect?"

Wang Batian respectfully bowed and said, "Master, they saved my life."

"Worthless bastard!" Luo Shang loudly cursed him. "Have you not learned anything from me? The weak are prey to the strong in the world of Chain Soul Masters! There's only benefiting off of others! There's no such thing as camaraderie!"

Wang Batian didn't dare to contradict his Master, so all he could do was to carefully agree with him. "Yes, Master. Your disciple understands his mistake."

Luo Shang harshly exhaled twice and crudely said, "Batian, you're my prime disciple and a candidate to succeed my role as the Sect Master. If you are too benevolent, there will come a day where the Sunny Spring Sect will become as bulliable as the Northern Jade Sect! Train your younger brother well when we return. Strive to overwhelm the Northern Jade Sect in the newcomers tournament. That way, our chances of receiving their disciples after they're forced to close their doors will further increase."

Wang Batian suddenly thought of Ling Xiao when his Master brought up the newcomers tournament, along with those mysterious eyes he couldn't read. He couldn't help but feel a chill rise in his heart.

…

Ling Xiao and the other disciples from the Northern Jade Sect were training diligently as the Sunken Wind Valley's newcomers tournament fast approached. Cheng Yu was even more diligent than anyone else as she practiced the Northern Jade Sect's sword technique— the Northern Jade Celestial Strike—all day long. Even Ling Xiao couldn't help but admire her perseverance.

"I really don't understand why Senior Sister is so driven," Ling Xiao ruefully said.

Li Yuanhuan faintly smiled. "Master remarried because he always wanted a boy to inherit the sect. Junior Sister is indignant about this and wants to show she's just as qualified as any guy."

Ling Xiao thought about it for a moment and found it rather amusing. Girls would always be girls, no matter what. Why should there be a need to compare themselves with guys? His Master was also something else. Why did he insist on having a boy? Wouldn't everything be fine if Senior Sister got married to Senior Brother and in turn have him succeed the Northern Jade Sect?

Even a blind man could tell Senior Brother had a special look in his eyes when he glanced at Senior Sister. There was something there called tenderness. However, Ling Xiao worried that his Senior Sister was perhaps too young to know of the beauty that was love.

Normally, Senior Sister would have a standoffish look on her face. She didn't have an especially pleasant expression toward her considerate Senior Brother, or anyone for that matter.

Even if that was the case, Ling Xiao really couldn't bear to watch her treat everything so seriously. "I say, Senior Brother, is there anything we can do to help Senior Sister?"

Li Yuanhuan shook his head. "There's no point. Other than the things Master teaches her, she won't accept help from anyone else."

"She really is as stubborn as a mule. Forget it. Everything will be fine if I do my best and exert a little more strength when the time comes. Killing and fighting really doesn't suit a girl," Ling Xiao muttered under his breath.

Cheng Qiantai didn't say anything, but Li Yuanhuan had already told Ling Xiao the importance of the newcomers tournament.

In Ling Xiao's words, the newcomers tournament was like a bunch of young ladies from the Floating Red Courtyard wanting to take people's money, yet pretending to be pure and innocent.

Frankly speaking, it was where the big fishes ate the small. The powerless could only become food for the strong.

If not a single disciple from the Northern Jade Sect entered the top 10 in this year's newcomers tournament, all the disciples had to merge with other sects. Cheng Qiantai on the other hand, would be demoted and become an Elder-in-name in the Sunken Wind Valley.

This was the rule of the game.

"Aaahhhhhh…" Ling Xiao stretched and extended his body a few times. "Senior Brother, let's go to Northern Jade City and have a drink!"

Li Yuanhuan frowned. "Master forbids his disciples to go down the mountain and disturb the citizens. He also forbids his disciples to drink and visit prostitutes."

Ling Xiao was startled. He didn't know there were such rules. And he was even looking forward to have some women from the Floating Red Courtyard entertain him. But how did Senior Brother know he was going to visit them?

In Ling Xiao's mind, there was no difference between visiting prostitutes and having women entertain him. If the patrons of the brothel weren't thinking of doing that, it would make better sense for him to go to a restaurant to drink alcohol. Why would he need to spend an exuberant amount of money to frequent a brothel if it wasn't for that?

After all, the only reason a man drank wine was to become tipsy, drunk even.

You're stopping me from going? In that case, I'll pretend I don't know anything and sneak out later! Once he thought of wine, Ling Xiao recalled how he stole the offerings laid out in front of graves when he was still a kid. He'd drunk wine like it was tea the first time around and was wasted the whole night long.

Since then, he was enchanted by it. That kind of drunken hazy state, seemingly throwing all worries to the back of his mind, felt really good.

He'd immersed himself in his cultivation ever since joining the Northern Jade Sect and now that only 10 or so days were left until the newcomers tournament, he thought he couldn't improve much even if he cultivated some more. It was better for him to relax his mind and soul.

He normally watched other people frequent brothels. Now that he was wealthy, he thought it would be nice if he went and acted as an arrogant master for once. He'd go to the Floating Red Courtyard and look for Miss Zi Yun, the most popular hostess there. He'd listen to her play the lute, sing a little tune, and if it was possible for something special to happen…

I wonder what my first time will be like! I can't wait!

Ling Xiao had the vile thoughts that ran amok in every man's head, drool almost trickling down from the corner of his lips.

"Junior Brother Ling, what are you thinking about?" Li Yuanhuan looked at the absent-minded look on Ling Xiao's face and asked out of concern.

Ling Xiao mischievously laughed. "It's nothing. I'm just a little tired today and am going back to rest. You don't need to call me for dinner. I want to sleep all night."

Li Yuanhuan nodded, still feeling a hint of worry for his Junior Brother. "Alright."

After Ling Xiao got rid of Li Yuanhuan, he disappeared from the sect like a wisp of smoke and headed straight for Northern Jade City.

The sun set in the west, signaling nightfall. Ling Xiao who acted like a grown man appeared in front of the Floating Red Courtyard. When the female brothel keeper who had an inch thick layer of blusher caked on her face saw him, she almost didn't recognise him. "You, t-this… Aren't you Brother Elegant who sold medicine to us?"

The female brothel keeper dedicated the name Brother Elegant to Ling Xiao.

Where she used the name to jeer at him before, her face now showed utter surprise.

Ling Xiao's appearance was still the same as before, but his physique and aura had undergone life altering changes.

How would the female brothel keeper dare to ridicule him when he looked like a sage?

The wealthy were masters in this kind of place, even if you were previously a beggar.

Ling Xiao felt pleased with himself as he threw an orange gem at her. "This is for you. I want Miss Zi Yun to accompany me tonight!"

The female brothel keeper broke out in smiles as she held the weighty orange gem in her hand. Following which, she spoke in a very mysterious manner, "Brother Elegant, we have a special event tonight. If you're still interested in Miss Zi Yun afterwards, I'll arrange for her to accompany you. How about that?"

Ling Xiao blinked as he looked at the expression on the female brothel keeper's face. It screamed she was feverently recommending her products. He nodded and said, "Fine. As you wish."

Joy was plastered across the female brothel keeper's face. The wrinkles on her forehead even caused the white foundation to fall off. "Alright, please take a seat in the Plum Blossom Booth. The main show is about to take the stage!"

Ling Xiao couldn't be bothered with the female brothel keeper who was pretending to be mysterious and headed straight to the private room on the third floor.

The Floating Red Courtyard was a circular building. The stage in the very center could be seen from every booth.

Once Ling Xiao sat down, he picked a wine jug up and downed it in one gulp. "Ah, such good wine! I've never drank such good wine in my life!"

A fragrance lingered on his lips and teeth after drinking the wine. Ling Xiao naturally understood that this was a distinctive trait of good wine after being accustomed to its cheap counterpart.

He was just about to call for a servant to get a few more jugs when he heard a clamorous wave of whistles and screeches. After which, someone holding a voice amplifying tuba could be heard bellowing, "Dear guests, please settle down! The grandest moment in the history of the Floating Red Courtyard, the highlight of tonight's event, is about to take the stage!"

Chapter end