A Demon's Path Volume 1 Chapter 20

Ling Xiao held Tang Yingying's tiny hand as they ran back to the sect. They didn't get far before Li Yuanhuan caught them red-handed after returning from investigating the scene.

"Junior Brother Ling, why are you here?" Li Yuanhuan was clearly surprised to run into Ling Xiao, not to mention finding him covered in wounds.

Why would his Junior Brother be running towards the sect at this hour of the day, and with a girl no less?!

"Senior Brother, I apologise. Please, don't tell Master I snuck out for a drink," Ling Xiao quickly begged.

Li Yuanhuan's thick eyebrows crinkled in disapproval. "Your injuries, the girl…"

When she felt Li Yuanhuan's burning gaze on her, Tang Yingying hid behind Ling Xiao in fear and dug her fingers into his arm.

Ling Xiao quickly patted Tang Yingying's hand, reassuring her everything was alright. Only then did she feel a little at ease. However, her eyes still held apprehension as she looked at Li Yuanhuan. It was in the middle of the night, so neither Li Yuanhuan nor Ling Xiao noticed it.

Ling Xiao rolled his eyes and quickly explained, "I ran into a demonic mouse on the way back. It wanted to eat this girl who'd lost her way. I got injured protecting her, but I killed the evil mouse!"

"Rubbish!" Li Yuanhuan was seething with rage. "Don't you know Master has spent his blood, sweat, and tears on you? If something happens to you, what do you think will become of our Northern Jade Sect?"

"Don't be mean to Big Brother Xiao!" Tang Yingying suddenly roared, her sleek eyebrows curving inwards. She glared at Li Yuanhuan. "Big Brother saved me. Big Brother is a good person! Why are you being mean to him?"

Both of them were startled this time around. Ling Xiao especially so having only seen the girl cowering in fear. He couldn't fathom how terrifying Li Yuanhuan looked to the little girl for her to choose to fight, instead of flight.

Since that monster Li Yuanhuan dared to be mean to her saint Ling Xiao, Tang Yingying naturally bravely stepped forward. She was ready to fight for justice!

Ling Xiao was touched by Tang Yingying's sudden act of bravery. He wanted to take her in his arms and hold her close to him. Big Brother Xiao didn't dote on you for nothing!

Li Yuanhuan helplessly sighed. "Alright, let's head back to the sect. We'll continue there."

Ling Xiao nodded and the trio returned to the Northern Jade Sect together, stealthily heading to the Medicine Warehouse.

"Senior Brother, you mustn't let Master know of what transpired tonight. I only have a few small flesh wounds. I'll be in top condition before we head over to the Sunken Wind Valley. You can rest assured. Please, don't tell anyone I'm hiding the girl in the Medicine Warehouse. That's all you have to do!"

Although Li Yuanhuan was an upstanding man, he was no fool. He didn't know the girl's background. Moreover, he faintly discerned an aura that wasn't quite human. It was clear as day to him that hiding her from Master wasn't the right way to go about it.

But since Ling Xiao was begging him for a favour, Li Yuanhuan decided to compromise. "You must guarantee this girl never leaves the Medicine Warehouse. If she does, I will have no choice but to report to Master."

Ling Xiao quickly assumed an oath-taking pose. "Senior Brother, I can use my soul to take an oath. Before sending her off, I won't let her leave the Medicine Warehouse."

Ling Xiao dared to swear on his soul because he didn't want Yingying to run out of the Medicine Warehouse either. In fact, if Tang Yingying decided to disobey him and leave the Medicine Warehouse, he wouldn't bother with her anymore.

After the poison oath Ancestor Qi Mo forced him to take, a simple one like this meant nothing to him. Besides, he never mentioned the punishment for violating the terms. Only an honest person like Li Yuanhuan would fall for Ling Xiao's tricks. "Alright. Junior Brother, you should see to your injuries. I'll be doing my nightly rounds now."

"Take care, Senior Brother." After seeing Li Yuanhuan off, Ling Xiao finally relaxed.

"No one usually frequents this place other than me. But if you hear someone approaching, hide in that pile of medicinal herbs over there. Understand? Big Brother Xiao will send you home when I can," Ling Xiao instructed Tang Yingying in a very serious manner.

The little girl was speechless, but nodded firmly with all her might to show she understood.

Ling Xiao couldn’t help but want to pinch her fair cheeks. This girl was simply too cute. However, he quickly disregarded these thoughts for fear that she might take it the wrong way. Ling Xiao usually never cared whether his actions would be considered good or bad, so this was a rare occasion for him to want to don the demeanour of a gentleman.

After Ling Xiao returned to his house, he suddenly realised that he'd actually forgotten to look for Zi Yun for a pleasant evening. Here I thought I could get things done tonight! I didn't get to do anything in the end! he thought with a sigh.

Ling Xiao had every chance to touch Tang Yingying, but whenever her incomparably pure eyes flashed across his mind he felt despicable, shameless, and filthy!

When he recalled the price he paid for the little girl, Ling Xiao felt his heart ache. She was worth the price to him, no doubt about it. But the fact remained, the one who profited most was the female brothel keeper who could put even more of his money in her back pocket. How could he be content with this outcome?

Ling Xiao muttered, "Humph, forget it. I, your father, am rich now. I'll get back at you, woman!"

The first day passed peacefully. Ling Xiao didn't go anywhere. He hid in the Medicine Warehouse, talking to Tang Yingying about their lives and dreams.

Tang Yingying told Ling Xiao she was a small demonic beast originating from Demonic Pack Island in the Eastern Sea. She'd ran away from the island one day because she wanted to have some fun, but a Celestial Soul Master caught her and sold her to the female brothel keeper from the Floating Red Courtyard.

As a result, Tang Yingying had a sense of fear and hatred toward Celestial Soul Masters. This was also why Tang Yingying didn't really like Li Yuanhuan when she saw him.

The girl was really a simpleton, her view on life straightforward. Although Ling Xiao was a Celestial Soul Master, she treated him as family. Tang Yingying followed a simple principle: Whoever treated her kindly would be like family to her! No matter their origin, they were people deserving of her love and respect.

Another day passed peacefully for the two of them.

On the third day, Ling Xiao was about to look for Tang Yingying when Li Yuanhuan appeared before him with a helpless look on his face. "Let's go, Master has summoned you."

Judging from the grave look on Li Yuanhuan's face and the blank tone of his voice, Ling Xiao understood there was no pleasant news today.

Ling Xiao followed Li Yuanhuan into the grand hall. Here, he was met with all disciples of the Northern Jade Sect, just like the first time he came to this place when he had just been admitted to the sect.

Ling Xiao felt the solemn atmosphere in the grand hall, the serious expressions plastered on the faces of those present. There was only a single exception. A bloke called Xiao Zhang who stood next to Cheng Qiantai looked at him with disdain.

Ling Xiao looked at those complacent, arrogant eyes that were telling him he was screwed.

Cheng Qiantai calmly watched Ling Xiao walk up to him. But although his demeanor didn't reveal his worry, his voice did. "Ling Xiao, Xiao Zhang claims you indulged in the land where the willows blossom at night. He says you even bought a demonic beast. Is this true?"

Ling Xiao knew from the start he was far too well known in Northern Jade City to cover this matter up. However, he didn't fret. Since he knew of his status in the city, he had amply prepared for when his transaction of Tang Yingying came out. Even if the entire world accused him of buying her, his Master would stand by his side.

Ling Xiao stayed calm as he kneeled on the floor to pay his respects to Cheng Qiantai with uttermost sincerity. "Master, you favour me too much. Xiao'er is terrified of the jealousy sprouting in my fellow disciples' hearts. If Master really believes these accusations, Xiao'er has nothing to say about it. Please Master, take back everything you've given to me."

When he paid his respects, Ling Xiao showed his sincerity by smashing his head to the ground with a little extra force, causing skull hitting stone sounds to echo through the grand hall. His acting skills didn't stop there as he also forced a face of snivel and tears as he uttered those words.

As everyone watched his dramatic performance, they couldn't help but wonder if this new disciple wasn't going a little overboard.

Cheng Yu looked down on Ling Xiao's behaviour like she always did. "You're a man. What's there to cry about? Pathetic!"

Cheng Qiantai's expression slightly relaxed and as it did, worry sprouted in Xiao Zhang's. "Master, everyone knows he bought that demonic beast!" he hurriedly argued.

Cheng Qiantai let out a heavy cough. "Ling Xiao, do you have anything to say for yourself?"

Ling Xiao was waiting for these words. Once Cheng Qiantai gave him permission to speak, he immediately stood up and shot a cold smile at Xiao Zhang. "Senior Brother Xiao, you said I bought a demonic beast. Did you see it with your own eyes?"

Xiao Zhang was speechless for a moment. "No…?"

Alarm bells started ringing in his head, but he quickly cast them to the back of his mind. That's not right. With so many witnesses, what does it matter whether I saw it? Why should I worry about you lying?

Xiao Zhang aggressively shouted out, "Plenty of citizens saw you!"

Ling Xiao coldly laughed. "Don't tell me you're taking the word of worthless scum who have nothing better to do than to frequent cheap brothels."

As Ling Xiao called them scum visiting cheap brothels, he comforted himself with a simple excuse. I only went once, I'm not like them.

Ling Xiao didn't know why but after he met Tang Yingying, he felt that he was profoundly sinful and started paying attention to his image.

"Every rumour is based on a foundation of truth. If it weren't for you buying a demonic beast, why would the citizens be gossiping about it?"

Without any better options presented to him, Ling Xiao helplessly spread his hands out and asked, "Alright, Senior Brother Xiao. How much did I pay for her?"

Hearing Ling Xiao admit to his deeds, Xiao Zhang wore a proud look as he said, "400 yellow gems!"

Once these words left his lips, even Xiao Zhang himself thought it was a little ridiculous. Wait, could Ling Xiao really afford 400 yellow gems? That's almost a year's worth of protection fees for the Northern Jade Sect. When his thoughts reached this point, Xiao Zhang knew he couldn't deal with the aftermath this time around. He looked at Cheng Qiantai in fear. "Master, I-"

"Humph!" Cheng Qiantai had a furious look on his face. "Xiao Zhang, Master trusted you to deal with the Northern Jade Sect's affairs in Northern Jade City. But you actually can't do the most basic thing of differentiating between genuine and fake news. You framed your comrade, tarnishing his fair reputation. What is left of our reputation if other sects learn of this? I'll penalise you by stripping you of 3 months of salary. If there's a next time, I'll destroy your cultivation and drive you out of my sect!"

"Yes, Master. This disciple is aware of his mistake." Xiao Zhang was drenched in cold sweat. He subconsciously used his sleeve to wipe his forehead.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a cold, fleeting smile perched on Ling Xiao's lips. It caught him by surprise and he couldn't help but shiver. The sensation resembling that of a demon watching his every move spontaneously arose in his heart. This won't do! I have to get him kicked out! I'll die if he doesn't!

Chapter end