Chapter 117: Innocent and Pure Lele
Mo Cunzhi had always been a man of few words, and after what had happened, he became even more silent.
However, even with his mind in turmoil, he still carried the head and corpse of the Old Demon Dansha to the Linzhou Immortal Market to claim the reward.
This man seemed to have responsibility etched into his very bones.
At the very least, the Mo Cunzhi who had not yet had his temperament drastically altered by demonic energy remained an incredibly responsible man.
Responsibility was a good thing. Yu Le’s mind had already come up with several ways to make him even more “responsible.”
Mo Cunzhi had spent many years slaying demons, so the market steward knew him well. As usual, the steward offered a few flattering words and handed over the spirit stones for the bounty on the Old Demon Dansha.
He then asked where Mo Cunzhi planned to go next to exterminate more demons, offering to recommend a few locations.
Mo Cunzhi shook his head, indicating that he would not be taking on any more bounties.
The steward was somewhat surprised, as this Senior Mo was the most relentless cultivator he had ever seen.
In the past, he would always make several trips back and forth, slaying multiple demons, and wouldn’t leave until he was battered and bruised.
But this time, seeing that a handsome young man was following him, the steward began to understand.
It was probably because Mo Cunzhi was bringing along a junior or fellow disciple to broaden their experience, so he couldn’t act as freely as before.
Why a junior or fellow disciple? The steward had seen countless people with his sharp eyes, and for a cultivator like Senior Mo, who was solely focused on training, the only people who could appear by his side were naturally of such status.
As the steward pondered this, he suddenly noticed that Senior Mo handed the bag of spirit stones he had just received to the young man beside him.
“If you want to buy something, feel free.”
The steward thought to himself: Who would’ve thought that Senior Mo, who seemed so strict, was actually quite doting toward juniors.
The young man accepted the spirit stones without hesitation, glanced at them, and boldly said, “I do want to buy something. Is there more?”
The steward was momentarily stunned. The young man’s attitude didn’t seem like how one would treat a senior, not even like how one would treat an elder brother.
The normally silent and reserved Mo Cunzhi didn’t say a word but simply took out his own storage pouch and handed everything to him.
After the two left, the steward was still clicking his tongue in wonder, unable to figure out the exact nature of their relationship.
A mature female cultivator standing nearby, handing in her own task, chuckled and said, “What’s so strange about it? Those two are clearly a pair of dual cultivation partners.”
Her every move exuded charm and elegance, making it hard not to feel a natural affection toward her.
The steward, who was quite familiar with her, immediately retorted, “That’s impossible!”
“In this matter, Old Du, you haven’t seen as much as I have. The flow of energy between those two was harmonious, and even their scents blended together as they walked side by side. It’s clear they recently engaged in dual cultivation.”
The female cultivator continued confidently, “Besides, didn’t you notice the love marks still visible beneath the young man’s collar?”
Since this female cultivator practiced the Dao of Pleasure, the steward was half-convinced by her words. “Alright, alright, I won’t argue with you. In any case, it’s none of our business, so we should stop talking about it to avoid unnecessary trouble.”
*
As Yu Le followed Mo Cunzhi out of the market, he heard him say, “Let’s hurry back to Wuyue Mountain.”
Yu Le couldn’t help but respect this senior brother, who had no experience in such matters. So eager to return to the Wuyue Immortal Sect, fearing that others might fail to notice what had occurred between them.
All his self-blame made him oblivious to how obvious their situation already appeared to others.
Feeling a bit magnanimous, Yu Le stopped him. “Senior Brother, are you tired?”
Suddenly being shown concern by his junior brother, Mo Cunzhi didn’t look at him, gripping his sword tightly and staring at the distant rooftops. His voice was tense. “I’m not tired.”
Yu Le responded, “But I am. I haven’t rested yet. The place we were at wasn’t convenient, so I only had time for a brief clean-up. I need a proper bath, fresh clothes, and a good sleep.”
These words made Mo Cunzhi lower his gaze, finally realizing how inappropriate it was to rush back to the sect at this moment.
“…My apologies. Let’s return to the inn from before.”
Yu Le interrupted, “Senior Brother, I can’t walk any further. How about we stay at this inn right here?”
The manager at the previous inn knew his senior brother, and Yu Le had no desire to endure teasing or gossip. Surely, his senior brother would want to avoid such things even more.
He was truly thoughtful.
After entering the inn, Yu Le went to wash up and rest. Mo Cunzhi, however, didn’t follow him into the room. Instead, he sat in the main hall of the inn with his sword, his eyes downcast, lost in thought.
Though he was only in the Void Returning stage, his presence was imposing. Even sitting in a dim corner, his dark figure drew people’s attention.
What’s more, he had a flawlessly handsome face, and the air around him exuded an enigmatic allure.
Everyone passing through the inn couldn’t help but steal a glance at him.
Yet, he remained unmoved by the world around him, sitting upright like a statue.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside. A beautiful woman, accompanied by a young man with a vacant smile, walked into the inn’s main hall.
“Manager Hou, I’m not here to cause trouble today, but I’ve been away for half a month, and my brother has fallen victim to foul play, reduced to this sorry state. The culprit is staying in this very inn. I must seek justice for my brother!”
The manager tried to calm her down with a few words, but the woman, known as Xiao Niang, continued, “I have my ways of tracking the person. What’s more, my brother was seen arm in arm with that individual, many people witnessed it. He even invited that person to stay at our home, and the servants in the courtyard saw it with their own eyes.”
“They say the culprit is a disciple of the Wuyue Immortal Sect, dressed in a pale blue brocade robe and wearing a silver phoenix crown…”
Hearing this, Mo Cunzhi, who had been sitting quietly in the corner of the hall, lifted his head, his sharp gaze locking onto Xiao Niang at the center of the room. His eyes then shifted to the young man she was holding.
Upon closer inspection, Mo Cunzhi’s expression grew even colder.
Xiao Niang was still speaking, “Call that person down to confront me, and the truth will come out!”
Suddenly, a flash of sword light flew toward her. Xiao Niang was forced to release He Ni from her grip and quickly spun around to evade the attack. “Who dares!” she shouted.
Mo Cunzhi approached, sword in hand, and the onlookers quickly moved aside, recognizing the depth of his cultivation.
Xiao Niang’s brows furrowed in anger, but when she saw Mo Cunzhi’s face and figure, her eyes couldn’t help but reveal a hint of admiration, even a subtle desire.
However, Mo Cunzhi’s cold words shattered her wandering thoughts. He said, “A demonic cultivator—what’s wrong with slaying them?”
“This man harbors demonic energy, so he must be a demonic cultivator. And you…” His piercing gaze landed on Xiao Niang, sharp enough to see through her disguise.
Xiao Niang nearly gasped in shock. How had this man instantly detected the demonic energy within He Ni?
She was a notable figure in the demonic sects and knew master craftsmen and alchemists who had given her techniques to hide her demonic energy. For years, she had mingled among immortal cultivators without anyone seeing through her.
Naturally, her “brother,” He Ni, had been disguised as well.
Xiao Niang had even drained the life force of a Void Returning cultivator before without her identity being revealed.
Carefully observing the man before her, she noted that he was an immortal cultivator, though his otherwise harmonious aura carried a faintly obscure quality. Something about him felt off, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
Mo Cunzhi raised his sword, quickly declaring, “You’re also a demonic cultivator.”
He had an inexplicable intuition when it came to demonic cultivators.
Xiao Niang retorted, “I’m Xiao Niang from Dujiang Fang, and I’ve lived here for decades. Everyone around knows me. Are you going to slander me with just one baseless accusation? Or are you in league with the one who harmed my brother, trying to protect him by falsely accusing me?”
Mo Cunzhi ignored her excuses. His sword was already aimed at Xiao Niang, who immediately summoned a spiritual tool to defend herself, shouting, “Are you trying to silence me by killing me?!”
She cast a pleading glance at the surrounding cultivators. “Please, help me!”
Immediately, several of them, outraged at Mo Cunzhi’s apparent attack on an innocent woman, stepped forward to assist her.
Xiao Niang watched in frustration as one by one, the people trying to help her were easily knocked aside by the man in black. She silently cursed them as useless fools, unable to provide any real assistance.
By now, she was beginning to regret provoking such a murderous opponent.
Her cultivation had reached the Spirit Refining stage, but she was not skilled in direct combat, preferring to rely on her powers of seduction. In the territory of the immortals, she dared not reveal her demonic energy, which made fighting even more difficult.
She had considered fleeing, but the man in black had blocked all her escape routes, forcing her to face him.
This man fought with deadly precision, showing that he was a ruthless and determined opponent. If she didn’t use her full strength, she feared she would die here.
Her spiritual tool was instantly filled with demonic energy, momentarily blocking Mo Cunzhi’s sword attack.
The spectators, who had intended to assist, gasped in shock.
“Demonic energy!”
“She really is a demonic cultivator!”
Mo Cunzhi paid no attention to their reactions, fully focused on killing the demonic cultivator before him.
A surge of crimson demonic energy erupted from Xiao Niang, causing the surrounding cultivators to fall into a state of confusion and madness. Taking advantage of the chaos, she fled.
Mo Cunzhi remained unaffected, dispersing the demonic energy as he prepared to give chase. Just then, a voice called out, “Senior Brother?”
He paused and looked up to see his junior brother, Yu Le, leaning against the upstairs railing, gazing down.
Yu Le had changed into white robes, his long hair still slightly damp as if he had just bathed. His face held a look of mild confusion, unaware of what had transpired.
Mo Cunzhi hesitated for a moment, and by the time he resumed his pursuit of Xiao Niang, she had already disappeared without a trace, causing him to frown.
“What happened here?” Yu Le descended the stairs, pretending not to know.
In her hasty escape, Xiao Niang had left He Ni behind, who lay on the ground, still laughing foolishly.
Mo Cunzhi asked, “Have you seen this man before?”
Yu Le replied, “I have. I crippled him.”
Mo Cunzhi frowned. “You discovered he was a demonic cultivator. Why didn’t you kill him? Why spare his life?”
Yu Le’s expression remained innocent and pure as he said, “I don’t like killing people.”
He had deliberately used the methods of an immortal cultivator to deal with He Ni, leaving such obvious clues and even keeping the items on He Ni’s body, all in the hopes of luring Xiao Niang out. His plan was to use her to gather information about the demonic cultivators.
Who would have thought that when she finally appeared, she was nearly killed by his senior brother?
Mo Cunzhi recalled that his junior brother, Yu Le, had mostly spent his time training at the Wuyue Immortal Sect, where the battles were likely limited to sparring. He probably wasn’t yet accustomed to the harshness of real-world combat.
“Next time, don’t be so soft-hearted,” Mo Cunzhi warned, and with a swift strike of sword energy, he finished off He Ni.
Remembering the demonic cultivator who had escaped, he grew concerned about potential revenge and added, “Stay close to me.”
“Alright, but I need to go buy some things. Will Senior Brother follow me around for that too?”
“What are you going to buy?”
Yu Le responded casually, “Nothing much, just a spirit beast. I promised Senior Sister Shuang I’d gift her a blue fox. I want to see if the spirit beast market here has a suitable one.”
Mo Cunzhi remained silent, staring at his junior brother’s face for a long time before finally replying in a soft, low voice, “Why do you need to mock me like this?”
Yu Le feigned exaggerated surprise. “How am I mocking Senior Brother?”
“You harbor feelings for Junior Sister and resent me for what I’ve done to you,” Mo Cunzhi said.
Yu Le studied his expression, tapping his fingers lightly behind his back, finding this quite amusing. He replied, “Senior Brother seems to only consider my feelings, without paying any attention to your own.”
After all, it was Mo Cunzhi who had feelings for Senior Sister.
Mo Cunzhi remained silent.
Yu Le smiled knowingly and then sighed. “Though I do have affection for Senior Sister, I know well that her heart is set on the Dao. There’s no possibility between us. I merely wish to be kind to her.”
Though he spoke casually, Mo Cunzhi’s expression became more conflicted as he listened.
Yu Le, deliberately provoking him, asked, “Will Senior Brother still accompany me?”
“Yes,” Mo Cunzhi answered. Despite his inner turmoil, he would never let his junior brother wander off alone, especially when there was danger nearby.
Yu Le wasn’t surprised and gave a casual “oh” in response. Then, leaning closer to Mo Cunzhi, he whispered, “Senior Brother, why don’t you go freshen up? Hasn’t anyone told you that there’s a rather distinct… smell about you?”
The way he emphasized those few words was so blunt that even Mo Cunzhi, usually unflappable, couldn’t handle it.
Seeing Mo Cunzhi freeze, Yu Le took a step back and, with an understanding tone, said, “Go ahead, Senior Brother, I’ll wait for you here.”
However, the moment Mo Cunzhi went upstairs, the one who promised to wait for him left the inn straight away.
Yu Le didn’t head to any spirit beast market; instead, he wandered alone by the riverside.
Sensing something from the demon core within him, Yu Le stopped and looked toward a large willow tree by the river.
“Xiao Niang, would you care to come out and have a chat?”
