Chapter 126: What Lele Wants
The atmosphere in Liexing City had recently grown tense.
As disguised demonic cultivators were gradually discovered during the Sword Tournament, the cultivators began conducting citywide inspections to guard against any major movements from the Demonic Path.
In hidden corners, they found several corpses of immortal cultivators who had been persecuted by demonic cultivators. These victims were young swordsmanship talents and disciples from prestigious sects.
This discovery enraged the masses.
Due to Mo Cunzhi’s sharp sensitivity to demonic cultivators and his extensive experience in eliminating them, he took charge of the Sword Tournament and uncovered many demonic cultivators trying to blend in.
From these demonic cultivators, the immortal cultivators learned their true intent.
It turned out to be a hunting competition.
The Demonic Path had now split into five nations and one palace.
The five nations referred to the territories controlled by five demon clans within the Nine Desires Realm, while the palace was the Demon Palace, located in the largest demon city, Ye Yuan, ruled by the most powerful demonic cultivator.
They were constantly vying for dominance, each seeking to establish a new leader.
This time, the demonic cultivators had been dispatched to the Sword Tournament to hunt promising young immortal cultivators as a test of strength to see which faction had the most powerful followers.
Many sword cultivators no longer participated in the tournament, opting instead to scour the city for demonic cultivators. This led to frequent clashes, further heightening the tension.
The immortal cultivators were anxious and angry, while the demonic cultivators hiding in Liexing City grew increasingly uneasy.
In recent days, aside from the immortal cultivators openly searching for demonic cultivators, there was also a hidden force quietly hunting them down.
Several prominent figures in the Demonic Path had sent their trusted subordinates to the city—each of these powerful demonic cultivators in the Xuandan Realm was a well-known figure in the demonic world.
However, in recent days, the demonic cultivators following orders had gradually gone missing. The only information that could be gleaned came from their blood slaves, whose lives were tied to them—it was clear that these missing cultivators were in grave danger.
The Immortal Path, if they had killed these demonic heads, would have long announced it publicly. The fact that everything remained so quiet suggested that someone else was responsible for the deaths of the demonic cultivators.
In a secret gathering place of demonic cultivators, a group of Tongqiao and Mohe Realm cultivators anxiously questioned a man seated at the head.
“Young Master Yugou, what should we do now?”
Su Yugou toyed with the fan in his hand, speaking indifferently, “What else can we do? Hide, of course. Wait for the heat to die down, then hurry back.”
“But, the task the Sovereign entrusted to us…”
“Hah, Blood Demon, Ghost Lord, Black Scorpion, and Gu Jiu all died without any explanation. I don’t want to be the next one.” Su Yugou lazily replied.
With him saying this, the demonic cultivators below dared not say anything more. There was no such thing as unity or collective vengeance in the Demonic Path, and no one had any intention of avenging the dead.
If they weren’t afraid of being punished by the Sovereign, they would have long fled back to the demonic world.
After sending the others away, Su Yugou returned to his residence, where a beautiful woman with a bright smile greeted him.
Su Yugou raised an eyebrow. “Why is Xiao Niang here? Has our gluttonous new Sovereign taken a fancy to another demon core? If he keeps devouring them like this, soon it’ll just be the two of us left.”
“Rest assured, Young Master Yugou. The Sovereign said that now, with two Nine Tribulations realm cultivators coming out of seclusion to protect Liexing City, it’s not convenient to cause any more disturbances.”
Xiao Niang nestled closer, “This time, I came because the Sovereign has given me other orders…”
No matter how gentle and obedient Xiao Niang seemed, Su Yugou remained completely indifferent.
This woman had a heart as venomous as a snake. She could act all affectionate in front of him, only to turn around and lure him to his death.
Had he not acted quickly and pledged loyalty to the new Sovereign, he’d be nothing but dust and bones, just like those other guys.
He was also fortunate that the mysterious new Sovereign took a liking to his lazy attitude and accepted his surrender.
After several interactions, Su Yugou found the young-looking Sovereign’s temperament increasingly difficult to figure out, and his cultivation was deep and unfathomable, making people curious about his true origins.
Xiao Niang teased, “Is Young Master Yugou still upset that I tricked you? I had no choice. Now that we both serve the new Sovereign, I certainly wouldn’t harm you anymore.”
“Alright, enough idle chatter. The Sovereign wants us to head to Shang Mountain in advance…”
*
This year’s Sword Tournament, overshadowed by the demonic cultivators, wasn’t particularly lively, but it concluded smoothly.
After it ended, some sword cultivators stayed behind to continue studying the remnants of the ancient divine sword, while others, like the disciples from various sects, hurried back to their sects.
The disciples of the Wuyue Immortal Sect also prepared to return to their mountain.
However, Mo Cunzhi’s friend, Xie Ji, came to seek help.
“Brother Mo, I truly had no other option, which is why I shamelessly came to ask for your assistance.”
“My Xie family… is harboring a demonic cultivator.”
A few months earlier, Xie Ji had accidentally discovered traces of demonic energy in his family home, immediately becoming suspicious.
He hadn’t told anyone, instead secretly placing a tracking formation, which confirmed that a demonic cultivator had indeed been living within the Xie family estate.
Xie Ji, who loathed demonic cultivators more than anything, could not tolerate such an offense and vowed to expose the audacious demonic cultivator.
He set up a Demon Entrapment Array throughout the courtyard, but after months passed, he had found nothing.
He even considered the possibility that the demonic cultivator had left, but his hidden tracking formation still occasionally sensed demonic energy.
Not wanting to alert the enemy, Xie Ji had investigated the traces several times but failed to catch anyone, growing even more furious with each attempt.
Thus, he sought out his friend Mo Cunzhi, hoping to use his sharp senses to capture the demonic cultivator hiding in his home.
Faced with his friend’s plea, Mo Cunzhi agreed.
It was merely a trip to the Xie family in Shang Mountain, and his junior brothers and sisters were capable enough to return to the sect on their own without issue.
The only thing that made him hesitate was his junior brother.
“Do you want to come with me to the Xie family in Shang Mountain?” Mo Cunzhi asked Yu Le that night.
Yu Le, wrapped in his blanket and looking drowsy, replied, “No, I’ll go back to the sect with Senior Sister Shuang and the others.”
Mo Cunzhi remained silent for a moment before saying, “Alright, but if anything happens, don’t force yourself. Be sure to tell Junior Brother Meng and let him check on you.”
Yu Le gave a perfunctory response, “I know.”
Mo Cunzhi could never fully understand his junior brother. Sometimes, Yu Le acted extremely clingy, as if he couldn’t bear to be apart from him for even a moment. Other times, he seemed completely indifferent.
Perhaps young people were just that unpredictable.
“The reward for taking first place in the Sword Tournament, the Sword Comprehension Stone, is yours,” Mo Cunzhi said, handing over the stone.
Yu Le played with it for a moment. This kind of item would be incredibly valuable to a sword-focused cultivator, but to him, it was just a pretty stone, not much different from the one he had casually bought before.
Since his senior brother had gifted it to him, Yu Le asked, “Do you really have to go to the Xie family in Shang Mountain?”
“I already gave my word,” Mo Cunzhi replied.
And once he had made a promise, there was no going back.
Well, that couldn’t be helped, Yu Le thought.
He hooked his finger into Mo Cunzhi’s collar and casually tossed the Sword Comprehension Stone down the front of his robes.
Mo Cunzhi frowned. “You don’t want it?”
Yu Le’s sweet smile was so innocent and considerate, the perfect image of a thoughtful junior brother. “This Sword Comprehension Stone is much more useful to you, Senior Brother. How could I take it? It’s definitely better for you!”
Mo Cunzhi asked, “Then is there anything you want?”
Yu Le hooked his finger in Mo Cunzhi’s collar again, peeking inside, and reached in to retrieve the stone he had just thrown in.
“Let me think… I want…” He stretched out the word, casually giving a playful squeeze.
Mo Cunzhi immediately grabbed Yu Le’s wandering hand, just as he heard him laugh and say, “I want you, Senior Brother.”
Mo Cunzhi turned his head away. “…Nonsense.”
…
The next day, Mo Cunzhi left with Xie Ji for the Xie family in Shang Mountain, while Bai Feishuang and Meng Qing led the others back to the sect.
Just as they were about to depart, Yu Le, standing beside Bai Feishuang, suddenly said, “I thought it over. I’ll go to Shang Mountain with Senior Brother instead. I’ve never been there before.”
Bai Feishuang looked knowingly at her junior brother. “You quarreled with Senior Brother before and refused to go, and now you’ve changed your mind?”
Yu Le grumbled half-jokingly, “I didn’t argue with Senior Brother, I was just teasing him.”
Bai Feishuang could tell that the relationship between the senior and junior brothers was improving.
“Go ahead,” she said. “Senior Brother just left. You can still catch up.”
Yu Le smiled brightly and hurried off after Xie Ji and Mo Cunzhi. However, he didn’t walk alongside them, instead keeping his distance and following from afar.
*
Xie Ji, having known Mo Cunzhi for many years and being a keen observer, noticed a slight distraction beneath Mo Cunzhi’s typically cold demeanor.
“Brother Mo, what’s bothering you? You seem a bit unsettled.”
“…Nothing, I’m just a little concerned about my junior brother.”
Xie Ji recalled something. “Isn’t your junior brother in poor health? No wonder you’re worried.”
He sighed with concern. “I sympathize. My younger brother, Xie Xun, is frail as well. I’ve spent years searching for all kinds of spiritual medicines, but nothing can cure him.”
He continued with a heavy heart, “When I’m gone, I don’t know who will be able to take care of him.”
Mo Cunzhi, not one for many words, simply said, “If anything happens, you can come to me.”
Xie Ji smiled gratefully. “Having a friend like you is truly a blessing.”
The Xie family in Shang Mountain was a large clan. Although not as powerful as a sect like the Wuyue Immortal Sect, they were a formidable presence in the Shang Mountain region.
Their ancestral estate was grand and ornate, with countless interconnected courtyards.
Xie Ji was the direct heir of the main family and was highly valued. His residence was the finest, with abundant spiritual energy and beautiful scenery.
The courtyard he used to host his friend was located near his own living quarters.
“I’ve secretly set up a demon-confining formation. This area is all within its bounds, so there shouldn’t be a problem. However, the Xie family estate is vast, and there are many people. I fear the demonic cultivator might be hiding among my relatives,” Xie Ji said.
As Mo Cunzhi listened to Xie Ji speak, he felt a suffocating tightness in his chest. Even the long-dormant voice of his “heart demon” resurfaced in his mind, causing him a splitting headache.
However, he had long grown accustomed to this torment, and his expression remained unchanged. Xie Ji did not notice anything unusual.
“I’ve often told you I wanted to introduce you to my younger brother, but you’ve always declined my invitations to stay. Since Xun’s health is poor, he can’t travel far, but this time, you’ll finally get to meet him. I’ll have him come and pay his respects.”
Xie Ji, for once, was in a good mood. He believed that with his friend’s help, the hidden demonic cultivator in his household would be uncovered, putting his mind at ease.
Xie Xun had spent most of his time recovering in the courtyard his brother had arranged for him, rarely going out or meeting people.
He liked peace and quiet, and there were few attendants around him.
When he received the message that his brother wanted him to meet a guest, Xie Xun took one maidservant with him to the reception hall.
As he neared the entrance, he saw his brother’s attendant waiting by the door and asked, “Who is this esteemed guest that has made my brother so happy and even asked me to pay my respects?”
The attendant replied, “It’s Mo Cunzhi, the first disciple of the Wuyue Immortal Sect’s master, and he just took first place at the Sword Tournament in Zhongzhou!”
Xie Xun stopped in his tracks and turned to cough twice.
The maid by his side promptly stepped forward to support him. Xie Xun discreetly pressed her hand and said, “I’m feeling a bit cold, Qi Ling. Please go back and fetch a cloak for me.”
The maid, dressed in her usual attire, responded with a quick “yes” and hurriedly turned away to fetch the cloak.
Xie Xun glanced at her departing figure before walking into the reception hall alone.
“Xun, this is the Brother Mo I’ve often spoken of. He is my close confidant and friend, and thus, your brother as well,” Xie Ji introduced his friend and younger brother to one another.
Xie Xun, pale-faced yet with striking features, carried himself with a gentle and courteous demeanor.
However, his health was truly poor. After only speaking a few words, he was overcome by a fit of coughing, forcing him to excuse himself with an apologetic expression before departing.
Xie Ji turned to Mo Cunzhi and asked, “What do you think of my younger brother? Though he’s physically weak, he has an excellent temperament.”
Mo Cunzhi responded, “It seems he’s somewhat avoiding me.”
Xie Ji laughed and replied, “That must be because of your overwhelming presence. With the aura of a killer like yours, what young disciple wouldn’t be a little afraid of you?”
