HEART PROTECTION: CHAPTER 55
Follow Tian Yao to demon cultivation?
Yan Hui lightly looked at Tian Yao upon hearing those words. She treated it all as nonsense. Ever since she was brought to Chen Xing Mountain by Ling Xiao ten years ago, she cultivated the xian way. She, to her bones,was xian. If she were to cultivate the demon path, wouldn't that be the same as breaking her bones apart and flushing her system out to the point of near death just to start the demon cultivation.......
How much suffering would she have to endure? Only the insane would switch halfway to start cultivating with Tian Yao.
Yan Hui immediately pursed her lips and tossed the thought to the back of her mind.
Within the a few days, the news of Qing Qiu's declaration of war had spread throughout the entirety of the Central Plains.
Every single xian sect was shocked and stunned. They weren't surprised about Zhenren Su Ying killing a nine-tailed fox demon princess without batting an eyelid. Rather, they were surprised that Qing Qiu, upon discovering this news, without delay declared war and threw the entire world into battle.
All the xian sects were in turmoil. Some of the elders wanted Chen Xing Mountain's Zhenren Qing Guang to take charge of the situation. However, Zhenren Qing Guang had been in seclusion for several months. Even Chen Xing Mountain's own people haven't see him. The xian sects lacked a leader.
On the other hand, there was Zhenren Su Ying of the Guang Han Sect, who with her arrogant words, caused a war with Qing Qiu.
In a short moment, there was a knife edge hostility between the xian sects and the demon clans.
The town Yan Hui was staying in was still a little ways from Qing Qiu. But after two days, xian cultivators using the Propelling Sword technique could cover triple that distance. Yan Hui thought about it. She feared she wouldn't be able to stay in this little town much longer. By the time night fell, Yan Hui had it all planned out. She intended to find Tian Yao and talk it out. If Tian Yao wanted to find his body parts to fight with Su Ying, then that was fine. But if it was to help the demon clans fight the Central Plains, then she had better separate from Tian Yao, the sooner the better.
They were of different cultivation. In the end, she couldn't be part of his scheme.
Before she opened the door, Yan Hui heard the sounds of a quiet disagreement coming from outside the door. The was Qing Qiu's crown prince, Zhu Li, arguing again with his old servant outside.
"........look at the situation. If you still don't go back, by the end of tonight it won't be easy to leave that way, Your Highness!"
"I told her I would wait three days."
"Ah! Heavens! You little devil! If she wanted to leave, she would've left with you by now! What are you dilly-dallying for! Stop throwing a tantrum and obediently come back with this old servant please!"
There a long pause before Zhu Li uttered: "We leave tomorrow."
Still so stubborn. Yan Hui sighed and yanked the door open. She looked right at Zhu Li and said: "Go back tonight. There's no use waiting until tomorrow."
Zhu Li's mouth opened and closed. In the end he only gritted his teeth together. He finally seemed a little childish in that moment: "In any case, I'm still going to wait for you until tomorrow before going."
Yan Hui saw he was starting to double down. She knew people with that kind of temper couldn't be swayed. Thus, she ignored Zhu Li and knocked on Tian Yao's door. She called out: "Let's go down to eat. I need to talk with you."
Tian Yao was meditating in his room to regulate his inner breath. There wasn't much for him to do here. Thus, when Yan Hui called, he came out.
The moment he stepped out, Tian Yao sensed a burning gaze directed at him off to the side. With a side glance, he saw Zhu Li starting at him. Zhu Li's expression was somewhat filled with jealously, but mostly it was a clear "I'm not happy" face.
Tian Yao glanced at Zhu Li then slightly smiled. It was the kind of slight smirk that seemed like it saw through everything. It made a small fire light up in Zhu Li's chest.
Yan Hui was immersed in her own thoughts while going downstairs. She didn't see the confrontation between the two behind her. She simply sat at the table in the corner and stared at Tian Yao.
Tian Yao mildly looked back at Yan Hui. It seemed like he had grown accustomed to her various moods and didn't find it strange. He glanced at the menu in his hand and casually said:
"After getting back my dragon horns, I've been meditating these days to regulate my inner breath. I faintly sensed my aura coming from the southwest direction. Although I don't know where my body parts were scattered, I still think we need to investigate."
Tian Yao said those words so casually that Yan Hui took a few moments to react. What she was going to originally going to talk out flew out of her mind. She was focused on correcting him:
"I don't recall agreeing to help you find your other body parts. Where did you get the nerve to so confidently order me around?"
Tian Yao looked askance at Yan Hui's words: "Mm, your Propelling Sword won't carry me. Food and lodging also won't be done for me......." He looked down at the menu and slipped in a question, "Want to eat sweet and sour pork?"
"Ya." Yan Hui was stunned by her response. She slapped down the menu. "I'm having a serious conversation with you! If you want to find your parts, then do it yourself. In any case, I'm not going."
"We're parting ways." Tian Yao spoke first.
"We're parting ways......" Yan Hui didn't even finish her speaking before Tian Yao said what she was going to say. She looked at Tian Yao. It felt like this demon clearly felt out her temperament: responds to coaxing but not force, sharp-tongued but soft-hearted......There was nothing he didn't know.
He was able to grasp her temperament, her innate nature, her weak points. Yan Hui felt her resistance was like a fist punching into a cotton bag; there was no strength.
With that thought, suddenly a fiendish fire flamed in Yan Hui's mind. She slapped the table and leapt to her feet: "I'm leaving right this instant!"
"Yan Hui?
It was a female's voice from off to the side. It sounded like it carried the weight of many years of memories. Yan Hui slightly stiffened. She turned her head to look.
A party of 10 people. They wore familiar clothes, carried the familiar double-edged swords unique to Chen Xing Mountain. Altogether, it was the familiar xian cultivator outfit standing at the entrance of the lobby. Three people lead the group. When Yan Hui looked at them, she felt a headache coming.
One of them she met earlier in Yong Zhou City, Zi Chen. The second one she roomed with for 10 years and filled with grudges, Senior Disciple Zi Yue. The third one was.......
Ling Fei.
That's right, when Yan Hui met Zi Chen, she did mention she was there to do a mission with Ling Fei. At that time, Zi Chen strayed from his course, but after being cast away by Yan Hui, he naturally went back to find Ling Fei.
Great.
Now both bumped into her together......
Fuck.
Yan Hui could only inwardly curse.
The person who called out just now was precisely Senior Disciple Zi Yue. Yan Hui still clearly remembered right before she left Chen Xing Mountain, she had pressed Zi Yue against the wall and terrorized her. It looked like Zi Yue hadn't forgotten that incident. As Zi Yue looked at Yan Hui, her shapely eyebrows were distorted, her voice shrill, and her face filled with resentment.
Sigh.......
Yan Hui could only sigh. Although she often had disputes with Zi Yue and the occasional fight while she was still at Chen Xing Mountain, it was nothing like what happened the day Yan Hui left where she frightened Zi Yue to tears. Yan Hui admitted her actions that day were pretty astounding, but.......
How the fuck was she supposed to know they would meet again!
Yan Hui wasn't good at dealing with these "We meet again after so long" type of situations. She took one look and started to think of way to get out of this place.
Yan Hui wanted to avoid it, but the others didn't want avoidance.
Ling Fei raised an eyebrow when she saw Yan Hui: "It's you." Her words slightly dragged out, revealing her discontent.
Yan Hui felt like that tone was from someone who was annoyed at losing their child --- very annoyed.
Yan Hui's headache started to get worse. Tian Yao tranquilly asked a question: "Still want to eat sweet and sour pork?"
Yan Hui looked over. Tian Yao had the same expression as earlier. It hadn't changed a single bit. It was as if he wasn't affected by the current atmosphere surrounding them. In that moment, Yan Hui also felt like why should she be nervous? Why should she feel awkward? It was just a minor matter, nothing as serious as life or death. And they weren't trying to steal her purse......
"Bring it upstairs to eat." replied Yan Hui. Tian Yao nodded and called over the servant who was standing off the the side. The servant was slightly scared silly by the situation. Tian Yao calmly ordered a few dishes and instructed them to be brought upstairs. He got up and circled around to Yan Hui's side, helping to block her from the sight of the 10 peoples' intimidating gaze.
He looked down at her: "Go up?"
Tian Yao's body blocked the light coming in from the doorway. In his shadow, Yan Hui felt a sense of peace she rarely felt with people......
The last time this happened was a long time ago. It was Ling Xiao who gave her that type of feeling.
It let her feel safe. It let her feel serene.
When did this start.......the very first time they met, Tian Yao was a malnourished, silent and gloomy youth. Now he had already grown this tall.
Yan Hui let out an, "Oh".
She was just about to take a step when a cold jian slashed in front of them. "Stop." Zi Yue blocked their path; her face was grave.
Those that look for trouble always end up finding Yan Hui. She sighed, modulated her mood, and said not submissively, "What's the matter?"
Zi Yue's manner was arrogant: "Although you've been expelled from Chen Xing Mountain, you were still once one of us. Your every move still affects Chen Xing Mountain's reputation. The latest rumors in the jianghu say you've been very close with the demons. So much so that you even released the evil fox demons in Yong Zhou City. Do you know how much that has smeared our sect? How much trouble that has brought to Shifu?"
They fought with each other for so many years. Now meeting again several months after leaving, Yan Hui still had no choice but to concede this Senior Disciple of hers still hadn't learned anything.
Yan Hui looked at Zi Yue and smiled: "Oh, then you guys deal with it. I'm busy."
Zi Yue was shocked to get such a mischievous smile in response. When she saw Yan Hui was about to leave again, her anger flared up. "Halt!"
"What else is there?" Those words weren't spoken by Yan Hui but asked by Tian Yao. It surprised Yan Hui a little that Tian Yao spoke up. She turned to look at him, but he wasn't referring to her. Tian Yao was looking at Zi Yue with an imposing manner. It scared Zi Yue to the point of choking on her own words.
Yan Hui realized even if Tian Yao lost his magic and cultivation, his eyes still held the weight of time. His anger was enough to kill.
These people from Chen Xing Mountain had dealt with demons before. Yet there were so scared they didn't dare approach Tian Yao.
Zi Yue slightly backed up a step. She didn't speak, but an icily arrogant voice cut in from the side: "Not as simple as it looks. You left for only a few months but already found a helper."
Ling Fei's lips curved into a mocking smile.
Zi Chen's eyebrows furrowed at the sight. He quietly said to Ling Fei: "Master, we have urgent business."
Ling Fei raised her hand, blocking Zi Chen: "The way I see it, this is the most urgent business." Ling Fei took two steps forward. She stood in front of Yan Hui, but didn't look at her. Ling Fei only looked toward Tian Yao. "What an imposing attitude, yet you have no aura. If it were said you, distinguished stranger, are an ordinary person, who would believe that? Why don't you enlighten this party to your identity? Who has our banished disciple been consorting with with after leaving?"
Yan Hui grew solemn when the topic was brought up.
Tian Yao's identity was undoubtedly the most taboo of all taboos. His identity couldn't be known be anyone before finding all his body parts.
Yan Hui turned, practically subconsciously blocking Tian Yao's body.
Tian Yao's eyes slightly widened, and he couldn't help slightly smiling.
Just earlier she said she was going to leave. With her like this, could she really leave now........
Hypocrite.
"Hm." Ling Fei couldn't help laughing at what Yan Hui did. "This is interesting. I simply wished to know his identity. Yan Hui, why are you frightened?" Ling Fei's gaze suddenly grew cold. "Could it be this person's identity cannot be divulged? Could it be a demon or a heretic?"
When Ling Fei said those words, the ten disciples behind her all placed their hands on their sword hilts. The situation became hostile.
Yan Hui looked at them out of the corner of her eye. Some of them looked familiar. All were upper disciples of Chen Xing Mountain. Their magic cultivation wouldn't be weaker than Zi Chen's and Zi Yue's. And Ling Fei was here. Yan Hui was only one person, and with Tian Yao to protect.......she wouldn't be able to get away.
Although Yan Hui was internally worried, she opened her mouth and laughed: "Ling Fei, who in Chen Xing Mountain doesn't know about our conflicting views. If you want to smear my image, then do it boldly. My husband has unusually great looks and bearing. You're eyeing him so much; if I don't protect him, then d I just stand back and let you take him?"
Upon hearing the words "My husband", everyone present became silent. Zi Chen frowned at Yan Hui.
But when Tian Yao heard that words "Ling Fei", he immediately looked at Ling Fei with a subtle gaze. His murderous intent grew, and his expression became even chillier.
Ling Fei coldly laughed: "Husband? You've really mixed with the demon trash after leaving the mountain. You've become even more brazen."
Zi Yue chimed in from behind Ling Fei: "A husband one month after leaving? Yan Hui, do you want Shifu's heart to feel disgusted? Did you really think no one in Chen Xing Mountain would know?"
When she said those words, all the other disciples looked at each other in dismay. Yan Hui's gaze became cold. Zi Chen loudly reprimanded: "Zi Yue!"
Bu Zi Yue didn't want to stop: "Will ten years of thoughts just disappear one day? You're just making up excuses for that demon right next to you! Ptu! You've really degraded yourself!" Zi Yue hatefully continued, "If your parents were still alive, they would definitely blame you for being a good-for-nothing!"
Zi Chen severely scolded her: "Zi Yue! Stop saying nonsense!"
Yan Hui's eyes held a deep chill: "If your parents were still alive, they would definitely reteach you how to conduct yourself in society." She hadn't even finished speaking when her figure flickered. In less than a blink of an eye, Yan Hui flickered in front of Zi Yue. No one else in the room had time to react.
Zi Yue was stunned. She had took a step back when she felt her dagger being pulled out of its sheath by Yan Hui. Zi Yue cried out in alarm. In the next moment, her jaw had been gripped tight and pulled further down. No matter how much Zi Yue tried, she couldn't close her mouth.
Zi Yue saw Yan Hui's eerie gaze pinning her down. Yan Hui said: "Your tongue causes damage to your virtuous image. How about I help you get rid of it?"
Zi Yue was so scared her rosy complexion grew pale. The dagger in Yan Hui's hand started to come down.
Zi Chen yelled out Yan Hui's name, but she didn't react. When the tip of the dagger reached Zi Yue's mouth, a force suddenly came from the side and slapped Yan Hui away. Yan Hui spun around, once again in front of Tian Yao.
The dagger in her hand was already bloodstained. The edge had cut Zi Yue's lip. It also stabbed her tongue but didn't cut it off.
Blood flowed out of Zi Yue's mouth. She brought her hand to her mouth and then lowered it to see her palm filled with blood. In that moment, Zi Yue was so scared so thought Yan Hui had really cut off her tongue. Zi Yue screamed twice and fainted on the spot.
Yan Hui's face was dark. She fiercely look at Ling Fei: "Who else dares to stop me?!"
Her aura immediately flared up like fiendish fires of the Underworld.