Chapter 13 - If You're Willing, Then Nod
An ordinary-looking young maidservant, a strange young man in a black robe and mask, and a handsome and dashing young master in white clothes.
This strange trio strolled along the street under the night sky. It was as if they were invisible in the crowd, actually not attracting anyone else's attention.
Luo He felt a faint chilly air emanating from Shen Huai; he figured this must be his doing.
At this moment, her (the maidservant's) hands still held various kinds of snacks; walking while looking left and right, her joyful and happy appearance did not seem feigned.
But that the person who yesterday was smilingly planning to eliminate him and Luo Hongyu in one fell swoop would actually appear at a mortal festival today as if nothing had happened—this still made it somewhat difficult for Luo He to comprehend.
Did she come here with some new plan? Or, had she sensed that the Demonic Seed had not been absorbed by Luo Hongyu...
And the young girl at the side had clearly also sensed the bizarre atmosphere between these two, her gaze kept drifting between them.
Suddenly, Shen Huai turned around and smilingly asked the young girl on Luo He's other side:
"This young lady, although your face is unfamiliar, your words and actions are somewhat like an old acquaintance I know... May I venture to ask the young lady's esteemed name?"
"This young lady is not pleased to tell her name to someone she just met."
The young girl frowned, responding coldly.
Shen Huai did not seem surprised by this answer. She cast a glance at Luo He; thinking of how he last night, not hesitating to anger people, had to drag her (the maidservant) out, a playful mood arose in her heart.
"The young lady truly has a good temperament. No wonder you can gain Brother Luo He's favor... Even with the Immortal Ascension Assembly imminent, he still has to come to this mortal world to accompany the young lady to see this worldly spectacle."
"You're the one! The dignified Ghost Sword Young Master is actually so obsessed with the desire for food and drink? This is truly an eye-opener."
Although the young girl didn't understand this Ghost Sword Shen Huai before her, whose identity and behavior were both somewhat bizarre, she considered herself to understand Luo He relatively well.
That fellow has no friends. Moreover, this person was the last one to go on stage and fight Luo He that day; he didn't look like someone they knew from before either.
If it were someone they didn't know, given Luo He's stinking temper, how could he possibly pay attention to them like this, and even focus all his attention on this Shen Huai? They definitely couldn't be friends.
Not friends... then they must be enemies.
The young girl slightly narrowed her eyes.
This person in front of her must be among that group targeting Luo Hongyu. And Luo He came to find her today... her Young Lady's matter was most likely also related to Shen Huai.
Hmph, no wonder he was so anxious and flustered yesterday trying to make my... Young Lady leave; so it was because of this.
Alright, calling him a Little White-Eyed Wolf was a bit much. Considering his attitude today of being relatively honest and obedient, and apologizing to her, she'd forgive him for now.
Since she had already forgiven him, then now she and he were on the same side. She had to help him deal with this thing that was neither male nor female.
"Cultivation is to cultivate longevity. And isn't longevity for the purpose of watching the flowers bloom and fall in this world, all things change while I remain unchanged, to be able to fully enjoy all states of joy and sorrow... For the young lady to criticize me for indulging in the desire for food and drink is quite unreasonable."
"Brother Luo He, wouldn't you say so?"
Under the young girl's cold gaze, which carried a hint of abstraction, Shen Huai used the skewer, which still had a piece of mugwort sweet cake on it, to poke Luo He's mask, beaming with smiles.
"This kind of festival is when Her Ladyship the Sovereign Emperor descends to the mortal world, a joyous day for gods and humans to celebrate together. Brother Luo He, why not temporarily remove this mask, so Her Ladyship the Sovereign Emperor can see you clearly."
"You, Ghost Sword Shen Huai, are considered a cultivator who has seen the world. Can it be that you still believe this talk of ghosts and chaotic spirits?"
"I cultivate the Ghost Path. I have seen His/Her Highness of the Netherworld and tens of millions of ghosts. Naturally, because I have seen much, I can't help but believe some of it."
Facing the young girl's question, Shen Huai withdrew the hand that had been poking Luo He's face and said slowly.
"Others I do not know, but only this Her Ladyship the Sovereign Emperor, ah... is an existence that truly has her position and truly has her name."
Hearing Shen Huai say this, the young girl naturally didn't believe a bit of it.
If that one were truly an immortal who had become a god, would she tolerate someone like you acting outrageously under her very nose?
How ridiculous.
But before the young girl could continue to question, Shen Huai came to a stop and said to the two of them with a smile:
"To meet here by chance is fate. However, seeing you two, a talented man and a beautiful woman, I also know I shouldn't disturb you for too long. Well then, let's part ways here. You two, enjoy yourselves."
After speaking, Shen Huai walked backwards, and it seemed in the blink of an eye, he completely disappeared into the crowd.
Luo He quietly watched him leave, without saying a word.
"Hey, you're not stopping him? He must surely have some kind of leverage on you, right?"
"......"
Luo He actually did want to keep Shen Huai there, but the main problem was... he hadn't made any preparations now, and probably couldn't defeat him.
And looking at her performance, she seemed not to have sensed that the Demonic Seed had been ingested by him, just like a truly simple chance encounter.
But it was still that question; if there wasn't some purpose...
What was she doing appearing at this Water Lord Festival? Surely... she hadn't just come to eat, right?
"...?"
Suddenly, Luo He felt an itch on his wrist.
His heart stirred, and a trace of golden light flashed in his pupils.
A small line of text written with ghostly qi dissipated.
[Dawn the next day, follow this line to find me. Don't bring your little demoness.]
"......"
Luo He casually waved his hand, dispersing this trace of ghostly qi.
And turning back, where was that ordinary-looking young girl from before?
Only Su Huanhuan, with the apricot blossom mark on her forehead, stood there charmingly.
No longer acting?
Facing Luo He's eyes, which spoke in place of his mouth, Su Huanhuan, completely composed, grabbed his wrist.
"Considering you've been somewhat sincere along the way, this young lady has decided to forgive you in advance."
"If you have any trouble now, hurry up and tell me. I'm in a good mood now; I'll solve it for you.”
...
"......"
Inside Su Huanhuan's teahouse, the very top floor was all her rooms.
At this moment, one of her hands was placed on Luo He's back. After a moment, she opened her eyes, her expression complicated.
"Do you really know what the situation inside your body is right now?"
Luo He nodded his head.
"The Demonic Sarira of the former Demonic Lord—our Remnant Moon Sect only managed to obtain three after the Demonic Lord died back then. Such a grand gesture, it definitely couldn't have been for you to use..."
If it wasn't for Luo He to use, then who else could it be for? Su Huanhuan didn't even need to think about the answer to this question.
She really couldn't understand what right Luo Hongyu had.
"For those of you without a foundation in demonic arts, this Demonic Sarira is like ink dripped into clear water. Before long, it will dye your entire being from top to bottom with a demonic nature, and all your pure qi will be lost."
"But, as fate would have it, you also have that malevolent qi... I say, are you raising Gu worms inside your body?"
Although she said so verbally, Su Huanhuan still had her own calculations; this thing inside his body was actually quite convenient for her.
So, Su Huanhuan changed her tone, her way of speaking becoming more tactful.
"I can use our Remnant Moon cultivation method to temporarily curb the Demonic Seed's encroachment on you, but this is only a stopgap measure."
"Back then, the Demonic Lord was slain by a Celestial Immortal. If you want to resolve this Demonic Sarira of his, you either use a True Immortal's Dao Source Imprint to remove it, or... learn our Remnant Moon Sect's demonic arts and slowly refine it."
"If you can successfully refine this Demonic Sarira, it and the malevolent qi in your body will form a mutually reinforcing position. Perhaps it can reverse your fate of having your body ruptured by malevolent qi and facing certain death."
"How about it, want to learn demonic arts with me?"
Su Huanhuan leaned close to Luo He's ear and said softly.
"As for the price, it won't be too light, but it won't be too heavy either. At least, I won't force anything on you."
"If you want to continue staying with Luo Hongyu, then stay; I won't interfere."
Ever since being clearly rejected by Luo He last time, Su Huanhuan understood one thing clearly: this damn mute was stubborn by nature, and it was impossible to reason with him.
If she really wanted to pry him over, she would have to plan it slowly and patiently.
No matter how bad Luo He's reputation was, the righteous path still regarded him as a disciple of the Tianchen Sword Sect.
But if he cultivated demonic arts... hehe, then which side he belonged to would no longer be his own choice.
Those so-called righteous path cultivators falling into demonhood, don't they all come about this way?
And in the end, staying in the Tianchen Sword Sect was also a form of torture for him, wasn't it?
"If you agree, then nod. I will teach you my Remnant Moon heart method; you first practice it to quiet down that Demonic Seed."
"As for the price, we can talk about it later.”