Chapter 22 - I Am Very Curious
"However, there's still one thing I'm really particularly curious about."
"Logically speaking, you, Young Master Luo, are the person he detests and hates the most."
"I gave him such a good opportunity, yet he, almost without hesitation, chose to turn my own stratagem against me and turn the tables on me, making me waste a lot of time and effort."
"He clearly had better choices before him, why did he still have to do all this for you, sacrifice for you?"
"Why on earth does he treat you like this?"
These words from Huoxin, besides wanting to disturb Luo Hongyu's state of mind, also indeed carried a hint of curiosity.
At this moment, she stood not far away, propping up her chin, wanting to find some clue from Luo Hongyu's expression.
In her imaginings, Luo He not believing her, doubting her, or even plotting against her in return were all within her expectations; yet, he insisted on choosing a path that most resembled a dead end.
Did he have some other backing to rely on, or was the relationship between these people before her and Luo He even more complicated than she had imagined?
This truly was rather unthinkable.
However, what still made her somewhat surprised was, although she was already trying to provoke Luo Hongyu's emotions, she still hadn't sensed any emotional change in Luo Hongyu.
Should one say it's truly worthy of a Sword Heart Clarity that can listen to sword spirits, or that she was truly heartless towards Luo He?
Or perhaps, both?
"You only need to answer me, where is Luo He."
"Speak, and I might spare your life."
Luo Hongyu was unmoved because she knew her most fundamental demand now was to know where Luo He was; only by finding him could she find a way to solve the problems concerning him.
To be led by the nose by this person before her here was not worth it.
"Hehe... Young Master Luo truly lives up to your reputation. This unperturbed demeanor truly befits your title. However, you need not be anxious either; I still have more things to tell you."
Huoxin smiled lightly and continued to speak:
"To tell you the truth, that thing which should have been used on you, but was ingested by Luo He, is called Demonic Sarira. It is a crystallization formed from the resentment qi of the previous generation's Demonic Lord after his death."
"That thing is very interesting. To Righteous Path cultivators like you, it is the most vicious poison."
"It will secretly lurk within your spiritual platform and slowly erode your clarity."
"When the right time comes... Peng, it will be detonated by me."
"Do you know what will happen after it's detonated?”
Luo Hongyu paid no heed to Huoxin's approaching malicious smile; she just quietly looked at her, silently waiting for what came next.
"That Demonic Sarira will swiftly engulf your entire spiritual platform. It will seal your divine sense and pollute your spiritual energy."
"It will taint all the pure wind astral qi that you cultivators painstakingly cultivate with demonic breath, causing a most lofty and noble cultivator to immediately degenerate into a demonic cultivator with billowing demonic qi."
"Then, ah, it still won't be satisfied. It will begin to torture your physical body, and then seal your five senses, making you unable to see clearly or hear clearly."
"You can only, in a state of chaos, meticulously savor the pain of body and mind. The entire process will last for a very long time... By now, it should be about done."
"That Luo He, ah, is probably long gone."
Sensing the unusual movement of the Lu Lan Sword in Luo Hongyu's hand, Huoxin smiled faintly; her goal had been achieved.
Luo Hongyu's expression was no longer as cold and composed as before. Now, her brows carried deep anger; the look in her eyes as she gazed at Huoxin was also tinged with profound killing intent.
But Huoxin, instead of retreating, advanced, completely unconcerned by that naked hostility.
"Moreover, do you know what the most marvelous part is? That is, that little attendant of yours, Luo He, is a very clever, very clever person."
"He was very clear about the terrifying effects of this Demonic Sarira. So when I found him at that time, he directly feigned agreement and swallowed it into his own stomach."
"Because he understood that even if he refused immediately, even if you all were on guard afterwards, I would still use every possible means to make you fall into the trap."
"So he simply decided to keep it in his own body for safekeeping. This was the best and most secure way to handle it for you."
"Anyway, for a Young Master like you, a mere sword attendant—you can have as many as you want, can't you?"
"I'm not afraid of clever people, nor am I afraid of fools. But as fate would have it, I encountered a clever fool..."
Huoxin lightly caressed her chest, assuming an air of sighing.
"Although it was a marvelous affair and a marvelous person, my plan being interrupted still makes me feel it's somewhat a pity..."
The words were not yet finished when sword light followed one after another.
But Gu Jing, who had remained silent at the side all along, blocked Luo Hongyu's furious sword strike, and holding Luo Hongyu's hand, said:
"Young Master, don't be provoked by his words. First, look at your red jade."
"......"
Luo Hongyu touched her waist.
Although the red jade was still dim, it still had some luster and had not completely dissipated.
"The red jade has not yet extinguished. Luo He, he... is not in mortal danger for the time being. This person before you also has doubts in their heart; that's why they are provoking you."
"...I understand."
Red Jade…
Huoxin raised her eyebrows. There's also this kind of thing; it seems my investigation into the details was still not comprehensive enough.
However... this Autumn Maiden Sword Gu Jing seems to also know quite a lot of the inside story... Ah, so that's how it is.
Hehe, not strange.
Huoxin once again had a new angle of approach.
"If you ask me, Young Master Luo, you needn't bother looking for that Luo He anymore. For an existence like yours, when would you ever lack someone by your side to die for you?"
"Or perhaps, does that person hold some other meaning for you?"
"Yes, I've heard you two have been inseparable since childhood. Perhaps it's not just a master-servant relationship; it's no wonder then that you care so much about him."
"So then, Young Master Luo, what exactly is the relationship between you and Luo He? This person Luo He, what exactly does he mean to you?"
"Why on earth does he treat you like this?"
"Have you ever thought about these questions?"
"That has nothing to do with you."
Luo Hongyu pressed her lips together and said coldly.
"I'll ask you one last time, where is Luo He."
The Lu Lan Sword, enveloped in Luo Hongyu's cyan-white sword qi, pointed directly at Huoxin.
"Don't waste any more time; otherwise, I wouldn't mind searching for memories from your remnant soul and trying my luck."
"Hehe... Don't be anxious, Young Master Luo. You've chatted with me for so long; I should naturally repay you somewhat."
Huoxin walked straight towards Luo Hongyu and said softly to her:
"Actually, I also don't know where he is."
After speaking, yin-cold ghost claws materialized in Huoxin's hand, and she fiercely struck towards Luo Hongyu's body.
This keen killing intent was still caught by her. She subconsciously swung her sword to slash, but Huoxin suddenly withdrew her hand and rushed straight towards the Lu Lan Sword's position...
Puchi.
A sudden change occurred unexpectedly; bright red blood splattered on the ground.
The Lu Lan Sword pierced through 'Shen Huai's' chest. Blood bubbles continuously frothed from his mouth, but his face showed no sign of pain or fear.
"Young Master Luo... cough, cough, you, on Star Moon Pavilion's territory, have privately killed someone... You have broken the rules."
"Be it Xiao Yang, or be it I, Shen Huai... Next... things might get a bit troublesome for you, haha."
Traces of ashen death gradually crept into 'Shen Huai's' eyes. Soon, he bled out and had no breath left.
"......"
Luo Hongyu silently pulled out her sword. Looking at the blood on the Lu Lan Sword, she was somewhat lost in thought.