Chapter 8 - Demonic Seed
Shen Huai flipped his hand over, and in his palm appeared a bewitchingly beautiful, yet awe-inspiringly evil, delicate black lotus.
The pure black lotus slowly bloomed from his hand, and along with it, this courtyard also began to exude a somewhat captivatingly sweet and cloying fragrance.
"Rest assured, Brother Luo He, this small courtyard has already been isolated by me. Even if Pavilion Master Lan Yu were to come in person, he would not detect anything unusual."
She smiled faintly. With a gentle nudge, the black lotus slowly landed on the table, spinning quietly.
"This Demonic Seed is formed from the Demonic Sarira of the previous generation's Demonic Lord after his death. In all the world, there are but nine."
"This was originally prepared for Young Master Luo. But unfortunately, ah, because you, Brother Luo He, stood alone against all odds, it was not delivered into Young Master Luo's hands in time, greatly disappointing someone who wished to see Young Master Luo fall into demonhood."
"I came tonight, originally intending to find a way to eliminate you, and then set about dealing with Young Master Luo... But now, I've changed my mind."
Shen Huai flicked his finger, and that black lotus landed in Luo He's hand.
"I was thinking, this Demonic Seed, if Brother Luo He, you personally imprint it onto Young Master Luo... it would surely be a marvelous affair."
"What do you think?"
Beneath Shen Huai's gentle smile was outlined her cold scrutiny and observation.
The matter concerning Luo Wenshui, Luo He, and Luo Hongyu back then... although it was heavily suppressed among the righteous path, in the demonic gates' territory, if a mere True Disciple Su Huanhuan had ways to investigate it, then with some effort, she naturally could too.
If she hadn't figured out what kind of existence the mysterious Luo He truly was, she wouldn't have acted rashly.
However, she hadn't expected that Luo He, who had a po forcibly stripped from him, was actually not a blindly foolish protective puppet driven by Luo Hongyu, but instead still retained a clear self-awareness.
That, then, was very interesting, and also saved a lot of trouble.
Luo Hongyu, the one who restrained him, used him, made him endure endless pain, the person from whom he could not escape, was right by his side...
Now she had given him an opportunity, what did he have to hesitate about?
Shen Huai propped his cheek on one hand, his expression playful.
"That little sister Su Huanhuan said she has a way to help you escape. Considering her level, I suppose it would be nothing more than a crude and barbaric soul-switching technique to strip you out; you would still suffer considerable harm."
"Although the Sha She Art is an unyielding soul-binding evil art that doesn't rest until death, when it encounters me, it's actually not without a solution."
"After the matter is accomplished, she will die, but you will not die... I will also grant you a light and free existence, with your soul intact."
"How about it, Luo He?"
At some unknown time, Shen Huai stood up. Facing the bright moonlight, his figure seemed faint and flickering.
The black robe on his body fluttered. Standing there, he resembled a piece of gleaming black jade.
She wasn't afraid that Luo He wouldn't agree; there would be opportunities later to plant the seed in Luo Hongyu.
It was just that having Luo He do it was more natural, more convenient, and also more interesting.
"...…"
Luo He looked at the black lotus spinning gently in his palm. After a moment of silence, he tucked it into his sleeve.
"Hehe..."
Shen Huai revealed a satisfied smile.
That's right, it should be like this.
She had seen many people who harbored boundless greed and hatred in their hearts but still maintained the facade of the righteous path on the surface; what these people were thinking, she knew better than anyone.
She was very happy to give these people an opportunity.
"I hear Young Master Luo often spars with people. This Demonic Seed, as soon as it touches fresh blood, will follow it into the blood host's body."
"The Demonic Seed can blacken the spiritual platform and engulf the dantian. When the time is right, I can detonate it. The demonic qi of the previous Demonic Lord entering the body and tearing the meridians—even Young Master Luo, with her Sword Heart Clarity, will be powerless to resist."
"At that time, you too can thoroughly enjoy what a spectacular sight it will be when this peerless sword heart collapses."
"However, there's one thing I must remind Brother Luo He..."
That effeminate and endearing tone suddenly plummeted, becoming devoid of any ripples.
"Whether this Demonic Seed has entered a human body or has been hidden away... I can sense it over here."
"Of course, I'm just giving a reminder. Here's to our... pleasant cooperation."
As Shen Huai's final sentence fell, his figure also dissipated, and that faint sense of stillness in the small courtyard quietly vanished.
It was evident that Shen Huai's strength was far greater than what she had displayed during the day, yet she had to use such a troublesome method to plot against Luo Hongyu... There must be some restrictions or concerns.
This also proved that this Demonic Seed was very important, which was why he had unscrupulously driven Su Huanhuan away in such a nearly rude manner, also to figure out Shen Huai's methods.
Blacken the spiritual platform, engulf the dantian, tear the meridians, huh...
Luo He looked at the black lotus in his hand, his expression unchanged.
Truly terrifying.
...
"Why isn't she back yet!"
Inside a pitch-black mansion, unlit for some unknown reason, the exasperated voice of a young man in brocade robes echoed in the dim room, immediately followed by the sound of furniture being smashed.
Today, being blocked by that Luo He, not even getting close to Luo Hongyu was one thing, but that woman actually disappeared with the Demonic Seed without a word?
He, one of the esteemed Three Sons of the Righteous Path, where had he ever been slighted like this... yet he couldn't even act out!
"Th-This lowly one doesn't know, allow this lowly one to go again..."
The subservient servant's voice suddenly stopped, as if his throat had been frozen.
A gentle yet profoundly deep and eerie ghostly qi brushed past his face. A chill instantly gripped his heart; he knew he should leave and hurriedly, with difficulty, took steps to flee the room.
"...Where did you run off to?"
The young man suppressed the hostile energy in his heart and asked her with an unsightly expression.
Who knew that Shen Huai would completely ignore him, pull a chair from the side, and half-recline on it without any care for image, then pick up a bowl of deer milk ice dessert and begin to eat it with extreme enjoyment.
"Mortal food, sweet and mellow... Mm, truly not bad."
"I'm asking you a question…”
The young man hadn't finished speaking, when a dry, skeletal ghost hand gently caressed his neck.
The ghost hand overflowing with ghostly qi... made him not dare to move even a bit.
"In front of me, you'd better watch yourself, stupid thing."
"......"
"That Demonic Seed, I gave it to Luo He."
"What?! What's the use of using it on that trash! The one we need to deal with is Luo Hongyu!"
Shen Huai glanced at him. Even though it was pitch black at this moment, she could clearly see his anxious and distorted face.
Among these Three Sons of the Righteous Path, only Luo Hongyu was competent. But even she had Luo He as a soft spot that she couldn't throw away or shake off.
She couldn't help but think, even if she didn't give a push to ruin Luo Hongyu, perhaps this righteous mortal world would decline on its own... Heh, quite laughable.
If it were any other day, she couldn't be bothered to meddle in these messy affairs between the righteous and demonic paths.
Now, it was just that she had been entrusted by someone to fulfill a wish and had no choice but to do it. Her original form being a ghost spirit, she was very much bound by such Heavenly Dao Oaths.
Finish it early and leave... No, leave as a ghost.
"You just need to wait."
After saying this, she suddenly felt that having such a thing that defiled one's sight before her eyes made the ice dessert in her hand taste off as well.
How disappointing.
Hmm... If Luo He's eyes were in front of her, it could actually pique her interest a bit. It's just a pity that there probably won't be such an opportunity in the future.
Because she would never again expend effort to save him. As long as it wasn't a promise made in her ghost name, it was all a lie.
Otherwise, how could it be called a pack of ghost lies, hehe.
"If you have no other business, then get out. Don't disturb my meal."
Although the tone was light and airy, the young man discovered in the next moment that he had been moved out of the room by her at some unknown time, and was standing stiffly and coldly in front of the door.
He looked inside the door with venomous eyes. This damned ghost creature, if it weren't useful to him…
Once Luo Hongyu falls into the trap, he would immediately contact the elders in his family to capture her and throw her into a furnace to properly refine her soul.
And that Luo Hongyu, sooner or later he would make them all pay the price for looking down on him.
...
Shing.
The Lu Lan Sword was originally a gentleman's sword, upright and peaceful, with a sword intent as clear and bland as water... But in Luo Hongyu's hands, it appeared exceptionally cold, stern, and murderous.
She could, relying on herself, influence the temperament of this thousand-year-old ancient sword.
At this moment, her Lu Lan Sword was unsheathed, aimed directly at a person.
"The demonic qi on your body, where did it come from?"
"And also... who allowed you to act on your own accord and draw the Autumn Maiden Sword?”