Inner Demons

Chapter 12: Slippery Youth

"Uncle, there's a chance," Qiao Sifu whispered to Qiao Duanhong, glancing at the six people in Daoist robes. It was dark, the trees overshadowed the sky, and if they split up and ran, some of them might indeed escape.

Qiao Duanhong's face was grim as he shook his head: "Wait a little longer. I've left something along the way."

Qiao Sifu looked at him with a strange expression: "Hmm... Path-Guiding Incense?"

"Hmm."

Qiao Sifu said no more. But another escort sighed slightly: "Leader, we can't count on that."

Probably every escort agency had "Path-Guiding Incense" – sawdust-like stuff, sprinkled piece by piece from between the fingers, which would emit a peculiar scent after half an hour. The Dragon Head of the Escort Agency Guild said that every escort agency had the obligation to help each other, and if they saw someone scattering this Path-Guiding Incense, they should know that someone was in danger and should help within their capabilities.

But the Dragon Head's intention was good, unfortunately, few people actually relied on unrelated individuals risking death or injury to help in a fight. Everyone was just trying to make a living, not martial arts heroes who could entrust their lives to someone they had just met.

"They probably don't want to hurt anyone for now," Qiao Duanhong pondered. "Their martial arts are strangely high, so let's wait a little longer. If we really fight... sigh."

Qiao Sifu and a few escorts moved their lips but said nothing. They knew what Qiao Duanhong was worried about. Fighting now would likely mean death. As for waiting... people always believe in hope.

Qiao Sifu turned his head to look at Qiao Jiaxin. The girl stared blankly at the fire, occasionally glancing at Li Yunxin, who sat even further away with the old Daoist.A surge of anger rose in his heart – he wanted to fight those six people, but he didn't dare. He didn't dare, but he was also unwilling. So he became even more agitated. He lowered his voice: "I just feel that kid is suspicious. Jiaxin said that when they saw that strong man, that kid was very calm. When he stopped the carriage, he looked like a novice, but where does he look like one now?"

Qiao Duanhong followed his gaze and saw Li Yunxin glancing at the six people for a while, then writing and drawing on the ground, looking quite bored – much more relaxed than them.

He shook his head: "Probably from a merchant family. Children like that, they've seen a lot of things when they were young, so this reaction is understandable. They think everything in this world can be talked about, discussed, and exchanged, so they're not as afraid... calm and composed. Heh, if they were ordinary villains, this idea would be good. Looking at his generous spending, he probably has some family wealth. But in this situation... they probably don't want money. This child is young after all."

Qiao Sifu pouted and glanced at Li Yunxin again. Despite his reluctance, he still felt his uncle made sense. He had seen such things before – things that people in the escort agency had to struggle through wind and rain to achieve, those rich merchants in Luocheng could solve with a few words and some silver.

He disliked that slickness and effortless air. So when he saw Li Yunxin throw out a silver ingot, he was displeased.

Young Miss Qiao also watched Li Yunxin wistfully, but she also felt that he wasn't the kind of person her father and Fourth Brother described.

He clearly... pulled her behind him at that time. Even if she thought he lacked courage now, he still knew how to protect her.

Her father couldn't do anything, so what could he do?

But then Li Yunxin suddenly stood up. The gazes of everyone around the bonfire converged on him, unsure what this ignorant young man intended to do.

The next moment, they saw him step towards the six people.

Old Daoist Liu winked at him from behind, but didn't dare to speak loudly. Qiao Jiaxin's eyes widened, startled by his actions.

Li Yunxin had taken six or seven steps when one of them shouted: "What are you doing!? Stop!"

He quickly stopped and spread his hands: "Okay, okay, I won't go, I won't go."

The firelight flickered in the forest, and the surroundings quieted. Everyone's gaze fell on him. But this young man truly seemed like a newborn calf, apparently still unaware of how bizarre and unpredictable the current situation was in the eyes of an old hand like Qiao Duanhong.

"I am Li Yunxin, from Luocheng," he cupped his hands and said earnestly, "Heroes, please hear me out first. I observe that you heroes are highly skilled in martial arts, by no means common ruffians. This time, forced to act, you only destroyed property but did not harm anyone; this is already a model of a great hero. Yunxin guesses that you heroes are short of money, which is why you were forced to do this. Speaking of money, Yunxin is quite well-off lately, and if you don't mind, I—"

"Heh... a great hero." A sword-wielder sneered, turning his face to look at Li Yunxin with an unpredictable expression, "Aren't you afraid of death, kid?"

"That word is somewhat interesting," another person looked at Li Yunxin with interest, "Did you come up with it yourself?"

At this point, these people's faces finally showed some distinct, lively expressions.

"My apologies, my apologies. Although I once traveled widely with my father, I have also read some books. As for a great hero, one serves the country and the people. You heroes, with your excellent martial arts, are currently unknown in the martial arts world, surely just temporarily in seclusion, waiting for your moment to shine. Since this opportunity has arisen, what does it matter if Yunxin exhausts his family fortune? To associate with you heroes in your humble beginnings, I imagine in the future..."

"Is that kid crazy?" Qiao Sifu listened, dumbfounded. He thought Li Yunxin was talking nonsense – no fool would genuinely think like he said. But now he was speaking so eloquently... what was he trying to do? Did he think that way those people would let him go?

Qiao Duanhong, however, frowned.

"This person..." He thought for a moment, then re-examined Li Yunxin in the firelight. He hadn't paid much attention to this young man before, but now he vaguely felt that there was something else in his words that he couldn't quite grasp for the moment.

Qiao Jiaxin stared at him blankly, feeling that she was being confused by him.

Li Yunxin spoke at length without batting an eyelid. Qiao Duanhong listened to him with a slight frown, then gently shook his head. He knew what the young man intended to do. For a teenager, to remain so calm in such a situation and to try to use those exaggerated words to persuade the six strong men was quite quick-witted.

The young man wanted to appear clueless – he probably wouldn't believe what he said himself, and those strong men certainly wouldn't. But if the other party truly thought such a young man posed no threat, and coveted his genuine gold and silver, and furthermore felt a slight fondness for him due to his displayed courage and slickness...

Then it was indeed possible that they would let him go.

Unfortunately, this young man couldn't see the situation clearly after all. These strong men were clearly not after wealth, but after something else. Qiao Duanhong had been thinking for a long time, but he didn't know what they themselves possessed that would make the other party go to such lengths.

As Qiao Duanhong expected, the six people listened for a while, grew annoyed, and waved their hands: "Get out! Go back and stay there, stop being noisy!"

But Qiao Duanhong also felt that the other party's tone had undergone some inexplicable change, yet when he thought about it carefully, he couldn't grasp any specific trace.

Li Yunxin knew.

Even if they were scolding him – at least their tone wasn't so cold anymore.

It had a bit more of a "human" flavor.

He came from another world and had held that kind of profession. He knew why people would be troubled and resentful in certain situations.

For example, wearing fine clothes at night. Or, when trying to show off, having no one to play along.

He smiled good-naturedly, not annoyed, and bowed. Then he walked crookedly a few steps to the other side, grinning as he went: "Well... heroes, I still want to discuss something. I'm not acquainted with those people over there; we only just met. Can I find a place to stay by myself?"

This time, the high-cheekboned, narrow-eyed swordsman finally became impatient and snorted: "Are you looking for death?"

Li Yunxin seemed startled and quickly backed away crookedly, waving his hands: "Okay, okay, I'm going back now!"

When he returned to the bonfire, dragging his feet dejectedly, making the dry branches and leaves rustle on the ground, Qiao Sifu raised an eyebrow and looked at him contemptuously: "You're back already?"

He then spat on the ground: "Didn't you say you weren't familiar with us?"

At this point, most of the people looking at him had similar expressions. In the martial arts world, many things could be seen differently, but one thing was universally acknowledged – one must be loyal.

What he had done just now was understandable, but his last sentence about wanting to disassociate himself from them angered them. Even Qiao Jiaxin finally sighed, looked at Li Yunxin, snorted, and turned her head away. The emotions between young boys and girls often came suddenly and quickly, and when they faded, there was no deep affection to speak of.

The girl realized that the handsome young man was merely handsome, and so she felt that she had been happy for nothing for so long, and even felt a bit cheated.

But when Li Yunxin turned around, the expression on his face was no longer so dejected. He smiled, and simply said: "Hmm."

Then he sat down next to Old Daoist Liu again.

Such an attitude made the escorts by the bonfire pause. They had intended to tease him a few more times, but looking at him now – it was as if his earlier outburst was just an act, and now he was taking his curtain call and returning backstage. Even an old hand couldn't manage to change faces so completely with a single turn, as if speaking to humans in human language and to ghosts in ghost language was already second nature to him.

But how old was he? Even those present might not be as smooth as he was.

...To survive, he really was willing to throw away his pride, wasn't he? That's all they could think.