Inner Demons

Chapter 144: Killing Intent

"Brainwashed" wasn't necessarily a derogatory term—when people abide by so-called moral codes, isn't everyone "brainwashed" in some way?

But in that quarter of an hour, Qingliangzi displayed a clear tendency of being controlled, which contradicted his own nature—as if once the topic of the "Mutual Aid Society" was touched upon, he would automatically enter a certain mode, and his whole being would become selfless, great, and full of human brilliance.

This was the second time Li Yunxin had encountered such a situation.

The first time was with Liu Ling.

It seemed someone had helped her establish a strong and powerful psychological defense mechanism—once the "Lucid Jade Slip" was mentioned, alarm bells would go off in her mind, and she would quickly pull herself out of an irrational state.

Although Qingliangtzi's situation was different, Li Yunxin believed these two incidents were not mere coincidences.

This world...

Had one of his peers in it.

And a master of manipulating people's minds at that.

Therefore, he quickly and decisively used a series of meaningless noises, movements, and light and shadow to make Qingliangzi feel slight physiological discomfort, then used a few sentences with obvious suggestive meaning to distract him, quickly pulling him out of his defensive state.But now... the atmosphere had become strange and awkward.

Li Yunxin tried to talk about other things—for example, asking about the "Grotto-heaven elder."

Qingliangzi quickly answered without any hesitation. However, when he spoke, he became calm and serious, as if he were merely doing what Yue Yunzi had instructed him to do.

Li Yunxin also talked to him about his "master's" affairs.

The two talked until late at night. The customers in the Wood South Residence had all left, leaving only the two of them sitting opposite each other under an oil lamp, the table in a mess of cups and dishes.

In fact, the initial goal had been achieved—each with the attitude of "let me tell you and see what you'll do," they had disclosed some inside information to a limited extent.

But Li Yunxin knew that the other party had already become wary.

This Qingliangzi was not from the Daoist Orthodoxy, nor from a Grotto-heaven. He belonged to a secret organization called the "Mutual Aid Society." And this organization was founded by hundreds of great sages who had been reincarnated from the Primeval Era, in order to save all living beings from a great catastrophe.

Li Yunxin believed that some of the things he said were indeed true—for example, that those great sages knew the cultivation techniques and secrets of the Daoist Orthodoxy and the Sword Sect, and had used these techniques to create cultivators like Qingliangzi.

He also said that the Saints themselves were profound and unfathomable, almost as long-lived as heaven and earth—one of them had even lived for three thousand years.

Qingliangzi did not state these things frankly. But Li Yunxin had deduced them from the details the other party had accidentally revealed.

An organization like this, or rather, a sect...

Should be able to rival the Daoist Orthodoxy and the Sword Sect, so why had no one ever heard of it?

Li Yunxin realized he might be on the verge of touching upon some core secret...

That Lucid Jade Slip must hide some incredible secret. The Daoist Orthodoxy and the Sword Sect were looking for it. This mysterious Mutual Aid Society was also looking for it.

Therefore, just as the two were about to part, Li Yunxin asked that question again—

"You said before that you fought honorably with Li Chunfeng and his wife—what exactly happened?"

A cunning smile appeared on Qingliangzi's face. "You're a nosy demon. But it's not convenient to talk about it now. Yue Yunzi is probably getting anxious waiting for me. I have to report back to him first."

The beggar stood up, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Why are you so concerned about this? You're just a demon—are you male or female in your true form?"

Li Yunxin just looked at him in the candlelight. "My master told me to transform into this human form, so I should naturally be concerned about his past."

"Then I'll go report back to him first, and we can talk later." The beggar pointed to the table. "If you want to know other things, wait for me here. I'll be right back."

After saying this, the beggar turned and left, quickly disappearing into the night.

Seeing the beggar leave, the waiter who had been dozing on the table rubbed his eyes, yawned, and walked over. "Sir, shall I clear these cups and dishes?"

Li Yunxin closed his eyes and thought deeply for a moment. He shook his head slightly. "No need, tonight it seems... I'll have to stay a little longer."

The waiter's face fell, and he forced a smile. "Sir, it's already the latter half of the night, and our shop also..."

But Li Yunxin interrupted him. "I'm staying here. As for you, if you want to live, you'd better leave now. Any later, and you won't be able to."

This waiter had seen a lot of the world. Hearing his words, several possibilities immediately popped into his head—this person was here to rob, this person was here for revenge, this person was a lunatic. As he mulled over these thoughts, he slowly backed away—Li Yunxin paid him no mind.

So, after backing away a few steps, he quickly ran behind the tall counter and shook the manager awake, whispering what had just happened.

The manager was, after all, more composed than him. He casually grabbed a heavy silver ingot from behind the counter, wrapped it in his sleeve, and walked out to see. He first gave Li Yunxin a distant bow. "Greetings, friend. I wonder which..."

But he couldn't finish his sentence. He and the waiter just stood there with their mouths agape and eyes wide, staring straight at Li Yunxin, and the ingot in his hand fell to the ground with a clang.

In a corner of the dimly lit hall, on the table illuminated by the oil lamp, the handsome young scholar had swept the cups and dishes aside, revealing the tabletop.

As they watched, Li Yunxin had already dipped his finger in wine and drawn an armored warrior on horseback on the wooden table.

Once the drawing was complete, he slapped his hand on the table.

Instantly, a small, green-glowing armored warrior on horseback stood up from the table. The figure was only palm-high, and the warhorse beneath him was like a mouse. Li Yunxin whispered a few words, and the small figure spurred the horse, scurrying to the ground and galloping out the door.

He then grabbed a handful of peanuts from a dish on the table, scattered them on the ground with a rustle, and blew a breath of air. The peanuts instantly turned into small figures in red helmets and red armor, also palm-sized, holding golden spears. After a clamorous moment, they formed ranks on the ground beside Li Yunxin. They all looked up in unison, listened to his commands, and then scattered, running out the door as well.

Only then did Li Yunxin look up, pick up the wine jug on the table, drain the remaining wine, and tilt his head back to drink. "I am here to exterminate a demon. And that demon is setting up a formation in the distance. If you two don't leave now, I'm afraid you'll become ghosts."

Only at this point did the manager and the waiter seem to wake from a dream. Forgetting even the silver on the ground, they fled for their lives.

Li Yunxin stood up and went behind the counter himself to get another jug of wine.

He had intended to take it slow, to plan for the long term.

Who knew he would accidentally trigger the alarm in Qingliangzi's heart—after leaving the shop, the other party had cast a spell to seal the street entrance.

This meant the other party was extremely sensitive to anyone or anything related to the "Mutual Aid Society." Li Yunxin knew that his slightly reckless probing earlier had led to the current situation.

And so he also knew... why not many people knew about the "Mutual Aid Society"—because just like now, anyone who found out about it was likely eliminated.

First, you kill a man's parents, and now you're going to kill his son—

Li Yunxin tilted his head back, and that jug of wine turned into a thin line entering his throat under the moonlight.

Then he threw the wine jug away and sighed. "You can't bully people like this. How the hell am I supposed to endure this?"

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