Inner Demons

Chapter 149: Madman

Qingliangzi's soul could not speak, but his eyes revealed a look of near-madness from terror—

No one feared death more than he did—especially when he had always firmly believed that he would never truly die, that "death" was not an option in any of his considerations!

How could that Li Yunxin... really dare to kill him?!

He would be hunted down and have his soul claimed by Yama King!

And how could he be some Judge of the Mortal World?!

There were no more than ten known Judges of the Mortal World in this world!!

But before he could truly think these things through, Li Yunxin had already solemnly stepped back three paces.

Then...

His scales opened.

The dozen or so jars of wine he had just drunk turned into a thick cloud of mist, rising gracefully from under his scales. At first, it was a wisp, but it soon became a swirling mass of fog around him. Then the mist gathered into a cloud and began to roll slowly.At the same time, the moonlight was obscured.

Qingliangzi looked up and saw that thick, dark clouds had also appeared in the sky. As the mist around Li Yunxin rolled, the dark clouds rolled with it, but with a much grander and more violent momentum!

A quarter of an hour later, the entire sky above Weicheng was covered in thick clouds.

Lightning flashed from within the dark clouds!

Qingliangzi heard the sound of rolling, muffled thunder—

Followed by a dazzling brightness.

Even with a million worries, panics, and disbeliefs, and a frantic cry in his heart of how does he really dare?!

—But that was indeed his last memory.

The scales of the mist-shrouded Li Yunxin suddenly opened and closed, and the lightning in the clouds above Weicheng grew even more intense! Streaks of electric snakes rolled, twisted, and intertwined, finally converging into the first thick bolt of lightning—

A flash!

A roar!

A bright line connecting heaven and earth struck the soul bound by the iron chain.

There was no resistance, no strange phenomenon. The Nine Heavens Thunder Fire, formed by the convergence of forty-nine bolts of lightning from the clouds, completely dissipated Qingliangzi's soul in an instant...

Blasted to smithereens!

After this strike, Li Yunxin took a deep breath. The mist surrounding him was all inhaled into his chest. And the rain clouds that had gathered over Weicheng, threatening to pour down, vanished in an instant, revealing a bright moon once more.

Li Yunxin stood on the spot, staring at where Qingliangzi had just been blasted for a while. He sighed lowly.

Then his body suddenly shrank, transforming back into his human form, clothes and all.

After glancing in the direction of the Shangqing Elixir Cauldron Sect's residence, he turned and disappeared into a small alley.

He walked through streets and alleys for nearly half an hour before people finally began to peek out from their homes, three or two at a time, to check the situation outside.

Qingliangzi had sealed the street. Li Yunxin, on the other hand, had cast a spell to drive away the nearby residents in advance. Nothing had alarmed the people of Weicheng—except for the sudden thick clouds, strong winds, and lightning.

The last time such a strange phenomenon appeared over Weicheng, it brought a great disaster. This time, people became terrified again. However, after worrying on the streets for a while, they heard no more loud noises or saw smoke. So someone said that perhaps it was really just a sudden squall.

By this time, Li Yunxin had already reached the south of the city.

The south of the city was where the wealthy merchants and nobles of Weicheng lived, and it did not show any signs of panic at this moment. The servants of some large households were armed and came out to investigate. After confirming that everything was fine, they slowly retreated back into their mansions.

Li Yunxin walked along the high courtyard wall of a household for a while, then stopped in the moonlight. His shadow was stretched very long. He turned around—and found the White Yama King standing in his shadow.

"I thought there would be a good show to watch. Why did you just blast him like that?" the White Yama King said unhurriedly in a soft voice. "You actually killed my Underworld Emissary. You have some nerve."

Li Yunxin smiled gently, all the ferocity from when he killed Qingliangzi gone. "I'm starting to find that you're quite a humorous person. It's a nice feeling."

"I suddenly got bored—what else? Listen to him beg for mercy? I wouldn't dare believe what he says. And I was worried Yue Yunzi would rush over—but speaking of which, who exactly is asking you to help me?"

The White Yama King's slender eyes widened. "Help you?"

"That Qingliangzi said there are no more than ten known Judges of the Mortal World in this world, and you just happened to give me this booklet and chain a few days ago. That's why I was able to deal with him today—don't tell me it was all unintentional."

The White Yama King giggled. "You little brat, you think too much. It wasn't entirely unintentional. But to say I'm helping you, hehe, it doesn't count as helping. Just providing you with some convenience to see how far you can go. If you do well, I'll help you a bit more. If you can't make it, then so be it. The world isn't lacking in talented people."

Li Yunxin walked on the street, stepping on his own shadow, head down. After playing around for a few steps, he suddenly stopped and looked up at the Yama King. "Is it the Painting Saint? Is he not dead yet? Is he helping me?"

"Hmph, you mean that Painting Saint of the Three Saints of the world?" The White Yama King pouted, gloating. "That scourge died long ago! Don't ask me. Let me ask you, hehe, you interesting Human Demon, you actually shed tears—let me ask you, you previously made an 'Overlord's Carapace Diagram,' I know that one was real. Then you said you used that 'King Guang's Formation-Breaking Diagram' to dodge his Mysterious Grand Golden Light Method—"

The White Yama King suddenly appeared in front of Li Yunxin, squinting his slender eyes at him. "I happen to know that there's no such thing as a 'King Guang's Formation-Breaking Diagram'—you only had time to make that carapace diagram! Tell me, what did you use to dodge that Mysterious Grand Golden Light Method? Your Spiritual Soul is now your Dharma Body, and that golden light method is incredibly powerful. Even if it hit you once, it would have taken half your life!"

Li Yunxin took a step back slightly and frowned. "You could even see that."

The White Yama King smiled. "I can also see that you tore up those paintings just to bluff. What kind of precious scroll could be made from such straw paper? After you used it for a while, it lost its effect—it was better to tear it up and throw it away, and then trick that fool into thinking you had countless treasures and couldn't win against you in a battle of spells, so he should fight you hand-to-hand... hehe, you keep saying 'honorably,' but you still used tricks! It seems you can even use your parents, hmm... hehe!"

Hearing the White Yama King's words, Li Yunxin suddenly laughed. "I said I didn't use anything when I dodged that Mysterious Grand Golden Light Method. I was really dodging on my own—do you believe me or not?"

The White Yama King sneered. "You're good at joking. How could someone like you take such a risk—if you failed to dodge once, and I didn't save you, you would really be dead!"

So Li Yunxin shrugged and walked past him, continuing forward.

After walking a dozen steps, the White Yama King appeared beside him again, his eyes wide. "Hey? You madman. You really dodged on your own back then?!"

"You know I'm a madman too." Li Yunxin said calmly. "If a madman doesn't act mad, what's the point?"

The White Yama King stared at him in astonishment. "If it hit you, you would have died!"

Li Yunxin seemed to have heard something funny, and he turned to look at the White Yama King as he walked. "There's no such thing as a foolproof plan in this world, don't you know? In fact, whenever I plan something, I'm always taking a risk. When I go to bluff and deceive people, I do it based on common sense, thinking what that person is most likely to do—if I encounter someone like myself who doesn't play by the rules, then I'll fail."

"So... why are you so surprised that I'm taking a risk now? I'm a madman." Li Yunxin said sincerely. "Madmen don't like to do everything by the book—even their own rules. The kind you're talking about, who never takes risks and doesn't harm people unless they're sure of success, isn't called a madman—that's called a psychopath."

He took a few more steps and said in a low voice, "And I really do like them. That also counts as being honorable."

"You, who takes people's lives, wouldn't understand."

The White Yama King fell silent, just floating beside him, staring at him intently. After a long while, he said, "Heh, you don't understand either."

Seeing that Li Yunxin was still walking quickly along the street and ignoring him, he asked again, "You madman, who are you going to plot against now?"

Li Yunxin shrugged. "I'll understand sooner or later. As for now, I'm going to the Yu Family. I can't let that fight just now be for nothing. This is a good opportunity, and I suddenly thought of a good idea."

"And I have another question." Li Yunxin looked at the White Yama King with interest. "Are you a woman?"

"Huh?"

"You're very gossipy, and you're very interested in me." Li Yunxin frowned mischievously. "Have you fallen in love with me?"

The White Yama King followed for a little longer, then his eyes suddenly widened, and he burst into a crazed laugh. "Hahahaha—you little brat—hahahaha—how could I—hahahahahaha—"

And with a flash, he disappeared.

"Psycho," Li Yunxin pouted and suddenly turned left, passing straight through the black wooden gate of a mansion into the courtyard.

This was a true mansion, and he was now standing behind its main gate.

The gatekeeper didn't see him—because he had hidden his form.

The Yu Family.

Li Yunxin still remembered the young man who had woken him and Old Daoist Liu from the roadside and brought them into Weicheng. His name was Yu Meng, and he was the young master of one of the most prominent families in Weicheng. His impression of him at the time was that he was warm-hearted and chivalrous, but unfortunately, a bit of a fool.

The "young talents" of the city all liked this good-tempered, rich, and foolish Young Master Yu, and Li Yunxin had no reason to dislike him either.

It had been a long time. So he came to find him.

But the Yu Family residence was too large; it took him a full hour to figure out the layout. Then, he found the courtyard where Yu Meng lived.

The family hadn't treated this foolish son badly—after all, he was the Dragon Head of the Escort Agency Guild.

This courtyard had three sections, with a forest of flowers and trees, scattered shadows, and a floating fragrance. Li Yunxin was slightly surprised by this; he had thought Yu Meng would prefer a more minimalist and grand style. But he still passed through the halls, ignoring the servants and maids sleeping in the outer rooms, and went straight into Yu Meng's inner chamber.

Yu Meng was sleeping soundly, a silk quilt clutched in his arms, alone in the bed. Since it was hot, he wore short pants, also made of silk, which flowed like water in the moonlight.

He was sleeping with his head tilted, one arm hanging off the side of the bed. The only sound in the quiet room was his breathing.

Li Yunxin revealed his form and waved his hand to soundproof the room. Then he bent down and patted his face. "Hey."

He thought he might have to use more force, but Yu Meng woke up with a start. In his daze, he reached for the porcelain pillow by his bed and threw it to the ground. However, having just woken from a dream, the pillow flew past Li Yunxin and hit something on the floor with a clatter.

Now Yu Meng was truly awake. He sat up in bed and looked around drowsily...

And saw a young man, covered in blood and dressed in white, standing by his bed, staring down at him.

Yu Meng was instantly frozen.

He didn't move, nor did he make a sound.

Moonlight streamed onto the floor. After a short while, something in the corner of the room, which must have been damaged earlier, finally couldn't hold on any longer and fell to the ground with a clatter.

This sound... seemed to make Yu Meng feel that he was still in the world of the living.

So he asked in a low voice, "Ah... Sir, are you a ghost?"

Li Yunxin laughed out loud in his heart—as expected, no one he liked was boring.

He took a step back with a wooden expression, bowed to Yu Meng, and said, "Benefactor, do you still remember me?"

Seeing the ghost speak, Yu Meng, whether because he was naturally a bit slow-witted or because he found the voice kind, was not afraid. He just studied Li Yunxin carefully in the moonlight and had a sudden realization. "Oh my, you're the accountant from my manor who died of illness!"

Li Yunxin shook his head. "Two months ago, benefactor found a Taoist priest, a young man, and an escort chief unconscious by the Yeyuan Forest outside the city. You rescued them and brought them back to the city."

Yu Meng blinked and thought for a moment, then slapped the quilt forcefully. "Ah!! I can't remember!"

Li Yunxin sighed. "Benefactor, just listen to me. On that day, you rescued Qiao Duanhong, the escort chief of Qiao Family's Hongfu Escort Agency, Temple Keeper Liu, the Taoist priest from Weicheng's Dragon King Temple, and myself, Li Yunxin. Benefactor can make inquiries, and you will surely remember this matter. I am now..."

Yu Meng interrupted him. "Hey? Since you were already saved by me, how did you become a ghost?"

Before Li Yunxin could answer, he blinked again and suddenly got up, standing barefoot on the floor. "You must have been harmed by someone."

He walked a circle around Li Yunxin and then suddenly sighed. "Alright. Brother Li was harmed by a villain, and his vengeful spirit has not dispersed. The first person he thought to find was me—to trust me so much, as the Dragon Head of the Great Qing Dynasty Escort Agency Guild, I will definitely not disappoint Brother Li! Go ahead and speak, what grievances do you have!"

Yu Meng's demeanor, which seemed foolish to the young masters of Weicheng and chivalrous to true martial artists, was just what Li Yunxin expected.

He still remembered clearly the first time he met him, this Dragon Head had reconstructed the entire incident in his mind within a quarter of an hour—the escort agency had been attacked by wild beasts.

Li Yunxin liked his kind heart but not his intelligence, so he didn't interact with this Young Master Yu. But now, this characteristic of Yu Meng was exactly what he could use—there was no one more suitable in Weicheng than him.

So he bowed again and said, "Benefactor, please listen to me. After I was rescued by you, I stayed at the Dragon King Temple. Later, a battle between demons occurred there. The statue of the Dragon King was destroyed, and both the Temple Keeper and I were killed."

"Afterward, the Dragon King was angry that the Temple Keeper and I had been negligent in our duties, so he had the Crab General drag both me and the old Daoist to the Dragon Palace, where we were tortured endlessly without relief. I endured for many days and finally managed to sneak out tonight while the shrimp soldiers were dozing. The Dragon King was furious and sent the Vast Sea Dragon Crown Prince to capture me—did benefactor happen to hear thunder just now?"

Yu Meng listened to his story with a tight frown. Now, hearing him mention the thunder, he had a sudden realization. "That thunder... was the Vast Sea Dragon Crown Prince coming to get you? I did hear it—that thunder was very strange, it woke me up, and it took me another quarter of an hour to fall back asleep!"

"Right now, that Dragon Crown Prince is on his way to pursue me." Li Yunxin cupped his hands. "I hope benefactor can save me!"

Yu Meng quickly looked out the window, ignoring his blood-soaked and frightening appearance, and immediately said, "How can I save you?"

"Go to the Divine Dragon Cult and you can save me—has benefactor ever heard of the Divine Dragon Cult?"

Yu Meng frowned. "Hey? I haven't heard of it—"

But he saw Li Yunxin look out the window, his expression growing more and more panicked. "When that Dragon Crown Prince struck me with lightning, he destroyed a large number of houses on the street. If benefactor can rebuild those houses in the name of the Divine Dragon Cult—oh, the Divine Dragon Cult worships the Vast Sea Dragon Crown Prince, the Dragon King will surely..."

At this point, Li Yunxin suddenly shouted, "Ah, he's here—!"

With a wave of his sleeve, he knocked Yu Meng unconscious to the floor.

Nearly half an hour had passed since he killed Qingliangzi. Li Yunxin looked at the moonlight outside the window, and with a wave of his hand, he tossed Yu Meng back onto the bed.

Then he stomped his foot hard on the ground, dispelled the restriction, and passed through the wall like a gust of wind.

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