Inner Demons

Chapter 167: Helping Others for Fun Share Comments

“Furthermore, that Divine Dragon Cult worships the Dragon Crown Prince—we sent people to investigate South Mountain. On the so-called golden statue of the Dragon Crown Prince on South Mountain, there really is a spirit with an effeminate way of speaking! Officially, you and I both know that those cultivators from the Mystic Gate cannot stand to see demons causing trouble. But now… that demon is attached to the golden statue—it would be one thing if it were just blessing a single area, but now it has gathered a following of a thousand people!”

“If it weren't for that Grotto-heaven Immortal backing it… how could they ignore it?!”

After hearing his speech, Yu Qi let out a long sigh and clapped his hands twice. “Brilliant. I originally thought I had been thorough enough in my considerations, but I still lack your deep foresight, Mister. When I offered to fund him, I did indeed have this thought in mind—I suspected he had someone behind him, and I hadn't figured out why they would create someone with an identical appearance to that Li Yunxin. The experts of Grotto-heaven have profound Daoist Arts; the art of transformation shouldn't be difficult… What you've said, Mister, has actually resolved all my doubts.”

“But in your opinion, Mister, what should we do next?”

That Mister Li smiled faintly and leaned slightly toward Yu Qi. “I am aware of what you are thinking, Sir Yu. But the matter you are pursuing is even more dangerous than what happened nineteen years ago; you absolutely cannot afford a single misstep. As I see it… this matter is advantageous for you, Sir Yu—and this advantage doesn't just refer to the security agencies, transport guilds, and martial artists, but to something much further in the future.”

After saying this, he waited expectantly for Yu Qi’s reaction.

Yu Qi gave a dry cough, thought for a moment, and only said, “Mister, what you say is reasonable.”

Mister Li then smiled smugly. “In that case… let’s just wait and see.”

…

…“They will probably say, ‘In that case, let’s just wait and see,’” Li Yunxin said, putting down his bowl and letting out a long, cool breath.

The stall was set up on the roadside, specializing in sour plum juice, chilled with crushed ice and well water. To drink a bowl of this sour plum juice on a scorching summer day when the sun was too bright to open one’s eyes… that was a truly refreshing feeling that went straight to the heart.

He sighed again, still wanting more. “Get me two more bowls.”

Old Daoist Liu quickly said, “One bowl is enough for me—at my age, I should consume less cold stuff. But Brother Xin. Even so… what’s next?”

The waiter brought the sour plum juice. Old Daoist Liu waited for him to walk away before speaking again. “They plan to wait and see, which means they are still on their guard. That performance I just put on… a man like Yu Qi will certainly not believe it completely. In the future, my cult will still be constrained—that Yu Qi will definitely plant his people in the cult.”

“Brother Xin, if you ask me… why don’t you expend some effort and use your divine powers so we can raise some money ourselves? Otherwise, we've only solved the immediate problem. The future of my cult…”

Li Yunxin shook his head with a slight smile, picked up his bowl, and drank half of it in one gulp, his brows furrowing in satisfaction.

Old Daoist Liu sighed and added, “Alas. Why bother with him—I, the old Daoist, will say that Yu Qi is an incredible figure to me. But to you, Brother Xin… he’s hardly someone worth a second glance. Seeing the looks on their faces in the hall just now, I really felt sorry for you, Brother Xin…”

Li Yunxin smiled again, put down the bowl, and said as if coaxing a child, “Alright, alright. I’ll explain it to you, stop sighing.”

Old Daoist Liu immediately fell silent. Li Yunxin thought for a moment. “Do you think I really care about that Divine Dragon Cult?”

Old Daoist Liu blinked, not understanding.

“Divine Dragon Cult, Divine Cat Cult, whatever cult, I don’t care about any of them. I created this thing in the first place for my incense Votive Power. At that time, I had just calculated the death of the Dragon's Son, and Liu Ling's fate was unknown. I didn't know Bai Yunxin's whereabouts, nor did I know what the Lord of Dongting or the people from Grotto-heaven would do, so I hid and waited for the right opportunity.”

“Later, once I had a general understanding of the situation, I could try to collect some incense Votive Power to make myself stronger. But collecting Votive Power would inevitably attract attention, so I created this Divine Dragon Cult—first, to hide from public view, and second, to make them suspicious of each other, allowing me to profit from their conflict.”

“But then… the Li Kingdom incident happened, and the Qingliangzi incident happened. And that Lord of Dongting is far more intelligent than I thought. Or perhaps it’s not intelligence—but being strong enough. Once you’re strong enough, many schemes become ineffective.”

“So, my plan had to change. But Old Liu, you see, from beginning to end, the Divine Dragon Cult has only been a tool. It's not something I'm absolutely committed to.”

“Right now, my identity is semi-public. In the future, it will have to become fully public—at that time, more people will know and believe in me, so there won’t be a need for any particular cult. In fact, I don't really like this kind of thing. Mind control, I don't like it.”

Old Daoist Liu was stunned to hear this. After a long pause, he said, “Then… then… is this Divine Dragon Cult useless now?”

Li Yunxin drank the remaining half of the sour plum juice and looked at Old Daoist Liu seriously. “No, right now, it is very useful.”

“In other words, this Divine Dragon Cult, these ignorant people, these ordinary people, are the key to whether I can save my own life and then resolve the matters in Weicheng. All these days, I've been running back and forth, doing so many things, saying so many words… all for the situation today.”

“To get the people of the Divine Dragon Cult into the city—to be able to put on a show like that in front of a certain person.”

“All of these things, I did for only one purpose. This purpose is the key to my victory. And this key must be achieved using the Divine Dragon Cult. The Divine Dragon Cult is one layer of my cover, and that Yu Qi… is another layer of cover for the Divine Dragon Cult. I don't need his cover for long—a month or so will be enough.”

He spoke of the matter with such gravity that Old Daoist Liu listened with a frown. In the end, he couldn’t help but hold his breath.

“You can ponder it again in a few days,” Li Yunxin said with a smile, seeing his expression. “From what’s happening right now, you probably can’t figure it out. But in a few days, after I do a few more things, you’ll likely understand—just how smart you are will be revealed then.”

Old Daoist Liu knew he had a playful and showy personality, so he didn’t press further. However, although this “purpose” was a matter of life and death for both of them… an inappropriate sense of lighthearted curiosity welled up in his heart.

Perhaps in this whole world… only when doing these things with Brother Xin, “things that are like walking on a cliff’s edge, on a tightrope,” would one feel such a contradictory and strange sense of stability and ease.

Brother Xin’s previous actions in Weicheng were, in his view, already a stroke of genius. He really had no idea what he would do this time.

He was new to the Mystic Gate and didn't have a deep understanding of many matters and their backgrounds. However, that didn't stop him from knowing—the vast difference between the Manifestation Realm and the True Realm.

That Liu Ling was at the peak of the Manifestation Realm back then. In terms of strength alone, he was far superior to Brother Xin. He also possessed numerous magical artifacts.

Slaying the Dragon's Son of the same realm was almost effortless. However… when he later fought against the great demon of the True Realm, Bai Yunxin, he was completely powerless!

Right now, the Yue Yunzi in the city was a True Realm expert.

If it weren’t for the many deceptions Brother Xin had set up before, making Yue Yunzi suspicious and wary of the Lord of Dongting and Bai Yunxin, preventing him from acting rashly; if it weren't Yue Yunzi but a reckless or arrogant True Realm cultivator who came…

They wouldn’t be here today.

Being smart and overthinking was a good thing. But…

He was afraid of encountering someone even smarter. At that point, it would instead become a disadvantage!

But, he still really wanted to know. In a few more days, when Yue Yunzi saw through the deception… what other methods would Brother Xin have?

Seeing his expression, Li Yunxin smiled faintly. “Yo, Old Liu, are you scared?”

Old Daoist Liu let out a low sigh and smiled wryly. “It would be a good thing if I were scared. But right now, I’m really not that afraid. That True Realm Taoist priest is right here in the city. Logically, we… are about to run out of options. But I’m truly not afraid. This is really, is… alas.”

Li Yunxin burst out laughing, pointing a finger at him. “See, that’s why I love talking to you. You’re truly a fascinating person.”

So Old Daoist Liu laughed along with him, left an extra large coin, stood up, and left.

…

…

The Yu Family was extremely efficient. The next day, as agreed, they sent people and materials. Their involvement in this matter shocked everyone. It was only after making inquiries that people learned they were actually acting on behalf of a noble person.

But as for whether the noble person had created the Divine Dragon Cult or had taken the Divine Dragon Cult under their wing, it was unclear. However, at this point, not many people were paying close attention anymore.

Previously, there was talk of rebellion because they didn't know who was behind it. Now, knowing that the Yu Manor was managing affairs—many things and rules only applied to ordinary people. Other matters and rules might involve certain officials and powerful families. But for a power with a background like the Yu Manor… it was difficult for any conventional rules to truly restrain them.

Their rules were merely a few words from someone behind the scenes.

Thus, after only three or four days, the half of Taoxi Road that no one had paid attention to was completely cleaned up. The Yu Family displayed astonishing power—out of Weicheng’s population of over three hundred thousand, they mobilized nearly three thousand people within three days.

Of course, it wasn’t three thousand people rushing to the ruins to pick up bricks and tiles with their bare hands. There were people dedicated to managing food and drink for the workers, and people in charge of fodder for the livestock. Famous doctors from the city were on-site, and those skilled in personnel management were coordinating everything—these people alone numbered one to two hundred.

The remaining two thousand-plus people were brought in from the Yu Family’s various estates, entering the city in batches. They worked without ambiguity, their level of professionalism far surpassing that of the initial hundred people.

Li Yunxin sat in a temporarily erected canopy not far from the construction site, squinting at the bustling scene, and couldn’t help but feel a little emotional.

He understood many principles. But without seeing them with his own eyes, it was hard to have a profound understanding.

For example, he knew the Yu Family was a powerful clan, but just how powerful were they?

The Yu Family's grand residence, which occupied half a street, hadn't been enough to shock him—it was truly not an easy task in this era to shock someone accustomed to seeing skyscrapers.

However, he had gained a deep appreciation in the past few days. So many people were dependent on and obeyed this powerful family. And most of them were not merely in an “employment” relationship, but were vassals. Generations of their ancestors had served one great family; loyalty was etched into their very bones.

The secular Yu Family was like this—and that Lord of Dongting had been managing Dongting for three thousand years, never leaving the lake. Who knew what terrifying power he concealed.

And the Daoist Orthodoxy, the Sword Sect—the appearance of just two individuals had already forced him to gamble his life… they were even more powerful and terrifying existences.

Thinking of this, he let out a light breath, opened his folding fan with a rustle, and fanned himself.

Old Daoist Liu finished talking with a few newly promoted minor leaders of the cult outside the canopy, dismissed them, and then turned to walk in. Those minor leaders were all fishermen, two of whom were wealthy households from White Heron Island—they cast a curious glance at Li Yunxin before leaving.

When they spoke with Old Daoist Liu, they appeared solemn and serious, but the gazes they directed at Li Yunxin lacked respect and awe.

They knew this handsome young man was the leader of the Divine Dragon Cult, the incarnation of the Vast Sea Chiwen Dragon Crown Prince, however… it was just like how people believed the emperor was the son of the Celestial Emperor. In the remote countryside of the empire, people might imagine it so, but once they were truly in the emperor’s presence and had spent some time with him, that original divine aura would gradually fade—

They would know he was just a “person” who possessed terrifying power.

What's more, for something like the "Dragon Crown Prince"?

When they couldn't see him, people believed. But when they could see him… they didn't believe so much anymore.

Li Yunxin knew the importance of mystery in religious belief, but he didn’t mind.

Soon, they would understand everything.

Old Daoist Liu walked in, lifted the ceramic pot on the table, poured himself a bowl of cool tea, and drank it down with a gulp. Then he wiped his beard with his sleeve. “Brother Xin has something on his mind again?”

“When do I not have something on my mind?” Li Yunxin slouched in the rattan chair, looking as if even fanning himself was too much effort. “I was thinking that not running away from Weicheng back then was the right choice. Taking Weicheng at least gives me a foothold to manage properly. With my identity… I’m afraid I can’t escape no matter where I run. This is called the protagonist’s halo—trouble follows me around.”

As usual, Old Daoist Liu ignored the last sentence. “Why are you suddenly thinking about these things?”

“Seeing these Yu Family people. Alas…” Li Yunxin lazily waved his fan again, then snapped it shut with a swoosh, pointing it into the distance a few times. “See that? In that crowd—I’ve already found… one, two, three, four, five, six… hmm, this is the sixteenth one.”

Old Daoist Liu quickly turned to look carefully into the crowd. But people were coming and going, all wearing dusty, coarse linen shirts. Coupled with the dry summer weather, it was impossible to distinguish anyone clearly.

So he had no choice but to ask, “Who is Brother Xin talking about?”

Li Yunxin slowly straightened up. At this moment, Old Daoist Liu heard a faint "clattering" sound and only then noticed a thin, small iron chain wrapped around Li Yunxin’s left wrist. He had seen people wear bracelets, but never an iron chain. However, upon closer inspection, he found that the small chain was extremely exquisitely crafted—it was as if a thick iron chain had been shrunk down more than ten times. Every link and every clasp was meticulously made.

He heard Li Yunxin say softly, “You also cultivate the Dao, so you should know that a cultivator's Spiritual Soul is far stronger than that of an ordinary person. But when a Spiritual Soul is attached to a person, you can't see it even with the Heavenly Eye open. However, if you use other methods to see, you'll find that a secular person's Spiritual Soul only has a faint layer of light.”

“But these sixteen people… ah, seventeen now—their Spiritual Souls are dazzlingly bright.”

“They are all cultivators.”

=================