Inner Demons

Chapter 22: What's Wrong with Demons?

As soon as Huainanzi's voice fell, he drew his sword from behind.

To say "drew his sword" wasn't quite accurate. He formed a Two-finger Sword Seal with his right hand, twisted his wrist, and flicked his fingers gently.

Immediately, a thin sword shot up from somewhere behind him with a whoosh, hovering above his head, buzzing like an electric silver snake.

He stared at Li Yunxin for a moment longer, then raised an eyebrow: "Huh? You're not afraid?"

"Is fear useful?"

"Tsk." Huainanzi shook his head, "I'm almost finished with the killing tribulation, and I'm currently undergoing the sympathetic tribulation. You know about the sympathetic tribulation, right? I can't just let someone go if I see them pitifully begging for mercy. But I haven't finished it yet, you can try. What if, haha, my Dao heart isn't firm?"

"I'm not an idiot." Li Yunxin shook his head, "The sympathetic tribulation is about wearing down one's compassion, not allowing pity for someone to affect one's judgment. You'd love for me to kneel and beg for mercy, then chop me down with one sword."

"How about this, don't kill me, and I'll show you a treasure."

"Too lazy to look." Huainanzi pouted and moved his finger.

The thin sword above his head immediately shot out like lightning.Fast. Li Yunxin thought. He knew flying swords were fast, and of course, he knew bullets were fast. But many things, unless seen with one's own eyes, could never truly be appreciated for their speed.

At the same moment he had this thought, the sword light flashed past his eyes. Then came a continuous series of sounds, and when he turned his head to look, he found "Qiao Jiaxin" had fallen to the ground.

A silver sword shot out from behind her with a whoosh, causing her body to move, then returned to Huainanzi's side.

Her clothes were already in tatters—in the time it took Li Yunxin to turn his head, he didn't know how many times that silver sword had pierced through her body.

Blood flowed out as if from a broken water skin, and Li Yunxin soon smelled the strong stench of blood. "Qiao Jiaxin's" abdomen was a mess, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe it as "putrefied."

He shivered. The Cat Demon had possessed his body. But her aura was weak, and her spiritual body was almost destroyed.

Huainanzi retracted his sword, looking at him: "That was a demon, wasn't it? Associating with demons isn't good. They are all aberrant beings, cruel, malicious, and utterly devoid of humanity. Look, if you beg for mercy, I'll cut you down with one sword. If you don't beg for mercy, I'll stab you to death like this. You choose."

"Damn it." Li Yunxin sighed, "It's so hard to repay a favor."

There was no retreat left. The opponent's current strength was far superior to his, and trickery would be useless. Huainanzi seemed to have an arbitrary and reckless nature, and in such a short time, he couldn't grasp his preferences.

He had no choice but to... invite Young Master Nine.

He used two fingers to take out the paper from his sleeve.

But as soon as he moved, he felt a chill on his arm. With a rustle, half of his sleeve fell to the ground.

His forearm felt a bit itchy. He looked down and saw a one-finger-long cut on his forearm. The cut quickly turned from white to red, and then fresh blood flowed down in several streams. The itch turned into a painful itch.

"What are you doing?" Huainanzi asked him, clearly angry, "If you move again, I'll cut off your hand. Now, hurry up and beg for mercy, I have other things to do. If I didn't see that you're also a cultivator, I wouldn't bother talking nonsense with you."

Li Yunxin: ...

He felt that he had indeed fallen into a huge predicament.

He had no other way. Or rather, no method that would guarantee his safe escape.

Several thoughts appeared in his mind, and he formed several countermeasures. But he suddenly closed his eyes, stood in the moonlight and night wind for a while, then opened them again: "Alright. I beg for your mercy, kill me with one sword."

He paused, then added: "You really must kill me with one sword. You know I'm also a cultivator, and I have dignity. If you don't keep your word, it will tarnish the dignity of a great sect."

Huainanzi pouted: "Why so much nonsense."

Li Yunxin sighed, shrugged, and then slowly bowed to him.

"Hurry up!" Huainanzi urged him sternly, "Otherwise I'll really kill you!"

There's no way. Li Yunxin, of course, understood this feeling. A child asks you for candy, you firmly tell him no, he begs you, then walks away.

But if you promise but then drag your feet, unwilling to take it, he might pester you for dozens of minutes, and you won't be able to leave.

The thought of "it might be obtained soon" is what makes you irritable, but unable to be decisive and calm.

He didn't believe that Huainanzi could truly become enraged and kill him with one sword at this moment.

Seeking but not getting, almost getting it—that's how heart demons are planted.

Li Yunxin lifted his robe, kicked the ground, and frowned: "There's blood on the ground. How can I kneel?"

Huainanzi's face finally showed a more animated expression, looking both annoyed and amused: "You're going to die soon anyway, what does blood matter? Idiot!"

"Anyway, I need to change places." Li Yunxin moved a step, looking at Huainanzi.

The other party frowned, glaring at him fiercely. Li Yunxin then confidently began to walk, picking and choosing a spot as if truly selecting his own grave.

Because the expression on Huainanzi's face was saying—"I'm already impatient. I've decided to make you suffer later. For now, mess around all you want. The more you annoy me, the more pain you'll feel later."

Li Yunxin dawdled for five minutes. This was within his expectation, the opponent's maximum tolerance limit.

Then he stood still and looked up: "One last question."

An almost imperceptible, relieved expression appeared on Huainanzi's face: "Speak."

"I think demons are actually quite good. Why kill them?"

"Fool. It's a waste that you also study the Dao—other-worldly beings, if they're killed, they're killed, why ask why?" Huainanzi truly harbored murderous intent, bringing his two fingers together.

Then Li Yunxin and Huainanzi simultaneously heard a crisp sound of copper bells, approaching from a distance.

A girl's clear voice said, "Oh my, Miss, that person's tone is so fierce."

Perhaps because the girl's voice was crisp and clear, it traveled quite far.

Huainanzi's expression changed, and his sword incantation shifted. From two fingers together, it transformed into a strange gesture resembling an orchid finger. Immediately, a shimmering silver flying sword split into three, circling him head-to-tail, emitting a low hum.

"Who goes there?!" he demanded in a low voice.

The two held their breath and watched for several minutes before a slender, delicate little hand finally emerged from the man-high grass.

Parting the wild grass, a small maid with double buns walked out. In her hand, she held a bridle, and from the grass, she led out a sleek black donkey.

On the black donkey, a quiet young lady sat sideways, her bright eyes staring directly at Li Yunxin, her lips tightly pressed, but not even sparing a glance for Huainanzi.

It was the little maid who, after leading the black donkey to a halt and helping her mistress down, frowned slightly and relentlessly asked, "Yes, what's wrong with demons? Why kill them?"