Hua Yan was exhausted.
“Let them misunderstand if they want to,” Shui Se said, propping her chin on her hand and lightly swinging her legs under the table. Despite her innocent and captivating face, her expression was mischievous. “Aren’t we demonic sect witches supposed to do this kind of thing?”
Even though Hua Yan had known her since childhood, she still felt that Shui Se was wasting her pure looks!
Despite everyone wearing the same red clothes, with pearl-embellished cuffs and long hoop earrings, looking quite similar from behind, Shui Se’s face was always pitiful and endearing. It wouldn’t be surprising if she was mistaken for a delicate young lady from a noble family outside. Yet, no matter how Hua Yan looked at her, Shui Se just screamed Demoness…
Comparing herself to others was infuriating!
“If you’re really unhappy, just kill that Zhengyi Sect disciple,” Shui Se continued, her words cold and in stark contrast to her face.
Hua Yan shook her head. “Forget it.”
“Afraid that Protector Yu will be unhappy?” Shui Se chuckled. “Speaking of which, he’s been gone for so long, aren’t you worried?”
Hua Yan quickly replied, “If he falls for someone else, then we’ll just call off the engagement.”
The engagement between her and Yu Ye was arranged when her father was still alive. Both she and her father were quite satisfied with it. After all, Yu Ye was one of the rare good people in their den of villains. He usually dealt with herbs and medicines, which was similar to Hua Yan’s poison skills, making them somewhat of colleagues with common interests. There was nothing wrong with the match.
However, her mother didn’t like Yu Ye very much.
Hua Yan thought her mother probably just preferred their sect leader and regretted not making him her son-in-law.
When her mother was alive, she often nagged at Hua Yan, “Men who are gentle and kind to everyone aren’t reliable. Look at your father, full of scholarly manners, he can’t even say a romantic word…”
Her father: “Ahem… ‘Guan-guan go the ospreys1A phrase from the first poem of the ancient Chinese classic “Book of Songs” (诗经), also known as the “Classic of Poetry” or “Shijing.” The full line is “关关雎鸠，在河之洲” (Guan guan ju jiu, zai he zhi zhou), which can be translated as “Guan-guan go the ospreys, on the islet in the river.” This poem is traditionally interpreted as a love poem, describing a man’s admiration for a virtuous lady.…’”
“I’m educating our daughter, stop interrupting!” her mother yelled, then continued, “How do you know how much Yu Ye really cares about you? Listen to me, go and break off this engagement.”
Her father: “Parents’ orders and matchmakers’ words can’t be undone just like that…”
“Alright, Yan’er, be good, go and call it off! Tomorrow, I’ll check your and the sect leader’s birth dates…”
Her father, a scholar, was speechless with anger: “No way! Hua Ran, you… you…”
Seeing this, her mother smiled broadly, hugged her father, and kissed him on the cheek, “My dear husband, don’t be mad, don’t be mad, I’m just doing this for our daughter’s good!”
Then she would chase Hua Yan out.
After several such incidents, Hua Yan simply mustered up the courage to find Yu Ye and spilled everything her mother had said. Finally, she bluntly asked him, “Do you sincerely want to marry me? It’s okay if you don’t…”
To her surprise, Yu Ye let out a long sigh, pressed her head to his chest, and said, “Listen for yourself.” After a moment, he added in a deep voice, “I also want to ask you, do you sincerely want to marry me, or have you ever been tempted by the sect leader?”
“…”
Is this even an answer!
Hua Yan found herself at a disadvantage and had to coax Yu Ye for a long time before he believed it was merely her mother’s wishful thinking.
“What did he bring you this time upon his return?”
Hua Yan took out a wrapped brocade box from the cabinet.
“This.”
Shui Se took the box, opened it, and exclaimed, “A Silver Ring Snake Fruit! How did he get it?”
The box was filled with solid ice, enveloping a fruit with silver snake patterns, known to be the rare and highly poisonous Silver Ring Snake Fruit.
This fruit only grows on steep cliffs, taking three years to bloom and another three years to bear fruit, with a ripening period of just three days before it decays. Due to its peculiar growth cycle, it is extremely difficult to obtain, making it worth a fortune.
Hua Yan explained honestly, “He said someone spotted it on Baiya Mountain a few years ago, so he sent someone to keep an eye on it. When it ripened these past few days, he happened to be passing by and collected it.”
Shui Se pushed the box away, her eyebrows lightly furrowing, “Enough, enough! Stop showing off! Take it away, I don’t want to see it.”
Hua Yan was helpless; Shui Se was the one who asked!
Putting the box away, Hua Yan suddenly remembered something.
“Oh, Se Se, do you know Lu Chengsha?”
Shui Se was two years older and had already traveled the martial world two years ago, causing quite a stir and captivating many disciples from Zhengyi Sects. Since last year, Hua Yan’s favorite pastime was to sit in front of Shui Se and listen to gossip.
Unexpectedly, Shui Se shuddered at the mention of the name, as if recalling something terrifying. “Yan, why are you bringing up that killing star?”
“Just curious… So you know him?”
Shui Se laughed, “The famous ‘Human Killing God Lu Chengsha’ from Tingjian Manor—probably everyone in our sect knows his name except you.”
Hua Yan pulled up a stool, sat in front of Shui Se, and looked up eagerly, “Tell me! What’s the story behind this ‘Human Killing God Lu Chengsha’?”
Although she had asked Yu Ye about it yesterday, she hadn’t heard enough!
“This is about when he first entered the martial world at around ten years old and made a name for himself by stepping over our sect in a battle.” Shui Se’s expression was complicated. “At that time, the young lady of Qiqin Tianxia sneaked out with a few female disciples. A spy from our sect found out, and three of our hall masters happened to be nearby, planning to capture the little girl. But Lu Chengsha was also staying at that inn…”
“And then?”
“They were all killed by him in one night.” Shui Se involuntarily shuddered. “The inn was originally a scenic spot with hundreds of peonies in the courtyard. After Lu Chengsha killed everyone that night, it’s said that all the peonies were stained with blood, blooming eerily red, with petals mixed in blood all over the ground…”
Hua Yan’s focus was elsewhere, “What happened to that young lady of Qiqin Tianxia?”
It sounded like a typical martial arts tale of a hero saving a damsel in distress!
Shui Se’s tone suddenly turned mocking, “It’s rumored that the young lady of Qiqin Tianxia wanted to offer herself to him that night, but Lu Chengsha simply plucked a peony for her and then left… Nonsense! As if Lu Chengsha would fall for that fool and give her a flower!”
Hua Yan was puzzled, “How do you know?”
“Of course I know.”
“Tell me!”
Shui Se sighed, “Do you really want me to say it? I almost died at his hands.”
Hua Yan urged her, “Go on, go on.”
“At that time, I had only been in the martial world for half a year, and already four or five Zhengyi Sect disciples were infatuated with me. I became a bit conceited and wanted to meet the legendary Lu Chengsha, who was very famous among the young disciples.”
Hua Yan asked, “Hmm? How famous was he?”
“…Don’t interrupt!”
“Oh.”
“Using a disciple from Tingjian Manor who admired me, I devised a perfect plan to get close to him.” As she spoke, beads of sweat appeared on Shui Se’s forehead. “But I didn’t expect him to be so terrifying. Before I could even get close, he sensed my intention, and then he…”
Hua Yan said, “He’s that formidable…”
Shui Se glared, “Do you want to hear this or not?”
“…Please continue.”
“When he looked at me, it was as if he was not looking at a woman but at a corpse.” Shui Se’s body trembled involuntarily. “Who directly uses killing moves the moment they sense something is wrong? He didn’t understand pity at all! I couldn’t even fight him; I couldn’t escape either! At his age, his martial arts shouldn’t be that advanced! I thought only our sect leader was that demoni…” She caught herself and stopped in time, “Ahem, that exceptionally talented and invincible…”
Hua Yan reminded her, “It’s fine. The sect leader and Protector Qi are not around these days.”
“Ahem… In short, I almost died at his hands. If it weren’t for that Tingjian Manor disciple who saw him attacking me and protected me with his life, you wouldn’t see me sitting here now.” Shui Se ran her delicate fingers over her neck. “Look here if you don’t believe me.”
Hua Yan leaned in and saw a faint white scar on Shui Se’s neck. Though it was usually concealed with powder, up close, it was clear that it had been a gruesome wound.
“Even I wasn’t spared by him. How could he possibly be interested in that foolish Qin Muyan?”
Hua Yan suddenly understood, “So that’s why you wore a veil every day last year…”
Shui Se sighed, “Do you think I wanted to? Wearing a veil in the summer like an idiot, I even got heat rash!” Shui Se couldn’t help but curse, “Damn Lu Chengsha! Is he even a man? I think he’s either impotent or a homosexual! I…” She proceeded to express her grievances against Lu Chengsha and his entire family.
Hua Yan: “…”
Shui Se glared at her, “What? I almost got killed by him and I can’t curse him?”
“…Please continue.”
- ••
Leaving Shui Se’s place, Hua Yan continued to inquire around. As Yu Ye had mentioned, most disciples within the sect had only heard of Lu Chengsha’s name but never seen him. They described him with various exaggerated features like three heads and six arms, a tiger’s back and bear’s waist, eyes like copper bells, and a nose like a bull demon. In short, he was depicted as a reincarnated demon, a god-like entity, far from human. The more Hua Yan listened, the more confused she became.
In the end, she was caught by an elder for another round of education.
Since her mother’s passing, the responsibility of teaching the Holy Maiden had fallen to several elders. The elder today was Elder Qu, the most extreme among them.
“Holy Maiden, you should spend less time with that boy Yu Ye next time. He’s leading you astray.” Elder Qu pounded his staff on the ground, deeply distressed, “How can our holy sect command respect if its morals are corrupt?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Holy Maiden, I will ask you a few questions, and you must answer immediately.”
Hua Yan continued to respond nonchalantly, “Mm-hmm.”
“If someone dares to offend or slander the Holy Maiden, what should be done?”
“Cut out their tongue and gouge out their eyes.”
“If a subordinate disobeys the Holy Maiden’s orders and acts on their own, what should be done?”
“Cut off their ears and chop off their hands.”
“If you encounter something or someone you desire, what should be done?”
“Take it. If it cannot be obtained, destroy or kill it.”
Elder Qu stroked his beard in satisfaction, “Good, the Holy Maiden has grasped the true essence of our sect. This last question, if you encounter someone from Tingjian Manor, what should be done?”
Hua Yan: “…Huh?”
Isn’t it usually about what to do if you encounter someone from a Zhengyi Sect??
Why is it different now?!
Can the question be changed on the spot?!
Hua Yan answered reluctantly, “If they are useless, kill them if they are enemies. If not enemies, harm them. If they are useful, lure them to our side, use them fully, and then silence them.”
Elder Qu: “Wrong!”
Hua Yan: “…???!!!”
Isn’t that the standard answer?! She had memorized it for a long time!
Elder Qu’s eyes flashed with a fierce light, and he said viciously, “For someone from Tingjian Manor, kill them if they are enemies. If not enemies, find any way to kill them—poison them, drown them, boil them…”
“Hey, this isn’t just about killing anymore!”
“…Eat their flesh raw, drink their blood, pull out their tendons, grind their bones to dust, leave no trace!”
Speechless…
Elder Qu, spitting furiously as he waved his staff, launched into another tirade against Tingjian Manor. Typically, this would last for at least an hour and would usually be followed by his lecture on “How to Become an Outstanding Demoness.”
Elder Qu had always despised the Zhengyi Sects. It was said that he lost a leg to someone from Tingjian Manor and his wife also died because of them, thus his deep and bitter hatred for Tingjian Manor.
Hua Yan sighed deeply in her heart.
Save me!
Can’t she get a chance to be a good person?!