Lu Chengsha ultimately dared not enter the Demonic Sect, as if bidding her farewell from afar. He stopped several miles away from the sect, with Hua Yan feeling a bit reluctant to part. She tried to entice him further: “Actually, my sect isn’t as terrifying as people say! Most of the horror stories are just exaggerations from outsiders. There aren’t any real monsters or demons. Why don’t you come in and take a look? I can show you my room! It’s very different from yours!”
Her words were indeed very tempting.
Hua Yan continued her efforts: “I can also take you around the places where I grew up! I’ve told you about my childhood before, and I can show you all those places. I had a lot of secret treasures when I was little, and I even buried a treasure chest…”
Before she could finish, Xie Yingxian suddenly lifted his eyes and looked over, as if about to speak.
Lu Chengsha was extremely wary of him, and a thread of killing intent uncontrollably seeped out.
Xie Yingxian smiled and said, “Alright, alright, I won’t say anything. You two sort it out yourselves. I have other matters to attend to.” With that, he led the person escorting Yu Ye away.
Only after he left did the killing intent slowly dissipate.
Lu Chengsha said, “I’m afraid I can’t hold back…”
Hua Yan blushed and asked, “Can’t hold back what?”
Lu Chengsha replied, “…killing someone.”
Hua Yan responded, “…oh.”
What a dull answer.
She thought for a moment and said, “Haven’t you already decided that one’s origin doesn’t determine their goodness or badness? While there are quite a few bad seeds in our sect, thanks to the leader’s restraints, there aren’t many truly evil ones. If you encounter someone you think should be killed, I won’t stop you.”
Her sect was like this, unlike the righteous path, it always followed the law of the jungle.
Respect was given to the strong, and those who could fight had the right to speak.
If it weren’t for the constant pressure and threats from the righteous path, they would have likely split into even more factions through internal strife. In the early years, despite Xie Yingxian’s martial talents, there were still those who were dissatisfied, thinking he was too young and not recognized by the previous leader. They found every excuse not to acknowledge him and even plotted to assassinate him. Xie Yingxian killed a few as a warning to the rest, and with enough executions combined with a mix of kindness and severity, no one dared to defy him.
Their sect’s authority was usually established this way, so Hua Yan was never too worried about Lu Chengsha. He didn’t need to kill; just standing there should command enough respect that no one would dare provoke him.
Lu Chengsha seemed to hesitate for a moment and said, “…they might blame you.”
Hua Yan was taken aback. “Huh? Why would they blame me?”
Lu Chengsha replied, “If I hurt someone.”
It took Hua Yan a while to realize that he was using the mindset of Tingjian Manor to judge their Zhengyi Sect.
When Lu Chengsha took her into Tingjian Manor, if Hua Yan hurt someone, the blame would definitely fall on Lu Chengsha. He probably thought that if he went in with Hua Yan, conflicts with others in the Demonic Sect would be inevitable, and if he couldn’t help but hurt or kill someone, she might be troubled because of it.
Hua Yan couldn’t help but laugh. “What are you worrying about? It’s different here! As long as you avoid the elders, even if conflicts arise with others, they won’t blame me…”
She felt a bit embarrassed to admit that even if it involved the elders, Xie Yingxian would handle it.
After all, in their Zhengyi Sect, ranks and seniority were superficial. Ultimately, everything came down to who was stronger. If the sect leader wielded enough power, they could decide life and death, and no one would care even if they were a tyrant.
“Besides, with your current level of lightness skill, you can definitely avoid being noticed by others, right?”
“Come on, I just want to talk to you! If it really becomes unbearable, you can leave at any time!”
“Come on, Great Hero Lu, take a brave little step!”
She hadn’t called him Great Hero Lu for a long time, and now it sounded somewhat nostalgic.
Lu Chengsha pursed his lips and said, “Actually, I don’t know how long I can hold back…”
Hua Yan suggested, “Why don’t you leave your sword behind, oh wait, you can still kill barehanded. Let me think…”
Lu Chengsha’s voice carried a hint of embarrassment. “That’s not what I meant.”
Hua Yan asked, “Huh? Oh…” She caught on, her cheeks turning slightly red. This time, she was probably right about what he meant. “Why do you have to hold back so much? If it’s really too hard… you can blindfold yourself!”
Lu Chengsha remained silent.
Hua Yan thought he was just embarrassed, and was about to speak when she heard Lu Chengsha say, “Even then…”
He struggled with his words, “…it would be too much.”
Hua Yan immediately said, “Are you blushing? What are you thinking about right now? Are you thinking about me?”
She really wanted to see!
Lu Chengsha closed his eyes, listening to his own heartbeat, and answered honestly, “…Yes.”
“I think your grandfather will agree eventually. Just advance a bit for now!” Hua Yan couldn’t help but laugh again. She always liked to laugh, but now even more so. “You don’t want to be separated from me, right?”
Lu Chengsha felt his principles gradually yielding for her.
Although those principles weren’t originally his but were instilled in him by Tingjian Manor, he was, after all, standing on the land of the Demonic Sect’s stronghold.
When he was young, Lu Zhenxing had told him that one day, when his swordsmanship was perfected, he should bring his sword to the Demonic Sect’s stronghold and use all his learned skills to slay all the evildoers. He had always used the strictest methods to push him, and Lu Chengsha had always strived toward this goal.
They had indeed made the Demonic Sect’s stronghold seem like a terrifying demon’s lair, as if it were a dark nightmarish cave, but in reality, it looked like a small border town with yellow sand swirling around. There was even a conspicuous flag on the city wall that bore the word “Righteousness.”
No matter how he looked, he couldn’t see anything special.
Outside the city gate, there were many disciples of the Demonic Sect in green robes coming and going. Some were idling, some were joking around, but if a person of the rank of a purple-robed hall master or above passed by, they would immediately straighten up, pretending to be serious, only to revert to their previous behavior once the person left.
It was somewhat similar to Qingcheng Sect.
Disciples also had arguments, fought, and even competed to see whose poisonous insects were deadlier.
He used to not care at all. In Lu Chengsha’s eyes, people from the Demonic Sect were no different from the dead. But now, he couldn’t help but stop and observe, wanting to know what kind of environment she grew up in.
He didn’t trust the Demonic Sect; he just wanted to try to trust her.
Since she could grow up here and become who she was, this place might have some redeeming qualities after all.
As Hua Yan led him through, the disciples knelt on one knee from afar, placing their palms over their hearts, respectfully greeting her, “Welcome, Holy Maiden!”
She waved her hand and floated past, her skirt fluttering, a bright spot in the yellow sand.
Lu Chengsha instinctively placed his hand over his heart.
Then he heard the disciples below talking.
“Don’t you think the Holy Maiden is getting more and more beautiful?”
“Nonsense! Of course our Holy Maiden is beautiful! But who are you to judge her?”
“Hehe, it was my mistake, my mistake. Only our leader can evaluate her!”
“Forget about that Lu Chengsha, who knows where he died. I think our leader and the Holy Maiden are the perfect match.”
“I think so too! Hiss… why does it suddenly feel a bit cold?”
Lu Chengsha: “…”
He struggled very hard to keep his hand from gripping his sword hilt.
Hua Yan didn’t know what others were saying. She walked very slowly after entering the sect, afraid that Lu Chengsha couldn’t keep up. After all, their Demonic Sect stronghold was quite large and maze-like. She had grown up here and didn’t think much of it, but outsiders would easily get lost on their first visit.
Later, she learned that they deliberately built the sect this way to prevent enemy invasions.
She walked nervously back to her courtyard, dismissed everyone else, and after waiting for a while, she softly asked, “Are you here?”
Lu Chengsha replied, “Yes.” His voice surprisingly had a hint of unhappiness.
Hua Yan thought he was still reluctant and said, “Do you dislike our sect so much?”
Lu Chengsha couldn’t explain the reason and simply said, “…No.”
Hua Yan said, “I went to Tingjian Manor to find you back then! This isn’t fair! Cheer up! This is the place where I grew up. Originally, my parents lived here too…” She pointed to a few side rooms opposite the courtyard. “After they passed away, I never visited. I always felt that seeing their belongings would remind me of them. My parents were very kind to me when I was young! Oh, do you want to visit my parents’ graves? They are buried together, not far from here, and the road is usually empty.”
Lu Chengsha immediately said, “Let’s go.”
Hua Yan smiled, “Then let’s go!”
After walking for a while, she heard Lu Chengsha ask, “What does it feel like to be loved by your parents?”
Hua Yan paused, remembering that Lu Chengsha didn’t have parents in his childhood. She felt she had misspoken but noticed that Lu Chengsha didn’t seem sad or upset; he was simply curious. She thought for a moment and said, “It means they were very, very good to me. They tried to satisfy whatever I wanted and hardly ever scolded or hit me. Although my mother would occasionally poke my head, I knew it was for my own good. They loved each other very much too, though they sometimes quarreled. But I could feel they truly cherished each other! Unfortunately… but I learned a lot from them and am very grateful now.”
As she spoke, she wondered what Lu Chengsha was feeling and felt a bit nervous. She hesitated and added, “In the future, I…”
Before she could finish, Lu Chengsha’s voice came through.
“In the future, you’ll have me.”
Hua Yan’s heart skipped a beat. She raised her head towards the voice, but then laughed and said, “What big talk! You don’t even dare to show your face, and you say you’ll be there for me! If you’re capable, come out and say that to me face-to-face!”
She was just habitually challenging him.
But unexpectedly, Lu Chengsha really jumped down from above, a pitch-black hairband covering his eyes, making him look almost blind under the bright sky. It was quite amusing.
Hua Yan couldn’t help but laugh out loud, then she said in disbelief, “You don’t mind showing yourself like this?”
He had only met Xie Yingxian for a few days!
And now he’s already influenced by him!?
Lu Chengsha knew she was staring at him and seemed a bit uncomfortable. He adjusted the hairband over his eyes and said, “It’s not that…” He paused, “Meeting your parents while hiding doesn’t seem right.”
Hua Yan read between the lines and felt a bit flustered, a rare moment of girlish shyness.
She had found a young hero from the righteous path. She wondered if her mother would be angry. Her mother seemed to dislike the righteous path, but Lu Chengsha was the son of Lu Huaixian and very strong. Her mother shouldn’t dislike him that much… After all, the most important thing was that she liked him!
Thinking this, Hua Yan walked over and held Lu Chengsha’s hand, saying, “Follow me.”
Lu Chengsha originally wanted to say that even though his eyes were covered, he could still discern directions if she told him, but feeling the soft hand of the girl holding his, he swallowed his words.
The path wasn’t long, and they soon arrived at the cemetery. Her mother had originally planned to be buried in the sect’s cemetery for leaders and holy maidens, but she insisted on being buried with her father. Since their sect didn’t have strict rules against it, her mother got her wish.
The tombstone was clean and free of dust, with offerings, fruit plates, and incense burners regularly maintained.
Hua Yan bowed and offered incense. As she was about to speak, she noticed Lu Chengsha also bowed. Though he couldn’t see, he found the direction accurately, so she lit another stick of incense for him.
She watched Lu Chengsha offer incense to her parents, feeling a complex emotion.
It felt as if they had already received her parents’ approval, making their playful wedding seem real. Although she knew it was an illusion, it brought a sense of comfort.
Hua Yan silently said a few words to her parents in her heart.
Lu Chengsha slowly placed the incense in the burner, his fingers inevitably getting some ash.
Hua Yan took his hand and brushed off the ash. Just as she was about to speak, Lu Chengsha said first, “…When can I marry you openly?”
She was startled, “…??? Why are you thinking about that all of a sudden! That’s probably a long way off.”
Hua Yan pondered over it. First, they needed to deal with Lu Zhenxing, then handle the elders in the sect, and finally, get the world to accept that their Zhengyi Sect wasn’t so evil. And lastly, figuring out how to manage the marriage itself was still a question.
A marriage alliance between the Zhengyi Sect and Tingjian Manor was honestly unimaginable.
In short, each step was a daunting task.
Lu Chengsha said in a dejected tone, “Oh.”
Why are you so dissatisfied! Do you think I don’t want to marry you?
If it weren’t for so many unresolved issues, she’d be more than eager to marry him now!
Lu Chengsha added, “I want to marry you.”
Hua Yan couldn’t help but say, “By your logic, haven’t you already married me?”
Lu Chengsha grasped her hand and said in a low voice, “But they don’t know.”
He didn’t know how to explain. He really didn’t like hiding things. Even in this situation, he wanted others to know that they were married and had a bond. They weren’t unattached, nor would they be with anyone else.
Hua Yan never expected that he would want a formal recognition even more than she did. It was she who had been angry when rumors about him being entangled with various female heroes spread.
“Who are you referring to by ‘they’? Surely not the whole world! Do you want to post a public notice announcing that we are not only entangled but have secretly committed to each other?”
Lu Zhenxing would be furious! He definitely would be!
Lu Chengsha thought for a moment, seriously considering the feasibility, but ultimately shook his head. “I was just… venting.”
“Actually, there’s another way.” Hua Yan blushed, recalling a terrible idea from Xie Yingxian.
Lu Chengsha asked, “What is it?”
Hua Yan rubbed her face and whispered, “How about you go back and lie to them, saying I’m pregnant with your child, and see if that works? I’m just a weak woman, surely your righteous sects will take responsibility, right?”
Lu Chengsha: “!!…???”