“Forget it, forget it, it’s all in the past,” Hua Yan waved her hand dismissively, showing her magnanimity, then looked eagerly at Xie Yingxian. “When are you going out to deal with him?”
Having seen countless bizarre maneuvers from Xie Yingxian, Hua Yan had an almost blind confidence in him.
Although his methods were unconventional, there was nothing he couldn’t handle from childhood to adulthood.
Xie Yingxian raised the chain in his hand, his slender eyes slightly curving in an innocent manner, “Miss, I am currently a prisoner.”
Hua Yan offered eagerly, “Do you need me to help you escape?”
Xie Yingxian immediately refused, “No need, thank you.”
Hua Yan suddenly remembered, “What about Protector Qi, Ning Yin, and Jiang Lan? Weren’t they with you?”
Xie Yingxian replied as if it were obvious, “They’re busy.”
“Busy with what?”
“Many things,” Xie Yingxian continued to sprawl bonelessly, “I’m the one having a hard time, having to wait here for them.”
Hua Yan was just about to say how lying here wasn’t hard at all when she heard Xie Yingxian let out a light hiss.
“Are you hurt? Ah… were you really seriously injured by that Thousand Pound Sword Formation?” Hua Yan suddenly recalled the rumors she’d heard at Guanshan Residence and couldn’t help but lean in for a closer look. The dungeon’s poor lighting made it hard to see if Xie Yingxian was indeed injured.
The next moment, she felt a sharp pain on her forehead.
Hua Yan covered her forehead, “Why did you flick my forehead!”
Xie Yingxian withdrew his finger and raised an eyebrow, “I haven’t bathed in days. Aren’t you afraid of the smell, getting so close?”
Hua Yan grunted twice, “Injured is injured, no need to be so stubborn.” She took out two bottles of medicine from her pocket and handed them over, “See if any of these are useful.”
“No need, it’s a minor issue,” Xie Yingxian didn’t even look and slumped back. In the cramped dungeon, his gray clothes blended perfectly, making it impossible to tell he was a Demon Sect Leader unless you knew him.
The leader of Tiancan Sect was supposed to have special attire. Whether attending grand ceremonies or daily patrols, there were specific sets of dark purple leader’s robes, along with matching accessories, including hair ornaments, hairbands, belts, earrings, and even face tattoos, all designed to exude both majesty and wickedness, making people fear to look directly at him. The previous leader loved those flamboyant outfits, and Hua Yan often saw a flash of purple floating around when she was a child.
But Xie Yingxian found the outfit uncomfortable, so ever since he took over, he had never worn it, opting instead for his loosely worn gray robe, wandering around. Sometimes, when he was bored, he would stroll around the nearby border towns, sitting by the roadside chatting with vendors, becoming so friendly that he was often warmly invited to join them.
Of course, the outcome usually was either being dragged away by his two maids under the threat of death, being taken away by Hua Yan’s unreasonable pestering, or having Protector Qi descend from the sky, scaring everyone else away.
Hua Yan sometimes felt he might really not want to be the leader of the Demon Sect.
Just like she didn’t really want to be the holy maiden of the Demon Sect.
Whenever she thought of this, Hua Yan had a feeling of “Ah, the Zhengyi Sect is doomed.”
Sigh.
“Why are you sighing? I don’t plan on dying, and our sect isn’t going to fall apart that easily…” Xie Yingxian tossed another crispy sugar candy into his mouth, grimacing a bit but still looking lazy. He suddenly asked, “Where are you staying now?”
Hua Yan hesitated for a moment and replied, “At an inn.”
“Which one?”
He asked so abruptly that Hua Yan didn’t have time to think. The next moment, she heard Xie Yingxian say confidently, “The Dongfeng Buye Inn, right? Come on, tell me, whose heart did you deceive this time?”
“…”
Hua Yan instinctively defended herself, “I did no such thing!”
“Mm?” Xie Yingxian looked at her expression, the corner of his mouth twitching, and without missing a beat, he continued, “What’s there to be embarrassed about? I noticed when you walked in, is your internal energy sealed or dissipated? It’s unsafe for you to be alone, finding someone to sacrifice themselves for you is a bit more reassuring. So, which disciple from the Five Great Sects is it? Surely, you aren’t worse than Shui Se, or Aunt Nian will be very upset.”
Xie Yingxian was sharp since childhood and very good at eliciting information, causing Hua Yan’s lies to be frequently exposed in front of him, making her instinctively less capable of fabricating stories when facing him.
“If you don’t tell me, I’ll guess. Tingjian Manor?”
Hua Yan was startled.
Xie Yingxian was also taken aback, “Did I guess right on the first try? Could it be someone from the Lu family… Lu Chengsha?”
Hua Yan denied vehemently, “No!”
Xie Yingxian, “So it really is.”
Hua Yan, “I told you it’s not!”
Xie Yingxian said mercilessly, “Is there any point in lying to me?”
Hua Yan, feeling defeated, lowered her head, “Alright…”
Xie Yingxian looked gratified, like a father watching his daughter grow up, and his tone became more cheerful, “Not bad, not bad, our young lady has grown up. Before I left, you didn’t even know who Lu Chengsha was, and now you’ve managed to deceive him.” Seeing the hesitation on Hua Yan’s face, Xie Yingxian toned down his teasing a bit and smiled, “How is he?”
Hua Yan spoke truthfully, “… He’s quite good.”
“In what way?”
“Well… he’s a righteous hero, very skilled, very upright, and has a good temper.”
Xie Yingxian looked skeptical, “Are you sure you’re talking about Lu Chengsha?”
Hua Yan was about to argue when she suddenly saw a flash in Xie Yingxian’s eyes, his expression changing slightly.
He sat up straight, placing his index finger to his lips in a “shh” gesture and whispered, “Someone’s coming.”
Hua Yan instantly tensed.
Soon, footsteps could be heard at the end of the prison corridor.
Hua Yan swallowed a Breath Concealing Pill, hiding her presence, and crouched in a corner, motionless. In the dim light of the dungeon, she saw that the visitor was Ling Tianxiao, the head of Dangshan Sect.
His black face and white hair, etched with deep lines, appeared even more menacing and terrifying in the dim light.
Hua Yan couldn’t help but think that if one were to judge by appearance alone, this was what the Demon Sect Leader should look like!
Ling Tianxiao entered Xie Yingxian’s cell and spoke with a voice that carried both authority and menace, “Demon Xie, are you still unwilling to confess the truth?”
Xie Yingxian acted as if he had just seen the light, raising his hand to shield his eyes, a smile playing at his lips. He responded lazily, “Confess what? Oh, Master Ling, if there’s no more wine or meat, this Demon Sect Leader might starve to death in your prison by tomorrow.”
Ling Tianxiao seemed to ignore his jest, grabbing Xie Yingxian by the collar and lifting him up, “Demon Xie, if you confess, I can grant you a quick death after the Sword-seeking Tournament.”
Being lifted made Xie Yingxian’s frame look even thinner, his hands hanging limply at his sides, the chains rattling.
However, his lazy demeanor remained unchanged.
Xie Yingxian said curiously, “I know nothing about what you’re talking about. How can I confess? For example, during the Miyin Dragon Cave massacre, I was only a few years old. Am I to be held responsible for that too?”
Ling Tianxiao threw him against the wall, the chains clanging loudly.
“Debts of the father are to be paid by the son. The massacre committed by Xie Changyun and the Flame Demoness must be answered for.”
Xie Yingxian slid down the wall, coughing as he slumped to the ground, laughing lazily, “My father didn’t like me. I clean up his mess, and now I have to die for him. Who will grant me justice? How about this, Master Ling, let’s make a deal. I’ll trade my life for half of the Tiancan Sword Manual and two of our sect’s life-prolonging treasures. If that’s not enough, we can negotiate further…”
Ling Tianxiao hesitated for a moment before saying, “Demon Xie, your flowery words are useless. Even without this incident, the records of your Demon Sect’s numerous crimes are extensive. Many innocent people have died at the hands of your disciples.”
Xie Yingxian casually replied, “Our Demon Sect disciples haven’t died any less at the hands of your righteous sects.”
Ling Tianxiao pushed his sword out of its sheath with his thumb, his brows furrowing, making his face look even more terrifying, “Sophistry and silver-tongued.”
Xie Yingxian said, “Alright, bring me wine and meat, and I’ll confess. Everything is my doing, how about that?”
Ling Tianxiao: “…”
Xie Yingxian continued to press his luck, “And it would be great if you could get me a bucket of water to wash myself, it’s quite uncomfortable otherwise.”
Ling Tianxiao seemed to finally realize that communication with Xie Yingxian was futile. He walked out, locking the cell door again, “Demon Xie, I advise you not to be so quick-witted. When those who wish to execute you come after the Sword-seeking Tournament, it won’t be this simple.”
After Ling Tianxiao left, Hua Yan immediately emerged from her hiding spot, shocked, “Are you okay? Such a huge sacrifice! Do you really not want any medicine?”
Xie Yingxian lay there like a pancake, “He didn’t hit me that hard. I’m not going to die.”
Hua Yan couldn’t help but ask, “Are there worse ones?”
“Of course there are. You have no idea how lively it’s been for me lately. Every few days, various heroes from the martial world come by, saying and doing all sorts of things, some even just to sightsee.” Xie Yingxian grabbed another crispy sugar candy, chewing it while furrowing his brow. “It’s good, though. Saves me a lot of trouble… Do you have any more snacks?”
Hua Yan patted her pockets, “No more, they’re all gone!”
Xie Yingxian looked at her for a moment and said, “You seem to have gained weight.”
Hua Yan was shocked, “…???”
Xie Yingxian continued, “Is the food in the south that good?”
Hua Yan was still in shock, “Don’t talk nonsense! Where have I gained weight?”
“Alright, alright, you haven’t gained weight. You’re just more… rounded.” Xie Yingxian smiled, “Being rounded is good. Anyway, you don’t need to worry about my situation. Staying by Lu Chengsha’s side, as long as he doesn’t find out, should be pretty safe for you.”
“Go on, go on, it’s getting late. Better leave before anyone else comes.”
Hua Yan sighed, nodded, and after some thought, left a bottle of medicine behind, “Just don’t really die, okay!”
“Got it.” Xie Yingxian’s brows relaxed, and his fox-like eyes lifted slightly in a lazy yet charming arc, “By the way, I’ve noted the grudge against Yu Ye for tricking you.”
Hua Yan waved at him, “Take care of yourself first!”
***
Getting in was troublesome, but getting out was easy. During the Sword-seeking Tournament, the guards were indeed a bit lax.
Hua Yan retraced her steps without alerting anyone, even managing to return the female disciple’s outfit and remove her disguise.
Unfortunately, by the time she snuck back, the performance of the Qiqin Tianxia was nearly over. Rushing to the venue was already too late.
Hua Yan felt a bit regretful, thinking she would have to wait another three years to see it again.
Who knows where she would be in three years!
Hua Yan leisurely walked back to the Dongfeng Inn, buying two more bags of crispy sugar candies, thinking she could share one with Lu Chengsha. But suddenly, someone grabbed her arm.
Could it be those two men again, haunting her?
Hua Yan was startled, flipping her silk fan out from her sleeve. Turning around, she saw Lu Chengsha’s face.
Huh?
Lu Chengsha’s face remained expressionless, but the grip on her arm was quite firm, making Hua Yan gasp. Lu Chengsha abruptly let go of her arm.
He seemed like he wanted to say something to Hua Yan.
Hua Yan rubbed her arm and blinked, waiting for him to speak. After a while, she finally heard him let out a sigh of relief and say, “Let’s go.”
What exactly did he want to say!
Wait a minute, shouldn’t he still be at the Sword-seeking Tournament at this time?
Hua Yan immediately asked, “Why are you here now?”
Lu Chengsha replied, “I was looking for you.”
Hua Yan let out an “ah” and then remembered that she was supposed to meet him after talking with Qin Muyan, but ended up disappearing for half a day because of her visit to the Dangshan dungeon. Feeling a bit guilty, she said, “I was just wandering around this afternoon…”
Something light brushed over her head, and she heard Lu Chengsha’s voice above her, his clear voice sounding deep and reassuring, “As long as you’re alright.”