Chapter 23: Umbrella

Yan Chaosheng wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and struggled to stand up from the ground. The Red Python let out a cold laugh and struck at him. Yan Chaosheng tried to dodge the attack, but the Red Python’s body was too large. The blow landed heavily on Yan Chaosheng’s chest, nearly shattering his internal organs.

“I command you to kneel!”

The Red Python spewed out a mouthful of red mist. Some invisible force bound Yan Chaosheng, forcing him to his knees. Yan Chaosheng’s clothes were in disarray, the veins on the back of his hands bulging as he pressed hard against the ground, refusing to bend his knees. His hands were almost sinking into the ground, the bones dislocating.

The Red Python was clearly annoyed, torturing him slowly.

Perhaps it was in the nature of demons to value dignity above all else, insisting on making others submit. One forcing the other to kneel, while the other resisted to the death.

Liu Shuang watched anxiously, unsure whether to hope for Yan Chaosheng to defeat the Red Python, or for the Red Python to kill Yan Chaosheng.

After all, Yan Chaosheng was helping her protect Taichuan City. If he was killed by the Red Python, she would have nowhere to run. Just as she was about to go out, Xi Yun’er grabbed her sleeve: “Immortal, what are you going to do?”

“Save him.” Mainly to save herself and the people of Taichuan City. Fighting the Red Python two-on-one now was better than facing it alone later.

Xi Yun’er said, “Let these two demons fight each other. Don’t go out yet, Immortal. Wait until they are exhausted, then we can deal with whoever survives. Bi Xun has no spirit core, each transformation drains his demonic power. We just need to wait a little longer.”

Her tone was surprisingly calm as she watched the Red Python attack Yan Chaosheng with hatred.

Liu Shuang brushed off her hand: “Miss Xi, you’re overthinking. If Bi Xun wins, I won’t be able to defeat him at all.”

Xi Yun’er: “…”

Liu Shuang said, “Hide well, don’t come out no matter what.”

With that, Liu Shuang flew out, throwing a bright blue jade bone umbrella. The umbrella opened, blocking the Red Python’s falling tail.

The jade bone umbrella landed in Liu Shuang’s hand. The blue umbrella with twenty-four ribs spun like a blooming bright blue flower. Liu Shuang gripped the handle, feeling it grow slightly warm. The jade bone umbrella seemed very excited, igniting with fighting spirit.

This was the original body’s immortal weapon, the “Crimson Pearl Umbrella”. It was specially forged for the original when she turned 100 years old. Considering his daughter’s unreliable low spiritual power, Chishui Chong didn’t consider letting Chishui Liu Shuang use offensive immortal weapons, focusing all efforts on life-saving defensive ones instead.

Before leaving, Fei Liu had specially reminded Liu Shuang how to use it, fearing she might forget. The Crimson Pearl Umbrella was tough and could withstand several strikes from the Red Python.

Bi Xun’s attack landed on the Crimson Pearl Umbrella. Seeing the immortal weapon unscathed, he looked down at Liu Shuang who was shielding Yan Chaosheng: “So there’s even an immortal clan member mixed in? Hmph, overestimating yourself, seeking death.”

With that, he no longer held back. His snake tail slammed down. The Crimson Pearl Umbrella shook violently. Though still without cracks, it looked like it wouldn’t last much longer.

Now, forget using spiritual power – Bi Xun could crush them to death with just his physical body.

What to do when you can’t win? Run of course! Liu Shuang summoned the Crimson Pearl Umbrella to protect them in the air as she hurried to support Yan Chaosheng: “Let’s get out of here first.”

The young man looked up, his eyes red, and staggered to his feet. The upper half of his clothes were torn. Under the pale blue umbrella, the light shining through dyed the black scales on the young man’s body a cold, eerie color. Fresh blood flowed from between the scales.

He was badly injured.

Liu Shuang’s hand touched his arm. Yan Chaosheng stiffened, his body trembling, then violently slapped away Liu Shuang’s hand.

Liu Shuang winced in pain and glared at him: “What are you doing?!”

Yan Chaosheng said, “Get lost, I don’t need you to save me.”

Liu Shuang almost laughed in anger. This wasn’t about saving you, how conceited. But there was no time to explain. Seeing the Crimson Pearl Umbrella about to give out, forcing it to resist further would only cause it to shatter. It trembled as it returned to Liu Shuang’s hand. Just as she caught the closed umbrella, she found herself face-to-face with an enormous snake head. Her eyes widened in shock.

Ah! She should never have listened to Yan Chaosheng and come into the city to look for an exit. This wasn’t finding an exit, it was seeking death!

The snake’s mouth opened, about to swallow Liu Shuang.

Liu Shuang’s reaction had never been so fast. She knew that in this situation, no one could protect her. Her fingers quickly formed a seal, and a pale blue light shot into the Red Python’s eyes. She spread her arms and flew backwards, barely managing to stop Bi Xun for a moment.

The giant python hissed, flicking its tongue, its snake eyes hit by the attack and glowing red with madness.

Liu Shuang’s attack didn’t do much damage, but poking someone in the eye was clearly very insulting. The giant python momentarily forgot about Yan Chaosheng, enraged and chasing after Liu Shuang.

Liu Shuang wanted to cry but had no tears. She turned and ran.

Wherever the giant python passed, the rocks and pavilions of the garden collapsed. The beautifully landscaped garden of the governor’s mansion was destroyed in an instant.

The Red Python had an invisible divine artifact as the formation’s eye. Liu Shuang’s immortal power dissipated bit by bit. The giant python’s tail wrapped around Liu Shuang’s waist, forcibly dragging her back from the air.

Liu Shuang felt like her waist was about to snap. She couldn’t catch her breath.

She struggled to reach for her storage bag, but the snake’s tail tightened. Forget reaching the storage bag, she could barely move at all.

The snake’s mouth was right in front of her eyes. In the next moment, a silver ring fell from the sky, tightly gripping the Red Python’s vital point.

Liu Shuang saw that behind the Red Python, the young man was standing up unsteadily. His face was covered in blood, almost obscuring his handsome features.

Yan Chaosheng opened his fingers and gripped tightly. The silver ring constricted, and the Red Python thrashed about, forced to release Liu Shuang.

Liu Shuang fell to the ground and quickly ran towards Yan Chaosheng.

Thank heavens, they still had the Ten Commandments Ring given by Father Chishui! Two against one was indeed better than fighting alone.

However, the Ten Commandments Ring could only bind and restrain, not kill enemies. Liu Shuang ran back to Yan Chaosheng’s side: “Let’s go, let’s go! While he’s trapped, we need to leave quickly and come up with another plan.”

Yan Chaosheng turned back, looking at her with an obscure expression.

“If the Red Python doesn’t die, we can’t leave. There’s a formation here. Only when it dies can we leave this city. Otherwise, no matter where we go, we’ll be found,” he said, staring at Liu Shuang. “Young Mistress, we need to kill it.”

“How do we kill it?” Liu Shuang looked up at him, hoping Yan Chaosheng would offer a solution to break the deadlock.

Seeing him staring at her without speaking, Liu Shuang pushed him: “Hey, say something! Bi Xun is about to break free.”

As the two looked at each other, Liu Shuang’s waist sash was hooked by a slender finger.

Yan Chaosheng exerted some force, pulling Liu Shuang closer to him.

The young man’s face was covered in blood, gravely injured and near death, but his tone was light and cold: “I need your help, Young Mistress.”

Liu Shuang urged him to speak quickly, while trying to pry his fingers off, dissatisfied. Although Yan Chaosheng was helping her save people, there was no need to get physical while talking!

Yan Chaosheng’s feelings were very complicated. He never thought that when facing the Red Python, the pampered Chishui Young Mistress would rush out to save him.

At the moment he thought he would be killed by the Red Python, she flew over, shielding him, a beautiful bright blue jade bone umbrella blooming like a flower.

But so what?

He had thought it was an ordinary demon, and that obtaining its spirit core would allow him to regain his lost cultivation. He never expected it to be Bi Xun, an ancient bloodline great demon.

Yan Chaosheng lowered his gaze. In a place she couldn’t see, his vertical pupils held killing intent.

His method, of course, was to let her die.

On Bi Xun’s territory, if they dragged this out, both would die.

Yan Chaosheng clearly knew that now was the best opportunity. If he killed the girl before him and absorbed all her vitality, he could regain the spiritual power he had painstakingly cultivated. No matter how weak Chishui Liu Shuang was, she still had the bloodline of an ancient immortal clan. His cultivation was lost because of her, so she should repay it! With spiritual power, what worry was there about not being able to kill Bi Xun who had lost his spirit core?

All of a demon’s cultivation is stored in a single spirit core. Yan Chaosheng had observed for a long time earlier and confirmed that Bi Xun had no spirit core, so he could only fight in his original form.

Yan Chaosheng’s eyes deepened as he calculated: If he killed Chishui Liu Shuang in Taichuan City, he could conveniently frame Bi Xun. This way, he would gain spiritual power and still be able to return to Kongsan to cultivate immortality.

The journey so far had been too difficult. If Chishui Liu Shuang died, it would fulfill his path of immortal cultivation.

The girl before him was completely unaware of the danger, subconsciously trusting him. Her eyes were pure, filled with confusion, as if wondering why he wasn’t continuing, what exactly was the “method” to kill the Red Python.

Yan Chaosheng thought, it’s a good thing… it’s a good thing she was raised too foolishly by Chishui Chong, to the point of not being wary of him at all.

She shouldn’t have come back to save him. His gaze hardened.

Only in this situation did he have a chance to steal her spiritual power.

Just as Yan Chaosheng’s fingers were about to move, the sound of flesh being pierced rang in his ears. He paused his action and looked up. Liu Shuang also turned to look.

They saw that the giant python, which had been bound by the Ten Commandments Ring, now had a light sword piercing through its vital point.

That light sword was held in a woman’s hand.

“Miss Xi…” Liu Shuang hadn’t expected Xi Yun’er to take this opportunity to stab her sword into Bi Xun’s body.

The giant python, which had been struggling frantically moments ago, suddenly fell silent.

Under everyone’s gaze, he transformed back into an elegant man. That sword was now piercing his heart.

His eyes were red, his hair black. His gaze was fixed only on Xi Yun’er before him.

“Do you want me dead so badly?”

Xi Yun’er seemed frightened, her hands trembling as she let go of the sword and stumbled backwards. Bi Xun gave a sorrowful smile and calmly pulled the sword from his heart.

Bi Xun said gently: “Yun’er, a mortal’s sword cannot kill me. Perhaps I’ll have to disappoint you.”

Xi Yun’er dared not look at him and quickly said to Liu Shuang: “Immortal, Immortal, kill him quickly! He’s injured and at the end of his rope. I can sense that his life is nearly over. Immortal, kill him quickly!”

Bi Xun stood stiffly, the smile gone from his lips.

The wind whistled by, stirring the hem of his bridegroom’s robes. His true form had been so powerful, yet in human form he looked fragile and pitiful.

“Why?” Bi Xun said. “Why are you doing this to me?”

“You’re a demon, you’ve harmed so many people, you deserve to die!” All the fear and panic Xi Yun’er had endured these days came pouring out recklessly today. “You forced me to this! I didn’t want to go so far, but you kept pestering me!”

“I cultivated for seven thousand years, never intending to harm anyone. Yun’er, I did it to keep you alive.”

Bi Xun stepped forward, but Xi Yun’er pushed him away.

Liu Shuang saw that Bi Xun, back in human form, still had a snake’s tail. He could barely maintain even his human body now.

Xi Yun’er looked at him with disgust: “If I had known your spirit core was such a filthy thing, I would never have wanted to know you, even if it killed me!”

Bi Xun’s face turned deathly pale. His lips quivered, unable to utter a word.

Xi Yun’er pulled out her hairpin and aimed it at her own abdomen: “Go die, go die right now, or I’ll pierce your spirit core and you won’t live either. Don’t you love me? You should be happy as long as I’m alive.”

With that, Xi Yun’er made to stab herself in the abdomen.

At the last moment, a hand grasped hers. The snake clan’s body temperature was always cold, so cold that Xi Yun’er’s fingers trembled.

Xi Yun’er looked up to see a beautiful, demonic face. Bi Xun said: “I’ll fulfill your wish. Don’t hurt yourself. I’ll fulfill your wish.”

Under Xi Yun’er’s joyful gaze, Bi Xun’s hand plunged into his own chest, gouging out a bright red heart.

“Look,” A tear rolled down Bi Xun’s eye. “A demon’s heart is the same as yours. Not dirty.”

Xi Yun’er stepped back in disgust, not even glancing at the heart in his palm. She quickly asked Liu Shuang: “Immortal, will he die like this?”

Liu Shuang looked at the bright red heart in Bi Xun’s hand and silently nodded.

Without his spirit core he could have barely survived, but with his heart carved out as well, there was no hope left. The handsome man in red robes fell, transforming into a red snake and closing his eyes.

The descendant of a seven-thousand-year-old python, who had endured countless heavenly tribulations and lonely years to reach this point – his corpse now covered nearly half the courtyard.

With no master to control it, the divine artifact dissipated. Gray skies began to rain, the barrier disappeared, and droplets fell on their skin, bringing a slight chill.

The people who had been controlled awoke and rushed to Xi Yun’er’s side: “Young Miss, are you alright?!”

Xi Yun’er shook her head and smiled: “I’m fine.”

She glanced at the Red Python’s corpse and said coldly: “Chop up this demon and throw it out to feed the wild dogs. As for him,” Xi Yun’er pointed at Yan Chaosheng, “he’s a demon too. Quickly find the city’s sorcerers and kill him.”

Almost all the citizens of the city had come to the governor’s mansion. Now no longer controlled, they turned their attention to Yan Chaosheng at Xi Yun’er’s reminder.

In the light rain, the young man’s tall body was exposed, his clothes in tatters, revealing black snake scales. Blood dripped down his body. His gaze was cold as he faced off against the city’s people.

The people retreated a step, wary: “Demon! There was actually a snake demon accomplice!”

“Kill him, kill him quickly!”

The citizens picked up broken stones from the mansion and began throwing them at him.

A sharp stone grazed Yan Chaosheng’s face, leaving a bloody scratch. Yan Chaosheng closed his eyes, knowing that in his weakened state he couldn’t fight against a city full of people and soldiers. He staggered and turned to leave.

Xi Yun’er said: “Chase him quickly, don’t let the demon escape.”

Liu Shuang held her umbrella silently.

Miss Xi’s forced marriage to the snake demon was pitiful, but both she and Yan Chaosheng had come to save people. Xi Yun’er had forced Bi Xun to his death, and now wanted to kill Yan Chaosheng too. Others might not know, but Xi Yun’er clearly understood everything, yet still chose to do this.

Human hearts were cold.

See, even with hearts, they were no different from herself.

Liu Shuang couldn’t be bothered to look at Xi Yun’er again and went to search for Yan Chaosheng.

Mortals alone could not kill Yan Chaosheng with his demonic bloodline. Trying would only result in casualties among Taichuan City’s people. With Bi Xun dead and Yan Chaosheng gravely injured, wasn’t this the opportunity she had been waiting for?

With the divine artifact’s restraints gone, her immortal power could finally be used again. Liu Shuang found Yan Chaosheng in an abandoned residence.

The young man sat in a corner, his gaze cold. The residence was sealed shut. Seeing his grave injuries and weakness, the citizens were trying to pry open the doors.

Liu Shuang passed through the wall and crouched down in front of him.

“Yan Chaosheng,” she called softly, a bit excited as she looked him over. “Are you alright?”

Of course, Liu Shuang knew this question was pointless to ask. The young man’s gaze was gloomy as he stared at the blood stains being washed away by the rain, not saying a word. He trembled slightly in pain.

The blood under him had almost formed a small puddle. Bare-chested, he gazed at his reflection in the bloody water.

It was awkward with him exposed like this. Liu Shuang had long wanted an excuse to take off the six layers of silly clothes. During the battle with the Red Python earlier, she hadn’t been strangled to death by Bi Xun, but had nearly suffocated in her clothes. An idea struck her and she said: “Wait a moment.”

Liu Shuang thought to herself, the citizens would break in soon. She couldn’t kill Yan Chaosheng in front of them.

There was time anyway. She’d take him away and kill him slowly. Ha ha! She could kill him however she wanted.

Finally down to one layer, she casually picked up the last piece she had removed and handed it to Yan Chaosheng.

Hurry up and put on the clothes so I can send you on your way.

Seeing Yan Chaosheng take it, Liu Shuang had no interest in watching him dress and immediately turned her back.

She held up her umbrella to shield herself, happily contemplating how to kill Yan Chaosheng once they were away from the citizens’ sight.

Yan Chaosheng hadn’t expected her to come looking for him. She asked softly: “Are you alright?”

He didn’t speak, staring at his blurry face in the bloody water.

After a while, rustling sounds could be heard.

In the human world’s heavy rain, from the corner of his eye he saw different colors flashing in the bloody water. He coldly raised his gaze to see the girl taking off layer after layer of clothes—

Pink, light purple, white gauze skirts…

Finally, there was a layer of dark blue immortal robes. She took off the dark blue robe, revealing a golden soft armor underneath as she turned back. Then he felt warmth on his body as the dark blue immortal robe was draped over him.

He heard the girl say softly: “Don’t worry, men can wear this color too.”

The girl’s wrist moved, opening the Crimson Pearl Umbrella. She turned her back, the umbrella shielding this small space and blocking the falling rain from the sky for him.

The dark blue immortal robe still held the girl’s warmth, covering the ugly, mottled black scales on his body.

Yan Chaosheng coldly raised his eyes to look.

The jade bone umbrella was large, perfectly sheltering him and her in this small corner.

The girl shielded him from the rain, not looking back.

Yan Chaosheng had wandered for countless years. This was the first time someone had held an umbrella for a demon like him.

Yan Chaosheng pressed his lips together and lowered his head in hatred.

She had seen him in every state, along with all the citizens. They truly deserved to die! Blood surged in his chest. Yan Chaosheng didn’t know if he should hate, rage, or…

He felt somewhat annoyed. Even if she did all this, he still wouldn’t forgive her or forget who had caused him such misery. Yan Chaosheng closed his eyes. He should have drained her spiritual power earlier!