Chapter 18

Before Liuyu informed Mo Lin with the jade tablet, the border army stationed at the Demon Ghost Wall had already reported the situation south of the Great Wall to the Extreme Night Palace.

One hour earlier.

Inside the Extreme Night Palace.

“The number of demons and ghosts appearing in Taiping City is seven or eight times more than usual. But it should be a small move by some of the celestial family clans from outside. From the current deployment, there’s no sign of crossing boundaries. If the Lord has no other orders, we will follow the usual practice and not interfere…”

The hall was illuminated by hanging lanterns, and the green-clad demon ghost, hidden behind a screen, lightly tapped the table with his fingers, but did not answer immediately.

The two brothers, Shentu and Yulei, who guarded the border, exchanged glances, quietly observing the main hall of the Extreme Night Palace, which they hadn’t seen for several months.

The hall was lavish, with a faint fragrance in the air.

It was different after marriage. The main hall was filled with traces of the Lord’s consort.

“Lift your filthy feet up!”

The mountain demon, who had hurried over, saw Shentu and Yulei in armor standing on the carpet in the hall. His vision darkened for a moment, and upon closer inspection, he saw their footprints all over the carpet.

He glared at them and snarled:

“How could you bring in dirty feet from outside and step all over the carpet? Do you know how expensive this carpet is? Next time, if you don’t take off your shoes before entering, you’re not allowed in the main hall!”

Shentu was stunned by the scolding and laughed:

“What’s with the strange habit? As for taking off shoes, I can do it, but after I do… do you dare stay in this room?”

The mountain demon was taken aback. Indeed, if Shentu were to remove his boots in front of the Lord, it would be akin to committing treason.

“Mountain Demon, when did you start caring about these things?” Even Yulei looked at him strangely. “Last time we were drinking, you didn’t say anything like this.”

— The rules at Jilingtai are all nonsense! They think we’re dirty? If I get the chance, I want to see just how clean she is!

Facing the stares of the two brothers, the mountain demon scratched his face and changed the subject:

“You just mentioned there are over a thousand demons and ghosts in Taiping City? Lord, the consort is in Taiping City, are we not going to take action this time?”

Shentu and Yulei were shocked.

The consort left the Nine Underworlds?

Through the gap in the two screens, the light from the glass lanterns flickered, casting shadows on the demon ghost’s bony, green-clad form, alternating between light and dark.

After a long silence, Mo Li spoke:

“She can handle it.”

Although he didn’t know what had happened within the Yin family that caused her to secretly plan things, since she had taken precautions, she must have already thought of a countermeasure. If he intervened rashly, it would disrupt her plan.

That said, Mo Li’s gaze still lingered on the jade tablet hanging at his waist.

The jade tablet remained silent, showing no reaction.

Yulei fell into silence for a moment before speaking:

“Actually… Lord, you should go. The demons and ghosts in the south are clearly being nurtured by those celestial family clans. Every now and then, they cause disturbances in several border cities, just to use the common people’s fear of demons and ghosts to strengthen their own power.”

Shentu furrowed his brows and said:

“So what? Should we mobilize forces for those common people who hate demons and ghosts? They won’t thank us. Besides, the Jade Faced Spider faction is eyeing us closely. If we weaken our power for those people, they won’t let go of the meat that’s already within reach.”

“It’s not just for the common people. It’s also for the reputation of our demon kind.”

“We act with integrity, why should we care about their opinions? Besides, what good reputation have we ever had in the eyes of the common people of the Great Zhao?”

“That’s exactly why we should seek change, not continue with this passive and conservative approach…”

The mountain demon remained noncommittal to the differing opinions of the two.

He didn’t understand the twists and turns of their argument, but he knew that whatever the Master commanded, he would follow.

Thus, his gaze fell upon Mo Li, who was reclining behind the screen, leaning on a four-legged table.

It wasn’t clear who he favored more, but he heard the Master’s voice slowly emerge:

“—You’re both too loud.”

Shen Tu and Yu Lei immediately fell silent, waiting for the Demon Lord’s instructions.

Mo Li understood that both arguments had merits for the Nine Hells, with the difference lying in whether they would choose a conservative or radical approach.

Because there were immortal families like Yinshan Qi supporting the Jade-Faced Spider in Taiping City, Mo Li had always been cautious in order to maintain balance in the Nine Hells.

However, today—Taiping City was under attack by demons.

Could it be related to Yinshan Qi?

Did Yinshan Qi know about the support for the Jade-Faced Spider?

Mo Lin lowered his gaze, focusing on the jade slip at his waist. He knew he had to make a decision. He lifted his eyes and looked toward Shen Tu.

“Let’s do it your way…”

Shen Tu straightened his back slightly and gave Yu Lei a smug look.

“… as your brother said, issue the order. Tonight, the Ten Thousand Demons will go on patrol. We move immediately without delay.”

Shen Tu was stunned, as was Yu Lei, their eyes wide with surprise.

Ten Thousand Demons on patrol?

Was this to quell the rebellious demons, or to destroy Taiping City?

Only the mountain demon noticed the jade slip at the Demon Lord’s waist glimmering.

Tsk.

It seemed that Nine Hells had already become the property of that young lady.

An hour later, Mo Lin, accompanied by Ten Thousand Demons, hovered over the cliff, assessing the situation before him.

The demons below were estimated to number over a thousand, hidden in the shadows of the night and the forest, swarming like ants. They were surrounding a central figure, attacking relentlessly, trying to devour the person in the middle.

The mountain demon raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t that Yinshan Qi?”

Having dealt with him before, the mountain demon recognized him instantly.

A red robe fluttered, and a jade bow gleamed like starlight, with a face somewhat resembling Liu Yu’s, though his presence among the demons lacked the formidable energy his niece had.

Even with female demons and protective guards around him, Yinshan Qi seemed flustered, losing his aim with his crossbow.

After months without seeing him, had he fallen so far?

The mountain demon’s smile widened as he looked up, noticing another figure on the edge of the cliff, standing face to face with a cultivator.

The cultivator wielded twin blades, their edges glowing with fire, the aura of the weapon carrying a violent, blood-scented wind, as the sound of clashing blades rang in the air, reminiscent of a battlefield.

This was the kind of pressure only an Eighth Realm cultivator could exert.

If one’s strength was inadequate, this weapon’s force alone could crush them.

The mountain demon’s expression grew serious. He had seen Liuyu’s attire when she left the Extreme Night Palace earlier, and now he recognized her. He couldn’t help but feel anxious for her.

“Master, should we send someone…”

“No need.”

After a long pause, Mo Lin finally shifted his gaze from Liuyu to the cliff below.

Liu Yu had sent him a message via jade slip, asking him to rescue Yinshan Qi from the thousands of demons below.

Since she was in Taiping City under a hidden identity, she naturally didn’t want to be involved with him. If Mo Lin acted rashly, it would only cause her trouble.

“Go down the cliff and save Yinshan Qi.”

Seeing Mo Lin move without hesitation toward the cliff, both Fang Fuchang and the hidden Yan Wushu relaxed their doubts.

It seemed that Mo Lin had come here tonight, not for the young woman, but for the demons of Luoming Mountain.

Among the unaligned demons in the Nine Hells, Luoming Mountain’s forces were some of the strongest.

Their leader, Teng Jian, commanded five thousand demons, who had never been incorporated into the Colorless City and had wandered in the mountains.

Thus, they were not as grateful to Mo Lin for freeing them from Colorless City as the majority of Nine Hells demons were. Instead, they remained wary of the young demon lord, neither enemies nor allies.

In contrast, the immortal families of Da Chao were trying to win Teng Jian’s favor, hoping he could do some “dirty work” for them.

Mo Lin had always maintained a detached attitude toward this, but today, he was finally planning to annihilate these demons who refused to submit to him…

“So this is the Ten Thousand Demons’ patrol I’ve heard of,” Liuyu said as she gazed at the vast shadowy figures under the night sky, smiling in awe.

“Truly magnificent. It’s worth the trip.”

Fang Fuchang’s palm, gripping the hilt of his sword, began to sweat slightly. He had to steady his grip, tightening his hold on his twin blades.

The battle between cultivators was often a matter of life and death. Sometimes, victory depended on instinct.

This time, his instincts told him that his opponent’s strength might surpass his own.

“Oh, and your bloodbath,” Liuyu added.

She shifted her gaze to the young man before her.

Mo Lin, bringing Ten Thousand Demons on patrol, had removed any worries she had. Now, she could fight freely.

“The Way of the Weapon is divided into four schools: the strategist, the tactician, the trickster, and the forceful one. The forceful one—thousands of soldiers, the thunderous movement of the wind, relying solely on the personal strength of the weapon’s wielder. You’re a direct subordinate of the Nine Fang family, a member of the Fang family, right?”

Liuyu had grown up with the eldest son of the Nine Fang family, but with so many family members, she hadn’t met them all, and Fang Fuchang was only a subordinate.

Fang Fuchang forced a smile. “Just a minor member of the Fang family. Since you know my identity, why not tell me your name?”

Liuyu tossed a piece of white jade from Yinshan Qi’s family railing, and, smiling sweetly through the white veil, said:

“I’ll tell you after we’re done fighting.”

It really is an infuriating tone.

The sword shadows, wrapped in flames, rained down from all directions. The moment they faced the swordsmanship of the Fang family, Liuyu felt the curtain that concealed her face and figure tear apart.

Hidden in the shadows, Yan Wushu was slightly stunned.

That face… although it wasn’t the face of Yinshan Liuyu, the figure seemed to resemble her by seventy to eighty percent.

Was it a coincidence?

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t speak; I will recognize your true identity.”

Taking advantage of the moment, Fang Fucang bit the blade of one of the extinguished fire blades, freeing his hand to grab the Liuli mirror shard from his chest that could see through disguises.

However, before he could bring it up, his peripheral vision caught a stone flying toward him.

Bang—!!

The only Liuli mirror shard, along with the Hanbai stone, was shattered. Furious, Fang Fucang abruptly looked up, only to feel a great shock in the next instant.

The girl was forming a seal with both hands, chanting:

“Water does not flow, trees give birth to sprigs, all the arts in the world are sealed with Qi—curse seal, the sea of Yang veins.”

Thump, thump.

As Fang Fucang suddenly felt his limbs and spine stiffen, his eyes widened, and his blood seemed to freeze in that moment. His heart pounded wildly in his chest, unable to bear the pressure.

Qi is born from the Qi Sea, circulating through the body via the eight extraordinary meridians.

At that moment, his Yang vein’s Qi Sea was actually sealed by this girl.

Cultivators can lose their limbs, eyes, and ears, but they cannot lose their Qi Sea.

In an instant, Fang Fucang was enveloped by a great sense of fear and impending death, but the girl didn’t waste any time. The moment his Qi Sea was sealed, she broke through the soldier formation he had set and stabbed a stone sword straight toward his heart.

Poof—

Yan Wushu, hearing the sound of flesh and blood being pierced by the sword, couldn’t help but frown.

In the great dynasty of the Da Chao Immortal family, there were hundreds of thousands of clans, but this technique to seal Qi… he had never heard of it.

A cultivator at the eighth level who could seal another’s Qi?

He needed to immediately send this information back to Xiandu Yujing.

Fang Fucang was dead. Yan Wushu knew he was no match for the girl, so he took a few steps back and quickly disappeared into the depths of the forest.

Liuyu’s ears twitched slightly.

Finally gone.

She hoped this unidentified cultivator from the sixth level would manage to send the news back accurately.

Turning her gaze back to the Fang family cultivator before her, Liuyu hesitated, holding the stone sword that had almost pierced his heart.

After all, he was an eighth-level cultivator.

Wouldn’t it be a waste if he died so easily?

Just as she was hesitating, a voice came from the bottom of the cliff—

“Little brat, don’t think I don’t see through you. We’ve coexisted peacefully for years, but now you’ve broken the norm, leading a thousand demons here to rescue this person!”

“If you want me to release him, kneel and kowtow three times to me, and I’ll return this coward to you in one piece!”

Liuyu’s eyes flickered, and she smiled.

What a big mouth.

She looked down at the semi-conscious Fang Fucang on the ground, reaching out with her slender, pale hand and gently patting his cheek.

“Can you deal with the demons below?”

“If you can, blink your eyes, and you might still be saved.”

The sword that had pierced his heart almost stopped his heartbeat entirely. Fang Fucang felt like he was about to see the ancestors of the Fang family.

He used all his strength and finally managed to blink.

The stone sword was roughly pulled out from his chest, and Fang Fucang felt the immense weight pressing on his heart was lifted. His chest expanded, and he struggled to breathe deeply.

“Cough, cough, cough—”

The pale color on Fang Fucang’s face gradually turned red. He took a moment to catch his breath, but before he could speak, Liuyu grabbed his collar.

On the edge of the cliff, the wind howled.

When they landed, Fang Fucang, already weak, felt the world spinning and spat out a mouthful.

The demons and spirits who were in a standoff at the bottom of the cliff all turned their gazes toward him and Liuyu.

Mo Lin looked at the corner of Liuyu’s clothes that had been soiled, and the frown that hadn’t been there when someone called for him to kneel was now slightly furrowed.

The master of Deer Call Mountain, Teng Jian, was startled when he saw the person Liuyu was holding.

Fang Fucang?

Wasn’t he supposed to be with his young master? Why was he here?

After Fang Fucang caught his breath, the first thing he did was to use his aura to block the outside world, turning to Liuyu and saying:

“—How much salary do you get from the Nine Hells?”

Liuyu was momentarily stunned, then realized that he was planning to surrender.

And he had mistaken her for someone from the Nine Hells.

Liuyu smoothly responded, “Depends on your abilities. My female guards get a monthly salary of a hundred gold as a guarantee.”

“How many rest days per month?”

“Isn’t it three days of rest per month? Isn’t that how it is for your Nine Fang family?”

“Heh, the Nine Fang family gets one rest day per month—do you have a year-end bonus?”

“It depends on rank. Those who I remember by name get half a year’s salary as a bonus.”

Fang Fucang, weakly hanging on Liuyu’s shoulder, suddenly looked up. Liuyu noticed the exhaustion in his eyes had disappeared, replaced by a gleam of sharpness.

“Damn!”

Liuyu blinked, unsure if he was cursing or surrendering.

Removing the barrier, Fang Fucang looked at Teng Jian on the other side and turned to Mo Lin, saying:

“—Congratulations, Master. This person has truly fallen for the trap!”

As soon as these words were spoken, both sides were stunned.

Even Liuyu, whose expression had been calm, was quite surprised.

The brothers Shen Tu and Yu Lei, accompanying the demon army, looked at the mountain demon.

“Is this our person?”

The mountain demon was confused.

“You ask me? I don’t know.”

The green-clad demon looked at Fang Fucang’s gaze, but his indifferent eyes only lingered on the hand that was resting on Liuyu’s shoulder.

Fang Fucang suddenly felt a chill, but it was quickly interrupted by Teng Jian.

Teng Jian: “Damn! Fang Fucang! Aren’t you from the Jiufang family?!”

Fang Fucang calmly responded:

“Sorry, brother, I forgot to tell you. This is a trap set by the Jiufang family and the Jiuyou to lure you and your demons out of Luming Mountain, so they can capture all of you at once.”

Teng Jian: “…..”

Teng Jian: “Damn it! I’ve done so many dirty jobs for you guys, and this is how you repay me?! You’re truly heartless!”

Fang Fucang, with a bland expression, replied dismissively:

“That’s just the situation. Don’t waste your time cursing me. Cursing me won’t help. The person in your hands is the younger brother of the Yinshan clan’s head, who just happens to be our enemy, Jiufang family’s and Jiuyou’s sworn foe. You can curse him all you want, we won’t interfere.”

Yinshan Qi, whose throat was held by Teng Jian’s demon claws, nearly fainted in fear.

…These filthy words, and that damn child Liuyu was laughing at the side. How could she live with herself?

Teng Jian had already grown wary when he saw Mo Li leading the ten thousand demons on their march. He had captured this delicate noble youth, betting on a possibility.

However, Fang Fucang’s words completely chilled his heart.

No wonder they asked him to call out most of the demons from Luming Mountain today—it was a trap!

They had always been mutually beneficial, helping each other out, collaborating well… How could they suddenly turn against him like this?

No, something was wrong.

As Teng Jian’s mind reeled, he looked at the noble youth in his grasp and gritted his teeth.

To hell with it, kill first and think later!

In an instant, killing intent surged toward Yinshan Qi. Liuyu’s expression stiffened, and she was about to act when she saw Mo Li act even faster.

“What’s his name?”

When Fang Fucang saw the fearsome Demon Lord looking at him, he immediately responded:

“Teng Jian! His name is Teng Jian!”

Mo Lin withdrew his gaze and looked toward the demon with talon-like claws not far off, then spoke:

“Commanding thirty-six thousand demons of the world, calling his name, the ten thousand demons bow and obey, as per the law—Demon Law, Eight Volumes, Seven Chapters, Nine Lines, Teng Jian, decreed.”

As nightfall brought swirling dark clouds, ghostly fires surged into the sky.

As the powerful, slow voice fell, Teng Jian felt his blood boil, and the demonic energy surged through his limbs uncontrollably, finally concentrating in his knees—

Boom!!!

His knee slammed heavily into the mud, the intense pain causing Teng Jian to cry out in agony, and a primal fear spread in his heart.

The one who commands the Demon Law and enforces it, that’s—

The Demon Lord, Mo Lin.

In the split second that Teng Jian let go, the closest demoness immediately released a wave of demon poisons to clear a path toward Yinshan Qi. Then, a flash of blade light appeared!

As blood sprayed out, Teng Jian fell to the ground, and Yinshan Qi was swiftly captured by another demon.

The red-haired demon didn’t linger in battle. After sending the surrounding demons flying with a burst of energy, they quickly turned and moved toward Mo Lin.

Despite the excruciating pain from his severed hand, Teng Jian’s mind became somewhat clearer.

The Jiufang family and Jiuyou’s alliance was a lie! They were here to save Yinshan Qi! The true alliance was between the Yinshan clan and Jiuyou!

He would take this information back to Jiufang, and they would surely protect him!

Dingling.

Dingling.

Liuyu watched as Teng Jian pulled a copper bell tied with red threads from his chest, her eyes widening slightly.

That’s—

“Mountain Ghost, clear the way, retreat!”

The three thousand demons at the cliff bottom were controlled by the Mountain Ghost Dragon Bell, following its command to break through the weakest point of the Jiuyou demon circle.

Shentu, witnessing this, clicked his tongue:

“I thought today wouldn’t require our intervention, but it seems this person has the Mountain Ghost Dragon Bell…”

“What is the Mountain Ghost Dragon Bell?”

A voice like pearls clinking suddenly rang out from below. Shentu glanced down, and though he didn’t recognize Liuyu using a disguise, he could tell from her actions that she was on their side, and explained:

“The Mountain Ghost Dragon Bell is a demon artifact. One bell can command thousands of demons, similar to your human race’s talismans.”

…Talismans.

This was the demon’s talisman.

Liuyu gazed at the approaching green-clad demon in the distance. In her mind, the image of the last time she saw him overlapped with his current form.

That was the second day after Liuyu received the news of her parents’ deaths.

Mo Lin, who had arrived late, knocked on the door of the Spirit Gathering Platform. When he saw her, his eyes, full of complexity, seemed to reveal a hint of surprise.

Liuyu also saw herself reflected in his dark green eyes.

Apart from her slightly pale face and faint dark circles under her eyes, there was almost no difference from her usual self. He must have been surprised because he hadn’t seen any signs of crying on her face.

Everything had happened so suddenly.

Liuyu had immediately come up with a plan to escape Jiuyou without anyone being able to stop her.

Yet inexplicably, as they were in the same room, she hadn’t pushed him away, and he seemed in no hurry to leave either.

They both remained silent for a long time, as if their long-distance marriage, full of hidden motives, was like this from the start. At first, there were contradictions and dissatisfaction, but in the end, only silence remained. Even saying a comforting word would seem strange.

Liuyu reminisced. In the one hundred and thirty-one years since she became a Daoist partner with Mo Li, aside from matters of business, their interactions had always been predominantly silent.

Liuyu couldn’t explain what exactly she had been waiting for.

But in the end, as the time passed and the sun set, when the servant outside came to ask if the Lord would stay at the Jilingtai for the night, she still hadn’t received what she had hoped for.

“…If there’s something, you may send someone to convey the message to the Extreme Night Palace.”

Before leaving, Liuyu stared at the松绿色 (pine green) hem of his robe.

He had never cared much about clothing. After a hundred years of marriage, his green robes had always looked the same, repeating in only a few variations.

Boring and indifferent.

His figure had almost reached the door.

His footsteps paused. The green-clad demon ghost turned back and glanced at Liuyu. Since he was backlit, Liuyu couldn’t see his expression clearly, but she heard her silent, few-spoken demon husband say:

“I’ve always been here.”

That was the last thing he said before they crossed life and death to reunite.

Countless fragments of memories rushed through Liuyu’s mind.

Only now, at this moment, did she begin to slowly unravel the clues hidden in those memories.

— What he gave her wasn’t a magical tool for tracking, but an army of demons, and a protective talisman that could save her life in times of crisis.

So that’s how it was.

Mo Lin carried Yinshan Qi towards Liuyu.

He intended to ask if she was injured, but after a few steps, he suddenly remembered his current demon ghost appearance. Fearing it would displease her, he stopped at a distance.

“He is fine, only exhausted from his Qi Sea, which caused him to faint.”

The night mist rose in the mountains, and Mo Lin, through the hazy mist, looked at the girl not far away, feeling for some reason that her gaze towards him was different from usual.

“…Is there anything else you need me to do?”

He asked this.

The air in the forest, filled with the Qi of demons and ghosts, was pierced by the sounds of battle. Most of the twelve Nuo Gods were stationed at the Nine Underworlds, leaving the oversight to Shentu and Yulei.

Liuyu gazed at him for a long time before finally breaking into a smile.

Despite the disguise magic, her radiant beauty still shone from the corners of her eyes and brows. Liuyu nodded lightly, her gaze sweeping over the demons from Luming Mountain attempting to break through.

“I want that one.”

The girl’s pale, white finger pointed to the copper bell in Tengjian’s hand.

Mo Li was a bit surprised. He had intended to take that mountain demon bell, but he hadn’t expected Liuyu to ask for it.

She had always been very measured, keeping the boundaries between them clearly defined.

Shentu, who had been observing from above, hadn’t figured out Liuyu’s true identity yet and was speculating whether there was some romantic entanglement between her and Mo Li. Upon hearing her request, he immediately showed an expression of understanding.

…He never expected that their cold and indifferent Lord would have an affair outside.

Fang Fucang, coming back to his senses, had already begun formulating plans in his mind.

Understood.

He would now follow the path of a consort’s family member in the Nine Underworlds.

But the main consort seemed to be that young lady from the Yin family. Not someone to provoke.

…Well, even if it’s just for the break every three days and the reward every six months, he had to go for it!

Shentu casually joked, “Miss, you’re treating our Lord like your servant, ordering him to do this and that. Aren’t you afraid you’ll hurt his noble body?”

The mountain demon glanced at him but didn’t remind him of Liuyu’s identity. He just waited to see the fun.

Soon, the girl’s voice came from below.

“Why should I be afraid—”

The girl lazily lifted her eyelids, her apricot-colored eyes gleaming like a pearl reflecting the moonlight.

She said, as the sounds of battle raged:

“My husband is, after all, a rare and powerful being in this world.”

It was as if all the blood in his body had frozen.

Then, like a swarm, emotions surged again.

Mo Li, who had already calmed the serpentine scales and limbs earlier, now felt that uncontrollable surge of emotions rising within him.

This time, as he looked at the girl’s eyes, which shimmered with soft starlight in the night, the thoughts of restraint and control gradually faded away.

He stood there.

Letting himself be completely consumed by the love surging from his heart.