txolops Chapter 78 Are you talking about me?
Chapter 78 Are you talking about me?
In the courtyard, Han Xiaoliu and Han Li were discussing something in hushed tones when they suddenly heard a chorus of voices coming from outside the door, sometimes exclaiming in surprise, sometimes expressing indignation, flooding their ears like a tidal wave.
Han Xiaoliu raised an eyebrow and smirked: "Tsk, are you talking about those demonic cultivators? Is it really that big of a deal? Fighting and killing are common in the cultivation world, why are they acting like they've seen a ghost?"
Han Li's expression stiffened slightly, and his fingers unconsciously traced his cheek. Today, he used Qu Hun to disguise himself as a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator and deliberately concealed his aura. How could he have expected that he would be mistaken for a "demonic cultivator"?
Outside the door, on the stone steps of the courtyard of "Youjian General Store", Yanli sat cross-legged, Yuanyao leaned against the door frame, and Lu Xueqi shrank between the two, her face pale, forgetting to pet the wild boar in her arms.
Yanli spoke first, her voice extremely low, yet every word was filled with fire:
"Have you heard? Three years ago, the Blood Bone Sect slaughtered an entire island in the Western Sea in order to create a 'Nine Yin Corpse King'! Three hundred fishing families, men, women, and children were all wiped out! Even the infants were drained of their life essence and soaked in vats of corpse oil! It's said that 'the blood of young boys and girls is the purest'... Ugh! I haven't been able to eat for three days just from hearing about it!"
Yuan Yao replied, her tone calm, yet chillingly cold:
"That's not all. A few days ago, a female rogue cultivator went missing. Later, at a black market auction, her primordial spirit was sealed inside a mournful soul bell, wailing day and night." She paused, her eyes dimming slightly. "That woman was a direct disciple of this sect. What a pity, I heard she wasn't even eighteen yet!"
Lu Xueqi trembled, her small hands gripping the hem of her clothes tightly, her voice shaking: "Then...then what if they arrest me too?"
Yanli immediately hugged her, gritting her teeth as she said:
"So! Never trust those guys in black robes and bone ornaments! Especially those who claim to be taking concubines, but in reality they're all just tricking people into becoming their 'furnace vessels'! They'll be drained of their essence and turned into dried corpses, their bodies thrown into the sea to feed the monsters!"
Lu Xueqi nearly burst into tears, her face turning pale with fright. She buried her face in her knees and cried out, "From now on, I'll run away whenever I see a demonic cultivator! I'll run as far away as possible!"
The three remained silent for a moment, as a sea breeze swept by, bringing a touch of coolness.
Suddenly, Yanli's eyes darted around, and she said mysteriously:
"By the way! That tall, black-clad cultivator we encountered on Tiandu Street today, do you think... he might also be a demonic cultivator?"
Yuan Yao was taken aback: "You mean the one wearing a bamboo hat and accompanied by attendants?"
"Yes!" Yanli nodded, "So secretive, doesn't seem like a good person!"
Lu Xueqi suddenly looked up: "Could it be some kind of demonic sorcerer?!"
"Maybe!" Yanli said with increasing certainty, "I think they're probably from the Extreme Yin Island! You don't know, the Extreme Yin Ancestor's subordinates specialize in training 'living corpse puppets.' They nail living people into coffins, pour in Xuan Yin demonic energy, and after forty-nine days, they become neither human nor ghost, yet retain their memories of life, wishing for death but unable to die every day!"
Yuan Yao frowned and added, "Extreme Yin Island also colluded with the Blood Curse Sect, specifically targeting female cultivators with good aptitude, claiming it was to refine 'Yin-Yang Pills.' Countless small sects in the Chaotic Star Sea were wiped out overnight simply because they coveted other people's spiritual veins or disciples."
Yanli slapped her thigh and concluded, "So! If we run into that man in black again, let's take a detour! Better safe than sorry!"
When Yanli saw that Lu Xueqi's once innocent face was now filled with terror, a mischievous thought immediately welled up inside her.
She narrowed her eyes slightly, approaching with a malicious intent, and said in a deliberately lowered, icy tone, "Demonic cultivators love delicate, fair-skinned mortal girls like you—so obedient and adorable. Who knows, he might come looking for you tonight in the dark!"
Lu Xueqi was so frightened by these words that her whole body trembled and her legs started shaking. Instinctively, she wanted to turn around and run back into the house!
"Ahem!"
A low, soft cough suddenly rang out. Han Li stepped out of the courtyard gate with a calm expression, followed closely by the taciturn Qu Hun.
His deep eyes swept over the three of them with a measured gaze, finally settling precisely on Yanli's mischievous smile that hadn't yet faded.
Yuan Yao and Yan Li were so shocked when they suddenly saw Han Li that they gasped in surprise.
They were just gossiping about someone behind their back, and now the person in question has quietly come out from inside! He must have heard everything!
Oh no, this is so embarrassing!
Both of them blushed instantly, wishing they could disappear into the ground.
"Young Master, are you going out?" When Lu Xueqi saw Han Li come out, she quickly suppressed the shock on her face and greeted him obediently, but her voice still trembled slightly.
"Young Master!?" Yuan Yao and Yan Li lowered their heads in embarrassment, staring at their toes, not daring to look Han Li in the eye.
"Yes, I still have things to take care of."
Han Li remained calm, casually ruffling Lu Xueqi's head as he passed by, before turning and walking away without looking back, as if the incident had never happened.
Only after Han Li's tall figure completely disappeared at the end of the street did Yanli suddenly come to her senses, exclaiming in annoyance, "Oh no, we really messed with a ghost! He doesn't seem like a petty person, could he hold a grudge?"
"Don't worry, young master said before! He can forget everything else, but not his enemies! He has to write them down neatly in his little notebook, and settle scores slowly in the future!"
Lu Xueqi's eyes, which had been filled with shock, suddenly darted around, and she delivered a "decisive blow" to Yanli, her tone full of smug satisfaction at getting her revenge.
Serves you right for scaring me earlier, now let's see if you dare to do it again!
"Come in, everyone, I have something to announce!"
Upon hearing the young master's summons, Lu Xueqi, like a cheerful little sparrow, ran lightly into the courtyard.
On the other hand, Yuan Yao and Yan Li looked at each other, still feeling embarrassed, and their expressions instantly fell. They could only drag their heavy steps and slowly follow.
"Young Master!" Once the three of them were all present, Lu Xueqi obediently moved closer to Han Xiaoliu and called out softly.
Yuan Yao and Yan Li stood aside, nervously glancing at their young master's expression.
Han Xiaoliu casually raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the three faces before finally settling precisely on Yanli, a half-smile on his face.
Yanli, always adept at reading people, felt a chill run down her spine from that look. Without a word, she knelt down with a thud, her face full of regret: "Boss, I was wrong! I really didn't know he was your brother! Otherwise, I wouldn't have dared to talk about him behind his back even if I had ten lives!"
Seeing this, Han Xiaoliu shook his head helplessly, flicked his fingertips, and a gentle spiritual force instantly lifted Yanli, who was kneeling on the ground, up.
He feigned displeasure and said, "You silly girl, what a bad habit you have, kneeling at the drop of a hat! I won't punish you for such a small thing, don't worry about it!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Han Xiaoliu's lips curled into a sly, mischievous grin. He lowered his voice and continued, "Besides, you're not wrong. My brother is definitely not a good person; he's incredibly ruthless!"
Yanli had just been helped up when she heard these words and felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She cried out in her heart: It's over, it's over. Even the boss personally confirmed that he is not a good person. Then this young master is probably not a kind person at all!
She was so frightened that her legs went weak and she almost fell back down, but fortunately Yuan Yao, who was nearby, reacted quickly and reached out to support her.
"Hahahaha!" Seeing the two of them looking like they were facing a formidable enemy, Lu Xueqi finally couldn't help but burst into laughter. Her expression was as if she had gotten her revenge, and she couldn't be happier.
Serves you right for scaring me earlier! Now you've got what's coming to you!
Yuan Yao and Yan Li then belatedly realized that their boss wasn't apologizing at all, but was clearly standing up for their little maid and deliberately scaring them!
"Alright, enough fooling around! Let's get down to business." Seeing that the two had come to their senses, Han Xiaoliu dropped his playful expression, his face becoming more serious. "Something's about to happen on Kuixing Island, and this is definitely not a place to stay for long. I'll arrange for Xueqi to leave first. As for you two, what are your plans?"
Yuan Yao and Yan Li exchanged a knowing glance, their thoughts instantly revealed to each other.
Without further hesitation, the two lifted their robes and knelt respectfully on the ground.
Yuan Yao nodded slightly, her tone firm and sincere: "We want to stay with the boss! Please take us in!"
The two women adopted an extremely humble posture, clearly intending to cling tightly to this lucrative opportunity. After all, in just one month, they had earned several hundred spirit stones in commissions!
Where else can you find such a generous backer if you don't have Han Xiaoliu, that generous "sucker" boss?
Han Xiaoliu looked down at the two kneeling on the ground, a hint of hesitation rising in his heart. He had originally only intended to use these two as temporary tools, to be discarded after use.
Unexpectedly, he gained unexpected benefits and opportunities from Yuan Yao.
Those who cultivate immortality value cause and effect most. If they do not repay this favor, they may develop inner demons in the future, which will affect their Dao heart.
"Oh well!" Han Xiaoliu sighed softly, waving his hand with feigned helplessness. "Since we're so destined to meet, I'll take you all in! Get up now."
Upon hearing this, the two felt as if they had been granted a pardon and stood up with great joy.
At this moment, the way they looked at Han Xiaoliu was overflowing with tenderness and admiration.
Yanli's already bright face instantly broke into a wide smile, radiating enthusiasm.
Her cheeks flushed with excitement, her almond-shaped eyes curved into crescents, and her eyes and brows were filled with undisguised joy. She couldn't wait to rush over and massage the legs of this lucky boss.
Yuan Yao, on the other hand, appeared much more composed. She simply looked at Han Xiaoliu quietly, a gentle ripple appearing in her cool eyes.
Her tightly clenched lips finally curved upwards slightly, forming a faint yet reassuring smile. She seemed relieved, radiating a serene and composed tranquility.