After Cutting Off Love And Emotions, I Was Pestered By The Demon Sect’s Enchantress - Chapter 42

Touching the wooden door, a surge of spiritual energy instantly rebounded the force of her push. Ning Xu tried countless times, but she could not break through the array formation placed upon it.

She had originally thought that coming to the Guiyun Sect would grant her more time to spend with Zhu Shengxi. She hadn’t expected that while Zhu Shengxi went to handle sect affairs, she would turn around and lock Ning Xu inside this place.

Ning Xu paced the room. In her boredom, her gaze fell upon the writing desk.

Beneath a scroll of parchment, something seemed to be pressed down—it looked somewhat familiar. Curious, Ning Xu walked over to the desk, just as she was about to take a closer look, the door suddenly opened.

This was the scene Zhu Shengxi walked into. She saw Ning Xu eyeing the scrolls on the table and noticed a flicker of panic on her face upon realizing Zhu Shengxi had returned.

Zhu Shengxi asked in a heavy voice, “What are you doing?”

“Nothing, just looking around casually,” Ning Xu’s voice was calm, but a trace of guilt flashed in her eyes.

Hearing her answer, Zhu Shengxi sneered, “Do you know that the scrolls record the vital affairs of the Guiyun Sect, and yet you say you are just looking around ‘casually’?”

At those words, Ning Xu realized she had misspoken. Just as she was about to explain, the Monster-Binding Rope around her wrist suddenly tightened, bringing bursts of piercing pain.

“What is the plan this time?”

The icy tone caused Ning Xu’s heart to sink. The person before her clearly had no intention of listening to her explanation. The Chenque Sword unsheathed with a ring, and in the next moment, the cold, glinting blade pressed firmly against the fragile skin of her neck.

Zhu Shengxi looked at her with cold eyes. No wonder she wanted to follow her back to the sect; it turned out she had harbored other intentions all along.

Seeing the increasingly cold expression on the person before her, Ning Xu explained urgently, “There is no plan, I…”

But Zhu Shengxi clearly did not believe her. As she stepped closer, the blade pressed in a few fractions deeper, drawing a thin line of blood.

“I have no other purpose.” It was an utterly pale explanation, devoid of any persuasiveness.

The atmosphere, which had softened slightly over the past few days, grew tense once again. Ning Xu felt the stinging pain at her neck; the sword’s aura brought a biting chill, even laced with a hint of killing intent.

The person before her looked frozen in ice. Those calm eyes held not a fraction of their former warmth, leaving only a lingering sense of loathing and hatred.

The coldness against her neck and the indifferent look in those eyes all indicated one thing: Zhu Shengxi truly might kill her.

Ning Xu’s thin lips trembled. Refusing to give up, she took a step forward, but the blade did not move an inch. This movement caused the already bleeding wound to be sliced deeper.

Zhu Shengxi’s expression did not waver as she continued to ask, “What is your plan?”

Despite the relentless questioning and her two denials, Zhu Shengxi still did not believe her.

Zhu Shengxi had not a shred of trust left for her. Ning Xu knew this in her heart and had prepared herself for it, but when the moment truly arrived, her heart still felt like it was being twisted by a knife.

Ning Xu closed her eyes somewhat powerlessly. “If you suspect me, then just kill me.”

Seeing her like this, Zhu Shengxi slowly withdrew her sword and spoke with an ambiguous tone: “The scouts sent by the Guiyun Sect to investigate the Demon Cult’s situation have all died. Furthermore, the Demon Cult launched another night raid on the Guiyun Sect last night.”

“You suspect I sent word to the Demon Cult?” Ning Xu stared intently at her, hoping for a denial, but the silence that followed explained everything.

By day, she was restricted by the array and locked in this room; by night, she slept under Zhu Shengxi’s watch. Under such strict surveillance, how could she possibly have a chance to send information?

Even so, if there was any movement from the Demon Cult, Zhu Shengxi would still suspect her first.

“I am no longer the Left Protector of the Demon Cult. I have nothing to do with them now,” Ning Xu said, almost through gritted teeth.

“You once were.” The indifferent words ruthlessly tore away all her pretenses.

Yes, she once was. The heinous things she had done could not be erased. Based on that point alone, it was enough for her to be suspected without reason.

“Ning Xu,” Zhu Shengxi looked at her, “I used to trust you very much. I was even foolish enough to tell my Senior Sister that you wouldn’t harm me. But what about you? You used my trust to steal sect secrets, and then turned around to tell Lu Youque everything regarding the scrolls. Did you ever think about what I would do?”

Listening to these words, Ning Xu’s face grew increasingly pale. Her lips moved slightly, but she realized that anything she said now would be in vain.

“I’m sorry.”

Her eyes grew red, and the blood seeping from her neck wound meandered down. Combined with her earnest tone, she actually looked somewhat pitiful.

Every time, she made this same face. Zhu Shengxi looked away, her brow furrowed deeply.

Putting on such an expression and saying a light “I’m sorry”—did she think that could erase everything she had done?

A sense of loathing rose in Zhu Shengxi’s heart. She turned her head away, unwilling to spare another glance in that direction.

Ning Xu hadn’t expected this reaction after her apology; the undisguised impatience in the other woman’s brow made her heart stifle. She felt an immense wave of regret for her curiosity earlier.

The trust between the two was already fragile. Her actions just now had undoubtedly deepened Zhu Shengxi’s suspicion of her.

“I only wanted to see what was pressed under the scroll. I had no other intentions,” Ning Xu pointed to the spot, explaining once more.

Zhu Shengxi looked in the direction she pointed. A brown corner was revealed—it was an object extremely familiar in her memory.

The person before her had an unreadable expression; that calm face made it impossible to discern her true emotions. Ning Xu gazed at her, suddenly realizing she could not see through the current Zhu Shengxi at all.

At that moment, a voice suddenly sounded from outside: “Senior Sister Zhu, Daoist Ji from the Kunchen Sect is looking for you.”

Hearing this, Ning Xu immediately frowned.

Ji Yanshu? What was she doing at the Guiyun Sect, looking for Zhu Shengxi?

Zhu Shengxi ignored her reaction and walked straight out. Ning Xu instinctively followed for a few steps, only to be blocked inside the room by the array.

Not far away, Ji Yanshu was waiting. Today she wore a brocade robe; unlike the plain clothes she wore at the inn, she looked elegant and even a bit noble.

Seeing Zhu Shengxi appear, her eyes curved slightly as she called out, “Daoist Zhu.”

Zhu Shengxi nodded slightly. As the two walked side by side, Ji Yanshu paused for a moment before she couldn’t help but remind her: “The news has already been sent out. There is no way to regret it now.”

“I won’t regret it,” Zhu Shengxi said dismissively. “You don’t need to think too much; it is all for the sake of resisting the Demon Cult.”

Ji Yanshu said, “I don’t mind, but as for you…” Before she could finish, several disciples from Xiyin Peak walked toward them. Seeing the two together, they couldn’t help but smile:

“Senior Sister Zhu, you two really are a perfect match.”

Zhu Shengxi was momentarily stunned, unsure of how to respond. Ji Yanshu, beside her, reacted quickly and immediately thanked them with a smile.

The disciples asked something else afterward, and Ji Yanshu warmly explained everything to them one by one. Her attitude was enthusiastic, and to outsiders, it seemed she was thoughtfully answering on Zhu Shengxi’s behalf.

Hearing the laughter in their words, Zhu Shengxi lowered her eyes and remained silent, her face devoid of any extra expression.

Noticing her mood, Ji Yanshu used a few words to brush the disciples off, and they soon departed.

“On the surface, we still have to put on a show.”

Zhu Shengxi gave a lukewarm “Mm” in response.

The person beside her was clearly distracted. Ji Yanshu pondered for a moment and said, “Daoist Zhu should have also heard. A few days ago, Xie Funing attacked the celestial boat of the Xuanqing Sect. Fortunately, Immortal Fengyu arrived in time. There were no casualties for the Xuanqing Sect, but that half-demon escaped in the chaos.”

As she spoke, she sighed lightly, “Now the Xuanqing Sect is using every means to search. That half-demon is cunning; I’m afraid it won’t be easy to capture her again.”

Zhu Shengxi interrupted softly:

“Let’s talk about the Demon Cult matters instead.”

Her expression was indifferent, as if she had no interest in the matters of that half-demon.

Had she overthought things before?

Ji Yanshu suppressed the doubt in her heart and changed the subject as requested, speaking about the Demon Cult’s recent movements.

As the sun set in the west and a line of rosy light filled the sky, Ning Xu looked at the darkening horizon, her heart sinking.

Zhu Shengxi had been out for a long time and had not yet returned.

The interior of the room was not as bright as it was during the day. Ning Xu did not light a candle. Under the cover of darkness, she called out, “Chongying.”

The figure of a young girl detached itself from the shadows. Looking at the unfamiliar surroundings, Chongying sighed, “You still followed her to the Guiyun Sect in the end.”

“From this investigation, there is one piece of bad news and one piece of even worse news. Which do you want to hear first?”

Ning Xu: “Whichever.”

Chongying gave an “Oh” and continued, “The bad news is that the Xuanqing Sect is sending people to look for you.”

Since she escaped in the chaos, the Xuanqing Sect would certainly not let it slide. Ning Xu was not surprised by this. “Mm.”

Chongying glanced at her expression and coughed lightly, hesitatingly saying, “The even worse news is that… it seems Miss Zhu is going to enter a cultivation bond with Ji Yanshu.”

Hearing this, Ning Xu’s expression suddenly froze, unable to believe what she had heard.

Chongying added, “Also, their bonding ceremony is in one month. Every sect and faction already knows about this.”

Every faction knew that the news had been released several days ago, yet she was completely unaware.

Zhu Shengxi had never mentioned it to her either. Perhaps in that woman’s eyes, she was a completely insignificant person; for someone dispensable, there was no need to specifically mention it.

Ning Xu stood frozen in place, surrounded by a massive sense of dread.

Zhu Shengxi truly didn’t need her at all anymore…