After Cutting Off Love And Emotions, I Was Pestered By The Demon Sect’s Enchantress - Chapter 8

The Suluo Clan (Part IV)

Burning the transmission talisman, its contents slowly emerged. After Zhu Shengxi finished reading, her brows furrowed deeply.

Calculating carefully, today was the final day the Tianqian Realm was set to be open—the day everyone was supposed to be able to leave. However, the transmission from her Senior Sister stated that even as the Tianqian Realm reached its closing hour, not a single person had been seen emerging.

One could only exit after ten days, yet they had emerged prematurely on the seventh day. Now, those cultivators who intended to leave on the tenth day were trapped within.

Such a situation had never occurred in previous years.

Zhu Shengxi suddenly recalled Ling Zhuo mentioning that several cultivators had appeared in the desert a few days ago.

Could those cultivators be like them—having accidentally exited the Tianqian Realm early and been transported to the desert of the Western profound region?

“Daoist Zhu.”

A-Xu’s call interrupted her contemplation. Zhu Shengxi looked at her and asked calmly, “What is it?”

A-Xu took a cloth bundle from her robes. Upon opening it, it revealed the red fruit from that day.

“Did you not lose that? Why did you pick it up again?” Zhu Shengxi’s gaze was filled with confusion.

A-Xu unfolded a small slip of paper. “Look.”

Written on the paper was a single word: “Fruit.” A-Xu explained, “Do you remember that woman who bumped into me that day? I didn’t pay much attention then, but when I changed clothes last night, I found this note. She must have tucked it into my clothes.”

Zhu Shengxi’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Could it be that this fruit has another purpose?”

A-Xu answered nonchalantly, “I don’t know. The rest of the fruits were smashed, but I picked through them for a long time to find this one.”

“Also, I ran into Ling Zhuo just now. She said there is a bonfire gathering tonight and invited us to join. Shall we go?”

Zhu Shengxi looked down at the red fruit. After a moment of silence, she said in a heavy voice, “Go. We must go.”

A-Xu frowned. “It’s just… I feel Ling Zhuo is a bit problematic. She isn’t as simple as she appears on the surface.”

Zhu Shengxi remained noncommittal, saying coolly, “Exactly. We’ll go see what she is actually planning.”

The desert at night was not as scorching as during the day; a breeze carried the unique scent of the great desert, bringing a hint of cool relief. The two arrived at the long street, where the daytime vendors had already packed their stalls and were circling around a bonfire in several rings.

By the fire, several masked women performed an unknown dance. Ling Zhuo pulled the two of them to the innermost circle, saying excitedly, “Immortal Zhu, Sister A-Xu, this is the best spot to watch the performance. I saved it specifically for you.”

A-Xu looked around and responded composedly, “It is indeed a good spot.”

Zhu Shengxi stared unblinkingly at the masked figures. The sense of abnormality in her heart continued to magnify.

The movements of those dancers were faintly stiff. They didn’t seem to be truly dancing, but rather appeared to be following pre-set movements, step by step.

Seeing that her companion’s eyes were practically glued to those women, A-Xu became even more convinced of a certain prior suspicion.

Where exactly does this eeriness come from? As Zhu Shengxi was deep in thought, A-Xu’s voice sounded in her ear.

“Daoist Zhu, so it turns out you like women who are multi-talented,” A-Xu whispered, leaning close to her ear.

Zhu Shengxi: “?”

She pressed her hand against A-Xu’s shoulder and pushed her away, frowning. “What nonsense are you thinking now?”

To her surprise, this person not only didn’t retreat but instead took advantage of the situation to press even closer against her.

“Did I hit the mark? Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.”

Incomprehensible…

Zhu Shengxi knit her brows and shifted to the side, widening the distance between them.

Seeing their interaction, Ling Zhuo teased, “Sister A-Xu, Immortal Zhu, you two have such a good relationship.”

As soon as these words were spoken, A-Xu felt a chilly gaze sweep over her, and she retreated with a sheepish smile.

Zhu Shengxi suppressed the irritation in her heart and looked at Ling Zhuo, asking as if casually, “Miss Ling Zhuo, the others don’t seem particularly welcoming toward us.”

She remembered Ling Zhuo saying the Suluo people were warm and hospitable, but the expressions and behavior of the vendors these past few days were a far cry from that description.

Ling Zhuo showed an apologetic look. “It’s likely because of the previous cultivators. Everyone trusted them at first, but unexpectedly, they later sided with bandits and turned around to harm us. So now, the clanspeople and Chief Gu are quite resistant toward cultivators.”

She added, “Chief Gu probably went to see you too, right? Sigh, she hopes you leave as soon as possible, fearing that what happened before might repeat itself.”

Zhu Shengxi pondered for a moment and asked, “What happened to those cultivators afterward?”

Ling Zhuo glanced at her, her smile turning icy. “Afterward? Evil deeds bring their own ruin; naturally, they are all dead.”

Hearing this answer, Zhu Shengxi’s gaze darkened.

Among the Suluo people, she had currently only discovered that Chief Gu possessed a cultivation base and was not an ordinary person. She couldn’t yet be certain about Ling Zhuo, but the rest had no cultivation and knew no techniques.

If it were truly as Ling Zhuo said—that those cultivators had conspired with bandits to persecute the Suluo people—then how did the Suluo people, who couldn’t even subdue ordinary bandits at first, later manage to repel cultivators?

Before Zhu Shengxi could think further, she heard Ling Zhuo ask, “Immortal Zhu, do you think most ‘righteous’ people are like that?”

“Claiming to eliminate demons and defend the Dao, appearing upright and selfless on the surface, but in reality, being selfish, greedy to the extreme, and utterly disgusting in word and deed.”

At this moment, Ling Zhuo’s eyes were indifferent, not at all like those of an innocent young girl. She spoke with extreme calm, as if she had seen through all manner of schemes and betrayals.

As a member of the righteous path herself, Zhu Shengxi found it difficult to answer. After a few seconds of silence, she responded slowly, “The words and deeds of a person depend on their heart; it matters not whether the path is righteous or evil. Within the righteous path, there are seniors who uphold great justice, and there are also villains with crooked hearts.”

Hearing Zhu Shengxi say this, Ling Zhuo was slightly surprised, and a spark of interest colored her eyes. She asked, “Then do you think there are any good people among those who practice evil arts?”

Unlike her stance on the previous question, Zhu Shengxi was categorical: “None. They are all people with corrupt hearts.”

As expected. Ling Zhuo sneered inwardly. She hid the indifference in her eyes and turned her gaze toward A-Xu, asking, “Sister A-Xu, are you and Immortal Zhu from the same sect?”

“No,” Zhu Shengxi interjected, denying it before A-Xu could answer.

A-Xu glanced at Zhu Shengxi.

She denied it so quickly; it seems she really doesn’t want to be associated with me in the slightest.

Ling Zhuo pursed her lips and smiled. “No wonder. Immortal Zhu carries an air of noble righteousness, but Sister A-Xu does not.”

What did that mean? Both of their gazes landed on Ling Zhuo.

Ling Zhuo seemed oblivious as she continued, “Sister A-Xu is more like me; we are the same kind of people.”

A-Xu’s smile faded. “The techniques I’ve learned are scattered and unrefined, a bit of this and a bit of that. Is Miss Ling Zhuo the same?”

The masked Suluo women had stopped dancing at some unknown point and were staring straight in their direction.

It wasn’t just those few gazes. At this moment, hundreds of eyes surrounded them. There was no hostility in these stares, only a terrifying, deathly silence.

A-Xu stared intently at the young girl before her, her hand secretly moving toward the jade flute at her waist.

Just then, a heavy cough broke the stalemate. Chief Gu approached slowly, leaning on her cane. “It is getting late, and everyone is weary. Ling Zhuo, let the bonfire gathering end here for tonight.”

Hearing this, Ling Zhuo frowned, her gaze toward Chief Gu turning cold and dark.

“In that case, we shall return to rest,” Zhu Shengxi said opportunely.

Ling Zhuo’s expression was stiff. “Fine. Everyone, return.” Once she gave the word, the Suluo people gradually dispersed, and the subtle sense of pressure vanished.

Zhu Shengxi walked a few steps before realizing the other person hadn’t followed. She looked back to see A-Xu standing in place, half her face shrouded in darkness, lost in thought.

“What are you dazed for?” Her wrist was grabbed and she was pulled forward. A-Xu snapped back to reality, led away from that patch of darkness.

She looked up and saw only the ink-black hair of the person in front of her. A sky-blue hair ribbon flickered in and out of sight amidst the long tresses, swaying gently with her footsteps.

The two returned to their room. Zhu Shengxi cast a sound-isolating spell and asked in a low voice, “Did you notice just now?”

A faint, cool sensation seemed to linger on her wrist. A-Xu was uncharacteristically dazed. “What?”

“Those Suluo people seemed as if they were being controlled, lacking their own consciousness. Furthermore, even though Chief Gu is the leader of the Suluo clan, those people don’t listen to her at all; they follow Ling Zhuo’s orders instead.”

Recalling the scene just now, A-Xu confirmed, “That is indeed the case. Only after Ling Zhuo spoke did they slowly disperse and clear the path for us. In that case, our previous suspicions were correct—Ling Zhuo definitely has a problem.”

Zhu Shengxi: “Who knows how much of what she’s said these past few days is true or false.”

After saying this, she glanced sideways at A-Xu. “In that regard, she is quite similar to you.”

A-Xu’s heart skipped a beat. Ling Zhuo’s words from earlier suddenly resurfaced in her mind: “Sister A-Xu and I are the same kind of people.”

A-Xu lowered her eyes and asked softly, “What do you think of what she said then?”

“Which part do you mean?” Zhu Shengxi looked at her with confusion. Seeing no response, she said calmly, “I don’t believe a single word she says now.”

A-Xu gave a muffled “oh” and walked toward the bed.

Zhu Shengxi sensed that her mood was off. She silently replayed the conversation with Ling Zhuo in her mind.

Is she unhappy? Could it be because she admitted her techniques were unrefined and felt she lost face?

Or… was it my impatience at that moment that stung her, making her feel embarrassed?

Wait, what does her happiness or unhappiness have to do with me? Zhu Shengxi cut off her internal speculation and returned to her familiar spot to begin meditating.

Meanwhile, inside a stone house.

A teacup was swept to the floor, shattering with a piercing sound. Ling Zhuo’s gaze was icy as she questioned, “It’s like this every time. How many more times are you going to obstruct me?”

Chief Gu’s hand, resting on her cane, trembled slightly. “Ling Zhuo, I cannot watch you go further down the wrong path.”

“Fine. Even if I stop everything as you say, then what? Leave this place? Go back with you?” Ling Zhuo asked with a look of disdain.

Chief Gu coughed into her hand and did not respond—her usual avoidant stance. Ling Zhuo was used to this posture and said eerily, “Do you know who I encountered?”

“Come to think of it, she should be considered our Junior Sister.”

Hearing this, Chief Gu looked up at her sharply.

Meeting Chief Gu’s surprised gaze, Ling Zhuo’s tone was mocking and cold. “Furthermore, Li Yishuang told her that Feng Yu only has two disciples. It doesn’t take much thought to know that this narrative was authorized by Feng Yu.”

Chief Gu’s lips moved, but no sound came out. She merely lowered her head again, masking the emotions in her eyes.

Ling Zhuo stared at her intently. “You listen to Feng Yu wholeheartedly and come to persuade me to turn back. But look at how she treated you—without even investigating the cause, she branded both you and me as practitioners of the demonic path, shattered your golden core, and caused you to lose a century of your lifespan, leaving you with only ten years to live.”

“I am a member of the Suluo clan; this is my home. When the demons attacked, that Feng Yu lied, saying she had sent people to protect my family so I could focus on the enemy. And the result? My kin… they all died! Feng Yu is a hypocrite. Her mouth is full of benevolence and morality, but in truth, she is just like those other ‘righteous’ people—lesser than dogs and pigs!”

Chief Gu remained silent, unable to refute a single word. Because what she said was the truth.

Ling Zhuo took a deep breath to calm her anger. “I will guard this place forever. Stop interfering with my plan. I’m begging you… Senior Sister.”

Chief Gu sighed. “Have you forgotten? The cultivators who came a few days ago had high cultivation; you nearly suffered a backlash and lost your life. The cultivation of these two is even higher than those before.”

Ling Zhuo gave a low laugh. “I don’t care.”

“The array in that room can secretly drain their spiritual power. Even if they discover it, it will be too late,” Ling Zhuo said with a smile of absolute certainty. “This time, I will not fail.”

Chief Gu looked at her obsessive state and closed her eyes powerlessly, hobbling away on her cane.