After His Demise, the Demon Lord's Doted Canary Finally Sees the Light - Chapter 44

In the past, no matter the occasion, Jiufang Cangze was always the most brilliant person in the room. Now, however, he had become so insignificant that Lun Ling  almost didn’t recognize him, if not for his face.

Jiufang Cangze took two steps forward, but Qiu Fuxue  held him back with his sword.

“The item,” he said, reaching out to Lun Ling.

Lun Ling took a Binding Talisman  from his robe, which was brimming with demonic energy. He held it up for Qiu Fuxue to see.

The hand holding the talisman was covered in wounds, with a terrifying gash running across it, showing what a great price he had paid to get it.

Qiu Fuxue held Jiufang Cangze hostage and moved closer to Lun Ling. The moment the Binding Talisman was tossed to him, he released his sword.

Jiufang Cangze stayed put, turning his head to look pitifully at Qiu Fuxue. “A-Xue, you just sold me out?”

“My Lord, now isn’t the time for jokes…” Lun Ling’s heart pounded in his chest, and his wounds began to throb.

Li Yun ground his teeth, his longsword still not sheathed. “Senior Brother! We can’t just let them go!”

Fearing that they would suddenly change their minds, Lun Ling grew vigilant. He put aside all formalities and immediately pulled his lord to his side.

Qiu Fuxue watched them quietly. “I’ve made a promise. I won’t go back on it.”

Then, he turned to Li Yun. “A-Yun, let’s go back.”

Li Yun was reluctant, his brows furrowed. “Senior Brother!”

Qiu Fuxue stood on a stone step one level higher than him. He wanted to pat his head but found that he was still a bit too short, so he took his hand instead and said gently, “It’s fine. Come with me back up the mountain, A-Yun.”

Li Yun had never been able to refuse his senior brother’s gentle words. He turned back and glared furiously at the people below, then followed Qiu Fuxue back up the mountain with the other disciples.

With the danger temporarily averted, Lun Ling soothed the frightened boy and said to Jiufang Cangze, “My Lord, it’s not safe here. This subordinate will take you somewhere else.”

Jiufang Cangze’s eyes had been following Qiu Fuxue and Li Yun’s clasped hands, and a bitter feeling rose in his heart.

It seemed that his acting had become a little too real.

He looked down at the stone steps, chose a comfortable spot, and sat down. He patted the space next to him. “No rush. Come, sit.”

Lun Ling had a great understanding with him. Seeing that he wasn’t in a hurry, he knew the situation was still under control.

He leaned in and whispered a few words into the boy’s ear. The boy shyly shook his head and followed him to sit next to Jiufang Cangze.

Jiufang Cangze was amused that this guy had made so much progress. “A mortal? Where did you trick him from?”

The boy held onto Lun Ling’s arm, hiding behind him. He peeked out, his eyes timid, and quietly called out, “My… My Lord.”

Lun Ling’s eyes held a look of resentment. He rubbed the boy’s head. “He wasn’t tricked. His name is Xu Wan (序挽). He saved me earlier… while I was fighting for my life to make a deal with Qiu Fuxue.”

His subordinate was fighting for his life, while Jiufang Cangze himself was indulging in a beautiful man in the Thousand Thoughts Sect.

The person who had been indulging in beauty waved his hand, indicating that none of that mattered.

“Ye Chu’s (夜濋) people have infiltrated Sunset City and the Thousand Thoughts Sect. Most of them have been taken care of by Qiu Fuxue, but I don’t know if the news of my serious injuries has been sent back.”

Lun Ling’s expression grew serious. “After you went missing, Ye Chu sealed off the Qingming Palace in the name of protecting you and took control of the other generals. When this subordinate came out to look for you, I ran into one of Ye Chu’s spies and learned that you were in the Thousand Thoughts Sect.”

Jiufang Cangze contemplated. “He knows I’m in the Thousand Thoughts Sect but hasn’t made a move. He’s probably still investigating… but he’s close to finding out.”

“Where are the other Sha Ying (煞影)?”

Lun Ling took a token from his waist and handed it to him. “Xiao Changyan and Jie are staying in the Demon Realm to keep the other demons in line. Xuan Xu is hiding in the mortal realm. You can summon him at any time.”

The Demon Realm’s empire was built by Jiufang Cangze and the Sha Ying, one battle at a time. While Ye Chu wasn’t as strong, he had led troops for many years and had many people he could use. In comparison, their side had a clear advantage in numbers.

Jiufang Cangze took the token and played with it for a moment before giving it back to Lun Ling. “Send a message to Xiao Changyan and Jie to leave the Demon Realm for their own safety. Ye Chu has been patient for many years and has finally gotten his chance. He’s bound to make a big move.”

Lun Ling saw that he had no intention of leaving with him. “My Lord, what about you?”

Jiufang Cangze joked, “Naturally, I’ll go back up the mountain and continue to pursue Sect Leader Qiu.”

Lun Ling’s face darkened. He put an arm around Xu Wan and moved to the side.

“I’m not joking,” Jiufang Cangze said, standing up and patting Lun Ling’s shoulder. “The Thousand Thoughts Sect is still relatively safe for now. I’ll stay here. You and your subordinates should hide in the mortal realm. Don’t confront anyone head-on.”

He used to be arrogant and would charge into any danger, relying on his power. But now that he was in a vulnerable position, his actions were naturally more restrained, and he was more cautious.

Lun Ling had exposed his location while trying to capture the Tribulation Cloud, losing nearly half of his subordinates and suffering serious injuries himself.

He looked up at the wounds on Jiufang Cangze’s face, which were even worse than his own. “My Lord, that junior brother of Qiu Fuxue is no ordinary person.”

“They’re just minor injuries. It’s nothing.” Jiufang Cangze deliberately hid the fact about the heart’s blood curse. “Ye Chu’s main target is me. If I follow you, I’ll only bring more danger.”

He looked at Xu Wan. “Go and have a few days of peace with your little beauty. Treat him well.”

Having been together for so many years, Lun Ling and Jiufang Cangze’s relationship was more than just a regular superior-subordinate one. In times of crisis, they would always think of each other first.

The setting sun lit the clouds on fire. Jiufang Cangze began to walk up the stone steps, the breeze rustling his robes.

“My Lord!” Lun Ling suddenly called out to him.

Jiufang Cangze turned back, and something was thrown in front of him. He raised his hand and caught it.

It was a bottle of wound medicine.

At the foot of the steps, Lun Ling looked up and bowed respectfully.

“Sha Ying Lun Ling respectfully bids farewell to my Lord.”

Qiu Fuxue and Li Yun sat in the pavilion next to the sect gate, their teacups warm in their hands.

The latter kept looking down the mountain, seeming a little distracted.

Qiu Fuxue took a sip of tea. “There’s no need to worry, A-Yun. Don’t you trust your senior brother?”

“Of course, I do!” Li Yun immediately said. “It’s just that that demon is cunning, and one must be careful.”

Just as he was speaking, a figure appeared on the long stone steps, walking up towards them, bathed in the setting sun.

Qiu Fuxue put down his teacup. “A-Yun, look. He’s here.”

Jiufang Cangze noticed them as well. His crimson eyes twinkled with a smile. He quickened his pace and stepped onto the stone steps. “A-Xue, I’m back.”

Although Qiu Fuxue’s face was calm, his heart had been vaguely filled with uncertainty. But that uncertainty vanished the moment he saw Jiufang Cangze.

“A-Yun, let’s go.”

“Okay,” Li Yun replied. The weight in his heart finally lifted. Jiufang Cangze was a big asset, and thankfully, he hadn’t run away.

Jiufang Cangze was thick-skinned. Even though they hadn’t invited him, he followed them with a natural demeanor.

“A-Xue, I know I was wrong. Can you not lock me up in solitary confinement when we get back?”

“…It depends on your behavior.”

“A-Xue, you’re so good to me.”

“…”