The Villainous Demon Lord’s Handbook for Success: Rebirth - Chapter 24

Everyone’s gaze shifted with her, landing squarely on Ning Fuyi’s face.

Suddenly embraced like this, Ning Fuyi instinctively stumbled back two steps. Looking up, she met a barrage of stares filled with various emotions. She coughed a few times and pressed her hands against the girl’s shoulders, attempting to push her away.

However, after a firm shove failed to move her, Ning Fuyi gave up. She let her hands hang by her sides and gave everyone an awkward greeting: “Hi.”

“Ning Fuyi! You…”

“Sister, where is this place? I was clearly captured by bad people; why am I here?” The girl interrupted Li Chaoan’s speech, burrowing her entire body into Ning Fuyi’s embrace, looking utterly terrified.

“I know the Spirit Tribe has a low status and cultivators are superior. I am used to being bullied, so a few blows are nothing. But I beg you, Sister, save my life. Don’t let them eat me.” The girl’s pretty face was covered in tears, like a delicate flower weeping, inspiring pity in everyone who saw or heard her.

Ning Fuyi watched her cry, her lips twitching slightly but saying nothing. However, Li Chaoan, standing behind her, could no longer contain herself and nearly jumped in rage.

“Hey! What do you mean by that? With so many fellow disciples watching, I merely asked about your background. I didn’t even lift a hand! When did I ever touch a single finger of yours!” Li Chaoan was so angry she tossed her braids back and pushed through the crowd, cursing. “Besides, we are all disciples of a proper immortal sect. Who said anything about eating you!”

The girl looked as if she were about to be scared to tears again. She let go and hid behind Ning Fuyi, sobbing, “I am a mere blade of grass and do not understand the immortal arts of you masters. Perhaps this master didn’t hit me; it was just my own weakness that caused me to fall.”

As she spoke, she pulled up her sleeve, intentionally or unintentionally revealing a fresh bruise, causing the crowd to gasp.

“Li Chaoan, she is so young and weak, and you are more powerful and older than her. How could you strike her so hard!” Liu Wenzhu could least of all stand the bullying of the weak and immediately shielded the girl behind her.

Aside from the usual lackeys, the people Li Chaoan had brought were mostly older disciples from the Southwest Court who had their own sense of right and wrong. They had originally only come along because they heard Ning Fuyi had brought an outsider into the sect without permission; they never intended to hurt anyone. Now, they too could no longer stay silent and began to speak up.

“Junior Sister, is this the person of ‘unknown background’ you mentioned? I see only a child. A report to the elders or the Sect Leader would have sufficed. There was no need for such a grand display,” a tall male disciple said.

“Indeed, and she’s from the Spirit Tribe. Their power is low. We are, after all, one of the Six Great Sects and should treat their tribe with kindness. If word of this gets out, what will the people of the world think of our sect?” another senior female disciple added.

“And to resort to physical violence is even more wrong,” someone else spoke up.

Li Chaoan was used to being the center of attention and adored. Now, being accused without cause and unable to defend herself, she was so angry her hair nearly stood on end. “I really didn’t hit her! Believe me!”

“And you! What nonsense are you talking! Don’t think you can use your lowly status to beg for pity. What we are discussing today is the matter of Ning Fuyi bringing someone back without permission. If you don’t have a guilty conscience, why were you hiding just now!” Li Chaoan turned to bark at the girl.

“I… I…” The girl’s eyelashes fluttered like fans. She reached out to pull at Ning Fuyi’s sleeve, sobbing so hard she couldn’t speak.

Ning Fuyi felt as though she were simultaneously involved and a mere observer. Only then did she interject: “Who said I brought someone back without permission? Man’er is a survivor from Ruyan Pavilion. Because she was unconscious and we couldn’t find her background, we brought her back. Wenzhu and I already reported this to Elder Yuanming. After he agreed, she was placed here. If you don’t believe me, you are welcome to ask him.”

“No need, I am already here.” As soon as she finished speaking, someone walked in from the gate. Ning Fuyi didn’t even need to turn around; she knew who it was just by that swaggering shadow.

“What’s all the noise in the middle of the day? I could hear you from up in the tree. None of you are practicing or sleeping; are you gathered here for a game of Mahjong?” Elder Yuanming yawned as he stopped beside Ning Fuyi. Seeing the sobbing girl, he gave her a kind wave.

“Oh, Chaoan, is your leg better now?” Elder Yuanming raised a thick eyebrow and asked with concern.

It would have been better if he hadn’t mentioned it. Upon hearing this, Li Chaoan remembered the day she was embarrassingly hoisted out of a fox den by Elder Yuanming. Her face turned bright red. “Yes, much better. Thank you, Elder.”

“Elder Yuanming,” the other disciples greeted him respectfully.

Elder Yuanming nodded to them all, then flapped his wide sleeves like bird wings. “Alright, alright. I authorized this girl to be brought back. All of you disperse and go do what you’re supposed to do. If you attract Elder Pingyao later, you’ll be in for a lecture.”

“But…” Li Chaoan wanted to say more, but at a glare from Elder Yuanming, she didn’t dare open her mouth. She could only suppress a stomach full of rage, bow, and leave.

The other disciples instantly scattered like startled birds. The crowded courtyard was soon left with only Ning Fuyi and Liu Wenzhu.

“Wenzhu, there’s still one stone lion left that hasn’t been moved into the Xuanliang Court,” Elder Yuanming said with a smile. “Not a single strong man in the whole sect can match your strength. I called several disciples, but they couldn’t budge it. I’ll have to trouble you again.”

Hearing this, Liu Wenzhu looked at Ning Fuyi and then at Elder Yuanming. Understanding dawned on her, and she nodded, rolling up her sleeves to reveal her slender arms before heading off to move the stone lion.

With only the three of them left in the courtyard, Elder Yuanming made a welcoming gesture toward the guest room. Ning Fuyi looked down at the girl’s moist eyes and, without saying anything, walked inside.

“What is it you want to say, Elder?” Ning Fuyi asked point-blank.

“Do you know the identity of this girl?” Elder Yuanming dropped his casual posture and placed a palm on Man’er’s shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.

“Spirit Tribe?” Ning Fuyi didn’t know what he was up to, so she gave a vague answer.

“The Spirit Tribe is spread across the Six Realms; they are not uncommon. But because they are manifestations of all things in heaven and earth, different mother bodies result in differences between the common and the extraordinary. For instance, a nine-tailed fox demon is common; its abilities amount to little more than bewitching others and are not particularly precious. But if one is transformed from a celestial herb, they possess miraculous healing properties for cultivators. A common herb can cause a surge in cultivation; if it’s a rare one, it might even lead directly to ‘attaining the fruit’ of immortality.”

“Many in this world are greedy and flock to such Spirit Tribe members, racing to capture them. Some consume them on the spot, or keep them captive to drink their blood and sever their limbs. Some even go as far as forcing ‘dual cultivation’ to increase their power.”

These words were spoken plainly, but they were very uncomfortable to Ning Fuyi’s ears. She glanced at the downward-looking Man’er and spoke as if she didn’t know the truth: “So her true form is a precious celestial herb?”

Elder Yuanming twirled the fan in his hand noncommittally. “Yes, and she has only recently taken form. She has no ability to protect herself and cannot even mask the scent of the Spirit Tribe on her. Therefore, I have consulted with Sect Leader Mei, and we have permitted her to stay at the Yunjisun Sect for now. Once she is grown, we will send her back to the place where she took form: the Celestial Mountain.”

The Celestial Mountain. Ning Fuyi’s heart skipped a beat. It seemed this Man’er was indeed the Du Baishuang of her previous life.

However, although her personality was the same as in her past life, she had only just taken form. She was no threat, so she could stay.

“Do you remember what I said? I will cast a spell to mask the scent on your body. While you stay at the Yunjisun Sect, you must never mention your identity to anyone,” Elder Yuanming said to Man’er, his face full of forced kindness.

Man’er seemed frightened by his attempt at being friendly. She hid behind Ning Fuyi and nodded.

As Elder Yuanming rose with a smile, Ning Fuyi asked suspiciously, “Since her identity is not to be mentioned to others, why are you telling this disciple?”

“She is of immature mind. In a sect as large as the Yunjisun Sect, there must be someone to look after her,” Elder Yuanming sighed lightly and patted Ning Fuyi’s shoulder with his fan. “You are the Young Sect Leader and the only bloodline of the former Sect Leader. It is most appropriate to entrust this to you.”

Ning Fuyi said nothing. In both her past and present lives, although Elder Yuanming seemed the most unreliable of the Four Great Elders—spending his days traveling and indulging in wine and pleasure—he was the only elder in the sect besides Ning Changfeng who didn’t think she was beyond hope.

“Yes,” Ning Fuyi complied.

But in her heart, she had no intention of following through. It was hard enough looking after herself; where would she find the time to look after someone else? Besides, seeing how that girl had just played Li Chaoan, she likely wouldn’t be bullied much.

“Then all is well. Midday has passed; I shall take my leave,” Elder Yuanming nodded with satisfaction. He turned, his sleeves filling with wind and snapping loudly.

“I shall also return to practice,” Ning Fuyi said. She discreetly pulled her sleeve from Man’er’s grip and, without looking at her further, followed Elder Yuanming out of the Yinglai Pavilion.

The sun was fierce today, but the wind was strong, making the leaves rustle loudly.

“Oh, right. Look at my head.” Elder Yuanming, about to mount his sword, suddenly remembered something. He slapped his forehead, hopped off his green-glowing longsword, and pulled half of a dark, dull stone from his sleeve, placing it in Ning Fuyi’s hand.

“What is this?” Ning Fuyi weighed it in her hand.

“This is the Crimson Jade Sect Seal of the Yunjisun Sect. It is now split in two and held by the two Sect Leaders. I have urgent matters to attend to and won’t have time to deliver it to Divine Lord Chu Ling personally. You do this errand for me.” Elder Yuanming waved his hand nonchalantly. “Remember, this is the only token of the Sect Leader. You must hand it to Divine Lord Chu Ling personally; it cannot be passed through others.”

“But…” As soon as Ning Fuyi heard it was for Chu Qingqiu, she wanted to refuse, but Elder Yuanming had already leaped onto his treasure sword and flown off as if he were escaping.

Ning Fuyi held her hand in the air, watching as Elder Yuanming turned into a tiny dot on the horizon. She lowered her hand helplessly.

Indeed, no one wants to deal with Chu Qingqiu, she snorted.

She stared at the piece of junk in her hand and weighed her options for a long while. Finally, she let out a long sigh and turned resignedly toward the Jingshan Palace.

This so-called Crimson Jade Sect Seal sounded impressive, but in reality, it was just a stone Ning Changfeng had picked up from the roadside. At the time, Ning Changfeng had returned from having tea at another sect and saw that they all had treasures symbolizing the position of Sect Leader. He felt the Yunjisun Sect should have one too, but unfortunately, he couldn’t find a unique treasure. While he was pondering, a fragment of falling rock hit him in the head. He picked up the stone, ground it round, and with a flourish of his brush, named it the Crimson Jade Sect Seal.

Jingshan Palace was not far away. Soon, Ning Fuyi was standing before the palace gates. Before she could knock, the door creaked open.

No one appeared when the door opened, but she felt a soft sensation against her leg. Looking down, she saw a white tiger the size of a cat circling her legs, nuzzling her with its head.

“Bai Lin?” Ning Fuyi was somewhat surprised. She hadn’t expected Chu Qingqiu’s spiritual beast to be so friendly to her when Chu Qingqiu herself was so at odds with her.

Logically, a contracted spiritual beast and its master should be of one mind, sharing the same likes and dislikes.

Ning Fuyi reached out, flattered, and the white tiger proactively nudged its head into her palm.

Qiu Yi was nowhere to be seen, and Chu Qingqiu didn’t like using celestial attendants, so the palace was empty. Ning Fuyi walked straight in with the white tiger and climbed the stairs of the pavilion where Chu Qingqiu lived.

As she reached the top of the stairs, she saw the corner of a white robe flash by. Someone was walking quickly, and from within the room, a slightly irritated voice drifted out: “Qiu Yi, I instructed you to change its water. Why has it withered like this after only a few days?”

Ning Fuyi’s heart skipped a beat. The person opposite also sensed something was wrong. Face to face, both of them stopped in their tracks at the same time.

Ning Fuyi’s gaze first landed on Chu Qingqiu’s face, which changed color instantly. Then, her eyes slowly slid down to see the bunch of flowers in Chu Qingqiu’s hands.

A large bunch of withered white chrysanthemums, placed in a vase.

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