When the Immortal Venerable Picked-Up the Demon Cub - Chapter 21

Zhu Ning had always thought Yue Qing was simply stuck in his old ways, unwilling to admit he was getting old. But today’s events showed her it was more complicated than that.

Yue Qing wasn’t a bad person at heart, but his arrogance and refusal to accept his age would one day be exploited, leading him down a dark path.

As Yue Qing discussed current affairs with his disciples at the banquet, Zhu Ning’s words froze the smile on his face.

He stood up, his expression grave. “What is it?”

Zhu Ning pointed to Lin Xiayan. Yue Qing immediately lost face. He had assumed the child wouldn’t attend the banquet. Not only had she come, but Zhu Ning was now scolding him on her behalf.

Yue Qing signaled to a disciple beside him. The disciple understood instantly and hurried to fetch a table, placing it next to Zhu Ning’s. He then rushed to the kitchen to order a fresh set of dishes.

Lin Xiayan finally sat down. The seat, originally meant for one person, now accommodated two, including a ten-year-old girl.

The disciples fell silent, watching the awkward tension between Zhu Ning and Elder Yue. This was the first time Zhu Ning had publicly embarrassed Yue Qing.

Yue Qing was naturally furious. He threw down his wine cup and stormed out of the hall without a word of welcome or farewell. His disciples were left in an awkward limbo, unsure whether to follow or stay, exchanging uneasy glances as the air thickened with tension.

Lin Xiayan, however, remained unfazed. She sat calmly at the head of the table, eating her meal with an air of composure. Every now and then, she would tilt her head and flash Zhu Ning an innocent smile.

Zhu Ning, still seething, refused to eat. Her eyes, slightly downcast, seemed to glisten with unshed tears, betraying her anger.

“The banquet will proceed as planned,” Zhu Ning announced, her voice ringing through the hall. Yue Qing’s disciples reluctantly resumed their seats, though the atmosphere had soured, the earlier merriment replaced by a heavy silence.

Lin Xiayan repeatedly glanced out of the hall. The night sky was a vast, cloudless expanse of darkness, its stillness mirroring the oppressive mood within the hall. Zhu Ning, momentarily forgetting her own discomfort, began to scrutinize Lin Xiayan’s every move.

After all, the first major climax of the original novel was about to unfold. This was their first true brush with life and death, and a single misstep could cost them everything.

If I lose my life here, will I return to the modern world?

Just as Zhu Ning was lost in these thoughts, an Evil Wind suddenly swept through the hall, swirling fallen leaves outside like a miniature tornado. The desolate atmosphere grew even more oppressive.

“What’s happening?!” Zhōng Yuè’s urgent cry came even before the startled exclamation. Long before the demonic wind arose, Zhōng Yuè had begun to glow faintly, its golden light flickering. Zhu Ning, unaware if this was normal, had dismissed it. Now, seeing Zhōng Yuè’s increasing agitation, she realized it was warning her of the approaching demonic creatures.

Zhu Ning knew she had to stand up and reassure her disciples. Clad in white robes, she rose, the candlelight illuminating her figure. “Everyone, please remain calm for now,” she said. “Those demonic creatures won’t dare to cause trouble within Yun Cang Mountain.”

Her voice, amplified by Lin Xiayan’s enchantment, carried throughout the hall, gradually quieting the disciples’ anxious chatter.

But mere reassurance wasn’t enough. Zhu Ning decided to investigate herself.

The candles outside the hall had been extinguished. Stepping out, she was immediately swallowed by endless darkness, her heart leaping in her chest as if she were walking alone on a dark road.

Fortunately, Zhōng Yuè’s faint glow reminded her she wasn’t alone.

“What demonic entity dares trespass on Yun Cang Mountain?” Zhu Ning stood before the grand hall, Zhōng Yuè in hand, striking a pose she’d seen in dramas. The Evil Wind whipped her robes, causing the tassels to sway wildly. The bell on Zhōng Yuè finally chimed crisply, its sound eerie in the silent night.

Yet no matter how loudly she shouted, the Evil Wind continued to howl, showing no sign of revealing itself. Zhu Ning frowned, wondering if something had gone wrong, when Lin Xiayan emerged. A violent gale erupted, sending sand and stones flying, a sight that made her heart tremble.

Zhu Ning now understood the key: the ghostly creature Yue Qing had sent was targeting only Lin Xiayan. It wouldn’t appear unless Lin Xiayan was present.

Lin Xiayan, currently just a powerless little girl, showed little emotion in her eyes, but her expression was exaggeratedly dramatic.

“Lord Immortal Venerable!” Lin Xiayan cried, her short legs carrying her toward Zhu Ning. Her red dress billowed like crimson waves in the dim night. The child’s face was etched with terror as she hid behind Zhu Ning, trembling violently.

Hmm, this isn’t quite how it went in the original story, is it? Shouldn’t she have run to Su Mi instead?

Before Zhu Ning could react, the Resentful Energy formed by the Evil Wind surged toward her. Behind it trailed a twisted, bloodred shadow. Zhu Ning clearly hadn’t grasped what was happening when Zhōng Yuè automatically opened, its golden light enveloping Zhu Ning and Lin Xiayan in a protective glow.

Lin Xiayan, however, instantly leaped out of the golden light. Though she possessed remarkable shapeshifting abilities, even capable of conjuring Yang Fire, Zhōng Yuè was a Divine Artifact. Its golden light would reveal her true form by illuminating her shadow as her original self.

Realizing this, Lin Xiayan quickly glanced at her shadow. It remained unchanged. To avoid Zhōng Yuè’s light, she had no choice but to move beside Su Mi.

Her eyes narrowed. She could see clearly that the Resentful Energy contained only a Vengeful Ghost, no match for a demon who had lived for centuries. Lin Xiayan was about to ponder why it had appeared at this moment when she realized the Resentful Energy had shifted its target and was now charging toward her.

“Tch?” Lin Xiayan shot it an impatient glare. Unfortunately, even moving in this body was a hassle. She flipped over and tumbled to the ground, her crimson robes instantly becoming filthy, her face smudged with dust. She narrowly avoided colliding with another surge of Resentful Energy, leaving a bloody scratch across her cheek.

The Vengeful Ghost in white slowly materialized, its body covered in countless eyes. With each drop of bloody tears that rolled down, wisps of Resentful Energy surged forth.

Lin Xiayan struggled to evade the attacks, unwilling to reveal her true form and use her magical power. Just as the Resentful Energy was about to strike her, a blinding white light flashed before her eyes.

Then, she found herself in a warm embrace, able to feel the bones beneath the beauty’s silken robes.

A heavy, metallic scent of blood filled her nostrils. She snapped her eyes open and realized the person holding her was Zhu Ning, her face contorted in pain.

Zhu Ning clutched at the bleeding wound on her chest, a wave of weakness spreading through her limbs. Her eyelids grew heavy, and she felt an overwhelming urge to sleep.

But uncertain whether the Resentful Energy was still targeting Lin Xiayan, Zhu Ning held her tightly, even though the effort intensified the agony. She seemed to have abandoned all fear of death or pain, throwing herself into the task with reckless abandon.

“Zhu Ning! Let go! This wound can’t wait!” Zhu Ning heard Lin Xiayan’s desperate cry as she drifted into unconsciousness.

Glancing around, she saw the Resentful Energy still looming menacingly. With her last ounce of strength, she roared, “Zhōng Yuè, slay it!”

As her voice faded, Zhu Ning sank into a deep slumber. Zhōng Yuè, as if possessed of its own will, unleashed Heaven’s Illumination, flooding the area with daylight-bright radiance.

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