Vol. 1 - Chapter 16 - The Demon

As the dance neared its end, Ye Long, who hadn’t performed in a long time, danced passionately. The strings’ high-pitched sounds were like the cries of phoenixes and cranes, swift as a downpour. She stepped quickly to the rhythm, leaping into the air, her figure transforming into twelve illusions, the Celestial and Demonic figures laughing drunkenly in mid-air.

Ji Yaoge’s heart surged, her eyes glued to the scene, wishing she could engrave each move into her mind. As Ye Long executed the final step, Ji Yaoge couldn’t help but grip the spear on the weapon rack tightly.

This was the last and most difficult move of the Celestial-Demon Dance. It consisted of twelve forms in one move, capable of creating twelve illusions in an instant. Hence, it was also called the Twelve Celestial-Demon Forms. When used in combat, it could both attack and defend, and with added spiritual power and techniques, it could evolve into countless possibilities.

In just a few moments, Ji Yaoge imagined various ways she could have used this technique for offense and defense if she were still Bai Yun.

Unfortunately, she was now Ji Yaoge, and this move was too difficult. It required not only speed but also a unity of mind and dance, demanding high mental fortitude. In the entire Chi Xiu Palace, only Palace Master Ying Shuang, Ye Long, and Yue Xiao had mastered it. Ye Long’s mastery was a level above Yue Xiao’s, as she could transform into twelve Celestial-Demon figures, while Yue Xiao could only create twelve basic illusions, a significant difference.

"Did you watch carefully?" Ye Long flicked Ji Yaoge’s forehead.

Ji Yaoge, coming back to her senses at the sight of Ye Long’s sweat-dappled smile, blurted out, "Senior Sister, teach me the Celestial-Demon Dance."

Ye Long pinched her chin, "Aren’t I teaching you?"

"I mean, not just the superficial moves, but truly mastering it," Ji Yaoge said urgently.

Ye Long looked at her meaningfully for a moment, then slowly nodded, "Alright."

————

Following Ye Long into the pillar of light, she slowed down her movements, carefully breaking down each step for Ji Yaoge, as if teaching a novice. It seemed a bit overkill, but she was patient, even more meticulous.

One taught earnestly, the other learned diligently, and time passed unnoticed. After demonstrating all the steps, dusk had fallen, and the cave was dimly lit. Their shadows faintly fell to the ground as Ye Long wiped sweat from her forehead, "That’s it for today. Practice these steps well. Including today, you only have two days to memorize them. On the third day, I will teach you the Soul-Entrancing Technique. Without this, you can’t pass Yue Xiao’s trial. You need to reach at least the first level. Using the dance to convey your emotions to the audience. Eventually controlling their emotions and mind… But that’s for later. First, do as I said."

Ji Yaoge memorized her words carefully.

"Go back. Come to me early tomorrow. You don’t have to worry about Yue Xiao’s tasks. I’ve informed her that you’ll be staying with me for these few days." Ye Long waved her sleeve, and the double doors of the cave opened with a rumble.

The night breeze brought a bit of coolness. Ji Yaoge, puzzled, said, "Won’t Senior Sister Yue Xiao hate you even more for opposing her so openly?"

"No matter. I want them to know you’re under my protection. I’ve tolerated Yue Xiao for decades, yet she keeps pushing. Since helping or not helping doesn’t make a difference, let’s see whose methods are superior." Ye Long raised an eyebrow, her gaze turning slightly wicked with an androgynous aura, "Don’t worry. In Twin Glow Valley, I can protect anyone."

Ji Yaoge’s spirits lifted, "I won’t let you down, Senior Sister."

Ye Long chuckled, "You sound so proper and adorable, like those high-ranking cultivators. From now on, you’re mine."

Ji Yaoge blushed, recalling the rumors in the sect about Ye Long’s indiscriminate preferences, suddenly embarrassed, "Senior Sister, I… I…"

Ye Long laughed so hard she had to hold her forehead, "What are you thinking? Hurry back!"

Ji Yaoge, extremely embarrassed, bowed quickly and ran off, leaving Ye Long leaning against the weapon rack, her smile fading as she watched Ji Yaoge’s retreating figure, her gaze distant, and her lips curling into a bitter smile.

————

Returning to her cave at dusk, Ji Yaoge eagerly opened the jade tube at her waist.

A golden light shot out, and Gao Badou flew into the air, asking, "Gao Badou, how is it?"

Gao Badou’s tentacles trembled, his voice annoyed, "I almost suffocated in your lousy tube, and all you do is boss me around. I’m not your pet. Your attitude is problematic."

Ji Yaoge poured a cup of water, politely pushing it to the opposite side of the table, "Thank you for your hard work, Gao Daoist." He ignored her, so she continued, "Gao Senior? Gao Brother? Gao…"

Earlier, outside Ye Long’s cave, Ji Yaoge had seen Ren Zhongping and seized the opportunity to secretly release Gao Badou. As a bug who had lived for 3,600 years, Gao Badou, though weak in cultivation, had excellent stealth abilities and easily climbed onto the mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator Ren Zhongping to use the Soul-Searching Art.

Matters of life and death were urgent, so she needed answers immediately.

Gao Badou flipped the cup back to Ji Yaoge, "I don’t drink this. Next time, bring a book in exchange for information." Calming down, he added, "It’s him."

Those two words shocked Ji Yaoge. She slowly sat down, rubbing the cup Gao Badou had pushed back, asking, "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. I used my golden whiskers to probe, and his soul has indeed been marked with a curse symbol." Gao Badou said, sticking to the table, staring at Ji Yaoge with his small eyes, "There’s an even more critical matter. The aura on that curse symbol is very familiar to me. If I’m not mistaken, the one who marked Ren Zhongping is Xiao Wuheng."

Mentioning this, Gao Badou’s voice turned grave, and Ji Yaoge noticed a flash of hatred in his eyes.

The name Xiao Wuheng wasn’t unfamiliar to Ji Yaoge. In her former sect, Wuxiang Sect, the elders often mentioned him when talking about the Ghost Domain beyond the Ming Sha Sea. Xiao Wuheng was a legendary figure in the Ghost Domain for the past thousand years. A thousand years ago, he had incited a war between the two major sects of the Ghost Domain, causing it to be in chaos for nearly five hundred years. During this period, he established his own sect, Tianxiao, and eliminated his enemies. Now, a thousand years later, the Ghost Domain is divided into the northern and southern regions, with Tianxiao Sect reigning supreme in the south, while the north is still under the control of the original major sect, Diyang, struggling to resist Xiao Wuheng.

"The curse symbol is here, so the symbol master must be nearby. Xiao Wuheng is around," Gao Badou continued.

Ji Yaoge was horrified. With the current standoff between the Ghost Domain and the Wan Hua cultivation world, even an ordinary demonic cultivator entering Wan Hua would cause suspicion in the Immortal Realm, let alone a figure like Xiao Wuheng.

He had come to Tiyu State. This demon’s cultivation level was at least in the late Nascent Soul stage, and with the many low-level cultivators in Tiyu State, if a battle broke out, the entire state could be destroyed. As for her… even if she were still Bai Yun, she wouldn’t be his match.

"What is he doing in Wan Hua?" she muttered.

Gao Badou was pondering the same question when a large face suddenly appeared in front of him, its dark pupils like a deep abyss, and a deep voice said, "Could it be he’s here to catch you?" Gao Badou shivered, bouncing back and hitting the wall.

Ji Yaoge looked up, "What are you afraid of? I was just guessing."

Having been captured by Xiao Wuheng once, Gao Badou was terrified and disregarded his dignity, "Can you blame me? If I fall into his hands again, I’m dead! I say, pack your things and run. If that demon goes on a rampage, no one in Tiyu State can stop him."

"Whether Xiao Wuheng is here or not is still uncertain. We can’t jump to conclusions based on the aura of a curse symbol. Besides, Ren Zhongping is watching me. If I leave now, it will arouse suspicion. If Xiao Wuheng is behind this, I’m dead either way." Ji Yaoge tapped her fingers on the table, calmly analyzing the situation, "The Soul-Searching Art requires living souls, and the higher the cultivation, the more useful the soul. Yet Ren Zhongping only captures low-level cultivators like me… They probably don’t want to make a big commotion in Tiyu State, to avoid being discovered and surrounded by the major sects."

She wasn’t the first cultivator to have her soul taken. Low-level cultivators are easy to capture and unnoticed, and once turned into corpse puppets, their bodies disappear, leaving no trace. So, they must be hiding their tracks.

"Besides, Tiyu State isn’t without high-level cultivators."

At least one might be present, Ji Yaoge thought, recalling the man with the single eye and spider pupil. His cultivation was unfathomable. He had once taken her to the Tiyu State Mountain Lord’s cave, but she didn’t know if he was still around.

Gao Badou climbed down from the wall, about to speak when he suddenly changed his tone, "Someone’s coming."

He had spread his aura around Ji Yaoge’s cave, alerting them to any approach.

Ji Yaoge made a silencing gesture. She had already noticed it too, as the restriction outside transmitted the scene to her mind.

"It’s Ren Zhongping," she whispered.

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.

————

The cave door opened, and Ji Yaoge held a life-saving talisman in her hand, ready to greet the visitor. Gao Badou had already hidden. The situation was unclear, and revealing the person’s presence might provoke them into a killing spree, so they needed to remain discreet.

"Junior Sister Ji, on Senior Sister Ye’s orders, I’ve brought you some peaches."

Ren Zhongping stood at the door, a large basket of peaches from Ye Long’s grove at his feet.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Ren. Please convey my thanks to Senior Sister Ye. I’ll thank her in person tomorrow," Ji Yaoge said, cupping her hands.

Ren Zhongping, still in his wide-sleeved robe, wore an unreadable smile on his long face, "Won’t you invite me in for a chat?"

"My humble abode has no tea to offer, and it’s late. I need to cultivate, so I won’t keep you," Ji Yaoge replied.

"Are you refusing me?" Ren Zhongping, unfazed, brushed aside a strand of hair, his sharp lips curving into a mischievous smile, "I wanted to discuss what happened in the mountains this afternoon."

Ji Yaoge averted her eyes, aware of the powerful charm techniques, especially eye techniques, that could easily ensnare her. With her current low cultivation, she couldn’t resist, so she avoided his gaze.

"Really? Then please tell me another time, Senior Brother."

Seeing she wasn’t falling for it, Ren Zhongping continued slowly, "I met two people outside the mountain gate, inquiring about something."

Ji Yaoge’s heart sank.

"Junior Sister, aren’t you curious what they were asking?" Unnoticed, Ren Zhongping leaned close to her ear, whispering, "They were asking if there had been any cultivators who were supposed to die but suddenly woke up with a changed personality recently. Interesting, isn’t it?"

Ji Yaoge’s head snapped up, meeting his eyes. His pupils were a pale green, cat-like, and his smile was devilishly charming, his sleeves billowing in the wind, making him look like a seductive vortex under the moonlight.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

It was indeed a charm technique, but…

Something was strange.

It was similar to when she was poisoned by Luan He. She could see his charm technique but wasn’t affected, like… like an old monk unmoved by countless beauties.

The old monk had his cultivation. What did she have?

Ji Yaoge’s mind remained clear.

"Really not inviting me in?" Ren Zhongping asked softly.

A few thoughts flashed through Ji Yaoge’s mind. She made a decision, "Senior Brother Ren…"

Ren Zhongping looked down at her. Her cheeks were blushing, her clear eyes now slightly misty, and she bit her lip, looking at him with a reluctant, conflicted gaze that stirred something in his heart. Though plain-looking, her emotional expression had its own charm.

He reached out to lift her chin, saying nothing, just stroking it.

The prey seemed to be taking the bait, but suddenly…

A bucket of ice water poured over her head, making Ji Yaoge jump back with a scream.

"Senior Sister Ji, enjoying the moonlight with Senior Brother Ren?" It was Bai Yan, who had thrown the water.

"Bai Yan!" Ji Yaoge, drenched, gritted her teeth. Though she knew he meant to save her from the charm technique, he had ruined her plan.

Ren Zhongping, interrupted and losing interest, didn’t get angry. He withdrew his charm technique and said meaningfully, "Since you have a guest, I won’t intrude. If you’re curious about what I mentioned, come find me in three days."

With that, he turned and left, his sleeves fluttering in the moonlight.

Ji Yaoge sighed in relief, turning to face Bai Yan.

Bai Yan, with a mocking tone, said, "Senior Sister, looking for a man? Am I not good enough?"

He felt like his precious cabbage had almost been taken by a pig.