My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult

Chapter 156: Chapter 156: Mysterious Person Under the Sealing Demon Well

Capital Road, Youfeng Valley.

Mountains grand and magnificent, peaks soaring into the clouds.

The sound of birds pervades the valley, and everywhere are lush trees. The gentle breeze rustles through them, carrying with it the scent of nature, like that of fresh grass, set against the blue sky and white clouds.

All these marvels naturally form a painting so beautiful it needs no embellishment.

The most spectacular sight in Youfeng Valley is the waterfall, which, with the arrival of spring, has long lost its icy cover.

At this moment, a figure appears in the valley.

The person is dressed in a robe, with a headband, appearing meticulously neat and tidy.

This person is none other than Li Fuzhou, the Lord of the Human Sect of the Demon Sect.

Li Fuzhou walks neither fast nor slow towards the valley.

One li away from the waterfall, a distant roar can be heard. After a few turns, the waterfall comes into view.

From afar, it looks like a ribbon of silver light set between the green mountains, dazzling and striking. The closer one approaches the waterfall, the louder it roars, deafening as if thousands of horses and soldiers are charging with unstoppable momentum.

The water cascades down from the mountaintop, striking the rocks around and shattering into spray like scattered pearls, the fine droplets creating beautiful halos in the sunlight, as if one were enveloped in the vast mist.

Not far from the waterfall, there is a pavilion.

Li Fuzhou enters the pavilion and, like always, takes a book out from his bosom and sits down to read.

He always carries a book with him, to relieve boredom and to calm his mind.

As Li Fuzhou opens his book, he becomes completely immersed, as if the thunderous waterfall does not affect him at all.

In this world, the number of people with his level of cultivation and strength, who are also able to sit quietly and read, can be counted on one’s fingers.

Time trickles by, and about half an hour passes.

“Mr. Li, Elder Liu has asked you to go back. There’s no use in waiting; she said she won’t meet with you.”

At that moment, a female disciple of Youfeng Valley comes flying from afar, landing near the pavilion.

She doesn’t know who this reader is or why he seeks out the Great Elder, but his perseverance is not something ordinary people possess.

For over half a month he has waited here every day for Elder Liu Ruyun, even though he is turned away each time. Yet he persists, day after day, never flagging.

“If she does not come to see me today, I will not leave. You go about your business; I’ll just read my book here.”

Li Fuzhou replies with a faint smile.

“Alright then, I won’t disturb Mr. Li.”

The female disciple of Youfeng Valley hesitates briefly before bowing to Li Fuzhou and taking her leave.

Li Fuzhou continues to read, as though he truly is just reading and not waiting for someone.

Time passes, and it seems to be noon already.

A figure appears in front of him.

She is wearing a black cloth dress, with a red belt around her waist, and sky-blue boots. Her once jet-black hair now has streaks of silver as if touched by the first snow of winter or the frost of an autumn morning, partially hidden and ethereal.

Her face bears the marks of time, her hair meticulously combed, devoid of any mess, but those strands of silver are still clearly visible among the black, telling stories of the years. Her deep brown eyes quietly speak of the vicissitudes of time.

At this moment, as their eyes meet, it seems as if time itself has come to a stop.

“Ruyun, I knew you wouldn’t let me wait in vain, you’ve come at last,”

Li Fuzhou suddenly speaks, guilt filling his heart, “How have you been over the years?”

The woman before him, nearing her fifties, is the Great Elder of Youfeng Valley, Liu Ruyun.

“Fine,” she replies.

Liu Ruyun looks at the man before her, a turmoil of emotions stirring within, and then asks, “And you, all these years?”

Although she had been gathering news about Li Fuzhou all these years, roughly knowing how he had spent them, she couldn’t help but ask now.

Li Fuzhou shakes his head and sighs, “I have been doing very badly.”

“Why?”

Liu Ruyun feels a surge of nervousness upon hearing this.

Li Fuzhou’s eyes fix intently on Liu Ruyun, “Perhaps it’s the guilt I feel towards you that I cannot resolve.”

“Guilt?”

Liu Ruyun’s heart clenches, “Fuzhou, I am no longer who I was back then, don’t think you can deceive me with those tricks anymore.”

Li Fuzhou’s eyebrows rose, “Ruyun, how could I possibly deceive you? I hid from you in the past because I had no choice due to compelling reasons.”

Liu Ruyun shook her head, “Compelling reasons? What compelling reasons could you possibly have to hide from me for twenty years? My senior brother was right, you must have found someone else, which is why you dared not come back to see me.”

That damn Zuo Biwen!

Li Fuzhou cursed inwardly, then explained seriously, “At that time, my departure from the Lv Sect was acrimonious, and I was disintegrated. Afterwards, I defected to the Demon Sect, Lv Guoyong ordered the Xuanyi Guard to hunt me down, you know that, don’t you?”

After leaving the Lv Mansion, Li Fuzhou had defected directly to the Demon Sect, which was quite a ‘fine tale’ in the Jianghu at the time.

Liu Ruyun gave a bitter smile, “What about me? In order to find you, I even went to the Demon Sect Main Hall. As long as you had agreed to see me once and explain things clearly, I was ready to join the Demon Sect with you, but you refused to see me.”

Li Fuzhou’s heart trembled, he hadn’t expected Liu Ruyun had once considered joining him in the Demon Sect, something he had never anticipated.

“Fuzhou.”

Liu Ruyun looked at Li Fuzhou, “Stop lying to me. I won’t believe any word you say anymore.”

With that, Liu Ruyun steeled her heart, clenched her teeth, and walked away toward the distance.

“Ruyun, I came here this time to say goodbye to you.”

Li Fuzhou sighed heavily, “Seeing you now fulfills my wish. In a few days, after taking care of matters with the Demon Sect, I plan to enter Yujing City to face Lv Guoyong.”

Liu Ruyun’s steps halted, and she quickly turned back, “You’re going to Yujing City? You’ll die.”

Who is Li Fuzhou!?

He was the Sect Master of the Human Sect of the Demon Sect, a key fugitive wanted by the Xuanyi Guard.

Not only that, he was a Confucian scholar who defected from the disciples of the Confucian master Lv Guoyong, and such a man entering Yujing City would undoubtedly face imminent danger and a slim chance of survival.

“Maybe I will,” Li Fuzhou said solemnly, “Anyway, there’s nothing in this world I can cling to, even you don’t believe me anymore, so what does it matter whether I live or die?”

“I…”

Liu Ruyun’s eyes immediately showed a glint of struggle upon hearing this.

“Well, for someone like me, maybe this is the best outcome after all.”

Li Fuzhou’s voice grew somber, “Ruyun, you must take good care of yourself in the days when I’m gone. Out of the myriad people in the world, it’s a pity that it’s hard to find another me.”

With these words, Li Fuzhou walked away into the distance.

All around, silence fell, with only the sound of the waterfall thundering, echoing with a sense of farewell and sorrow.

Out of the myriad people in the world, it’s hard to find another me.

Li Fuzhou walked slowly, as if waiting for something.

“Fuzhou.”

Just as Li Fuzhou had taken a few steps, Liu Ruyun called out in a hurry.

“Whew…”

Hearing this, Li Fuzhou let out a breath of relief, then turned around and asked, “Ruyun, do you want to hear some last words from me?”

Liu Ruyun said seriously, “You cannot go to Yujing City.”

Li Fuzhou shook his head and sighed, “I must go to Yujing City, and I have reasons I cannot avoid it. This time, I just wanted to see you one last time.”

“Fine.”

Liu Ruyun took a deep breath and slowly said, “Then I will go with you. No matter what, my Liu Family is still a family with meritorious achievements, and we still have some influence.”

Liu Ruyun following Li Fuzhou into Yujing City, with her family’s connections, even if Li Fuzhou was eventually captured by the Xuanyi Guard, saving Li Fuzhou’s life should be no problem at all.

“But.”

A glint flashed in Li Fuzhou’s eyes, fleeting, “I am a person of the Demon Sect, and for you to join me entering Yujing City would be very inconvenient. Moreover, Ling Yuehua said you were already married…”

Liu Ruyun lowered her head, speaking softly, “I made Ling Yuehua tell you that on purpose, but in reality, it’s not true.”

Li Fuzhou nodded his head in response.

He hadn’t spent so many years in studying only to turn himself into a fool. Before heading to Capital Road, he had already inquired about the truth.

Actually, he knew all along that Ling Yuehua was lying to him. With his means, how could such information escape his notice?

But of course, this explanation naturally had to come from Liu Ruyun herself.

Li Fuzhou’s eyes held a deep affection, “Ruyun, it’s fine if you accompany me to Yujing City. Once I resolve the grudges between Lv Guoyong and Zhao Tianyi, I promise to make it up to you doubly.”

Liu Ruyun was taken aback, and suddenly her face flushed with color, “What nonsense are you talking about…”

Sometimes, even if you know you might be deceived a thousand times, you will still head into it without any hesitation, willingly so, because at the moment of being deceived, you are happy.

Liu Ruyun was exactly that type of woman, and Li Fuzhou was the man who could deceive her a thousand times over.

Seeing this scene, Li Fuzhou, a man experienced in the art of love, knew he had her wrapped around his finger. Then, he thought of something and said, “Your senior brother, I’ve heard he’s been getting quite close to the Second Prince lately?”

Liu Ruyun’s senior brother was none other than Zuo Biwen of the Zuo Family, who was also the Valley Master of one of the seven great sects today, the Youfeng Valley.

Liu Ruyun shook her head and said, “Perhaps, I seldom get involved in the affairs of the valley now.”

“It’s better for you to be less involved.”

Li Fuzhou nodded slightly.

Liu Ruyun was not a particularly scheming person, and in the treacherous crossing between Jianghu and the temple halls, the slightest misstep could make her a pawn of those with ulterior motives.

Just then, a figure clad in black hurriedly flew in from afar.

If An Jing were here, he would definitely recognize that this person was none other than Shui Zhongyue.

“Sect Master, there is a covert report.”

Shui Zhongyue approached Li Fuzhou and spoke in a low voice.

“Speak.”

Li Fuzhou also knew that if it weren’t for something urgent, Shui Zhongyue would definitely not be so frantic. The last time was when Zhao Qingmei had fallen into the Sealing Demon Well, her life and death uncertain.

Although he was aware of the situation and somewhat worried, given he was currently in Great Yan and powerless to do anything about it, he could only wait to deal with Yujing City’s affairs before making plans.

Shui Zhongyue glanced at Liu Ruyun but said nothing.

“Just speak,” Li Fuzhou said, gesturing with his hand.

“Yes!”

Shui Zhongyue bowed and said, “The Sect Leader of Zhenyi Sect, Xiao Qianqiu, is going to descend the mountain.”

“Xiao Qianqiu!?”

Li Fuzhou’s brows furrowed.

Liu Ruyun was also slightly taken aback.

…….

In Beihuang Dao, Yuan City.

Compared to Jiangnan Dao, Beihuang Dao was much more desolate. This place belonged to the Great Yan Border, close to the Western Pure Land, with a sparse population. Even though the overland routes were open, trade was incredibly difficult.

It could be said that among the nine regions of Great Yan, Beihuang Dao was among the most barren.

However, recently, Beihuang Dao had become quite lively.

This was because the Sect Leader of the Five Poison Sect, the Five Poison Young Master, was seeking a son-in-law.

The Sect Leader of the Five Poison Sect was known as the Five Poison Young Master not just for his unfathomable cultivation but also his extraordinarily handsome features.

And his daughter, Dai Ling, was like a lotus flower emerging from water, stunningly beautiful to the point of being unforgettable, a real beauty.

No sooner had this news spread than all of Beihuang Dao was abuzz with excitement.

Moreover, young talents and martial arts experts from all over were converging here.

Suddenly, Beihuang Dao was teeming with masters, especially in Yuan City at the foot of Five Poison Sect, where all the inns were exceptionally crowded.

The Five Poison Sect Leader’s search for a son-in-law had become the hottest event in Jianghu.

The usually quiet streets had become busier than before, with significantly more people from Jianghu.

In the street, a man in a black robe and an elder in plain clothes walked leisurely.

These two were none other than An Jing and Lou Xiangzhen.

Hearing the conversations around him, Lou Xiangzhen’s eyes lit up, “This event of the Five Poison Young Master seeking a son-in-law is a tremendous opportunity.”

“What opportunity?” An Jing asked, raising his eyebrows.

“I’ve seen the Five Poison Young Master before, and he’s undeniably good-looking; his daughter is surely no exception,” Lou Xiangzhen said with a grin. “Just think, if you became the son-in-law of the Five Poison Young Master, wouldn’t he let you use that Thunder Pool for sure?”

It was common knowledge among Jianghu’s masters that the Five Poison Young Master was a suave and exceptional man, which was the very reason for his moniker.

“Forget about it,”

An Jing replied irritably, “Dai Ling is indeed attractive, but I already have a wife. How could I play with someone else’s feelings?”

Indeed the plan was sound but not suited for him; it could lead to unforeseen trouble.

Lou Xiangzhen expressed some regret, “Such a golden opportunity to win a beauty and enter the Thunder Pool, it’s truly a pity indeed.”

An Jing chuckled, “Senior, why don’t you…”

“Don’t even think about it.”

Seeing An Jing’s eyes turn, Lou Xiangzhen immediately puffed his beard and glared.

“You’re talking about good opportunities, but you don’t seize them yourself, and yet you criticize me.”

An Jing shook his head, “I plan to go directly to the Five Poison Sect and ask the Five Poison Young Master if he could lend me the Thunder Pool for a bit. At worst, I’ll owe him a favor.”

The only real difficulty now was how to resolve the grudge with the Five Poison Sect, which wasn’t something that could be resolved just by talking. Without bringing real gold and silver benefits to others, all the talk in the world is useless.

Lou Xiangzhen shook his head, “It’s not impossible to borrow the Thunder Pool from the Five Poison Young Master, but it’s best not to reveal its true purpose.”

“Why is that?” asked An Jing.

Lou Xiangzhen smiled, “A thousand-year-old Black Python undergoing Jiao Transformation will probably consume a hundred years of the Thunder Pool’s Spiritual Essence. The Thunder Pool might be closed for who knows how many years before it can recover its Primordial Energy. Do you think the Five Poison Young Master would lend it to you if he knew?”

“Are you his ancestor or his grandchild?”

The transformation of the thousand-year-old Black Python into a Black Flood Dragon signifies a qualitative change in strength, requiring a vast amount of Essence. Even the Thunder Pool of the Five Poison Sect might not make ends meet, and it’s possible that the source of the Thunder Pool could be damaged in the process.

Hearing this, An Jing sighed softly, finding the situation rather difficult indeed.

“I’ve never seen such an arrogant beggar!”

Just then, a ragged beggar flew out of the tavern ahead, followed by the angry scolding of a serving boy.

“Beggars are supposed to beg for food, and you want me to pay you, too? If I had money, would I be begging?”

Grumbling, the beggar got up and patted the dust off his body.

The onlookers quickly covered their noses and walked away to distance themselves from the beggar.

Only An Jing and Lou Xiangzhen went about their business, walking forward.

Seeing Lou Xiangzhen, the beggar hurriedly shouted, “Hey, old man, got any silver? I haven’t had a drink today, give me some silver to buy some liquor.”

Upon hearing this, An Jing blinked and took a closer look.

The beggar appeared to be in his fifties or sixties, ragged and dirty, with his hair in disarray and emitting an awful stench.

An Jing had seen beggars asking for money before, but he had never seen one so openly demanding it.

And on top of having eaten, he wanted to drink; he seemed to be living better than An Jing.

Is this really a beggar?

Lou Xiangzhen examined the beggar carefully, piqued with interest, “If you want to drink, that’s fine. Just keep me company for a few drinks.”

The beggar waved his hand dismissively, “All you people of Jianghu are so troublesome, needing company to drink. Alright, alright, you pay and treat me to a drink, that’s all.”

Lou Xiangzhen messaged An Jing, “This is indeed an interesting person.”

With that, the two headed inside the tavern.

“Dear guests…”

The serving boy approached with a smile, but his face changed upon seeing the beggar.

“Bring us a private room, some fine dishes, and a few jars of good wine,” Lou Xiangzhen said indifferently.

The serving boy warned hastily, “Dear guests, don’t be deceived by this beggar; he’s not a good person at all.”

The beggar just laughed, not giving a hoot about the serving boy’s words.

“No harm.”

Lou Xiangzhen waved his hand, “I just want to find someone to drink with.”

“Alright then.”

The serving boy shook his head to himself and said nothing more, leading the trio to a private room on the second floor.

Once seated, An Jing looked curiously at the man and asked, “Do you recognize either of us?”

The beggar flopped into a seat, “I’m not interested in who you guys are, just treat me to a drink. I like you Jianghu people; each one of you is generous and drinks heartily.”

An Jing couldn’t help but take a few more looks at the beggar, marveling at his audacity, and then messaged, “Senior, why did you invite him for a drink?”

Lou Xiangzhen replied, “Something about this person’s face seems familiar.”

Familiar? Could this person Lou Xiangzhen recognized be a master too?

But An Jing couldn’t detect even a hint of Qi Mechanism from the beggar; he seemed to be just an ordinary person.

The situation at hand could only be one of two things: either this person’s cultivation was far above my own, or he was well-versed in the art of concealment.

It wasn’t long before fine wine and dishes were served.

“Come, eat! The food won’t taste as good once it’s cold.”

The beggar acted completely at home, urging An Jing and Lou Xiangzhen to eat.

“Aren’t you going to pour the wine?” Lou Xiangzhen clinked his wine cup on the table, voicing his displeasure.

An Jing’s forehead sprouted three black lines, and he promptly picked up the wine jug to pour for Lou Xiangzhen and the beggar.

“What’s the relationship between you two?”

The beggar downed the wine in his cup and then asked.

With the wine flowing down his throat, Lou Xiangzhen said with a laugh, “This is my dear grandson. I’m taking him out on a journey to experience the Jianghu.”

“Lou, old man, don’t talk nonsense,” An Jing immediately objected upon hearing this.

The beggar just shook his head without speaking.

An Jing picked up a piece of food and looked toward the beggar, “Who are you? What’s your surname and name?”

“My name is Li Qirong,” the beggar replied nonchalantly.

An Jing searched his memory carefully, but no powerful individual by the name of Li Qirong came to mind.

The movements in Lou Xiangzhen’s hands paused slightly before he narrowed his eyes and said, “The top scholar of the seventeenth year of Li Ping’s reign?”

Top scholar!?

Hearing Lou Xiangzhen’s words, An Jing was somewhat surprised.

The current Great Yan Emperor was titled Taiping, and the previous emperor was titled Li Ping. The seventeenth year of Li Ping’s reign was already several decades ago.

Shouldn’t a top scholar be seated in the temple halls? How had he ended up as a beggar?

“Oh, old sir, you still remember my name.”

Upon hearing this, Li Qirong chuckled, “Of the few people who have treated me to drinks these past days, only you remember that I was once a top scholar.”

As he spoke, he took the wine jug from beside An Jing and proceeded to pour Lou Xiangzhen a cup of wine.

Watching An Jing’s indifferent demeanor, Lou Xiangzhen slowly said, “Aren’t you familiar with Li Fuzhou? Li Fuzhou was the third-place winner in the seventeenth year of Li Ping’s reign, and this man was the top scholar of that year. Back then, they were famously known as the ‘Two Lis’ of Yujing City.”

Li Qirong looked at An Jing, suddenly interested, “You know Li Fuzhou!?”

Li Fuzhou was the leader of the Human Sect of the Demon Sect, not just any ordinary Jianghu expert. His status was among the elite in the Jianghu.

Li Qirong never would have guessed that the two seemingly ordinary Jianghu people he had randomly asked for drinks would turn out to be deeply concealed masters of the Jianghu.

An Jing shrugged and said, “Li Fuzhou, when he has nothing to do, spends his time in brothels listening to songs. He never mentioned these past events to me.”

“Is Li Fuzhou still the same?”

As An Jing spoke, Li Qirong’s brows suddenly knit together.

An Jing nodded, “Indeed, which scholar doesn’t visit brothels to listen to music?”

Unexpectedly, I encountered an acquaintance of Li Fuzhou here in Yuan City, a baffling twist of fate.

“Damn the fates for being so blind.”

When Li Qirong heard this, he seemed quite indignant and subsequently took a big swig from the cup in his hand.

“What do you mean by that?”

An Jing asked, puzzled, “Could it be that you have some story or a grudge against that Li Fuzhou?”

Lou Xiangzhen also looked over, with a trace of confusion in his eyes.

At that time, Lou Xiangzhen was defeated by the Sword God of the Yu Heng Sword Sect and was at a low point in his life. How could he possibly care about the grudge between these two men?

Moreover, these two were not even part of the Jianghu.

“What’s your relationship with Li Fuzhou?”

Li Qirong looked at An Jing with a skeptical expression, “Could it be that he sent you?”

An Jing pondered for a while before saying, “My relationship with Li Fuzhou is complicated; it’s not something that can be explained in a short time.”

He knew Li Fuzhou, but that didn’t mean Li Fuzhou knew him.

“Complicated?”

Li Qirong raised an eyebrow, “What, has Li Fuzhou now even taken a fancy to men?”

An Jing: “….”

“Actually, this isn’t really a secret, you’d know if you just asked around a bit.”

Li Qirong waved his hand and said, “Back in the day, though Li Fuzhou and I were both candidates, I greatly disliked his personality and considered him a disgrace to scholars, so we didn’t get along.”

An Jing clapped his hands in approval, “A disgrace to scholars, that’s well put.”

Hearing An Jing’s words, Li Qirong’s voice deepened even more, “Would you say a scholar who’s lazy by nature and lingers in pleasure quarters—how could such a person be taken in as a disciple by Master Lv?”

Upon hearing this, An Jing asked, “….. Would you, sir, not go?”

Are there really scholars who don’t visit the pleasure quarters to enjoy music?

Li Qirong, agitated, said, “Never go. We scholars aspire to ‘regulate the family, govern the country, and bring peace to the world’. Naturally, our thoughts should be entirely on delving into the study of Confucianism. How could I be as degraded as him?”

An Jing pondered for a moment and then said, “Well said, that’s why you’re the top scholar, and he’s merely third.”

There really are scholars who hold such rancor toward the pleasure quarters and music—it’s indeed quite rare in this world.

Li Qirong, upon hearing this, felt his fervent emotion immediately wilt.

Others might not know why he became the top scholar, but how could he himself not understand?

“Actually, this title of top scholar was given to me by Master Lv.”

Li Qirong said soberly, “Originally, the Human Emperor Li Ping had personally chosen Li Fuzhou as the top scholar.”

“He almost became the top scholar?”

An Jing was shocked and couldn’t help but think: Li Fuzhou is quite talented, flourishing both in the Demon Sect and in the officialdom.

Being the top scholar isn’t something just anyone can achieve.

As Li Qirong spoke of the past, he sighed gently, “Master Lv said that Li Fuzhou still needed more refinement, so he awarded the title to me, and because the Human Emperor Li Ping liked him, he got the title of third place.”

An Jing heard this and also sighed.

Li Fuzhou, who was usually serious and meticulous, and who would read books or visit pleasure quarters to listen to music in his free time, had such stories behind him.

“Li Fuzhou is indeed quite a character.”

Lou Xiangzhen nodded in agreement, “The Confucianist Qi mechanism is fully realized, integrating into the Demon Sect’s mental method. He is a rare talent.”

Li Qirong picked up the wine jar and poured three cups, saying, “What infuriates me most is Old Master Liu from the Liu Family. Just as the palace exam had ended, he went straight to Lv Mansion to ask for Miss Liu Ruyun’s hand in marriage from Lv Guoyong. Miss Liu Ruyun is a true lady of great families, literati-bred, and I also….”

“I just don’t understand, how come Li Fuzhou, with such a tarnished reputation, womanizing and philandering, still has so many women throwing themselves at him?”

“He may look handsome and extraordinary, but I’m not bad-looking either, so what exactly is the reason?”

Li Qirong said this with a heavy sigh.

He could never understand. Li Fuzhou, with his reputation of visiting pleasure quarters, was nothing but a profligate. How could he compare to someone mature and capable like himself? Why did the young ladies of Yujing City seem to favor him? Where have I, Li Qirong, fallen short?

Lou Xiangzhen also shook his head. When it came to emotions, interpersonal relationships, and calculating schemes within the official circles, he was not an expert.

An Jing said somberly, “Because he’s flirtatious.”

Because he’s flirtatious….

Li Qirong’s movements paused for a moment, struck as if by a bolt from the blue.

“You,”

An Jing patted Li Qirong on the shoulder, “Don’t think too much about it. This is a natural talent. Sometimes, these things even make me worry, and I think Li Fuzhou feels the same.”

Though it was a simple sentence, it instantly enlightened Li Qirong, who couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh of realization.

Lou Xiangzhen asked curiously, “Master Li, how come you’ve become a beggar in Yuan City?”

“My career has been difficult, and I haven’t been able to fulfill my full vengeance.”

Li Qirong, with a mouthful of food, said indifferently, “The current court is a mess; factional strife is severe. I’m not interested in their games, and if I can’t achieve my own vengeance, what’s the difference between sleeping rough and living luxuriously?”

An Jing, hearing this, couldn’t help but silently criticize: I’m not interested in their games, you mean they just didn’t invite you to play along, right?

Lou Xiangzhen, on the other hand, could not compare with Jiang Sanjia when it came to the affairs of the court and so his knowledge was limited.

“Just watch. In less than half a year, conflicts will surely arise throughout the world. And the fuse for it all,”

Li Qirong solemnly looked towards the north and said, “lies in the Northern region.”

“Houjin?”

Lou Xiangzhen narrowed his eyes.

“There’s also the Demon Sect.”

Li Qirong said indifferently, “The Holy Master of Houjin, this person has meticulous plans. I have studied his life; he always makes use of everything at his disposal before he makes a move, he would definitely prepare in multiple ways,”

“As for whether there is still more, that would depend on the methods of this Holy Master as well as the stratagems of the Human Emperor and Old Master Lv.”

Lou Xiangzhen asked with a serious tone, “Are you implying that the Human Emperor’s serious injury is a ruse?”

Rumors had it that the Taiping Human Emperor failed to break through his shackles, and now the Great Yan Temple was in chaos. Could all of this be false? All part of a plan?

If it was a plan, the cost seemed a bit too steep.

It must be known that for each day Great Yan was in chaos, it was a drain on the national strength of Yan Country. If Houjin did not fall for this open scheme, it would be Great Yan itself that ended up suffering in the end.

“I don’t know either.”

Li Qirong shook his head.

Whether it was an open scheme or the truth, probably only a few people knew besides the chess players of Great Yan.

Lou Xiangzhen couldn’t help but sigh, “Who knows how long this world will remain at peace.”

The seemingly calm surface of the lake was in fact already surging with undercurrents.

Li Qirong quickly said, “Come, let’s drink. After we’re done, we still have to go back to sleep. If we go back late, we won’t even have a place to sleep.”

“Come, let’s drink.”

An Jing raised his glass.

……

Dongluo Desert, Sealing Demon Well, the night was serene, and the temperature plummeted.

Zhao Qingmei only felt that she was shrouded in darkness until a flame began to burn, restoring a trace of her consciousness.

“This… What is this?”

Zhao Qingmei’s brows were tightly knit, and then she slowly opened her eyes.

Above her was also enveloped in darkness.

“Sealing Demon Well, I’ve fallen into the Sealing Demon Well.”

Zhao Qingmei thought of Jiang Shang’s words, and her heart twisted with pain, “It’s all my fault, I didn’t protect my husband.”

She had once silently vowed to protect him, but she had failed.

Zhao Qingmei took out a tinderbox and gently blew on it.

A weak flicker of light emerged, illuminating the surroundings.

Zhao Qingmei took out a diary she had treasured for a long time from her bosom and gently flipped it open, the feeble light casting upon its pages.

Each page was a precious memory, a past she couldn’t forget.

Tears unknowingly filled her eyes.

It wasn’t that she wanted to cry, but the pain in her heart made the tears flow involuntarily.

‘Drip drop’

The tear fell onto the diary and slowly spread.

At that moment, a sense of bloodline resonance came to her.

It was a very familiar aura.

“Husband!?”

Zhao Qingmei gasped in astonishment, murmuring, “The Heavenly Flipping Seal, his aura is within the Heavenly Flipping Seal. Could it be that he’s still alive, that he has discovered the secrets of the Heavenly Flipping Seal?”

This bloodline aura, she would never forget.

If the aura was still there, it meant the person was definitely alive.

Even if half-dead, she, Zhao Qingmei, might have a chance to revive him.

“Definitely, it must be my brother’s.”

Feeling this aura, Zhao Qingmei felt as if she had grasped hope. Suddenly, the gloomy skies seemed to clear up.

Then Zhao Qingmei wiped away her tears with her sleeve, carefully put away the diary, and took out a paper effigy.

The paper effigy quickly responded, and the response was quick and frequent.

Seeing this, Zhao Qingmei felt even more certain, and couldn’t help talking to herself, “It must be because I haven’t responded, my brother must be getting anxious.”

“An Xiaorou, tricking me into tears again.”

However, doubts lingered in Zhao Qingmei’s heart.

“Why would Jiang Shang kill my brother, yet he still has breath, and can even contact me through a paper figure?”

“Could it be that Jiang Shang made a mistake?”

The more Zhao Qingmei thought about it, the less she understood. She couldn’t comprehend how An Jing survived. “Stop thinking about these things, I need to get out quickly.”

Zhao Qingmei put away the paper figure and picked up the mandarin duck blade from the ground and stood up.

“Once I get out…”

Zhao Qingmei looked at the well opening above and said with determination.

At that moment, an immense pressure came from the well opening, as if all her True Qi was locked down, making it highly unlikely to escape through there.

Afterward, she walked deeper into the Sealing Demon Well.

The reason why the Sealing Demon Well was a secret place of the Demon Sect was that many of the Demon Sect’s masters, before their death, would go to the Sealing Demon Well. Once inside, people could not leave, hence these Demon Sect masters all died there.

When a grandmaster dies, Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence would emerge from within their bodies, which, over time, would dissipate into the universe.

However, inside the Sealing Demon Well, these Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence wouldn’t dissipate but would remain intact within the corpses.

Therefore, those who entered the Sealing Demon Well from the Demon Sect could obtain the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence from within their predecessors’ bodies.

The deeper one went into the Sealing Demon Well, the higher the cultivation of the deceased Demon Sect masters who reached enlightenment, and the grander the amount of Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence derived from the higher-cultivation grandmasters after death.

Inside the Sealing Demon Well, there was the oppressive presence of the deceased Demon Sect masters. The deeper one went, the heavier the pressure, even affecting the mind and potentially leading a Demon Sect master to deviate from their practice.

In the past, some had entered the Sealing Demon Well and ended up deviating due to the influence on their psyche, which was why Ouyang Ping of the Sealing Demon Platform had already cautioned Zhao Qingmei not to overexert herself before she went in.

The first time Zhao Qingmei came to the Sealing Demon Well, she had already walked more than a hundred yards along one of the paths.

She remembered there was a way ahead, but she was so depleted at the time that she couldn’t go on and had given up.

Now that her cultivation had reached the level of a One Qi Grandmaster and her mindset had become even more flawless, she felt that entering deeper into the Sealing Demon Well should be no problem.

She might even find a way out of the Sealing Demon Well.

She followed the path straight ahead, seeing the corpses of Demon Sect masters in enlightenment in several niches along the way. These corpses had long since turned to bones, their Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence already taken.

At the same time, a vast pressure surged towards her, but Zhao Qingmei’s expression remained unruffled as she strode forward.

After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Zhao Qingmei arrived at the place where she had initially found the Heavenly Flipping Seal.

Next to the body of the eighth Hierarch of the Demon Sect.

At this point, the pressure was already extremely heavy, like a mountain pressing down on her shoulders.

Why did the eighth Hierarch of the Demon Sect disappear? It was because he entered the Sealing Demon Well for a second time, trying to discover its secrets, but in the end died there, never able to leave.

After that, none of the Demon Sect masters who had the capacity and temperament of the eighth Hierarch managed to make it to his side deep in the Sealing Demon Well. Naturally, they couldn’t find the Heavenly Flipping Seal, nor the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence on the body of the eighth Hierarch.

The cultivation level of the eighth Hierarch of the Demon Sect must have been at the peak of Four Qi or a Five Qi Grandmaster – already at the extreme limit of the Grandmaster Realm, which meant that the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence he generated was exceptionally immense.

It was precisely because Zhao Qingmei had encountered such a great opportunity and also practiced the Nine Nether Purgatory Demon Scripture that she was able to quickly reach the Grandmaster Realm.

Otherwise, even with her high aptitude, without resources, it would be difficult for her to achieve the Grandmaster Realm at the age of nineteen.

Unlike the other Demon Sect masters sitting in niches, the corpse of the eighth hierarch leaned against the cave wall, the reason for his death unknown.

Back then, Zhao Qingmei speculated that he might have died of starvation.

Although there were water droplets beside this stone wall, a grandmaster surviving half a month or a month without food would still be unbearable for their body.

Zhao Qingmei, sensing the pressure ahead, took a deep breath and prepared to brave the danger and give it a try.

Only from this place might she find a way out of the Sealing Demon Well.

“You little one, why have you come a second time? Have you forgotten the ancestral decree or what?”

Just then, a robust voice echoed through the cave.

Someone!? In the Sealing Demon Well, there was actually someone!?

“Who!?”

Zhao Qingmei felt a surge of turbulent emotions, her eyes reflecting a trace of disbelief.

PS: I’ll work hard to write an extra chapter tomorrow.