Chapter 76: Chapter 76: The Pinnacle of the Demon Realm (11)
 

“What is your purpose in taking me out of the dungeon?”

The youth’s gaze was as cold as a frosty pool but carried a hint of aggression, as if he intended to dissect Chuzheng’s soul.

Chuzheng glanced at him nonchalantly, “No purpose.” I just wanted to be a good person.

“No purpose? Then why did you save me?” It seemed like a never-ending question.

“Because you…,” the rest of the words faded away as if automatically muted, Chuzheng paused, “I’ve already said it before, believe it or not, it’s up to you.”

Chuzheng’s indifferent tone left the youth rooted to the spot.

He watched Chuzheng walk away, the breeze brushing against his cheeks, bringing with it the scent of medicine, bitter with a tinge of astringency.

–

Another three days passed.

Li Tang’s injuries had mostly healed, and he was now capable of exerting some force.

With the Soul-Extinguishing Nail inside him for so many years, it had been a long time since he felt as relaxed as he did at this moment, his body his own, without the worry of exerting too much force and affecting the Nail within.

Having completed a set of movements, Li Tang turned his head to look at the other end of the courtyard.

She was lazily lying in the bamboo chair, her clothes falling to the ground, swaying with the rocking of the chair, sweeping back and forth across the floor.

Li Tang averted his eyes and continued practicing.

Starting now, he must become stronger.

Perhaps because Chuzheng had given enough Spirit Stones, the temperamental and somewhat harsh Valley Master didn’t drive them away.

Li Tang’s body was improving day by day.

Chuzheng, on the other hand, was becoming lazier by the day.

In the evening where she lay was where she would be found in the morning, without a hint of movement from her spot.

However, for Chuzheng, days without worrying about how to spend money were too good to pass up; she had to fully enjoy and not miss out.

The moonlight draped over the valley, casting a sheer veil that blurred the entire place indistinctly.

Returning to the courtyard from outside, Li Tang immediately noticed the person lying in the bamboo chair; the chair was still, and the person on top appeared to be asleep.

He walked straight into the house.

After a moment inside, he came out with a blanket and laid it over Chuzheng.

“This is only because you saved me!” Li Tang muttered under his breath, his gaze lingered on her briefly before he swiftly looked away and went back inside.

In the middle of the night, Li Tang heard noises from outside.

He got up immediately and walked out, instinctively checking towards the bamboo chair.

The person in the chair, wrapped in the blanket, sat up, looking towards the source of the noise, and then—

Laid back down.

The bamboo chair rocked, making a slight noise.

“Someone is fighting,” Li Tang said as he approached her.

“Hmm.” What’s it to me, sleep sleep! So noisy!

“Aren’t you going to take a look?”

“We are merely guests.” Why bother, have we not seen fights before! Chuzheng replied indifferently, “Let’s act the part of good guests.”

“…” You really act your part well!

The noise grew louder, obviously coming closer to them.

Xiao Zhu and the Valley Master hurried past their courtyard, and Li Tang glanced at Chuzheng, furrowed his brows and walked outside the courtyard.

Not far away, a group of people stood, the youngsters of Baiying Valley clustered around the Valley Master, on the other side.

“Who dares to intrude upon Baiying Valley in the dead of night!” The Valley Master could barely contain his anger, almost jumping as he erupted.

“Valley Master, we’ve heard you’re not receiving guests, and for that, we must apologize for the intrusion,” the other party said, cupping his hands together, his tone a bit rushed, “Please forgive us.”

“What do you want?” the Valley Master sneered.

“We humbly request the Valley Master to save a life.”

“You break into Baiying Valley and expect me to save someone?”

“Valley Master, I had no choice, driven by an urgent need to save a life, please forgive my impudence.”

“Baiying Valley has its own rules, and this year’s quota is already full,” the Valley Master said, clearly discontented. It wasn’t just about the quota being full; even if it weren’t, he would not have saved the person.

“Valley Master, it was my fault for intruding into the valley. I accept whatever punishment you mete out, but please, you must save them,” the visitor pleaded.

Li Tang was staring absent-mindedly when he suddenly sensed someone beside him.

He glanced sideways to see Chuzheng with her arms crossed, leaning against the courtyard gate, watching the scene indifferently.

Wasn’t she uninterested just now? Why had she gotten up again?

The Valley Master of Baiying Valley was an odd fellow. Chuzheng had broken the norm by pelting him with Spirit Stones, but the group before them was relentlessly heaping the virtues of a healer onto the Valley Master, promising immense gratitude if he saved their friend.

And what if he couldn’t save them?

The Valley Master wouldn’t have it. With a wave of his hand, a bamboo forest suddenly appeared among them, and then the group disappeared from sight.

“This is infuriating!”

“Valley Master, we’ve already made an exception before, why…” Xiao Zhu was confused.

“Hmph. That person was from the Demon Clan. Are these people from the Demon Clan?” the Valley Master argued fallaciously, “I heal twelve people each year, but the one I treated before wasn’t even human, so it wasn’t an exception. Understand?”

Xiao Zhu nodded hurriedly, claiming to have learned a lesson, “I… I understand.”

The Valley Master left with Xiao Zhu, and Chuzheng glanced at Li Tang, “He just insulted you by saying you’re not human.”

Li Tang: “…”

He was not human to begin with; in their eyes, he was a monster.

Even though he knew it deep down, it still irritated him to hear it said aloud.

A dark aura emanating from him, Li Tang turned and went inside with a stern face.

–

“Miss, what are you doing here?” Xiao Zhu asked Chuzheng, who had been posing outside the bamboo forest for half an hour, completely baffled.

“Were those people in there last night?” Chuzheng pointed inside.

“No, they were driven out of the valley,” Xiao Zhu explained with a smile.

“Hmm,” Chuzheng nodded seriously and composedly.

Then Xiao Zhu watched as Chuzheng turned and walked away, disappearing into the distance with a swish.

Xiao Zhu scratched his head. What was she doing standing there for so long?

From the other youngsters in the valley, Chuzheng learned that the group had not left. They were still outside the valley, with one having knelt for a full day and night, begging the Valley Master to save someone.

The person they wanted to save was a girl named Song Fenglan.

This name was very familiar to the original host—Lin Chen’s beloved.

The very Song Fenglan who had occupied the host’s body and, in the end, even turned her soul into a weapon.

As it turned out, she had not misheard last night; Lin Chen was still alive… But the plot seemed to have deviated, as Song Fenglan had just been injured and was seeking healing from the Valley Master of Baiying Valley.

When the original host had encountered Lin Chen, Song Fenglan had already been to Baiying Valley.

Thus, the way for Lin Chen to use the host’s body for Song Fenglan might have been obtained from this very valley.

Chuzheng had no doubt that the Valley Master would tell Lin Chen, since he did not seem to be the type who would only save his own kind, showing no sign of being strictly just and righteous.

“Ouch…”

Xiao Zhu was in such a rush that he bumped right into Chuzheng.

Chuzheng reached out to steady him by the shoulder, and Xiao Zhu bowed with his hands clasped, “My respects, Miss.”

“You’re leaving the valley?” she asked.

“The Valley Master has sent me to invite those outside to come in,” Xiao Zhu replied.

“Is he going to save them?” Chuzheng inquired.

“I wouldn’t know,” Xiao Zhu said, looking troubled. He only followed the orders of the Valley Master, and they couldn’t fathom his thoughts. Perhaps one moment he wanted to save you, and the next, he changed his mind.

“You go ahead later, I’ll go see the Valley Master,” Chuzheng stated.

“Ah?”

Chuzheng patted his shoulder earnestly, “Wait here for me.”

Xiao Zhu, looking stunned, watched Chuzheng leave and found himself nodding as if possessed.