Outside the Guangming Hall, the crowd that heard the commotion stopped one after another, whispering among themselves. Aunt Ping’s expression also turned extremely unpleasant in an instant.
Under normal circumstances, no one would have taken such a few instigating words seriously. But ever since Chao Xiaotu returned, her temperament had changed drastically. The originally gentle and sensible little girl had suddenly gone mad, willing to live or die for Su Liuyun, an outsider.
Everyone only thought she had gone astray in her cultivation, her temperament deranged, that she had suffered qi deviation.
Because of her false accusations and repeated disturbances, Taixuan Wuji had long been filled with complaints, barely enduring only out of regard for Shi Chunqiu. Yet Chao Xiaotu seemed completely unaware, still doing as she pleased, utterly oblivious to how much trouble she had caused.
What chilled everyone’s hearts even more was that yesterday, when Shi Chunqiu had apologized on her behalf, setting aside his dignity to kneel and beg Chao Jinsui, she had hidden in the courtyard, pretending to be deaf and mute.
Such behavior—who would not feel disheartened upon seeing it?
As the saying goes, ice three feet thick does not form in a single day. If, after returning to Taixuan Wuji, Chao Xiaotu had shown even a little thoughtfulness and filial respect, no one would have believed Chao Jinsui’s words today.
But Chao Xiaotu had not. Her mind was filled only with how to bring Chao Jinsui down. She had never thought to visit Aunt Ping, who had watched her grow up, nor had she shown the slightest concern for her maternal grandfather.
Under such circumstances, even Shi Chunqiu could not help but grow suspicious.
In the silent hall, not a single person spoke to interrupt Chao Jinsui’s questioning.
Once the seed of doubt is planted, it quickly grows into a towering tree.
As Chao Jinsui questioned her sentence by sentence, Chao Xiaotu’s already fragile mental defenses collapsed completely. The flaws she revealed grew more and more obvious, and her expression became increasingly panicked.
This was Taixuan Wuji, where cases were judged year-round. Chao Xiaotu’s behavior could not have been more apparent.
Shi Chunqiu stared fixedly at Chao Xiaotu. His face was extremely unsightly as he said to her, word by word:
“Xiaotu, make an oath.”
“As long as you swear it, your grandfather will absolutely not lightly believe such absurd words!”
Chao Xiaotu choked, suddenly realizing she could speak again. Tears fell from her eyes. “Grandfather, how can you believe an outsider!”
Chao Jinsui thought coldly: here it comes, Chao Xiaotu’s most skilled move.
From childhood to now, as long as she acted pitiful in front of Chao Taichu, she could obtain anything. Whether it was snatching away something Chao Jinsui liked, or when she had done something wrong.
Having seen this trick so many times, she even felt a bit bored.
Sure enough, Chao Xiaotu began sobbing:
“Grandfather, you and Aunt Ping are so cruel-hearted. I am only just a hundred years old now. If I’m locked up for another hundred years, will I still look human when I come out? If you won’t help me, fine—but why join an outsider to force me like this?”
Today, Aunt Ping and Shi Chunqiu appeared ruthless in locking her up, but in truth it was to preserve Chao Xiaotu’s life. Yet not only did she fail to understand her elders’ painstaking care, she even spoke such words.
Sure enough, Shi Chunqiu closed his eyes, and Aunt Ping’s face turned iron-blue with anger.
Seeing that no one across from her reacted, Chao Xiaotu, acting as if seeking death, rushed to slam herself into a pillar.
—But awkwardly, no one stopped her.
—After all, cultivators cannot die from crashing into pillars.
Shi Chunqiu seemed to age ten years in an instant. Waving his hand, he said with immense disappointment, “Stop making a scene.”
Aunt Ping said coldly, “Xiaotu, make the oath.”
Chao Xiaotu screamed, covered her ears, and ran toward the outside.
Chao Jinsui: “At this point, do you think pretending to be mad and playing the fool is still useful?”
Chao Xiaotu’s whole body stiffened.
Aunt Ping waved her hand. Disciples of Taixuan Wuji stepped forward, one on each side, firmly seizing Chao Xiaotu’s arms.
Chao Xiaotu was dragged back. Seeing that she could not avoid swearing, her lips trembled slightly, and in a quavering voice she said, “I swear, I—I…”
Shi Chunqiu’s expression gradually changed, his fingers clenched tightly into fists as he stared fixedly at Chao Xiaotu.
Chao Xiaotu: “I…”
She could no longer speak.
Because an oath to the Heavenly Dao truly brings thunder from the heavens and fivefold lightning striking the crown.
Chao Jinsui smiled. “If swearing is so difficult for you, then why don’t you talk about some childhood anecdotes from Taixuan Wuji?”
Chao Xiaotu still could not speak.
“You were filial since childhood. You must know what kind of tea your grandfather likes to drink?”
Chao Xiaotu felt an extremely resentful gaze. She thought it was Chao Jinsui, but when she looked up, it was Shi Chunqiu in a towering rage.
Shi Chunqiu’s teeth ground with cracking sounds, veins bulging, even his graying beard trembling.
Back then, when Shi Chunqiu sent Chao Xiaotu to Kunlun, it was not because she had fallen out with her maternal family—but because Chao Xiaotu clamored to see her father. Shi Chunqiu could not possibly let father and daughter be separated, though he was extremely reluctant to part with her.
From then on, Chao Xiaotu did not contact him for decades. Shi Chunqiu had always thought Chao Taichu was unwilling but thinking carefully, no matter how domineering Chao Taichu was, Chao Xiaotu was already so grown. Could it really be that she never found a chance to come back?
Chao Xiaotu trembled. “Grand—Grand… Grandfather…”
Shi Chunqiu roared angrily, “Shut up! Who is your grandfather!”
Chao Xiaotu began to shake violently. Aunt Ping shouted sharply, “Someone come! Drag her to the Hall of Punishment! I will interrogate her personally!”
Chao Xiaotu cried, “Grandfather! Grandfather! Save me!”
Shi Chunqiu did not stop them. His blood-red eyes stared at Chao Xiaotu. If not for the last thread of reason, he would have already struck her dead with a single palm. The more he had once defended Chao Xiaotu, the more he had loved this granddaughter—now he was equally disbelieving, heartbroken beyond measure.
So the obedient and sensible little granddaughter he had once known had long since died, and he had loved this demoness who usurped her place for so many years!
Chao Jinsui lowered her eyes. Her objective had been achieved.
If Chao Xiaotu were still Shi Chunqiu’s granddaughter, Aunt Ping might still maneuver to protect her. But if she were someone who had seized another’s body?
This time, Chao Xiaotu was completely finished. No one would believe a single word from her mouth again, and even her life would be hard to preserve. Taixuan Wuji was not so easy to provoke.
Chao Jinsui lifted her foot to leave, but Shi Chunqiu, hurrying after her, called her to stop.
Chao Jinsui understood. “You want to know how I saw through her?”
“It wasn’t difficult.”
Taixuan Wuji had treated Chao Xiaotu truly well, sending things every so often. Shi Chunqiu had even personally gone to Kunlun to visit her again and again—yet each time, Chao Xiaotu found excuses to slip away.
Chao Xiaotu thought she understood Chao Jinsui, yet she did not know that Chao Jinsui had also watched everything about her.
“But before today, I only suspected.”
Chao Jinsui admitted frankly.
She had no solid proof—it was Chao Xiaotu who threw herself into chaos.
If, after returning to Taixuan Wuji, Chao Xiaotu had carefully nurtured this precious familial bond and tried to communicate with the elders who loved her, she would not have encountered today’s predicament. Unfortunately, Chao Xiaotu simply did not care about her family, gradually growing estranged from her maternal relatives, ruining a perfect hand step by step.
“Elder Shi, please restrain your grief.”
Shi Chunqiu said angrily, “I don’t need your crocodile tears and false kindness!”
She saw the undisguised resentment in Shi Chunqiu’s eyes.
Of course, Chao Jinsui would not think that just because Chao Xiaotu was finished, her conflict with Taixuan Wuji would be resolved.
On the contrary, she knew that Shi Chunqiu and Aunt Ping might hate her even more.
After all, she was the one who had revealed the truth.
But with so many debts, one more would not weigh her down.
Chao Jinsui let out a soft laugh. “I’m not being merciful. I’m here to remind you—you might as well torment her a little less and let her be freed sooner. Perhaps Taixuan Wuji’s yin–yang formations might still be able to find your granddaughter’s soul.”
Shi Chunqiu froze for a moment, then hurried away at once.
✦ ─ ˗ˋ ୨୧ ˊ˗ ─ ✦
In the warm pavilion.
Lingyun asked, “Can they really find it?”
Hongniang rolled her pretty eyes. “She’s been dead for decades. She could’ve reincarnated twice already. Of course they can’t find it.”
Lingyun was completely confused. “Then why?”
Hongniang: “Because your Young Sect Master is a living bodhisattva—she can’t bear to watch someone be tortured to death.”
Hongniang: “Think about it. That Shi Chunqiu loved his granddaughter so much. Now that he knows his real granddaughter was possessed, do you think Chao Xiaotu could die so easily? You human cultivators have no fewer ways of tormenting people than we demons do.”
Lingyun: “? What, you’re from the demon race?”
Chao Jinsui: “Hongniang, you’re overthinking.”
Chao Jinsui: “I just want her to die faster.”
The mouths of the dead are more tightly sealed.
Hongniang: Huh?
She suddenly looked at her in a whole new light!
Hongniang leaned close to Lingyun and murmured faintly, “Honestly, I think your Young Sect Master is sometimes even more frightening than our Demon Lord.”
“Our Demon Lord kills with bloodshed. You human cultivators kill with soft knives.”
Lingyun turned pale with shock. “What? You serve the Demon Lord too?!”
Hongniang: “……”
Is this child stupid!
✦ ─ ˗ˋ ୨୧ ˊ˗ ─ ✦
Chao Jinsui returned to her bedroom, but she could not settle into rest at all. Perhaps Chao Xiaotu’s words had stirred up memories long sealed away. Scenes from many years ago passed before her eyes one after another.
Deep within her memories, she saw a small little demon lord locked inside a cage.
She knew that was the most unbearable past of the little demon lord. Bloody scars needed no one to tear them open; a miserable childhood needed no one to judge it.
So those past things—in all heaven and earth—it was enough that only she and Yan Xueyi knew.
When she opened her eyes, she saw a little-eyed creature wiggling its hips, trying to sneak off to report something: “Wait. Xiao Yanjing, you sent him news about what happened today, didn’t you?”
Xiao Yanjing twisted once in place, then flopped stiffly onto the ground, closed its bean-sized eyes, and tried to play dead.
Chao Jinsui reached out and grabbed Xiao Yanjing. The spy snake didn’t dare make a sound.
Xiao Yanjing was unhappy inside: it had been so many years since anyone dared speak of the Demon Lord like that, yet Chao Xiaotu, not knowing life from death, even wanted to expose old scars, to announce that past to the whole world—it wondered if Chao Xiaotu had grown tired of living.
Chao Jinsui flicked Xiao Yanjing on the head. “Where is he? Take me to him.”
Xiao Yanjing obediently hissed twice, turned its head to signal her to follow, and vanished into the darkness.
The demon race originally had no foothold in Taixuan City—only after the Demon Lord seized Taixuan Wuji’s auction house did they gain one. Not many people knew of this matter, and Taixuan Wuji did not dare publicize it either. After all, they had already lost enough face these past days—who would willingly make themselves the butt of more jokes?
Following Xiao Yanjing, Chao Jinsui passed through the strange gazes of many demons and arrived at the underground chamber of the auction house.
She walked along a long corridor and gently knocked on the door:
“Yanyan?”
✦ ─ ˗ˋ ୨୧ ˊ˗ ─ ✦
That was their first meeting many years ago.
When he was young, the little demon lord had been curled up in a slave pit that never saw daylight.
Orphans of the demon race like him were everywhere in the cultivation world—demons whose parents had both died, or mixed-bloods scorned by others. Most of these children died without a sound; those who survived usually met with miserable fates.
