Chapter 9: A Minor Interlude
A Minor Interlude
«...»
Qing Xukong felt all eyes around him turning toward him, but that was only natural—the god known as Ling Yu, who appeared as a beautiful girl, was clinging to his arm.
«Can you... let go of me?» Qing Xukong asked, feeling extremely uncomfortable.
«What’s the problem?» Ling Yu asked, feigning ignorance.
Qing Xukong had truly had enough. He, who was accustomed to solitude, had been dragged into the streets—and that alone would have been bearable. But now he had to endure the curious, even envious stares of others, leaving him choked with unease.
«Stop clinging so tightly! Let me go!»
«Young man, shouting like that isn’t good for your health.»
Though she said so, Ling Yu showed no intention of letting go.
«I said, let me go!»
«Oh dear, I’m hungry.»
«Do you even listen when people speak?»
«Still... it’s time to attend to real business.»
«...?»
«So... what exactly is this ‘real business’ of yours? Why did you bring me here? And why this alley?»
Ling Yu pressed a finger to her lips and cast a sultry glance at Qing Xukong.
«Hey... what exactly are you trying to do...» Qing Xukong’s cheeks flushed red, yet he forced himself to remain calm—just the heat, that’s all, just the heat making his face burn, so stop blushing!
What followed felt like slow motion. At some point, Ling Yu had already appeared before Qing Xukong, her long, slender leg drawn back like a bowstring, taut and coiled.
«You—»
The girl snapped her leg forward, extending it to its full range of motion, and kicked.
Qing Xukong instinctively shut his eyes.
A heavy sound rang in Qing Xukong’s ear.
Qing Xukong slowly opened his eyes. This meant his life had not been taken.
Before him filled his entire field of vision was Ling Yu’s face. Her eyes, like lapis lazuli, did not seem to be looking at him—rather, they were fixed behind him, toward Zhen Xun. As for the whip-like kick, it had passed just beside Zhen Xun’s face, extending backward like her gaze, striking not a single part of Qing Xukong.
Qing Xukong tried to turn his head, following the line of Ling Yu’s leg stretched behind her.
Qing Xukong slowly lifted his gaze.
The figure before him seemed vaguely familiar.
It was the jet-black monster that had chased him relentlessly yesterday—the Moshou.
Zhen Xun leapt sideways, landing behind Ling Yu. Even though the Moshou had drawn so close, Qing Xukong had sensed nothing. Had it not been for Ling Yu’s kick, he would already be a meal for the beast.
«That was close, young man.»
«Y-yes...»
The suddenness left Qing Xukong’s mind blank; his heart felt ready to burst from his chest.
«What’s going on?»
«It had already locked onto you. To avoid unnecessary panic, I lured it here to eliminate it.»
Qing Xukong noticed that Ling Yu’s expression had shed all traces of her earlier sultriness, replaced now by savagery.
The Moshou writhed on the ground. Only then did Qing Xukong realize it differed slightly from the previous Moshou—though both had jet-black bodies, this one lacked wings, instead possessing stronger limbs.
«Is it finished?» Qing Xukong asked anxiously.
«Do not worry, young man. I shall send it on its way immediately.»
In her hand, a black folding fan materialized out of thin air as she stepped toward the monster.
She walked right up to the creature, pointing the fan at it. If one looked closely, a strange radiance seemed to gather at the fan’s tip.
«Then let me send you on your way,» the girl said, expressionless, and swung the fan forward.
The moment the fan struck the monster, its body twisted grotesquely at the point of impact, bending at a 90-degree angle, then exploded violently. Fluids and tissues sprayed onto the girl’s body, but instantly dissolved into phosphorescent light, leaving not a single stain on her pure white garments—as if nothing had happened.
Qing Xukong stared tremblingly at the girl before him.
«Let’s go. The matter is settled. Our true purpose remains shopping,» Ling Yu said, expressionless.
«You—»
«This is my true face. Surprised?»
«No... let’s go...»
End of Chapter
