Chapter 6: The Bandits Were Me?!

Moments later.

Xie Jinhuan slipped away from the crowd's gaze, walking alone into an alley, confirmed no one followed, then stopped and looked at Meiqiu on his shoulder:

"Something wrong just now?"

"Gugu…"

Meiqiu stared at the Zhenglun Sword, her expression frightened.

Xie Jinhuan knew this sword was Mount Zihui's divine weapon for subduing demons, and had always carried it as a talisman.

Seeing Meiqiu treat it like a dire threat, and after encountering one odd event after another, he began to suspect the sword wasn't clean—so he thought for a moment and flicked it lightly with his finger.

Tsst~

The blade slid out three inches, revealing its ink-black blade and the characters "Zhenglun"—no abnormality visible.

Xie Jinhuan couldn't determine if anything foul lurked inside the sword; after brief thought, he leapt over the wall into a courtyard behind and arrived outside the outhouse, lifting the curtain.

Buzz buzz buzz~

Instantly flies swarmed everywhere, a stench slamming into his face.

Xie Jinhuan covered his nose, drew out the Zhenglun Sword, and tried shoving it into the dung barrel.

And the result was obvious—even a sky-piercing demon wouldn't dare roam through a sea of shit.

Before the Zhenglun Sword could be fully inserted, Xie Jinhuan felt dizziness flood his mind, then a feminine cry rang out from behind:

"Kid, you looking to die?"

Same sweet, commanding mature voice as always—but this time, fiercely domineering.

Even with mental preparation, Xie Jinhuan jolted, whirled around swiftly, then his gaze began to slowly rise.

In the courtyard behind him, a colossal shadow had appeared out of nowhere.

The shadow was a woman clad in a blood-red gown, at least five meters tall, slender and gracefully formed.

Her sash coiled like a golden dragon; on her shoulder rested a giant red umbrella matching her size, nearly obscuring the entire courtyard above, its surface also bearing golden dragon patterns.

Their eyes met—her brows were like distant misty mountains, serene and ethereal, yet her peach-blossom eyes were irresistibly alluring, as if a mountain demoness reigned atop the ninth heaven.

Because they were so close, her towering chest loomed like two mountains pressing down on his head; that massive rear—felt like sitting on it could bury a man whole…

So damn big…

Though Xie Jinhuan had read descriptions of female demons in his notes, he never imagined she'd appear this gigantic!

Facing a goddess-tall woman, Xie Jinhuan was momentarily stunned.

But soon he realized his mind felt foggy—Meiqiu was gone, the surroundings turned dreamlike, illusory—he must be hallucinating.

Xie Jinhuan bit his tongue lightly to snap out of it—no effect; he raised his hand to touch the red-robed shadow.

Indeed, it was an illusion—his hand passed through without contact; so he leaned forward, peering beneath her cool silk hem, curious to see how real it looked.

But the moment he glimpsed Bai Xi's thigh, the red-robed woman drifted back several feet, her expression like a celestial goddess:

"Young man, you've got quite the nerve."

Xie Jinhuan realized the illusion could speak—he snapped awake, stepping back one pace:

"Are you True Person Qixia?"

The red-robed woman spun the red umbrella on her shoulder, making it feel as if the entire sky rotated:

"I'm Ye Hongshang. I'm not the little Daoist nun you imagined, nor any demon or monster."

With your appearance, how could you not be a demon or monster?

Standing before a woman over five meters tall, he couldn't even reach her head by tiptoeing—the pressure was undeniable, yet he forced his composure, speaking coldly:

"Were you behind today's bandits—and that carriage just now?"

Ye Hongshang shrugged slightly: "How can you call it 'making trouble'? I saw your righteous heart and merely helped you hunt down evil cultists."

"Those men at noon were indeed bandits, but that carriage just now…"

"That was a Wu Sect demoness. You didn't notice?"

How could Xie Jinhuan have noticed? But just now, when he touched her palm, he'd sensed something slightly unusual…

Now he was barely holding himself together—he had no interest in the Wu Sect demoness's affairs, and pressed again:

"Did you tamper with me, making me lose my memory?"

Ye Hongshang shook her head: "The Tomb of Subduing Demons holds a 'Soul-Binding Spell'—touch it, and past memories are sealed. I'm no different from you—I remember nothing either. You've only forgotten the past few years, perhaps because your contact was brief. You'd just drawn the Zhenglun Sword when the tomb collapsed…"

"I drew the Zhenglun Sword?"

Xie Jinhuan felt he'd been a righteous hero rushing to stop tomb robbers—this made no sense:

"How could I possibly draw a divine weapon meant to subdue demons?"

Ye Hongshang spoke with absolute certainty: "You drew it yourself! When I awoke, three of the four tomb robbers were already dead, the old Daoist had his throat crushed by you, forced to break the seals—and then the tomb collapsed. Only you and the old man escaped."

"You'd already been affected by the Soul-Binding Spell. After escaping, you noticed memory loss, feared the old man would exploit it, so you turned on him and killed him—your methods were ruthless…"

"…."

Xie Jinhuan had woken up lying in a tent, with no memory of what came before.

Based on his self-knowledge, he was a normal, law-abiding young man with sound morals.

To seize treasure, forcing tomb robbers to open the demon-sealing coffin, then eliminating unstable elements by murder—this sounded more like a dark cultivator's brutality…

"How do I believe you?"

"Don't believe me? Ask the little trash bird~ It's been outside keeping watch for you—doesn't it know what you did?"

Hearing this, Xie Jinhuan realized the woman was almost certainly not lying.

If he'd been knocked unconscious by persecution last night, Meiqiu wouldn't have been so calm.

The tomb collapsed, he fell unconscious—but Meiqiu showed no surprise. Only possible if he himself caused it all, then retreated to the tent to rest.

Xie Jinhuan couldn't accept this reality, but couldn't recall anything to refute it, so he asked:

How do I break the Soul-Sealing Curse?

Ye Hongshang leaned closer, her vast sleeve nearly brushing his face, her expression suddenly much gentler:

"The one who tied the bell must untie it—but after all these years, the one who set the array must be long dead. Your soul has emerged, but your body is still buried beneath the mountain. Help your sister dig a grave, and afterward, I'll find a way to break your Soul-Sealing Curse. How about it?"

Xie Jinhuan, facing the face cream so close, rejected it with solemn righteousness:

"You're a Heaven-Piercing Demon sealed by the Daoist Sect—how could I possibly let a tiger return to the mountains?"

Ye Hongshang blinked her fist-sized eyes:

"You dug harder than anyone last night—why are you acting so serious today? Don't you feel ashamed saying that?"

Xie Jinhuan had forgotten last night's events, so naturally he didn't blush:

"A prodigal son's return is worth more than gold. Now, every high cultivator in the city is searching for the Great Demon's traces. Even if I didn't know you were inside last night, I still dug open the Demon-Sealing Tomb—and now I know the consequences. If I dig out your true form now, won't I become the one who brings chaos to the world?"

Ye Hongshang squatted before him, her heavy, beautiful hips tracing a startling curve, as if staring at a tiny doll on the ground:

"So what are you planning? You dug me out last night—now it's too late to rein in your horse. If I'm discovered, I'll just go back to sleep. But if you're caught, you'll have to come join your sister in her grave."

Xie Jinhuan fell silent.

Anything sealed by the Demon-Sealing Tomb must be something ordinary methods couldn't kill—only time could wear it down.

The last Heaven-Piercing Demon like this was the mastermind behind the Wu Sect's rebellion—he killed a third of the entire world!

If Ye Hongshang possessed such power, even if captured by the imperial court, the worst outcome would merely be re-burial.

But this audacious "Huo Zu" of mine has no qualification to even serve in the imperial bedchamber—if the court discovers him, he'll likely face total clan annihilation.

Xie Jinhuan sensed the danger and calmed down; after brief thought, his tone softened slightly:

"Miss, could I return you to the Demon-Sealing Tomb and pretend this never happened?"

Ye Hongshang looked utterly indifferent: "Fine. I don't even know what I'm supposed to do outside. But you must enter Rank 1 before you can seal the Demon-Sealing Coffin. If you can't, you can call someone else to help—but then the court will know which 'Huozu Sect' member dared to dig open the Demon-Sealing Tomb."

Xie Jinhuan knew the consequences of being discovered; seeing a chance to make amends, he asked:

"My martial skill is high—what rank am I now?"

Though Ye Hongshang had lost her memory, her eye for talent remained:

"The first three realms of martial cultivation are Body Forging, Flexibility, and Spirit-Qi. Each stage is divided into early, mid, and late Rank 1. You can harm enemies with Qi—so you've touched the threshold of the Spirit-Qi realm. You're at Peak Rank 4, not far from Rank 1."

Not far?

According to Xie Jinhuan's knowledge, a Rank 4 martial cultivator was already a pillar of any major sect—he was only nineteen, and such power was unthinkable.

Yet between Peak Rank 4 and Rank 1 lay three heavenly chasms; countless heroes spent their entire lives without even reaching the threshold.

Now, every high cultivator in the city was searching for the source of demonic Qi—he had no time to level up. If anyone discovered his connection to demonic Qi, he'd be dead for sure.

What should he do now…

Digging out her true form now would be madness—a five-meter-tall absolute monster, if unleashed, might destroy the world…

Throwing away the sword wouldn't help either—this female demon was alive. If he quit, she'd find another chosen one, and then someone would know it was this 'Huozu Sect' member who dug open the Demon-Sealing Tomb…

Realizing no path was safe, Xie Jinhuan, despite the risk, could only attempt a deal with the demon:

"You know my situation—I can barely protect myself. Whether I dig your grave or rebury you, I must first escape the court's pursuit. Miss, you must be a peerless elder—could you…?"

Ye Hongshang squatted before him, her giant umbrella resting on her shoulder, blinking her large eyes:

"You want a little sweetener first?"

Xie Jinhuan indeed needed a last-resort survival tool—he nodded seriously.

Ye Hongshang said nothing more; she rose and began her tricks.

Xie Jinhuan looked up—and saw the red-clad demoness before him, her robes shifting, slowly transforming into a high-slit, low-cut red dress!

The dress's neckline was dangerously open, revealing two pale, plump hemispheres so close he could touch them—large enough to serve as a pillow, with a cleavage so deep it vanished into shadow…

Her long legs, half-hidden beneath the slanted skirt, resembled two plump, white serpents…

What the fuck?

You still dare say you're not a female demon!

Xie Jinhuan had been waiting for her to offer a divine weapon or immortal blade—but now, faced with this five-meter-tall, world-shattering absolute monster, he froze:

"What are you doing?!"

Ye Hongshang, dressed scantily, pressed her dazzling white thighs close to Xie Jinhuan:

"You wanted a sweetener, didn't you? Isn't this sweet?"

Xie Jinhuan couldn't deny it was sweet—but what use was this to him?

A final orgasm before death?

"The entire Danyang is hunting for the source of demonic Qi—and they'd rather kill ten innocent than miss one. I can't rebury you now. You can't give me divine weapons, spirit flames, or escape techniques—but at least teach me how to run?"

Ye Hongshang showed helpless regret: "I can't recall my past, and my body is buried in the grave. What do you expect me to give you? If you're truly afraid, dig out my true form—I'll be your shield. If the court dares touch you, I'll level the entire Daqian Empire for you."

You'll level the Daqian Empire?

If I let you out, I'll be the first one leveled.

Xie Jinhuan had already realized this female demon was no ordinary vehicle—he'd never dare let a tiger return to the mountains.

But without digging her out, Ye Hongshang was just a ghost—amnesiac, useless except for her beauty, and even that beauty couldn't be touched…

Xie Jinhuan felt trapped in an impossible dilemma. This great demoness couldn't help him—he waved his hand:

"I need time to think this through. You vanish for now. Remember—hide well. Don't go causing trouble anywhere."

"Fine. I'll give you a month. When you've decided, call your sister anytime."

As she spoke, Ye Hongshang's form faded silently; the courtyard returned to its clear moonlight and starry sky.

Xie Jinhuan awoke from his daze, glancing around—everything appeared normal; the buzzing of flies returned to his ears.

Meiqiu had sensed something foul earlier, and Xie Jinhuan had been muttering to thin air like he was possessed—she'd hidden on a distant rooftop, and now timidly poked her head out:

"Guh?"

Xie Jinhuan looked at the sword in his hand and asked:

"Didn't I tell you last night to stand guard outside, go dig up graves in the mountains, kill several people, then come back and lie down in the tent myself?"

"Guh."

Meiqiu gave him a confirming look.

"Was I drunk? Or mentally unstable? Or coerced by someone?"

Meiqiu shook her head like a rattle drum.

Xie Jinhuan realized he had brought this upon himself and muttered, "Damn!"

With his strength, to take it upon himself to dig up the Spirit-Subduing Tomb—wasn't that like a widow willingly walking into a bandit den, asking for a beating?

But the deed was done; he had to clean up after his own insane self yesterday.

Yet the trouble he'd caused was probably too big—he had no paper to wipe his hands, and he couldn't run away, or he'd become the prime suspect.

What should he do now…

(End of Chapter)