Chapter 66: The Clever Little Devil

Dan Hospital, ward.

The sky was just beginning to lighten; the rustle of autumn wind brushing leaves echoed outside the window, and a faint scent of osmanthus lingered in the air.

Shasha shasha~

As his spiritual awareness just stirred, an indescribable exhaustion swept through his body, inside and out.

It felt like he'd been subjected to ten times his usual training load for seven days and seven nights, while ten ghost brides transformed into essence-sucking succubi, draining his yang energy as he trained…

"Damn…"

His primordial energy had been so brutally drained that his mind had grown abnormally sluggish; it took him half a long moment to muster every ounce of strength just to lift his eyelids, each weighing a thousand jin, revealing a painted ceiling adorned with scenes of birdsong and blooming flowers—likely meant to lift the patient's spirits.

Xie Jinhuan tried to raise his hand to rub his forehead, but found himself bound by ropes as thick as his thumb; looking down, he realized he lay on a specially made hospital bed, tied from head to toe like a caterpillar…

Huh? I delivered crucial service—why am I tied up?

Could it be that last night, while half-asleep, I touched her too roughly and made the glasses girl angry…

Unable to break free, Xie Jinhuan turned his gaze left and right.

The ward wasn't large, but it was spotlessly clean: besides the bed, there was only a table beside it, holding the Zhenglun Sword and the recovered Tian Gang Club.

Linghu Qingmo, now dressed again in a snow-white long skirt, sat on a round stool, likely exhausted from staying up all night to watch over him; her hands rested on the table as she slept, her cheek turned toward him, revealing delicate eyelashes trembling slightly—no one knew what dream she was having, but her full chest rose and fell at the table's edge, forming a tense, arresting half-arc…

Xie Jinhuan glanced briefly, didn't wake up Seeing Mo Mo, and quietly recalled the hazy images flashing through his mind after taking the pill.

From those images, he could confirm he'd killed no fewer than a thousand people and traveled many places, but his memories were extremely blurred, like viewing flowers through mist—he couldn't recall any specific people or locations at all…

After racking his brain to no avail, Xie Jinhuan checked his body—after breaking through his bottleneck last night, though the doubled cultivation had faded, Rank 3 had held firm and hadn't dropped again.

Martial Path Rank 3 had entered the "Spirit-Qi" stage—the initial phase of "governing Qi with Spirit"—allowing him to faintly perceive the condition of his internal meridians and control Qi movements within a few chi around his body.

But compared to Martial Path Super Rank's "Breaking Demons," which physically exorcised evil and slashed gods and Buddhas with swords, the difference was still stark…

As he silently examined himself, the woman sleeping on the table suddenly twitched her eyelashes and opened her eyes.

Seeing Xie Jinhuan awake, Linghu Qingmo's eyes first filled with relief.

But then she remembered their gaze last night—how Xie Jinhuan had looked at her as if he wanted to crush her into medicine paste—and she suddenly leapt to her feet, snatching up the sword on the table!

"Huh?!"

Xie Jinhuan snapped back to reality, jolting upright as if rising from a deathbed:

"Mo Mo, what are you doing?!"

"Don't move!"

"I'm not moving."

"Lie down!"

Pūtōng~

Only after Xie Jinhuan lay back down did Linghu Qingmo approach cautiously to observe him.

Xie Jinhuan remembered last night's slaughter aboard the boat and his foul-mouthed ranting, but back then he'd been too exhilarated; now, clearly, he couldn't muster any excitement, so he reassured her:

"Don't worry—the drug's effects have passed. I'm fully awake now and won't go berserk again."

Linghu Qingmo confirmed Xie Jinhuan couldn't break free, then sat back down before him and spoke softly:

"You're not fully awake! The Dao-Boosting Pill was only ever taken by Mr. Li—he claimed he was awake too, but the moment the ropes were loosened, he grabbed a stool and smashed it into Mr. Mu's face…"

"Really?"

Xie Jinhuan hadn't known Li Lao had such a glorious past; he carefully sensed himself and found his mind only tired, nothing else amiss, so he replied:

"What level was Li Lao? What level am I? My blood and Qi are completely drained—I can't even afford to go crazy. Untie me quick, I'm being strangled."

Linghu Qingmo strictly followed protocol, speaking with solemn gravity:

"Director Zhang said you must follow Mr. Li's precedent: observe you for three days and three nights before untying you. If you're released early, you might do something irrational—I must consider your safety."

"Tied up for three days and nights? Won't I starve to death?"

"I'll feed you!"

"?"

Moved by Seeing Mo Mo's care, Xie Jinhuan no longer insisted; he lay still and asked:

"What's the situation outside?"

Linghu Qingmo feared Xie Jinhuan might still be under the drug's influence; recalling his feats last night, she felt no small measure of admiration and reverence, so she leaned closer to summarize:

"The demon bandits are all dead. The Wang Fu elders went to inspect the corpses and identified the mastermind as Tai Shu Dan. He was originally a disciple of the Gu Du Pai's ancestral home, the Chi Long Cave, then switched to the Corpse Witch Sect's Ling Lu Valley, and recently joined the Demon Path Mingshen Sect…"

"Based on the scene, Tai Shu Dan likely intended to brew a Hua Yao Dan for the Mingshen Sect's leader—this pill requires the cauldron to die in a state of 'greed and debauchery' and is commonly used as a medium to break through to Demon Path Super Rank…"

Xie Jinhuan needed exactly this information; with a serious face, he replied:

"These demon bandits truly have lost all conscience! Without doubt, the blood-charged aura rising from Mount Zihui was caused by the Mingshen Sect's great demon!"

Since the likelihood of two Demon Path titans appearing simultaneously near Danzhou was extremely low, the Wang Fu had reached the same conclusion; Linghu Qingmo nodded solemnly:

"Indeed. But we still don't know what the Mingshen Sect is doing in the mountains. Wang Fu has deployed massive forces to re-sweep the mountains—even if they dig down three feet, they'll find traces of these demons!"

"Mm… Huh?!"

Hearing this, Xie Jinhuan's foggy mind snapped alert; he thought inwardly:

Why are they searching the mountains again?!

If the demon bandits hadn't been found, fine—search the mountains. But I already dug out the Mingshen Sect! Why are you still searching? Is my life just wasted?

Although the Zhen Yao Tomb lies deep in remote wilderness, and Xie Jinhuan needed a full day and night to travel there, it wasn't easy to find.

But now, without any rivals to distract them, Danzhou's various bureaus could coordinate and search slowly; within ten or fifteen days, they'd surely locate the spot.

Then the camp tents, tomb robbers' corpses, the Zhen Yao Tomb—all would come into the bureaus' view…

The Dan Wang would realize the demonic aura on Mount Zihui wasn't from the Mingshen Sect and would begin digging three feet deep to find the Huozu Sect member who had unearthed the Zhen Yao Tomb…

This is going to kill me…

No. I've worked so hard to get to this point—I'm about to wipe my ass clean. I can't let it all fail at the last second. I must return and destroy the evidence before the bureaus find the place.

At this thought, Xie Jinhuan wanted to rise:

"The demonic beasts have not been eradicated; my Dao heart cannot be at ease. I can still move, so I will go help search the mountain."

This move was an attempt to return and clean up the traces.

But Linghu Qingmo saw this, and her feelings were completely different!

Linghu Qingmo had lived this long and had never seen a few true gentlemen willing to sacrifice their lives for the common people; even her master, when slaying demons and eradicating evil, did his best but would not go mad enough to throw his life away.

And what about Xie Jinhuan?

Since coming to Danyang, he had sought no reward while putting out fires everywhere; every day he was either slaying demon bandits or on the road tracking them.

The previous few times were one thing, but last night at Huaijiang Bay, seeing the common people about to be slaughtered, Xie Jinhuan had actually taken potent medicine and rushed onto the boat to fight the powerful demon bandits alone to the death!

Now, with his body full of wounds, he had just awakened and was already eager to continue tracking the demonic beasts.

What kind of spirit is this?

What is called a great hero serving the country and the people?

What is called taking the eradication of demons and defending the Dao as one's duty?

The martyrs of the various sects who sacrificed their lives for the common people during the Wu Sect chaos were probably no better than this!

Seeing Xie Jinhuan anxious to rise, Linghu Qingmo was moved beyond words, hurried forward to support him, and softly persuaded:

"You are injured and your mind is not yet clear; you cannot get out of bed for the next few days."

If Xie Jinhuan did not get out of bed and let the government office conduct a carpet search of the mountain, what if they really found something? At this moment, his attitude was firm:

"I am fine; even if I just lean on a cane to search for the demonic beasts, it is better than lying here wasting time. Help me untie me; I can still do it!"

"Jinhuan!"

Linghu Qingmo's address was even more intimate; she pressed her hands on his shoulders, her eyes burning:

"I know you would sacrifice your body for the Righteous Path, but the medicine's effect has not yet faded. Once untied, you might do who knows what. I must consider your safety; you must lie down for three full days! If you really cannot rest easy, I will go search Mount Zihui; if I find anything, I will tell you immediately..."

If you really find anything, then my busy work will be in vain!

Xie Jinhuan's body was too weak to struggle free from the ropes; facing Seeing Mo Mo's sincere and heartfelt gaze, he was also at a loss. His mind raced quickly, and he put on an expression of difficulty:

"Well, um, I... I actually want to relieve myself; I really can't hold it in. Why don't you call Miss Lin over?"

Linghu Qingmo was not a silly girl; she frowned and said:

"Physician Lin is your lover; she will definitely listen to you. I won't fall for it!"

"I am not lying to you; I am a great hero; how embarrassing would it be to wet the bed later? Go call her quickly."

Linghu Qingmo knew Xie Jinhuan wanted to go into battle with his injuries; how could she, as a nurse, agree?

After pondering slightly, she rummaged under the bed and then lifted up a clean chamber pot...

?

Xie Jinhuan's expression was slightly dazed; he looked down:

"Then you must also untie the ropes for me and let me go out; otherwise, how can I relieve myself?"

Linghu Qingmo could not possibly help untie the ropes; her eyes were conflicted for a moment, and she gritted her teeth to make an extremely difficult decision:

"Sickness does not forbid medicine; you have contributed to the common people to this extent; I really should not be concerned with trivialities..."

Saying this, she put the object down and her hand reached for her waist and abdomen.

"Eh?"

Seeing the simple and conservative silly Mo Mo actually voluntarily helping him relieve himself, Xie Jinhuan was moved to tears and hurriedly declined:

"No need, no need; I can do it myself..."

"Don't move around!"

Linghu Qingmo's cheeks flushed red, yet her expression was resolute; she closed her eyes and began to untie her trousers.

Xie Jinhuan was tied up tightly and completely unable to dodge; he could only advise:

"Mo Mo, calm down; this is inappropriate..."

Linghu Qingmo kept her eyes tightly shut, daring not to look around, and simply acted as a nimble female nurse.

Ha?!

Xie Jinhuan didn't know what to say to the simple and enthusiastic silly Mo Mo; with no other choice, he put on an expression of serious confession:

"Mo Mo, I trust you; I have a big secret I need to tell you; you must absolutely not tell anyone else."

?

Linghu Qingmo's demeanor became a bit more solemn; she looked slightly puzzled:

"What secret?"

Xie Jinhuan looked left and right and spoke in a low voice:

"Lean your ear close."

Linghu Qingmo had not the slightest suspicion; she bent down and pressed her cold, beautiful face close to Xie Jinhuan.

Pop~

The room instantly fell into dead silence, with only the rustling autumn wind outside the window remaining.

Linghu Qingmo's body tensed; sensing the hot touch on her cheek, her eyes filled with disbelief, she leaped back, grabbed her sword, and covered her flushed cheek with her left hand:

"You... you shameless little thief!"

Xie Jinhuan lay on the pillow, his eyes innocent:

"Sorry; I was poisoned by medicine; my mind is not clear; don't take it to heart."

How can I not take it to heart?!

Last time you touched breasts and buttocks, this time you kissed my cheek; next time, won't you even get into bed?

Linghu Qingmo's eyelashes trembled slightly:

"Don't pretend with me! You're fully awake—you're doing this on purpose…"

"I'm awake, so why are you still tying me up?"

"You…?"

Linghu Qingmo's expression went slack; she wanted to retort, but suddenly realized she'd walked into a dead end.

If I say Xie Jinhuan isn't mentally clear, then it's my negligence—I took advantage while he was under the influence and came forward willingly.

If he's not mentally clear, how can he be held responsible?

But if I say Xie Jinhuan took advantage of me while awake, then why am I tying up this great contributor…?

Huh? You little clever thing…

Linghu Qingmo took several deep breaths, her gaze turning slightly cold:

"Your medicine hasn't fully worn off—you're alternately clear-headed and not. When you kissed me, you were awake; now you're not again. I won't let you get out of bed!"

That's a clever answer—Schrödinger's lack of clarity.

Xie Jinhuan hadn't expected that kissing Seeing Mo Mo wouldn't shake her resolve to protect him; helplessly, he turned his gaze to the window:

"Is anyone there? Linghu…呜——"

Linghu Qingmo darted forward, clamping a hand over his mouth, her eyes filled with shame and fury:

"Are you mad? If you dare say anything…"

"How could I possibly say anything? I'm fully awake—I just need to relieve myself, I really can't hold it anymore…"

"No!"

Linghu Qingmo knew how fiercely Xie Jinhuan would fight to eliminate demons and uphold justice; her gaze was resolute:

"Dean Zhang instructed me—you must not be untied under any circumstances. This is for your own safety."

"Even if you took liberties with me, it was because the medicine hadn't worn off—I accept it, I don't blame you. But I won't let you go on any dangerous mission!"

"…"

Faced with her burning gaze, Xie Jinhuan had no recourse; he wondered if he should kiss her a couple more times before dying as a lustful ghost.

But Seeing Mo Mo had learned her lesson—she held him tightly bound, keeping her cheeks at a distance, giving him no chance!

As the two remained locked in stalemate, someone outside was startled by the commotion—urgent footsteps approached.

Thud-thud-thud…

(End of Chapter)