Inner Demons

Li Shan thought for a moment and smiled, “Li Yunxin wants to use the Daoist Orthodoxy and the demons to benefit himself; why don't we go with the flow? The Elder's Council said to kill him, but I think we should capture him instead. Senior Brother, do you remember the decree given to us back then? It said that Li Yunxin was extremely dangerous and should be killed on sight. But there is one thing I don't quite understand, and I imagine Senior Brother doesn't either.”

Kun Wuzi frowned, “What is it?”

Li Shan did not answer him immediately. Instead, he reached out and plucked a red flower from a nearby branch and sniffed it under his nose. This action would be appropriate for a beautiful woman or a talented scholar, but when Li Shan did it now—

One must know that Li Shan’s face was originally quite ridiculous and hideous. His current appearance made it even more ridiculous.

But a slightly emotional expression appeared on Kun Wuzi’s face, which quickly turned into one of regret. He silently watched Li Shan sniff the flower, then squeeze it into a piece of red mud in his hand, before continuing, “Why did the Elder's Council issue a kill order on that Li Yunxin? In the past, Li Yunxin carried the Lucid Jade Slip. We even went so far as to use a connection within the Daoist Orthodoxy to kill his parents, just to get that Jade Slip. But now, they don't even want the Jade Slip anymore; they only want him killed quickly—”

“Senior Brother, you are aware of the existence of the Elders of the Elder's Council. Why are figures like them afraid of a mere Li Yunxin? What did he do in Weicheng?”

Kun Wuzi frowned because of these words. After thinking for a while, he looked up and said, “Senior Brother Linliang Zi told me about it. He killed a person in Weicheng before. That person was a live-in son-in-law of the Yu Family... he created Black Medicine. And that Black Medicine... Senior Brother Linliang Zi had no evidence, but he speculated—he guessed that Li Yunxin had passed it on to him. Now, he thinks it was a hidden move by Li Yunxin. He suspected our existence and set it up. We fell into the trap as a result.”

“If you ask for the reason, it is probably because of this matter.” Kun Wuzi thought about it again carefully and frowned, “But that kind of thing, Black Medicine... I really don’t know why the Elders attach such importance to it. Similarly, the Shangqing Elixir Cauldron Sect also has a similar method called Ignition Powder, which is made into pellets and supplemented with lingqi to harm people, but its power is not actually great.”

Li Shan nodded, “My doubt is also here. But to talk about the difference... there is one. Senior Brother, think about it, the Celestial Heart Orthodox Law of the Daoist Orthodoxy is a closely guarded secret. It has been several thousand years, but have you ever heard of any rogue Taoist Priest learning that method? The method of the Shangqing Elixir Cauldron Sect is also likely passed down through generations in the Elixir Cauldron Sect, and they worship it like an ancestral tablet, not daring to change it easily.”

Kun Wuzi was slightly stunned. He then frowned and scolded him in a deep voice, “Junior Brother! Are you crazy? Are you going to defy the Elders' decree?!”

Li Shan was silent for a while, and then a smile appeared on his face, “Yes, Senior Brother. I want to defy the Elders’ decree. But who would know, really? Now Senior Brother knows. But if you don't tell—we capture Li Yunxin, ask him what we want to know, and then kill him. The Elders won't know either. Will Senior Brother not keep my secret?”

Kun Wuzi was stunned by his question again. After a long time, he whispered, “...This is not my business. Junior Brother, why are you doing this? You know what the Elders look like when they are angry!”

Li Shan maintained the smile on his face, staring at Kun Wuzi for a long time, and slowly the smile faded. He put his hands behind his back and paced a few steps on the grass in the forest. He turned around and said, “Why? Senior Brother, have you been living too well lately and forgotten the past?”

Kun Wuzi was stunned in place and said nothing.

Li Shan then walked toward him expressionlessly, and closer to him, until he was standing face to face with him, their chests almost touching.

They were so close that they could feel each other's breath from their mouth and nose. Kun Wuzi endured it for a while and slightly turned his face, intending to avoid him. But Li Shan raised his hands, cupping Kun Wuzi's face, preventing him from turning his head.

If others were watching, this scene would be indescribable—

A Daoist in his fifties was having his face cupped by a funny-looking water demon...

It was truly impossible to describe.

Kun Wuzi frowned. But he seemed to feel that such an expression was inappropriate, so he relaxed his brows. But he still didn't know how to face Li Shan, so he could only say, “...Junior Brother... what are you doing... what are you doing... If someone finds out...”

“No one will find out here.” Li Shan stared at Kun Wuzi’s face expressionlessly, “Not even this.”

With that, he used his large, wide mouth to kiss Kun Wuzi’s lips.

At this moment, Kun Wuzi finally couldn't tolerate it. He pushed Li Shan away, both anxious and angry, “Junior Brother!”

His current body was even tougher than the body of a Great Accomplishment Profound Realm cultivator. And since it was newly acquired, he couldn't control it freely. Therefore, in his desperation, he actually used twenty percent of his strength—this Eel Demon was only at the peak of the Manifestation Realm; how could he withstand such power?

He was immediately pushed more than ten steps away, hitting a giant tree behind him with a crash—the tree, which would take three people to hug, shook violently, and a large shower of leaves fell down. Looking at Li Shan, he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, having actually been pushed by Kun Wuzi into severe injury!

Kun Wuzi realized the impropriety of his move and cried out in surprise, rushing over to check Li Shan's injuries. But he heard Li Shan scream, “Don't come over!”

The "Sect Master of Langya Grotto-Heaven" obediently stopped three or four steps in front of Li Shan and didn't move forward. But looking at him now, he didn't have any of the Sect Master's demeanor—he stood awkwardly, looking like a student who had made a mistake in school, only knowing how to say in a trembling voice, “Junior Brother... Junior Brother... I... I didn’t mean to—”

Li Shan spat out another mouthful of blood. Leaning against the big tree, he sat down and sneered, “Now do you know why?”

Then he screamed again, “Look at what I look like now?! You—do you remember what I looked like before?! You—do you remember if I was a boy or a girl?!”

The moment these three sentences came out, Kun Wuzi's face turned even paler.

“I wanted to kiss you just now, and you found it disgusting, hmm?” Li Shan laughed somewhat hysterically, “Didn't you like it this way the most before? At that time, I was Yu Chanzi of the Soaring Cloud Sword Sect, and you were my Senior Brother disciple—you praised my beauty as unparalleled in the world... Ah... and said we would be together for life after life.”

“And before that? Do you still remember before that? I was originally a woman from the State of Chen. I was born a daughter. You saw me, loved me, and brought me to the Mutual Aid Society. Up to now, Senior Brother, do you still remember what I looked like then? You don't, do you?!”

Li Shan stood up, supporting himself on the tree, “You only remember that I am Tan Liangzi! What did you say just now? Haven't seen me for many years? Almost forgot my Dao name? What about your words from before?!”

“You are basking in infinite glory in Langya Grotto-Heaven, and you have fallen for that Lingkongzi... Ha, you even almost forgot my Dao name?!”

He was about to continue speaking, but another stream of blood gushed from his mouth, cutting off his words.

Kun Wuzi’s face became increasingly bitter from her words. He was silent for a long time... his eyes actually became wet. He just wailed, “Junior Brother... Junior Brother... it’s all my fault. But let me treat your wounds first. We can talk slowly, okay?”

Li Shan stared at him for a long time, then slowly softened his expression and sighed, “Okay.”

Kun Wuzi rushed over and channeled his lingqi to protect her heart meridian.

The two were speechless for a moment, only watching a fiery red sunset slowly descend over the mountain.

After about half an hour, Li Shan sighed again, “Alas. Senior Brother, this is why.”

“I don't care much about those past events anymore. It's just... I am not reconciled. You brought me into the Mutual Aid Society, and I gained cultivation. Then I was bestowed a Dao name and became like this. We both abandoned our bodies and became wandering souls. And then what?”

“Then we disguised ourselves as one person after another. What kind of person, where to be what kind of person, and doing what things in what capacity—these are not things you or I can decide. I have been nine people. I lived decades or even centuries as each person. Senior Brother... do you know that sometimes, I even forget myself?”

“I asked you if you remembered what I was like when I was myself... when I was Chen Li'er, a woman from the State of Chen. You probably don't remember. Do you know... I don't remember myself either.”

“For all these years, I have even forgotten that I am a woman... I only remember the past when I see you.” Li Shan’s voice slowly became mournful, “So I want to know why.”

“The Elders always say that the great calamity is coming and that we are going to build a paradise. But these words have been said for hundreds, thousands of years. When will it finally arrive? What... what is human? What is me? Sometimes I think, the reason I am me is because someone remembers me, knows me, and I also remember myself. Knowing my experiences, memories, and feelings.”

“But do we really have these things? I now have the memory of being Yu Chanzi, a disciple of the Soaring Cloud Sword Sect. But I am now the lake demon Li Shan... So who exactly am I? Which one is me?” Li Shan sighed, “Look, even you... cannot stand my current appearance. And I am a woman... Can I stand it?”

His emotions finally slowly stabilized as he spoke to this point... but he started to sob softly.

When a woman sobs, the sight is delicate and pitiful. But he was now in the form of an Eel Demon, truly not at all close to the words "delicate and pitiful." Kun Wuzi instinctively frowned when he saw him like this. But he quickly relaxed his brows again, slightly turned his head away, and gently held her in his arms, “Good, good, good... Junior Brother, I will do as you say. Whatever you say... let's do it! At worst, I won't be Kun Wuzi anymore. If something happens, I will bear the consequences!”

After another moment, Li Shan stopped crying. The sky had darkened, and the forest was pitch black, filled with the chirping of insects.

The darkness made Kun Wuzi feel a little more comfortable. At least he couldn't see the face of the person in his arms. He only thought about the past... and felt much better and softer inside.

Then Li Shan pushed him away and stood up, “Senior Brother. So this is why.”

“We have been working for them for so long, but all we received was a promise that might never be fulfilled. And this promise is also vague. So... I am not afraid of working long or hard. I am only afraid of being happy for nothing.” Li Shan's voice gradually hardened, “If I can't be myself forever, then at least I need to know the clear goal.”

Kun Wuzi was silent for a long time in the dark and also sighed, “Okay. I know you have suffered all these years. It's just... Senior Brother Linliang Zi's side—”

“He must not know,” Li Shan’s voice became serious. “We don't know what he is thinking. We absolutely cannot take this risk.”

“But he also told me before that he wanted to capture Li Yunxin. And the Yu Family people were killed by him; he knows more about the whole matter than we do.”

Li Shan thought for a moment and then said, “Still no. But... we can do it this way. There are some things Linliang Zi knows that we don't, so it’s not good to ask him. Then let’s have him tell Li Yunxin. I have a plan—we can first have Li Yunxin capture Linliang Zi and get the information from him. Then we capture Li Yunxin. Wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone?”

Kun Wuzi was silent for a moment, seemingly making a decision. Then he said, “Okay.”

Li Shan then became delighted, “Then, we will do this. Li Yunxin wants to pretend to defect to the Daoist Orthodoxy, so we will play along. But he wants us to eliminate those major demons for him, and we will deliberately not follow his method, so that he doesn't get any advantage. When he arrives at the Daoist Orthodoxy, he would never imagine that you and I are working together. At that time, he will be in the open, and we will be in the dark. We just need to set up a few large formations, and he will be a turtle in a jar, unable to escape.”

“Then we will capture him and question him carefully before making further plans, how does that sound?”

Kun Wuzi was silent for a while again and said, “...Okay.”

Li Shan stopped talking. After a few breaths, he asked in the dark, “I hear worry in Senior Brother’s voice. Senior Brother, tell me, let’s see if I can help.”

Kun Wuzi was silent for an even longer time this time.

Then he said, “Is that Lingkongzi... still in Dongting?”

The insects in the nearby grass chirped for a while before Li Shan's voice was heard, “Oh. That matter.”

A small animal scurried through the grass, and the startled insects stopped chirping. After a long moment, they tentatively began to chirp softly again, and then louder. Li Shan then said, “Good. I will pay close attention for Senior Brother... and see if I can protect her.”

Kun Wuzi gritted his teeth, “Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. It’s getting late.” Li Shan walked a few steps, moving farther away from Kun Wuzi, “Senior Brother, please go back.”

His tone gradually returned to calm, “Don't let the people of the Daoist Orthodoxy become suspicious. We still have important things to do.”

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