Inner Demons

"Poor Daoist Kun Wuzi." He thought for a moment and added, "Sect Master of the Langya Grotto-Heaven of the Daoist Orthodoxy, Kun Wuzi."

Lady Hong raised an eyebrow: "Never heard of you."

Kun Wuzi laughed heartily: "Princess, there is no need to be defiant. The Poor Daoist knows you have feelings for that Li Yunxin, but at this point, you might have to let go of your affection—do you know what has happened to that Li Yunxin now?"

As he spoke, he watched Old Daoist Liu's reaction.

Lady Hong didn't speak. He then smiled and said gravely: "Li Yunxin went to Trapped Sky Mountain. You know this, and we know this. But what you probably don't know is that Yazi also went. And... killed Li Yunxin."

When he said this, he saw the three captives exchange a glance. Old Daoist Liu sneered.

Kun Wuzi smiled again: "What, you don't believe it?"

The Old Daoist looked up and stared at him: "So what?"

Kun Wuzi walked up to him and looked down at him: "The Poor Daoist knows that the one who died was a clone. But I also know that his true body is not in Dongting right now. Currently, the Taoist priests of my Grotto-heaven are looking for him—the True Realm demon's clone was severed, and his cultivation is greatly damaged. But the Poor Daoist has four more True Realm Taoist priests under him. Do you think he can escape?"

When he said this, he finally saw a flicker of reaction on Old Daoist Liu's face. Earlier, he was angry. Upon hearing Kun Wuzi say "Li Yunxin was killed," he responded with a cold sneer of disdain. Now, a fleeting trace of panic finally appeared. But he quickly masked it, still saying: "You know? So what. My Dragon King killed your Lingkongzi of the Daoist Orthodoxy when he was still a young man, and killed your Discipline Hall Head Seat, Yue Yunzi, when he was in the Manifestation Realm. Do you, this Taoist priest, know his strategy? His plans? How do you know that your current presence in this Central Hall... hehe, wasn't deliberately arranged by him?"

Kun Wuzi was slightly startled and subconsciously looked around.

But the hall was very quiet—Seven-Segment Brocade and Li Shan were beginning to set up a Restriction in the Central Hall. The late summer sunlight shone through the forcefully opened hall doors. Tiny dust motes danced in the sunlight.

He watched cautiously for a while, then let out a slight breath, feeling a little more relaxed.

Because what Old Daoist Liu had just said was precisely what he had been worrying about.

But now that the opponent had brought it up himself... it meant that this worry no longer existed.

He smiled coldly: "I was just—"

Just as he was about to speak, he heard Old Daoist Liu shout fiercely, "Did you hear that?! Go tell your Lady!"

This sudden shout startled Kun Wuzi slightly, suspecting it was a trick to divert his attention. But then—a figure suddenly shot out from the west side of the Central Hall, rapidly fleeing towards the extreme distance, and vanished in the blink of an eye.

Kun Wuzi and Li Shan exchanged a look. But the Taoist priest immediately said: "Don't chase. Right, Bai Yunxin is still in Dongting."

He smiled: "We'll have to deal with her sooner or later. Just a True Realm. If she's smart, she'll escape Dongting after receiving the message. If she insists on coming, we'll keep her too. I am of the Great Accomplishment Profound Realm, am I afraid of her?"

Li Shan then ignored it and continued setting up his Restriction.

Old Daoist Liu looked up, glaring at him, and said angrily: "Profound Mystery Realm? Humph, who that Brother Xin has killed was inferior to him?"

Kun Wuzi gave a tolerant smile, as if he couldn't be bothered to argue with an ignorant child: "You, an unranked person, wouldn't know what the Profound Realm means."

After speaking, he looked around.

The main chamber of this Central Hall was made in an antique style and originally only had side tables, not chairs. But next to him was a wicker chair with a round golden screen for a back—the very chair that Old Daoist Liu had cherished these past few days and always liked to sit on to cool off.

Seeing his gaze land on it, the Old Daoist shouted angrily again: "Move your dog eyes! Is this Taoist Lord's throne something you can look at?! Bah! Sect Master? You're just an upstart who doesn't even dare to fight fair and square!"

At first, Kun Wuzi had been in a good mood after his success, and at the same time, was worried about a trap, so he didn't want to argue much with him.

Now that his mind was at ease, he didn't like the other party's way of speaking—even when he was Fei Yunzi of the Langya Grotto-Heaven, he was the beloved disciple of Sect Master Kun Wuzi. No one dared to speak like this.

Therefore, he sneered, moved to the front of the chair, and looked at Old Daoist Liu as he sat down on it. Then he gently patted the armrest: "I am treating you with courtesy right now. But if you don't know how to appreciate it, let alone this seat, even your cultivation and your life will no longer be yours later."

"The orthodox path of this world lies with the Daoist Orthodoxy and the Sword Sect. You are a person, a cultivator. Yet you associate with demons and act as their accomplice. You will not come to a good end. But if you are sensible, perhaps we will remember that you returned from the path of error in the future, and only cripple your cultivation and spare your life. Now listen carefully—I ask you first, where is Lingkongzi right now?"

Old Daoist Liu's hair and beard bristled, and he laughed heartily: "Daoist Orthodoxy? Sword Sect? You dog thieves of the Mutual Aid Society never speak a word of truth. You call yourself Kun Wuzi? Bah! I think you are a Yin Soul who has seized a body!"

Kun Wuzi suddenly sat upright and exchanged glances with Li Shan and Seven-Segment Brocade.

...This Old Daoist knew about the Mutual Aid Society?!

Did that Li Yunxin tell him about this too?!

He suddenly darkened his face and widened his eyes: "What else do you know?!"

"You have been spreading spies everywhere in the world with ulterior motives," Old Daoist Liu glared at him. He seemed to have already decided he would not leave the Central Hall of Ziwei Palace alive and spilled everything: "Though I don't know what you are plotting, things always come to light eventually. For example, the three of you—are all Yin Souls of the Mutual Aid Society, aren't you?"

"Yin Souls—seizing bodies and then doing shady things. Besides the three of you, do you think we don't know there are other people near Dongting? Brother Xin went to Trapped Sky Mountain precisely to root out the maggots there. You said he was killed? Hehe, how do you know he didn't act like this on purpose to lure others out? If you are sensible, leave Dongting now to save your companions. If you're late, humph, I guarantee he'll kill every single one of them!"

Kun Wuzi looked at Seven-Segment Brocade.

Seven-Segment Brocade thought for a moment, shook her head, and whispered: "He's lying. Li Yunxin didn't know before. I met him outside the Trapped Sky Mountain cave, and later fought him with the Evil King—if he knew I was in Trapped Sky Mountain, he wouldn't have shown his true face."

Kun Wuzi nodded. He then slightly narrowed his eyes, stared at Old Daoist Liu for a while, and smiled: "It seems you don't know many details. Did Li Yunxin teach you this? A delaying tactic?"

The Old Daoist glared at him: "Go ahead and be arrogant and proud here. It's not a loss for my old, weak body to be exchanged for a few of you. Who knows, Brother Xin might have killed a few already! If it's one, it's not a loss. If it's two, I've earned a life!"

Kun Wuzi laughed: "You... old fool. Do you know that there are only three of us brothers near Dongting? Where else can your Brother Xin go to kill? But your frantic appearance is amusing. Ah, let me guess. You are so ready to die and fearless... are you perhaps thinking that you have people outside of Dongting?"

Old Daoist Liu was slightly startled. But he quickly covered it with his anger, just staring at him: "Conceited."

Kun Wuzi stroked his beard and smiled again, his eyes full of mockery: "I know you have people outside Dongting. A Rat Spirit, a Rabbit Spirit, and a Yin Soul—they were rescued right in front of my eyes before. Three Illusory Realms, what kind of major task can they accomplish? Dozens of my disciples are also hunting them down. By now, they should have been caught in the net."

Old Daoist Liu fell silent.

He lowered his head and remained silent for a while, as if disheartened. But just as Kun Wuzi was about to press his advantage and break through his Mental Defenses. He suddenly realized he was mumbling something in a low voice.

Kun Wuzi frowned: "What are you saying?"

Old Daoist Liu looked up at him: "What are your three true names?"

The Old Man's expression was slightly strange at the moment. Kun Wuzi looked at him suspiciously: "Why ask that? You already know enough. Now answer my question—where is Lingkongzi?"

But Old Daoist Liu ignored him and continued to speak on his own: "Brother Xin killed one of your people, who called himself Qingliangzi."

"So... are there also Hailiang Zi, Liliang Zi, Pi Liangzi, Peng Liangzi?" The Old Daoist smiled coldly: "Are they all your people?"

Kun Wuzi was stunned. Li Shan and Seven-Segment Brocade also put down what they were doing and turned to look at Old Daoist Liu in unison.

They heard the Old Daoist continue to sneer: "So—do I know enough?"

Kun Wuzi was silent for a while, then turned to Li Shan: "You were right. That Li Yunxin... indeed knows a lot of inside information. We really should capture him alive and question him thoroughly."

Then he turned to look at Old Daoist Liu, a calm smile on his face: "You truly know how to seek your own death. However, even if you die, you can be considered to have died in the right place. Among the secular people and lower-ranked cultivators of this world, it is indeed rare for someone to know so many secrets like you."

"Alas. I spoke to you calmly, but you are obstinate. Would you... like to be like her?" Kun Wuzi sighed softly and raised his hand.

A dark light, like a spider silk, suddenly shot out from his fingertips, thousands of strands, and in the blink of an eye, it drilled into Lady Hong's eyes. The subsequent scene became somewhat terrifying—those rays of light were actually tangible. They moved like countless long worms under Lady Hong's flesh, first invading the skin of her face, then moving down. Then to her neck, chest, and finally disappearing into the clothing that covered her.

The skin that they passed over seemed to have been plowed, becoming soft and sagging. It was as if she had instantly aged dozens of years, turning into an old woman with loose, drooping skin. This sight was already terrifying, and the pain the victim felt should have been even more horrifying.

Kun Wuzi squinted at Old Daoist Liu as he slowly said: "First, it drills under your skin. Then it drills into your flesh and blood. Once in the flesh and blood, it plows everywhere, and runs into your bones. But my dark light is spiritual energy. While it makes you suffer, it also nourishes your body. Hence, I can... make you wish you were dead on one hand, and on the other, keep you from dying. Just look at her!"

After speaking, he just stared intently at Old Daoist Liu, waiting for him to hear the painful scream that Lady Hong was about to let out beside him.

However...

A quarter of an hour passed.

There was no sound. Kun Wuzi was stunned, then turned to look at Lady Hong.

He saw the Princess of Dongting looking at him calmly: "My Lord Father's methods are much more clever than yours. This level... are you playing around?"

Kun Wuzi was dumbfounded. Old Daoist Liu, however, burst into laughter, looking at him sideways: "Which one of us is afraid of death?!"

Kun Wuzi immediately fell silent. Then he waved his hand, retracting the dark light from Lady Hong's body: "So that's how it is. Since you are not afraid of death, then I won't kill you for now. I'll make you... watch them die."

As soon as his voice fell, he waved his hand again—

A blade-like spiritual energy hissed out, and the next moment—

A flash of blood shot up into the sky!

With a thud, San Hua's head fell to the ground.

After a long pause, Old Daoist Liu turned his head, staring with wide eyes as San Hua's headless body slowly slumped against him. The blood flowing from the severed neck quickly soaked half of his body—that was indeed warm blood, and not some illusion!

Kun Wuzi observed him silently. Then he smiled at Li Shan: "It looks like this Li Yunxin is either truly absent. Or he doesn't care about these people as much as we thought. If he still hasn't shown up at this point, which do you guess it is?"

Li Shan and the Snake Spirit had finally finished setting up the Restriction in the hall. They walked over and stared closely at Old Daoist Liu for a while, then said: "From the look of this old fellow, he doesn't seem to be faking it."

As he spoke, he casually grabbed something in the void, as if he had caught something: "But you only destroyed the demon's physical body. The Yin Soul is still here. You should destroy the Yin Soul like this too, to avoid trouble... Eh?"

He frowned and turned to look at his hand: "What method is this demon practicing? I can't even crush the Yin Soul?"

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