After Escaping From Death, He Went Even Crazier By Criticizing Black Lotus Chapter 14
byChapter 14 You Smell So Good
Su Huan descended the mountain, secretly wiping a tear away with the back of his hand.
He had originally thought that Eldest Senior Brother had said those humiliating words because he was cold by nature, ignorant of love, and had accidentally learned some vulgar plot points from those storybooks. He never expected that Eldest Senior Brother would genuinely harbor killing intent toward him, even choking his neck!
If Eldest Senior Brother hadn’t suddenly thought of something and released him in time, he might have truly died there.
The thought finally brought a trace of lingering fear to Su Huan’s heart. His calves involuntarily began to soften, and the forced resilience he had maintained moments ago completely vanished, replaced by an overwhelming, unresolvable sense of grievance.
Yet, he dared not return to the cottage in the Back Mountain. Instead, he went back to Lichen Peak. It happened that Senior Sister Feng Jiangyue was descending the mountain for practical training. Upon hearing what happened, she flew into a rage, drawing her sword and intending to fight Xiao Jianming for three hundred rounds to vent Su Huan’s frustration. Su Huan was amused by her reaction and quickly persuaded her to stay, insisting that he had already broken ties with Xiao Jianming and vented his anger, and did not wish to have any further entanglement with that person. Only then did he manage to calm Feng Jiangyue, who was about to undergo her training assessment, and coax her into leaving peacefully.
Su Huan thought to himself, since Eldest Senior Brother had ultimately let go, it showed he didn’t truly intend to kill him. Moreover, Eldest Senior Brother had shown him kindness.
Let the kindness cancel out the grievance, and let it end here.
But he was wrong.
The next time Su Huan descended the mountain, he saw Eldest Senior Brother waiting for him outside the sect’s protective array.
Xiao Jianming smiled gently: “Junior Brother, I came to apologize to you.”
Perhaps remembering that he had used the same excuse two days prior, Xiao Jianming paused and added, “This time, I mean it.”
Su Huan, however, instinctively took a step back.
Because the usual light was gone from those pitch-black eyes. They looked like gemstones that had lost their luster after countless abrasions, dark and reflecting numerous scratches, like the fierce, cold winds whipping up from a bottomless abyss. Meeting his gaze made the hairs on Su Huan’s body stand on end.
Xiao Jianming couldn’t be driven away, nor would he retaliate when cursed. He leisurely followed behind Su Huan through the crowds, acting as if nothing had happened two days ago. He practiced cultivation with Su Huan and went on missions with him as usual, becoming even more intimate. His occasional glances toward Su Huan were filled with deep affection, as if he truly loved him to the bone.
But Su Huan knew clearly that Eldest Senior Brother had changed.
Perhaps Eldest Senior Brother had genuinely held a fraction of affection for him before, but now it had vanished completely, leaving only a few feigned attempts at flirting and teasing, like the fireworks set off in the town below the mountain, which could suddenly burst and disappear with a “bang” at any moment.
Sure enough, after several unsuccessful attempts at provocation, Xiao Jianming stopped smiling.
He cursed with evident disgust: “That’s truly sickening.”
Su Huan’s eyelashes trembled slightly, and he sighed inwardly, thinking that Eldest Senior Brother should give up now.
But a few days later, Xiao Jianming acted as if nothing had happened, escalating his behavior and employing almost every tactic of courtship.
Rumors began to spread within the sect, claiming that Su Huan was arrogant and didn’t even hold Eldest Senior Brother in high regard.
Wherever he went, strange looks fell upon him.
And the Eldest Senior Brother who supposedly “adored” him watched with cold indifference, observing him explain himself everywhere, watching him drown in rumors, and finally smiling maliciously as he reached out a hand and asked if Su Huan needed help.
Su Huan silently avoided him and returned to Lichen Peak.
He did not descend the mountain again until the Immortal Sect Assembly.
*
“Ah, I forgot that now that you’ve entered this illusion, you no longer remember who you are.”
In the Dense Forest, Su Huan pursed his lips.
Ever since Eldest Senior Brother’s temperament became erratic and unpredictable, he would occasionally say things Su Huan couldn’t understand.
Su Huan never knew that Eldest Senior Brother was the orphan of the extinct Lingxi Clan mentioned in legends, yet Eldest Senior Brother’s words suggested that Su Huan was aware of it.
A sense of bewilderment arose in Su Huan’s heart. Could it be that he had a period of lost memory without his knowledge?
If Eldest Senior Brother’s words were true, then what was this talk of “entering an illusion”?
Could all of this be fake?
But he clearly remembered all his memories: he was the eldest son born into an ordinary merchant family, and before joining the Xuanji Sect, he and his younger brother depended on each other. Later, later…
Su Huan was horrified to realize that he had no memory of joining the Xuanji Sect, as if he had joined Lichen Peak out of thin air.
“What? Have you finally remembered who you truly are?” Xiao Jianming noticed the change in his expression and looked at him with a beaming smile.
Su Huan remained silent, slowly shaking his head.
Su Huan said: “You are right.”
Xiao Jianming’s indifferent attitude faded slightly, genuinely thinking Su Huan had remembered. Unexpectedly, Su Huan continued, “It is I who want to save them. I shouldn’t force others to help. I will save the lives of those trial disciples myself.”
His tone and gaze were so stubborn that Xiao Jianming’s teeth itched with irritation.
He couldn’t help but mock: “Heh, that’s quite the boast. How can someone with a damaged Golden Core salvage an already predetermined outcome?”
Su Huan had already turned to leave, but hearing this, he was startled and looked back in astonishment: “What did you say? What predetermined outcome?”
The dark, deep eyes watched him silently for a moment, then revealed a rather malicious smile: “Guess.”
*
Su Huan silently returned to the campfire.
Nangong Yi was wiping his sword. Seeing Su Huan return alone, he asked with slight concern: “Fellow Daoist Su, why do you look so preoccupied? What happened?”
Su Huan shook his head, unwilling to elaborate.
Yue Jiusi snorted and loudly declared: “What else could it be? Xiao Jianming didn’t come back with him, so they must have had a huge fight and parted ways unhappily!”
He then clapped Su Huan on the shoulder with a hearty air of comfort: “I told you, why didn’t you want that guy surnamed Xiao to join us in eliminating the demons? Turns out you already knew about his strange temper, leaving at the drop of a hat!”
Meng Qinghui, who had already woken up, held a sweet potato roasted by Hua Wuyou. Hearing this, she glanced at Su Huan, then slowly resumed eating.
Yue Jiusi continued with a long string of heroic pronouncements, but Su Huan didn’t hear a word, feeling a growing anxiety in his heart.
If the “outcome” Eldest Senior Brother mentioned was that they were destined to die trapped in the secret realm, how could he break the situation?
Su Huan couldn’t help but grip his sword tightly. He couldn’t die.
At least, not here.
A sudden heat radiated onto the back of his hand, startling Su Huan.
Meng Qinghui retracted her hand slightly, offering him a roasted sweet potato with a kind smile: “Apologies, did I burn you? I accidentally dropped the spiritual food I prepared earlier near the demon side, so this is all we have.”
Su Huan felt touched. He reached out, took it, and thanked her, though he had little appetite.
Yue Jiusi nearby happily accepted a sweet potato handed to him by Hua Wuyou and ate it with great relish. Nangong Yi, true to his nature, ate with the demeanor of a gentleman. Jiang Fei didn’t take one, staring blankly into the fire. Qi Zi didn’t eat mortal food devoid of spiritual energy, turning instead to practice his spear in an open space nearby.
Su Huan watched them, the gloom in his heart growing heavier.
Meng Qinghui sat beside him, tilted her head, and said: “Sometimes what we perceive as a bad thing might turn out to be a good thing. Don’t be depressed, eat quickly, it won’t taste good cold.”
“Perhaps your Senior Brother will come back on his own before long.”
A spark crackled and jumped, falling into the ashes.
Su Huan smiled and thanked her softly.
Just as he was about to eat, a loud boom sounded.
Nangong Yi’s body swayed violently, and he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. The concealment barrier covering the entire valley slowly materialized, shaking violently with countless ripples, barely holding together.
Yue Jiusi hurriedly dropped his half-eaten sweet potato and rushed to his side, sealing his main heart meridian, his face anxious: “Young Sect Master, are you alright?!”
Meng Qinghui seemed to sense something, her expression changing: “…It’s the demons.”
Hua Wuyou was greatly alarmed: “Didn’t we say this place was an excellent hiding spot? Why are they moving so fast?!”
Meng Qinghui pressed her lips together in silence, a hint of hesitation showing on her face. She glanced toward Jiang Fei, but after a moment, lowered her head without speaking.
Su Huan noticed her movement but didn’t comment, though he was puzzled. He managed to stabilize Nangong Yi’s internal injuries just as another loud explosion erupted outside the valley.
Nangong Yi suddenly spat out another mouthful of blood. He summoned his Silver Square Sword, bracing himself, and shouted: “I can’t hold out much longer, hurry and leave!”
No one moved.
Everyone understood that he intended to sacrifice himself to save the group, but how could they abandon their companions and flee for their lives?
The high mountain covered in white snow suddenly roared, and an avalanche began.
The sudden collapse of snow struck the barrier. Nangong Yi’s face grew paler, and he urgently shouted: “Hurry!”
Tears welled up in Yue Jiusi’s eyes. He was usually the most obedient to the Young Sect Master. He summoned his natal sword, pointing the tip haphazardly at the others, crying and shouting: “The Young Sect Master told you to hurry and leave, why aren’t you going, woo…”
Qi Zi’s expression was stern. He walked directly toward the trembling sword tip, plunged his long spear into the ground, and stood motionless.
Yue Jiusi was so intimidated that he stumbled backward, nearly dropping his sword. He gritted his teeth, about to strike, but Su Huan grabbed his wrist.
Su Huan said: “Don’t panic yet. It is the demons who are coming, but it might not be the Demon Lord himself.”
Meng Qinghui smiled sweetly: “Fellow Daoist Su is right. Fellow Daoist Nangong, take down the barrier.”
“We can’t defeat the Demon Lord, but surely we can kill a few demon vanguards? Rather than fleeing elsewhere like cowards, we should fight our way out and seize a chance at survival.”
Nangong Yi was silent. He wiped the blood from his mouth, retracted the barrier, and with a slight nod, was the first to fly on his sword toward the snowy mountain where the sound originated. Su Huan followed closely behind.
Hua Wuyou unfurled a massive feather fan, bringing his Senior Sister along. Jiang Fei was startled, then followed suit.
Qi Zi held his long spear with an arrogant expression. He stomped one foot hard on the ground and soared into the air without a spiritual artifact, instantly surpassing everyone and disappearing from sight.
Yue Jiusi, his tear tracks still wet, realized he was the last one to move.
The demons who arrived were indeed not the Demon Lord, but a beautiful youth wielding a flaming long whip. His features bore some resemblance to the Demon Lord. Behind him followed several hundred demon soldiers and generals. One of them, who held a meteor hammer, was the one who had attacked the barrier earlier.
Sensing the presence of the group, the beautiful youth swung his long whip into the air, conjuring a narrow rift of flames. Slowly, a ferocious white tiger emerged, stepping out on spectral fire, its roar shaking the forest!
“Finally found these little shrimps who slipped away.”
The youth chuckled sinisterly, flipped onto the tiger’s back, and then gave a command: “All demons heed my order! Follow this Prince and kill all these hateful immortal sect disciples, to avenge our demon race’s ten thousand years of hatred!”
“Kill them all!”
“Kill them all!”
The demon soldiers and generals surged forward in a black mass.
The moment Su Huan landed, he was abruptly confronted by the beautiful youth, narrowly avoiding a whip strike to the face.
The youth approached him, a strange look in his eyes. He sniffed carefully with his nose, involuntarily murmuring: “You smell so good.”
Su Huan said nothing, but his sword techniques became even more fierce, forcing the youth to retreat step by step.
The youth suddenly smiled, shaking off the troublesome sword moves. He twirled the long whip in his hand, wrapping it directly around Su Huan’s sword, sparks flying. The distance between the two instantly closed, and the youth said with a beaming smile: “Although all immortal sect disciples should be killed, the scent on you is very clean and fragrant, so pleasant that I can’t bear to kill you. Surrender quickly, I want you to be my concubine.”
The demon spoke with a peculiar cadence, and his phrasing was stiff, like a child learning to talk. His eyes were purely and brightly possessive, like a child spotting a favorite toy.
Su Huan dared not be careless. He immediately abandoned his spiritual sword and retreated rapidly, his fingertips flying as he unleashed several spiritual spells that simultaneously blasted toward the demon youth!
The demon youth had already gauged Su Huan’s strength and casually raised a defense, but was caught off guard and buried in a sudden burst of firelight!
Several explosions spread out, and smoke and dust rose everywhere.
Su Huan’s hands did not stop. He conjured several more spiritual spells and sent them flying into the dust cloud. He intended to take the demon youth hostage.
From their brief encounter, he knew the youth held a high position among the demons. Perhaps this method could allow them to escape unscathed.
When the smoke and dust cleared, the youth was tightly bound by heavy Soul-Locking Chains. His clothes were tattered and bloody from the blast. The smile was gone from his face, and the look in his eyes threatened to burst into flames.
He said sinisterly: “Mother was right. The best-looking people are the most deceitful.”
Author’s Note:
———————-
Demon Youth (Angry and tearful): You tricked me! Your strength with the sword and without the sword are clearly two different things!
Su Huan: [Helpless] You didn’t ask me…