After Escaping From Death, He Went Even Crazier By Criticizing Black Lotus Chapter 22
byAt the main hall, all the demonic cultivators were suffering immensely. Some were wailing, some begging for mercy, and some cursing, but none could resist the poison that had rendered them utterly powerless.
Xiao Jianming collected his thoughts and glanced indifferently at the demons sprawled on the floor, a cold sneer hidden in his heart. When he first arrived at Liufang City, he had smelled the stench of the Sea of No Delusion, a foul, fishy odor carrying an aura of extreme malice that gave him a headache.
Since these demons dared to cross the Sea of No Delusion, they must endure the judgment of the Sea Lord of No Delusion.
It was a pity that every single one of them was steeped in greed and evil. He had only released a single drop of his blood, yet it was a fatal poison to them. None would survive.
Soon, some of the demonic cultivators began to spontaneously combust, screaming in agony and trying every method possible to extinguish the ghostly blue flames consuming them, all to no avail. They could only watch as they were swallowed by the clusters of fire.
As Xiao Jianming watched the masses of black energy being burned to ashes, his thoughts involuntarily drifted back to Su Huan.
…He still needed to find an opportunity to figure out why he couldn’t see the malice on Su Huan.
…
On the side of Chi Jing, Su Huan was ordered by his Senior Sister to stay and look after Liu Zhejun, but the waiting made him anxious.
He couldn’t help but ask, “Chi Jing, do you know when he will wake up?”
Chi Jing snorted, “I don’t know! Hmph, when you need something, you call me Grandpa, but afterward, you start calling me by my name directly. What an impolite brat!”
Su Huan gave an awkward smile, quickly called out “Divine Beast Grandpa,” and gently coaxed him with a few words. Chi Jing was delighted, and his pouting mouth finally relaxed. But in the blink of an eye, Su Huan started pacing back and forth again, making Chi Jing dizzy. After a moment, Su Huan began muttering incessantly, “They’ve been gone for so long, shouldn’t they be back by now? Did they fail? Impossible, impossible, the Black Lotus is the protagonist, how could he fail…”
Chi Jing couldn’t stand it anymore. “Stop, stop, stop! If you keep pacing like that, I’ll kick the bucket before they even return! Don’t you have a spiritual communication token? Why don’t you just ask?”
Su Huan squeezed the emerald jade token at his waist and shook his head. “I can’t. The demons sealed the city, so the spiritual communication tokens are useless.”
If he hadn’t lost contact with his Senior Sister back then, why would he have fallen into the illusion, acted out a “psycho school bully falls for me” drama with the Black Lotus, and even sacrificed his first kiss?
Yes, reviewing everything that happened in the illusion, Su Huan felt that the Black Lotus, who pretended to be his friend but actually just wanted to mess with him, was a complete psychopath.
However, a pair of glazed eyes flashed in Su Huan’s mind. He thought, even though the person who gave him the cheat was a fictional character in the illusion, still!
He would remember this kindness, Cheat Mom!
Cheat Mom is a great person!
When he returned, he would erect a longevity monument for her and offer incense daily. He wouldn’t ask for her to ensure his cheat was invincible, but only to bless him so he wouldn’t die at the protagonist’s hands again, ensuring he lived safely to a hundred years old—oh no, ten thousand years!
Su Huan clasped his hands and bowed to the air. “Cheat Mom, please bless Senior Sister and the others to return safely…”
As soon as his voice fell, the stone door of the secret chamber opened.
Feng Jiangyue entered first, her tone light. “It’s resolved. We can go home!”
Xiao Jianming followed closely behind, holding a strange, hollow-carved bottle in his hand. Inside the bottle was a dense mass of black energy.
Amid his joy, Su Huan accidentally caught sight of the dark, murky mass of black energy and a flicker of doubt crossed his mind. Sensing Xiao Jianming’s gaze, he immediately pretended not to see it.
He turned to look at Liu Zhejun lying on the floor mat and asked his Senior Sister, “Senior Sister, what about him? Liufang City is already a ghost town. Should we take him back to the Xuanji Sect?”
Feng Jiangyue frowned and said, “Let’s wait until he wakes up.”
After speaking, a genuine smile blossomed on her face. “Junior Sister Qiu and the others have been rescued. Not a single one died; they are all lively and well!”
Hearing this, Xiao Jianming behind her coughed lightly.
Feng Jiangyue snapped, “Don’t worry. I won’t steal your credit for clearing out the demonic seeds this time. I will report it truthfully to the Sect Master. But one thing is separate from another. After we return, you had better go to the Cold Pond Sin Prison and accept your punishment yourself.”
“Otherwise, don’t blame my sword for being blind. I don’t care if you are the Sword Venerable’s direct disciple or the Sect Master’s direct disciple. Whatever injury you inflicted on Fourth Junior Brother, I will demand it back tenfold.”
Xiao Jianming acknowledged her, his eyes softening as he looked at Su Huan. Su Huan couldn’t help but shiver. After five years of training in the illusion, which felt completely real, he could tell at a glance that the Black Lotus was about to go crazy again.
Sure enough, Xiao Jianming said warmly, “I wronged Senior Brother Su this time. I hope Senior Brother will not hold a grudge against me.” His tone was so deeply affectionate it could drown a dog. “If Senior Brother despises me or hates me because of this, I… I don’t know how I will ever face Senior Brother again.”
Su Huan: “…” Please, Big Brother, put away your divine powers and spare your little brother.
However, the Black Lotus did not intend to let him off, even casting a pitiful look at him, like a small, unloved cabbage. He asked eagerly, “Senior Brother has always been kind-hearted. You wouldn’t bear to see me like this, would you?”
Ah, ah, ah, ah, where is your arrogant, cool, and domineering attitude? Where is your sinister ruthlessness? Did a dog eat them?! Please stop pretending to be a poor little thing, it really doesn’t suit you, bro!
Su Huan’s internal complaints flowed like a stream of bullet comments, but he dared not utter a word outwardly. Although the Black Lotus guaranteed he wouldn’t kill him, there were still all sorts of non-lethal dirty tricks. He should try his best not to provoke the black-hearted lotus protagonist.
Suddenly, a figure blocked the space between him and Xiao Jianming. Feng Jiangyue smiled back at him, then turned to Xiao Jianming. “Don’t even think about it. You injured Junior Brother to this extent. Not killing you is already a huge concession. It’s absolutely impossible for him to be with you. Even if he agreed, everyone on Lichen Peak would never agree. Give up on that idea.”
“Go back and tell the Sword Venerable that Lichen Peak and your Lingshuang Peak will sever all ties from now on and live peacefully apart.”
Hearing this, Su Huan was both surprised and incredibly moved. He instantly felt that his Senior Sister’s figure was magnificent, radiating an overwhelming sense of security!
She truly lived up to the description in the original novel as the most protective peak in the Xuanji Sect. Even though it was just him, an ordinary disciple, who was harmed, they would never let their own suffer injustice, choosing instead to break ties with the Sword Venerable, the greatest swordsman in the world.
Perhaps it was this kind of peak ethos that led to the tragic situation where, after the original owner was killed by the Black Lotus, the disciples of Lichen Peak went one after another to seek revenge, only to continuously gift equipment and experience, ultimately leading to the annihilation of the entire peak.
No, he must prevent the tragedy from repeating itself and ensure that his Senior Sister and Senior Brothers live to ten thousand years old with him!
Xiao Jianming seemed more composed than he had been in the illusion. The gentle smile on his face remained unchanged, and he lowered his eyes, looking heartbroken. “Senior Sister, you exaggerate. How dare I expect Senior Brother to take responsibility for me? I am just… just unable to control my feelings…”
His voice gradually lowered, and a tear slowly slid down his cheek, accompanied by an uncontrollable sob.
Su Huan’s eyes widened. Shock! The Film Emperor is right beside me!
Feng Jiangyue was stunned. She recalled that the spiritual energies of the two had indeed merged earlier. Aside from the extinct Spiritual Rhinoceros Clan, which could attract all spiritual energy, this phenomenon only occurred between the most deeply devoted partners.
Could it be… this brat wasn’t lying, and he really was controlled by the demonic energy?
*
On the way back, Su Huan, who had learned to fly on a sword in the illusion but had lost his Golden Core, once again hitched a ride on Junior Sister Qiu’s jade hairpin boat.
Junior Sister Qiu had probably heard about the situation between him and Xiao Jianming from her close friends. She kept turning her head to check his expression along the way, her eyes showing concern.
Su Huan couldn’t stand it anymore and said, “Senior Sister Qiu, if you have anything you want to ask, just ask. Don’t worry about it.”
Qiu Xianyue ignored him. Instead, she glanced at Feng Jiangyue, who was intently watching Xiao Jianming nearby, and sighed, “It’s great having Jiangyue around. Every mission is completed easily.” As she spoke, a hint of worry appeared on her fair, tender face. Her soft, delicate hand rested on Feng Jiangyue’s wrist, inputting spiritual energy to soothe the fatigue in her body.
Feng Jiangyue relaxed and said boldly, “Hehe, don’t worry. I’ll call you for the next mission too. I guarantee I’ll help you earn enough spirit stones!”
At the same time, a gossipy female voice sounded in Su Huan’s mind: Senior Brother Su, I heard that Xiao Jianming not only betrayed you but also severely injured you, even destroying your Golden Core?
Su Huan: ?
?!
He finally understood how the rumors in the sect had spread so wildly.
Su Huan stated righteously, “That is absolutely not true. There is nothing between him and me. Senior Sister, please don’t overthink things.”
Qiu Xianyue gave him a meaningful look. If he said it so emphatically, then something must have happened.
Alas, she heard that Senior Brother Su’s Golden Core was shattered because of this. Lichen Peak and Lingshuang Peak were completely estranged now. It seemed she would have to reluctantly break up with that little sword cultivator from Lingshuang.
When he saw the majestic mountain gate of the Xuanji Sect again, Su Huan was nearly moved to tears.
Going out on missions was too dangerous. He preferred to just lie flat on Lichen Peak.
After landing, Su Huan yawned. Just as he was about to head back to the peak, his Senior Sister flicked a long rope, and Xiao Jianming was once again bound by the Immortal Binding Rope.
The movements of the surrounding crowd froze, and they cast surprised glances.
Su Huan paused his yawn and heard his Senior Sister declare loudly, “Xiao Jianming, a disciple of the Sword Venerable, was infected by demonic energy during a mission and attacked Su Huan, the fourth disciple of Lichen Peak, causing Junior Brother to be on the brink of death and his Golden Core to shatter! I, Feng Jiangyue of Lichen Peak, am here to request the Sect Master to step forward and administer punishment!”
The sound traveled like a wave, layer upon layer, reaching Yuxiao, the highest peak of the Xuanji Sect, where the Sect Master resided.
Everyone present heard it clearly and were greatly alarmed, discussing it amongst themselves.
“What?! Weren’t they in love? Even if he was infected by demonic energy and lost his mind, he shouldn’t have struck such a heavy blow…”
“Golden Core shattered?! Doesn’t that mean Senior Brother Su is cut off from the path of immortality…”
“More than just cut off. The medicinal herbs needed to repair a Golden Core are incredibly rare. If they can’t be found, once Senior Brother Su’s lifespan runs out, he will only face death…”
“Foundation Establishment grants two hundred years of life, and a Golden Core grants five hundred. To live five hundred years as a cripple without spiritual power—just thinking about it is utterly despairing…”
In an instant, Su Huan was covered in looks of pity and sympathy, giving him goosebumps.
Suddenly, the flowing clouds in the air paused, and two rays of light flew in from Yuxiao and Lingshuang respectively. At the same time, a shout echoed through the sky—
“I’d like to see who dares to touch my disciple!”
Oh, Su Huan remembered. The novel had described that the Sword Venerable was also an extremely protective person. It was here that Xiao Jianming received the care of a master he had never known, which was why he stayed in the Xuanji Sect for so long, only leaving for the Sea of No Delusion after the Sword Venerable perished.
Su Huan was standing right next to Feng Jiangyue and suddenly felt a pressure descend upon his head. Feng Jiangyue felt an even heavier pressure, and her knees trembled, yet she stubbornly refused to kneel.
Su Huan immediately supported her, and just as he was about to speak, a cool spiritual energy landed on both of them, dissolving the crushing pressure.
Another voice, kind and gentle, rang out in the air—
“Junior Brother, those who make mistakes should bear responsibility. Why must you make things difficult for two young ones?”
The Sect Master had arrived.
Su Huan quietly breathed a sigh of relief.