GB Chapter 37

“How could you possibly evade the multiple killing arrays we laid out in the valley?”

The Tian Shu Pavilion’s operation was originally a kill order aimed at He Huan. Although Yu Qing’s obsession led to some unforeseen events, the layout of the valley remained unchanged. This place was filled with deadly arrays and numerous cultivators lying in ambush. Logically, even if He Huan possessed heaven-defying cultivation, he shouldn’t have been able to infiltrate so easily.

However, facing Yu Qing’s surprised expression, the public enemy of both the righteous and demonic paths casually flicked the sleeves of his robe, stained red with enemy blood, and replied in a tone as if he had just gone for a stroll, “Your arrays are indeed impressive, so I just forced my way through.”

“The number one person of the demonic path is indeed worthy of the name. It’s a pity you cannot defeat the Lord. No one in this world can defeat him.”

Now that He Huan had arrived, the cultivators ambushing for the Tian Shu Pavilion were undoubtedly annihilated. Although Yu Qing didn’t know what methods the demonic figure, who showed no sign of tension, had used, he also realized he couldn’t defeat him with the young body he had seized. However, this ancient cultivator, who had survived the wars, always acted cautiously. Just as he finished speaking, the chains binding Qian Ren instantly transformed into sharp blades, sliding across the youth’s skin, and then, pure black demon blood gushed out.

Qian Ren had never been afraid of pain since childhood. No matter how severe the injury, he had never cried. But when He Huan was unexpectedly pierced by the demon blood, tears fell uncontrollably. He didn’t even have the strength to shout, only reaching out blankly towards the direction where he fell, “Master?”

“He Huan, you never imagined, would you? After being so powerful for a lifetime, you still died at the hands of your own disciple.”

Yu Qing’s gloating laughter echoed in his ears. The youth looked down at the black blood surrounding him, momentarily unsure if the piercing pain was from his wound or from his heart.

“Lord, your existence is the ultimate evil in this world. You will kill all living beings that approach you. No one has the right to get close to you.”

The demon blood completely isolated him from the world. Yet, even so, Yu Qing’s obsessed voice still penetrated the defenses, sending chills down his spine. Just as Qian Ren was about to completely lose his rationality, the voice abruptly stopped. Only He Huan’s usual mocking tone drifted over, “Can’t you be quieter when you’re about to die?”

In Yu Qing’s memory, no one had ever avoided a surprise attack from demon blood, but he had no time to figure out how this was possible. This time, He Huan’s hand had already crushed his heart. He could only stare wide-eyed at the red-clad man who still had a smile on his face, “You… impossible… you even guarded against your own disciple…”

Even Yu Qing hadn’t imagined that He Huan no longer trusted anyone in this world. But it was precisely because of this that he had survived many predicaments. Only those who survive are qualified to mock their enemies. For example, now, he just smiled lightly, “You still can’t resist provoking others even now. That’s why the Demon Lord didn’t even tell you he had a son, you hopeless romantic.”

“What did you say?”

He Huan’s control over people’s hearts was far superior to other cultivators. At this moment, just one sentence caused Yu Qing’s expression to twist. However, that wasn’t enough. He casually took out the man’s nascent soul, and facing that struggling soul, he slowly opened his mouth, “The Demon Lord you desperately seek has a son with someone else. It’s not that he can’t love, it’s just that he’s not interested in you. I’m sharing this good news with you, aren’t you very grateful to this Palace?”

He Huan’s tone was always quite gentle, especially when he slowed down his speech, it was as if a lover was whispering in your ear, extremely alluring. However, with that tone that would cause any ordinary woman to blush, the content spoken was enough to drive Yu Qing insane. With only his nascent soul remaining, he couldn’t break free of the restraints. The thought that he was treating this spawn born of the Demon Lord and some unknown harlot as if they were the Demon Lord himself instantly made him feel like his insides were burning. He couldn’t contain his anger and yelled at the culprit, “I will never let this bastard go! And you too!”

When it came to playing with enemies, if He Huan claimed second place, no one would dare claim first. His sky-high bounty wasn’t earned by looks alone. Seeing Yu Qing more miserable than his disciple made him feel a bit better. He just smiled politely at him, “I’m sorry for giving you the illusion that I would let you go, but I, on the other hand, have only one choice when dealing with enemies: to eradicate them completely.”

With a surge of his true energy, he refined the nascent soul at the moment of his greatest unwillingness. Casually tossing aside the ashes, He Huan finally walked to his disciple, who was covered in wounds. Ignoring the still surging demon blood, he tapped the youth’s head and said as usual, “I just casually made up a sentence, who knew he would actually believe it. Looks like the ancient cultivators are not that special after all. Wipe your tears, your master avenged you.”

“Master…”

Finally grabbing the sleeves of the person in front of him, confirming that he was still alive, the youth finally woke up from the nightmare. However, even though everything was over, the tears could no longer be controlled. This made the ever-composed He Huan distressed. He could only helplessly try to comfort him, “Don’t cry, you are already eighteen, do you still want Master to buy you candied haws?”

That was the first time Qian Ren had cried out loud in his life, and the last. After that, no matter what happened, he could deal with it calmly, never again swayed by emotion. But at that time, he was still weak and helpless, so he could only plead to his master with red eyes, “I want to become stronger, stronger than anyone else…”

“The strong are very lonely, like your master, in this lifetime, I probably can’t believe anyone except myself. Although this makes me invincible, life is not as interesting as it used to be. Forget it, your life is yours to decide, I only hope you won’t regret it one day.”

Qian Ren remembered that his master had tried to advise him. The demonic energy in his body would grow stronger as his cultivation deepened. The price of growing stronger was that, like the Demon Lord, he would no longer be able to get close to people, destined to spend his life alone.

Such a life was indeed lonely and boring, but he did not regret it. Compared to the helplessness and despair of that time, all loneliness was just fleeting. He had finally gained the power to protect everything, and no one could ever hurt the people he cared about in front of him. That alone was enough.

“Now that I think about it, that was probably one of the few serious moments in your grandmaster’s life. To the point that I actually admired him for ten years. I was quite naive back then.”

This was the first time Qian Ren had spoken to Zhuge Qingtian about his past. He had originally thought he would have some hatred, but when he really recalled it, he talked the most about the affairs of his sect.

Those past pains and resentments were ultimately just glossed over in light, calm words. Now when he thought back, he was more concerned about whether He Huan’s words about being the Demon Lord’s son were true or not. Unfortunately, it was too difficult to discern the man’s thoughts. In the end, no one in this world could tell when his master was lying except for He Ku, who was of one mind with him.

While Qian Ren, who had already seen through He Huan’s nature, was continuing to slander his master like a rebellious disciple, Zhuge Qingtian was seeing him have emotional fluctuations for someone else for the first time and couldn’t help but feel envious, “Master, if I became like grandmaster, would you like me more?”

Zhuge Qingtian, who was already a handful, learning that person’s mischievous tricks? Just imagining the scene made Qian Ren’s stomach hurt a bit. He didn’t even bother with the hidden language trap in that word “more,” and immediately stopped his disciple’s unreliable idea, “Although he is indeed a respected elder, most of the time he is a troublesome fellow. If we are talking about preferences, I am more inclined towards those who are well-behaved, obedient, and lovable.”

With Qian Ren’s temperament, it was not easy to get a compliment from him in ordinary times. Zhuge Qingtian did not know why his master had suddenly become so enthusiastic, but he didn’t mind taking the opportunity to take advantage. He went forward happily, “Are you talking about me? Whether you’re having a crazy day or not, praise me a few more times!”

“Heh, compared to Yu Qing, you are indeed much more adorable.”

Qian Ren would not do things on a whim. The reason he let this person get close to him was because he sensed he was surrounded by ghosts. Since Yu Qing most wanted to see him live a lonely life, then he didn’t mind provoking this enemy. Although he didn’t know how Yu Qing, whose nascent soul was destroyed, had escaped to become a ghost, the reason didn’t matter. It was enough that this person still existed in the world. At least now he had the chance to personally avenge his past grudge.

There was nothing more infuriating than an enemy living well in front of you. Sure enough, just as Zhuge Qingtian took the opportunity to hug Qian Ren’s arm, making it appear as if the two were completely inseparable, a ghost wrapped in black mist appeared on the roof, his words filled with unyielding hatred, “Even now you still have the mood to be glib. You truly deserve to be the son of the Demon Lord.”

Yu Qing’s teeth were clenched when he mentioned the four words “son of the Demon Lord.” Unfortunately, the current Qian Ren was no longer the youth he had once toyed with. Even if his target appeared in sight, it was as if he couldn’t see him at all. He just rubbed Zhuge Qingtian’s head and asked lightly, “Disciple, do you know what the Jianghu is?”

“I don’t know, Master, teach me.”

Zhuge Qingtian was an extremely proactive person. It was rare for his master to make such an intimate gesture towards him, not only did he allow Qian Ren to stroke him, but he also took the initiative to nuzzle his master’s shoulder. Yu Qing’s face turned pale with anger. The Demonic Cult protector, who had not been in contact with people for a long time, stiffened uncomfortably. He once again realized that when it came to boldness, he was no match for his disciple’s level of brazenness.

Knowing he couldn’t expect a ghost who opened his mouth talking about worship to have any sense of shame, Qian Ren didn’t bother with him anymore. He just casually cut his palm, watched the pure black liquid condense into a blade in his hand, and the only thing left in his voice was killing intent, “Save the people I want to save, kill the people I want to kill, define the world with my sword, this is the Jianghu.”

Yes, all the words were unimportant. He was looking for Yu Qing for only one purpose, and that was to kill.

Unlike his naive youth, when he sought a rational explanation, he finally understood a truth: only enemies who no longer exist in the world are the best enemies.

After all, he had traded a life of loneliness for his current cultivation. It wasn’t for the purpose of reasoning with people.

Author’s Note:

Qian Ren: After abusing dogs, you can go lie on the side and shout 666.

Zhuge Qingtian: I like this mission, please let me do it once a day.

Qian Ren (glancing sideways): You will get driven on in the Demonic Cult for doing this.

Zhuge Qingtian: Come on, I’ve already fastened my seat belt.

Yu Qing: You two adulterers! Shameless!