Chapter 67
Translator: Redolens
Editor: PlayerProphet
From afar, the white paG.o.da seemed tall and slender, but as one approached, one would see a large palace at its base. They’d been too far away to see it before.
FireThorn City really was a peculiar place.
When they arrived, they saw the Demon King and the Lord of FireThorn City coming out.
They were talking and laughing. It all seemed very intimate.
The Demon King turned his head to see Bai Yang and Long Hai approaching. When his gaze landed on their entwined hands, a shadow fell over his smiling face.
“Where did you go?” the Demon King asked in an unhappy tone.
Why on earth are you angry? Bai Yang thought. You abandoned me to run off with the City Lord and now you’re interrogating me?!
“I was just taking Lord Xie for a walk around FireThorn City to familiarize him with the surroundings,” Long Hai said softly.
The Demon King looked at him, his expression unhappy, but didn’t say anything. Instead, he turned to Bai Yang and waved him over. “Come here.”
Bai Yang thought about it and chose to walk over.
The Almighty Demon King felt somewhat satisfied, and the dark look on his face faded a bit. “You shouldn’t wander around in a place like this. Nor should you be with strangers.”
The City Lord and Long Hai: “…”
The Demon King seemed to realize his att.i.tude was too aggressive and restrained himself a bit. He turned to the young black-haired City Lord and said, “I brought this man here. Examine him for me.”
Bai Yang was baffled. What examination?
The Demon King lowered his voice so only Bai Yang could hear him. “In a moment, when you follow the City Lord inside, do whatever he tells you to do. Don’t irritate him. We are in FireThorn City. Without his permission, not even I can leave.”
“What will he ask me to do?” Bai Yang asked, and then, “Are you guys keeping something from me?”
The Demon King patted him on the head, a soft smile exposed on the corners of his mouth. “Don’t worry. He will help cure you.”
Cure me?
Was it really that simple?
Bai Yang was doubtful. “Did you make some kind of private deal?”
There’s no such thing as a free lunch. FireThorn City is also not a benevolent place. Could it be that…
Bai Yang lowered his voice and said, “I see that the City Lord seems to be interested in you, always saying ‘big brother’ this and ‘big brother’ that. Did you use your body as a bargaining chip?”
The Demon King: “….”
The Demon King smacked the top of his head. “What kind of nonsense are you thinking of everyday!?”
Bai Yang covered his head. “You’re so close, he even calls you big brother!”
As he spoke, his mood started to sour.
“He just likes to tease people,” the Demon King said helplessly, “and anyone who doesn’t go along with his whims will suffer. Besides, how could a demon like him, who has lived for who knows how many years, possibly like someone as young as us? At most, he enjoys acting childish.”
“Do you like him?”
The Demon King slapped his head again. “Are you crazy?”
Bai Yang suddenly felt better. “Then what deal did you make?”
If the price was too high, he’d rather not be cured.
As if reading Bai Yang’s mind, the Demon King said, “Calm down. I only gave him what he needed and that I could provide.”
Hearing that, Bai Yang relaxed.
He then remembered his suspicion concerning the Demon King’s relationship with Long Bing and it troubled his conscience.
“Are you finished?” the FireThorn City Lord’s voice floated over from nearby.
The Demon King gently pushed Bai Yang. “Go on.”
Bai Yang hesitated before walking over to the young City Lord’s side.
The Lord of FireThorn City glanced at Bai Yang and nodded. “Follow me.”
With that, he turned around and entered the palace. The Demon King motioned for Bai Yang to follow.
Bai Yang couldn’t tell what they were thinking, but followed them inside anyway.
In each corner of the main hall were censers half as tall as a man. Incense smoke wafted out in spirals and filled the s.p.a.ce.
The fragrance was somewhat familiar.
Bai Yang sniffed cautiously but couldn’t remember where he’d smelled it before.
“Lord Xie, come with me.” The beautiful City Lord smiled innocently and reached out a hand, gesturing for Bai Yang to follow him into the side hall.
The Demon King made to follow but was stopped by the City Lord. “Big Brother Demon King, you can’t enter.”
The Demon King paused, a glimmer of light flashing in his dark eyes. “Don’t tease him,” he said in a deep voice.
Long Bing chuckled. “Relax, I won’t do anything to him.”
Bai Yang realized that they were talking about him, and his scalp went very numb.
Bai Yang couldn’t help glancing at the crystalline City Lord. He was so delicate, lovely, and innocent. Could he really do something unreasonable?
Then he thought: He is the Lord of FireThorn City after all. People can’t be judged by their appearance alone, or be underestimated.
Then he thought: But I can’t be in any life-threatening danger. The Almighty Demon King himself brought me to FireThorn City. He wouldn’t let me get hurt.
Due to his trust in the Demon King, Bai Yang was able to push away some of his unease.
He followed Long Bing into the side hall. Everyone else stayed behind, leaving them alone.
It seemed strange to Bai Yang that the side hall was completely empty. There was nothing there. However, that jasmine-like fragrance was even stronger and Bai Yang became dizzy, his consciousness going fuzzy.
As he was asking himself where he’d smelled that fragrance before, he remembered that he’d smelled it the first time he’d inadvertently broken into the Demon King’s side hall.
So, the Demon King had always been in contact with FireThorn City.
Did the fragrance have something to do with the Demon King’s qi deviations?
Before he’d sunk too deep into his thoughts, his sensitive ear heard a rustling sound, as if there were countless small insects crawling around.
He looked around after the sound and discovered a black line emerging from the base of the walls in the s.p.a.cious side hall. The line became thicker and thicker and kept surging, then it scattered in all directions and flocked towards the center of the hall.
Upon closer inspection, one could see that the black line was actually tens of thousands of black ant-like insects.
Bai Yang had slight trypophobia, so he was quite frightened by this sort of dense ma.s.s. Startled, he asked, “What kind of insects are these? How can there be so many?”
The beautiful youth, who barely came up to his shoulders, stood next to him and winked. “Don’t be afraid. They’re a good thing.”
Bai Yang’s scalp tingled as he watched the insects get closer and closer. He subconsciously tried to leave, but when he tried to lift his leg, he discovered he couldn’t move at all. It was as if he was frozen.
“What did you do to me?” Bai Yang asked the youth. “What are you trying to do?”
He felt a frisson of fear. Whether in the Demon Realm or Mortal Ream, he hadn’t yet lost any battles aside from his fight with the Demon King. One of the main sources of his confidence was his strong abilities. He believed there weren’t many people as powerful as him in this world.
However, just now, he had been paying attention to the beautiful youth the whole time, worried that he would try something. Even with his whole spirit focused on him, the youth was still able to make a move.
The insects flocked to every corner of the room. Standing among them, the black-haired and black-eyed youth smiled as if he didn’t see them.
FireThorn City’s peculiarity was enough to make Bai Yang’s blood run cold.
Bai Yang couldn’t care about anything else. Dignity was worthless compared to his life. Survival was more important. He opened his mouth to shout for the Demon King outside, but discovered that he couldn’t make a sound.
“Sh…” The delicate youth raised a finger and said, “Don’t shout. I know what you’re thinking.”
How do you know what I’m thinking? Bai Yang thought.
The youth seemed to listen and, smiling, drew nearer. He extended one delicate finger and pointed to his chest. “Of course I know, because of that insect inside you.”
The Rebirth Gu?
“Clever.” The youth tilted his head, exposing a charming tiger tooth. “Good child, don’t be scared. I already promised Big Brother Demon King I wouldn’t hurt you.”
But that many insects…
“These insects are good things.” The youth waved his arm, and the insects started to climb up Bai Yang’s body, following the length of his leg. Very quickly, Bai Yang found himself covered in insects.
Covered in countless swarms of insects, Bai Yang felt suffocated.
“There are some things I’d like to ask you,” the young City Lord said, smiling. “Don’t lie. Thanks to the Rebirth Gu, I’ll know what you’re thinking.”
Bai Yang wanted to say something, but couldn’t.
“Do you know where the Heavenly Demon Stone is?” the young City Lord asked, moving closer.
Bai Yang: Heavenly Demon Stone? What Heavenly Demon Stone?
The youth: “Don’t lie. You and the Demon King are so close. How could you not know what the Heavenly Demon Stone is?”
Bai Yang really didn’t know. He stared at the young City Lord, confused.
The black-haired youth’s fair eyebrows furrowed as he thought for a moment. Then he muttered, “You really don’t know?”
I really don’t know.
I’m not at all close with him, so there are a lot of things I don’t know.
“Lies.” The young City Lord smiled as he extended a delicate finger and waved it in front of Bai Yang’s eyes. “In a moment, I’ll blind you. I’ll tell Ji Zi Xuan that the cure failed. He can’t do anything to me.”
Hearing that threat, Bai Yang tensed up and thought loudly: I’m really not lying! Can’t you hear my inner thoughts?
“Even though Ji Zi Xuan pretends not to care about you, I can see through him. You already have that kind of relationship.”
We don’t! Bai Yang denied flatly.
“Lying again!” The youth was a little angry. “The Rebirth Gu is in your chest. I know you’re not telling the truth! You like him, but you still won’t admit it?”
Bai Yang flushed red with anger. I won’t.
The youth chuckled. “Really a case of not shedding a tear until you see the coffin.”
He raised his hand and Bai Yang felt a sharp pain inside, as if there were countless bugs rolling around.
I’m going to die.
“You won’t die.” The youth smiled and poked his chest. “It’s just that you lied, so they’re not happy. That’s all.”
Bai Yang grit his teeth.
“Alright. Whether you like him or not is not important. I only want to know if he has the Heavenly Demon Stone,” the young City Lord persisted.
I really don’t know, Bai Yang thought sincerely.
After he answered, the insects in his chest stopped moving.
“You really aren’t lying?” the young City Lord asked, brows furrowed.
I’m really not!
I’ve said many times that I don’t know!
Bai Yang had no more words to say.
“Then Ji Zi Xuan also didn’t lie. He also doesn’t know where the Heavenly Demon Stone is,” the young City Lord said to himself. After a moment, he stamped his foot in anger for some reason and snorted coldly. On the ground, the insects started crawling around faster.
Bai Yang was going to go mad. Not because the insects were biting him, but because he was suffering psychologically.
He felt like he was undergoing bitter torture, but the torture hadn’t been going on for very long. After only about half an incense stick of time, the bugs withdrew from his body like the tide. Finally, they scattered, retreating back into the base of the wall.
Bai Yang took a long breath.
After breathing out, he discovered that he could both speak and move. “What was that?”
The City Lord didn’t answer. His delicate brows were deeply furrowed, and he stared at Bai Yang with a grave expression.
“City Lord?”
The youth didn’t respond. After a moment, the youth turned around and left the side hall, heading for the entrance of the main hall.
Bai Yang was at a loss and could only follow him.
As they entered the main hall, the Demon King hurried forward. “Xie Ze Tian, are you alright?”
His pitch-black eyes were filled with worry.
Bai Yang shook his head.
The young black-haired City Lord smiled. “Big Brother Demon King, really, I told you I wouldn’t hurt him. Don’t tell me you didn’t believe me?”
“How did it go?” The Demon King asked gravely. “Has the Rebirth Gu been removed?”
The black-haired youth’s expression was solemn. “Sorry, not yet.”
The Demon King’s face darkened. “No? Why not?”
“If it was a common Rebirth Gu, then naturally I could easily have my insects eat it,” the black haired youth said calmly. “Unfortunately, it’s a queen worm, so it needs to be extracted. That requires a little cultivation.”
As long as it can be extracted, that’s good.
“Then I’ll trouble the City Lord to take it out,” the Demon King said.
After hearing the Demon King’s words, the black-haired youth rolled his eyes and said with a smile, “I can take it out, but what’s in it for me?”
The Demon King frowned. “Haven’t I already promised to help you make sacrifices to heaven, and search for the Heavenly Demon Stone?”
“So what?” the black-haired youth giggled. “I want one more thing.”
Everyone understood the City Lord’s meaning. Without batting an eye, the Demon King asked, “What do you want?”
As soon as Bai Yang heard the black-haired youth’s words, he felt uneasy.
“Hmm…” The City Lord tilted his head and thought for a moment. Then, as if he suddenly thought of it, he said, “Ah! You seem to have the jade cloud pearl on you. You can give me that in exchange.”
Bai Yang lifted his gaze.
The Demon King is going to givehimthe jade cloud pearl?
The Demon King was supposed to use that to heal his qi deviations. If he gives it to the City Lord, then how would the Demon King manage?
“No,” Bai Yang said before the Demon King could open his mouth.
He didn’t expect that as soon as he opened his mouth, the harmless-looking young City Lord’s smiling face would darken. “No?”
In that split second, his eyes became bathed in a rich black, covering his pupils and the whites of his eyes. He looked absolutely terrifying.
Bai Yang was shocked by his transformation. When the youth smiled, he was like crystal, sparkling, pure and innocent. But when his face darkened, his temperament underwent a great transformation, like extreme yang turning into extreme yin. He became gloomy and treacherous, like a demonic beast from the abyss.
He looked darkly at Bai Yang, before then raising his eyes to look at the Demon King. “Lord Demon King, what do you say?”
He didn’t say Big Brother Demon King, but Lord Demon King.
The Demon King was calm, appearing to consider.
“You should know my temper,” the black-haired young City Lord said darkly. “If you aren’t willing, then please leave. Long Hai, see them out.”
From the side, Long Hai said politely, “The City Lord is angry. Please leave.”
Bai Yang didn’t want the Demon King to agree to the Lord of FireThorn City’s demand, and said, “Your Highness, let’s go.”
The Demon King didn’t move.
Bai Yang reached out and tugged on the Demon King’s hand. His eyes stared directly at the Demon King, his entreaty clear. “Your Highness, let’s go.”
“You can leave, but without me, you’ll never get rid of the Rebirth Gu,” the young City Lord said coldly.
The Demon King looked at Bai Yang for a moment. Then he turned his head to the young City Lord and said, “Long Bing, are you threatening me?”
When the imposing and frightening young City Lord heard his words, his breath hitched.
“You want to end our partnership?” the Demon King said calmly.
The young City Lord’s frightening and imposing manner subsided, and the gentle and innocent appearance that Bai Yang had first seen returned. Blinking limpid eyes, he said, “Is Big Brother Demon King angry? It’s just that I really need the jade cloud pearl.”
Bai Yang seized the opportunity to say, “City Lord, we cannot give you the jade cloud pearl. I also don’t need to be cured.”
The jade cloud pearl is supposed to cure the Demon King’s qi deviations. He definitely cannot give it away again.
He’d been gravely injured while stealing the jade cloud pearl. It was the Demon King who’d saved him. If the Demon King traded the jade cloud pearl in exchange for the City Lord curing Bai Yang, then everything he’d done would be for nothing.
Moreover, he would once again owe the Demon King a debt of grat.i.tude.
Originally, he didn’t want to be indebted, but he ended up owing more and more. How is this okay?
T/N: Sorry for the hiatus. As recompense, have two chapters ^^