Evil Spirit - chapter 5

Chapter 5

“I mean no harm, I am only here to take someone back.”

The newcomer smiled like a fleeting orchid, his gentle tone as soft as a spring breeze brushing across the lake.

If only he hadn’t brought along the person who had just been hanged, his words would have been more convincing.

But it didn’t matter anymore. In Li Jiaojiao’s eyes now, Duan Qinglian truly looked like an immortal descending on clouds.

“Here! I’m here!”

Enduring the sharp pain in her jaw, she called out to Duan Qinglian with delight.

At the same time, the group of lifeless girls saw the figure in white robes, his smile as serene as a Buddha’s, and their eyes lit up with hope.

Was this immortal here to save them?

Duan Qinglian immediately noticed the girl’s disheveled state, yet even so, she still waved at him with eyes full of anticipation and joy.

His thin lips curved into a deeper smile. Just moments ago, this little cat was so terrified of him.

With a gentle tug, the loop of silver Sword Line around the black-clad man’s neck unraveled like a nimble snake and slipped back into his sleeve. His snow-white boots stepped over the corpse on the ground.

But after only a few steps, more black-clad men appeared from nowhere, blocking his path.

Duan Qinglian watched as they slowly drew their swords from beneath their robes, his smile fading: “I don’t wish to fight you.”

The black-clad men ignored him and charged forward.

Their sword tips aimed straight at Duan Qinglian’s brow, intending to kill him in one blow.

Duan Qinglian leapt into the air, his toes landing on the overlapping sword blades. Using their force, he spun and landed steadily a few feet away.

The black-clad men turned and attacked again.

Duan Qinglian sighed, seeming impatient, and drew out his Sword Line from his sleeve, easily wrapping it around the incoming blades. With a sudden pull, several black-clad men, swords and all, crashed into the wall.

“Bang-”

A muffled thud was accompanied by the crisp sound of bones breaking.

Hiss-

Watching from the side, Li Jiaojiao couldn’t help but suck in a breath, feeling her own bones ache.

Strangely, though these black-clad men lay on the ground like piles of mud, they seemed to feel no pain at all-not even a groan.

Duan Qinglian’s Sword Line was still wrapped around one man’s arm. He crouched down and sighed helplessly: “I said, I don’t want to fight you.”

His slender fingertips twisted the Sword Line, tightening it around the man’s arm until it cut through the black robe and into flesh.

“You don’t feel pain. It’s not interesting at all.”

He suddenly yanked the Sword Line, the thin, sharp silver wire slicing through the robe and skin, flipping out chunks of flesh. Nearly black blood spurted out, splattering onto his jade-like cheek.

Duan Qinglian kept smiling, as if he were merely carving up ordinary poultry.

Li Jiaojiao couldn’t bear to watch, her stomach churning with nausea.

The other girls covered their eyes in fright, trembling.

Was this really an immortal? He was clearly even more ruthless than those who had captured them.

The black-clad men ignored his actions and said coldly, “You and I have always minded our own business. Last time in Fucheng, you killed dozens of our brothers, yet we did not hold it against you. Why do you keep pressing us?”

His harmless face showed confusion: “Pressing you? I have no interest in the Living Dead.”

“Madman.”

“So what if we don’t feel pain? You’re just a heartless beast yourself.”

The pitch-black eyes beneath the black robes remained as lifeless as stagnant water, calmly equating the two of them.

Duan Qinglian lowered his gaze and chuckled softly, then stood and withdrew his Sword Line.

Compared to fighting the Living Dead who felt no pain, there was a much more interesting little cat waiting for him over there.

“Hello, little cat.”

Duan Qinglian leaned in, looking at the girl’s face smeared with black mud. His smile was as radiant as when she had crashed into his arms earlier.

Li Jiaojiao was stunned for a moment. Did he have a habit of giving people nicknames?

At such close range, she could smell a faint scent of blood. Duan Qinglian smiled, his pale cheeks stained with fresh blood, beautiful and striking.

For a moment, Li Jiaojiao wasn’t afraid at all. As if possessed, she reached out and wiped Duan Qinglian’s cheek with her sleeve.

His beautiful smile froze at the corners of his mouth, and Li Jiaojiao clearly felt his body stiffen. She was stunned too.

Damn, she had acted on impulse.

“I just saw your face was a bit dirty…” she said quickly, withdrawing her hand.

But in midair, her hand was caught. Pale, cold fingers pressed into her tender skin, instantly leaving a red mark.

“I’ve been thinking for a long time since I came here, but no matter how I turn it over in my mind, I can’t figure it out.”

Li Jiaojiao’s heart skipped a beat.

“How did you know I lost my memory?”

“I…”

“If you lie to me, your fate will be worse than his.” Duan Qinglian cut her off, pointing at the pile of flesh not far away, as if reminding her to choose her words carefully.

Instantly, a layer of cold sweat broke out on Li Jiaojiao’s forehead.

How was she supposed to explain? Say the System told her? Say she transmigrated here to fix his twisted worldview and heal his broken soul?

Even putting aside whether Duan Qinglian could understand such fantastical words, with his unpredictable temperament, wouldn’t he just slit her throat for spouting nonsense?

Duan Qinglian looked at the girl who hesitated to speak, one hand gripping her arm, the other lifting her chin. He gazed at her flustered face, his eyes brimming with anticipation.
The tranquil air flowed within the cave.

After much struggle, Li Jiaojiao simply gave up and confessed, “Actually, someone told me.”

Her beautiful phoenix eyes curved into a lovely arc. Duan Qinglian nodded, “Mm.”

“It was a very profound Daoist. He told me you would go boating outside the city.”

He raised his eyebrows, his expression showing little fluctuation.

Li Jiaojiao swallowed. She knew that if she didn’t say something, Duan Qinglian definitely wouldn’t believe her: “He also said you were sealed in the Luo River for years, just broke free from the seal and left the Luo River, and that you remember nothing.”

A trace of emotion finally flickered in his deep eyes, like the first thaw of snow atop a mountain in early spring.

“What’s that Daoist’s name?”

“His surname is Xi.”

That shouldn’t count as a lie, right? After all, it was the System that told her.

“Then why did he want you to find me?”

Now Li Jiaojiao was stumped.

How should she answer? Should she say, ‘You’re too unhinged, so the System sent me to cure your madness?’

Glancing at the coldly gleaming Sword Line beneath Duan Qinglian’s sleeve, Li Jiaojiao decided to protect her delicate little neck: “He said I am fated with you, told me to guide you toward goodness, and said we are destined people.”

Li Jiaojiao admitted she was gambling a bit. After all, in the original plot, wasn’t it just such a melodramatic encounter and one-sided love?

Sure enough, Duan Qinglian’s expression became a bit strange.

“I’ll believe you for now, but…”

“But what?” Seeing that he believed her, Li Jiaojiao hurriedly asked.

Duan Qinglian released Li Jiaojiao’s arm and slowly stood up: “I’ll give you three days. If I haven’t regained my memory, I’ll still strangle your neck.”

Li Jiaojiao: “…”

[ Ding-System prompt: Plot completion 5%, target’s favorability 1, personality distortion 100, goodwill 0. Good luck, Host. ]

The System’s voice sounded at the worst possible moment, especially when she heard the absurdly high personality distortion and zero goodwill. Li Jiaojiao’s eyelids couldn’t help but twitch twice.

Damn it! Why do others transmigrate into books for romance, but she’s here to cure madness? How is she supposed to save him?!

“By the way, forget about that destined fate.”

“Hm?” She looked up at Duan Qinglian.

“You heard just now, I have no heart, nor any love.”

…

Li Jiaojiao couldn’t deny this, because in the original plot, Duan Qinglian’s pursuit of the heroine was utterly deranged-he just wanted to slit her throat and die together. Who thinks love means killing the other person?

After a while, Li Jiaojiao’s legs finally regained some feeling. Pitifully, she clung to Duan Qinglian’s sleeve and walked step by step toward the cave entrance.

Out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly caught sight of those girls. They stared at her intently, eyes full of longing for life.

Remembering her mission to reform Duan Qinglian, Li Jiaojiao stopped and tugged at his sleeve: “Aren’t you going to save them?”

“No.”

Though she expected it, Li Jiaojiao still choked a little. That answer was way too blunt!

“Save me! My father is Chen Yikai, a wealthy merchant in the Capital. If you save me, my father will give you as much silver as you want…”

Suddenly, one of the previously silent girls cried out. Her voice was hoarse and dull, lacking any of the clarity a young girl should have. Her voice grew weaker and weaker, and the last few words seemed to be squeezed out of her throat with great effort.

To Li Jiaojiao’s shock, the girl instantly collapsed in pain.

From her parched lips, vines suddenly sprouted, snaking around her slender neck and crawling upward. The vines bore sharp thorns the same color as the stems, tearing her lips and jaw, as a large amount of blood gushed from her mouth.

As the girl writhed in agony, Li Jiaojiao saw dark purple spots blooming across the exposed skin beneath her dress-utterly horrifying.

“They’ve already swallowed the seeds of the Saprophytic Flower. Do you know why they don’t speak?”

A clear, cold voice sounded in her ear.

Li Jiaojiao shook her head. She only felt that Duan Qinglian’s voice was eerily beautiful now.

“The moment they speak, the Saprophytic Flower’s vines will burst from their throats, and they can only watch as the vines slowly drain their bodies.”

“If you get close, those vines will entangle you too. The vine tips will burrow into your body and take root inside you.”

Duan Qinglian’s words truly stunned Li Jiaojiao, leaving her speechless for a long time.

When it came to such cruel matters, his tone seemed even gentler than usual.

God! Just how terrifying a psychopath is she supposed to conquer?!

Seeing her dazed, Duan Qinglian mischievously leaned down to her ear, his cool breath spreading around her. “Still want to save them?”

“Ah!!”

Li Jiaojiao was so frightened that her face turned pale, and she dove into his arms. She really shouldn’t have worried about this-after all, these girls would eventually be rescued by the main couple.

“Let’s go, let’s go, forget saving them!”