The Demon Lord and I: Frenemies - chapter 40

Chapter 40

Their first clash served to test each other’s strength. The black-robed Evil Cultivator realized that Chu Zaishuang was astonishingly fast, and after casting some unknown technique, a dense fog swiftly enveloped the area. Chu Zaishuang stood up to give chase, but a wild gust of wind hit her face, pushing her back two steps.

When she opened her eyes again, waves of fog surged through the woods, rolling thick as milk, obscuring the Evil Cultivator’s figure and the silver threads.

Li Jingjie waved his hand to part the mist, unconsciously slowing his pace. “It’s too thick here – I can’t see a thing.”

“Careful, there are threads in the mist.”

Chu Zaishuang used her Sleeve Arrow to hang onto a tree, cutting the faintly visible silver threads. Thousands of razor-sharp filaments merged seamlessly with the dense fog, almost impossible to distinguish by sight alone – a moment’s carelessness could cause serious lacerations. This was a combination of techniques; the highest-level spell is not always the most effective. When combined well, even low-level arts can rival those of a High-Level Cultivator.

Her brother had always excelled at defeating stronger opponents and once taught her his insights. Cultivation is the accumulation of power in the body, but how much one can use in real combat depends on the individual. If you don’t use your head in a fight, no amount of cultivation will help. The key is combining and countering techniques.

The forest was dim, white mist billowing everywhere, instantly widening the distance between the two sides.

“Expansion Technique!” Li Jingjie commanded. “Xiao Tian, go – break those threads!”

The Heavenly Treasure Weasel screeched, its body swelling to a massive size, even its fur growing stiff. With unstoppable force, it charged into the silver threads, destroying the web-like traps hidden in the mist.

Li Jingjie and Chu Zaishuang followed behind, moving safely along the path the Heavenly Treasure Weasel had cleared.

“Expansion Technique only lasts for a while – it can’t hold out for long. But we can’t see anything now, and I have no idea where the Evil Cultivator is!”

“It should be in the southeast direction – the person’s speed has quickened.”

“How can you tell?”

Li Jingjie was surprised. In the woods, he couldn’t see his own hand in front of his face, let alone tell direction. He simply followed Chu Zaishuang, now dizzy and completely disoriented.

“Let me try – maybe I can catch them.” Facing the thick mist, Chu Zaishuang slowly extended her left hand, touching the swirling clouds. “…I’ve never succeeded before.”

The thrill of real combat and pursuit made her scalp tingle, and the enveloping mist brought something else to mind.

She subconsciously clenched her left fist, recalling her father’s words again and again, trying once more to condense her sword.

Transcending earthly attachments, a solitary spiritual radiance – all techniques are emptiness; this is true realization.

Chasing the Evil Cultivator, her breathing grew quicker, her chest shaking violently, as if a small drum pounded inside.

But as she passed a certain threshold, her mind suddenly became tranquil, entering a state of unconscious awareness.

Wuwo (Non‑Self) Sword!

A slender sword of air formed, blowing away the thick mist to her left. Were it not for the swirling smoke, the blade would be invisible to the eye. Her Wuwo Sword was thinner than her brother’s had been, but at least longer than a dagger.

[You did it!] Xiao Shi exclaimed. [Gather Qi first, then condense the sword – your judgment was correct!]

In the gloom, Li Jingjie didn’t notice what she was doing with her left hand. He was like a headless fly, following after his companions and asking in confusion, “Is the mist thinning out a bit?”

The Wuwo Sword had no fixed form but could part the mist around it, as her father had demonstrated before.

“We need to move faster – the enemy’s about to escape!”

Chu Zaishuang urged them on, gripping the Wuwo Sword, eyes locked on the Heavenly Treasure Weasel and the thick mist ahead. Unconsciously, her left hand clenched tighter, as if she were desperately storing power to unleash a stronger force.

Not long enough – nowhere near enough. Stretch it further.

The blade should be able to extend farther, just like her father splitting the lake.

She didn’t know when it started, but the two Dao Hearts within her were now circulating. Before she understood the truth, she could only use one; now, with new insight, she realized she needed to move both to use spiritual energy properly, or else her Qi Gathering would be unbalanced.

She pictured herself merging with heaven and earth, transcending all things. Only by grasping the external Qi could she freely extend the sword’s blade!

With fierce resolve, she clenched her fingers as if grasping the void. In an instant, the colorless, formless blade shot forward like an arrow, slashing through the mist, threading between the silver filaments, and striking the black robe hidden in the fog!

[Hit!]

Spiritual energy roared past, catching its target completely off guard.

Lu Ge thought she had widened the distance, but suddenly sensed danger and instinctively dodged to the side. Even so, half her body was struck, and her mask cracked and fell away.

Li Jingjie exclaimed, “I can see now!”

The Wuwo Sword scattered the mist, pointing straight at the Evil Cultivator ahead. The black robe ripped open, revealing lake-blue clothing beneath, like the heart of a blooming flower.

Chu Zaishuang saw her clearly and said, voice trembling, “You are…”

Standing before her was the Female Cultivator in blue who had swept the graves that day.

They had talked at length beneath a tree.

Upon hearing this, Lu Ge did not look back. She bounded away in two or three leaps, dodging the Heavenly Treasure Weasel’s attack, and swung forward on the silver threads. The advantage in distance she once had was now gone thanks to the Wuwo Sword. If she didn’t flee now, she’d truly be caught!

Chu Zaishuang stood up to pursue, demanding, “Was it all a lie? Was everything you said during the day false?”

Sister Qiao’er, the tragic past – all of it was a lie, all her deception.

The bottle of white wine, osmanthus candy, the shadow puppets – if they were destined to be enemies, why had they talked for so long?

“…” Lu Ge’s figure faltered for a moment, but she did not stop.

Li Jingjie was startled. “Do you two know each other?”

The fog gradually thinned as the three of them raced through the forest.

Lu Ge ran ahead, Chu Zaishuang and Li Jingjie close behind. Staring at the Female Cultivator in black and blue, Chu Zaishuang couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Why didn’t you attack earlier? You clearly had the chance, but you let me go!”

“…”

“If you are good, why attack the village? If you are evil, why show such false affection…” Her lashes trembled. “I don’t understand.”

“…”

Lu Ge said nothing.

Chu Zaishuang could not understand, nor could she make sense of it.

If the Evil Cultivator had been a stranger, if she had not listened to her story, perhaps the two would have fought fiercely by now. But having learned of Qiao’er, having heard her recount her past, Chu Zaishuang could no longer simply see her as just another Evil Cultivator from a mission – she was no longer a faceless figure, but had become vivid and real.
In this world, as long as people or things have not been tainted by attachment, letting go is never a pity. Only those with whom you have shared your heart, or things you have grown familiar with, are hard to part with in that fleeting moment.

Perhaps she truly was wrong. She should never have confided in an Evil Cultivator; then she would not be caught in this dilemma, beset by so many troubles.

“You say you harbor resentment in your heart, and of course I can understand that. But will slaughtering them all truly resolve your grievance? They once wronged you, but have the other villages wronged you as well?”

Lu Ge gritted her teeth. “Of course you wouldn’t understand, coming from a prestigious family. This is the order of the adults-I have no choice but to obey!”

“The adults?”

“That’s right. Who doesn’t want to live with a clear conscience? But sometimes, just surviving already takes all our strength, and we must follow the adults’ words…” Lu Ge suddenly turned around, flinging out countless silver threads, and said angrily, “Naturally, I can’t care about others too much!”

Countless silver threads latched onto the tree trunks, trying to block the two’s advance.

Chu Zaishuang did not relax for a moment. With a wave of her hand, she severed the silver threads. “The way you are now, how are you any different from your brother? Bullying the weak and fearing the strong, preying on the powerless-the villagers are just another group of Qiao’ers!”

Lu Ge’s face changed dramatically.

“Forget it, it doesn’t matter anymore. Maybe he was right-I’ve been too naive, treating everyone as a friend.”

Chu Zaishuang took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her emotions, but her face calmed as she spoke sternly: “I am Chu Zaishuang of the Lotus Flower Sect. According to the Sect Leader’s kill order, if any disciple witnesses an Evil Cultivator involved in the Charred Corpse Case, they are not to show mercy and must execute them on the spot…”

Li Jingjie, hearing her calm and unruffled tone, couldn’t help but look at Chu Zaishuang in surprise. Her cheerful and lively expression had faded; her gentle features were now taut, looking strikingly similar to the expressionless Chu Bingxiao, and even her words were nearly identical.

“But considering you acted under orders, if you reveal the mastermind behind this, I am willing to plead with the Sect Leader for leniency and spare your life.”

“The adults have shown me kindness. That is absolutely impossible!”

Chu Zaishuang raised her right hand and fired a Sleeve Arrow at her, shouting, “If he truly wished to treat you well, why would he let your companions die such tragic deaths!?”

The sharp Sleeve Arrow shot forward, and Lu Ge raised her hand to block it with her threads.

A piercing sound rang out as the threads rubbed against the Cloud Brocade Rope. The Sleeve Arrow, caught in the violent vibration, stopped without hitting its airborne target. The move failed, the arrow halting right in front of Lu Ge.

At that moment, beneath the taut string, a whistling wind arose. The invisible Wuwo Sword seized the opportunity, striking the completely unguarded Lu Ge!

“I clearly dodged it…” Lu Ge was filled with doubt and surprise. She was sure she hadn’t been hit, yet she lost control and fell backward.

The Sleeve Arrow and Wuwo Sword had been launched simultaneously, but the visible Cloud Brocade Rope was only meant to confuse and distract. The true killing blow, the Wuwo Sword, had seized the perfect moment for a sure victory!

The instant she hit the ground, the massive Heavenly Treasure Weasel roared, subduing the defeated Lu Ge with its claws and fangs.

“Don’t force me anymore.” Chu Zaishuang raised her Sleeve Arrow, aiming at the fallen Lu Ge, her voice sorrowful. “Evil Cultivators deserve death at everyone’s hands, but I don’t want to kill Qiao’er’s good sister.”

Lu Ge’s chest was pinned by the beast. Seeing those apricot eyes brimming with light and hearing the trembling words, her heart softened involuntarily, a sudden sourness welling up.

Why did they talk for so long, knowing they were enemies?

Perhaps because she seemed so similar-weak, harmless, as if she would shatter at a touch, nothing like a strong person.

In her memory, Qiao’er had once pleaded, “Sister, do you really have to go? When will you come back?”

At the time, she said it wouldn’t be long, but she hadn’t expected that the ‘long’ of a cultivator and a mortal could be so different.

Her eyes grew moist, her voice choked.

“Fine, I’ll talk.”

All along, she had cast aside many things just to survive, but she never wanted to abandon her identity as ‘Qiao’er’s sister.’

*

When Fei Wanghuai and Su Hongli arrived, Chu Zaishuang and Li Jingjie had already restrained the captive. Other Lotus Flower Sect disciples came upon hearing the news, only to find that the rumored vicious Evil Cultivator had a gentle appearance, nothing like the terrifying gray werewolf who had died.

Lu Ge was quiet throughout. She handed over the Jade Flute, willingly accepted the restraints of the magical artifact, and showed no vicious behavior, following behind Chu Zaishuang. Even when the white-robed disciples looked at her coldly, she never reacted.

Fei Wanghuai had already treated his wounds. When he learned the whole story, he said in astonishment, “I didn’t expect you to bring her back.”

Her ability to pick up strays exceeded his imagination-even defeated enemies, she couldn’t bear to throw away.

“It’s a long story. This matter still needs to be reported to Mother…” Chu Zaishuang said, “and discussed with the Sect Leader to see what to do.”

“You don’t need to plead with the Sect Leader. My willingness to help you is my own way of finding closure, to make up for regrets,” Lu Ge said calmly. “Besides, I don’t know much about the adults. Although I left the village to follow him in secluded cultivation, I never saw his face. After he arranged for me and Shi Yalie to test the Elixir, our contact became even less frequent.”

“Test the Elixir?”

“That’s right. The adults would regularly provide us with Elixirs to give to the villagers nearby. Sometimes Shi Yalie would try them too, but I was never made to.”

Su Hongli exclaimed, “But there are clear rules on the island forbidding the use of people as test subjects for Elixirs.”

“At first, the Elixirs weren’t dangerous. The villagers were happy to take them in exchange for money and even kept it secret on their own. But as the effects grew stronger, people began to die mysteriously, and even Shi Yalie lost control. That’s when things got out of hand.”

Fei Wanghuai asked suspiciously, “What kind of Elixirs were you testing?”

Lu Ge shook her head. “I don’t know. The adults only said the recipe was missing one ingredient and needed repeated dosage trials, so a lot of testing was required.”

“You don’t know the specific recipe either?”

“No, but I remember the reactions to the Elixirs and can describe them. Sometimes people became listless, sometimes suddenly manic, sometimes their bodies deformed…” Lu Ge said. “But the adults only cared about those that made people excited and greatly increased their spiritual energy. Perhaps that was closest to the Divine Elixir in his mind, but he could never get the formula right, saying it was because of the missing ingredient.”

Fei Wanghuai: “Unable to use the original ingredient, so he had to substitute something else?”
Lu Ge nodded.

Li Jingjie glanced at the Heavenly Treasure Weasel, then looked at Chu Zaishuang and Su Hongli. He hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping: “Why do I feel like…”

This Divine Elixir seems to have been refined before?

“From what you’re saying, he’s an Alchemist?” Chu Zaishuang mused. “That’s not something ordinary cultivators would understand.”

Lu Ge hesitated slightly, lowered her head and said, “Yes. He always wears a black robe and a mask, wrapping himself up tightly, but I’ve seen his hands-they’re stained by Spiritual Herb. His voice is strange and grating, different every time, and also…”

“And also?”

Lu Ge lifted her eyes, glanced around at the four Cloud Water Robe wearers, and let her gaze settle on the red and white cuffs: “And also, he seems to be an Alchemist from the Lotus Flower Sect. The clothes under his black robe are similar to yours.”

Everyone was shocked.

Li Jingjie said, “He’s an Alchemist from Thousand-Gold Peak!?”

Su Hongli was stunned, panic-stricken: “A voice that’s strange and grating, different every time-doesn’t that mean…”

Only Yao Wensheng, who has tested medicines for years, could do that.

“Impossible, it can’t be him,” Chu Zaishuang said quickly. “The Medicine Elder is very muddled, unable to make meticulous plans, and doesn’t have the ability to do anything bad.”

In her view, the Medicine Elder’s intellect was just a bit higher than her father’s. Given his habit of putting anything into his mouth, he really couldn’t pull off any earth-shattering evil deeds.

Fei Wanghuai frowned: “Why are you so sure? You know a person’s face, not their heart.”

Chu Zaishuang replied, “Being an undercover agent is a real test of character. You might even be better than him-he really can’t do it!”

It’s just like asking Father to teach the Dao-this Vice Sect Leader and Elder really aren’t up to the task.

“…”

Fei Wanghuai’s heart skipped a beat at her words, unsure whether she was just speaking offhand or deliberately trying to test him.

“Maybe I was mistaken. I haven’t interacted much with the Elder, so maybe he’s not from the Lotus Flower Sect,” Lu Ge came back to herself, glanced at the sky, “By the way, the Elder told us to finish patrolling the south and then meet at the usual place. Someone will come to pick us up-it’s almost time now.”

“The usual place?”

“It’s a cliff-almost no one goes there. Sometimes we exchange Divine Elixir there.”

Chu Zaishuang exchanged glances with her companions, thought for a moment, then decided, “Let’s call the others and go have a look. Let’s see who comes to meet us.”

The cliff was deserted; perhaps it wasn’t time yet, and the contact hadn’t appeared.

The disciples of the Lotus Flower Sect had already surrounded the area, ready to subdue any Evil Cultivator who showed up.

Lu Ge donned her black robe again, took a mask from her Storage Bag, and put it on. She used her clothes to tightly cover the magical tools on her hands and feet: “I’m not sure who will come. The Elder doesn’t show up every time. Let’s wait over there for a message.”

“Alright.”

Lu Ge waited in the open for the contact, while the others hid in the shadows, hoping to follow the clues and trace the mastermind behind the scenes.

The sky gradually brightened, the rising sun appearing in the distance, but when the appointed time arrived, no one showed up.

Some disciples voiced their doubts: “Is she lying to us?”

Chu Zaishuang reassured them, “Wait a bit longer. If she wanted to lie, she wouldn’t have come here.”

As time passed, Lu Ge grew suspicious too, searching the cliff. In the past, even if no one came, there would always be a token left behind, instructing her and Shi Yalie on their next move. It shouldn’t be so empty now.

Just then, a sharp pain split open in her chest, and her spiritual energy rapidly drained away. Her internal organs felt crushed.

“She’s collapsed!”

“But there’s no sign of an enemy attack?”

Chu Zaishuang saw Lu Ge fall and quickly emerged from hiding with her companions, rushing to her side and removing her strange mask.

The black-robed Female Cultivator’s brows were tightly knit, her face deathly pale, as if she couldn’t breathe, clutching her chest desperately. Her fingers became transparent, gradually breaking apart and turning to dust in the wind.

Chu Zaishuang tried to hold her hand, but grasped nothing, watching helplessly as the powder drifted away. Alarmed, she said, “This is…”

“Flower Realm technique, exclusive to Six Leaves cultivators. Once afflicted, there’s no cure,” Fei Wanghuai said coldly as the Female Cultivator’s body dissipated, his voice low. “That Beast Cultivator was controlled by the Jade Flute, and she was already under the Transformation Realm technique. Once the time comes, it takes effect.”

The Flower Realm comes from the Primordial Spirit Flower, possessed only by Six Leaves cultivators. Each Transformation Realm technique is different-it’s a trump card in cultivator duels.

“I should’ve known. He never intended for me to live. Shi Yalie couldn’t escape, and neither can I…” Lu Ge coughed twice, half her body turning to dust, her voice weak. “…The Elder is always cautious. He shouldn’t have let me see.”

She thought she hadn’t been caught peeking at his fingers, but in reality, he had planned to kill her all along and didn’t bother to care.

When the birds are gone, the bow is put away. When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked.

None of them would survive today.

Chu Zaishuang panicked: “Wait, let’s try something. Maybe Father has a way-let’s at least stop the fragments…”

Fei Wanghuai was silent for a moment, lowering his eyes and speaking softly: “It’s too late. To break the Transformation Realm technique, you need to know the opponent’s Primordial Spirit Flower, but we don’t even know that.”

And Lu Ge had already mostly vanished, unable to hold on until the caster was caught.

“…”

Lu Ge saw the water glisten in Chu Zaishuang’s apricot eyes. Despite her agony, she suddenly smiled lightly: “Don’t look like that. Otherwise, will you do me a favor?”

Chu Zaishuang said nothing.

“Send me back. You did well last time-you know where to send me.”

She handled the burial so well; this time, she would be even more adept.

Qiao’er’s grave was built by herself; her own grave would be built by someone like Qiao’er. That, too, was a kind of fulfillment.

As she spoke, the transparent fragments melted into the air, and the black-robed Female Cultivator completely vanished in Chu Zaishuang’s arms.

A drop of hot liquid fell.

“…Alright, Sister.”