Chapter 132: Chapter 132: I’ve Long Been a Heretic
Lu Sangjiu flashed a cordial smile. "This is why I like talking to smart people like you!"
"After all," she said, "you only got hurt because you were helping me. I’m a kind-hearted person, so I can’t just leave you to fend for yourself."
"However, I came here on important business, and having you around... well, it makes me a little uneasy."
"So, to keep us both happy, I’ve come up with an idea... I can let you stay with me, but you must promise to follow my orders in all things. No acting on your own!"
Xie Ningyuan laughed in exasperation. "Are you really trying to order me around like some hired muscle?"
Lu Sangjiu blinked. "You can refuse, but then your injury... sigh. The Blood Evil Curse might not kill you instantly, but you’re bleeding every day. You won’t last long like this."
Xie Ningyuan shot her a sideways glance. "What happened to being ’kind-hearted’? I got this injury helping you. Are you really planning on not doing anything about it?"
Lu Sangjiu replied, "My kind-heartedness depends on my mood. I’m kind when I’m in a good mood. When I’m not... well, that’s not a guarantee."
Xie Ningyuan: "..."
In truth, Lu Sangjiu was going to save him whether he agreed or not. She was just deliberately trying to scare him.
It was unclear whether Xie Ningyuan was actually intimidated or simply didn’t want to bicker with her, but in the end, he nodded.
"Fine. I’ll agree for now. But don’t you dare use me as your personal weapon, and don’t even think about making me do your dirty work."
Lu Sangjiu’s face broke into a wide grin. "Why would I do that? I’m not the type to take advantage of your kindness. You can rest assured!"
"Hmph. You’d better be."
Xie Ningyuan tilted his head back, downing the last of the wine in his cup. "Let’s go."
Seeing this, Lu Sangjiu quickly took the small cup of Moon Clear Wine she hadn’t finished and carefully poured it into an empty wine gourd. She then tucked it into her storage ring before getting up. "Where to?"
Xie Ningyuan gave her a look of disdain. "Aren’t you supposed to be removing this Blood Evil Curse? We need to find a safe place, don’t we?"
"You have a place?" Lu Sangjiu asked doubtfully. "All the inns in the city are full. I doubt you’ll be able to find a place on such short notice."
"How about... while my senior sister is still asleep, you come to my room? We can get it over with quickly."
Xie Ningyuan’s mouth twitched. "Could you not make it sound like we’re having some sordid affair? I’m a dignified Buddhist Practitioner. How could I do something so indecent? Just follow me."
’I’m skeptical of this sudden display of noble integrity.’
’But that’s his business. Since he said so, I’ll just follow.’
While the streets of Muxian Town weren’t completely deserted at night, they were far quieter than during the day.
As the two walked side by side down the street, Lu Sangjiu’s mood, strangely enough, began to settle into a state of tranquility.
The heavy emotions that had been weighing on her heart began to dissipate.
’Don’t worry about the future, just live in the present. That’s the mindset someone who’s already died once should have.’
’Every day from now on is borrowed time. Of course I have to live freely, to make this second chance worthwhile.’
The moment she came to this realization, Lu Sangjiu felt a weight lift from her, and her whole being felt much lighter.
Xie Ningyuan glanced at her, surprised. "A breakthrough in your mental state? No way. You had a breakthrough just from walking? Tsk... are you that happy just to be taking a moonlit stroll with me?"
Lu Sangjiu had been in a good mood, but at his words, she rolled her eyes. "Get over yourself. I just figured a few things out, that’s all."
Xie Ningyuan didn’t press the matter, simply stopping in front of a large residence.
"We’re here."
Lu Sangjiu froze, looking at Xie Ningyuan with suspicion. "What do you mean...? Are you planning to squat in someone’s house?"
Xie Ningyuan put a hand to his forehead. "Is that really the image you have of me?"
With that, he grabbed the collar of her robes and pulled her inside. "Get in. I’ve already rented this place."
Lu Sangjiu’s eyes widened in shock. "No way! You rented such a huge mansion in a place like this? How many Spirit Stones did that cost?!"
Xie Ningyuan replied nonchalantly, "Not much. It’s only five top-grade spirit stones to rent it for a month."
Lu Sangjiu: !!!
A pang of envy hit her. ’It seems the rumors are true. The Ten Thousand Buddha Sect really does value its Buddha Son. Xie Ningyuan is way too rich!’
As if sensing her envious gaze, Xie Ningyuan didn’t look at her. He just placed a hand on top of her head and gently turned it, forcing her to look forward.
"Don’t look at me like that. When you’ve killed enough people, you can be as rich as me."
Lu Sangjiu froze for a moment. ’What does he mean? Is he saying he got all his Spirit Stones from killing people?’
She couldn’t help but retort, "Stop bluffing. Aren’t you a Buddhist Practitioner? What kind of Buddhist Practitioner has such a lust for killing?"
Xie Ningyuan chuckled, turning to look at her. Half-joking and half-serious, he said, "That’s why this particular Buddhist Practitioner has long been a heretic."
Lu Sangjiu froze, about to ask more, but Xie Ningyuan had already pushed open the door to a room. "Come in. We’ll do it here."
"...Oh."
She could only suppress her curiosity and follow him into the room.
"What do you need me to do?" Xie Ningyuan asked.
Lu Sangjiu said, "Just sit still and hold out your wrist."
Xie Ningyuan obediently pulled over two chairs, sitting in one and placing the other beside him for Lu Sangjiu.
"Also, I need to use Demonic Qi to remove the Blood Evil Curse. You’ll need to set up a Barrier so that it can’t be detected from the outside."
"No problem."
This wasn’t difficult for Xie Ningyuan. He took out a ready-made High-level Array Plate and, with a wave of his hand, enveloped the entire mansion in a Barrier.
Lu Sangjiu sensed the strength of the Barrier and, feeling assured, began to channel the Demonic Qi within her body.
Her fingers danced, flying up and down in a series of complex hand signs. A rune, condensed from Demonic Qi, gradually took shape.
It looked easy, but the beads of sweat on Lu Sangjiu’s forehead were proof of the immense strain she was under.
With the last of her strength, she struck Xie Ningyuan’s wound with the rune. The wound, which had been bleeding nonstop, finally began to change.
The flow of blood slowed significantly, but the wound still hadn’t closed.
Panting heavily, Lu Sangjiu said with a hint of disappointment, "My power isn’t enough. It looks like it will take at least five sessions to completely remove your Blood Evil Curse."
"But right now, I can only rely on Demon Essence Stones to replenish my Demonic Qi, and I don’t know if I have enough left. I’ll also need a few days to recover my spiritual energy before I can try again."
Xie Ningyuan, however, wasn’t disappointed at all. He just smiled. "It’s alright. You’ve already done a great job. I can feel the wound doesn’t even hurt as much anymore."
"I’ll find more Demon Essence Stones for you," he said. "And since you need to replenish your Demonic Qi, it isn’t safe for you outside. Just stay here."
It was true that it wasn’t safe outside, not to mention she was sharing a room with Luo Linlang back at the inn.
So, Lu Sangjiu didn’t stand on ceremony and readily agreed.
Xie Ningyuan helped Lu Sangjiu to the adjacent room. "You get some rest here. As for your senior sister... do you need me to come up with a reasonable excuse for you?"
