Chapter 94: Chapter 94: Each Takes a Step Back
Upon hearing the familiar voice, Lu Sangjiu ignored his teasing and exclaimed in pleasant surprise, "Xie Ningyuan? You’re not dead?"
The smile on Xie Ningyuan’s lips froze. Then, he replied, sounding rather speechless, "...I’m not dead. So sorry to disappoint you."
After he spoke, he suddenly asked in surprise, "You’re at Late-stage Foundation Establishment?"
"Ah..." Lu Sangjiu cleared her throat and said evasively, "This senior is actually not a bad person. He gave me a hand."
’She wasn’t about to elaborate. After all... Immortal Demon Dual Cultivation was still a form of Cultivating Demon. Who knew if Xie Ningyuan would strike her dead on the spot if he found out?’
’Fortunately, the Demonic Qi inside her was concealed and protected by her Spiritual Energy and Heavenly Punishment Qi. As long as she didn’t actively use it, no one would be able to detect anything unusual.’
Upon hearing this, Xie Ningyuan clicked his tongue. "Is that so? Then I suppose it wouldn’t be right of me to send him on his way."
Lu Sangjiu: "..."
’You still wanted to send him on his way???’
Lightly Arrogant True Monarch’s voice then drifted over, laced with a teeth-grinding fury. "Brat, do you think you’re so impressive just for breaking a restriction I set up a thousand years ago?"
Xie Ningyuan: "It was decent. I’m probably a bit stronger than a remnant soul like you."
Lightly Arrogant True Monarch: "..."
’Why does this kid have such a nasty mouth???’
Before he could fly into a rage, Lu Sangjiu hurriedly tried to smooth things over. "Senior, please don’t be angry. This guy has no filter, don’t stoop to his level!"
"How about... you just hurry and send us out of here?"
But Lightly Arrogant True Monarch replied in a passive-aggressive tone, "He’s so capable, let him figure out how to get out on his own. What does he need me for?"
Lu Sangjiu: "..."
’She was utterly speechless. Between the two of them, they were over a thousand years old. Did they really have to be this childish?’
Resigned, she was about to say a few words to persuade Xie Ningyuan, but he spoke first. "You know, I’m suddenly thinking it’s not so bad in here."
"It’s perfect... We can have a nice, long chat without any outsiders disturbing us."
Lu Sangjiu felt him grab her by the wrist and pull her down to sit on the floor with him.
’As for this ’chat’ he mentioned... Lu Sangjiu didn’t even need to guess what he wanted to talk about, and her headache instantly worsened.’
"Mr. Xie, it’s not that I won’t tell you. I just have reasons I can’t explain for keeping it a secret."
"If you’re going to force me... then you might as well just kill me!"
Lu Sangjiu put on a show of defiant desperation, but deep down, she was certain he wouldn’t kill her.
’Although she didn’t know what exactly had happened to him... the little monk was still the same little monk. He was not the type to kill indiscriminately.’
Just as she expected, Xie Ningyuan fell silent at her words.
After a long moment, he finally spoke. "How about we each compromise... I won’t press you for answers anymore."
"But... you have to let me follow you."
Lu Sangjiu: "..."
She was about to refuse when she heard him add in a low voice, "Besides, even if you say no, I can just follow you in secret. That would probably be an even bigger headache for you."
Lu Sangjiu: "..."
’Since when did he start acting like a scoundrel???’
She was getting angry and was about to tell him off when she suddenly heard Xie Ningyuan say something in a very low voice, almost a whisper.
"After all... this is the first news I’ve had of her in hundreds of years."
"So, I’m sorry, but I can’t let this chance go."
’Lu Sangjiu froze. In his words, she could actually hear a hint of wistfulness and... deep affection?’
’No, no, no. She’d already made the mistake of reading too much into things once before. He definitely didn’t like her.’
’But... Lu Sangjiu had to admit, a part of her was touched by his words.’
’She had been gone from this world for hundreds of years, yet... there was still someone who remembered her, who searched for her.’
’Whatever his reasons, it was touching.’
With a sigh, Lu Sangjiu stood up. "Do as you wish. But I hope... we don’t become enemies."
’If that day ever came, she would kill anyone who stood in her way, be they a God or a Buddha.’
Xie Ningyuan replied without the slightest hesitation. "Of course we won’t be enemies... You should be able to feel it. I’ve never had any ill intent toward you."
’That was true... Since they had met, Xie Ningyuan had saved her several times.’
’She probably wouldn’t have died even if he hadn’t saved her, but she still had to appreciate the gesture.’
’Thinking about it, besides his occasionally nasty mouth, he didn’t seem to have any other major flaws.’
Without saying anything more to Xie Ningyuan, Lu Sangjiu turned to Lightly Arrogant True Monarch. "Senior, don’t you still have something for me to do? Let’s not stay here sulking. What if someone else gets there first?"
Her words finally made Lightly Arrogant True Monarch remember the matter at hand. He snorted coldly. "Fine. For your sake, I won’t stoop to this brat’s level. Don’t forget what I’ve entrusted you with... Let’s go!"
As he finished speaking, Lu Sangjiu felt her body grow light, and the two of them slowly floated into the air.
A moment later, they passed through the altar once more and returned to the underground palace!
The runes on the altar dimmed completely, clearly never to be activated again.
Before Lu Sangjiu could even get a good look around, she heard Shen Yuzhao’s overjoyed voice cry out, "Little Junior Sister!"
Then, a figure came flying over, pouncing directly at Lu Sangjiu.
Unfortunately, when he was just a few steps away, a hand pressed against his forehead, stopping him from moving another inch.
"Tsk. Tears and snot all over your face. Disgusting."
The one speaking, and the one holding him back, was Xie Ningyuan.
He shot Shen Yuzhao a look of disgust, then turned his head to Lu Sangjiu and said, "You’re welcome."
Lu Sangjiu: "..."
Shen Yuzhao: "..."
Shen Yuzhao came to his senses, his face flushing red. He instinctively took half a step back and hurriedly wiped his face with a handkerchief.
Only then did he look at Xie Ningyuan with tear-filled eyes and ask, "Who are you?"
Before Xie Ningyuan could answer, another voice rang out. "Holy shit, why is it you, you damn lecher!"
The lecher in question, Xie Ningyuan: "..."
The corner of his mouth twitched, and he shot Lu Sangjiu a dark look. "Shouldn’t you explain this whole... ’lecher’ business?"
Lu Sangjiu felt a bit awkward herself, especially when she saw Chi Yan running over to pull her away.
She quickly stopped Chi Yan. "Wait, it’s a misunderstanding! It’s all a big misunderstanding!"
Chi Yan stared at Xie Ningyuan warily. "How could it be a misunderstanding? We saw it with our own eyes last time! Immortal, don’t be afraid. Even though Mr. Gu isn’t here, I’ll still protect you!"
Lu Sangjiu: "..."
’This was a little hard to explain. She couldn’t exactly contradict herself and admit she had been lying before, could she?’
After a moment’s hesitation, she said, "Alright, Chi Yan. Even though he’s made mistakes in the past, he’s turned over a new leaf. He fell down here with me because he was trying to save me."
"So, we should give people who have turned over a new leaf a chance, right?"
The now-reformed Xie Ningyuan: "..."
After a great deal of coaxing and convincing, Lu Sangjiu finally persuaded Chi Yan to stop being so hostile toward Xie Ningyuan.
Only then did she have a chance to take a good look at everyone. Feng Lin, Chi Yan, Shen Yuzhao, and even Duoduo were all there, and they all seemed to be alright.
"I fell so suddenly that I didn’t have time to lift the restrictions on you. So, did Chi Yan come find you and rescue you all later?"
