Chapter 159, Don’t Touch, Dirty Hands
As an experienced employee in the demon realm, Young Master Sang knows the demon cultivators like the back of his hand.
Demon cultivators aren’t just the morally corrupt or the downright evil ones; strictly speaking, they’re those who practice forbidden and perverse techniques to boost their power, or use sneaky, wicked methods.
But there’s no specific definition for it. Any bizarre technique could be classified as a demonic one. Even Young Master Sang’s own mask technique might qualify.
Those who practice such techniques share a common trait: a naturally gloomy aura, often laced with a bit of malevolence in their skills.
The moment the man named Wei Luo made his move, Young Master Sang could feel it.
He was clearly a demon cultivator.
And judging by the ruthlessness of his attack, the number of lives on his hands was probably staggering.
“Kid, you’ve got some skills.”
Wei Luo grinned darkly and waved his dagger. “But I want to see how many times you can dodge.”
Young Master Sang paused for a moment, then suddenly asked, “Why are you being chased?”
“Heh, bad luck.”
Wei Luo grinned wider. “The other day, I wiped out a woodcutter’s entire family, played with his wife and daughter right in front of him, and when I was cleaning up the mess, I got spotted by some righteous cultivators. They chased me all the way here.”
“Otherwise, why would your grandpa Wei Luo ever end up in this godforsaken place, acting as a guest elder?”
Young Master Sang: “?”
At that moment, Chun Lan in Young Master Sang’s mind couldn’t help but spout, “Pah! You demon cultivators are the worst!”
“Don’t generalize,” Young Master Sang replied seriously. “We’re not in the same league.”
People like Wei Luo, even if they escape to the demon realm and join the big bad evil bunch, still end up as corpses.
Committing such heinous acts and being chased? The demon realm won’t protect you.
You own your actions, and scum like him deserve to be caught by the righteous folks for some good old justice.
Seeing Young Master Sang staring at him, looking stunned as if he had been turned to stone, Wei Luo couldn’t help but chuckle mockingly.
“Heh, scared?”
“Naturally. A soft little kid like you probably hasn’t even seen a dead body, right?”
“It’s too late to be afraid now,” he gripped his dagger tighter. “Who told you to show off in front of your ‘lady’?”
Young Master Sang shot him a disdainful glare, sighed heavily, and said, “You have it all wrong, my dude. Sorry to break it to you, but…”
“…I’m also a demon cultivator.” His gaze turned icy.
Wei Luo was taken aback for a moment.
Then, in the next second, his eyes bulged in terror.
The world around him suddenly plunged into a pitch-black void, completely impenetrable.
An icy shiver crept up his spine, emanating from deep within his soul, making him feel like he was in the depths of some abysmal hell.
“W-What’s going on?” he gasped, wide-eyed, looking around in panic.
What was happening? What technique was this?
Out of nowhere, a ghostly green light seemed to flicker into his view.
The moment the light appeared, an unspeakable dread washed over Wei Luo.
He felt every pore of his body screaming in fear, wanting desperately to flee.
But his body, paralyzed with terror, wouldn’t budge.
“Who!?”
He shrieked, trying to release his pent-up fear. “Who’s messing with me!?”
And then, a deep, eerie voice echoed in his mind.
“The soul burdened with sins is the most delicious.”
“Let me… savor your sins.”
Wei Luo’s eyes widened in sheer horror.
“Don’t… no!”
On the arena, Wei Luo suddenly seemed to lose his spirit, standing there dazed.
Meanwhile, Young Master Sang casually walked over, slowly raising the brick he held.
In front of a crowd of onlookers, he smashed it down on Wei Luo’s face, painting him crimson.
The crowd, confused and stunned, fell silent.
Gu Yingmian stared in disbelief at Young Master Sang.
She didn’t catch how he’d used that technique — it seemed like just a casual wave, and that guy named Wei Luo had inexplicably lost his spirit.
Then Young Master Sang, with the utmost nonchalance, dropped him with a brick.
“You want him? Just tie this guy up,” he called out.
He hoisted Wei Luo’s body, yelling, “This man is a notorious demon and is wanted by righteous sects! When the pursuers arrive, you can hand him over for a reward!”
Hearing there was a reward, many eager folks stirred.
Young Master Sang couldn’t be bothered; he tossed Wei Luo into the crowd for them to fight over.
After all, that guy’s soul was already plummeting into the abyss of his mask, suffering eternally in hellish torment.
In such moments, Young Master Sang felt quite proud of his mask technique.
After dealing with Wei Luo, he shrugged off his earlier intensity and let out a lazy yawn.
When he turned to Gu Yingmian, he beamed at her, a triumphant smile stretching across his face.
He flashed a victory V sign.
Gu Yingmian didn’t quite get the hand sign.
But the image of Young Master Sang’s cold, stoic face as he knocked Wei Luo down lingered in her mind.
There was no trace of compassion in that look.
…He hates evil and stands for justice. No wonder his swordplay feels so right. She mused.
A sword reflects its master.
A person’s sword intent reveals their true character.
Even though Gu Yingmian still hadn’t fully comprehended Young Master Sang’s “Quiet Life Sword,” she was certain of one thing: she really liked the aura of “Quiet Life Sword.”
It carried no sinister malice of the wicked; instead, it felt approachable even as an opponent.
She believed Young Master Sang must be that kind of person too.
On the arena, as Young Master Sang prepared to leave, a middle-aged man from the elevated platform called out, “Young brother, please wait.”
He approached with a warm smile and clasped his hands together, saying, “I’ve seen you defeat a demon with such integrity. I’m deeply impressed.”
“Would you be interested in visiting my family as a guest? I promise to treat you like an honored guest.”
Young Master Sang suddenly remembered.
This arena was for recruiting guest elders.
Awkwardly, he chuckled. “Sorry, but I’m not here for an interview.”
“I’m just letting my love interest watch. She likes martial arts but can’t fight, so I stepped in for a few rounds for her entertainment.”
“Oh?”
Suddenly, everyone’s attention shifted to Gu Yingmian.
She froze for a second, saying, “Huh?”
Feeling the weight of all those eyes on her, she shyly looked down.
The middle-aged man smiled, “Oh, so it’s for a beautiful lady’s smile. That’s a real shame.”
“My apologies, my apologies.”
Young Master Sang nodded profusely in apology, then stealthily slipped off the platform.
Then, under everyone’s gaze, he took Gu Yingmian’s hand, and they bolted.
They dashed past the bustling marketplace, through the throngs of people.
Past children playing and old men playing chess, until the scenery blurred, and everything seemed to fall behind.
Only after reaching the city outskirts did Young Master Sang finally stop to catch his breath.
“Phew… what a hassle.”
He wiped the sweat from his brow. “It’s one thing to show off, but messing up their recruitment is another!”
“Fortunately, they were kind enough not to question me. Otherwise, that could’ve been awkward.”
“So, Sister Gu, are you satisfied now?”
Gu Yingmian didn’t respond.
She looked down, quietly examining their intertwined hands.
A glimmer of confusion and doubt flickered in her beautiful eyes.
“…Sister Gu?”
“Ah?” Gu Yingmian snapped back to reality, hurriedly saying, “I’m satisfied!”
“Sorry, I shouldn’t have let my brother steal the spotlight like that…” she said, slightly guilty.
“No worries.” Young Master Sang waved it off nonchalantly, “We even caught a scumbag, so it wasn’t a wasted trip.”
“But really, it’s appalling. I can’t believe some scum would target defenseless mortals—”
Before Young Master Sang could finish his sentence, he abruptly felt a tug on his senses and looked up sharply.
Gu Yingmian seemed to sense something too, her gaze shifting toward the city.
Meanwhile, by the arena in the city, a bound Wei Luo’s corpse suddenly began to leak drops of black-purple blood.
The blood pooled in midair, forming into a small, eyeball-like flesh blob.
Then, in a flash, it zipped away, heading straight for the outskirts of the city.
Its target was unmistakably clear.
…Right beside Young Master Sang, Gu Yingmian.
As a higher realm cultivator, Gu Yingmian could sense the unsettling aura radiating from this thing.
She lowered her gaze, just about to reach out to stop the quickly approaching malign creature.
But just then, someone gently pressed down on her hand.
“Don’t touch.”
“…dirty hands.” Young Master Sang spoke softly, his gaze calmly fixed on the distance.
Gu Yingmian was momentarily stunned.
The instant the flesh blob drew near, Young Master Sang swiftly pinched it between his fingers.
Then, in the next moment, he crushed it mercilessly.
Gu Yingmian watched as the man protected her, then slowly shifted his gaze away.
“Sister, you’re a high-level practitioner. You don’t need your brother to protect you.”
“I know.” Young Master Sang smiled bashfully.
“But since my sister likes to keep things clean, it’s better not to dirty your hands.”
“This dirty thing is best left to me.”
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