Dozens of black-clad men were lined up like soldiers.
Three 7th-stage experts stood at three different positions, as if on high alert.
The 8th-stage woman sat on the bridge gallery at the only bridge in the small town.
Her red robes trailed behind her, fluttering in the wind like a flickering red and blue flame.
She was still playing with a Shadow Soul Stone in her hand.
From a distance, Shuer was shouting in Xu Xian's mind, flying around the woman while using its intent to communicate, "It's the one you threw, Master! It's the one you threw, she fished it out..."
Xu Xian was speechless.
What a fuss.
"Marquis, everyone is here," a man stepped forward to report.
The 7th-rank marquess nodded, signaling him to return to the ranks. He slowly scanned the crowd, taking count, and then ordered, "Everyone, remove your hoods and veils."
The crowd murmured, stealing glances at one another.
Remove the hoods?
Remove the masks?
They instinctively resisted. After all, they knew full well what kind of work they were doing.
It wasn't clean!
If exposed, it wouldn't just be a matter of losing their heads; it would be a crime that could get nine generations of their kin executed.
Even among colleagues and their own people, they were unwilling to let others see their true faces to avoid unnecessary trouble.
But clearly, the other party had no intention of negotiating with them.
The man shouted again, "Execute the order!"
No matter how reluctant they were, the crowd had guessed something. They had searched the entire town and left no one alive, yet someone had vanished into thin air.
If the person hadn't run away, there was only one possibility: the target was hiding among them.
They had to remove them whether they wanted to or not.
If the mission failed, they were dead men.
Revealing their true faces was just a bit of trouble. At the very least, if the target was found, they would live and even receive a handsome reward.
Highly reluctant, they pulled off their hoods, revealing hair of various colors. Some had horns, some did not, but there wasn't a single heavenly demon race member among them.
Most were earthly demon race.
There were also some like Xu Xian, ordinary demons with horns and light-colored hair.
Xu Xian removed his hood quite readily.
Only Chi Ji was half a beat slow. It was this half-beat that caused everyone's gaze to land on her.
Chi Ji knew clearly.
Once the hood was removed, she would definitely be exposed. She was powerless to change the situation and had no hope of escape, but the result would be the same even if she didn't remove it.
Even now, she still didn't believe Xu Xian could truly lead her out of this or kill all these people.
However, one thing was certain: once she was exposed and captured, their goal would be achieved.
Then Bai Mang would be able to slip away, and he would live...
She had no reason to drag Bai Mang into this risk with her, nor any reason to let him die for her.
They had only met by chance, and Bai Mang had already done more than enough for her.
She sent a divine sense transmission to Xu Xian, 'Bai Mang, don't worry about me. Live on.'
After saying that, to Xu Xian's astonishment and under everyone's watchful eyes, she pushed through the crowd and walked forward.
Finally, standing before the black-clad crowd, she slowly pulled back her black hood.
Crimson hair.
The horns beneath the hair.
And that alluring face with emerald pupils.
The highest-blooded of the heavenly demon race.
She looked aside, gazing across the distance at the red-clad girl on the bridge gallery, and spoke, "Stop looking. This goddess is right here."
The moment Chi Ji appeared, everything fell silent, and everyone instinctively held their breath.
Even Xu Xian was the same.
Thinking it was one thing, saying it was another, and actually doing it was something else entirely.
Xu Xian wanted to kill and loot.
Xu Xian wanted to kill them all.
Xu Xian said he could kill them all.
Even...
Xu Xian said he wanted to save Chi Ji.
But that was just words and thoughts. Xu Xian had always been this way.
Breaking his word was as common as meals, and acting on a whim was his normal way of life.
He spoke like a human to humans and talked nonsense to ghosts.
He was like this in the sect, so why would it be different with the demons?
Just like before.
He wanted to kill her to keep her quiet, but then he let her go.
Later, he wanted to stay out of it, but then he changed his mind again and earned ten thousand Shadow Soul Stones through tears.
For example, in this town, he initially wanted to run, but when he saw the two entering the tavern, he couldn't help but follow and kill A Lian on the spot.
Originally, he truly intended to capture Chi Ji and hide among these people, but after hearing her scold A Lian for killing indiscriminately and seeing that hint of pity for life in her eyes, he changed his mind again.
He brought her with him to hide among these people.
Seeing the risk of exposure, he began to have other thoughts.
Weighing pros and cons, assessing the situation.
This was human instinct; there was no right or wrong.
Xu Xian was never pedantic, nor did he stick to rigid principles.
He adapted to every situation, choosing what to keep or discard based on interest.
Of course.
He would occasionally be hot-blooded. At certain moments, he was willing to be brave and risk his life, like in Yecheng or at the Demon Suppression Abyss.
What man hasn't had moments of passion?
What man hasn't had moments of stupidity?
He could save Chi Ji, or he could choose not to.
But that definitely couldn't be just for money.
Was he joking? Could money be more important than his life?
If he saved her, it could only be because she was worth saving and he was personally willing to do so, for no other reason.
In truth, Xu Xian was also waiting, having his own little scheme.
He wanted to see if Chi Ji would betray him or if she was willing to protect him. If she did that...
Even if they were just chance acquaintances, he would accept this fate and give them a good slaughter.
If she sold him out...
Then Xu Xian couldn't be blamed. He would simply run away with a clear conscience.
To hell with whether she lived or died.
So, that sentence "Bai Mang, don't worry about me, live on" had quite an impact on him.
The red-clad girl curled her lips. Beneath her mask, her eyes were filled with triumph as she looked over and smiled, "Your Highness the Goddess, you certainly were hard to find."
Chi Ji braced herself and asked, "Who on earth are you people?"
The red-clad girl rested her chin on her hand, tilted her head, and said softly, "I heard that outside the Blazing Fortress, a white-haired third-class demon saved Your Highness and followed you back to the Demon Abyss..."
Chi Ji's face darkened. She restrained herself from looking in Xu Xian's direction and said dully, "I don't know what you're talking about."
The red-clad girl shrugged. "His body wasn't found. How about Your Highness tells me where he is, and I'll tell you who we are? Doesn't that seem fair?"
Chi Ji gritted her teeth and sneered, "I said, I don't know what you're talking about. If you want to kill me, just do it. I can't be bothered to waste my breath on you."
The red-clad girl mocked, "Hehe, I didn't expect our Goddess to be so loyal. It seems Your Highness cares quite a bit about that low-class commoner?"
Chi Ji snorted, "Ridiculous. A third-class demon—why would I care about him?"
The red-clad girl narrowed her eyes slightly. Her gaze peeked out from under her mask as she slowly raised her hand, pointing at Xu Xian in the crowd, and teased, "Since Your Highness is unwilling to say, I'll guess for myself. Is it him?"
In an instant, dozens of gazes simultaneously fell on Xu Xian—some dazed, some surprised, and naturally, some filled with killing intent.
Xu Xian slowly looked up, the corners of his mouth curling into a sinister smile.
"Congratulations, you guessed right..."
As his words fell, an immortal sword descended from the gray firmament, piercing through the air toward the red-clad girl.
At the same time, Xu Xian's sleeve fluttered, and eight golden talismans surged out in all directions.
The crowd instinctively moved back and went on guard.
Xu Xian laughed wildly, "Too bad you're all about to die! Hahaha!"
Rate on N.U.
