The Crazy Woman

In the Small Priest's lively eyes, her emerald pupils rolled. "Can you even understand it, Sister?"

Jin Qing tilted her head. "Is that the point?"

The Small Priest said with a serious face, "If you can't understand it, how do you know if he can? We can't just take his word for it. Just because he says he can understand it doesn't mean he actually does."

How could one trust a one-sided claim?

Jin Qing faltered for a moment, momentarily silenced by the logic.

The Small Priest continued her analysis. "I think you’re just too eager to revitalize the demon race, Sister. You're jumping at shadows. He’s just a third-class demon at the mere sixth stage. How could he possibly decipher ancient demon script?"

Jin Qing lowered her gaze, her expression turning somber.

She did not deny her sister's words; she was indeed expectant. She hoped that the Demon Abyss could produce a peerless genius like Yun Zheng, Lei Yunche, or Xu Xian from the Wendao Sect.

Only then would the Demon Abyss have a future, and she wouldn't have to risk opening the Nether Gate.

She also didn't deny it.

She truly saw a flicker of hope in that white-haired demon youth, even if it was just a tiny spark.

But...

"But I’ve had him investigated everywhere. Bai Mang is like someone who just popped out of nowhere. No one knows his origins..." Jin Qing said hoarsely.

The Small Priest was dismissive. "The Demon Abyss is so large and there are so many demons. How could we possibly find everyone's origin? You're being too impatient, Sister."

Jin Qing stared straight at the Small Priest and emphasized, "But he survived that sword strike. You can't deny that, can you?"

The Small Priest shrugged her delicate shoulders and said indifferently, "Is that really so strange?"

"It's not?"

The Small Priest said, "If you were to encounter an injustice one day and strike out with your sword, but it happened to be witnessed by an ordinary person, would you kill them just to silence them?"

Jin Qing remained silent.

The Small Priest continued, "Perhaps in the eyes of the one who swung the sword, whether it was Chi Ji or that Bai Mang, they were as insignificant as ants. Not even worth mentioning, so they were simply let go."

It was a reasonable explanation.

Jin Qing took a sip of tea and scoffed lightly. "Your little mouth is certainly talkative. Since when did you become so eloquent?"

The Small Priest felt a bit smug. After all, she rarely won against her sister, whether in arguments or physical fights.

And her sister's praise was a pursuit she relished.

She narrowed her eyes slightly. "It’s just that you're overcomplicating things, Sister."

"Heh."

The Small Priest took the opportunity to persuade her. "It’s true. It's not hard to guess who the master of that sword is; they must be from the Wendao Sect. As for why, that’s also easy to guess. News of the Nether Gate probably leaked, and the Wendao Sect people came in to investigate and confirm. It’s actually better if they aren't found. Even if we found them, what could we do? We certainly couldn't kill them. Who can afford to provoke the current Wendao Sect? You don’t want the Demon Abyss to repeat the disaster of the East Desolation, do you? I heard that in the East Desolation, only three beast god experts remain, and the beast sovereigns can be counted on one hand..."

"We have eyes in the world outside; who's to say the Wendao Sect doesn't have eyes in our Demon Abyss? Look at last time—Lei Yunche came and went as he pleased, just like it was his own home..."

Jin Qing met her with a cold, silent stare.

The Small Priest frowned and said aggrievedly, "Why are you glaring at me, Sister? Was I wrong?"

Jin Qing set down her cup and stood up. She paced to the lakeside, picked up some fish food, and began feeding them. Her voice drifted lazily, "Aren't you just trying to convince me to give up the idea of opening the Nether Gate? Why all the roundabout talk? Trying to scare me?"

The Small Priest ran over and stood by her side, denying it immediately. "What are you saying, Sister? I’ve always supported you in opening the Nether Gate, right?"

Jin Qing gave her a disdainful look, ruthlessly exposing her. "Heh... don't think I don't know you've been making eyes at Chi Ming in private. Support me? Do you even believe that yourself?"

The Small Priest looked startled, a flash of guilt crossing her eyes as she defended herself. "Where did you hear that from, Sister? Someone must be trying to drive a wedge between us."

Jin Qing took a deep breath, her tone turning a few degrees colder. "You are my sister, my only relative in this world. I've been turning a blind eye to the things you do, but that doesn't mean I don't actually see them."

The Small Priest began to panic slightly.

Jin Qing pressed further. "Kidnapping Chi Ji was your idea too, wasn't it?"

The Small Priest didn't deny it, only trying to justify it. "Yes, but I did it for your own good, Sister. I wanted to help you force Chi Ming to hand over the demon god token."

Jin Qing looked at her from the corner of her eye. "Is that so?"

The Small Priest's gaze flickered. "Of course."

Jin Qing narrowed her eyes slightly, exposing her. "Are you sure it wasn't to make Chi Ming completely break ties with me?"

"Of course not," the Small Priest denied instantly without thinking.

"It had better be."

Jin Qing didn't pursue the matter further. As she had said, this was her only relative left in this world; she would just have to let it slide. It wasn't the first time the girl had caused trouble.

Since her starting point was allegedly for her benefit, she wouldn't hold it against her.

With so many things on her plate, she was already overwhelmed and had no time to worry about other things.

Seeing that her sister wasn't asking more questions, the Small Priest secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Looking as if she had been granted a reprieve, she hurriedly changed the subject. "Then Sister, what do you plan to do this time?"

Jin Qing said coldly, "Why... do you want to cause more trouble for me?"

The Small Priest explained, "What a thing to say. I heard that old man from the Huang family has already issued an ultimatum to the Demon Court in the name of the Demon God Hall. He wants the Enforcement Hall to move tonight. They intend to arrest Bai Mang for illicitly learning primordial demon arts. If he resists, he's to be executed on the spot."

"What else..." Jin Qing asked nonchalantly.

The Small Priest emphasized, "The princes, marquesses, and dukes among the heavenly demon race are all very supportive of this."

Jin Qing laughed lightly. "Heh, it's rare to see them so united."

The Small Priest said worriedly, "Sister, you won't really offend all the heavenly demon race for the sake of a single third-class demon, will you?"

Jin Qing smiled. "Why not?"

The Small Priest's heart skipped a beat.

Jin Qing added, "Of course, that's provided he is worth it."

The Small Priest was a bit confused, her throat tightening. "You're serious?"

Jin Qing smiled without saying a word, continuing to tease the fish with the food.

The Small Priest understood now. Her brow furrowed into a deep frown as she said in a low voice, "Aren't you going to make preparations, Sister?"

Jin Qing asked knowingly, "Preparations for what?"

The Small Priest emphasized each word, "I am not joking with you. There are many of them."

Jin Qing smiled with disdain, her lips curling upward. "The weak flock together; the strong walk alone. They are nothing but a disorganized rabble."

The Small Priest was speechless, not knowing how to respond.

A cold glint flashed in Jin Qing's eyes as she said chillingly, "You don't have to help me, but this time, don't stand against me. Not even in secret."

The Small Priest whispered, "Sister, you've truly gone mad."

Jin Qing turned her head, her eyes narrowing into crescent moons. She said with a beaming smile, "In private, haven't you all always called me a crazy woman?"

The Small Priest froze, silently lowering her eyes and remaining quiet!