The Rainy Season

Rumble!

Rumble, rumble!

The somber sky was overcast, heavy with a stifling oppression, as if an immortal from above had spilled ink across the human world during a moment of idleness, soaking the heavens and staining the clouds.

Grey clouds stacked in ridges, merging with one another to diffuse pierces of blinding white light accompanied by the explosive roar of thunder.

It was like the low growl of a god!

The yellow-leaved tree in front of the courtyard gate swayed and shook. The dilapidated doors and windows rattled and banged in a wind that had risen out of nowhere.

The people of the Nether Capital stood in the wind, looking up at that patch of sky.

"It’s going to rain. The rainy season is coming."

"This year, it seems even earlier than usual."

Scattered crowds ran back to their homes, and open-air vendors propped up their umbrellas.

Before long, long queues had formed in front of the few shops selling bamboo umbrellas, bamboo hats, and straw cloaks.

The rainy season of the Demon Abyss had arrived.

A pitter-patter of light rain fell upon the city without cause, carrying a sense of desolation.

The curtain of the sky grew even heavier, the earth became hazy, and the Nether Capital fell silent amidst the veil of rain, as if devoid of all life.

In those dilapidated vagrant lands, the wind had already begun to carry the faint stench of sour decay.

Hearing the footsteps outside the door grow closer and more hurried, the wooden door was pushed open. A little thing walked into the courtyard carrying a vegetable basket, the vegetables inside emitting a faint glow.

She closed the wooden door, ran under the eaves, put down the basket, and wiped the rainwater from her face and hair. Poking her head out to look at the courtyard, she said luckily, "Good thing I ran fast, or I’d be a soaked chicken."

Outside was the pitter-patter of misty rain; inside was the drip-drip of even smaller rain. The young man had already moved his position, squatting on the threshold of the door with his chin in his hand. His face was gloomy and full of woe as he sighed:

"You were right. We should move."

The little girl froze, casting a surprised look at him as she teased, "Young Master is actually willing to spend money now?"

Xu Xian pressed his lips together.

The little girl muttered to herself, "I told Young Master long ago that we couldn't stay in this courtyard for long. We’d definitely have to move once the rainy season came, but Young Master just couldn't bear to spend those few coins. Now you believe me..."

"It’s not about the money."

"Hmm?"

"It’s not about the rain, either."

These two seemingly random sentences left the little girl somewhat confused, a shimmering light floating in her eyes.

Xu Xian raised his eyes to look at her, his gaze heavy.

Being stared at like that made the little girl uncomfortable, and she asked, "Young Master, why are you looking at me like that?"

Xu Xian furrowed his brows and said softly, "Bai Gan."

"What is it?"

"You should leave."

The little girl's heart trembled, but she asked knowingly, "Leave? Go where? It’s raining out there."

Xu Xian didn't feel like dragging it out and went straight to the point. "I’ve run into some trouble."

The little girl's eyes darted around. "What... trouble?"

"Big trouble," Xu Xian said.

"How big is big?"

Xu Xian glanced at her and said seriously, "The kind of trouble where people die."

The little girl tilted her head.

Xu Xian’s tone grew heavier, intentionally emphasizing, "A huge trouble where many, many people will die."

The little girl looked back at him without saying a word.

Xu Xian sighed and waved his hand. "You wouldn't understand even if I told you. Just leave. Don't follow me anymore, or you’ll die too."

The little girl lowered her head and remained silent for a good while before looking up, her expression resolute. "I’m not leaving."

Xu Xian gazed at her calmly. It was the answer he had expected, yet he still probed, "You aren't afraid of dying?"

The little girl answered without a second thought, "Of course I am!"

"Then why aren't you leaving?"

"I want to stay."

Xu Xian emphasized again, "If you stay, you will die."

The little girl narrowed her eyes and gave a silly, simple smile. "If I die, I die. It’s no big deal. If I have to die, I’ll die with Young Master."

Xu Xian gave a bitter smile.

"Heh!"

She was acting quite well. If he really didn't know the truth, he might actually have been moved by this little thing.

Although the little girl had just returned, her heart was as clear as a mirror; she knew Chi Ji had been here. Naturally, she also knew that Bai Mang had received news.

He wasn't surprised that Bai Mang wanted her to leave; the child wasn't bad at heart, otherwise, he wouldn't have taken her in.

However, seeing that Bai Mang could remain so indifferent and calm after learning about his situation made her hold him in higher regard, and her heart began to wonder.

Was there truly a master standing behind him, an expert sufficient to protect him?

Otherwise, where did he get this composure?

One had to realize he was only at the sixth rank, yet the ones waiting for him outside were nearly the entire heavenly demon race. To say he was an enemy of the world would not be an exaggeration.

She suggested, "Young Master, since it's raining, how about we take advantage of the rain and run away?"

Xu Xian was amused and asked her, "Run? Do you know who wants to kill me?"

The little girl shook her head blankly. "I don't. Are they very powerful?"

Xu Xian said indifferently, "The heavenly demon race. All the heavenly demon race want to kill me."

The little girl feigned shock. "Ah!" Her eyes widened significantly, looking quite astounded.

Xu Xian asked with a smile, "Do you think I can escape?"

The little girl asked knowingly, "Why do the heavenly demon race want to kill you?"

Xu Xian shrugged. "Who knows. Maybe they're jealous of my extraordinary talent, or maybe they're jealous of my good looks..."

The little girl stared at him foolishly. He was quite shameless.

Xu Xian took a stealthy glance and deliberately complained, "It’s also possible that old witch, the High Priest, finds me an eyesore and is messing with me on purpose."

The little girl was stunned. Calling me an old witch?

But he wasn't exactly wrong to curse her, so she endured it!

She whispered, "The High Priest... that can't be."

Xu Xian leaned forward, moving close to the little thing's face, staring straight at her as he questioned, "How do you know it can't be? Do you know her?"

The little girl subconsciously shrank back, waving her hands repeatedly in explanation. "Uh... how could that be possible? The High Priest is such a grand figure, how could I possibly know her? I just think she's so powerful that she wouldn't target Young Master."

Xu Xian looked skeptical but pulled back and looked away, clicking his tongue privately. "You don't understand."

"Hmm?"

Xu Xian looked left and right mysteriously, then beckoned the little girl over. She approached him in a daze.

Xu Xian lowered his voice, though it wasn't quiet at all, and said word by word:

"I’ll tell you a secret."

"What secret?"

"Your Young Master here... can read all primordial demon script."

The little girl looked at Xu Xian in disbelief, her mouth forming an 'O' shape.

Xu Xian smiled and nodded at her to confirm.

The little girl took a deep breath and suddenly asked, "What is primordial demon script?"

Xu Xian rolled his eyes, inwardly cursing her for being such a good actress, and gave a perfunctory explanation. "It’s the ancient writing of the demon race."

"Oh!" The little girl became thoughtful and asked for no apparent reason, "Then isn't that very powerful?"

"Of course."

"Why?"

Xu Xian explained in detail, "Because in the entire Demon Abyss, only I can understand it. And the primordial demon arts are all written in ancient demon script that only I can translate. That's why they are jealous of me."

The little girl thought about it and said with great confusion, "Then why do they still want to kill you?"

Xu Xian feigned ignorance. "Hmm?"

The little girl analyzed, "If they kill you, then no one will be able to understand it anymore. If I were them, I would keep you and make you translate all the primordial demon script. Wouldn't that be better?"

Xu Xian smiled and narrowed his eyes. "Because they don't know I can do it."

The little girl: "..."

The little girl stole a glance toward the courtyard.

They didn't know before, but they probably all know now.

The little girl looked at the white-haired youth again, momentarily unable to tell.

Was he saying this to her, or was he taking the opportunity to say it to others on purpose?