The little book spirit did not even think before bluring out, "What else can we do? If you want to be fast, nothing is faster than looting, not even swindling or deception."
"Then who will do the looting?" Xu Xian asked with a smile.
For some reason, the little book spirit perked up the moment looting was mentioned. Its fatigue vanished, replaced by an indescribable excitement.
It certainly was not like this before.
"Let us do it together!" it said enthusiastically.
Xu Xian glanced at it from the corner of his eye and said listlessly, "Together? Do I, Xu Xian, not care about my reputation?"
"Huh?" The little book spirit was confused and could not follow his train of thought.
Xu Xian said very seriously, "Who is Xu Xian? He is the Little Grand-Uncle of the Wendao Sword Sect and the future successor of the sect. And what is the Wendao Sword Sect? It is Fanzhou's number one righteous sect. I am a perfectly upright and pure-blooded successor of the righteous path. You want me to go out and do such sneaky things? Do you think that is appropriate?"
The little book spirit looked at the youth, its eyes as clear and innocent as a college student's.
Xu Xian looked back at it, his gaze full of affirmation.
A light flashed in the little book spirit's eyes as it suddenly realized the truth.
"I understand!"
A faint smile played on the corners of Xu Xian's lips, feeling very gratified.
The little book spirit clicked its tongue inwardly. No wonder, no wonder.
No wonder he wanted to go back. It turned out he planned to use the identity of Bai Mang to commit to the darkness all the way!
"Tsk tsk. Demon Son Bai Mang... Master, you are truly wicked. That reputation is going to be ruined even further."
"It does not matter. My main identity is Xu Xian. As long as his reputation is good, it is fine."
The little book spirit coughed several times, "Ahem!"
Its gaze was meaningful.
Xu Xian became displeased. "What do you mean by that? Is my reputation as the Little Grand-Uncle of the Wendao Sword Sect not good?"
The little book spirit remained silent.
"I am asking you a question!"
The little book spirit said tactfully, "Master, do you want to hear the lie or the truth?"
Xu Xian felt a bit guilty and shifted his gaze, testing the waters. "The... lie is?"
"It is alright!" the little book spirit blurted out.
Xu Xian laughed instead of getting angry. "Heh, then I should hear the truth."
The little book spirit pondered for a moment before saying word by word, "It is really just alright!"
Xu Xian: "????"
Xu Xian: "You are playing with me!"
Little book spirit: "Do not get angry now..."
...
At the Nether Hall of the Demon Abyss, as the sun began to set, a youth slowly returned. Eleven days had passed since they last saw Bai Mang. The moods of the few people in the Nether Hall were vastly different, yet all were tinged with complexity.
The Small Priest was both happy and angry.
The High Priest remained as calm as ever.
Chi Ji felt a sense of gain and loss. She wanted to approach him but deliberately kept her distance.
As for Huang Xiao.
He was as excited as a child, having long since lost his former arrogant and unruly demeanor as he shouted loudly.
"The Young Lord has returned!"
"Huang Xiao pays his respects to the Young Lord!"
It made Xu Xian feel somewhat uncomfortable. He spoke to him very seriously, "I still prefer the way you were when you were arrogant and unruly."
Huang Xiao scratched his head and gave a foolish smile. "The Young Lord must be joking. I was young and ignorant back then."
Hearing a man several thousand years old use the words 'young and ignorant' was quite an experience.
After greeting everyone.
Xu Xian returned to his pavilion as if nothing had happened. The Small Priest followed him relentlessly, immediately launching into an interrogation.
Where did you go?
What took you so long?
Why did you not say anything before leaving?
Xu Xian gave lazy and perfunctory answers. Although this girl was the Small Priest, her brain did not seem to work very well. Sometimes, she was even more impulsive than Chi Ji.
Among the Ten Great Demon Gods of the Demon Abyss, she was definitely the most peculiar one.
She also had a fiery personality.
He really did not know how a steady, dignified, mature, and calm girl like Jin Qing ended up with a sister like her.
Xu Xian initially responded with perfunctory answers, but eventually, he grew annoyed and put on a little act.
"I hope you can maintain a sense of boundaries. After all, we are not that close. Our relationship is purely a superior-subordinate relationship."
Jin Yu was speechless.
Was he using his status as the Demon Son to pressure her?
How ridiculous.
Yet, Jin Yu actually... fell for it.
She left.
Chi Ji poured tea for Xu Xian, and he chatted with her for a bit, asking about the recent developments in the Demon Abyss.
Chi Ji told him everything she knew truthfully.
The events in the Demon Abyss could be summarized into two main things. First, the government of the Demon Abyss, the Demon Court, was widely proclaiming that the Demon Abyss had a new master, the Demon Son Bai Mang.
Second was the matter of the anomaly in the Nether Pool.
She said she had not seen it herself but had heard about it from others. Apparently, it caused a massive commotion.
Xu Xian asked about the timing and calculated it in his head. It coincided with the time he had cut the chains, so it must have been caused by him.
He did not think much of it.
It was a world of cultivation after all.
A large reaction was only normal.
Noticing that Chi Ji was restrained the entire time, Xu Xian did not feel used to it but did not break the tension either. He felt this was for the best.
It prevented the young girl from having illusions she should not have, which would only end up hurting her.
Xu Xian believed he had a decent amount of emotional intelligence. It was just that most of the time, he feigned ignorance.
How could he not understand the young girl's feelings?
Sigh!
He could not blame her. He could only blame himself for being too outstanding.
However...
During their conversation, Xu Xian found an opportunity to return the immortal demon spear to Chi Ji.
"I am returning this to you."
When Bai Mang pulled out the immortal demon spear, Chi Ji was not surprised. She had already received word that her immortal demon spear had been "picked up" by Bai Mang.
She had never expected to get it back from him.
However, she was still very surprised that Bai Mang was returning the spear to her.
She stood there in a daze, not daring to take it.
"Take it!"
"I do not want it," Chi Ji refused.
"What are you afraid of? Afraid I am going to harm you?"
Chi Ji shook her head. "No."
Xu Xian forced it back into her hands, leaving no room for refusal. "Just take it. I do not use spears anyway. It should return to its original owner."
Chi Ji accepted it, as it seemed she had no choice.
To have it back after losing it was overwhelming.
Because it was given to her by Bai Mang, her heart was even more restless. A thousand words were on the tip of her tongue, yet they all boiled down to just two.
"Thank you!"
"You are welcome."
Chi Ji wanted to flee, but Xu Xian called out to her.
"Wait."
"Yes?"
Xu Xian said gently, "Go to the Demon Dao Pavilion and pick a primordial demon manual. I will translate it for you."
"Ah!"
"Did you get that?"
Chi Ji was overwhelmed by the unexpected favor.
"I got it."
"Go then."
"Al... alright."
Chi Ji left with hurried steps.
The little book spirit, however, clicked its tongue and shook its head while no one was looking.
"Tsk tsk. That poor, silly girl..."
Showing kindness for no reason usually meant one was up to no good.
Based on its understanding of its master, returning the spear and offering to translate the demon script meant he definitely had a scheme.
Was he lusting after the girl's body?
Clearly not.
If it were just that, there would be no need for such efforts. Therefore...
Master must be planning to have this girl work for him.
Xu Xian had to leave eventually.
But Bai Mang had to stay.
Although Huang Xiao had not eavesdropped, the news that Bai Mang was going to translate a demon manual for Chi Ji still reached his ears.
The fellow spent half the night beating around the bush and pestering Bai Mang relentlessly.
In the end, Bai Mang helplessly compromised.
"Fine. You can pick one too. Is that enough?"
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Thank you, Young Lord! From now on, I, Huang Xiao, will be absolutely loyal to you. I will work for you like a horse and even take a blade for you."
Xu Xian told him to forget about the blade and just get out.
Huang Xiao replied with a quick "Yes, sir!"
He truly scrambled out.
It was frighteningly absurd.
It was not until the next morning that the High Priest came to visit Xu Xian. She spoke of some trivial matters, asked about his daily routine, and then mentioned the matter of the demon lamp.
Xu Xian seized the opening and said, "Speaking of which, there is indeed something I want to discuss with you."
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