114 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 114: Confrontation Xiang Shi Yan stood in a momentary daze, her face paling as she was overwhelmed by pain shared from another. Though the agony from He He's suffering wasn’t physically intense for her, it carried a wholly different torment, allowing her to feel the spiritual abuse he was enduring. A part of her body and skin had been stripped away, leaving her with a sickening empathy. The tips of her fingers turned icy as she shakily wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. The sky above was still a clear blue, but suddenly she felt dizzy and her ears filled with a constant buzzing. Although the injury was on He He, Xiang Shi Yan felt more horror than if her own eye had been gouged out. If only she were really the one in Xuan Jiu’s hands, at least then she would know what was happening and what would happen next. For a moment, Xiang Shi Yan felt an unexplained dread. Why was Xuan Jiu hurting He He? Or rather, why had Xuan Jiu kidnapped him in the first place? What did Xuan Jiu have to do with the actions against the Lin and Li families? He He and Xuan Jiu had no past grievances, and she was merely an innocent child who had never harmed anyone. What reason did Xuan Jiu have to target her? Indeed… She had overestimated her righteous judgment of Xuan Jiu, believing communication was possible, when in fact it was self-deception! The sharp pain from before had severed the barrier obstructing the spiritual connection between He He and herself. Although it was momentary, Xiang Shi Yan caught glimpses of He He’s thoughts. She was currently on the Nine Saddle Mountain. Xiang Shi Yan had searched the area thoroughly with her spiritual sense as she traveled, yet she had detected nothing. It was unsurprising since Xuan Jiu could block spiritual communication; blocking her spiritual sense was no challenge. Irritated without knowing why, Xiang Shi Yan realized that whenever she tried to strategize against He He, Xuan Jiu made a new move, catching her off guard and thwarting her plans to probe Xuan Jiu’s intentions. She clenched her fist, her fingers deftly summoning her spirit sword. Though it was merely intuition, Xiang Shi Yan suddenly felt that this might be a challenge… or perhaps an invitation, but either way, it was disconcerting. In truth, she couldn’t deny feeling let down by misplaced trust. This expectation was her own, and now, deeper feelings of complication seemed to entangle her mind. A grand villain was indeed beyond common sense. To her surprise, the location where He He was found… was the very cave Xiang Shi Yan once rested in when she first arrived here. Suspended momentarily in the air on her sword, she hovered a distance from the cave, which had a faint presence in her memories, and slowly descended before this evident bait. Inside the cave, which could be easily seen at a glance, were two individuals—or rather, one person and another who resembled a human. Xiang Shi Yan couldn't even be sure if she was alive. A girl, slightly familiar to Xiang Shi Yan, sat quietly on a stone bed. She had the same downcast, gentle eyes as He He, with features showing some resemblance but evidently older. Xiang Shi Yan had seen her briefly in the streets en route to the Nine Saddle Mountain that morning when leaving the Li family. This was Lin Zhao Di, who returned to the Li family seeking revenge. Reviving from her supposed lake-suicide as narrated by the Li young lady, the girl was inexplicably entangled with Xuan Jiu. The girl lowered her head in a docile manner, gently caressing her younger sister's hair resting on her lap in a nearly maternal gesture. Though not mature herself, this almost tender posture felt bizarre. He He's left eye was wrapped in a bandage now stained with blood, nearly soaking through, yet her expression was serenely peaceful, as if she were merely sleeping. Standing at the cave entrance, Xiang Shi Yan did not proceed further, calling out coldly, "Come out, no need to hide." Behind her, a cold sensation crept up her back, accompanied by another’s hand. A captivating aura sent a shiver through Xiang Shi Yan, her fingers trembled, but she couldn’t find the strength to move. A woman, roughly her own height, lightly placed her hands on Xiang Shi Yan's shoulders. Her form seemed as ethereal as mist, Xiang Shi Yan could barely feel her weight, and the back pressing against hers was less flesh and more vivid sensation. Water vapor gradually seeped through her clothes, imbuing a strange heaviness. This phantom, composed purely of mist, issued a light and gentle female voice through some unknown means, tinged with a hint of delight as she softly murmured into Xiang Shi Yan's ear, “You’ve come after all.” The trailing mist tenderly kissed her earlobe, and this intimate act brought discomfort, conjuring odd feelings in Xiang Shi Yan. She frowned and waved her hand back, only for it to be ensnared by the swirling mist, immobilizing her. She hesitated, then asked in a frosty tone, “Who are you? Why did you kidnap my disciple?” "Kidnap?" Xuan Jiu chuckled softly. "I didn’t kidnap her; I merely stumbled upon her while being drawn to this place's ghostly aura." “If it was by chance, you have no enmity with the Lin or Li families, why slaughter mortals?” Xiang Shi Yan dodged the subject of He He, but her gaze remained fixed on the slumbering girl. Aside from the left eye, no other injury was apparent on her body, but held in Lin Zhao Di’s arms, how could her mortal form withstand such malignant spirit energy? As if to restrict Xiang Shi Yan’s movements, Xuan Jiu’s apparition gradually began to wrap around her from behind, even faintly permeating her clothing. Moving water isn’t a difficult spell, but controlling water in various forms with such ease that it's like maneuvering one’s own body... the woman behind her, even if claiming to be one with water, would find none to jest. The mist bound around Xiang Shi Yan’s throat with a texture cool and delicate like a soft maiden’s hand, gently but unrelentingly gripping her neck. Xiang Shi Yan stood still under her restraint. Even if struggling were an option, she doubted her ability to counter Xuan Jiu now. Besides, He He lay merely four or five feet away, what could be done for her? Xuan Jiu said, “Don't pretend their deaths brought you no relief, my dear, we are the same.” In a breath of silence, Xiang Shi Yan calmly answered, “No, you and I are not alike.” “How are we different?” The demoness spoke as if cradling a lover, whispering in her ear, “Haven't you used executions to remove rivals? What difference makes you bold to utter such cruel words?” “Release me.” The grip around her neck tightened slowly, but what made Xiang Shi Yan more uncomfortable was the assailant's vile gesture, like a lecherous man. The mist molded into her clothing, escalating beyond a simple heavy drag. Though she made no move, Xiang Shi Yan felt a rising danger as if her shoulder and back had merged seamlessly with this strange being. “Hush, don’t wake her.” Xuan Jiu's tone was flat, but in her teasing, Xiang Shi Yan sensed an undeniable threat. She grit her teeth and said, “That's precisely where you and I diverge. That child only returned here out of homesickness. The circumstance with the Lin and Li families I could consider with open eyes, but why hurt her?” Xuan Jiu knew about her secret execution of Zhu Shi Heng, otherwise she wouldn’t speak of “using private punishment.” But how had she learned? Xiang Shi Yan believed the matter was known to no one but Du Ruo. Could it be…? No, Du Ruo had vowed secrecy; she wouldn’t disclose it carelessly, especially since their paths hadn’t yet intertwined in this period. If Xuan Jiu had investigated in Huaihai City, what else might she uncover? Xiang Shi Yan didn’t know how to cover such exposure. “I lack Yue Hua Jun’s benevolence to always lend a hand of justice. I’m hardly so charitable; a fair trade suits me better.” Fair trade? Xiang Shi Yan’s pupils contracted. If that left eye was a price, what had He He sought from Xuan Jiu? Her affection for her younger brother, dismissing Lin family’s disregard? Or vengeance against the Li family that drove her elder sister to death? No, she wouldn’t have, Xiang Shi Yan knew it was blind faith, young hearts are often unpredictable. Only half a year acquainted, how could she guarantee her disciple wouldn’t do such a thing? Yet she chose to believe He He wouldn’t harm easily, and in such matters, even for vengeance, Xiang Shi Yan wouldn’t involve outsiders. Her thoughts flickered, her gaze eventually landing on the girl who looked barely fifteen or sixteen. “…She asked you to save her sister.” Such fierce spirit energy, Xiang Shi Yan rarely encountered. Yet Lin Zhao Di’s condition appeared stable, distinct from a vengeful spirit, moreover, she was a kin-swapped water ghost—an even greater oddity... Newly deceased a few months, how could she accumulate such dread spirit aura unless Xuan Jiu intervened, which Xiang Shi Yan found undeniable. Such capabilities, this demoness truly had celestial reach. “Precisely so.” "What do you want with a pupil from the training foundation's eye?" “Are you here to undo your disciple's decision? A training foundation cultivator's eye is of no use to me, but what could be worth coveting on someone with a broken soul? Don't underestimate another’s resolve.” Xuan Jiu spoke gently, “However, I wouldn’t mind having a Nascent Soul cultivator's eye, especially one with an ice spiritual root, since they're quite rare.” The woman enveloping Xiang Shi Yan like a mist softly enticed her, “If you can offer me something satisfactory, reattaching her eye now wouldn’t be too difficult, and she might regain half of her vision.” What does she want? In her struggle, Xiang Shi Yan's wrist turned bruised beneath the phantom's grip, and she suddenly realized her current predicament was akin to a mortal woman ensnared by a rogue. She turned her head, intending to glare at her captor, yet found herself meeting the gaze of brown eyes floating within the gray-white mist. He He's left eye floated in the mist, fitting naturally into the mist-formed humanoid face, lending a disturbing yet lively appearance that utterly nauseated Xiang Shi Yan. She swung her arm forcefully, but Xuan Jiu offered no resistance, the misty form severed in half by her hand only to rejoin seamlessly. “Since you wish to converse with me, why resort to such insults?” Xiang Shi Yan demanded coldly. The gray-white mist paused, intrigued by some part of her statement. It writhed and gradually withdrew from her body. “I feared you might flee.” The mist reformed into a human shape in the air, the embedded eye blinked in a distinctly human way, “Why call me a senior?” “It's merely courtesy, not respect.” Xiang Shi Yan warily stepped back, positioning herself between Xuan Jiu and the Lin sisters. The misty figure pressed its ten fingers together thoughtfully, “I’m not used to you addressing me this way. Why be so formal when we've met?” “No need for formality? Should I call you by the demon moniker then?” Regardless of intention, Xuan Jiu had indeed earned the title by weaving chaos throughout Huaihai City. “The words of Yue Hua Jun truly cut deep. You certainly know my name.” Silence enveloped the cave, Xiang Shi Yan’s gaze flickered but she remained silent, staying vigilant against the smiling apparition which made her heart sink. Xuan Jiu clasped her hands, speaking as though recounting a whimsical tale in a gentle tone, “During my stay in Huaihai City, I conversed at length with certain family heads, and quite surprisingly, I heard something that startled even me. “When Yue Hua Jun was detained in Huaihai City, you produced a scale before them and mentioned the existence of a demon named ‘Xuan Jiu’...” She paused, addressing Xiang Shi Yan, “All five unanimously agreed that the aura on the scale you held matched mine precisely. I doubt the family heads would lie under those circumstances, though I genuinely cannot recall any acquaintance with you.” Under what circumstances—the ones where you bludgeoned their legs or gouged out their eyes and severed their roots? Xiang Shi Yan remained unfazed, “Perhaps they were mentally disturbed.” “No, they were quite lucid, and I have confidence in my own spells.” “…” Xiang Shi Yan’s expression darkened slightly, “Since you’ve made your own conclusions, why bother asking me?” This person was peculiar; using He He as bait to lure her from Yu Cang Mountain to here, but despite knowing of her ability to reveal Xuan Jiu’s presence, she wasn’t hurried to kill. There was no reason for Xuan Jiu to leave such contrived explanations if elimination was her intent. From Xiang Shi Yan's perspective, Xuan Jiu bore no malice, which was baffling. Suddenly, the mist moved closer, prompting Xiang Shi Yan to instinctively retreat, noticing with irritation Xuan Jiu stifling laughter at her reaction. Unprepared for such childish teasing, Xiang Shi Yan involuntarily clenched her fists. “Rest assured, Yue Hua Jun. You and your disciple shall leave unscathed today. After all, the day isn't over until midnight, is it?” The woman’s eyes, a warm shade of brown, emitted a gentle glow as if reflecting He He's playful demeanor from before. Xiang Shi Yan shook herself free of chaotic thoughts and focused on Xuan Jiu, “Is this a threat?” “It is.” Xuan Jiu admitted freely. Xiang Shi Yan scoffed, “Ha, even if you gouge out my eyes or sever my limbs, so what? If I truly don’t wish to speak, I won't.” To her surprise, the apparition tilted its head in puzzlement, “Have you misunderstood me? I derive no pleasure from tormenting others; if it yields no useful information, it's a pointless endeavor. So, since I've promised your safety today, I naturally won’t harm your fine skin.” Within her words, Xiang Shi Yan sensed an undertone she couldn’t quite decipher, increasing her wariness. The eerie authenticity of the misty form’s animated smile made her shiver, instinctively predicting something dreadfully different from mere physical harm was imminent. Though the misty visage was indistinct, it bore traits of a young woman, approximately her height, with no standout features beyond its elemental composition… Undoubtedly a woman, that much was certain. Yet why… did her words remain incomprehensible to Xiang Shi Yan? With a cheery expression, Xuan Jiu declared, “Since I've said I’ll free you, I won’t renege. But should Yue Hua Jun insist on silence, I’m bound not to harm you. Instead, I shall simply amuse myself with you in front of your beloved disciple.” What? “If you refuse to speak, I’ll violate you before her very eyes.” Author's Note: This would be a case of flagrant misconduct… He He: Since you see me as the villain, I'll fully embrace the role (smiles). It could actually be even more excessive. “You wouldn’t want your dear disciple harmed, would you?” Thanks to the angels who tipped or nourished with nutrient fluids between 2022-05-19 20:55:25 and 2022-05-22 35:58:21~ Thank you to the angel who supplied nutrient fluids: Deng Yue 40 bottles; Ke Yu Bei 10 bottles; Messiah 5 bottles; Changing Nickname 4 bottles; Many thanks for your support, I’ll keep striving forward!