Chapter 6: Am I Intruding at a Bad Time? - Young Noble Be Monster Slaying

**Chapter 6: Am I Intruding at a Bad Time? [An extra chapter for the ally "Life's Tough So Don't Hack It”]** The atmosphere seemed a bit tense. After a brief pause, suddenly, a synchronized exclamation echoed from the room: "Look at that!" Chu Liang and Madam Ming simultaneously pointed with their left hands behind each other, while their right hands were hidden behind their backs. Neither of them turned around. The tactic was laid bare. The air grew a bit awkward. "Heh," Madam Ming chuckled, "Alright then, since that's the case, I won't waste words with you. Ever since you entered the room, I had already hidden the Illusionary Heart poison in the candle flames. If you want the antidote, you'd better leave quietly without meddling any further." "I wouldn't have entered if I wasn't prepared," Chu Liang replied. "In fact, from the moment Madam lit the incense, I've been holding my breath, not daring to inhale." Madam Ming's smile faded as she realized that, while she might have been quite shrewd, the young man before her was likely even more so, despite his youthful appearance. "All these years, I've never harmed anyone. I only wish to live peacefully with my husband. Since you've completed your task, can't you just leave and pretend nothing happened?" Her tone became somewhat pleading. Chu Liang replied, "But this situation is still inappropriate." In the next instant, the situation took a dramatic turn! The seemingly frail woman before him suddenly leaped up. Her right hand flicked, sending a long black whip towards Chu Liang, like a serpent's tongue, intending to seize him! Chu Liang swiftly raised his left hand, transforming his bracelet into a sword to block Madam Ming's whip, attempting to cut it. But the whip, made of unknown material, could not be severed even by the legendary Shu Mountain sword. Bang— Both sides tugged at the whip, locked in a struggle. The confined space of the bedroom resonated with the sounds of their clash, with furniture and decorations shattering around them. After a brief stalemate, Madam Ming's left hand transformed into a claw, slashing out three sharp, unparalleled black lights. Chu Liang dodged skillfully, raising his left arm to emit a red light in response. Madam Ming evaded nimbly as well, but the red light seemed to have a mind of its own. As she sidestepped, it curved around with a swoosh, swiftly enveloping her. Tortoise Shell Bind! The Demon Binding Rope! In such close quarters, the ensnaring power of the Demon Binding Rope was truly difficult to dodge. Despite her evident superiority in cultivation compared to the cat spirit from last night, Madam Ming was hit in one strike! Thud. Bound tightly by layers of red ropes in a tortoise shell pattern, Madam Ming immediately lost her balance, collapsing to the ground with her black whip clattering beside her. Yet she stubbornly raised her head, gritting her teeth as she glared at Chu Liang, "You..." Just as this battle concluded, a voice called from outside the door. "Dear? What was that noise? Are you alright?" Ming Yuan Wai called as he stepped into the bedroom. Then. He saw the scene before him. The room lay in disarray, and his wife was bound in an unusual and conspicuous manner, lying on the floor... "Ah." Ming Yuan Wai staggered back two steps, clutching his forehead, his expression bewildered, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "Am I... intruding at a bad time?" ... Chu Liang quickly stopped Ming Yuan Wai, explaining that he'd arrived just in time. He asked him to sit and calm down, then suggested helping Madam Ming to her feet. With her alluring figure tied up like this, Madam Ming was indeed somewhat enticing, so Chu Liang didn't dare extend a hand to help. "Young Master Chu, don't you plan to untie my wife first?" Ming Yuan Wai asked. "Well..." Chu Liang hesitated, "I'm afraid that's not possible." He then revealed to him that Madam Ming was actually a demon. "What?" Ming Yuan Wai was shocked, "My wife is a demon? How can that be? You… you’re slandering her!" Chu Liang added, "If you don’t believe me, Ming Yuan Wai, I have a way to reveal her true form." "No need!" Madam Ming, who had been silent since her husband entered, suddenly interjected with a deep voice, prompting Chu Liang to put away the half-brick he had taken out. "My dear, I've always feared telling you the truth," Madam Ming confessed solemnly, "I am indeed a demon." "What? How... how is that possible? You’re so gentle and kind…” Ming Yuan Wai refused to accept it. "Who says all demons are wicked?" Madam Ming retorted, tears streaming as she lifted her eyes. "My family and I have lived outside the city in the mountains since I was young; though demons, we never harmed a soul. This life went on for nearly a century until one day, I met you..." "Me?" Ming Yuan Wai was taken aback. "Yes, you," Madam Ming gazed at him tenderly. "You might not remember, but who would recall saving a little mountain cat twenty years ago?" "Ah, that was you!" Ming Yuan Wai exclaimed. "Yes, back then, I hadn’t mastered my powers and was almost killed by a wolf in the mountains. I managed to crawl into a hunter’s trap, struggling, when a young boy came by and rescued me." Madam Ming recounted gently. "I was so young back then, once I even skipped school to explore the mountains, where I rescued an exceptionally adorable little mountain cat... I remember!" Ming Yuan Wai nodded repeatedly. "I wanted to take you home for treatment, but you ran away once you were free." "After that, I devoted myself to cultivating, and ten years later, finally learned to transform into a human." Madam Ming continued to gaze at her husband, "I didn't even dare tell my brother, eagerly descending the mountain to visit the city. Unexpectedly, I met you again immediately. You had grown up but hadn't changed at all." "I always thought that was our first meeting, but... it turns out it was our second." Ming Yuan Wai realized. "Yes, afterward, we fell in love and got married. Everything felt like a dream. I couldn't believe how blissful human life could be," Madam Ming smiled bitterly, "Until the day, I became pregnant." "My dear, you can get pregnant?" Ming Yuan Wai was astonished again. "Of course, but I didn’t dare to..." Madam Ming admitted, "Because I couldn’t truly attain enlightenment and transformation, what I carried was a demon fetus. The moment the child was born, my true identity would be exposed... So I lied about visiting my family and secretly went to the mountains to abort the child." "My dear, you..." Ming Yuan Wai held her hand, tears streaming, "Does it matter if you're a demon? For all these years we've been deeply in love, how could being human or demon change that?" "I never imagined our child would turn into a vengeful spirit..." Madam Ming lamented, "I was exposed because of this, perhaps it's retribution." "No!" Ming Yuan Wai cried, "You've done nothing wrong! If there's retribution, it should fall on me!" "To have shared ten years with you in this life, I am already content," Madam Ming looked at Chu Liang, "Do as you must." "No, no!" Ming Yuan Wai suddenly knelt, grasping Chu Liang, "Young Master Chu! I am willing to give you all my family’s wealth in exchange for sparing us. Please, I beg you, spare my wife!" Chu Liang looked at the pair of devoted lovers, his gaze somber. He could slay Madam Ming with one swing of his sword — a righteous act, given that demons living among humans was unacceptable. He would even receive a reward from the tower upon his return. Letting her go and accepting Ming Yuan Wai's wealth wasn’t a bad choice either. Even as a mortal landlord, his accumulated wealth over generations wouldn't be negligible. Both options were highly advantageous. But... Without hesitation, Chu Liang shook his head. As the couple's despair deepened, he quickly added, "If it is true that Madam Ming has never harmed anyone, then both of you can accompany me to the sect. Perhaps... I can petition for a seal of approval for Madam Ming."