Chapter 712: Chapter 712

Chapter 712: Chapter 605: Qi Ren Back Then_2

The talented illusionist, thwarted at every turn and finding no refuge, ultimately resigned himself to a modest existence in a small corner of the world.

Under the quietly flickering candlelight, Su Xi bowed his head, intently picking up pieces of leather paper, a faint dark red stain of dried blood visible on his chest.

Ning Feiyan casually picked up a piece of paper he had cut, with an exotically spiraled turtle drawn on it, the brush strokes fine and the outline lifelike.

Su Xi, without lifting his head, said, “Don’t touch.”

Ning Feiyan’s gaze lightly swept over the dark patch on his chest, her voice tinged with a smile, “Did you really give your heart’s blood to that monk?”

The quiet candlelight suddenly flickered unstably, and his sharp scissors, distracted for a moment, sliced a large gash across his fingertips, staining the yellow leather paper red and destroying the meticulously cut piece in an instant.

Su Xi put down the scissors, slowly crumpled the paper in his hand, the veins on his hands slowly bulging. Under his mask, his icy voice filled with hostility, “My heart’s blood was given to Ye Lian, not Jiachen.”

Ning Feiyan casually pulled over a chair and sat down elegantly, saying, “No matter what, it was I who found you in the Mortal World. You owe me a favor. How about paying it back now?”

Su Xi scoffed coldly, “To meet you unprepared is to play with fire.”

Ning Feiyan smiled, “Working with me, at least you can ensure Ye Lian survives. You don’t have a choice.”

Su Xi suddenly fell silent.

Ning Feiyan stood up and patted his shoulder, her pale golden voice sweet as poisoned honey, fatally alluring yet impossible to turn away from:

“My patience for the Demon Lord has worn thin, in the past I might have given you half a day to think, but today, I do not intend to wait patiently for your answer.”

Su Xi’s fists slowly clenched. His voice deep, he said, “Now that I have lost my heart’s blood, my strength is greatly diminished; how could I possibly help you?”

Ning Feiyan laughed softly, her glistening golden pupils and bewitching smile, radiating a chilling cruelty:

“Su Xi, since you plan to serve me, you should prepare to sacrifice everything. Perhaps a mere Ye Lian is not worth such effort, but the truth of how she abandoned you, as well as your personal history, certainly are.”

“And why should I believe you?”

Ning Feiyan smiled, “Though I am not a good person, everyone I use knows crystal clear that they are being used; at least they aren’t as oblivious as you, being manipulated without realizing it. Su Xi, let me ask you: in these hundreds of years, have you lived a single day with clarity?”

Su Xi’s injured finger suddenly tightened, blood tracing down his fingers, staining his sleeves.

His eyes seemed to struggle with indescribable agony, his thoughts in turmoil.

After a long while, he slowly put down the scissors, closed his eyes and said, “What do you need me to do?”

Ning Feiyan, taking full advantage of her cunning character at this moment, clearly achieving her goal, yet purposely sighed, “River Lord Su, you are much more agreeable than I imagined.”

“River Lord Ning’s control over people’s hearts is impeccable, with just a few words, you discern the advantages and score with precision. How could I, in my humble capacity, match you?” Su Xi’s gaze was mockingly cold as he responded.

Ning Feiyan laughed it off, she took out a jade crest from her chest, lightly tapped the crest beast, and a Spirit Butterfly emerged from the beast’s mouth, fluttering towards the Spirit Mansion between Su Xi’s brows.

Su Xi’s gaze chilled, but he made no move to resist, allowing the Demon Butterfly to enter his body. Following a few flashes on his forehead, it disappeared.

He looked at Ning Feiyan with a cold voice, “Mohe belongs to the Demon Lord, if His Majesty learns what you do is a great taboo, collecting me for your dark chess in your support department, even the punishment of incinerating the body and soul might be considered light.”

Ning Feiyan, unabashed, smiled charmingly, “That’s why I still need to trouble River Lord Su to cover it up with your Stealing Spirit power.”

Su Xi didn’t want to exchange more idle words with her, “What exactly do you want me to do?”

Ning Feiyan’s gaze suddenly turned cold, she looked at him seriously, “Help me investigate someone.”

Su Xi frowned, “Qi Ren, isn’t he Mi Lu’s protector? What’s worth investigating about his identity?”

Ning Feiyan explained, “The Qi Ren we know is a member of the Demon Clan, but in the Daoist Immortal Sect in the Mortal World, he has another identity that isn’t known to others.

There’s a rumor that two hundred years ago, he died by the hands of the Heir of Tianxi below the mountain gate of the Taixuan Sect, yet he returned safe and sound to the Demon World, while that boy…”

“That boy?” Su Xi squinted, apparently puzzled.

Ning Feiyan smiled, “In any case, help me find out what role Qi Ren played inside the Taixuan Sect.”

Su Xi indifferently responded, “I am a Demon Cultivator of one realm; asking me to investigate someone from the Taixuan Sect is absurd.”

Ning Feiyan’s eyes drifted to the shadow paper cut-outs on the table and smiled, “Although old Zhang’s strength isn’t great, his Illusion Technique is unparalleled. You’ve stayed with him for many years, cutting illusion paper day and night; you are no less skilled than he. If you disguised yourself as one of the Nine Classics of Taixuan, I doubt most people could recognize you.”

Su Xi’s eyes darkened slightly, his voice sounding especially menacing, “Even the best-laid plans have flaws; not to mention disguising as one of the Nine Classics to capture that old fox Qi Ren, you think too highly of me.”

Ning Feiyan smiled meaningfully, “Perhaps others couldn’t, but this task can only be completed by you.”

“River Lord Su, you were raised by Ye Lian from a young age. Even though you detest and are jealous of Jiachen, it’s undeniable that you grew up with him by your side, living and eating together inseparably. In this world, you possibly understand Jiachen better than Ye Lian does.”

Su Xi’s whole body shuddered, his voice filled with disgust and resistance, “You want me to impersonate him? I can’t do it.”

To his objection, Ning Feiyan only said one sentence, “Ye Lian chose Jiachen as her returner, not Su Xi.”

Su Xi’s eyes first blazed with bitter fire. Then, under Ning Feiyan’s sinister gaze, the poison in his eyes was slowly soothed and extinguished, replaced by a deep and inscrutable emotion.

For a moment, his heart burned fiercely, and a crazed thought emerged. Su Xi licked his dry lips, his voice rough, “If… I say if, I investigate Qi Ren’s identity for you, I…”

“As you wish,” Ning Feiyan said lightly, cutting him off.

Su Xi suddenly raised his head, “What?”

Ning Feiyan smiled, “Whether River Lord Su wants to continue being Jiachen, or stay beside her, it hardly matters. I achieved my purpose, and I scorn the idea of burning bridges after crossing.”

Su Xi’s ears instantly burned, he stood up abruptly, pacing back and forth in the room, breathing rapidly, “What a joke, how could I willingly stay by the side of my father’s killer, I…”

“Let me tell you another thing then.” Ning Feiyan played with the shadow paper cut-outs in her hand, the dim candlelight flickering, casting a demonic glint in her eyes.

“The one tasked with annihilating the Demon Clan from Leimon wasn’t Ye Lian. Though she was the main force, her luck wasn’t good before that, she encountered me. After playing thoroughly with my Demon Butterflies for several days, she was severely wounded.

By the time she arrived at the mission site, it had already been turned into ruins by the Righteous Immortal Sect. Although the Taixuan Sect was the main combat force, they also adhered to a code of not exploiting the weak.

In the end, your young sister and your mother, unable to cultivate due to severed Demon Veins, died at the hands of the Wandao Immortal Alliance.

At that time, I was one of the seven elders of the Wandao Immortal Alliance. I saw with my own eyes, how Ye Lian saved you from the ruins, concealed your Demonic Qi, and took you back to the Taixuan Sect.”

“You… what are you saying?” Su Xi’s steps halted abruptly, his entire being struck as if by lightning, his soul severely wounded, standing there, lost for words.

Ning Feiyan’s words rushed towards him like a torrential sea, abruptly overwhelming him, almost shattering him into disarray.

His vision darkened, he swayed heavily, palms supporting the low table, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at Ning Feiyan, his voice fierce, “You should know that I will not easily let go of someone who deceives and manipulates me!”