Appreciating New Tea with an Inkstone - Chapter 50

The dull pain in her chest occasionally stabbed at her nerves, and her limbs felt so heavy they hardly seemed like her own. Gu Xiyan coughed a few times, suppressing the metallic taste of blood rising in her throat. Her whole body ached as if it had been crushed.

A refreshing, invigorating scent—perhaps mint—lingered in the air. Light footsteps approached, and from just a brief listen, Gu Xiyan could tell the newcomer was not human.

Soon, a soft and pleasant female voice called out, “You’re awake?” There was a hint of delight in her tone.

Gu Xiyan struggled to sit up, and a pair of cool hands immediately reached out to support her. She coughed a few times, steadied her breathing, and asked softly, “Was it you who saved me?”

That night, she had broken through a formation, narrowly escaping while the person absorbing the resentful energy was too occupied to deal with her. She had immediately fled toward the city outskirts. However, the demons by his side were highly skilled, and there were many of them. By the time she fought her way out, she was already gravely injured.

Had it not been for the protective treasure Yuxi had given her, which bought her some time, she might not have even made it past the city gates. Even so, she had been at her limit—her teleportation spell had not carried her far before she collapsed. That she was still alive now likely had something to do with this mint demon.

The mint demon nodded, then realized Gu Xiyan couldn’t see the gesture and quickly added, “It wasn’t just me—my friends helped too. Ever since Lord Jiuxuan took over Ying City, we’ve been hiding in the forests outside the city. That night, the commotion over there caught my attention. I happened to find you gravely injured and unconscious, so I secretly gathered my friends, and we brought you here to Mount Yao.”

“Thank you all for saving my life. I am deeply grateful. But if I may ask—are you a mint plant demon?” Gu Xiyan cupped her hands in thanks, yet curiosity lingered in her gaze.

The mint demon was briefly stunned before exclaiming, “As expected, you are truly remarkable! Yes, I cultivated into human form from a mint plant.” As she spoke, she glanced at Gu Xiyan and blushed slightly. “Also, there’s no need for thanks. Many of us here owe you our lives. You once spared us when others sought to exterminate us. A few days ago, if not for your warning, we low-level demons would have perished at the hands of the demon hunters. We’ve always hoped to meet you in person, and now we finally have.”

Perhaps realizing her words were too forward, the mint demon blushed even more and hurriedly said, “I’ll go inform the others that you’re awake.”

As the small demon scurried away, Gu Xiyan lowered her eyes, her expression complicated. Just last night, she had doubted her past decisions, resenting the cruel nature of demons. Yet now, she had been saved by these very beings.

Shaking her head, she let out a small smile and sighed. What was the point of regret? Just as humans had good and evil, so too did demons. Hadn’t she already come to that realization?

The pain in her body was overwhelming, forcing her to sit cross-legged and focus on regulating her breath. Her nearly depleted spiritual energy had begun to recover, and after a few cycles of circulation, the tightness in her chest eased somewhat.

By now, the room had become lively with chattering voices. The fluttering of butterfly wings, the flapping of birds, and the sound of heavy footsteps—though she wasn’t sure what creature they belonged to. She had a good memory and recalled saving two bird demons during her travels.

“Fairy, you’re awake! How do you feel?” The chorus of voices surrounded her, making Gu Xiyan chuckle. She warmly expressed her gratitude.

“Thank you all for saving me. I’m feeling much better now.”

The mint demon glanced at the cramped room and sighed. “Can’t you all take on human form? Especially you, Chuxiong—you’re way too big.”

Despite the noise, Gu Xiyan didn’t feel annoyed. She took the opportunity to ask about the current situation outside. She had assumed she had only slept for a night, but to her surprise, five days had passed.

According to the mint demon, after the formation in Ying City was destroyed, the demon leader—Jiuxuan, the very man Gu Xiyan had fought—completely took over the city, summoning demons from all directions to gather there.

Now, within a hundred-mile radius, any human found was killed on sight. The surrounding villages and towns had been utterly wiped out, leaving almost no survivors.

Gu Xiyan’s expression darkened upon hearing this. She pressed her lips together and remained silent for a long moment before asking, “Have you seen any demon hunters?”

The mint demon exchanged glances with her companions. The other demons instinctively shrank back—when it came to demon hunters, they felt both fear and hatred.

“Fairy, we avoid them at all costs. For the past few days, we haven’t dared go near the main roads. Even the slightest spiritual energy fluctuation makes us as skittish as startled birds. We haven’t seen any of them. Given the current state of things, if they’re still in Ying City, I doubt they’ll survive.”

Gu Xiyan nodded, not planning to send them to investigate further. She knew that if these small demons encountered Han Dan and the others, they would be in grave danger.

She stayed in Mount Yao for two more days. Though her injuries hadn’t fully healed, the situation outside was dire—she couldn’t afford to delay any longer. According to the mint demon, the forces from Dongzhou had already dispatched reinforcements. They had set up a barrier a hundred miles west of Ying City, cutting off access to Yun and Pi Cities.

However, Gu Xiyan knew that while Yun and Pi Cities were plagued by demonic chaos, there were still many ordinary civilians who hadn’t managed to escape in time. Sealing the area off entirely—were they just going to leave those people to die?

As Gu Xiyan descended the mountain, the very thing she had dreaded most happened. After bidding farewell to the mint demon and the others, she had barely made it far when she sensed a surge of spiritual energy from Mount Yao. Without a second thought, she turned back and soared into the sky.

The mint demon and the others never expected to encounter demon slayers, let alone right after Gu Xiyan left. They tried to explain repeatedly that they had never harmed humans, but the man leading the group refused to listen.

His sword gleamed with spiritual light, his eyes filled with nothing but cold killing intent. “A demon is a demon—they all deserve to die. Just because they haven’t killed today doesn’t mean they won’t kill tomorrow!”

Despair spread through the group of demons. Chuxiong immediately stepped forward to shield them. “Run! Get out of here!”

But their opponent was none other than Han Wenshan, the demon slayer who had originally gone to Huaihua. He was a formidable fighter, and after only a few dozen exchanges, he struck Chuxiong down with a single blow. Without hesitation, he followed up with a deadly strike—only for his sword to be abruptly deflected just before it could land.

Dressed in flowing white robes, Gu Xiyan now stood protectively in front of the mint demon and the others, forcing several of her fellow junior disciples to retreat.

Everyone froze in shock upon recognizing her. Han Wenshan’s face twisted with anger, his voice icy as he demanded, “Gu Xiyan, are you actually stopping me from slaying demons? What do you think you’re doing?”

Gu Xiyan was silent for a moment before turning to the demons behind her. “Go now.”

The mint demon hesitated, worry etched across her face. She wanted to say something but feared making things worse for Gu Xiyan. Instead, she quickly moved to help Chuxiong up.

“Gu Xiyan, have you forgotten that you’re a demon slayer too? And yet you stand with the demons!” Han Wenshan’s voice carried both fury and an unspoken, unsettling satisfaction. He raised his sword and charged forward, his words laced with accusation. “Demons have massacred entire cities, slaughtered innocent people, and taken control of Ying! You, as the chief disciple of the Five Peaks of Dongzhou, dare to side with them—what exactly are you after?”

Gu Xiyan did not draw her sword. She merely evaded his attacks, ensuring that he couldn’t get close to the mint demon and the others.

“What are you all waiting for?” Han Wenshan barked. “Kill them! Uphold justice!”

The others had been stunned by Gu Xiyan’s actions, but at his command, they hesitated, exchanging uncertain glances.

“Please, listen to me,” Gu Xiyan spoke as she continued to block Han Wenshan’s strikes. “These demons have never harmed anyone. In fact, they saved my life when I was in Ying City. I cannot let you kill them.”

Han Wenshan’s grip on his sword tightened as he watched the demons flee, his frustration evident. He pointed his weapon at Gu Xiyan, his voice dripping with disbelief. “Lies! Demons only kill—they would never save a human!”

“And why not?” Gu Xiyan countered calmly. “Along the way here, you encountered many demons—how many of them had actually taken lives? During our past travels, how many demons that we slew in human form had ever harmed anyone?”

“Gu Xiyan,” Han Wenshan said coldly, enunciating each word, “it’s clear you’ve disregarded our shizuns’ teachings, as well as the principles of Dongzhou disciples. The rule is simple: all demons must die.”

Gu Xiyan’s expression remained composed as she replied steadily, “Our teachings also state that we do not bully the weak, we do not kill the innocent, and we do not forget kindness. These demons are weak, they have harmed no one, and they saved my life. I will not stand by and let them die.”

“Saved your life?” Han Wenshan scoffed. “That’s absurd. I have never heard of a demon saving a human. If they flee at the mere sight of us, why would they risk their lives to rescue a demon slayer? And another thing—didn’t you enter Ying City with Han Dan-shidi and the others? Why are you the only one here? Where are they?”

Gu Xiyan was silent for a long moment before answering, “We got separated.”

“Separated?” Han Wenshan’s eyes darkened with suspicion. “I always knew there was something off about you. Ever since our shizuns ordered us to hunt demons, you’ve shown no enthusiasm. You barely even fought along the way. And strangely enough, the deeper we went, the fewer demons we encountered. Back then, I thought it was just a coincidence, but now… could it be that you were working with the demons all along? What happened to Han Dan and the others? Did something happen to them? Or…” His voice dropped to a chilling whisper. “Are you one of them?”

His accusations weren’t entirely unfounded, and the disciples standing behind him, loyal and trusting, began to waver. Though they looked at Gu Xiyan with hesitation and doubt, the facts before them were undeniable—she had let a group of demons escape.

One of them, Qing Shu, stepped forward, his expression complex. “Eldest Shijie, is what Second Shixiong says true?”

Gu Xiyan could not see the hostile standoff unfolding before her, but she could feel the tension thickening in the air. Qing Shu’s question, she realized, likely represented what everyone else was thinking.

“Han Dan and Liang Jin got separated from me, and I’ve been searching for them,” Gu Xiyan explained in detail. “When we arrived at Ying City, a demon was using the souls of the townspeople to accumulate resentment and strengthen its cultivation. It had been cultivating longer than I had, so I didn’t let the others come along—only Han Dan-shidi accompanied me…”

Hearing this, the group wavered slightly, their focus shifting to the demon’s cruelty toward the townspeople.

Han Wenshan’s expression darkened. “That’s just your side of the story. I’ve never heard of demons needing resentment to cultivate.”

“The truth will be clear once we find Han Dan. There’s no need for pointless arguments,” Gu Xiyan replied calmly. “Right now, the priority is to find them. Moreover, many civilians in Yun and Pi Cities haven’t evacuated through the barrier yet—they still need to be rescued.”

“Eldest Shijie is right. Second Shixiong, don’t you agree?”

“Qing Shu, if she’s colluding with demons, then we’re walking straight into a trap.” Han Wenshan’s gaze remained cold as he took a step back, making his stance clear.

The others hesitated, uncertainty clouding their expressions.

Gu Xiyan’s face remained indifferent. “I’ll go alone. But whatever you do, don’t head to Ying City—you won’t stand a chance. Wait for the elders to arrive.”

“If that’s the case, why not return with us and report everything to the sect master?”

Gu Xiyan paused mid-step and replied softly, “Demon-slaying can wait. Saving lives cannot.”

Her words stunned Qing Shu and the others. The young disciples watched as Gu Xiyan walked down the mountain alone, an inexplicable feeling welling up in their hearts. Their eldest shijie… was different from the rest.

***

Meanwhile, within Ying City, Jiuxuan listened to a report from a subordinate demon. A bloodthirsty smile played on his lips as he casually flicked his hand, extracting every last trace of demonic energy from the creature’s body. The lifeless husk collapsed to the ground, but his gaze remained void of emotion.

“Heh, as merciful as ever,” Jiuxuan murmured, his tone laced with mockery. “Trying to save the world under my nose—how touching. Let’s keep playing, then.” Though his voice was light, the hatred in his eyes was unmistakable.

A moment later, a man clad in black armor entered the room. Two dark horns protruded from his forehead, making him an imposing sight. He stood beside the corpse without sparing it a glance. “My lord.”

“Yonghe, pass down my orders—gather all demons in Ying City and prepare to break the barrier. Also, if you encounter a blind woman… don’t kill her. Don’t even injure her.”

“Understood. But, my lord, do you mean to…?”

“I want to put on a good show for her,” Jiuxuan said with a sinister smile. “Let her experience true despair.”