Appreciating New Tea with an Inkstone - Chapter 52

Jiuxuan waved his hand, and a large number of demons surged in from behind the bamboo forest. Watching as Yuheng led several elders and a large group of disciples from Dongzhou toward them, Jiuxuan called out in a clear voice, “Protect Lady Gu well!”

Immediately, several demons encircled Gu Xiyan, seemingly to shield her. She lowered her head, remaining silent. Yet, at this moment, an intense demonic aura surged from her body, unmistakably dark and overwhelming!

Yuheng, witnessing the scene before him, nearly fainted. His eyes widened in shock as he fixed his gaze on Yuxi and cried out hoarsely, “Shidi!” He immediately tried to rush forward, but two powerful demons under Jiuxuan’s command blocked his path.

Yuheng’s eyes were bloodshot, and just then, he heard Han Wenshan’s feeble voice. “Shizun… save… save me.” He quickly glanced over and saw Han Wenshan pinned to the ground by Gu Xiyan. The sword embedded in his body was one he recognized all too well—it was the sword Yuxi had specially requested for Gu Xiyan.

Yuheng trembled all over, but in the next moment, Jiuxuan flicked his fingers without hesitation, sending a force straight through Han Wenshan’s skull.

“Wenshan!” Yuheng roared in anguish. That had been his most talented disciple!

“Gu Xiyan! You beast! He was your shizun, and Wenshan was your fellow disciple! How could you do this to them? How could you strike down your own master?!”

Yuheng’s words seemed to pull Gu Xiyan back from another world. She slowly stood up, surrounded by a dense circle of people and demons. She could no longer distinguish one from the other, trapped within an unbreakable encirclement.

This was the second time. The second time she had been driven to the brink by the remnants of something unknown—using the blood of those dearest to her to push her into a fate worse than death.

Han Dan and Liang Jin also stared at the scene in disbelief. Liang Jin shook her head, murmuring, “Impossible… Shijie wouldn’t do this.” But the overwhelming demonic aura surrounding her was undeniable. No human, except for a great demon with a thousand years of cultivation, could exude such a presence. Behind them, the gathered disciples could no longer hold back, drawing their swords and voicing their fury.

“She always had that gentle, harmless look, but she was just a wolf in sheep’s clothing! Her hypocrisy is disgusting!”

“She has no heart! Elder Yuxi treated her so well, and yet she repaid kindness with betrayal. Sure enough, demons are beyond redemption—kill her! Kill her!”

Yuheng, consumed by rage and grief, had lost all reason. He drew his sword and pointed it at Gu Xiyan. “Today, I will purge this disgrace for my shidi. All Dongzhou disciples, hear my command—exterminate every demon! As for that demon woman, leave her to me! Form the array!”

As soon as the words fell, sword energy surged from his blade. With a single swing, the force of his attack exploded across the ground. Though the demons attempted to shield her, Gu Xiyan was still caught in the blast and was thrown violently backward.

She coughed up a mouthful of blood and knelt on the ground. Around her, the battle between humans and demons grew fiercer, but she paid no attention—until someone managed to break through the demon’s defenses and rushed toward her.

“Someone like you deserves to die!”

The sharp blade, filled with killing intent, slashed straight toward her face. Gu Xiyan made no attempt to evade. She was so tired. She had left her home, ensuring the Gu family remained uninvolved, yet joining Dongzhou had ultimately doomed her shizun. Everyone who had shown her kindness, who had tried to protect her, had all met the same fate.

But just before the blade could strike her, it was forcefully knocked aside. A voice, one she knew well, called out in urgency—

“My lady!”

Mujin?

Gu Xiyan snapped back to awareness, her expression shifting. “Who told you to come?! Leave at once, don’t get involved in this fight.”

“Miss Gu, we don’t wish to interfere, but you have shown us kindness. How could we just stand by and do nothing?”

That voice—Qingwu?

“Qingwu is right.”

Another familiar voice.

Gu Xiyan noticed more and more demons gathering around her, many of whom she had crossed paths with before.

Liang Jin, unable to watch as they sentenced Gu Xiyan to death as a demon, finally spoke out, “Shibo, Shijie is not a demon, nor is she a traitor! She and Han Dan-shixiong risked their lives to save so many civilians. Her character is clear for all to see! She could never have killed her fellow disciples, let alone her shizun—there must be some misunderstanding!”

Yuheng, still blocked by Jiuxuan, was shaking with rage. His face was livid as he pointed at Gu Xiyan, now shielded by a group of demons. “Fool! Look at the ones standing by her side—so many demons! And that demonic aura from before—are you still going to defend her?! Liang Jin, have you been bewitched by her? Are you even a disciple of Dongzhou anymore? You’re still standing up for her, even with all that demonic energy around her—do you think that’s fake?!”

The mint demon looked at Gu Xiyan, who had once been a gentle and elegant figure. Now, her face was pale, her expression dazed and emotionless. In just half a month, the woman who had shone like the moon had been reduced to this. And as for those who now stood in righteous fury, brandishing the banner of exterminating demons—how many of them had truly cared about the lives of ordinary people?

Yet, it was this woman, now condemned by all, who had fought alone for them.

Where the path of righteousness lies, even if a thousand stand against me—I will walk it still.

But now, the very common people she had saved were slandering her without restraint, her former sect members wished for nothing more than to kill her, and this inexplicable Jiuxuan was also doing everything to frame her. Even a demon couldn’t help but feel indignant on Gu Xiyan’s behalf. Why was the world so heartless and cruel to someone like her?

“We are protecting her because she once showed us kindness. Though we are demons, we still understand the principle of repaying gratitude! You exorcists from Dongzhou come down the mountain to eliminate demons without distinguishing right from wrong, slaughtering the innocent. Only Faity Gu had the heart of a Bodhisattva and spared those of us who had never harmed anyone. That is the only reason we are still alive today. And yet you humans—how many people has she saved along the way? Do you think the Dongzhou disciples would have made it through these past few days unscathed if not for her efforts? Do you really believe those disciples, who can only bully small demons, could have escaped Jiuxuan’s pursuit on their own?”

“Nonsense! You admit that Gu Xiyan secretly let you go—then I haven’t wronged her after all! You say you have never harmed anyone, but it’s only a matter of time. Leaving you alive today will surely lead to disaster in the future!” Yuheng rebuked them even as he continued fighting Jiuxuan.

Mujin shielded Gu Xiyan, burning with rage. “You old bastard, you’re talking absolute crap! How many common people have you saved these past days? You don’t care about those poor civilians at all—you only care about killing demons! Both Ying City and Yun City were taken by Jiuxuan, and when he slaughtered them, not one of you was there! If it weren’t for us little demons taking people away in advance because my lady took pity on them, they would all be dead by now!”

Mujin’s words left Han Dan and the others stunned. Back then, they had noticed that there weren’t many people left in the city, and they had assumed that the missing had been completely massacred. They had no idea that this group of demons had secretly saved them.

He couldn’t help but lower his sword and say in a steady voice, “I can vouch for this. There were indeed far fewer people in Ying City than expected, and the ones who managed to escape did so under Shijie’s protection. Please, Shibo, investigate this thoroughly.”

“Ha ha, Xiyan, you truly lived up to my expectations. You’ve played them all for fools.” Jiuxuan toyed with Yuheng as he spoke, still managing to spare some words for Gu Xiyan. “Those people you let escape from Ying City will all die sooner or later. There’s no need for you to mingle with these insects any longer. Follow me, and the entire Mortal Realm will belong to our demon clan.”

Upon hearing his voice, Gu Xiyan lifted her right hand, gathering spiritual energy in the air. The sword embedded in Han Wenshan’s corpse flew into her grasp. She leaped into the air, standing in the void, and spoke softly to the demons fighting desperately for her below. “I merely chose not to kill you—that is no great kindness. Now, with all of you protecting me like this, I feel unworthy. Thank you for saving those people, but you must leave now. Mujin, take them away!”

Today, it wasn’t just her fellow disciples from Dongzhou who wanted her dead—Jiuxuan did too. The demons might be able to fend off the Dongzhou disciples, but they stood no chance against Jiuxuan’s forces. She didn’t want anyone else to suffer because of her.

Without lingering any longer, she launched herself toward Jiuxuan, her sword slashing down and forcing Yuheng and Jiuxuan apart.

“Daoist Yuheng, my shizun’s death is indeed related to me, but I did not kill him. The one who truly disgraced our sect was Han Wenshan. But at this point, it doesn’t matter whether you believe me or not. All I ask is that you show a shred of mercy to them—they truly did save lives.”

With that, the sword in her hand shone brilliantly, and boundless spiritual energy surged toward her, enveloping her in a radiant glow so intense that Yuheng had to turn his face away, unable to look directly at her.

At the heart of the dazzling light, her entire being was wrapped in an aura of holiness, as though she were a celestial being.

Jiuxuan, watching Gu Xiyan, felt a mixture of venomous hatred and exhilaration in his eyes. As expected… she was radiating celestial energy. If he could refine her spiritual body and absorb her soul and cultivation, then—then he could finally escape his fate of possessing others’ bodies to survive! He would return to life on his own terms, and when that happened, he would once again shake the Three Realms to their core!

***

Meanwhile, in the Demon Realm, Ye Qinming stood before Jiuying, one of her former four great demon generals, a faint smile playing at her lips. “So, you think the throne of the Demon Emperor should be yours now?”

Jiuying had known that Ye Qinming’s strength had diminished significantly, but the deep-seated fear and wariness within him had not yet faded. He tensed, adjusted his breath, and forced himself to remain calm as he replied, “The Demon Realm is in a precarious state. We have suffered continuous losses in recent battles. A thousand years ago, not only did you vanish, but our most powerful generals also perished in that war. We barely maintained a stalemate, but now that you have returned, Taiyi has become more aggressive than ever. If you insist on reclaiming the throne of the Demon Emperor… given your current strength, I don’t think it’s a wise decision.”

“Insolence! Jiuying, you are too audacious!” Guiche could no longer hold back his fury and rebuked him sternly.

Ye Qinming merely waved her hand dismissively, her lips curving into a low, amused smile as she gazed at Jiuying’s defiant expression. “Interesting… Jiuying, you’ve followed me for so long, and it seems you’ve learned to mimic my temper well. But your scheming thoughts still twist and turn too much.”

Jiuying’s expression darkened slightly, but he did not immediately respond.

Ye Qinming took a slow step forward, raising her right hand. A surge of demonic energy erupted from her palm, its immense power making the draperies in the grand hall ripple violently. Yet in the next instant, the energy was rapidly withdrawn, compressed into a concentrated force within her grasp.

Standing beside her, Guiche and Jiuying both felt as if the air had been sucked away, pressing down on them so heavily that their entire bodies trembled. Jiuying, in particular, couldn’t stop his legs from shaking, and soon he couldn’t help but bend down. His face flushed red, and by the time Ye Qinming finally withdrew her power, they straightened up and gasped desperately for air. Jiuying felt that if she had held out just a moment longer, he would have fallen to his knees.

This terrifying power—wasn’t it just as formidable as before? Did that mean Ye Qinming had already regained her strength? At this realization, sweat began to form on Jiuying’s forehead.

However, Ye Qinming didn’t seem intent on pursuing the matter further. She merely said indifferently, “The Demon Realm is facing its greatest crisis. I expect you to fulfill your duty—I will not allow the Immortal Realm’s heavenly soldiers to set foot even an inch beyond the Netherworld Gate.”

“Yes.” Jiuying bowed in response before leaving in a daze.

Guiche, overwhelmed with joy, exclaimed, “Majesty—”

Ye Qinming cut him off with a gesture, lowering her gaze. “What is happening in the Mortal Realm?”

“My liege, we have issued a strict decree forbidding demons from entering the human world. Recently, there have been no further incidents of demons escaping. However, the demons that had already entered the Mortal Realm have gathered under one named Jiuxuan, who seems intent on seizing control of the Mortal Realm. The Daoist cultivators of Dongzhou have already engaged in battle with them, and the human world has plunged into chaos.” Guiche gave a detailed report, having paid close attention to the mortal world at Ye Qinming’s command. It was unusual for her to show interest in the affairs of mere mortals.

Ye Qinming’s heart stirred at his words. After a brief pause, she asked, “Jiuxuan? Has there ever been such a person in the Demon Realm before?”

Guiche hesitated before answering in a low voice, “He was a demon under Jiuying’s command. His cultivation is decent, but he violated the laws of the Demon Realm and was exiled by Jiuying. I didn’t expect him to have ended up in the human world.”

“The cultivators of Dongzhou have all descended from the mountains?”

“Yes, and the situation has devolved into complete chaos.”

Ye Qinming parted her lips slightly, as if about to ask something, but in the end, she held back. Guiche, noticing her hesitation, cautiously inquired, “Is there something you wish to ask, Your Majesty?”

Ye Qinming shook her head before replying, “I will continue my seclusion for a few more days. Once I emerge, I will personally seal the barrier. The Demon Realm has no need to take anything from the mortals—whatever is needed should be taken from the Immortal Realm.”

“Yes. However, my liege, I have received a message from Liuli. She has learned of your return and is already on her way back.”

Ye Qinming’s gaze lowered slightly, her tone indifferent. “Everything can wait until I leave seclusion.”

With that, she gestured for Guiche to leave. His stern expression wavered slightly, but he said nothing more and bowed before retreating.

Ye Qinming looked toward the southern skies of the Demon Realm. The disciples of Dongzhou had descended the mountain—what about Gu Xiyan? It had already been several years since she entered the human world. Demonic creatures were rampant, and that lurking entity would no doubt take advantage of the chaos. If…

She stood there for a long time before finally transforming into a streak of light and speeding southward. She had already declared she would enter seclusion—there was no need to hesitate any longer.

***

Gu Xiyan had always remembered Ye Qinming’s words. Over the years, she had diligently cultivated the technique Ye Qinming had given her. The technique was profoundly mysterious, incomparable to the Daoist cultivation methods of the human world. In the past eight years, her cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds. What puzzled her the most was how naturally familiar she was with the technique—she barely had to figure it out on her own, as if her body instinctively understood it better than she did.

Yet, she had rarely displayed this power in front of others. The spiritual energy she gained from cultivating this technique was far purer than that of conventional Daoist cultivation. Though it had been given to her by Ye Qinming, it was not a demonic cultivation method. Rather, it was perfectly suited for her.

However, since Ye Qinming had warned her not to stand out too much, she had kept this ability hidden. But now that things had come to this, she had no choice but to fight with everything she had—there was no need to hold back any longer.

Still… there remained a gap between her and Jiuxuan. If given a few more years, she might stand a chance against him. But now, she was fated to be the loser.

Her shizun had told her not to hold on to hatred, and she knew that Jiuxuan only wanted to torment her. Yet, how could she remain indifferent when Ah Qi and Ah Da back then, and now her shizun, had all been killed by this persistent wraith of a being?

As for the others… she felt bitterly disappointed, but they could no longer hurt her. As long as they didn’t harm the people around her, she no longer cared about herself.

Author’s Note: 

The “green tea” has made an appearance.

White Lotus: Didn’t you leave? Why did you come back?
Green Tea: Because you are a white lotus, a white lotus without leaves.
White Lotus: And so?
Green Tea: I came to photosynthesize with you.
White Lotus: …