"--ah!"
"Ah..."
Lately… it seems like I've been having good luck… Ning Xian blinked, looking at Yu Lin, who had already taken off his shirt and was preparing to take a bath. Hmm… he still seems like a child, but his physique from years of martial arts training is quite good…
“Ning, Ning Xian… how could you…” Yu Lin hurriedly found some clothes to cover herself, finding it hard to accept the fact that Ning Xian had suddenly appeared in Paradise.
Ning Xian sat down with a grin and said to him nonchalantly, "Don't worry about me, you go wash up, the water will get cold and you'll catch a cold."
"Ning Xian..." Is this considered flirting?
Knowing that shyness was useless, Yu Lin resignedly unfolded her clothes, put them on, and sat down.
"How did you get into Paradise? Do you have something urgent to tell me?"
Ning Xian glanced at the wooden bucket. "The water's getting cold."
"Ning Xian!"
"Alright... I came to ask for your help. Do you have any good medicine for whip wounds? I want to treat whip wounds so that they don't leave scars."
“Well… there are plenty of poisons in the Paradise, but wound medicines are all made on the spot, and I don’t have any in stock. I’ll find someone to make some for you, and I’ll deliver them to you in the next couple of days.”
"Yulin~" She pinched and rubbed Yulin's soft cheeks for a while, "Yulin is still the best~"
—That wretched phoenix!
With the cover of darkness and Yu Lin, she successfully left Paradise without encountering any trouble.
Yu Lin was young but reliable. Sure enough, she sent the medicine over by someone the next afternoon. Ning Xian took the medicine, humming a little tune as she happily went to catch her peeled eggs.
—Of course, even the most precious medicinal herbs could not possibly heal such an injury without leaving a trace.
Ning Xian contentedly smeared the black, sticky substance all over Ci Sheng's back, let out a long sigh of relief, wiped his hands, got off his back, straightened his clothes, patted his hand, and said, "You should rest well. I'll come again tomorrow."
Ci Sheng looked at Ning Xian's satisfied expression with mixed feelings, casually straightening his clothes... Why... did she feel so conflicted...?
He buried his head and cried.
...
Du Cisheng spent his days in the Netherworld in this way. Sometimes he had the illusion that this place was not the Demonic Sect, but a peaceful place outside the mortal world.
There were no interests, no conflicts. Even the contradictions between the Netherworld and the Blissful Heaven were entirely spontaneous. He couldn't understand why the members of the evil and cruel demonic sect outside could return here and isolate themselves from all grudges, living such a simple life. While puzzled, he also understood why Ning Xian could live so naturally, without any pretense, just simple and spontaneous.
He faced the window and slowly closed his eyes... Was it resentment, or letting go? Still, there was no answer.
The wounds on his back have mostly healed; they no longer hurt or look gruesome, leaving only the marks of new skin growing over them—the scars are still there, but they don't hurt anymore, so sometimes he forgets they even exist.
She watched Ning Xian walk into the courtyard from afar, gave him a bright smile, and he responded indifferently, suppressing his emotions.
"Cisheng! I have something to ask you~" She didn't come inside, but simply stood by the window and said it.
"What?"
Before he could even speak, Ning Xian chuckled and asked, "Do we look like lecherous men sneaking off to meet a young lady in her boudoir?"
"..."
"Alright, I won't say anything more. Cisheng, do you want to stay? I mean... officially join Youmingtian and stay by my side as my deputy, okay? Ah, you don't need to do anything, just be a figurehead. I'll find someone to handle your work."
Ci Sheng's eyes deepened slightly, but remained veiled in a thin mist, obscuring his true form. He slowly shook his head. "This is fine as it is. Although I'm just a subordinate, I don't mind. I think... I'm not suited for the Demonic Sect." What was this feeling...? Although he understood her intentions, although he knew she simply wanted to experience his "subordinate" status, no longer just the second young master of a small sect under her command. But why was he willing to be just a "subordinate," rather than be kept by her, unable to do anything...?
Ning Xian didn't understand his thoughts, but she didn't force him. Everyone has their own preferred or chosen way of life, which she considered perfectly reasonable. "...Alright, if you don't like joining the Demonic Sect, then so be it... Actually, I also think you don't look like a member of the Demonic Sect at all. So, you'll be staying here for a while, right? Should I send someone to talk to Chief Du?"
“He knows.”
"Why?"
"Why wouldn't you know...? Sects that belong to the Netherworld due to debts can provide manpower to pay off the interest. My father knew I was here because he also wanted to try... to see if I could work for you to pay off the 50,000 taels of interest."
Ning Xian paused slightly, "I don't really know much about those things..."
"So, I'm not your savior. Saving you was what I was supposed to do, you don't need to treat me with such courtesy."
It was something that should be done, and something that had to be done. The debt of two hundred thousand taels was already heavy, and they still needed to pay tribute every year. Even a little bit was necessary to ease the burden on their family. After [Jialing] left, people from the sect came to take over, so she naturally didn't pay attention to these specific matters. At that time, he knew that as long as Lady Jialing agreed, he could come to her side and serve her to offset the interest. He also learned that people from affiliated sects who came to serve in the Netherworld had no status in the Netherworld.
He had hesitated, knowing his own stubborn nature. If he couldn't tolerate Jialing, he would rather die than be at her beck and call—until he truly met her.
He wasn't her savior, but merely a servant paying off a debt. Therefore, they weren't friends, nor could they be; it was all decided from the moment they met.
Chapter 27 The Giant Axe Rebellion
“Ci Sheng…”
"Lord Jialing, someone requests to see you. Lord Jialing requests your presence." A voice interrupted their conversation. Ning Xian was slightly puzzled. Someone wanted to see her? Did she know anyone in the martial world?
"I understand, I'll go." She turned back and smiled at Cisheng. "Don't think too much. You don't need to force yourself to be a follower. I'll figure out the interest. You're my savior, aren't you?" Her finger touched his chest, her tone light but firm.
—Let Cisheng be a lowly servant? How can that be? She's not some ungrateful person.
She left the courtyard and walked towards the front hall. As soon as she entered, she saw a dark pink figure sitting on a chair—she was taken aback.
Zuo Xuan, dressed in a deep pink and light red robe, still looked a little confused but earnest. Upon seeing Ning Xian arrive, she stood up from her seat and bowed obediently, saying, "Lord Jialing."
Ning Xian felt dizzy, as if she saw a fresh and tender radish standing in front of her.