“I know them, little sister, come with me. They must have been hurt by what I said to them yesterday. If we don’t apologize, they’ll be even more upset. Lanyan, you don’t want them to be even more upset, right?” Liu Xinya blocked all avenues of retreat. In short, she had only one goal: to get Liu Lanyan to go with her.
"Alright," Liu Lanyan pursed her lips and reluctantly agreed.
Liu Xinya happily pulled Liu Lanyan toward where the ten people lived. Along the way, Liu Xinya chattered on and on about her apologies to the ten people and how she hadn't thought things through.
In short, they talked the whole way, and because of Liu Xinya's incessant chatter, they walked very slowly. By the time they arrived, it was getting darker and darker.
After Liu Xinya sincerely apologized and said many words of repentance, she left with Liu Lanyan.
Liu Lanyan followed and watched the whole time, but she didn't find out that Liu Xinya had any other purpose. She kept wondering to herself, what kind of trick is Liu Xinya playing?
Thinking something might happen on the way, Liu Lanyan was completely bewildered when Liu Xinya escorted her all the way back. As they were almost at her place, Liu Lanyan wondered if she had made a mistake.
The question is, when did Liu Xinya's motives become so simple?
Just to apologize?
As Liu Lanyan approached the courtyard gate, she was about to go inside when Liu Xinya suddenly said, "Sister, why don't you go and tell the Lord as well?"
“Tell Master…why?” Liu Lanyan tilted her head and looked at Liu Xinya strangely.
"I was too reckless yesterday and offended the Lord. I must apologize," Liu Xinya said with a smile, her reasoning reasonable.
Liu Lanyan thought for a moment before nodding in agreement: "Okay, fine."
Turning around, she entered the courtyard. Her room was separated from the Demon God's by only one wall. Before she even reached the door, just as she stepped into the corridor, Peng Zhen immediately stepped in front of her, blocking her way: "Miss Liu, what urgent matter do you have to discuss with the Lord so late at night?"
"Is Master asleep?" Liu Lanyan asked.
“The Lord is already asleep. If Miss Liu doesn’t have anything urgent, let’s talk about it tomorrow,” Peng Zhen said.
"Hmm..." Liu Lanyan turned her head and asked Liu Xinya, "Sister Xinya, are you going?"
"Since the Lord is asleep, let's talk about it tomorrow. It wouldn't be good to disturb the Lord." Liu Xinya didn't insist, but smiled at Liu Lanyan, "Lanyan, you should rest early too."
"Okay, fine." Liu Lanyan was stunned for a moment, watching Liu Xinya leave calmly, her gaze unchanged, but she had a deep question in her heart: what exactly was Liu Xinya doing?
Liu Lanyan shrugged, turned around and went back to her room, unaware of the thoughtful glint in Peng Zhen's eyes.
"Was something wrong last night?" The next day at noon, the Demon God asked Liu Lanyan during lunch.
"Sister Xinya said she wanted to apologize, but Master was asleep, so she didn't disturb him," Liu Lanyan answered truthfully.
"Hmm, tell her it's unnecessary." The Demon God didn't want to see Liu Xinya at all. "Go cultivate."
"Okay." After finishing her lunch, Liu Lanyan obediently followed the Demon God to cultivate.
Five peaceful days passed. Liu Xinya still came to find Liu Lanyan to stroll around after dinner. Everything was normal, and nothing special happened.
"Lanyan, do you like Wuchen Residence?" Liu Xinya and Liu Lanyan chatted casually as they took a walk.
"I like it." Liu Lanyan smiled as she said this, a genuine smile. She took a deep breath of the cool night air and said softly, "It has the taste of freedom here."
"Aren't you free in the Liu family?" Liu Xinya pressed, her question so sharp that it startled Liu Lanyan.
After blinking, Liu Lanyan smiled awkwardly and said, "Um... it's okay."
Liu Lanyan took two steps forward. Not far ahead was the beautiful lake. Looking at the shimmering silver surface of the lake, she said nothing more.
"Lanyan, you still prefer your freedom, don't you? Although you have plenty to eat and drink in the Liu family, you still prefer your old home, don't you?" Liu Xinya's words made Liu Lanyan turn around in surprise, staring at Liu Xinya a few meters behind her in confusion.
Liu Xinya stood in the shadows, the moonlight hazy and completely obscured by the lush foliage, making it impossible to see her expression clearly.
“Lanyan, actually, if you want true freedom, it’s very simple…” Liu Xinya slowly laughed, her deep laughter echoing in the woods, carrying a chilling terror with the night wind, “The soul is the freest.”
"You..." Liu Lanyan was shocked. The next second, she suddenly felt her waist tighten. Before she could lower her head, her wrists and ankles tightened as well, forcefully binding her completely.
Looking left and right, there was a faint red stain on her wrist, like a ribbon or a hemp rope, but it shone with an unusual luster in the moonlight. Upon closer inspection, it was actually flowing, like blood.
The restraint on her wrist didn't just stay there; it slowly tightened, constricting so tightly that Liu Lanyan's face turned pale: "What are you doing?"
Liu Lanyan never expected that Liu Xinya would attack her here.
How could they be so bold?
"Liu Lanyan, the more unexpected things are, the more surprising they are, aren't they?" Liu Xinya smiled venomously, her eyes like those of a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, cold and sinister.
"You..." Liu Lanyan moved her fingers, but there was no room for struggle. The things that seemed to be blood bound her so tightly that the places that were bound were numb with pain.
Why haven't the people of the Dustless Abode appeared yet?
Liu Lanyan pondered inwardly.
"Don't even think about it. No one from Wuchenju will come to save you." Liu Xinya saw through Liu Lanyan's thoughts at a glance and smiled smugly. "Liu Lanyan, just pray and see how important you are to him."
Liu Lanyan frowned, staring intently at Liu Xinya. Her expression was obscured in the darkness, but one could sense the suppressed smugness within her.
"Liu Xinya, what are you doing?" Peng Zhen suddenly appeared beside Liu Lanyan, scolded her, and then reached out to touch the restraints on Liu Lanyan's wrists, trying to untie them for her.
Unexpectedly, before he even made contact, he was thrown back by a strong force. Even though he was prepared, he was still pushed back three steps before he could regain his balance.
Peng Zhen stood with his hands hanging at his sides, his heart filled with shock, staring incredulously at the restraints on Liu Lanyan's body.
He is currently in a semi-numb state and is unable to move flexibly at all.
"Who exactly are you?" Peng Zhen asked in a deep voice, he couldn't believe that Liu Xinya's strength had suddenly increased so much.
Liu Xinya smiled coldly, stepping out of the shadows. The pale moonlight crept onto her face, making her smile appear even more sinister and terrifying: "Liu Xinya is still Liu Xinya, but this is..."
"Spirit Binding Technique." A gentle voice, like a spring breeze, dispelled the cold and oppressive atmosphere by the lake. The demon god, dressed in white, walked slowly under the moonlight, his gentle smile as fresh and elegant as the wind passing through a bamboo forest. "Liu Xinya, I didn't expect you to use the Spirit Binding Technique of the Demon Realm. It seems you came prepared."
Spirit Binding Technique?
Peng Zhen stared at Liu Xinya in astonishment, exclaiming, "A forbidden technique from the Demon Realm?"
!
☆, Chapter Seventy-Two: The Demon Appears
"You..." Upon seeing the Demon God appear, Liu Xinya's eyes widened in shock. She rubbed her eyes in disbelief, thinking she was seeing things. "You actually came?"
Upon hearing Liu Xinya's question, the Demon God laughed, as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world, and asked, "You captured Lan Yan, do you think I wouldn't come?"
"How could you possibly truly dote on her? She's nothing more than a pawn in your game." Liu Xinya retorted loudly to the Demon God, while also telling herself to stay calm.
The demon god smiled, ignoring Liu Xinya's words, and continued, "The Spirit Binding Technique requires the practitioner to cultivate in a sea of blood and have their heart demonized before it can be used. It seems that your status in the Demon Realm is not just that of a general's wife."
Liu Xinya smiled but remained silent.
The demon god was not in a hurry, and continued to speak slowly and deliberately: "You have been preparing for today's events for a long time."
By now, Peng Zhen's numbness had subsided. He took two steps forward and whispered, "Lord..." to call the others to deal with Liu Xinya.
"No need, she used more than just the Spirit Binding Technique." The Demon God looked up at the sky, where the bright moon hung like a plate.
"As expected of the Venerable Lord, you saw right through me." Liu Xinya praised the Demon God, but she couldn't hide her smugness. "However, it's all too late."
As she spoke, Liu Xinya raised her hands, her palms glowing with a blood-red light. She quickly chanted something, and the blood-red color of her palms intensified, as if blood was flowing from them.
The surrounding space suddenly distorted, revealing blood-red figures that turned out to be menacing demons.
Each of them was over three meters tall, with thick limbs, blue faces and fangs, and bloodshot eyes staring fiercely at the three demon gods, their faces filled with intense killing intent.
His imposing presence overwhelmed the three of them.
The demon god didn't even glance at the hideous demons. He turned and walked to Liu Lanyan's side. With a flick of his finger, a flash of white light appeared, and the things binding Liu Lanyan vanished in an instant, as if they were snowflakes encountering a raging fire, leaving no trace.
"Lanyan, you've suffered so much." The demon god grabbed Liu Lanyan and helped her steady herself.
Liu Lanyan didn't pay attention to the red marks on her wrists: "Master, what happened?"
"It's nothing serious. It's just that the space here is sealed off, so the people of Wuchenju can't sense what's going on here." The Demon God spoke casually, but Liu Lanyan was greatly surprised when she heard it.
The fact that Liu Xinya could create a secluded space within the Dust-Free Abode, undisturbed by the outside world, shows that she is far more capable than Liu Xinya had imagined.
"Since the Lord has already seen through my strength, why not make a move? Does this mean the God of the Demon Realm is already planning to surrender?" Liu Xinya smiled easily, confident of victory tonight.
"Liu Xinya, you're not worthy to ask the Lord for help with these things." Peng Zhen took two steps forward, blocking the way, and looked at the surrounding demons with contempt. He did nothing, but a powerful demonic force burst out of his body.
The invisible demonic power materialized, forcing the demons back five or six steps. It was as if a gale had swept across the ground, stirring up stone chips and dust that dazzled the eyes.
Witnessing Peng Zhen's demonic power, Liu Xinya was not nervous at all. She silently chanted something, and as her voice rose and fell, the eyes of the surrounding demons suddenly lit up, glowing with a chilling red light, and they suddenly pounced on Peng Zhen.
“Peng Zhen…” Liu Lanyan looked at Peng Zhen with concern. Was he alright?
"Don't worry, these things won't hurt him." The Demon God smiled and comforted Liu Lanyan, carefully taking up Liu Lanyan's arm. Looking at the red marks on her wrist, a cold light flashed in his eyes, which quickly turned into deep heartache.
As he lifted his fingers, tiny points of jade-like light shone forth, gently covering the red mark.
"Ah..." Liu Lanyan gasped softly, feeling a chill. The sound came instinctively, but she hadn't expected the Demon God to ask with concern, "What's wrong? Does it hurt?"
"No, I just didn't expect it to be cold." Liu Lanyan smiled, reached out and gently rubbed the Demon God's furrowed forehead. "It doesn't hurt, don't frown. It looks bad."
"Okay." Knowing it wasn't pain, the demon god smiled with relief and continued to "heal" Liu Lanyan.
They were so serious and meticulous that they didn't need any demonic power to heal such "injuries"; they could recover in no time.
Isn't calling it an overreaction?
Lost in thought, Liu Lanyan was suddenly startled awake by a cool sensation on her waist. Looking down, she saw that the Demon God's hand was already on her waist, having just finished treating her, and was moving downwards.
Going further down? That's not...
Liu Lanyan shyly tucked her lotus feet further into her skirt and whispered, "No need, it's fine there."
She didn't want him to "heal" her wounds like that; it was too embarrassing.
"There..." The demon god wanted to say that there would be red marks there too, but when he looked up, he saw Liu Lanyan's slightly flushed cheeks. He then realized that the action seemed too intimate. He smiled gently, flicked his finger, and two white lights circled around Liu Lanyan's ankles. Liu Lanyan immediately felt that the stinging sensation from before had disappeared.
"Alright, sit down and rest for a while." The demon god pulled Liu Lanyan to sit on a large rock by the lake, completely disregarding Liu Xinya and her demons.
Liu Lanyan was not as relaxed as the Demon God. She stared nervously at Peng Zhen, wondering if he could deal with those demons.
All he could see were the demons surrounding Peng Zhen, attacking him relentlessly from different angles, giving him no chance to catch his breath.
One could clearly hear the loud bangs of demonic energy colliding in the air, like a thousand-pound hammer striking a mountain rock. Each strike made one's ears ring and the earth tremble.
"Eighth-tier magic power?" Liu Lanyan exclaimed in surprise. The demon that Liu Xinya summoned so casually actually had such terrifying power?