In the Exile Lands, anyone who had the chance to leave had long gone.
Yet, Wu Jinliang remained by his side.
Last time, Miao Yilan offered him a chance to stay at the Bowang Pavilion, but Wu Jinliang refused and continued to follow him.
Why?
Because Shi Chun had something in him that Wu Jinliang deemed worthwhile.
Wu Jinliang was not just a brother but also a friend.
If Wu Jinliang came to look down on him, it would truly be a regretful outcome for him.
Facing pressing questions, he answered, "I don't know. I won't ask which lineage you belong to, so don't ask about mine. If you must know, then just consider me a wandering demon. But let's focus on right now. What do you propose we do about this situation?"
His tone softened.
Since they were all people of the Demonic Path, he didn’t want to paint himself into a corner.
If they exposed him to the Heavenly Court, he would spend his life on the run, and if he fell out with the Demonic Path too, there would be nowhere for him.
He would be utterly forsaken by both Heaven and Earth.
Feng Chi understood why he wouldn't reveal his background.
Not knowing each other's lineages meant they couldn't risk exposing any secrets.
So, she stopped pressing the issue and coldly said, "What else can we do? Release the hostage immediately!"
Shi Chun retorted, "I do want to let her go, but if I do, will you let us go?"
Feng Chi raised her eyebrows in reprimand, "Are you out of your mind? The Three-Lineage Blood Alliance has just sworn to unite and stop internal killings, engaging only in fair competition. Otherwise, we'll all be condemned. As a member of the Three Lineages, you should honor the promise."
Shi Chun countered, "Promises are just words. Even if you act against me here, no one would see."
Feng Chi was agitated, "It's bad enough the Heavenly Court looks down on us. You think of yourself as worthless too? Do you really believe all demon cultivators are despicable like you?"
Shi Chun said calmly, "Be they despicable or noble, only those who survive can choose what kind of person they want to be. Did you think I'd risk my life over your threats?"
Feng Chi asked, "Didn't you say the slave contract isn't with you?"
Since finding out the other was from the Demonic Path, Shi Chun had felt uneasy about this paper.
It might not be the shield he hoped for.
Even if it was, freeing the hostage might lead them to capture him and force him to reveal the contract.
He quickly changed his mind after some thought.
Initially, when faced with such a predicament, anyone would think of escaping; he was no different.
But now that he realized he was also of the Demonic Path, and especially after finding that demonic energy could solve his longstanding cultivation problems, he was reluctant to flee.
It made sense—once separated from these demonic fellows, where would he find others? It's not like he could wander around asking, could he? If it were that easy, the Heavenly Court would have wiped them out already.
In truth, he was an opportunistic soul, shaped by the harsh Exile Lands.
He was always reaching for any chance he saw.
He veered off-topic, "The pressing issue now is, if I release her, how do I get into Wukang Mountain?"
Feng Chi replied, "How you get into Wukang Mountain is your concern, not ours."
"Not your concern?" Shi Chun gestured to the woman in his arms.
"I'll sell her, severing her ties with Bian Weikang, then present my work to Bian Jixiong. Only then can I comfortably enter Wukang Mountain. If she enters Wukang Mountain too, what happens to me? I'd be the fool who redeemed a courtesan as Bian Jixiong’s daughter-in-law and shamed Wukang Mountain. Meeting Bian Jixiong would mean he’d likely kill me. Dreaming of entering Wukang Mountain? Never. You don't enter, and I can. If you do, I can't. Still think it has nothing to do with you?"
That was why he decided to sell Xiang Lan'er after seeing the situation outside Graceful Cloud Pavilion.
Earning money was just a bonus.
Feng Chi and the captive Xiang Lan’er froze—they finally understood the real reason for his actions.
Cen Futong had already exposed how he orchestrated the deal across different parties.
Now, thinking back, redeeming and selling was indeed a clever move that gained favor with Bian Weikang and Bian Jixiong and earned money.
Feng Chi wouldn't accept his reasoning.
"Blame us? Did anyone ask you to intervene? You only brought this on yourself."
Shi Chun insisted, "Her entering Wukang Mountain is problematic; they wouldn't normally accept her. Unless you’ve arranged it with Wukang Mountain already. Since that's the case, why not take me along too? I promise not to interfere with or compete against you. If you need my help, feel free to say so. Once I get what I want, I’ll hand over the slave contract. Isn’t there mutual benefit?"
Feng Chi was doubtful—if he wasn’t competing, was his goal not to control Wukang Mountain? She asked bluntly, "What exactly do you want in Wukang Mountain?"
Shi Chun replied, "I'm looking for someone, nothing more to say."
Looking for someone? Feng Chi was puzzled and glanced at Xiang Lan’er for guidance, conflicted about what to do.
Normally, there’d be no reason to agree, but with a hostage in his grasp, it was tough.
He speculated that the true decision maker here was young, as Shi Chun noted, so he told Feng Chi, "Turn around."
Feng Chi, understanding his intentions, turned away.
Shi Chun swiftly released Xiang Lan’er’s mute point.
Unexpectedly, the first words out of Xiang Lan’er’s mouth, unable to speak for so long, were chilling, "Kill him!"
Feng Chi, hearing this, turned to look at her, seeking confirmation.
Xiang Lan’er reaffirmed, "I said kill him!"
Feng Chi hesitated; it was an unrealistic, overly emotional demand.
Shi Chun chuckled—this woman didn't get it.
If they could have killed him, they'd have done so already.
Shi Chun whispered in her ear, "In the Demonic Path, what’s with these rules about no internal killings? Do you believe all that about the Three-Lineage Oath? One last time, will you agree or not? If you don't, I'll strip her bare before negotiating slowly."
He knew women outside the Exile Lands valued their reputation almost as their lives.
Xiang Lan’er gritted her teeth, her face icy, "You dare?"
Shi Chun sighed internally.
She was indeed tough, not swayed by typical threats.
Xiang Lan’er pushed further, "What? Don’t dare to strip me?"
Shi Chun was at a loss for words.
The situation was tense, and he didn’t dare gamble by releasing them.
As he was contemplating a middle ground, Feng Chi suddenly looked to the side and shouted, "Who's there!"
Shi Chun was wary of a trap, keeping his full attention and sneaking a glance to the side.
A wave of demonic energy stirred in the forest, and a disheveled old man with white hair materialized, holding a wine gourd.
His shabby pants revealed sandals, and though his messy hair obscured his face, a bright red nose was prominent.
The old man's sudden appearance startled everyone, heightening their vigilance.
Feng Chi quickly assessed if he was one of Shi Chun’s people, but noting Shi Chun’s reaction, she grew more anxious.
If they were fellow demonic cultivators, perhaps the Three-Lineage Oath could mediate.
But outsiders were usually hostile to the Demonic Path, and her first instinct was to escape, yet the hostage made things difficult.
The scruffy old man took a swig from his gourd, burping, and pointed at the lingering demonic energy around Feng Chi, "So, this is where the demonic energy is coming from. It’s you. I’ve visited Graceful Cloud Pavilion before and never thought the madame was a demon. Unlucky for you to run into me today!"
With that said, he swung a finger forward, and the surge felt like a thunderclap.
Feng Chi was aghast, dodging swiftly while wrapping herself in a protective shield of demonic energy.
Boom! The shield shattered like a storm breaking on a mountain, and Feng Chi was flung into the forest like a shooting star, her blood splattering like raindrops.
The banknotes taken from Cen Futong fluttered to the ground slowly.
Both the captive Xiang Lan’er and Shi Chun felt as if struck by lightning.
Especially Shi Chun, who was utterly shocked.
In a mere flick of the finger, Feng Chi was defeated.
It was clear the scruffy old man’s skill was profound—Feng Chi's strength was at least in the Advanced Martial Realm; this man had to be at least in the Human Immortal Realm.
Having been in the Exile Lands for so long, where everyone’s powers were stable, this was the first job Shi Chun did after re-entering the world, and it seemed to attract increasingly stronger experts.
He was overwhelmed by the rapid escalation.
The scruffy old man, now focusing on them, left Shi Chun feeling terrified.
He lamented, cursing himself for taking this path—why had he left the righteous way for the Demonic Path? Now he was possibly the shortest-lived demonic cultivator.
And so, in this ghostly life, he found no room for choice.
(End of Chapter)