Chapter 21: Where is Luohe?
*Crack, crack.*
Xiao Yang heard the sound of bone, flesh, and skin being torn apart.
He exhaled deeply, staring blankly downward.
A pair of sharp, elongated ghost claws had extended from his stomach.
It was a translucent blue-colored small ghost that had been planted inside his body early on. Now it poked its head out from his split-open abdomen, giving him a sinister smile.
The next moment, the small ghost’s body was completely incinerated by a blue flame, leaving behind only a lingering laugh.
This was the manifestation of a cultivated ghost being eradicated for violating a heavenly oath.
But to the people below the stage, the scene appeared entirely different.
They only saw the figures on stage suddenly stop moving. When they regained their senses, Xiao Yang was lying on the ground with his internal organs exposed, his eyes dim and lifeless.
And blood was dripping from Luo Hongyu’s sword.
“Dao Heir!”
The people from Shangxuan Palace immediately rushed onto the stage, but Xiao Yang had already stopped breathing, his corpse as cold as ice.
“Taking lives is forbidden during the Ascension Ceremony! Our Dao Heir had no grudge with you—even as the Sword Sect’s Young Mistress, what reason did you have to kill him?!”
“…”
Yet Luo Hongyu completely ignored the person’s tearful accusation. After glancing at Xiao Yang’s corpse, she turned and walked away.
“Stop right there…”
“Don’t bother me.”
Luo Hongyu’s sword energy surged, preventing the Shangxuan Palace attendant from approaching.
Her tone now carried a rare trace of impatience.
“I didn’t kill him. If you want to avenge your master, suit yourself.”
“You…”
“Let Young Mistress Luo leave.”
The Pavilion Master Lan Yu, who had remained silent above, suddenly spoke.
“Your Dao Heir’s death has another cause, currently unrelated to Young Mistress Luo.”
“Such favoritism and protection! They were the only two on stage—who else could have killed him?!”
“If you don’t trust me, you’re free to leave.”
Meanwhile, Luo Hongyu had already descended from the stage, her thoughts in turmoil.
Xiao Yang had been silenced, clearly under someone’s orders, but who was behind it? What did they want with me? Why didn’t they succeed?
“…”
Luo Hongyu suddenly recalled the unusual demonic energy she had sensed on Luohe after his eleven consecutive battles that day.
She had initially thought it was just an aura he’d picked up from associating with Su Huanhuan.
But thinking about it now, the blood energy around him had been so thick that day. Mere contact couldn’t have produced such a noticeable aura that she could sense it through that blood energy.
At the time, she had been so angered by his drawing the Autumn Lady Sword that she hadn’t noticed this detail…
Luo Hongyu’s footsteps faltered.
Then she continued walking.
To understand what truly happened, she needed to find Luohe first.
If she had indeed misunderstood him… she could make amends later.
Senior Sister Gu had been gone for over half a day; surely she must have found something by now.
Just as Luo Hongyu was thinking this, a familiar gentle breeze swept by, and Gu Jing appeared beside her.
“Senior Sister Gu.”
“Young Mistress, I’ve returned.”
“Xiao Yang was part of their group and has been silenced.”
“Xiao Yang…”
Gu Jing recalled the name, then nodded.
“I understand. Young Mistress, I obtained some information from Su Huanhuan of the Crescent Moon Sect.”
“Speak.”
“The Ghost Sword Gentleman Shen Huai from that day may have a significant connection to Luohe’s situation.”
“Then let’s find him. I’ll go with you.”
“Yes.”
…
This was truly… unexpected.
It was still that pitch-black mansion, but its owner was now dead, killed by Huoxin’s arrangements.
Huoxin remained seated inside, examining the purple-black small pestle in her hand.
The sensation of someone consuming the demon seed couldn’t be mistaken, nor could the feeling of personally detonating it just now.
What was wrong was the person who had taken the demon seed.
Strange, strange, so very strange.
Why would he do this? What benefit could he gain from such an action?
Huoxin suddenly felt confused about that black-robed, fox-masked young man.
People often say that loose lips sink ships, but that one couldn’t speak at all.
Despite his performance, Huoxin hadn’t realized he was deceiving her, and he had even extracted quite a bit of information from her.
*Aiya*, what a miscalculation—such a precious demon seed… But it wasn’t completely wasted.
Since Luohe had been Luo Hongyu’s man from the beginning, making him swallow the seed would certainly cause him suffering, even though he wasn’t an ordinary person.
This indirectly weakened Luo Hongyu’s strength.
But without the power of this demon seed, taking action against Luo Hongyu next would be much more difficult and troublesome…
Huoxin, using Shen Huai’s body, suddenly sensed something and immediately sprang up from her position.
The next moment, the leather chair she had been sitting in, along with the wall behind it, was sliced in half by a cold sword light.
Huoxin looked at the fierce sword mark and smiled slightly.
They came rather quickly. Not bad reflexes.
From the darkness, two sword-wielding women emerged.
Autumn Lady Sword Gu Jing, and Deer Orchid Sword Luo Hongyu.
“So it’s two important figures from the Tianzhen Sword Sect. Shen Huai failed to welcome you properly… But may I ask why the two of you are visiting in the dead of night with such violent intentions…”
Before she could finish, Luo Hongyu moved swiftly, her Deer Orchid Sword blazing with powerful energy, launching another murderous slash.
These people are truly irritable, never letting others finish speaking.
Gracefully dodging it, Huoxin brushed the dust from her clothes and looked up at Luo Hongyu.
“Such killing intent. Aren’t you afraid of cutting me down?”
“Where is Luohe?”
“How would Shen Huai, a mere rogue cultivator, know the whereabouts of your guardian, Young Mistress?”
Hearing Luo Hongyu’s question, Huoxin was somewhat puzzled.
So Luohe had disappeared? Why were Luo Hongyu and her group looking for him too?
“Also… what’s on Luohe’s body? Why does he have demonic energy?”
“Young Mistress…”
Hearing Luo Hongyu’s words, Gu Jing’s expression froze, as if wanting to speak but hesitating.
Huoxin, who had caught all these subtle changes, smiled inwardly and changed her tone:
“I see. Since Young Mistress Luo already understands to this extent, Shen Huai won’t keep you in suspense.”
“However, there is one thing Shen Huai is truly curious about.”
Huoxin began pacing around the room, examining Luo Hongyu with an appraising gaze while speaking:
“Indeed, as the Young Mistress said, I never expected that thing would be inside Luohe’s body.”
“I even personally gave it to him, hoping he would use it on you, and he readily agreed.”
“Nonsense…”
Hearing this, Gu Jing could no longer contain her cold demeanor, and raised her Autumn Lady Sword to attack Huoxin.
“The Lady of the Autumn Sword has truly lost her composure today, nothing like her usually gentle and elegant self… But please don’t be hasty. Wait until I finish speaking before fighting. You’re also anxious about his whereabouts, aren’t you?”
Huoxin deftly avoided the attack, smiling at the grim-faced Gu Jing, and spoke deliberately:
“After all, that’s one of the rarest treasures in the world. Not just any cat or dog is as precious as Young Mistress Luo’s life, worthy of such an item.”
“And since I’ve already detonated it, I’m afraid he might already be a corpse, rotting who knows where, hehehe…”