Chapter 25 Without Beating the Grass, the Snakes Startle Each Other
Chapter 25: Without Beating the Grass, the Snakes Startle Each Other
Luo He hadn’t expected that, having just emerged from Little Qing Peak without even a moment to adjust his mindset, he would immediately run into trouble.
Luo He looked at Huoxin, who was smiling and speaking pleasantly to him, while his hand hidden in his sleeve slowly formed a black lotus leaf.
This was still that small alley in Gengyang City, the exact spot where Luo He had boarded the divine palanquin.
As for why Huoxin appeared here, and even appeared in her true form, Luo He had no idea.
Her public identity was Shen Huai, and there was no reason for her to be strolling so openly on the street, even if she had set up a barrier… ah, that’s it.
Luo He realized.
Indeed, she must have slipped up and been caught by Luo Hongyu and Gu Jing. That skin of hers as Shen Huai… was probably gone already.
But meeting her so directly here… he wasn’t sure if it was bad luck or good fortune.
“Since we parted that day, I didn’t expect you’d still be lingering in Gengyang City. What, did you attend the entire Water Lord Festival? Hmm… you don’t really look like it, though.”
Huoxin was still talking to him about trivial matters as before, but Luo He knew clearly that the situation between them had completely changed.
Previously, Huoxin might have regarded him as a pawn she could use, but now… he was a thorough enemy.
What she was probably thinking now was why he could appear before her so alive and well.
In fact, just as Luo He had guessed, Huoxin was very confused.
Upon seeing Luo He, Huoxin had completely confirmed that the demon seed had been swallowed by him.
The demonic energy emanating from him after it detonated was impossible to completely conceal. Even Huoxin, who wasn’t a demon cultivator, could sense it.
But how did he appear so unaffected?
Could it be…
Huoxin pondered in her heart.
That demon seed was, after all, something that didn’t get along well with her, and she couldn’t be certain what state Luo He was in right now.
Moreover, there were methods to deal with that demon seed, although in such a short time, he shouldn’t possibly have been able to…
But, what if?
Huoxin liked to ask herself this question; it was one of the secrets to her survival as a ghost cultivator all these years.
With this thought, Huoxin immediately changed her demeanor and slowly approached Luo He.
“By the way, you seem to have some things to explain to me, little one.”
“How does it feel to have demon energy inside your body? Not bad, is it?”
“…”
A trace of demon flame appeared on Luo He’s body at the opportune moment. Although Luo He quickly suppressed it, it didn’t escape Huoxin’s eyes.
Indeed… it was impossible for there to be no effect at all, otherwise she would have suspected it was a fake.
It seemed this person before her was even more able to endure than she had imagined… Ha, or perhaps, his mind was simply broken.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have done something as stupid as swallowing the demon seed himself to protect that woman.
Huoxin’s tone began to turn mocking and playful as she looked at Luo He’s mask and said flatly:
“Little one, I’ve lived for so long, and this is truly the first time I’ve seen someone so eager to rush toward their death… I’m quite curious about what you’re thinking.”
“Tell me, why exactly are you trying so desperately?”
“…”
“Hey, don’t be silent, it’s so boring… Ah, you probably can’t speak, hehe, I forgot.”
Huoxin covered her mouth and chuckled lightly.
“But I have to say, you’ve got quite some courage, little one.”
“After playing me for such a fool, you still dare to appear before me…”
“Are you truly not afraid I’ll kill you?”
With her final words, countless wronged souls emerged from behind her, surrounding Luo He layer by layer.
His surroundings were filled with chaotic ghostly whispers, these spirits constantly attempting to converse with him.
Actually, Huoxin had another major question: why would Luo He encounter her here?
Looking at Luo He in the center, Huoxin thought coldly.
She wasn’t foolish enough to consider this a coincidence, though it really looked like one.
Even if the possibility was only one in ten thousand, Huoxin had to prepare for the chance that Luo He had gained the ability to counter her. Otherwise, why would he dare to stand before her like this…
Ah.
Huoxin remembered the Ghost Language book she had given him.
Although the content regarding the Three Great Vows in the Ghost Language was absolutely unreadable by the living, strictly speaking, the person before her couldn’t be considered completely alive.
Combined with his own conjectures, it might not be difficult to guess the content of one of the Great Vows… Sigh.
Huoxin shook her head quite distressfully.
Starting from this demon seed, it really felt like one mistake led to another… She had only considered Luo He a minor character, but he turned out to be the most troublesome problem.
Yet even so, she found it hard to believe.
With an unusually questioning tone, she asked:
“You… understood the Ghost Language?”
“…”
Although Luo He made no response, Huoxin could get the answer from his eyes.
“Heh… perhaps you really are suited to be a ghost cultivator.”
Is this really possible? A person who isn’t even a ghost, actually able to read and recognize the Ghost Language in just a few short days…
When she first entered ghost cultivation, it had taken her quite some time to study the Ghost Language.
Honestly, Huoxin was now somewhat inclined to retreat and no longer bother with this mess.
It wasn’t that she was worried about herself; it was mainly just too troublesome… because she couldn’t take direct action.
And since the other party had figured out the First Great Vow, her ability to intimidate the person before her was greatly diminished.
But the favor witnessed by the Heavenly Dao had not yet been judged as repaid… Tsk, how troublesome.
Huoxin sighed deeply. With no preparation at the moment, she couldn’t do anything to him for now.
“Sigh, truly an unlucky turn of events. Everything I had planned so nicely has become a complete mess because of you, little one… you really make things difficult for me.”
“Until we meet again, little one. At that time, I hope it will be our last meeting.”
I don’t want to have any more interactions with a troublesome fellow like you… After all, the demon seed has already erupted; he’ll be a short-lived ghost no matter what.
In the end, Huoxin chose not to create additional problems. She summoned the soul boat of No Return and silently departed from this place.
Luo He also breathed a sigh of relief and withdrew the lotus leaf in his hand.
This unexpected encounter gave him a headache as well.
Ghost cultivation was, in essence, a more extreme form of soul cultivation, and when Huoxin had handed this demon seed to him, she had specifically mentioned that this demon seed had the effect of polluting one’s spiritual center and dispersing one’s clarity.
So Luo He could determine that, given the grade of this demon seed, it could definitely harm Huoxin.
Not to mention that now this demon seed had been tainted with a trace of killing energy.
But after this encounter, given Huoxin’s cautious nature, she would definitely be wary of his unexpected appearance here.
Perhaps even just now, it might not have been her actual body… The Ghost Language had also mentioned that ghost cultivators had the ability to create their own soul bodies.
Now it was as if both parties had startled each other without beating the grass, each wary of the other’s possible actions.
It seemed he would need to lie low for a while, not allowing Huoxin to grasp his movements, and find a good opportunity to make his move.
Only, when Huoxin first met him, she said many people were looking for him…
That made sense.
After all, the Ascension Assembly was approaching—the moment when everything would be decided once and for all.
…