Chapter 51: A Fair and Open Business
“So, you’re a ghost now?”
“That’s right.”
In a cave within the bamboo grove on the back mountain, firewood crackled.
Su Huanhuan leaned weakly against the rock wall, turning her head to look at Luo He floating in mid-air.
Just now, she had heard from his own mouth everything that happened at the Ascension Ceremony, as well as how he had planned and carried out his scheme.
With his explanation, that series of actions that had seemed shrouded in mist finally made sense.
However…
Su Huanhuan’s face showed no satisfaction at having her questions answered.
Because what he’d told her could hardly be considered something to be happy about.
From his perspective, everyone had been hoping for his death. Once dead, many problems would be solved along with the Heavenly Tribulation.
“You’re quite pitiful. Among all the people surrounding you, I’m the only one from the Demonic Sect who hoped you’d live, haha… cough…”
“Though I suppose I can hardly be considered a disciple of the Demonic Sect anymore…”
Her tone carried her usual mockery and teasing, but Luo He understood the meaning behind her words.
He returned a sincere smile and nodded earnestly.
“Yes, thank you.”
“You were indeed one of the few people who wished me well. I’ve always remembered that clearly.”
“…Don’t say such mushy things. I only did it because I owed you a favor… Ah, stop looking at me like that!”
She’s embarrassed. How cute.
Luo He knew Su Huanhuan had always been an adorable person.
After glaring at Luo He, Su Huanhuan’s breathing gradually stabilized.
The look in her eyes when she gazed at Luo He also gained a trace of barely perceptible gentleness and acceptance.
No one knew better than she did that even though he was only a ghost now, all of this had been… so hard-won for him.
Although she couldn’t fulfill her earlier wish of keeping Luo He by her side, this might still count as a happy ending.
Of course, for certain people, it definitely wasn’t.
“How does it feel to regain your freedom?”
Su Huanhuan asked Luo He, her tone unusually gentle.
“Wonderful.”
Luo He nodded in response.
“I’m full of anticipation for this world.”
“Is that so…”
Su Huanhuan was momentarily dazed by Luo He’s sincere expression.
Past suffering hadn’t broken his spirit. When he returned to this world, he still maintained his most primal, most beautiful expectations and fantasies.
He really was…
A very pure, very clean person, like the spring rain, like the small stream in the bamboo forest.
If she stayed with him longer, would she become more transparent too?
“…”
Forget it.
These weren’t things Su Huanhuan should be considering.
This foolish fox truly had a bewitching quality about him.
Su Huanhuan shook her head, determined not to let Luo He influence her.
She would continue to be the cold-hearted, thinly-smiling Su Huanhuan, and no one could change her.
Hmph.
Because Luo He had disturbed her state of mind, Su Huanhuan decided to even the score.
So she flashed her trademark fake smile and said to Luo He:
“By the way, do you know what’s happening with the Tianzhen Sword Sect, or your family’s Young Master Luo and Senior Sister Gu?”
“…”
Haha, just as expected.
Su Huanhuan caught that momentary change in his eyes.
“I don’t know.”
Luo He shook his head.
“Aren’t you interested?”
“I was interested for a moment when you mentioned it, but now I’m not.”
“Hehe… Well, let me tell you that the current Tianzhen Sword Sect has a vacant position of Sect Leader, and two of the seven ancient swords are broken.”
“Of course, one of them seems to be with you. I noticed it earlier.”
“This could be said to be the most severe situation the Tianzhen Sword Sect has faced since taking the first seat among the righteous sects.”
“That makes sense.”
Luo He nodded quite approvingly.
“Gu Jing is missing, and Luo Hongyu locks herself on Zhishui Peak every day, refusing to see outsiders.”
“Over these years, people from other peaks have caused no small amount of trouble. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Tianzhen Sword Sect splits up soon.”
“That wouldn’t necessarily be bad.”
Luo He pondered as he answered.
“Luo Hongyu isn’t suited to be the Sect Leader. If she doesn’t have to bear that responsibility, it might actually be a good thing.”
“Can’t you give me some emotional value?”
“…What kind of emotional value do you think I should display?”
Luo He smiled faintly.
“From the moment I resolved to face death for rebirth, I decided to let go of these things, lest they interfere with my judgment in the future.”
“All these years, I’ve managed to do so.”
“…”
Despite how flawlessly Luo He spoke, Su Huanhuan couldn’t shake the feeling he was lying, though she had no proof.
Tsk, someday she would see him break down…
Su Huanhuan set this goal in her heart.
“I’ve finished my story. Now I want to hear yours.”
Seeing that Su Huanhuan was no longer fixating on this point, Luo He took over the conversation and asked her:
“What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into these past few years?”
…
“So you’re saying you returned to the Demonic Sect because of this blood pool.”
“And then because of this blood pool, someone coveted the demonic relic in your body, and in the end, you crippled the person who tried to steal your demonic relic and fled?”
“That’s right.”
By now, the flames in the cave were no longer as fierce as at the beginning, and layers of ashes had built up around the fire.
Luo He entered Su Huanhuan’s body again to examine the boiling blood pool within her.
And Su Huanhuan’s voice came from her spirit platform.
“Come to think of it, I was too stupid back then… Even though I knew the demonic relic you gave me would cause trouble if exposed, I still couldn’t keep it secret.”
Su Huanhuan spoke slowly, her tone rarely carrying a hint of fatigue.
According to her, the blood pool in her body was called Beichuan, a legacy that had always existed in the Crescent Moon Sect since ancient times.
Legend had it that Beichuan was the resentful blood shed by the sacred beast wounded by Moyou, the founder of the Crescent Moon Sect. He collected and refined it for his own use, giving it the property of never running dry.
It could greatly enhance the power of the Crescent Moon blood techniques, providing the bearer with an almost inexhaustible source of blood energy.
Besides this, the benefits it brought to the bearer’s cultivation were too numerous to count.
Of course, all this was on the condition that you had the qualifications to be the Sect Leader of the Crescent Moon Sect and the ability to refine its resentful energy.
The previous bearer of the Beichuan legacy was the now-deceased old Demonic Master.
Si Yu, the current young Sect Leader of the Crescent Moon Sect, was one of countless individuals throughout the sect’s history who had the qualifications to be Sect Leader but could not refine Beichuan’s resentful energy.
But by coincidence, they discovered the valuable legacy of the old Demonic Master, the previous Beichuan bearer, within Su Huanhuan.
So what happened next went without saying.
But the result was that Su Huanhuan seized the initiative while enduring.
She directly destroyed young Sect Leader Si Yu’s cultivation, and even forcibly took his Beichuan legacy, achieving a beautiful counterattack while facing the entire sect as enemies.
Although Su Huanhuan herself glossed over this with few words, Luo He could still detect the danger inadvertently revealed in her speech.
No wonder the current Sect Leader of the Crescent Moon Sect had been relentlessly hunting her for three years, driving her to this state.
“During these three years, not only has my cultivation not advanced, it’s shown signs of regression.”
“The private army I painstakingly built has been completely lost, and I’ll have to continue fleeing for who knows how long.”
“This is my current situation, like a stray dog. How about that?”
Her tone was full of self-mockery, but distinctly lacking any hint of despair or resignation.
However, Luo He didn’t immediately answer her. After a moment of silence, he emerged from Su Huanhuan’s body and looked directly at her.
“Does my helping you fend off that group of people today count as repaying your favor?”
“It counts.”
“Then we’re even now, right?”
“Hehe… Of course.”
Su Huanhuan lowered her eyes imperceptibly.
This was a reasonable decision. He was free now, so naturally he wouldn’t want to get involved in these messes.
Moreover, he had already helped her a lot. Her current situation could only be blamed on her own bad luck.
Although Su Huanhuan didn’t want to admit it, she had always been looking for an opportunity to repay him. That talk about him owing her a favor was just a joke.
Now that they were even, she was still the one who had benefited more.
There was nothing… for her to be unhappy about.
“Since we’re even, that makes things easier.”
“Su Huanhuan, I’d like to discuss a fair and equitable long-term business arrangement with you.”
Su Huanhuan looked up, meeting Luo He’s eyes that carried a hint of amusement.
…