Chapter 2 burned the foolish little demon.

In the deep forests of Cuiling Mountain, under the moonlight, the shadows cast by the crisscrossing branches resemble ferocious beasts with gaping maws, terrifying beyond measure.

Hua Xun ran around anxiously, following Baili Sheng's scent, searching frantically in the deep woods.

The passing branches and leaves rustled and whipped against her body, like being scraped by a wind knife, causing a fine, dense pain.

Hua Xun couldn't care less about anything else; all she could think about was finding Baili Sheng as soon as possible.

After all, it's likely that the immortal, human, and demon realms are all searching for him now.

The immortals and the demons have been irreconcilable enemies since ancient times.

Humans have always maintained good relations with the immortals and follow their lead.

A towering divine tree, Jianmu, stretches across the heavens and earth, channeling the spiritual energy of the immortal sects into the human realm. Those with spiritual roots can cultivate using this energy, creating millions of cultivators in the human world.

Those with exceptional talent ascend to immortality, stepping into the realm of the immortals.

The demon race and the monster race are inherently violent and unrestrained, and they have always respected the strong, so neither is willing to submit to the other.

It wasn't until Baili Sheng appeared, slaying the old Demon Lord with a flick of his wrist, and quelling the chaos of the demon race, that unprecedented harmony was achieved.

However, after the great chaos between immortals and demons, Baili Sheng was injured. The demon race now has the Left Protector temporarily assuming the position of Demon Lord, and they certainly do not want him to return. For the past ten years, they have been sending people to hunt him down.

Baili Sheng's magical power has not yet recovered. If he is captured by any of the three realms, he will likely face dire consequences.

As Hua Xun pondered this, he mobilized all his magical power and used the Wind Control Technique to increase his speed, hoping to find Baili Sheng before those cultivators.

Hua Xun was experiencing a dull pain in her dantian due to the spell, but she couldn't pay attention to it. As she sped away, she made rustling sounds.

A whooshing sound suddenly came from behind her.

Hua Xun turned around and saw a long arrow, gleaming with golden light, piercing through the darkness of the forest with fierce force, shooting straight towards her at an extremely fast speed.

Hua Xun opened her eyes wide in alarm and unconsciously took several steps back, trying to avoid it.

The spirit arrow, however, seemed to possess intelligence, moving swiftly in response to her movements.

A sense of crisis, like spring ice on a tiger's tail, enveloped Hua Xun, who could only watch helplessly as the spirit arrow pierced through her body.

Suddenly, a dark figure leaped forward from the side and hugged her.

The long arrow, imbued with spiritual power, pierced deeply into the shadowy figure's shoulder. The golden light gradually dissipated, and the spiritual power vanished as well.

Hua Xun heard a deep groan and a familiar medicinal scent.

"Bai..." Hua Xun tried to call out softly, but her lips were covered by a large hand, and the person in front of her led her quickly to hide in the depths of the woods not far away.

In the dim light, Hua Xun saw Baili Sheng's face.

Before long, two cultivators flew over. After looking around, one of them said, "The arrow clearly hit the target, but there is no sign of anyone. They must not have gone far. Tell our senior brothers to come and search this place."

The other person readily agreed.

Hua Xun's expression tightened slightly as she smelled the spiritual aura similar to that of the "distinguished guests" in Dahe Village.

These cultivators were indeed here to kill Baili Sheng.

Hua Xun pursed her lips tightly, not daring to make the slightest sound.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the two searched the area without success and then moved on to search in more distant places.

Hua Xun breathed a sigh of relief and turned her head to see Baili Sheng's increasingly pale expression.

The arrow that should have been aimed at her was instead pierced through his chest by him instead of her.

He saved her once again.

A gentle night breeze blew, and Hua Xun felt her eyes welling up with tears.

She blinked hard and asked in a hoarse voice, "How are you?"

Baili Sheng gently shook his head: "I'm fine."

Hua Xun looked at his blood-soaked shoulder, pursed her lips, and raised her hand to transfer the turbid qi in her body to him.

Before Hua Xun could even gather her energy, Baili Sheng gently grasped her wrist: "Your dantian is weak, so keep some of your cultivation to protect yourself."

"But you..."

"I am a useless person, but this body of mine will not easily turn into rotten flesh."

Hua Xun knew he was right. Although he had lost all his magical power, his body was still an innate demonic body, an immortal body.

Hua Xun earnestly corrected him, "You are not a cripple."

Baili Sheng gave her a deep look, but did not say anything.

In the dim light, Hua Xun couldn't see Baili Sheng's gaze, but she heard him lower his head and chuckle softly, the meaning of which was hard to decipher.

At that moment, spiritual energy surged around them, and more than ten more people arrived, in addition to the two cultivators from before.

Hua Xun's expression tightened slightly. She stepped aside to block Baili Sheng and cautiously looked around.

Baili Sheng lowered his eyes, glanced at the frail little demon protecting him, and did not move.

“There’s demonic energy here,” said the seemingly most powerful cultivator among the group of cultivators not far away, his expression serious, “but it’s not strong.”

"We'll split up and search within a ten-mile radius."

Seeing the cultivators scattered in all directions, and two of them already searching towards her, Hua Xun's heart began to pound rapidly.

Baili Sheng listened to her rapidly beating heartbeat: "Afraid?"

Hua Xun clenched her fist and nodded in admission: "It would be a lie to say I'm not afraid." Then, perhaps to put his mind at ease, she turned her head and added, "Don't worry, I will protect you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Baili Sheng's expression became even stranger.

“They’re looking for me, they want to kill me. You shouldn’t have come along,” Baili Sheng said quietly. “If you turn back into your original form and leave now, those cultivators will just think you’re some little demon who flew in from somewhere and won’t pay any attention to you.”

Hua Xun paused for a moment, carefully considering his words.

Baili Sheng maintained a smile on his lips, but his fingers twitched slightly behind his back, and a faint red light gradually emerged in his palm, revealing a hidden killing intent.

“You’re right.” Hua Xun turned to look at him, her gaze intense. “They’re looking for you, so they certainly won’t kill me.”

Hua Xun's eyes shone even brighter: "Baili Sheng, I'll distract them, and you can take the opportunity to escape. Head west and you'll be able to get out."

The faint crimson light that had been flickering in Baili Sheng's palm paused for a moment and then gradually dissipated.

He stared at the woman in front of him and stated the facts: "You will be in danger."

“I have wings, which make it easier for me to fly and hide,” Hua Xun said, as if to reassure him, revealing her gray wings. “It also makes it easier for a demon to escape.”

Baili Sheng looked at her wings, which were dusty and gray.

Ugly and stupid.

Hua Xun's meager magical power struck the tree branch to the east, causing it to tremble instantly and become particularly conspicuous in the forest.

"There's movement over there!" the cultivators whispered, then rushed forward in unison.

“Leave this behind,” Hua Xun quickly plucked a feather from her wing and stuffed it into his arms. “Once I shake them off, I can find you no matter where you are.”

After saying this, Hua Xun took off on the wind, making a huge commotion, and flew quickly eastward.

"Over there!" the monks shouted.

Then several beams of light followed, and in a moment there was no movement around.

Baili Sheng stood in the remaining silence, a few birds overhead, startled by the commotion, flew away with cries.

He raised his eyes and stared straight ahead several miles away, clearly seeing more than ten cultivators chasing after that little demon.

The cultivator continuously struck the little demon with his spiritual power, nearly hitting it several times, but the little demon managed to dodge each time.

Until one day, a burst of spiritual energy struck the little demon on the back, and the little demon's body fell lightly from the treetop like an autumn leaf.

Baili Sheng stared at that inconspicuous little figure, his fingertips unconsciously curling up.

But soon, the little demon took to the air again and struggled to fly eastward.

Baili Sheng withdrew his gaze and stopped watching.

He turned his head, glanced at the spirit arrow on his shoulder, casually pulled it out, threw it into the grass, and flew towards the dilapidated courtyard at the foot of the mountain.

Baili Sheng realized three days ago that his magical power was gradually recovering.

Upon realizing this, Baili Sheng knew it was time for him to leave.

He would never stay in such a dilapidated and shabby mountain village courtyard, accompanying a little demon as weak as an ant.

Therefore, he left a hidden imperial seal on the ginseng that Hua Xun had picked, which could only be perceived by those who had previously given him personal permission.

The arrival of those cultivators was unexpected. They were probably just passing by and noticed the demonic energy emanating from him, which led them to investigate.

His current magical power has only recovered to about 10-20%. Although dealing with that group of cultivators is no problem, if he attracts people from the immortal and demon races, it will be a loss.

So, he shielded Hua Xun from that harmless arrow in exchange for her wholehearted devotion to leading away the group of cultivators.

Hua Xun is stupid.

She knew he wouldn't die from the arrow, yet she was still moved to tears.

However, if he weren't stupid, he wouldn't have risked being hunted down by the Three Realms to rescue him from the Demon Palace and keep him by his side for ten years.

ten years……

Baili Sheng lowered his eyes and chuckled.

*

Down the mountain, in front of the small courtyard.

Shang Qu, dressed in a black robe and silver armor, solemnly looked at the imperial seal faintly visible on the ginseng in his hand.

This is indeed the Lord's imperial seal, but how could such a secret imperial seal appear in such a lowly and vulgar place?

A subtle surge of magic surged behind him. Shang Qu turned around abruptly and saw a man in a blue robe standing in mid-air not far away. His handsome face, shrouded in the night, looked down upon the small mountain village.

If Shang Qu was still suspicious when he noticed the Lord's secret imperial seal appearing in the Yongzhou area yesterday, now that he sees the figure flying from afar, he can only submit.

"Welcome back, Your Majesty!" Shang Qu flew forward to greet you, bowing his head excitedly. "I knew Your Majesty would not perish so easily."

"Hmm," Baili Sheng replied casually, "What has happened to the Demon Clan in recent years?"

Shang Qu's excitement gradually subsided, and upon hearing this, he couldn't help but frown and say, "Left Protector Xuan Donglai is ostensibly temporarily assuming the position of Demon Lord, but in reality, he has long harbored the ambition to take over. In the ten years since the Lord disappeared, those who were loyal to the Lord have all been imprisoned or secretly murdered."

Baili Sheng lowered his eyes and pondered silently without uttering a word.

After a long while, he chuckled softly, a laugh that sent shivers down one's spine: "My power has not yet fully recovered. You should go and find a quiet place."

"yes."

"And this place," Baili Sheng said casually, gazing at the small village below, "burn it down."

"Yes." Shang Qu never asked the reason why the master was in charge, and left after receiving the order.

Baili Sheng slowly flew towards an old tree not far away, stood on the treetop, and looked down at the raging flames and painful howls that were gradually burning. The flame of hatred in his chest seemed to ignite as well.

Ten years ago, I was trapped in the execution array, and the pain of my flesh being torn apart and my magic power being dissipated has never been forgotten.

For ten years, he could only follow a lowly demon, feigning gentleness and enduring humiliation to survive—a scene that is utterly repulsive.

Only by completely disappearing from this village, from all those who had witnessed his pathetic state of weakness, worse than an ordinary person, could the slightest ripple in his heart be calmed.

Baili Sheng looked down at the "spectacle" below with a chilling sneer in his eyes.

Until a feather was blown by the heat wave and reached him, Baili Sheng frowned, raised his hand and caught the feather in his palm.

These are the feathers that Hua Xun gave him not long ago.

For some inexplicable reason, Baili Sheng recalled the scene from the past ten years when Hua Xun would always say with a serious expression, "Every feather of a crow is very precious."

Even last night, when she was reviewing the Wind Control Technique, she hesitantly asked him if there was a way to regenerate hair.

When he asked her why she wanted to learn this kind of magic, she covered the back of her head and shut her mouth.

It was so precious, yet you just pulled it out without warning.

Baili Sheng stared intently at the gray feather, and the image of the little demon's stubborn yet silly smiling face appeared before his eyes.

He frowned, loosened his grip, and let the feather fall into the sea of ​​fire...

A note from the author:

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His true nature as a scumbag is beginning to show.