Chapter 23

Of course Chu Yusheng and Su Baimo's relationship didn't work out. The Su family admired Chu Jinglan's talent but not Chu Yusheng. Although many talented young people in Mucheng were killed, there were more than just Mucheng in the underworld, so there was no need to hang oneself in one city.

The two families clashed in the hall, with undercurrents surging and their thoughts full of each other. Although they did not fall out, the conversation was definitely unpleasant. The emotions of the day spread to the Chu family's backyard at night. Under the bright lights, it was a conversation between people behind closed doors that was unknown to outsiders.

Outsiders do not include inner demons.

It was a dark and windy night. Xiao Mo sat lazily on the roof of someone's house, listening to the conversations below.

Each courtyard of the Chu family has a defensive formation, which can be activated if an external enemy is found to have intruded. However, as long as Xiao Mo removes his spiritual power, he will be a pure spirit, and the protective shield can only treat him as air.

Chu Jinglan had been going to bed early recently because of her injury. Xiao Mo neither practiced nor rested, but slipped out after Chu Jinglan fell asleep.

He followed the marks he had left during the day and found the first family. The rooftop where he was sitting at the moment belonged to the fourth branch of the Chu family. As for the two people talking inside, based on their blood relationship, Chu Jinglan should call them fourth uncle and fourth aunt.

A son of theirs died in the Mushan Secret Realm, and they had a grudge against Chu Jinglan.

Fourth Master Chu: "Did you see Chu Jinglan's expression today? Ha, he deserved it!"

The fourth lady cried for her son for several times, and the bloodshot in her eyes never stopped. She said bitterly: "But my son is dead, he is still alive, the stupid Chu Yu is alive, and the spiritless Xiao Shi is also alive, why didn't they save my son!"

As the Fourth Lady spoke, she began to sob again. She was really sad because the smell of her body seemed to be getting better and better to the Inner Demon.

In the secret realm of Mushan, the disciples' despairing aura turned into the fragrance sensed by Xiao Mo. At that time, Xiao Mo was confused and didn't understand why, but after breaking through the Yuanying stage, he understood the reason: as a heart demon, he can gain strength from the seven emotions and six desires of human beings and improve his cultivation.

No matter love or hate, excitement or despair, any emotion that crosses the critical point will become "obsession", will become dangerous, and will drive people to make impulsive and irrational behaviors, but it is a good nutrient for the inner demons. Even if it lasts for a short time, the inner demons can smell the fragrance and fill themselves up.

There is a ready-made person in the Chu family to provide for Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo found it funny when he heard this on the rooftop. He just kept blaming others. Why didn't he scold their own child for being a waste and holding Chu Jinglan back?

Fourth Master Chu also sighed: "If my son were still alive, the position of Young Master might not have been Chu Yusheng. He just relied on the fact that he was the son of the head of the family. How could his other abilities compare to my son's!"

"But don't threaten Chu Jinglan's life for the time being. Wouldn't it be more painful for him to suffer alive than to die?"

The fourth lady was even more heartbroken by what he said and burst into tears: "My poor child!"

It was so heartbreaking and moving that Xiao Mo had a cold expression on his face and casually hooked his finger. A black mist invisible to others floated out from Mr. Chu Si and his wife, and affectionately rubbed against Xiao Mo's fingertips, which were as flawless as white porcelain.

It lingers and circles, the ink-black color dyes the white snow, so beautiful that it seems to have an inexplicable magic. If anyone can see it, they may be inexplicably haunted by it.

The inner demon comes from the human heart and is most likely to touch the heartstrings.

Black mist floated, lingering softly while merging into Xiao Mo's body. Xiao Mo's eyes turned dark red, and he regarded the humans in the room as nourishment. He was truly a monster and evil spirit.

After inhaling the black mist, Xiao Mo sniffed his fingertips lightly, and a satisfied sigh appeared on his beautiful face. The taste of human heart is indeed sweet.

Xiao Mo stretched his body lazily, stopped listening to the crying in the room, and went to the next room.

There was a quarrel in Chu Wumei's home.

She didn't seem to be too sad because her brother had died. After listening to her parents quarreling for two rounds, she said impatiently, "That's enough!"

The two stopped and turned their eyes to her.

Chu Wumei sneered repeatedly: "Only three members of the Chu family's direct lineage have died, and I am still alive. This is our family's opportunity. Tenth brother is a loser, and Chu Yusheng is a fool. Even if he is allowed to take the position of young master temporarily, he can't do anything."

Her eyes lit up strangely: "We encouraged him to kill Chu Jinglan, but he was caught. Let him be proud of himself first. The Chu family will be controlled by us sooner or later!"

Wow, there was an unexpected gain. It turns out that the assassination was not only about Chu Yusheng, but also about Chu Wumei.

However, a small Chu family in the lower world is a harbor of filth and corruption, containing all kinds of human nature. Looking around the world, how many people are good and how many are evil?

Xiao Mo also drew away their biased and delusional thoughts and transformed them into their bodies.

Xiao Mo could feel his state of mind changing, but he himself was not sure whether it was normal human growth or he was becoming more and more integrated into the identity of the inner demon and was being affected. Therefore, although the human mind was fragrant and had great benefits, Xiao Mo did not dare to eat too much for the time being.

Even when faced with inner demons, he has to ensure that he is still himself.

After enjoying it two or three times, Xiao Mo still practiced his mind diligently and continued to play his flute in Chu Jinglan's courtyard.

There was only one servant left in Chu Jinglan's courtyard, and it became increasingly lonely. In the following days, Chu Jinglan struggled to regulate his breathing in the house and slowly moved his body. Xiao Mo practiced outside the house, and sometimes went to check on Wanyu's condition for Chu Jinglan.

The sound of Xiao Mo's flute, which sounded like a call to one's soul, formed a perfect match with the crows on the courtyard wall, bringing out the mood of loneliness in the clear autumn.

Chu Jinglan used to think that the flute was noisy, but now that he was deposed, his mood has changed. He actually feels that the sound of the flute blows away all his depression. Although it is unpleasant, it is appropriate for the occasion.

Xiao Mo was lying lazily on the branch of a big tree. He had no shadow. Today he was wearing a hibiscus gauze, which was tied between the trees. The hems of his clothes were spread out layer by layer, casting shadows of flowers among the tender leaves, which was very natural.

Chu Jinglan opened the window and saw a scene in which everything was like poetry.

The beauty lies under the jade tree, her cloud-like dress like blossoming branches.

Except for the messy flute sound, everything else is good.

Xiao Mo's charm is in his nature, and temperament can affect how a person appears in the eyes of others. Therefore, even though Xiao Mo's facial features are about 60% similar to Chu Jinglan's, they are indeed two completely different people.

Xiao Mo once said that he had a certain look he wanted to grow up to be, and Chu Jinglan agreed with him. It wasn't that he was not confident about his face, but that he felt that Xiao Mo should have a look that better matched his temperament. Chu Jinglan thought that he would definitely look better.

The inner demon likes brightly colored clothes, and his clothes are more suitable than his own.

Chu Jinglan's mobility had not yet fully recovered, and it was already very strenuous for him to walk to the window. The window was some distance away from the tree, and over the sibilant sound of Xiao Mo's flute, it would be easy to lose hearing if one spoke in a low voice.

Two days ago, Xiao Mo gave Chu Jinglan a method of transmitting sound, which was only applicable between the inner demon and the real body. Although Chu Jinglan's cultivation was destroyed, the strength of his previously trained consciousness was still there. Xiao Mo helped him condense a "line" in his consciousness. As long as he put his consciousness on it, the two of them could transmit sound through thoughts.

As long as the connection between the inner demon and the main body is not cut off, they can communicate no matter how far away they are, and there is no need to worry about anyone eavesdropping on their voices, no matter how big a boss comes.

Although he had learned the method, Chu Jinglan had not tried it yet.

Looking at the inner demon in the courtyard, Chu Jinglan's consciousness was light and he transmitted the message in his heart.

【Xiao Mo】

The sound of the flute in the courtyard stopped abruptly. The hibiscus flowers on the tree were startled by the slight sound, and they trembled. They widened their eyes in disbelief and looked towards Chu Jinglan in shock.

This was the first time Chu Jinglan called Xiao Mo's name, not "inner demon" or "you", but Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo jumped down from the tree branch, stepped lightly onto the ground, and stood in the courtyard, facing Chu Jinglan through a window. He looked a little uncomfortable: "...You called me?"

Chu Jinglan saw his embarrassment, and a hint of emotion disappeared from her eyes. She spoke in her own voice, "Xiao Mo."

Because the demon's spirit has no blood, no matter how big the emotions fluctuate, his face will not turn red, unlike other people who will blush.

Xiao Mo seemed to be unable to bear his shouting. He rubbed the flute nervously and turned his head away awkwardly: "I heard it. Stop shouting. Do you want me to go see Madam Wanyu? I'll go right away."

Chu Jinglan held onto the window frame to support himself. He thought for a moment and said, "No, I just suddenly wanted to call your name."

Xiao Mo: “…”

He turned and ran.

"I'm going to Madam Wanyu's yard!" Xiao Mo's words were only heard from afar in the wind, and the figure disappeared in the blink of an eye.

The courtyard returned to silence, a green leaf fell from the tree, and Chu Jinglan couldn't help but chuckle in the wind that let his inner demons escape.

The weather is nice today.

Ding, the sound of points increasing came to Xiao Mo's ears.

There was no quarrel today. This was a positive emotional fluctuation. It could be seen that Chu Jinglan was in a good mood.

Xiao Mo flew away like a gust of wind, yelling at the system, "What is he doing? I heard him, he called me twice, is he trying to tease me?"

When the system noticed the upturned corners of Xiao Mo's mouth and the smile on his face, it knew that the host was not really asking a question, so it searched for a suitable word: I was shown off.

Although it seems a bit strange to use it in the relationship between the inner demon and the original body, but considering that it is Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan, it is quite reasonable.

System: "Well, after analyzing this, you should understand what he is doing, dear."

"Not really." Xiao Mo raised his face in the daylight, "Even if it's an inexplicable action, as long as it can make people feel good, it's enough."

To Chu Jinglan, he used to be just an inner demon who was determined to fight to the death with her sooner or later, but now it is different.

Names have meaning.

Moreover, since coming to this place, no one has called Xiao Mo's name. The system only knows the host and you. It is a name that I haven't heard for a long time. When I heard it today, it felt so familiar and as if I were in another world.

Well, I have indeed died once.

Xiao Mo was in a leisurely mood, and Wanyu's yard also appeared in his sight. He was about to float in when the system suddenly said, "Host, today is Wanyu's day."

A plate of cold water poured down on him, and Xiao Mo stopped abruptly.

The fragrance of flowers, the clear chirping of birds on the branches, and the clear blue sky make it a beautiful and comfortable day.

Xiao Mo, however, felt as if frost was creeping up bit by bit, freezing his heart and fingertips completely. The emotions that had just drifted away suddenly plunged into the abyss and he could never get up again.

He didn't forget, he just didn't expect it to come so soon.

Wanyu's courtyard was just around the corner, but Xiao Mo felt rooted there and couldn't move no matter what.

After a long while, he finally pulled his legs out from the thorns and walked step by step into Wanyu's yard.

Chu Jinglan was shocked that he did not see his mother for the last time. At this moment, Wanyu was still alive inside the door.

Wanyu was sitting in front of the dressing table today with a calm expression. She was staring at herself in the mirror. When the maid brought the medicine, she reached out and touched her bun.

This maid had been with her for many years and was the only devoted one. The others had all run away, and she was the only one willing to serve someone who could go crazy at any time.

"Ma'am, the medicine is here."

The maid could not suppress her sadness. Today's medicine was the last bit left in the courtyard. Now that Chu Jinglan had been deposed, the Chu family no longer sent her medicine. After drinking this bowl of medicine, what would the Madam do?

Wanyu didn't seem to be ill. She waved her hands and said, "No hurry, Xiaotao, come and help me comb my hair."

The maid put down the medicine bowl and walked behind Wanyu: "Madam, what kind of bun do you want to wear?"

"It's a fairy crane bun," Wanyu said, "a bun that young ladies wear when they are still young."

Xiao Tao didn't think anything was wrong: "Okay."

The weather is really good today, the sunlight shines down warmly, shining on Wanyu's moist face. Xiao Mo leans against the door, watching Madam Wanyu's jet-black hair rising up, and the fairy crane gradually taking shape, spreading its wings as it prepares to fly. This is an auspicious sign, implying good luck and fortune.

Wanyu took a look and took off her gorgeous red hairpin, leaving only a small peach flower in her hairpin. She took the lip balm and put a touch of bright red on herself.

When she stood up, Xiao Tao was surprised to find that the lady had changed her clothes while she was away. She was wearing a pink skirt and looked like a young girl in her twenties, in the prime of her life.

Wanyu smiled at the mirror, but found that she was no longer the same girl as before. The sadness and scars in her eyes could no longer be completely gone.

Wanyu looked at herself in the mirror and suddenly asked, "Is Chu Tianshi in his yard today?"

The servants never dared to mention Chu Tianshi in front of her, for fear that hearing the name would irritate Wanyu. Unexpectedly, she actually took the initiative to mention it today. Xiao Tao was surprised. She carefully looked at Wanyu's expression and confirmed that she was temporarily fine before she said angrily, "Yes."

When she passed by Chu Tianshi's courtyard when she went to get food, she could hear singing and dancing, laughter from a distance. She was afraid that he had brought someone back from somewhere and was having a good time.

Wanyu nodded: "Okay."

"Some people say that being shocked can damage one's Dantian and ruin one's cultivation. Is that true?"

Xiao Tao's heart beat up into her throat, and she immediately became angry: "Who is gossiping in front of you! These people are simply, simply -"

Wanyu looked at her expression and understood: "It seems to be true."

Those people came and told her these things on purpose, hoping to use her to provoke and shock her.

"Husband, Madam," Xiao Tao said in a panic, "Young Master is a lucky man, he will definitely be cured, don't worry, take care of yourself first."

Wanyu suddenly smiled and touched her head.

"Thank you for following me all these years."

Xiaotao almost burst into tears because of what she said: Why are you talking about this suddenly?

"Ma'am, let's drink the medicine first, okay?"

Wanyu said, "No."

She shook her head. "I've never been so awake before."

Xiao Mo knew that the medicine for curing madness would also suppress her cultivation, so Wan Yu refused to take the medicine at this time because of what she was going to do next.

Wanyu is going to kill Chu Tianshi.

She has been crazy for so many years, but she is actually a cultivator in the middle stage of the Golden Core.

When she is not ill, Wanyu is very clear-headed, but being awake is not necessarily a good thing for her because it is very painful.

She had thought about ending her life many times while she was awake. Her heart was too tired and full of holes. She always felt unbearable nightmare when she woke up from her madness. Many times, she pressed her fingers on her heart or neck, but she always thought of Chu Jinglan at the last moment.

She lowered her hand tremblingly.

Wanyu knew that her son was extremely talented, and that Chu Jinglan looked at her with hope in his eyes, so she endured to live in this world, wanting to leave Chu Jinglan with a thought of him.

But now that Chu Jinglan is dead, the Chu family has not yet removed the restrictions on her. They simply want to use her as a threat and squeeze the last bit of value out of Chu Jinglan.

After all the calculations, the only thing about Chu Jinglan that could be targeted now is his spiritual roots.

Mutated ice spiritual roots are rare to see.

If a cultivator's spiritual roots are forcibly extracted, they will be destroyed, but if they are donated voluntarily, then the spiritual roots will remain active after being dug out and can be given to other people.

Even if Chu Jinglan was willing to change, Wanyu was unwilling to let them succeed.

To put it in modern terms, Wanyu's depression had long come to an end. She had been wanting to die for many years, and she had been holding on for Chu Jinglan. Now that Chu Jinglan was in desperate situation, she wanted her death to have some value.

Wanyu straightened the hairpin in her hair and said slowly, "I was born in a dark corner. Someone lit a torch and I thought I saw the sun. It was not until he took me into a cage and extinguished the torch that I realized friendship was fake, people's hearts are not the same as before, and I took the wrong path."

She picked up the jewelry box and put it into Xiaotao's hand: "There is nothing valuable in my yard. Take these away. Go."

Xiao Tao's hands were shaking, and she finally cried as Wanyu spoke in a tone that sounded like she was telling her about her last wishes: "What about you? Where are you going?"

Wanyu smiled.

"Go and tear open the cage for my son." Her eyes sparkled. "This is how my life has been, but we can't both be caged birds. Let's go, Xiaotao. We each have our own paths. We don't need to see each other again."

Xiao Tao was holding the jewelry box, standing there at a loss. Xiao Mo silently followed Wan Yu out of the house that had locked her up for a long time. The breeze blew across her face, and Wan Yu looked like a fairy. Xiao Mo was stunned for a moment, then suddenly trotted over and reached out to grab her.

But the veil slipped away from his hands without stopping.

From the perspective of a reader of the original novel, Xiao Mo knew that Wanyu was already at the end of her rope and had wanted to be free for a long time. Regardless of whether Chu Tianshi was killed today, she no longer had the strength to live.

Chu Jinglan had been planning for years, determined to take her away, but he didn't know that Wanyu had died in the Chu family many years ago and could not leave.

She is not haunted by the smell of madness or drugs. She is like a wisp of wind in the forest, coming from the top of the mountain and going far away.

There is no looking back.