Chapter 45: The Culture of the Demon Race
Folding fan.
A white silk folding fan with an ink wash landscape design.
Shen Qingqiu swept the ground open with his fan, waving it in front of his chest, his long hair and beard flying together.
The image isn't great, and it clashes slightly with the props, but it doesn't matter.
With a folding fan in hand, I have the perfect tool for showing off.
Shen Qingqiu stepped onto a rock and said, "Speak. What is your purpose in infiltrating the human realm?"
A group of people—no, demons—were huddled together in front of him. Although, from the outside, the two were basically indistinguishable.
The one at the front said tremblingly, "We usually just... steal some little trinkets from the human world and take them back to exchange for something."
Demons don't have a unified currency; they mostly engage in barter. They trade if they like something, and if not, they simply don't. Given their level of craftsmanship and artistic taste, even a simple embroidery is considered a top-tier work of art to them. Therefore, various items from the human world are actually quite popular there. And the least valuable items are the various special effect crystals that are ubiquitous in the demon realm.
However, just because they are common among demons doesn't mean they have no market in the human world!
Shen Qingqiu snapped his fan shut and said solemnly, “This is a remote and desolate place, a godforsaken place where even birds don’t defecate and chickens don’t lay eggs. Its production level is backward, its economy is underdeveloped, and the people’s happiness index is generally below average. It is really wrong of you to come and take advantage of the situation.”
The little demon was greatly puzzled.
How come he remembered that when he was caught, this... expert was also stealing... no, borrowing clothes to wear?
And this folding fan that's being used so enthusiastically is also one of them.
Shen Qingqiu thought to himself, "I have no choice but to do this - I can't expect him to continue wandering around like a wild man wearing clothes dug out of the ground."
However, this broadened his horizons. If he could provide these petty demons, who previously only dared to steal chickens and dogs, with legitimate channels for small commodities, perhaps he could carve out a new world of farming and wealth creation in this cultivation and monster-slaying-dominated world?
Shen Qingqiu indulged in some irresponsible daydreaming, deciding that if he were to take on followers, he should first understand each other's lifestyles. He asked gently, "Do you eat rotten flesh?"
All the little demons shook their heads in unison. Shen Qingqiu was about to breathe a sigh of relief when the leader of the little demons said dramatically, "Father said that only wealthy families can afford rotten flesh..."
Shen Qingqiu: "That's enough."
It's not a matter of economic status at all! Luo Binghe is quite wealthy now that he's risen to power in the Demon Realm, right? How come I've never seen him like to eat this kind of thing!
He paused, then asked a different question: "What's your name?"
The first person answered, "Six balls."
Shen Qingqiu: "What do you mean?"
Six Balls said, "Because when I was born, my dad held me and said I weighed as much as six balls."
Shen Qingqiu: "..."
What ball? Shot put or ping pong?! This name makes absolutely no sense.
The rest eagerly announced their names, each one more unbearable to hear than the last, yet they seemed quite proud of it.
Is this the pragmatic style of naming commoners among the demon race?
The demon race doesn't have a surname culture, so their naming conventions are extremely imaginative and bold. Those generals who clearly rose from humble beginnings, like Elder Tianchui or Elder One-Armed, have titles that are utterly baffling. However, those born into nobility, such as Mobei Jun, Sha Hualing, or Luo Binghe's father Tianlang Jun, have slightly better names.
Shen Qingqiu suddenly realized that it was fortunate that Luo Binghe hadn't been thrown into the Demon Realm and picked up. If he had been adopted by a commoner from the Demon Clan, given his style, who knows what kind of name he would have been given that sounded like his parents had a grudge against him.
What should I call him?
A cover photo?
No, no, no, there should be something even more earth-shattering. I remember some girl in the original novel shyly remarking that Luo Binghe was... well, you know. With a harem of three thousand and countless nights with his concubines, he could have sex anywhere, and after thousands of years, his "golden spear" remained as strong as ever. Actually, the nickname "Peerless Cucumber" would be quite fitting for Luo Binghe. But since he's already taken that title, how about Luo Binghe be called... Heavenly Pillar?
Hahaha, holy crap, Luo Tianzhu! Hahahaha, so satisfying!
Shen Qingqiu had just finished laughing when he suddenly slapped himself.
You're fucking crazy!
They use the main character's mind to create vulgar, dirty jokes!
What's so funny? Have you even figured out who you should be stalking?!
Seeing this master laughing and then angrily fanning himself, the little demons were completely bewildered and dared not utter a sound. Suddenly, Shen Qingqiu's smile vanished, and he placed his fan on the six spheres' shoulders, pulling them close.
Shen Qingqiu took a sword tassel from his waist: "Where did you get this?"
This is a sword tassel, but not an ordinary one.
This is the water-colored tassel on the sword of the leading lady, Liu Mingyan!
Do you understand the tokens that symbolize the love between the male and female protagonists? Shen Qingqiu paid special attention to them back when they were at the Cang Qiong Mountain Sect. They are easily recognizable.
How did this thing end up in the hands of a borderland devil?
Six Balls stammered, "This...this wasn't stolen, we found it..."
Go out and pick one up for me anywhere. Shen Qingqiu asked, "Where did you pick it up?"
Six-way: "These past few days, big shots have been blocking the road at night. They would send their men to clear the way. A few of us were a bit curious, so we hid by the roadside and then found this on the road."
A big shot?
The important figure mentioned by the little demon must be a high-ranking figure in the demon realm.
Such figures typically don't frequently travel to border areas to attract attention, and in fact, the environment there is usually unsuitable for them. So, who on earth could brazenly occupy this road and even leave behind Liu Mingyan's belongings?
The first possibility that Shen Qingqiu thought of was, of course, someone.
He asked, "Is the important person you're talking about... a good-looking young man?"
After thinking about it, he decided not to go against his conscience and changed his words, saying, "It's not that I'm good-looking, it's that I'm very good-looking, exceptionally good-looking."
Six balls shook their heads, then suddenly blushed.
Why are you blushing?
Shen Qingqiu questioned him for a while but couldn't get anything out of him, so he pondered to himself.
It shouldn't be Luo Binghe.
Luo Binghe possesses the Heart Demon Sword, an insanely overpowered cheat that allows him to cleave the space between two realms with a casual slash. He can easily cut himself open and slip into the Demon Realm without ever having to exert so much effort or obediently follow the smuggling route to the border.
So here's the question: the demons left behind Liu Mingyan's belongings in the area they passed through. Did Liu Mingyan get captured?
He had no recollection of Liu Mingyan, the female lead, receiving such treatment in the original story. Which lackey dared to touch Luo Binghe's wife?
Although the Liu siblings usually cultivate separately on their respective peaks, the original text mentions that they have a very good relationship. Perhaps it's just that neither of them is the clingy type, which makes their sibling bond seem rather ordinary. But regardless of whether Liu Mingyan is Liu Qingge's sister or Qi Qingqi's beloved disciple, he can't abandon her. At this point, the system (should) (temporarily) no longer pose a threat to him, and he's no longer afraid of being restricted or having his "cool factor" drastically reduced.
Should we go and take a look?
Shen Qingqiu asked, "Where is the breach at the border?"
At midnight, Shen Qingqiu lay prone on a treetop, concealing all traces, and looked down.
After waiting for an unknown amount of time, the air in a certain area suddenly distorted, becoming visibly abnormal.
Shen Qingqiu's eyes lit up, and he held his breath, only to see a young man in black run out.
They were quite a distance apart, but Shen Qingqiu's sharp eyes allowed him to see clearly. The boy was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with a tense expression and a sharp, handsome face. Shen Qingqiu found the face strangely familiar, though he couldn't quite place where he'd seen it before—but he was certain he had!
Suddenly, a clear female voice rang out in the silent night, delicate yet cool, echoing through the forest: "The subordinates of Hundred Battles Peak are indeed formidable. Even with a hundred Immortal Binding Ropes binding their bodies, they were able to defeat so many of my subordinates who had been fleeing for so long. Indeed, we cannot afford to relax for even a moment!"
Upon hearing the voice, Shen Qingqiu immediately understood.
A beautiful and noble demon with subordinates, whose name makes me blush—it turns out to be Sakura Rin!
Sorry, this girl was one of the female leads, but she hasn't been around for so long that I've almost forgotten about her!
If Liu Mingyan falls into her hands, her fate will be even more worrying. Scratching her entire face would be the least of her worries.
No wonder the boy's running posture seemed off, and his body appeared somewhat heavy. Shen Qingqiu had only been looking at his face, but now, looking down, he noticed several extremely fine silver threads wrapped around his body. Judging from his attire, he was indeed from Hundred Battles Peak, though he didn't seem to have seen such a young disciple there before.
Knowing he couldn't outrun his opponent, the young man abruptly stopped, a fierce aura emanating from his brow: "Fight if you want!"
With a flash of red gauze, Sha Hualing swayed gracefully, revealing her figure. She smiled sweetly and said, "I finally managed to catch you, how could I bear to hit you? Come on, let's go back together."
The boy had a fiery temper and spat. Sha Hualing said, "You won't? Although I won't harm your spirit, cutting off an arm or a leg won't stop you from using it."
As she spoke, she reached out her right hand to grab the boy, but before she could touch him, she suddenly felt an extremely strange vibration between her fingers.
Saharei thought she had fallen for the boy's trick and hurriedly withdrew her hand. When she looked up, she saw that all five of her nails, which were painted with bright red nail polish, had been cut off.
Although it was just a fingernail and didn't hurt at all, Sha Hualing felt a chill run down her spine.
She shouted sharply, "Who is it?!"
If there were someone here who could easily cut off her fingernails, then cutting off her neck would be absolutely effortless.
Shen Qingqiu felt much better and put the twig, which had been stripped of its leaves, back down.
He actually just wanted to scare Sha Hualing. By the way, having such long nails isn't good; seriously, every time he sees them, he worries they'll break, it's extremely uncomfortable. And he often scratches Luo Binghe's back until it's bloody... Even if Xiang Tian Dafei Juju likes this kind of heavy stuff, even if Luo Binghe's regenerative abilities aren't human, it doesn't mean it's a healthy and positive lifestyle habit, right? He's doing a good deed, isn't he?!
Sha Hualing's killing intent surged instantly. Her red veil billowed, releasing a chilling demonic aura that enveloped her five claws and shrouded the boy. This girl wasn't intimidated; instead, she became enraged. She was truly a formidable character. Helpless, Shen Qingqiu leaped down from the treetop, landing between the two. He gathered power in one hand and unleashed a devastating blow, striking Sha Hualing directly.
He knew this body possessed abundant spiritual power, but he hadn't expected it to be this extreme. Before their palms even touched, Sha Hualing was sent flying backward like a repelled magnet, her revealing clothes tearing in the process…
Although it was supposed to be a perk, Shen Qingqiu always adhered to the principle of "not looking at the perks of any woman whose face is above average in this world," so he consciously blurred them out. Sha Hualing was also quite decisive; last time she was going to say something harsh, but this time, considering her strength, she didn't even bother with any formal lines. She simply rolled on the spot, disappearing into the distorted air.
Shen Qingqiu tossed the fan back and forth in his hand, then channeled spiritual energy into it, transforming the fan into a blade. With a backhand slash, the Immortal-Binding Rope was severed into hundreds of pieces. The young man clasped his hands in a practiced manner and said, "Thank you for saving me, Senior!"
Shen Qingqiu asked, "Are you a disciple of Hundred Battles Peak?"
"Exactly."
"Who will sit down?"
"My master is Liu Qingge, the peak master of Hundred Battles Peak."
Shen Qingqiu's eyes widened.
Liu Qingge never accepted disciples. On his Hundred Battles Peak, most were his peers, or disciples taken in by his fellow disciples; he himself had no interest in teaching. Although, in fact, the so-called "teaching disciples" on Hundred Battles Peak mostly involved beating up that person a bit more…
Shen Qingqiu asked with slight suspicion, "What's your name?"
The boy answered loudly, "Yang Yixuan."
I knew he looked familiar; I must have seen him somewhere before!
He had forgotten that five years had passed; five years was enough for a child to grow up. Shen Qingqiu looked Yang Yixuan up and down, filled with emotion. Liu Qingge had actually taken him as her disciple.
Yang Yixuan asked, "Senior?"
Shen Qingqiu asked, "How has your master been these past few years?"
The last time they met in Huayue City, he had somewhat tricked him. Shen Qingqiu felt he had to check on his junior brother's situation.
Yang Yixuan said, "We have suffered repeated defeats."
Shen Qingqiu: "..."
The phrase "repeated defeats" being associated with the master of Hundred Battles Peak is truly mind-blowing!
Shen Qingqiu asked, "Who did he fight? Luo Binghe?"
Yang Yixuan snorted, "Who else could it be but that little beast?"
Shen Qingqiu's face twisted slightly. Yang Yixuan himself was much younger than Luo Binghe, yet he also called him "little beast"—who did he learn that from?
Little did he know that now, throughout the entire Cangqiong Mountain Sect, when Luo Binghe was mentioned, he was either called a "little beast," a "demon wretch," or an "ungrateful wretch." Calling him by his name with "this bastard" was considered polite.
Yang Yixuan asked curiously, "Are you and my master acquainted, senior?"
Shen Qingqiu coughed. "That's all in the past... I thought she was being a bit strange just now. What did she mean by 'How could I bear to part with her'?"
Yang Yixuan's face immediately turned red.
Shen Qingqiu asked, "I can't believe it! How did she manage to capture you?"
Yang Yixuan said, holding his breath, "If this vixen hadn't used such cunning tricks, first pretending to be a woman in distress, and then suddenly taking off her clothes after I became suspicious, I would never have fallen into her trap."
Shen Qingqiu lectured, "Look at you, do you still look like someone from Hundred Battles Peak? Not being close to women isn't about being afraid of them. What's wrong with taking off your clothes? What's wrong with a girl taking off her clothes in front of you? When your master went to fight the succubus, the entire cave was naked!" Of course, he was there at the time and had wondered if Liu Qingge was frigid or had some kind of physiological problem…
Getting back to the main point. Sha Hualing not only captured Yang Yixuan, but most likely also Liu Mingyan. Such a high-profile capture of Cangqiong Mountain Sect disciples can only have one reason.
Luo Binghe is in trouble.
Author's Note: Thank you to Night Love, orli, Shadow, Unreliable Pig and Light V, Uncle is the most lovable, Chestnut Fried Rice, Bale, Xi, Da Bao sees you every day, Beyond the Shore, Leslia, Ten Thousand Copper Coins, Ya Ya, and Guo Xiaoyuan GN for the landmines.
How could the system just be uninstalled like that? Impossible! I haven't even used the Scenario Pusher a few times yet!
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