Grand Elder
Seeing that the other party had finally brought up something important, Wen Zheng turned around and sat down, asking, "What is it?"
When they meet with the Grand Elder tomorrow, they will discuss the mistakes Hua Rong made in the Immortal Chasing Sect, so they probably won't be able to help.
Wen Zheng was about to refuse when Zhan Xin interrupted her, saying, "I know you came here because of Hua Rong, but if the Grand Elder asks about Elder Zhu Que's condition tomorrow, please make sure you don't say that his injuries have healed."
"Just for this?" Wen Zheng asked, puzzled.
Zhan Xin nodded, "Just for this."
Wen Zheng glanced at him silently, then at the large pile of spirit stones on the table, and hesitated for a moment.
Based on Zhan Xin's description, it was just a simple matter of saying a few words, but I always felt there was something fishy going on.
She turned to look at Mu Qing, "What do you think?"
She wasn't quite clear on these intricacies, but Mu Qing was better at it than her, so she should ask for his opinion.
Mu Qing had been quietly drinking his tea while the two were talking, but now that it was his turn to speak, he looked at Wen Zheng and asked, "Do you want to help with this?"
He was casual, but he wanted to see what Wen Zheng thought.
"Me?" Wen Zheng's brows furrowed. Although the other party's matter was minor and no problem could be seen, it would be bad if it got involved in something else.
Wen Zheng's fingers twitched in distress, and the wooden bracelet on her wrist spun around and around, much like her current state of utter confusion.
After a long while, she finally looked up and asked, "Won't making us say that put us in a dangerous situation?"
Zhan Xin shook his head: "No."
"Okay, I'll trust you this once." Wen Zheng agreed, but she was still conflicted, feeling that she had made the wrong choice.
Could this act of helping them put them in danger, or cause them to run into trouble on their way back?
Zhan Xin had been gone for a long time, but Wen Zheng was still stuck in her own emotions and couldn't get out of it. Mu Qing tapped on the table to attract her attention, "Don't think about it anymore. My cultivation is enough to help you break through the encirclement."
The demon race does indeed have a Nascent Soul stage, but he is not a Nascent Soul cultivator; at worst, he can reveal his cultivation level.
His words of comfort left Wen Zheng momentarily stunned: "I just made a mistake."
I have a constant feeling of unease, like something big is about to happen.
Mu Qing noticed that something was wrong with her and suggested, "Why don't you go back to sleep for a while?"
Given the current situation, Wen Zheng could only go to sleep and analyze the situation after she woke up. She nodded, got up to go back to her room to sleep, and just as she stood up, something was stuffed into her hand.
"Don't forget your spirit stones." Mu Qing handed the spirit stones to Wen Zheng and closed the door after everyone left.
After meditating in his room for a while, he got up and went to Fumanlou. He bought what he wanted and returned to his room, not knowing what to do next.
Wen Zheng's sleep was extremely restless; she kept waking up, and in her dreams, there were overwhelming black shadows that she couldn't make out what they were.
The next day.
As Wen Zheng left, she rubbed her groggy head. The door next to her creaked open, and Mu Qing came out, looking like she hadn't slept well either.
"Good morning," Wen Zheng greeted weakly. Mu Qing nodded in response, "Didn't you sleep well?"
Wen Zheng hummed in agreement, intending to go downstairs to get something to eat and clear her head. Mu Qing reached out to call her back, but then withdrew her hand and followed her downstairs.
After the two finished their meal in silence, they went to see the Grand Elder. When they presented their visiting cards, the demon who opened the door was very disdainful and tried to throw the cards back with a cold face. However, after seeing Mu Qing's cultivation level, he changed his expression and respectfully let the two in.
Wen Zheng, following behind Mu Qing, couldn't help but complain, "Do the demons of Qing Shi City seem to be mentally challenged?"
No one shows their disdain for others on their face; they all secretly criticize others while appearing kind on the surface.
This was the first time Wen Zheng had ever seen a demon so perfectly embody the phrase "first submitting, then bowing." They looked neither human nor demon; they seemed like they hadn't developed their brains.
"That's good. Just be quiet and space out for a bit, I'll speak." Mu Qing's deep voice reached Wen Zheng's ears, and she nodded.
With her level of cultivation, she probably wouldn't have a say in front of this group of demons who fawn over the powerful and bully the weak.
The two were led to the Grand Elder that Xiao Ze had mentioned, an old man on the verge of death, with withered skin hanging from his body like a dead tree, looking as if he had one foot already in the coffin and was on his last breath.
When the demon leading the way saw the old man, he knelt down and performed a deep bow, as if he were seeing his own father. Mu Qing nodded slightly in greeting, and Wen Zheng repeated Mu Qing's actions from behind.
The Grand Elder waved for the demons to leave, then smiled and invited the two to sit down, saying, "You two have had a long journey to the demon realm."
"It's alright." Mu Qing replied simply; he was always a man of few words in front of outsiders.
The Grand Elder's expression remained unchanged: "I know you two came here because of Hua Rong. How is he now?"
Mu Qing: "He has all four limbs, is healthy and free from illness or disaster, and is currently working at the Zhuxian Sect to pay off his debts."
The First Elder said, "That's good. His father can finally rest easy. He sent over the compensation yesterday, and I'll have someone bring it over later."
Mu Qing: "Mm."
The two of them went back and forth, talking about nothing of substance. Wen Zheng was almost falling asleep listening to them. To perk herself up, she started looking around.
The houses of the demon race are different from those of the Immortal Pursuit Sect. They are covered with brightly colored demon totems, most of which are tigers, with a few birds as well.
The birds were much more colorful, unlike the tiger which only had a few monotonous colors. There were other demon totems, but there were so few that Wen Zheng couldn't recognize them even after looking at them several times.
As she was intently examining the totem, the elder seated above her called out, "Young friend, are you interested in the totems of the demon race?"
Wen Zheng smiled, revealing an endearing expression, and said, "This is the first time I've seen such a vibrant totem, so I took a second look."
Her feigned silliness drew a glance from Mu Qing, but she didn't stop her.
The elder seemed amused by Wen Zheng's words and said, "If you like them, young friend, I'll give you some."
Wen Zheng's face lit up with surprise and disbelief. "Really?" she asked.
"Of course it's true." The Grand Elder instructed the people around him, and Wen Zheng immediately thanked him, "Thank you, thank you for your trouble."
"It's alright." The Grand Elder waved his hand to indicate that he didn't mind. After chatting with Wen Zheng for a few words, he suddenly asked, "I heard you came from Mingguang City. I wonder how Zhuque is doing? Have you seen Zhuque?"
He asked the question seemingly casually, but his sharp eyes were fixed on Wen Zheng's expression, trying to detect something amiss.
Fortunately, Zhan Xin had told Wen Zheng yesterday that she was already prepared. She kept her composure in front of the Grand Elder and said, "Lord of Vermilion Bird City? Of course I've met him. Xiao Ze even asked us to help him gather herbs, but unfortunately they were destroyed."
"Oh?" the elder asked in surprise, "There are people who can destroy medicinal herbs from your hands?"
The questioning tone clearly indicated suspicion towards Wen Zheng, and his murky eyes stared at her, sending chills down one's spine.
The atmosphere suddenly changed; Mu Qing's hand tightened in her sleeve, and her eyes turned cold.
Wen Zheng seemed oblivious to the problem and continued, "Speaking of which, it's really bad luck for the Lord of Vermilion Bird City. I don't know who he offended, but he was first ambushed and then poisoned. The herbs we collected were also destroyed by that person."
"Oh, really?" The elder did not completely believe Wen Zheng, and the doubt in his tone lessened somewhat.
“Yes, the one who injured the Vermilion Bird City Lord was a woman, and also a human.” Wen Zheng said, shaking her head as if lamenting the Vermilion Bird City Lord’s bad luck.
The Grand Elder remained silent this time, his eyes lowered, lost in thought.
After finishing his tea, Mu Qing suddenly said, "Now that the matter of Hua Rong has been resolved, let's return to the sect to report back."
After he finished speaking, he stood up, and Wen Zheng skillfully followed behind him, preparing to leave. The Grand Elder called out to the two of them, "My birthday is in ten days. Why don't you two stay and have a drink before you go?"
Although it was a question, the two immediately understood its meaning.
We must stay.
At this moment, Wen Zheng couldn't help but lightly pat her mouth. Since it was so intelligent, she shouldn't have spoken carelessly.
Mu Qing sighed softly and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you."
Having successfully kept the person in the village, the Grand Elder shed his amiable demeanor, revealing an indescribable strangeness.
"No trouble at all. You two can stay here for now. I'll see you off after the birthday banquet." After the elder finished speaking, the demon who had led the way earlier walked in. "This is my little demon Aqing. Just tell him if you need anything."
Mu Qing and Wen Zheng responded and followed A Qing to the courtyard where they were arranged to rest. Once they were a distance away, Wen Zheng suggested, "Why don't we run now?"
The Grand Elder's birthday banquet must be very busy, and they might be short-staffed, which might help them leave smoothly.
Thinking this, Wen Zheng reached for her storage bag, intending to take out some talismans to prepare for her escape.
Mu Qing pressed down on her hand and gently shook her head, saying, "Don't act rashly. There are many experts outside."
There were more than he had imagined; all the experts of the demon race should be here.
He never expected that such a small birthday banquet would cause so many unexpected problems. Things seemed to be beyond his control and had become somewhat troublesome.
Wen Zheng looked at his cold expression and slightly furrowed brows, and whispered, "How many are there? Can you beat them?"
With such a grim expression, things must be incredibly difficult for this to happen.
“There are many, and I could fight them, but it’s unnecessary,” Mu Qing said. He didn’t want to reveal his true cultivation level unless absolutely necessary.
"It seems we can only spend the rest of the birthday banquet with the Demon Clan's Grand Elder," Wen Zheng said naturally.
Having experienced so many unfortunate things, she was no longer surprised by them.
"Let's take it one step at a time. Don't go out for the next few days," Mu Qing advised. "I'll find an opportunity to go to Fu Man Lou and find out what's going on."
"Okay, be careful." Wen Zheng nodded.
The two went back to their respective rooms to stay.
That night.
Upon receiving the news, Zhan Xin rushed to Elder Qingniao's residence and was somewhat surprised to see a grandfather and grandson when he knocked on the door.
"My lord, those two humans have been left with the Grand Elder."
Zhanxin ran over, covered in sweat, wanting to know what was going on with Elder Qingniao.
He knew that Elder Qingniao would put on an act in front of the Grand Elder, but with those two humans detained, did the Grand Elder really believe Elder Qingniao's words?
"You've arrived, please have a seat." After Elder Qingniao finished speaking, he turned to Mayor Zhao beside him and said, "I've arranged for people to leave tonight."
Mayor Zhao pulled Xiaoyu down to kneel and kowtow to him, saying, "Thank you for your help, Elder Qingniao. From now on, as long as you ask, I will go through fire and water for you, even at the cost of my life."
"Alright," Elder Qingniao interrupted him. "I hate it when you talk about life and death like this. Hurry up and leave, or the city gates will close."
He casually helps out, and these little demons are always willing to give their lives for him. Why bother?
Mayor Zhao thanked Xiao Yu again before leaving with Elder Qingniao's men. As soon as they left, Zhan Xin immediately asked, "Should we save those two humans?"
Elder Qingniao shook his fan. "No need. It's too early to act now. I believe Xiao Ze must have his reasons for sending these two people here. Let's leave them for now."
Zhan Xin considered Xiao Ze's abilities, abandoned his thoughts of saving people, and instead asked, "There are still a few days until the Grand Elder's birthday banquet. Is there anything else I can do?"
The plan to eliminate the Grand Elder has been going on for far too long, and it cannot afford to go wrong in the slightest.
Elder Qingniao poured him a cup of calming tea and uttered four words calmly: "Wait and see."
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