Chapter 189: Are You Afraid?

“Xie Yuguang, that sword is not a good thing. Why do you still keep it?”

The youth, who had already heard the legends of that cobalt-blue ancient sword, stood in the female general’s path.

His narrow phoenix eyes were locked firmly onto her as he recounted the stories he had gathered.

“The Demon Sword Chixue—three hundred years ago, its wielder went mad and slaughtered more than fifty people in a village, young and old alike.”

“The Demon Sword Yunlan—two hundred and twelve years ago, its wielder fell into the demonic path and massacred the Merfolk tribe in Hanchuan Prefecture, causing them devastating losses.”

“The Demon Sword Duan Li—one hundred and forty-seven years ago…”

“Although the names of the swords in these rumors vary, there is no doubt that they are all this very sword in your hand!”

“It affects a person’s sanity; there has been no exception from ancient times to the present!”

“Everyone who has used this sword has fallen into a demonic frenzy, knowing only slaughter until their bodies were destroyed!”

The youth’s face was filled with urgency.

Looking at the youth before her, the female general merely offered a smile.

“I know.”

Hearing her say this, the youth became even more frantic.

“You know?! You know, yet you don’t hurry to dispose of it?!”

“Are you waiting to die?”

The female general waved a hand at the youth.

“It’s fine. I don’t deign to use it anyway.”

“Right now, it’s hanging on the wall of my house as a decoration. It’s actually quite beautiful.”

Hearing this, the youth’s eyes widened.

“Xie Yuguang, are you a normal person? What normal person hangs a demon sword on their wall? Are you trying to ward off evil?”

Perhaps the youth’s words touched a funny bone, as the female general laughed lightheartedly.

“Alright, it’s not like you don’t know me.”

“I’m so strong; do I really need a demon sword to help me kill enemies?”

“Don’t worry—”

The voice in the memory melted into the firelight, becoming the fuel for the roaring flames.

The fire licked the city walls of Yelan and destroyed the surrounding forests.

The flames reached for the sky, turning it a blood-stained crimson.

Amidst the fire, four-eyed monsters moved in packs, approaching with menacing momentum.

The youth had exhausted all his strength. He collapsed on the ground, where even moving a finger was a luxury.

In front of him, a woman stood alone, holding a cobalt-blue sword.

The Gu Sha Sword pushed forward relentlessly; wherever the blade reached, the demons were annihilated.

“Xie Zhaoying, take everyone and leave—”

The firelight stung the youth’s eyes. In the darkness, the scene before him was replaced by Meng Yingxing, whom he had pinned down.

“The sword in your hand is the world-famous Demon Sword Duan Li!”

Xie Zhaoying gripped Meng Yingxing’s clothes tightly and spoke sharply.

“Do you know what happens to those who use the demon sword in the end?”

“Their blood and qi surge uncontrollably, and they become extraordinarily violent!”

“They become addicted to slaughter and die a sudden, violent death!”

“The spiritual cultivation world always talks about ‘demonic sects,’ but those who use this sword are the ones who truly enter the demonic path!”

Meng Yingxing didn’t hear a word of what Xie Zhaoying said.

His brain had completely stalled after hearing that the sword in his hand was the Demon Sword Duan Li.

Meng Yingxing’s vision was blurred, his ears rang suddenly, and his thoughts were a chaotic mess in his head.

‘The Ting Tian Sword… is the Demon Sword Duan Li?’

With this conclusion, Meng Yingxing suddenly realized that some of Xiu Qingcheng’s previous abnormal behaviors now had a rational explanation.

Why had she been so interested in the history of the Demon Sword Duan Li back at the Tianfeng Sect, yet lost all interest after entering Yelan City?

Meng Yingxing had originally thought it was just Xiu Qingcheng’s usual flighty way of thinking.

Looking at it now, it was clearly because she already knew she was the Demon Sword Duan Li.

“Hey! Kid! The Demon Sword Duan Li has killed countless people and harmed countless masters!”

“How do you feel right now? Do you feel easily enraged? Do you feel your blood and qi surging from time to time?”

Seeing no reaction from Meng Yingxing, Xie Zhaoying questioned him while patting his cheek, then reached out to seize the Ting Tian Sword from his hand.

However, just as Xie Zhaoying’s hand was about to touch the sword, Meng Yingxing snapped out of it as if waking from a dream. He executed the Great Spirit-Breaking Finger and tapped his body.

Xie Zhaoying’s movements stiffened for a brief moment. Taking this opportunity, Meng Yingxing kicked him away and flipped over to escape.

“Kid, don’t be stubborn! Hand over the Demon Sword Duan Li immediately, or you won’t even know how you died!”

Xie Zhaoying frowned as he looked at Meng Yingxing.

‘I’ve already made it clear that this sword is not a good thing. Why is this kid so indifferent? He better not be ungrateful!’

Meng Yingxing looked at the Ting Tian Sword in his hand, a hint of bewilderment flashing in his eyes.

At this moment, Xiu Qingcheng suddenly dashed in front of Xie Zhaoying, her sword swinging toward his hand that held the Blood Kong Flower.

Xie Zhaoying hadn’t expected the woman, who had been idle just now, to strike.

His expression changed, and he dodged to the side.

The two clashed again, and Xiu Qingcheng was starting to get annoyed.

Killing Xie Zhaoying would be easy, but now that Meng Yingxing knew certain things, Xiu Qingcheng had lost the desire to kill him.

She leapt into the air, swinging out a sky full of sword shadows. Her sword intent was vast and the momentum grand.

Xie Zhaoying hurriedly mobilized all his demonic power. Several massive fox tails gathered in front of him to form a barrier, attempting to block Xiu Qingcheng’s attack.

The sword shadows fell. The fox demon barrier lasted only a few seconds before shattering instantly.

Countless wounds were carved into Xie Zhaoying’s body, and he was sent flying backward.

In his pain, Xie Zhaoying’s strength failed him. The Blood Kong Flower flew out of his hand and was accurately snatched by Xiu Qingcheng in a flash.

Seeing this, Xiu Qingcheng let out a light chuckle.

“Well then… many thanks to this gentleman for being willing to let us have the Blood Kong Flower…”

As her voice faded, and by the time Xie Zhaoying opened his eyes, Xiu Qingcheng had already vanished with the Blood Kong Flower and Meng Yingxing.

Ignoring the pain from his injuries, he scrambled up from the ground, his expression shifting between light and dark.

Losing the Blood Kong Flower wasn’t a major issue, but now that the demon sword had reappeared, as one of its victims, he certainly wouldn’t just let it go.

He had to find that youth.

Xie Zhaoying remained silent, attempting to use his demonic power to track the traces of Meng Yingxing and Xiu Qingcheng.

He had just used all his demonic power to block Xiu Qingcheng’s attack; at this moment, his energy was temporarily depleted, and he was completely unable to use it.

‘It seems I can only wait for a while.’

Just as this thought crossed his mind, Xie Zhaoying’s vision went black, and he fainted.

On the other side, having obtained the Blood Kong Flower, Xiu Qingcheng pulled Meng Yingxing along as they headed back toward Yelan City.

Xiu Qingcheng found a random spot and set Meng Yingxing down.

During the entire process, Meng Yingxing showed no reaction at all, as if he had lost his soul.

Xiu Qingcheng looked at him, for a moment not knowing what to say.

‘Fine, it seems the fact that I am the Demon Sword Duan Li has brought quite a shock to my little disciple.’

‘But you can’t blame me. My memories are blurry too; I just remember things as they come. I only remembered this was the case after arriving in Yelan City.’

‘The Demon Sword Duan Li has killed countless people and harmed countless masters…’

‘Sigh, it truly seems to be a… shameful history.’

Xiu Qingcheng let out a breath and pressed the cold glass container of the Blood Kong Flower against Meng Yingxing’s face.

The chill traveled from his face to his entire body, and Meng Yingxing snapped out of his daze.

“Master.”

Meng Yingxing looked at Xiu Qingcheng, who had a faint smile on her face.

He lowered his head again and looked at the Ting Tian Sword in his hand.

The atmosphere between the two was heavy with a suffocating stillness.

Xiu Qingcheng waited for Meng Yingxing to speak.

She waited for a long time.

“So, Master… is what that person said… true?”

Meng Yingxing still couldn’t help but ask.

‘Here it comes.’

Xiu Qingcheng’s heart lifted slightly. Although she still wore a smile, it was slightly stiffer than before.

“Mm… it’s probably true?”

Xiu Qingcheng tilted her head, her finger tapping her cheek as she looked away, feigning a thoughtful expression.

“That part of my memory is still quite blurry, but it seems there really was such a thing.”

“They called me the Blood-Sucking Demon Sword Chixue, the Demon Sword Yunlan, and the Demon Sword Duan Li? I have quite a few names.”

“Is that so?”

Meng Yingxing said only that, leaning back against the wall behind him, lowering his head, and returning to silence.

On the surface, Xiu Qingcheng remained calm, but internally she was already incredibly anxious.

‘Why has this damn disciple stopped talking? Disciple, hurry up and say something!’

Xiu Qingcheng moved her body, leaning down in front of Meng Yingxing. Forcing her expression to remain steady, she squinted and smiled.

“What is it, disciple? After learning of your Master’s great fame, are you afraid?”

After asking, Xiu Qingcheng involuntarily clenched her fists, her heart tightening.

She waited for Meng Yingxing’s response.