Chapter 25: The Demonic Master’s New Disciple

However, before Ye Qingfeng’s tear ducts could completely give way, Chang Heyu finally made his appearance.

“Is it you, junior, who dares to summon this Venerable One?! Truly, you know not the immensity of heaven and earth!”

Wielding the crimson Blood-Stained Banner, he materialized out of thin air before Ye Qingfeng, much like an enlightened master emerging from seclusion.

His aged face was etched with a solemn gravity, and his blood-red Blood s*ave Sect robes billowed as if stirred by an unseen wind, exuding an inherent aura of domineering authority.

His words, heavy and cold, carried with them a surging killing intent and a profound deterrent power.

This ostentatious entrance truly left Ye Qingfeng stunned.

‘Not because she was intimidated by Chang Heyu’s theatrics, but rather, ‘Could you at least put in a little effort, damn it?!”

His sudden appearance was merely an illusion created by an Origin Reversion Realm expert’s burst of spiritual power, accelerating so swiftly it seemed he materialized from nowhere.

The robes that billowed without wind were simply him constantly expelling spiritual power outwards.

As for the oppressive force in his words, it was nothing more than him simultaneously channeling spiritual power to bear down on Ye Qingfeng.

‘Couldn’t he at least add some lighting effects or environmental changes?’

‘For instance, that Blood-Stained Banner in his hand—it would look more imposing if he stuck it into a cauldron of blood than just holding it.’

‘Alternatively, he could compress the surrounding crimson aura into a swirling mist, letting it envelop the area, which would not only obscure the opponent’s vision and heighten his mystique but also provide excellent self-protection.’

‘And could his eyes please match his expression?’

‘Those shifty, rat-like eyes hardly belonged to an enlightened master.’

Ye Qingfeng silently gave the man’s abysmal acting a score of zero.

Yet, her expression and actions betrayed none of her thoughts.

Instead, she bit the tip of her tongue, allowing a trickle of blood to escape the corner of her lips, feigning the body’s inability to withstand such ‘heavy pressure’ after being ‘overwhelmed.’

Her breathing grew ragged and uneven, her eyes wide with a mix of terror, awe, and even a hint of surprise.

Her body trembled incessantly, as if she truly stood before a primordial demon.

Chang Heyu was quite pleased with Ye Qingfeng’s performance, secretly smug about his own acting prowess.

As an old dog who had barely survived until now, he was ready to strike at the slightest sign of abnormality from Ye Qingfeng.

Though the Blood-Stained Banner was not yet fully refined, his prepared strike would be more than enough to kill a Bone Cleansing Realm cultivator.

Even if he failed to kill or if circumstances changed, he could still make a swift escape.

However, it now seemed that his worries were likely overblown.

Ye Qingfeng, seemingly having recovered, immediately pressed her head to the ground, weeping bitterly.

“Oh, Demonic Master!” she cried. “You have finally appeared! I am willing to offer everything I possess, if only you would help me restore my appearance and allow me to personally slaughter that beast who deserves to be cut into a thousand pieces!”

“Hmph! Are you daring to command me?!”

Chang Heyu let out a cold snort, and Ye Qingfeng promptly held her breath, not daring to take another gasp.

Then, she heard him speak:

“If you wish to become my disciple, first do not ask what I can do for you, but rather, what you can bring to me.”

Ye Qingfeng immediately replied, “What does the Demonic Master require of me? I shall not shrink from any task, even if it means facing ten thousand deaths!”

“Furthermore, my accursed scoundrel of a husband still possesses some savings—accumulated over more than two years—which I can also offer entirely to the Demonic Master!”

Chang Heyu narrowed his eyes.

Ye Qingfeng, a Blood s*ave (TL Note: A cultivator forcibly converted into a blood-cultivating servant for a demonic sect, often losing their will and autonomy.) delivered right to his doorstep, was already a pleasant surprise; he hadn’t expected an additional windfall.

“You can still retrieve them? He’s ruined you to this extent; I fear he must have long since embezzled those savings, no?”

“Then just kill him.”

A sharp glint flashed in Ye Qingfeng’s eyes as she spoke, her voice thick with killing intent, “Those petty individuals are planning to come to you, Demonic Master, to die anyway!”

Chang Heyu was instantly startled, his voice sinking as he said, “Elaborate.”

A fleeting smile touched the corner of Ye Qingfeng’s lips before she eagerly explained, “Demonic Master, you don’t know, that audacious beast is on the verge of a breakthrough in his cultivation realm.

He desperately needs spirit stones to purchase a realm-breaking pill at an upcoming auction, and thus, he has set his sights on you, Demonic Master.”

Concerned for his own safety, Chang Heyu hastily inquired, “How many of them are there? What are their strengths? When will they arrive?”

“Uh, well.”

Ye Qingfeng awkwardly replied, “After I heard this news, I immediately came to find you, Demonic Master, so I’m not entirely clear on the details yet.”

Seeing Chang Heyu’s expression turn somewhat unfavorable, Ye Qingfeng quickly added, “Demonic Master, have no worries.

That scoundrel of a husband hasn’t discovered that I’m informing you, and I will return later to continue gathering information for you.”

Though inwardly terrified, he maintained an air of authority before his future Blood s*ave.

“Hmph,” he scoffed, “mere Bone Cleansing Realm cultivators; what is there for me to worry about?

I am merely incensed by their sheer audacity, daring to set their sights on me!”

“I misspoke; you are absolutely right.

Those wretches are nothing more than fodder for the Demonic Master.

I’ve heard that the flesh and souls of cultivators are a great tonic for the demonic path, perfect for offering to you, Demonic Master!

Then, I shall remain by your side and watch them one by one scatter their souls in despair.”

Ye Qingfeng gnashed her teeth, declaring, “I ask for only one thing: before the Demonic Master devours that scoundrel husband’s soul, please hand him over to me first.

I wish to torment him in a hundred ways, to—”

For nearly a minute, Ye Qingfeng rattled off various soul-torturing methods she had encountered in cultivation novels from her previous life, each one more gruesome than the last.

Chang Heyu couldn’t help but take half a step back, merely sighing at the venomous heart of a woman.

However, this only made Chang Heyu feel more at ease with Ye Qingfeng.

She was clearly born to be a demonic witch!

Moreover, a disciple from a righteous sect would never stoop to such obsequious behavior towards him.

“Your request is not excessive; I shall grant it.”

Chang Heyu said indifferently, “However, while a few ants are not worth mentioning, it would be unprofitable for their dying struggles to soil my sleeves.

Therefore, you must return once more to ascertain their plans and strengths.

Then, I shall be able to capture them all in one fell swoop without expending any effort.”

Ye Qingfeng spoke with an expression of adoration, “Demonic Master, you strategize from afar and win battles a thousand miles away! I shall attend to this at once!”

“Wait.”

As Ye Qingfeng rose, preparing to depart, Chang Heyu suddenly called out to her.

He retrieved a blood bead from his robes.

“Considering the 缘分 (TL Note: A predestined relationship or connection, often implying fate or destiny.) between us,” he began, “this is a divine introductory medicine of my Blood s*ave Gate.

Consume it, and you shall be considered my personal disciple.

If you follow my will, the demonic path will be smooth; but if you defy my will…”

Before Chang Heyu could finish, Ye Qingfeng unhesitatingly snatched the blood bead and swallowed it in one gulp.

“If I ever dare to betray you, Demonic Master, you may dispose of me as you please.”

Chang Heyu, who had intended to utter more threats, was momentarily stunned by Ye Qingfeng’s eager cooperation.

He couldn’t help but ask, “Don’t you want to know what effects this blood bead has?”

Ye Qingfeng inquired, “Isn’t the effect simply to become your personal disciple and join the Blood s*ave Gate?”

“Uh, indeed it is.”

“I was merely a humble rogue cultivator, and now to be able to enter a demonic sect is a tremendous stroke of fortune.”

Ye Qingfeng, her eyes filled with anticipation, then patted her utterly flat chest, asserting, “As for the other rules, I understand them all.

As long as I don’t betray you, Demonic Master, how could you possibly treat me unfairly?”

Chang Heyu spoke with a look of great satisfaction, “Good, good, good.

In these times, there are few cultivators with such understanding as you.

Rest assured, you are now my personal disciple, and I will certainly not treat you poorly.”

Ye Qingfeng gritted her teeth, once again wiping her eyes with her sleeve, and immediately tears streamed down her face.

“Demonic Master! You are truly my reborn parent!” she exclaimed. “I, Feng, have drifted for half a lifetime without finding a true master.

If you do not abandon me, I wish to acknowledge you as my adoptive father and serve you by your side from this day forth!”

“Good, good, good! With such an adoptive daughter, how could my great plans possibly fail?!”

Subsequently, Ye Qingfeng, her eyes still misty with tears, bid farewell to her adoptive father, Chang Heyu, and departed.

After Ye Qingfeng vanished from his sensory range, Chang Heyu couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotion.

He had never imagined that he, too, would have a turn of good fortune, not only gaining a Blood s*ave for free but also, if all went well, acquiring new cultivators to sacrifice to his Blood-Stained Banner.

As for Ye Qingfeng’s loyalty, Chang Heyu had ceased to worry about it the moment she swallowed the Blood s*ave Pill.

A mere Bone Cleansing Realm cultivator could never escape the Blood s*ave Pill’s control.

The longer the Blood s*ave Pill remained within Ye Qingfeng’s body, the stronger his control over her would become.

With such an advantage, how could he possibly lose?!

While he was indeed cautious, he wasn’t one to completely abandon all ambition.

If there was an opportunity to slightly elevate the sect’s standing, then a small amount of risk was naturally acceptable.

However, while Ye Qingfeng’s loyalty was theoretically no longer an issue, judging by the woman’s behavior, she had clearly become extremist due to her ruined appearance.

He was well aware of how emotional instability could impair one’s intelligence, and thus, he believed some of Ye Qingfeng’s words, but not all of them.

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Chang Heyu’s eyes.

“Some arrangements still need to be made,” he mused.