Chapter 42: What Did I Tell You? Things Are Indeed Not That Simple

Chi Xiao descended from Ethereal Peak accompanied by several sisters.

From a distance, she possessed the commanding aura of a true leader.

"Sister Xiao!"

Jiu Li'er was pleasantly surprised and immediately stepped forward to cling to Chi Xiao's arm. Their intimate manner was enough to demonstrate how close their relationship was.

Chi Xiao looked at Jiu Li'er, then at Zheng Tuo beside her, and flashed a playful smile.

"Li'er, am I interrupting you two?"

Upon hearing this, Jiu Li'er's small face instantly flushed crimson, and her entire being radiated an unusual sense of joy.

"What are you saying, Sister Xiao? Senior Brother and I are just studying formations; it's not what you think!"

Such a frantic explanation was, to Chi Xiao, equivalent to a confession.

Instantly, the Yue Lao bloodline within her was activated.

"I didn't say anything. How do you know what I'm thinking? Or is it that you're feeling guilty, little girl, fearing that I know something?"

Chi Xiao teased, reaching out to give Jiu Li'er a firm squeeze in certain soft areas.

Jiu Li'er let out a startled cry. The blush that had already colored her face instantly spread to her neck, and her entire person overflowed with happiness.

"Sister Xiao, there are people watching!"

Jiu Li'er whispered, lacking the courage to look at Zheng Tuo's expression.

"What are you afraid of? It's not the first time," Chi Xiao said generously, before giving her another firm squeeze.

Turning her gaze toward Zheng Tuo, her reddish-gold eyes shimmered with light, as if she were employing some divine technique to see right through him.

Feeling Chi Xiao's gaze, Zheng Tuo actually felt relieved.

Last time at the market, he had nearly been seen through by her. Being cautious, he had immediately sought a way to counter this upon his return.

He used the Ancient Bronze Mirror to disguise his appearance.

Thus, every person he interacted with saw a different face and physique.

He had even modified the name "Zheng Tuo" so that even if several people gathered together, they wouldn't suspect it was the same person; they would simply assume it was someone with the same name.

Chi Xiao stared intently at Zheng Tuo, attempting to discern something.

To her disappointment, her divine ability revealed nothing unusual.

However...

Why did this guy give her such a sense of familiarity?

The feeling was elusive, making it difficult for her to grasp.

"Junior Brother, have we met somewhere before?"

Chi Xiao leaned in close to Zheng Tuo, circling him as she searched for any familiar traits.

"Ahem..."

Zheng Tuo feigned a cough.

"No, no, no... im-im-impossible... we... we... have no reason to have met."

Zheng Tuo pretended to stutter, and his performance was quite convincing.

Hearing the stuttering, Chi Xiao shook her head.

That guy was incredibly sharp-tongued; she had experienced it firsthand. *Bah, what am I thinking?*

Besides, that bastard's talent should be quite good; how could he still be at the first stage of Qi Refinement after more than four years?

Furthermore, there were no such coincidences in the world.

In the massive Luoxian Sect of over fifty thousand people, she just happened to run into that bastard at the foot of Ethereal Peak—and given that bastard's cautious personality, he would never come to the foot of Ethereal Peak.

"Sister Xiao, are you all heading out on a mission?"

Jiu Li'er immediately changed the subject, not wanting to make things difficult for Zheng Tuo.

"Yes, we heard there are traces of the Demon Race appearing near our sect," one of the senior sisters said.

"Bai He!"

Chi Xiao barked a cold command, startling Bai He into immediate silence.

Realizing she had said the wrong thing, Bai He stuck out her tongue, apology written all over her face.

Matters regarding the Demon Race had always been suppressed; the young disciples who participated in the assessment that day had all sworn to keep the secret.

Therefore, the vast majority of the Luoxian Sect was unaware of the demons' appearance.

Firstly, to avoid causing panic.

Secondly, to prevent these hot-blooded disciples from spontaneously forming teams to settle scores with the demons—after all, many of their parents had participated in the Holy War and were slain by the demons.

*I knew it, things are indeed not that simple.*

Zheng Tuo now wanted to return to Luoxian Mountain immediately, without a moment's delay.

"Alright, alright, I won't disturb you two lovebirds on your date. But I'm warning you," Chi Xiao leaned toward Zheng Tuo, releasing a powerful spiritual fluctuation of the seventh stage of Qi Refinement. "If you dare bully Li'er, I, Chi Xiao, will make you pay."

Zheng Tuo pretended to avert his eyes, not daring to look directly at her.

In his heart, he was chanting prayers.

*Ancestor, please just leave already. You're always meddling in things.*

Seeing Zheng Tuo lowering his head in silence, acting like a coward, Chi Xiao was highly dissatisfied.

When she returned from the mission, she had to have a talk with Li'er. Finding a Dao companion was fine, but it should be someone of comparable strength.

This coward was likely not even as strong as that bastard; what use was he? Was he meant to be a talking automatic toy?

"Let's go."

Chi Xiao waved her hand, leading the group away.

Only after Chi Xiao had completely disappeared did Zheng Tuo breathe a sigh of relief, grateful to have escaped another ordeal.

Jiu Li'er had seen everything.

Being as clever as she was, she seemed to have noticed something strange.

"Senior Brother, you seem very afraid of Sister Xiao?"

"Aren't you?"

Zheng Tuo shrugged, implying that no male disciple in the entire Luoxian Sect was not afraid of Chi Xiao.

She was a female tyrant who would strike if she felt slighted—no, that's not quite right—she was a female tyrant who would strike if she simply didn't like the look of you.

Most importantly, you couldn't beat her.

And most importantly, the more you resisted, the more excited she became.

And most, most importantly, the more excited she became, the harder she struck.

Countless male disciples had been beaten to the point of incontinence and being unable to care for themselves.

It was said that several had been sent straight to the intensive care unit and still hadn't fully recovered.

Recalling the legends of Chi Xiao's dominance, cold sweat trickled down Zheng Tuo's back.

Seeing Zheng Tuo so wary of Sister Xiao, Jiu Li'er actually felt a bit happy.

"Senior Brother, actually Sister Xiao is a very good person. She takes great care of us junior sisters. If anyone bullies us, Sister Xiao will stand up for us and teach those bratty boys a lesson."

Jiu Li'er admired Chi Xiao immensely.

Or rather, the entire younger generation of Ethereal Peak admired her.

This was also one of the reasons why Chi Xiao could contend with Li Jun.

"Yes, yes, standing up for you by beating us male disciples. Being a man is truly a miserable fate," Zheng Tuo shook his head.

Having lived two lives, and both as a man, he knew the bitterness well.

Then again, in the mortal realm, whose life wasn't a living purgatory?

"Giggle..." Seeing Zheng Tuo complain for the first time, Jiu Li'er couldn't help but laugh. "Senior Brother is a good person too. Sister Xiao will surely find out eventually."

Jiu Li'er offered Zheng Tuo her affirmation.

Zheng Tuo looked at the serious-faced Jiu Li'er.

*Child, you are still too naive.*

If your Sister Xiao knew who I was, even a Great Golden Immortal wouldn't be able to stop her from coming to chop me down.

Following the incident with Chi Xiao and the confirmation that the demons were indeed causing trouble, Zheng Tuo parted ways with Jiu Li'er and returned to Luoxian Mountain via Secret Path Number Eleven.

After re-checking all formations and traps to ensure everything was in order, he immediately sent a communication talisman to Da Niu, instructing him to inform him the moment there was news of the demons.

Da Niu was clearly quite unhappy with Zheng Tuo's attitude.

However, after seeing a small "bribe video" attached to the communication talisman, Da Niu surrendered.

He expressed that Brother Zheng Tuo could rest easy; as long as his brother was around, he would send news the moment there was word of the demons.

After receiving Da Niu's reply, Zheng Tuo nodded, satisfied with Da Niu's ability to read the room.

The winds had been tight lately; it was best to lie low.

Coincidentally, the Mirror Realm had not been tended to for a long time; he would take this opportunity to tidy it up properly.

Time flew by.

One month later.

Da Niu sent a bombshell piece of news.

(End of Chapter)