The Demon-Slaying Grandmaster

Chapter 236 Truly Willing

Dozens of golden-armored warriors were summoned, and the snake demon was startled when it awoke.

She immediately felt embarrassed and angry.

Moreover, the dozens of golden-armored warriors clearly had ill intentions. Without a second thought, the snake demon opened its mouth and spat out a large cloud of green poisonous mist, instantly making the mist on the entire fourth floor even thicker.

And this toxicity is indeed potent.

Before the dozens of golden-armored warriors could even reach the snake demon, they were corroded by the poisonous mist, their bodies smoking and riddled with wounds.

The snake demon didn't confront the golden-armored warrior head-on. Relying on the extremely potent toxicity and corrosiveness of the poisonous fog, it kept moving around in the thick fog to avoid attacks.

In just five or six minutes, all the dozens of golden-armored warriors were corroded, turning into shattered golden beans scattered all over the ground.

Li Jingxiao's lips twitched as he looked at the room filled with poisonous fog; once you entered, there was no way to avoid it.

Fortunately, upon further reflection, I realized that I have no shortage of gold beans and magical power.

I don't believe you snake demon can keep spewing out poisonous mist.

Thinking of this, Li Jingxiao was in no hurry to leave.

Instead, he stayed outside the barrier, sitting cross-legged in meditation to recover his magical power.

Once his magic power was fully restored, he reached into the restriction again.

But this time, not just a few dozen golden beans were scattered, but hundreds.

Moreover, with true qi protecting his palms, even though the true qi defensive ring on his palms was being corroded by the poisonous mist and was making a sizzling sound.

Yet they remained completely unharmed by the poisonous fog.

However, the contact time was short; otherwise, Li Jingxiao wouldn't have been confident enough to stay safely in the poisonous fog indefinitely.

Hundreds of golden beans rolled around on the fourth floor and then transformed into golden-armored warriors.

Seeing this, the snake demon quickly spat out another cloud of poisonous mist.

This time, the golden-armored warriors were corroded even faster, but because there were hundreds of warriors, they consumed even more poisonous mist.

Li Jingxiao smiled and continued meditating to recover his magical power.

Once his magic power was restored, he threw in another handful of gold beans.

This time, the snake demon's expression changed slightly. When it looked at Li Jingxiao outside the barrier, it seemed as if it wanted to devour him alive.

The third time, after the Crimson Serpent Demon spewed out its poisonous mist for the third time, the hundreds of golden-armored warriors were corroded at a rate that was almost the same as the second time.

It's obvious at a glance that a significant amount of the poisonous fog has been consumed.

However, this time the snake demon was smarter. After shattering the third batch of Yellow Turban Warriors into golden beans, it blocked the entrance's barrier.

If Li Jingxiao puts his hand into the light circle, he will most likely be bitten.

The corrosiveness of the toxic mist alone is so severe; if snake venom were injected into one's hand, the toxicity would be far more potent.

Li Jingxiao wouldn't risk his life.

After thinking for a moment, he reached out and flicked a golden bean, but unfortunately it bounced back after hitting the barrier.

Upon seeing this, the Crimson Serpent couldn't help but sneer.

Li Jingxiao frowned and pondered for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

He shouted "Freeze!" at the red-striped snake, and sure enough, even with the restriction, the red-striped snake was frozen in place.

Li Jingxiao reached into the light circle again and threw out a handful of gold beans.

Although the Red Serpent quickly broke the immobilization spell, she was blocked at the entrance by the Yellow Turban Warriors.

Behind him was a protective aura, and in front of him stood golden-armored warriors.

Even if you try to move away and dodge, you can't avoid it.

The Yellow Turban Warriors were all fearless in the face of death, enduring the corrosive effects of the poisonous fog and the attacks of the Red Serpent's fangs, claws, and tail.

They cornered the snake demon near the light circle and beat it mercilessly.

Lee Kyung-hyo would occasionally use a freezing spell to immobilize her for a few seconds.

He was quickly grabbed by the golden-armored warrior, who seized his hands and long tail, and pinned him to the ground, punching and kicking him.

If Li Jingxiao hadn't wanted to kill her, she would have been cut into pieces by the swords and blades of the strongmen long ago.

Within minutes, the snake demon was beaten black and blue.

Gone was its previous arrogance; unable to withstand the onslaught, it cried out, "Merciful One, spare my life! This little demon is willing to surrender!"

Li Jingxiao didn't believe this, but the +5 experience points echoing in his mind wouldn't lie to him.

After the Yellow Turban Warriors released the snake demon, the man kowtowed and thanked them.

Instead of absorbing the poisonous mist back, Li Jingxiao's face darkened, taking advantage of the fact that the Yellow Turban Warriors had not yet been corroded into golden beans.

They then ordered the Yellow Turban warriors to pin the snake demon to the ground and beat it mercilessly.

After just a dozen or so punches, the stunned Red Serpent had no choice but to cry out again, "Master, spare my life!"

The notification of +5 experience points rang in Li Jingxiao's mind again, and he ordered the Yellow Turban Warriors to stop.

This time, the snake demon became obedient, before Li Jingxiao could even speak.

He hurriedly said, "Please forgive me, Master. This poisonous fog has been present with my every breath, and I cannot dispel it."

Li Jingxiao frowned after hearing this. So, if he wanted to go up to the fifth floor, he would have to brave this poisonous fog.

But Li Jingxiao didn't rush to enter the fourth floor. Instead, he thought for a moment, then turned and left the Demon Locking Tower.

He flew to the Sanmao Hall of Maoshan Mountain to ask the sect leader how to dispel the poisonous fog.

Only then did they realize that this snake demon was a monster that had wreaked havoc in the Qinling Mountains a thousand years ago.

An elder from Maoshan originally intended to subdue her and make her a guardian beast.

However, instead of subduing the demon, the snake demon ambushed and killed him.

Later, Maoshan spent considerable effort and resources to subdue her and imprison her in the Demon-Locking Tower as punishment.

Li Jingxiao immediately understood that the so-called punishment was just that she felt it would be too lenient to just kill the snake demon directly.

That's why keeping her imprisoned forever, never to be seen again, is indeed more satisfying than killing her outright.

Li Jingxiao tentatively asked, "Senior brother, if I accidentally kill a demon in the Demon Locking Tower, will it have any consequences?"

Upon hearing this, Master Xuanming admonished Li Jingxiao not to commit further acts of killing.

However, he made no mention what punishment would be given for killing the demons in the Demon Locking Tower.

Since there's no punishment, killing him would be pointless.

After some thought, Li Jingxiao realized that perhaps the sect leader and elders had long felt that the demons in the Demon Locking Tower were a burden to Maoshan.

So Li Jingxiao agreed verbally, but in his heart he was thinking that he would come again tomorrow if he still couldn't find a way to dispel the poisonous fog.

Then the only option is to kill that Crimson Serpent Demon directly.

Otherwise, if he wasn't afraid of the poisonous fog but still got some on himself, he might accidentally hurt his wife and the others when he got home.

Seeing that it was already noon, Li Jingxiao bid farewell to Xuanming Zhenren.

I flew back to Nanjing and had lunch with my wife, sister, and brothers-in-law.

The maidservant said that the Xue family had already sent carriages over.

Li Jingxiao changed into a brocade robe, took his family into the carriage, and rode his horse with the Xue family's steward to the side of Xuanwu Lake.

As a royal lake, it certainly has plenty of scenic spots and places to visit.

With Xue Pan, a local native, making the arrangements, Li Jingxiao and his family only needed to follow along and enjoy the sights.

Moreover, Li Jingxiao was quite satisfied with the three boats that Xue Pan had prepared.

One carriage was reserved for the women, another for Xue Pan and himself, and the third for the servants, household servants, and guards who accompanied them.

However, to Li Jingxiao's surprise, Xue Baochai also accompanied him.

Xue Pan even called over his cousin Xue Ke and cousin Xue Baoqin as well.

Li Jingxiao glanced at Xue Pan and immediately guessed the boy's little scheme. Sisters, the Xue family really knows how to spend money.

Li Jingxiao was also quite enthusiastic towards Xue Pan.

For Xue Ke, his father had passed away and his mother suffered from phlegm disease, making her physically weak for many years.

The brother and sister were filled with anxiety, worried about their mother's illness and their own future.

If I could gain Li Jingxiao's favor, I could find a job by his side.

Not only can they preserve their family business, but if they can also obtain a minor official position in the future, their future will be bright.

Maybe we can catch up with our ancestors.

As for the arranged marriage between his younger sister Xue Baoqin and the son of Mei Hanlin, it was a difficult matter for the Xue family, but for Li Jingxiao, it was very simple.

In Li Jingxiao's view, the Mei family in this life will most likely not break off the engagement like in the original story.

He would also take the initiative to ask to marry Xue Baoqin as soon as possible.

But now that Li Jingxiao has met Baoqin, he can't possibly give this girl to the Mei family, who are fickle and untrustworthy.

Once on board, even though each boat was more than ten meters apart, Li Jingxiao could easily hear the cheers of You Sanjie, Baozhu Ruizhu, and the three girls on the second boat.

Even Yuan Chun, who is usually the most dignified, has been talking and laughing a lot more.

It is evident that the women in the family have been confined to their homes for too long, and the mere thought of going out on a boat trip excites them greatly.

Li Jingxiao's mood improved a bit.

He chatted idly with Xue Pan, Xue Ke, and Qin Zhong, smiling.

Xue Pan is a ridiculous fellow and not cut out for business, but he is certainly good at eating, drinking and having fun.

So entrusting entertainment matters to him is definitely something he can handle perfectly.

Xue Ke is just as described in the original work: honest, steady, and speaks clearly and logically.

Li Jingxiao only exchanged a few words with him, but he could tell that although the young man was young, he was quite capable.

Of course, Li Jingxiao knew who Xue Ke was beforehand, which is why he dared to acknowledge Xue Ke's abilities after only a short conversation.

If it were the Xue family's business, and he were to manage it, at least it wouldn't decline like it did in the original story.

However, since they are cousins, Aunt Xue might be more wary of Xue Ke than of the stewards and managers of the Xue family.

Outsiders might embezzle a little, but what if Xue Pan gets into trouble?

It is indeed possible that Xue Ke could seize the entire Xue family's assets.

Aunt Xue's reaction to Xue Ke's words was strange.

After much deliberation, Li Jingxiao realized that he didn't seem to have any use for Xue Ke.

There are plenty of capable young people. Among the sons of noble families in the capital, although there are not many capable ones, there are certainly quite a few.

With a little training, some, like Jia Rong, could become just as capable as Xue Ke.

Moreover, Baoqin was younger than Jia Baoyu; a little girl like her certainly wouldn't arouse any interest in Li Jingxiao.

However, after Wang Xifeng marries into the family, she can find an opportunity to marry Baochai first.

After a few years, Xue Ke's situation became increasingly difficult, and Baoqin had grown up, making it much easier for him to remarry her.

Moreover, Baoqin was already engaged to the Mei family, and if the engagement wasn't dissolved, it would be difficult for him to make a move.

Li Jingxiao only needed to think for a moment before he had an idea.

A poor scholar may have a bright future, but that's before he truly matures.

They really stood there like lackeys, completely invisible.

Moreover, in the original novel, after Mei Hanlin was promoted, he looked down on the Xue family's background.

Now that he has the opportunity to rise to prominence a few years earlier, I believe Mei Hanlin certainly knows how to choose.

If the Mei family breaks off the engagement, Baoqin might not even be accepted by a wealthy family if she wants to marry again.

Not to mention the families of officials.

If Xue Ke were to propose to her as a concubine at this point, he would certainly agree immediately.

Moreover, Xue Ke just mentioned that his mother had been ill for many years, and he owed her a debt of gratitude for saving her life.

That would make things much easier.
-
When they reached the center of the lake, Li Jingxiao was teaching Qin Zhong how to fish.

Suddenly, his gaze fell on the bottom of the lake, which was a dozen meters away.

Just as he was frowning, a carp more than a meter long nodded repeatedly at Li Jingxiao from the bottom of the lake.

That was as if he were bowing to Li Jingxiao.

It's obvious at a glance that this carp has become a spirit.

Li Jingxiao was relieved and nodded subtly as a return gesture.

Since the other party has taken the initiative to greet and show goodwill, Li Jingxiao doesn't need to eliminate every evil spirit.

Continue teaching my brother-in-law how to fish.

On the second boat, old women and boat girls took out the fishing rods they had prepared and taught Jingxi, Jingyue, Jingrong, You Sanjie, Baoqin and Baoqin how to fish.

And perhaps because Baoqin and Baoqin have similar names, the two got along very well.

Before long, Li Jingxiao saw the carp use a spell to command some grass carp, catfish, and even other carp to swim near the three boats.

Soon, Sister You's fishing rod moved slightly, and the little girl immediately lifted the rod.

Then a grass carp weighing half a pound was lifted up, and the excited Sister You quickly asked the boatwoman for help.

Qin Keqing and the others also surrounded You Sanjie with smiles and praised her.

After the boatwoman took the grass carp off the fishing hook, Sister You San picked it up and showed it to Li Jingxiao.

Li Jingxiao laughed heartily and gave You Sanjie a thumbs up, making the little girl's smile even brighter.

Li Jingxiao glanced at the giant carp at the bottom of the lake.

He casually tossed a spirit jujube into the lake a dozen meters away. It slowly sank to the bottom of the lake, several meters deep, and was swallowed by the big carp.

The big carp, having received a benefit, became even more proactive in its work.

Soon, one after another, Jingxi, Jingyue, Jingrong, You Sanjie, Baoqin, and Baoqin took the bait.

Not only Qin Keqing, Yuan Chun, Baochai, You Erjie and others were astonished.

Even the boatwoman and the old women of the Xue family kept saying that the young lady and the ladies were blessed.

These boatmen, who rely on this lake for their livelihood year after year, have rarely seen the fish being caught so quickly.

Baoqin chuckled and said to Qin Keqing and Yuanchun, "First Madam, Second Madam."

Could it be because our master is a reincarnated immortal, and even the lake god knows to curry favor with him?

Qin Keqing laughed and nodded, but Yuan Chun was afraid of angering the lake god.

He hurriedly scolded Baoqin, "Don't talk nonsense, don't cause trouble for the master."

Baoqin shrank back, but Li Jingxiao laughed when he heard this.

"Alright, the Lake God knows, and he won't blame you."

After Li Jingxiao said that, the group of women started laughing again.

Li Jingxiao then called over the boatman and casually tossed him a few silver melon seeds.

Let the boatman cook a fish feast with the fish he caught so he can have a taste of the freshness.

The boatman received several taels of silver, and nodded with a smile as he went to get to work.

In the Ming and Qing dynasties, melon seeds symbolized a large and prosperous family, and the Zhou dynasty naturally carried this meaning as well.

Moreover, grabbing melon seeds symbolizes "grabbing silver," and wealthy families often made silver melon seeds that weighed one tael each, or even gold melon seeds.

(End of this chapter)