Daoqi Huangcheng

Chapter 25, Section 25: Anomaly
In the mansion of the Crane Demon Realm, the young lady serving Song Chen is named Hongye.

At night, she was responsible for warming Song Chen's bed and bringing him joy; during the day, she needed to leave the living area of ​​the Crane Clan adults and come to the slave area to do some "productive labor".

Today, at Song Chen's behest, she had no choice but to take him on a leisurely stroll through this enormous mansion.

Da da da.
The two walked along the corridor, under the eaves.

Yesterday's heavy rain still lingers, and now it drips down the black tiles with a pitter-patter sound. A chilly wind blows through the hall, occasionally carrying raindrops that slant into the corridor, leaving water stains along the edges.

Hongye lowered her head, looking at her toes, and walked forward lightly.

The slaves who were busy working ahead saw Hongye and were about to greet her, but when they saw Song Chen following behind her, they all showed expressions of fear. As they walked, one of them suddenly roared angrily, "You monster who is neither human nor demon! You killed Sister Yuanyuan! Pay with your life!"

Having said that, the man grabbed a sharp rock that was originally intended to be used as a landscape stone, held it tightly with both hands, and suddenly smashed it down on the back of Song Chen's head from behind.

Song Chen hadn't learned anything about it, but he could guess: Yuan Yuan was the seemingly clumsy young lady he had chosen first that day.

But he didn't move, because the wind picked up in the distance.

He only felt the wind, but couldn't see what was in it at all. The extremely fast, fierce wind came from afar, and only when it settled did Song Chen realize it was a flying sword. The flying sword was pressed against the attacker's throat, and a powerful sense of oppression came from a distance. The attacker couldn't withstand it and immediately knelt down.

Song Chen's pupils contracted slightly. He turned his head and saw a splendidly dressed man with a wicked smile and long, flowing hair walking towards them with a woman on each arm.

Upon seeing Song Chen release the two women, the man bowed from a distance and said, "Rogue cultivator Tianfeng Ke greets Young Master Lin."

Song Chen asked in surprise, "Are you human?"

The man who called himself Tianfengke laughed and said, "No, I am the dog of Lord He, and now I am your dog too."

He laughed and laughed, then suddenly lifted the lips of a young woman on his left and kissed her hard. Then, with a burning gaze, he said, "Here, I not only have endless supernatural powers to cultivate, but also an endless number of women to play with. I am very content."

Immediately, he looked at the boy who was about to ambush Song Chen.

The boy was thin and bony, his eyes flashing with anger and fear.

He was being targeted by Tianfeng Ke, whose gaze was like a mountain, making it impossible for this mortal to breathe.

Tianfeng Ke chuckled lightly, then asked respectfully with a half-smile, "Young Master Lin, to kill, or not to kill?"

As soon as he finished speaking, an old man came running from not far away, knelt down in the mud with a "thud," and begged for mercy while kowtowing, "Young master, spare me! Young master, spare me! This boy was out of his mind and offended you. Please be magnanimous and don't hold this scoundrel against you."

Tianfengke frowned. He had only just said he was a dog, and the old man had already called him a "dog"—was he looking for trouble?! But after seeing the old man's appearance, he didn't rush over to argue.

Hongye, who was in front of Song Chen, also turned around and knelt down, saying, "Young Master, Xiao Zhu considers Yuanyuan his only family. He couldn't possibly hurt you. I will apologize on his behalf. I am willing."

Before the words had even finished, a furious shout suddenly came from afar.

The thin boy lunged forward a little, trying to slit his own throat on the flying sword, but Tianfengke wouldn't let him move, so he couldn't even commit suicide.

At this moment, his veins bulged, his face turned red, and he struggled angrily.

Tianfengke laughed heartily, then asked again, "Young Master Lin, shall we kill or not?"

Song Chen looked down at Hongye, then suddenly squatted down, grabbed her chin, and said, "If I spare him, how will you treat me?"

Hongye bit her lip, her face flushed, and said, "Tonight, I will serve you with all my heart."

"it is good!"

Song Chen said, "These past few days you've been half-dead, so tonight I'm looking forward to your performance. If you don't perform well, I'll have Tianfeng Ke kill this kid."

After saying that, he waved his hand and said, "Let him go."

Tianfengke sheathed his flying sword, and the young man, weak and pale, knelt on the ground, covered in cold sweat.

Tianfengke laughed and said, "I didn't expect Young Master Lin to be a fellow traveler. I am willing to serve as your bodyguard and protect you."

Song Chen asked, "What realm are you at?"

Tianfengke said, "I was fortunate enough to reach the seventh level of Qi Gathering, and I can barely serve as a watchdog for Lord He. Now, thanks to Lord He Bai's orders, I will be your guide dog from now on."

Song Chen's pupils contracted slightly, and he nodded, saying, "Okay, I trust Aunt Bai's arrangements. Tianfeng, I'll take another walk."

Tianfengke laughed and said, "Lord Hebai said this is your home, young master. Please make yourself at home."

As he spoke, he hooked his arm around two women and walked behind Song Chen.

Song Chen suddenly looked at the old man to the side and asked, "What are you doing, sir?"

The old man respectfully replied, "I am currently leading my disciples in repairing the mansion's drainage pipes. The ordinary tiles are ultimately no match for the Crane Immortal's imposing aura, and they frequently break."

Song Chen nodded, recalling the room he was staying in.

That height.
It doesn't seem to be designed for crane demons.

It looked like it had been stolen by the crane demons.

If one were to live there long ago, then all the rooms would have already been improved.

Thus, this so-called Crane Demon Secret Realm is only a place that has existed for a short time.

Then, why did the crane demon occupy this place? (Late at night)
"Lang Jun!"

"My love!!"

Hongye shouted loudly.

Sweat mingled.

The two vented their emotions.

For a long time, everything remained still.

Like a kite with a broken string, it falls from a great height and crashes onto the hard ground, where it remains motionless.

In the dark night, the burning red flames went out, and the black chill became even clearer and more biting.

Hongye imagined that the man in the darkness was her beloved. She tried her best to imagine it, and she had to deceive herself like this, otherwise she would collapse. So she did not call him "Young Master" but called him "My Lord".

Tonight, in order to immerse herself in the role and to prevent Xiao Zhu from dying, she deliberately took a little bit of hallucinogenic drug. The drug's effects were still present, and the man in front of her had completely transformed into the appearance of her beloved.

Song Chen flipped his hand and took out a jade Buddha from his storage bag. The jade Buddha was strung with a red cord.

When he connects with Momiji, he can feel her fear, pain, and helplessness, but isn't he the same?

He wasn't a member of the Marrow-Eating Crane Demon Clan at all; everything between him and He Bai was just an act. He was simply looking for an excuse to release the boy who had attacked him. When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. He didn't know what he was about to face, or whether he could ever return to a normal life.

His fingers gently caressed the jade Buddha.

A warm feeling suddenly welled up in his heart. At this moment, he didn't think of Qingyue's beautiful face, but of the feeling of home she brought him.

He looked at the red leaves nestled tenderly against his chest.

Hongye's fingers wearily circled his chest, her eyes holding a mixture of decadence and nostalgia.

Song Chen couldn't help but think: If he were to die, wouldn't Qingyue likely face the same humiliation? Lying on top of a hated stranger, constantly deceiving herself.
Just then, Hongye's fingers suddenly climbed onto Song Chen's palm, as if she wanted to interlock her fingers with his. But as soon as she moved, Hongye noticed the red string jade Buddha on her "man's" hand.

Anger flashed across her face, and she was about to question, "Was this given to you by another woman?" But then, she was startled again.

She came to her senses, and the words that were about to come out were: "Was this jade Buddha a gift from your beloved, young master?"

Song Chen said, "No."

Immediately afterward, he added, "I am exploring what kind of opportunity might be hidden within this. How could a cultivator care about romantic love?"

Hongye stared at him longingly when suddenly a sharp pain shot through her head. She realized what she had done. The sealed memories of the tragic deaths of her loved ones and her beloved suddenly resurfaced like a tidal wave, and the murderers were these cultivators and demons!

Screw your chance!
Hongye suddenly snatched the jade Buddha from Song Chen's hand, intending to smash it to pieces.

However, Song Chen flipped his hand and dodged her snatch.

Hongye suddenly jumped out of bed and lunged at the sword hanging on the wall in the darkness.

Before she could draw her sword, Song Chen raised his hand and, with a surge of spiritual energy, dragged Hongye back.

Hongye struggled frantically, wailing and crying, and then looked at Song Chen like a madwoman.

The hallucinogenic drug made her diligently serve the demon, but it also unlocked the memories she had painstakingly suppressed, causing her to break down.
Song Chen held her down tightly until dawn.

Hongye finally regained her senses, but the look in her eyes had changed; it was no longer one of clinging to life, but one filled with the will to die.

She stood up and walked out like a zombie.

Slaves were not allowed to stay in the living quarters during the day.

"Just rest."

Song Chen pressed her back onto the couch, then went outside and gave a few instructions to the steward, saying, "I was very satisfied with Hongye last night, so I want to keep her in the room."

Three more days passed in the blink of an eye.

It's time for the qualification test.

Tianfengke was waiting at the door.

Song Chen pushed open the door, glanced at Hongye sitting expressionlessly on the tatami mat, and said, "I'm going."

Hongye did not reply.

Song Chen coughed softly.

Hongye turned her head slightly and saw the young demon suddenly raise his eyes. His gaze fell on the sword hanging on the wall, and he turned and left after just one glance.

If he truly passes that aptitude test, obtains the Crane Demon Technique, and has nowhere to escape, then he will return. Upon his return, he will treat this woman well because he pities and sympathizes with her.

However, this situation is fraught with doubts, shrouded in mystery, and fraught with difficulty, almost like a dream. If things change drastically, his future is uncertain, his life or death is unpredictable, and it is not impossible that he will die without a burial place. At that time, this sword can become the sword that liberates her.

He had used this sword before; it was very fast and wouldn't cause much pain.

(End of this chapter)