A life of idleness in the world of demons

Chapter 75, Section 74: The Great Desert, the Five Poisons Sect (5.4K words - Long chapter, please subscribe)
The next day
Lu Xuezhi was eating her breakfast slowly and deliberately.

She sat by the window, like a solitary, elegant, and luxurious scarlet peony.

Her eyes were gazing absently into the distance.

It wasn't until a golden light burst forth that his spirits returned somewhat.

“General Lu.” Chao Yinzi appeared.

Lu Xuezhi extended her delicate white fingers, gently dusted them off, then raised her head, looked over, and asked, "Does His Majesty have any decrees?"

Chao Yinzi said, "His Majesty has agreed, but His Majesty wants to transfer the Celestial Master away."

She paused.

Lu Xuezhi simply looked at her.

Chao Yinzi then said, "A crisis even more severe than the Frozen Hell has emerged in Leizhou on the Suizhou Road. Many people have already died. His Majesty has temporarily mobilized the surrounding Celestial Masters to provide assistance, including my junior sister Yaozhen and me."

After saying that, she added, "General Lu, why don't you come with us? Once the crisis is resolved, we can go to the Western Regions together?"

Lu Xuezhi asked, "What crisis?"

Chao Yinzi said, "The name recorded in the Imperial Capital Archives is: Demon Station."

Strange, previously non-existent post stations began to appear in various places, from which demons would suddenly emerge. When Taoist masters and their disciples pursued them, the demons would vanish upon entering a post station, only to reappear at another. The danger was immense.

The first post station was discovered in Leizhou. Now, only a month has passed since the discovery of the first post station, but in this month, a total of eighteen post stations have appeared, and there are many powerful demons inside. Leizhou Prefecture could no longer suppress it and began to report it.

"The Zixia Temple has already mobilized a considerable number of people, but demonic calamities are raging everywhere, making it difficult to cope, hence the slow mobilization. Therefore, His Majesty has decided to mobilize people locally. Yao Zhen and I, being second-rank Celestial Masters, are both among those being conscripted."

Lu Xuezhi said, "The Mountain Demon Sect is a demonic sect. They have infiltrated us in every way. We need to cut off their tentacles in order to eliminate the threat."

Chao Yinzi said, "Then I wish the general a great victory."

Lu Xuezhi said, "Let's meet again after we get back."

Chao Yinzi nodded, then glanced at Ning Xuan, who was walking from the courtyard towards them.

A petite, delicate young woman in a white coat walked beside Ning Xuan.

A subtle, strange glint flashed in her eyes as she thought to herself: Senior brother, you've suffered terribly these past few days. I hope you don't expose yourself or get killed on this trip to the Western Regions.
Although the Yin Ghost was immortal, she had heard from the elders of the Holy Sect that the remnants of those sects still had some means to "seal off evil spirits".

Some of the missing Taiyin ghosts may have been captured and imprisoned by the remnants of those sects.

Chao Yinzi felt that her senior brother was really too pitiful.

Not only does my senior brother have to endure the daily torment of two human girls, but he also has to carry out such dangerous missions. Furthermore, his ranking has been entirely taken over by her.

Thoughts swirled, a glance swept across the page.
Chao Yinzi didn't exchange many words; golden light surged, and he vanished through the earth.

Lu Xuezhi stood up, walked out of the courtyard, glanced at Ning Xuan with a smile, and said, "His Majesty has assigned us to go to the Western Regions together."

After saying that, she suddenly glanced at Xiao Jie beside Ning Xuan and said, "If you leave, Miss Jie will miss you. Take her with you."

Xiao Jie stared in shock, her mouth agape.

She could hardly believe what she was hearing.

She said in surprise, "Sister Lu, I'm too weak, so I won't go?"

Lu Xuezhi said calmly, "With Ning Xuan and me here, you will be fine."

You're not without martial arts skills; your past experience as a female thief has earned you some fame in the martial arts world.

I had my guards look through the files, and we were able to find records of the former female thief, Fei Yanzi, in some government offices.

Now that you are a warrior afflicted by the plague, you should come with us to broaden your horizons.

Xiao Jie hurriedly looked at Ning Xuan and murmured, "Nu nu nu."

Ning Xuan looked at Lu Xuezhi.

Lu Xuezhi raised her head slightly and said, "Young Master Ning has no objections, right?"

Ning Xuan said, "No."

Xiao Jie was almost crying. When she saw Ning Xuan looking at her, she said through her teary eyes, "Husband, I'm so happy."

Ning Xuan offered a word of comfort, then looked at Lu Xuezhi.

His wife had reverted to her haughty demeanor, appearing so powerful and aloof. But as someone who saw the whole picture, he had only one thought in his mind: "Hurry, so anxious. Girl, you've already been used as bait, haven't you realized it yet?"

However, he had originally planned to visit the sect. He was reluctant before because he was wary of the Taiyin Ghost Cultivator. Now that his worries had disappeared, he went along with Lu Xuezhi, which could be considered as going with the flow.

As for Xiaojie, her wife wanted to take her back to her ancestral home and give her a chance.

A journey to the Western Regions.

Ning Xuan wanted to go by carriage.

Lu Xuezhi refused.

Humans are faster than horses, and horses are faster than carriages, so why ride in a carriage?
Ning Xuan then said that the two of them didn't need a carriage, but Xiao Jie did.

And that's how things turned out.

Amidst the vast expanse of yellow sand, two figures swiftly traverse the landscape, one of them carrying a massive carriage on its back.

Inside the carriage, the young woman in the white coat would occasionally lift the curtain to look at the scenery rushing past outside. She wanted to say something, but then she would bite her lip, pull the curtain back, and use her hands to protect the wooden bucket of water and some dried meat on the carriage.

It wasn't until nightfall that the three of them stopped in front of a cliff.

The cliff absorbs heat, and at night it can actually release some of the daytime's residual heat, and there are also weathered camel bones next to the cliff.

Although the camel bones have long since crumbled, their existence proves that this place was a safe place to rest, as verified by our predecessors.

The starry sky is filled with stars, and the desert night turns from scorching hot to frigid.

Ning Xuan took some dried meat and water, and sat in the carriage with his two daughters, enjoying the starry sky while eating.

Xiao Jie then showed concern and said apologetically, "My lord, you must be exhausted. Let me massage your shoulders."

As she spoke, she climbed onto the carriage, stood behind Ning Xuan, pressed herself against him, and tried her best to massage his back and shoulders.

Carrying a carriage on his back was like picking up a small pebble for Ning Xuan; it had no impact whatsoever.

He said he wanted to ride in a carriage, but that was just to follow the "persona" of "Tian Youzi".

He constantly reminded himself that he preferred enclosed environments.

"This is the desert." Lu Xuezhi stood with her long legs together, looking at the vast yellow sand that had been stretching for miles during the day, now turned into a vast expanse of frost and snow.

She had never actually been to the desert.

At that moment, she even felt a sense of joy, a joy at the prospect of going to some sacred place.

Ning Xuan also enjoys beautiful scenery.

The desert is a peculiar place, where it is both scorching and freezing, vast yet cramped, and where life and death coexist.

He doesn't feel much pressure coming here.

He was brought by Lu Xuezhi. This time, Lu Xuezhi didn't ask "Want to join?" It must have been a case of her forcing him to "join" directly. In other words, he was invited here.

The remnants of the sect won't harm him.

He came on the orders of the Zixia Holy Sect, who sent him to check on the situation and promised him a generous reward.

The Purple Cloud Holy Sect won't mess with him.

As for the Samoan religion.

General Qin has colluded with demons, and the Mountain Monk Cult has established itself in the Western Regions, where many remnants of the sect still exist.

How much danger is there?

As for demons and evil, he knew that too. But in this world, who isn't evil? If one only follows the principle of "kill evil," one will only become a pawn to be manipulated at will.

Therefore, he had no intention of saving the world or all living beings.

He wasn't nervous at all at this moment.

This trip was truly a business trip, an invitation to visit, and a chance to enjoy the company of multiple women.

He looked at the desert, ate some dried meat, and when he finished, he turned around, grabbed Xiaojie, picked her up, and pressed her onto his lap.
Just as Xiao Jie was murmuring softly and humming, Lu Xuezhi suddenly said, "You've been running all day, haven't you broken a sweat?"

Her cold gaze and voice extinguished the enthusiasm of the "cheating couple" beside her.

Ning Xuan thought back for a moment and realized that he hadn't seen an oasis along the way, so he said, "There are four large buckets of water in the carriage. Use one bucket for bathing."

Lu Xuezhi asked, "How can I bathe in a tub of water?"

Ning Xuan didn't waste any words. He picked up Xiao Jie and put her aside, then fetched a large bucket of water and said, "You and Xiao Jie go first."

Lu Xuezhi looked at the water, then at Ning Xuan. She knew perfectly well what kind of wicked scheme her martial arts partner was plotting.

She stood with her legs together for a moment, then suddenly said, "I don't need much."

As she spoke, she stepped forward, pressed her five fingers against the water's surface, and suddenly pulled.

The water was lifted up by a strange, gentle force, like silk.

The water-woven silk flowed into Lu Xuezhi's collar, flowing over her shoulders, chest, and lower abdomen as if it were alive. It then circled down, washing away the dirt and dust, before suddenly spreading across her clothes. With a powerful jolt, it turned into a mist, carrying away the stains.

Ning Xuan praised, "What wonderful power!"

Lu Xuezhi said, "I'm done washing."

Xiao Jie looked at Ning Xuan and said, "Husband, you should wash first."

Ning Xuan said, "You go first. There are some poplar trees not far away. I'll go get some branches to start a campfire. After you've washed, you can dry your clothes."

Half an hour later.
The roaring campfire emitted light and heat.

Half of the carriage was shrouded in darkness, while the other half reflected the flickering flames like seaweed.

Inside the carriage, a man and two women were enjoying themselves in this extreme place.

After a long while, the three of them calmed down.

Starlight streamed through the sunroof of the train carriage, falling upon the three of them.

Xiao Jie, like a pure white lamb, had just participated in a battle between two giant beasts. Fortunately, the beasts took great care of her, so much so that she is not only still alive, but also lying on Ning Xuan's left arm.

Lu Xuezhi lay on Ning Xuan's right arm.

The two women turned to him, one hooking her small foot around his calf and the other pressing down on his ankle.

Ning Xuan closed his eyes, feeling peaceful and joyful.

Lu Xuezhi said, "You naughty thing, are you satisfied now?"

Ning Xuan asked, "Are you still cultivating tonight?"

Lu Xuezhi said, "It's for Xiaojie's sake that we won't practice tonight." In the darkness, Xiaojie opened her eyes in surprise and secretly glanced at the woman opposite her. She didn't understand why this General Lu was being so considerate to her.

The Jixiang Chamber of Commerce brought a lot of information about the Samo religion, including a map of the Samo religious site.

That place is not close.

The straight-line distance is naturally through the desert.

Their strong sense of direction prevented them from getting lost in the desert.

So, the three of them were still in the desert the next day.

However, the three of them were not always unlucky.

As evening approached the next day, the three discovered an oasis deep in the desert.

Under the setting sun over the desert, the oasis appears not only beautiful but also dreamlike, like a paradise.

But all three of them stopped in their tracks.

Ning Xuan stood on a sand ridge, released his senses, and carefully scanned the oasis. He smiled and said, "Someone lives here. Although they are not here now, they will probably come back at night."

Lu Xuezhi said, "That's perfect for waiting around and gathering more information about the Mountain Mo Sect. We're not far from here."

Ning Xuan looked into the distance, then glanced at his wife, and said, "Alright, I'll listen to my wife."

Lu Xuezhi didn't argue with him about how to address him.

The three of them went to the oasis below.

Unlike ordinary girls who would cheer and jump for joy upon arriving at the clear lake, Xiao Jie cautiously hid behind Ning Xuan.

Ning Xuan's gaze swept across the scene, spotting scorpions swaying in the shadows of the trees, bunches of plump dates hanging from the slightly pointed tropical leaves, and reeds by the lake swaying tenaciously in the distant hot wind, whispering softly. Yet, Ning Xuan spotted quite a few snakes among those reeds in just one glance.

Viper.

A highly venomous snake.

There are cobras in the reeds on the left, and on the right, there is a strange black rooster comb.

When he looked up again, he saw spider webs growing on the strange willow tree above him, with fuzzy spiders lying motionless, as if waiting for their prey to take the bait.

Ning Xuan glanced at Lu Xuezhi.

Lu Xuezhi's expression remained unchanged.

Ning Xuan sighed softly in his heart, then quietly held his breath. His powerful physique allowed him to absorb minimal air in deep water like a fish, and also allowed him to breathe through his skin in daily life.

The skin breathes in air, while other substances in the air are kept out.

However, this kind of breathing doesn't allow for vigorous exercise because it doesn't involve inhaling much air.

Twilight is like blood.

The oasis is becoming dangerous.

When you suddenly discover a paradise in an extreme place, don't be too happy, because this paradise may be the center of hell.

Only those who have never left home yearn for an oasis.

But an oasis is never a safe haven; it's the sweetest place to fall into a trap.

The water here can save lives or take them; the shade of the trees can provide relief or conceal deadly dangers.

Suddenly, Xiao Jie, who was beside Ning Xuan, went limp and collapsed.

Ning Xuan glanced at it.

His face was flushed and he was breathing rapidly.

poisoned.

He grabbed Xiaojie and pulled her into his arms.

Then
Lu Xuezhi suddenly collapsed as well.

Ning Xuan was taken aback, but he still quickly reached out and put his arm around Lu Xuezhi.

Just then, as night fell in the desert, the sound of camel bells drifted in from all directions, clear and melodious, seemingly near yet far. Soon, dark figures wielding scimitars appeared behind the sand ridges and peaks surrounding the oasis.

The shadowy figures looked down at the center from their elevated position, their gazes fixed on the center as if they were watching prey.

Their gazes were icy, as cold as poisoned needles.

"Lu Xuezhi!"

Ning Xuan suddenly shook his wife.

He knew perfectly well that Lu Xuezhi had led him to this oasis, and he knew exactly what Lu Xuezhi's purpose was, but the scene before him made him afraid to take the gamble.

He shook him, but he couldn't wake him up.

An indescribable anger welled up within him.

His wife wants to recruit him into some faction. He's already here, why pull this stunt? Should he really let her get poisoned and pass out too?

stupid.

Naïve to the point of making stupid mistakes.

That's ridiculously stupid.

Despite being decisive and highly capable, why would such naive trust exist between them?

Lu Xuezhi had already calculated that he would also be poisoned and faint. Anyway, when he woke up, he would probably be in another place, a place where he didn't know how he got there or how he would get back. She could explain it to him then.

But what if it isn't?
What if this is something Lu Xuezhi didn't expect?

Ning Xuan took a deep breath and glanced at the camel-sword cavalry on the surrounding sand dunes.

This is just great
He had no reason to faint at this moment; not only would he not faint, he would kill them all.

He couldn't imagine what the consequences would be if he, Lu Xuezhi, and Xiao Jie all fainted and fell into the hands of such a group of people.

In the next instant, Ning Xuan's golden body suddenly expanded, pushing away all the poisonous gas and leveling all the flowers and trees around him.

The golden-bodied Bodhisattva sat cross-legged, his golden body enveloping Lu Xuezhi and Xiao Jie. At the same time, he drew his sword, the Ruyi Blade.

The Bodhisattva held the Ruyi Knife as if it were a flower petal.

However, the camel-scimitar cavalry did not charge down. Instead, the area with the most cavalry suddenly parted to the sides, creating a path. From the path, a figure as tall as a small mountain emerged.

The figure stood with its back to the setting twilight, gazing at the golden Bodhisattva in the distance.

Suddenly, the figure frowned and asked in a deep voice to the side, "Poisoned?"

A cavalryman beside him nodded and respectfully replied, "Yes."

The giant figure asked coldly, "Who gave the order?"

The cavalryman's eyes flickered as he said, "This subordinate does not know. But, but it must have been given instructions by the superiors."

The giant's face contorted in a ferocious expression, shifting several times before he asked, "Then what should have been done?"

The cavalryman said, "We'll go down, tie up the man, and take him back to the village."

The giant figure swept his gaze across the golden statue of Buddha opposite him and asked, "So, can you still take it away now?"

The cavalryman insisted, "He must have been poisoned too. We just need to wait until the poison takes effect and he faints."

The giant figure twisted its neck and said, "Then you wait."

After saying that, he raised his hand and waved to the golden statue of the Bodhisattva on the oasis, then patted his behind and turned to leave. He left decisively and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Ning Xuan raised his voice and asked, "What do you mean?"

No one answered.

Ning Xuan said, "Are you really forcing me to take action?"

The lead cavalryman shouted, "Stop trying to bluff us!"

Ning Xuan stared at him with a deep gaze, then recalled the giant figure that had just left, and thought to himself: It seems that wherever there are people, there is a world of its own. The Purple Cloud Holy Sect has not cared about this place for a long time, and it has become a world of its own.

The cavalryman continued shouting, "You've been poisoned too! Give up resisting, or we won't kill you!"

Before the words were finished, the golden Bodhisattva scattered the flower petals from his hand.

With a single scattering, they buzzed and snarled like metal locusts, instantly piercing through the cavalry.

The cavalrymen's flesh and blood bodies were immediately riddled with countless bloody holes.

His eyes showed fear and disbelief.

The remaining power erupted instantly.

boom!
He exploded, sending blood, flesh, and bones flying everywhere.

The metal locusts suddenly formed an orderly line, transforming into a knife.

The Bodhisattva suddenly sprang into action, carefully protecting the two women with his left hand while gripping the hundred-foot-long sword with his right.

He moved like lightning, darting out of the oasis in a flash, and in a few swift leaps he reached the sand ridge. With a single slash, he unleashed a burst of arc light, cutting over a hundred camel riders in half at the waist.

The air was still.
Human head, human body, camel head, camel body, suddenly separated, then suddenly exploded.

The Yanming Jin is inherently a collapsing force, a force that can shatter everything.

Ning Xuan grinned maliciously and charged to the other side.

The camel riders realized what was happening and fled in panic.

But how can a camel outrun a golden statue of a Bodhisattva?
Before long, those camel-sword cavalrymen who had been looking down at them with cold indifference were almost wiped out.

The remaining one, terrified, tumbled to the ground, retreating repeatedly. He stared in horror at the demonic bodhisattva approaching, wielding a hundred-foot-long butcher's blade, and cried out in terror, "We are from the Five Poisons Sect! You...you've come looking for the Five Poisons Sect too, haven't you? You can't kill me! You must kill me!"

Snapped!
Before he could finish speaking, the golden statue of the Bodhisattva pressed down with its large hand.

The cavalryman was instantly crushed.

Just then, applause suddenly came from the sand dunes not far away.

Ning Xuan turned his head and saw the burly, giant figure that had been facing away from him and then suddenly left.

But at this moment, he saw the man's appearance clearly.

With thick eyebrows and large eyes, his expression was serene, but beneath it lay an unspeakable madness and violence.

Ning Xuan said, "Killing a few henchmen shouldn't cause us to become enemies, right, General Qin?"

Qin Shanjun leaped down from the sand dune and started warming up as if no one else was around. While warming up, he said, "Of course not. If it were me, I would have killed any blind fool. But since we're here and you're awake, let's have a fight, as a way of getting to know each other."

(End of this chapter)