Is the cultivation world now only populated by demonesses?

Chapter 27, Section 27: Ink Painting

The black rain seemed to have truly transformed Shangyujing into a traditional Chinese ink painting, but this painting was missing the most important person.

"Young master, where are we going now?"

"Lake of Lingering Affection".

Xia Lianxue's fair wrists, as white as snow, swayed back and forth in front of Lu Changyuan: "Aren't we here to retrieve the pill?"

"The pill hasn't been produced yet, so let's find a spot first and wait for it to be produced."

“But what’s so special about Liuqing Lake, young master? Both you and Granny Mian value this lakeside so much.”

Lu Changyuan said naturally, "There is a great demon at the bottom of Liuqing Lake, which has been suppressed for 1,500 years."

Xia Lianxue looked into the distance and said softly, "I know."

Of course she could tell.

Because that enormous, disgusting tentacle was swaying in the middle of the lake, as if it wanted to ascend to the sky and pierce the heavens, and wisps of black mist were emanating from the tentacle, turning the rain black.

"Young master, the Third Princess is also here."

Lu Changyuan looked up and saw a figure holding an umbrella in mid-air. The girl had a jade belt and a dark blue Taoist robe. Her figure was slender and graceful. The black rain could not get close to her. In contrast, her skin looked even whiter with a hint of light cherry blossom.

Lu Changyuan laughed and said, "It seems that there are too many things going on at home, and she is planning to take charge of them."

On the shore of Liuqing Lake, several cultivators could be seen entangled in black energy. Their faces were contorted in pain, as if they were unable to break free no matter what. Their cultivation and flesh were being transferred little by little through the black energy to the great demon at the bottom of Liuqing Lake.

"Young Master Lu." Su Youwan slowly descended step by step, her feet treading on the void. "What brings you here?"

Lu Changyuan replied, "What happened to that pill that was born?"

"Young Master Lu still prefers to answer questions with questions, just like always."

"Each each other."

Su Youwan shook her head, her snow-white hair fluttering as she said, "It is said that the Imperial Sword Sect seized that pill and it is still hidden in the city."

Those who managed to grab the pills and those who didn't probably didn't have time to leave Shangyujing; they were all drenched by the black rain and dragged into a dream.

Lu Changyuan then asked, "So what are you going to do?"

Su Youwan remained as calm as ever: "Youwan doesn't know what to do either. But what does Young Master Lu want to do?"

Before Lu Changyuan could answer.

A clear male voice came from behind: "Fellow Daoists, let's help each other cut off those tentacles first, otherwise all the Daoists in this city will die at the hands of this monstrous thing."

The newcomer carried a sword and held a gourd in his hand. He didn't use an umbrella, and the rain soaked him to the bone, but even so, it couldn't conceal his sharp edge.

Li Qingcao, the swordsman of the Green Grass Sword Sect.

The swordsman of the Nine Gates and Twelve Palaces had a sword heart as hard as if he had killed a snow demon for ten years on the snowy mountain peak. The mere nightmare could only trap him for a moment.

When he looked back at that rainy night again, he was numb to it all, only filled with nostalgia.

That's the road we came from, after all.

No matter how unforgettable it may be, it's just youthful emotion; how can it compare to the wine in the pot and the sword in the hand?

Li Qingcao glanced at Su Youwan, then at Xia Lianxue: "So it's the Third Prince and Fairy Xia. Brother, I haven't asked your name yet."

He paused for a moment, then remembered he needed to introduce himself: "Li Qingcao, Qingcao Sword Sect."

Lu Changyuan smiled and said, "Lu Changyuan is just a doctor."

"So it's Brother Lu." Li Qingcao walked up to Lu Changyuan in a very familiar manner, then picked up his wine gourd: "I felt like we had known each other for a long time as soon as I saw you, Brother Lu. Would you like a drink?"

Lu Changyuan looked at Li Qingcao with great nostalgia, as if he were seeing the former sect leader of Qingcao Sword Sect many years ago.

They were equally outgoing and equally fond of gourds and swords. So Lu Changyuan said, "Forget it. I've heard that the people of the Green Grass Sword Sect are all heavy drinkers. I appreciate Brother Li's kindness, but I won't take what others love."

Li Qingcao was greatly surprised: "Then I will invite Brother Lu for drinks another day." He turned his sword around and said: "I will go and make a move first. If it is not possible, I will hope that you will help me."

This swordsman was indeed swift and decisive; he charged forward with his sword, like a streak of blue light.

The tentacle fell to the ground with a sound.

Li Qingcao asked incredulously, "Could it be that my swordsmanship has improved again? Wait! What's that sound?"

The tentacles fell into the water, and as if they were saltpeter, the lake began to boil.

A creaking sound suddenly came from all directions, making one's teeth ache, as if something was being assembled, or as if some rats were gnawing on human bones.

Soon everyone knew what the sound was.

Those were bones, countless bones.

Countless skeletons that died in Liuqing Lake slowly crawled ashore, the creaking sounds being the sounds of bones grinding and turning.

No.

Not only were there skeletons, but also cultivators who died on the night the pill was produced. These dead cultivators had lifeless eyes, and their bodies were covered with swollen chunks of flesh from being soaked in water, emitting a foul stench.

Li Qingcao turned around and said coldly, "What demons and monsters?"

He unleashed another sword strike.

The bones fell in clumps like trimmed weeds, the broken bones hitting the ground and the lake with a crisp sound.

Lu Changyuan said, "It seems that demonic energy is controlling the corpses, like a puppet show."

There wasn't much of a threat at the time; it was just that releasing them could easily harm ordinary people.

Li Qingcao fastened the gourd back on its original place: "Everyone, why don't we split up? I'll stay here and keep the bones from emerging, while you all go and rescue the cultivators entangled in the black aura. I woke up my two junior sisters when I arrived, and they'll help you too. What do you say?"

Lu Changyuan smiled, thinking to himself that the Green Grass Sword Sect was as nosy as ever: "Brother Li is kind and benevolent, so there's nothing wrong with it."

"Where is the Third Prince?"

Su Youwan turned around without saying a word to Li Qingcao. She glanced at Lu Changyuan one last time, gently opened her umbrella, and slowly disappeared into the rain.

Li Qingcao sighed and looked at Lu Changyuan: "Women are just so hard to communicate with, Brother Lu."

Lu Changyuan dared not respond to that, after all, Xia Lianxue was standing beside him with a smile.

~
A melodious female voice rang out from within the imperial palace and treasury.

"I wondered when a courtesan had emerged."

A woman dressed entirely in black, whose face was completely obscured, had somehow taken up a seat on another dragon head, her laughter echoing throughout the entire treasury.

The voice seemed to have a kind of enchantment, making the listener's heart flutter.

The Second Prince, Xueyanluo, and the town elder were all unaware of when this person had followed them into the national treasury.

"I thought there was some promising talent that had appeared, and I was prepared to take him back and train him properly. I traveled for several days to get here, but I am truly disappointed."

If Lu Changyuan were here, he would inevitably have to talk to this woman in black robes about how she stole a jar of wine from him and hadn't paid him back.

"So it was you, this hermaphrodite, secretly engaging in some shady dealings." The woman in black robes said contemptuously, "I'd like to know, with your Blood Demon Palace interfering so much in the affairs of the Glazed Dynasty, aren't you afraid of being punished by the Daoist sect?"

Xueyanluo watched the waves surging on the water, where bursts of red mist rose. Just by looking at them, one could feel the intense heat; the lake in the national treasury had begun to boil.

He recognized the woman in black robes, so he didn't panic: "The Daoist sect might not care about this matter. But when did you come in? Are you here to snatch the sword from my palace?"

(End of this chapter)