“So, you can use charm techniques openly and aboveboard?”
Lin An looked at Qu Hongling, who was sitting on the ground, and confirmed.
“Yes, subordinate practices the Heaven Origin Sect’s Heart-Confusing Sword Art, which has the effect of disturbing the mind.”
As she spoke, she carefully examined Lin An.
“With the strength you’ve shown, my lord, I could easily make you fall into an illusion without you even realizing it.”
“Oh, I see…”
Lin An rubbed his chin, knowing how to get her to cooperate, but he had one more thing to confirm.
“By the way, what’s your reputation like in the Heaven Origin Sect?”
The intelligence hadn’t said much, only mentioning that this woman was quite casual.
“Mm…”
Hearing this question, Qu Hongling looked away as if embarrassed.
“Hard to say?”
“Well… not really. Just a drunkard who hides her face and puts on airs, a female thug who whistles at handsome men, and also…”
“And?”
Lin An was shocked.
Even though she was a demon cultivator, she wasn’t supposed to be one openly.
Qu Hongling lowered her head, the tips of her ears red.
“And I often steal spiritual plants and pets from junior disciples and sell them for spirit stones.”
Lin An sighed, rubbing his forehead wearily.
“You’ve worked hard. Are these all disguises?”
“Not entirely.”
“Which ones are real?”
Lin An’s mouth twitched.
“Whistling. It’s fun to see how those young virgins react.”
‘Alright, alright, I underestimated you! Is it funny to make fun of my virgin disciples?’
Feeling Lin An’s gaze turn cold, Qu Hongling quickly said, “Lord Holy Son, please don’t misunderstand. I only find it amusing. In fact, I’m still a virgin.”
“?” Lin An looked incredulous.
“Really, really. Not breaking chastity before the Spiritual Martial Realm is beneficial for cultivation.”
Lin An raised an eyebrow.
That sounded familiar, but never mind, it had nothing to do with him.
“So, my lord, how do you want me to cooperate?”
Getting down to business, Lin An composed himself.
“I expect Mu Qinghan will come looking for me soon, so you…”
“Senior Sister?”
Qu Hongling was surprised.
“How did you get involved with her? That woman is seriously ill. When she fights, she’s like a madwoman. Aside from having good taste in clothes, I can’t find a single positive trait.”
“?”
Lin An was shocked by her words for the second time.
Qu Hongling tugged at the red dress she was wearing.
“Here, she bought this. Come to think of it, she’s a weirdo. She buys clothes but never wears them. So why buy them?”
So you’re wearing her clothes and badmouthing her behind her back?
As expected of a demon cultivator.
“Let me finish.”
“Oh…”
Qu Hongling immediately shut up, looking obedient.
Before this, Lin An never imagined this woman would be such a chatterbox and a joker.
Lu Mingyue, look at the disciples you’ve taken in.
All top-notch!
“Where was I?”
“Talking about Senior Sister coming to find you.”
“Oh right. Then you act like your usual self, showing great interest in me, then hypnotize me into an illusion where you see me as her.”
Although Qu Hongling didn’t understand, she nodded.
“I understand. So… you’re responsible for pissing her off, and I’m responsible for adding fuel to the fire.”
That’s the gist, but Lin An suddenly had a bad feeling.
“No need to add fuel. Just cooperate with me. Say less, understand?”
“Mm hm, got it.”
Lin An looked at her completely clueless expression, wanted to say something, but swallowed it back.
Even though she seemed foolish now, if he actually treated her like a fool, he’d be the real fool.
Right now, she assumed he was the Holy Son of the Demon Sect.
If she found out he wasn’t, she’d make him understand what a demon cultivator truly was in no time.
Before long, Lin An returned to the deck to continue working.
But as he looked up, an ice-blue figure blocked his path, staring at him coldly.
Sure enough, this woman couldn’t wait a moment.
This was their first formal meeting.
“Are you… Senior Sister Mu?”
Lin An put down the chest in his hands and cupped his hands in salute.
“May I ask what Senior Sister Mu wants with me?”
At the same time, he activated “Observe Like and Dislike” to look at the woman before him.
The result…
‘No malice… none?
‘The diversity of human species refreshed Lin An’s understanding again.‘
Although the white mist was very faint, there was truly no black aura.
‘You have no malice toward me, yet you still want to kill me? Are you that twisted? This woman is truly evil!’
Mu Qinghan didn’t speak at first, just stared at him.
Lin An suppressed his thoughts and remained unmoved.
The two confronted each other.
He knew his behavior was off—too calm.
But right now, he was supposed to be in an abnormal state, so it was actually normal.
“You…”
She only said one word when a voice cut in from the side.
“Senior Sister, what are you doing? Interested in this young man?”
As the words fell, a red figure appeared beside Lin An, naturally hooking her arm through his, pressing half her body against him, the soft touch enveloping most of his arm.
Mu Qinghan frowned.
“What are you doing here? You two?”
Qu Hongling tilted her head and smiled, looking proud.
“Why can’t I be here? I’ve taken a liking to Junior Brother Lin and want to be friends with him.”
‘Friends?’
Mu Qinghan sneered inwardly.
‘You’re practically hanging on him. Is that how you make friends?’
She thought so but didn’t show it, because it was none of her business.
“Sure, of course.”
Mu Qinghan’s tone was unreadable.
“I just have some things I want to discuss with him. Junior Sister, you wouldn’t mind, would you?”
“I do mind. Very much.”
Qu Hongling replied immediately, not caring how the other party would take it.
Sure enough, Mu Qinghan was first stunned, then a trace of impatience appeared on her face.
She had never gotten along with this rather flighty junior sister of hers.
Since she couldn’t get through to her, she’d go to the source.
[Lin An, come with me. I have something to tell you]
She sent an invitation directly through the artifact, not thinking he would refuse.
But to her surprise, Lin An turned to look at Qu Hongling.
[Sure]
“Let’s go, Senior Sister Qu.”
Qu Hongling’s eyes darted, and she immediately played along.
“Mm, let’s go to a quiet place, just the two of us~”
Lin An’s mouth twitched.
Without another glance at Mu Qinghan, he walked with Qu Hongling toward the cabin.
Mu Qinghan watched their retreating figures, her expression blank, as if she hadn’t caught on immediately.
Only after a long while did she gradually understand everything.
‘No wonder he said I was behind him. So he was bewitched by Junior Sister and mistook her for me…’
A rare awkwardness appeared on Mu Qinghan’s face.
Though she didn’t care, it still felt strange.
She inexplicably felt a weight on her head.
‘No, no, what am I thinking?‘
Now things are troublesome. If Lin An blabbed about the artifact, Junior Sister would know everything.
‘No, they can’t be together!’
“Wait!”
She chased after them.
—
The two returned to the cabin.
Lin An was about to pull his arm free from Qu Hongling when she suddenly seemed to remember something.
“Oh, right, my lord. Will you need to hide soon?”
“Huh?”
He didn’t understand.
Qu Hongling blinked her big eyes, staring straight at him.
“Have you forgotten? Every Demon Extermination Assembly has a fixed action.”
Lin An felt his arm being held tighter, and a thin layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.
“The sects that come to the Demon Extermination Assembly are always attacked by the demonic path. This time, I even leaked the Heaven Origin Sect’s route and time.”
As she spoke, she smiled, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Lin An’s heart sank.
He suddenly realized that no matter what appearance she put on, this woman was a thoroughbred demon cultivator.
They were enemies from the start!