The little demons responded in unison, swarming forward to surround Lin Xue and Zhang Zongnian in the center, their broadswords and spears pointed directly at them.
Lin Xue felt unspeakably frustrated.
Between humans and Demonic Beasts, there existed only enmity.
This was Demonic Beast territory. As a demon herself, she might still be relatively safe.
But Zhang Zongnian was human. In this den of Demonic Beasts, who could predict what would happen to him?
She had only risked an escape attempt to keep Zhang Zongnian from falling into danger, worried he might be bled dry by these monsters.
Who would have thought their flying artifact would break down at such a crucial moment?
If she’d known, she’d have stayed put—waited for these demons to come question her, expressed her gratitude for being saved.
Maybe she could’ve even left a good impression on the high-ranking demons, pleaded for Zhang Zongnian’s life.
But now, any chance at a good impression was gone.
In their eyes, she was probably already a thankless wretch with hidden motives.
The red-robed female demon walked over, her full chest trembling slightly with each step.
She stopped before Lin Xue, lifting her chin, glancing sideways and looking down at Lin Xue and Zhang Zongnian.
Lin Xue could feel Zhang Zongnian tensing up beside her.
A little demon barked at them, “You two, in front of our Xixia Mountain Luoyun Cave’s Miss Hong Yanzhi, why aren’t you kneeling?”
Other little demons clamored, raising their weapons, “Kneel!”
Without hesitation, Lin Xue curled her snake tail and knelt.
The Ancestor of the Yang Family was a Foundation-building stage cultivator, yet these shape-shifted demons could fight him head-on—their cultivation must be formidable.
Dealing with a little snake spirit like her would be no harder than crushing a chick.
If she wanted to live, then kneeling was the right move.
A true hero knows when to bend and when to stand tall—there was no need to care about dignity in this moment.
She noticed Zhang Zongnian beside her still hesitated, as if unwilling to kneel before demons.
She tugged hard on his sleeve.
What a fool!
Now’s not the time to be so inflexible!
You want revenge for your mother, don’t you?
Zhang Zongnian stood ramrod straight.
It was his first time facing so many demons at once.
As a former Demon Slaying Division Officer, now surrounded by demons, his hackles instinctively rose, his back chilled.
That Demon Princess had spoken of needing human cultivators’ blood to purge poison for her father.
Who knew how many human cultivators she’d already killed?
Demonic Beasts were Demonic Beasts—born enemies of the Human Clan.
He’d just escaped the tiger’s den of the Yang Family in Xichuan, only to fall into a den of demons.
Luckily, he wore only casual clothes he’d gotten from a fellow disciple.
If he’d been in his Demon-Slaying Bureau uniform, these monsters would’ve chopped him to bits by now.
Hearing the little demons demanding he kneel to a female demon, looking at the proud face of the demoness before him, Zhang Zongnian’s pride made it impossible for him to perform such a humiliating act.
A real man kneels only to heaven, earth, and his parents!
How could he kneel before the enemy, especially a female demon, and grovel?
In this life, apart from my mother and my Master, I’ve never knelt to anyone!
If I must die here, then I’ll die standing!
Though Lin Xue tugged hard on him, Zhang Zongnian remained rooted to the spot.
Even with his heart pounding, his eyes stared levelly at Hong Yanzhi.
Lin Xue sighed inwardly and let go.
Hong Yanzhi noticed Zhang Zongnian’s rigid posture and showed a hint of surprise.
Then, with a sneer full of disdain, she said, “Human cultivator? Won’t kneel? Got some backbone, have you? Fine.”
She ordered the little demons, “Break his legs!”
Immediately, two little demons, each wielding a spiked club, swung fiercely at Zhang Zongnian’s legs.
A flash of spiritual light burst forth—the Jade Pendant hanging at Zhang Zongnian’s waist blocked the two attacks.
This was Yang Yuting’s Jade Pendant, which Lin Xue had seized after killing Yang Yuting, giving it to Zhang Zongnian for protection.
At this moment, it blocked most of the assault for him.
But the Jade Pendant’s lingering spiritual power was nearly depleted. One club managed to break through, striking Zhang Zongnian’s knee.
Pain shot through Zhang Zongnian’s leg, making him collapse to his knees.
He struggled to rise.
But a hand gripped him tightly.
Lin Xue grasped his left hand, pressing him down, her gaze imploring.
You really want to lose your legs, fool?
Didn’t you see this tigress is dead serious?
Don’t you understand the wisdom of not suffering immediate loss?
Fury and humiliation boiled in Zhang Zongnian’s chest; he wanted to rise and fight back.
But meeting Lin Xue’s eyes, he held himself back, swallowing his rage, kneeling on the ground.
Hong Yanzhi looked down at him, sneering, “Get up then. Didn’t you refuse to kneel?”
Zhang Zongnian squeezed his eyes shut, his lips pressed tight, turning his head away.
Lin Xue raised her head and gave Hong Yanzhi a sweet, obedient smile.
“Your humble girl greets Miss, and thanks Miss and the two… Elder Brothers for saving our lives. My brother is a little ignorant—please, Miss, be magnanimous and don’t stoop to his level.”
Xiong Ba and Lang Buping had already come over, standing behind Hong Yanzhi, one folding his arms, the other fanning himself, looking like left and right guardians.
Hong Yanzhi snorted coldly. “Thank us for saving you? I don’t see much gratitude. Why did you try to run, little snake demon?”
Lin Xue replied honestly, “This girl was worried my benefactors might discover my brother’s human identity and harm him, so I tried to take him away. I was foolish—please forgive me, Miss.”
They had already seen through Zhang Zongnian’s humanity; better to be open and try for a good impression.
Hong Yanzhi folded her arms, lifting her full chest, her collar exposing a patch of white skin. She commanded, “Speak—your name, where you’re from, your cultivation. Why have you come here?”
Lin Xue replied dutifully, “I am Lin Xue, became refined in the forests of Xichuan. I’m only at the middle stage of Body Tempering. My brother and I were fleeing the pursuit of that cultivator just now and inadvertently ran onto Miss’s land—please forgive the intrusion, Miss.”
Hong Yanzhi sized up both Lin Xue and Zhang Zongnian, her gaze lingering on the Storage Pouches at their waists, then she sneered,
“That old man was chasing you so hard—what treasures did you steal from his family? Speak honestly! Hide anything, and you’ll die right here!”
A pack of little demons echoed, “Don’t you dare hide anything!” “Confess honestly!” “Hide anything, and you’ll die on the spot!”
Lin Xue’s heart clenched.
This cat demon clearly suspected she had stolen something valuable from the Yang Family.
If she found out about the Foundation-building Pill, she’d definitely take it.
Fortunately, the Foundation-building Pill, along with Xuesha, Zhanfeng, Fei Zhen, several cultivation manuals and jade slips, and other precious items, were all in her ring—which she had flattened into a thin layer matching her skin tone, completely invisible to outsiders.
But the items in the Storage Pouches she and Zhang Zongnian wore would likely be lost.
She promptly removed her Storage Pouch, undid its restriction, and presented it with both hands, smiling sweetly,
“In reply to Miss, I only snatched these two Storage Pouches, and I don’t really know what’s inside. I hand them over for Miss to dispose of as you please. As for why the old man chased me so relentlessly, it’s likely because I killed his blood kin.”
She nudged Zhang Zongnian’s arm, signaling him to surrender his Storage Pouch as well.
Zhang Zongnian, still with eyes closed, reluctantly tore the pouch from his waist and held it up one-handed.
As he raised the Storage Pouch, he hesitated for a moment.
Inside were the Heavenly Demon Transformation Art and Beast Refinement Codex.
These two manuals were his hope for revenge, and he hadn’t mastered them yet.
But then he thought—if he died today at the hands of these demons, what hope of revenge was left?
He extended his arm fully, averted his face, and handed the Storage Pouch to Hong Yanzhi.
Hong Yanzhi accepted both Storage Pouches, chuckled, “At least you’re a sensible little demon.”
She injected her demon power to inspect them, flashed a satisfied smile, then tossed the pouches to a little demon attendant behind her.
Lin Xue watched miserably as her entire retirement plan evaporated with the loss of those Storage Pouches.
Inside were mountains of spirit stones, gold, silver, jewels, and those few travel artifacts—all gone, just like that.
My little estate, my servants and maids, my landlord’s life…
It had all turned to smoke.
Xiong Ba, standing behind Hong Yanzhi, had been studying Lin Xue’s pretty face.
He looked from Lin Xue to Zhang Zongnian, his bear eyes wide, face dark as he questioned,
“Why is a little snake spirit like you running around with a man? What’s your relationship with him? You’re pretty enough—I bet this pretty boy tricked you into giving yourself to him, huh?”
He glared menacingly at Zhang Zongnian, convinced he was a philandering scoundrel who had seduced a naive demon girl.
From the righteous rage on his face, if Lin Xue answered “yes,” he’d probably pounce, open his bloody maw, and swallow Zhang Zongnian in one gulp.
Lin Xue replied, “To answer Bear Elder Brother, we are siblings.”
Xiong Ba looked back and forth between the two, puzzled, “Siblings?”
He thrust out his bear paw, pointed at Zhang Zongnian, and demanded, “You’re a snake, he’s human; you hatched from an egg, he was born from a woman—how can you be siblings? You trying to fool me?”
Lang Buping shook his folding fan and sneered, “You really are a dumb bear. Siblings don’t have to be blood-related—never heard of sworn siblings?”
He pointed at Lin Xue with his fan, “You two are sworn siblings, right?”
Lin Xue followed his lead, “Master Lang is right. We are sworn siblings. My brother once saved my life, so I recognized him as my brother.”
Lang Buping glanced triumphantly at Xiong Ba.
Xiong Ba grunted, “Humans are cunning—he saved you, must be after your looks! You better watch out, little snake spirit, don’t let this pretty boy trick you!”
Zhang Zongnian’s face showed anger. He opened his eyes, wanting to argue.
But he thought, what’s the point of talking to a pack of brutish demons? He shut his mouth, closed his eyes, and snorted coldly.
Lin Xue said to Xiong Ba, “Thank you for your reminder, Bear Elder Brother. I understand. My brother isn’t that kind of person.”
Hong Yanzhi sneered, “It doesn’t matter what kind of person he is. He’ll be dead soon, anyway.”
“My father is suffering from a strange poison. He needs regular doses of human essence blood to suppress it. Since this pretty boy has landed in Xixia Mountain, he can only blame his bad luck.”
“As it happens, my father’s poison should flare up today.”
“Men, tie this human cultivator up and take him back to the cave! He’ll be medicine for my father!”