Chà Chà Novel

“Since your mind is made up, my lord, there is little more I can say.”

Xiao Sha lowered his head, took a book from inside his robes, and handed it to Qin Du.

“Please take a look at this cultivation manual.”

“What is this?”

“When I heard you had joined the Xuantian Sect, I recalled your idea from our previous life—to combine demonic and immortal cultivation in order to defeat Mu Yunting.”

Qin Du had indeed considered that in his previous life. He had only mentioned it to Xiao Sha in passing, never expecting him to remember.

“In our previous life, I found this ‘Treatise on Immortals and Demons’ among the old Demon Venerable’s books. It records numerous examples of people practicing both paths during the Huangyuan era. But before I could give it to you…”

“I really do owe you my thanks. This is exactly what I need right now!”

Back then, Qin Du had killed the old Demon Venerable amid the chaos and taken his place. Only after absorbing the old demon’s century of cultivation had he gained the strength to face Mu Yunting.

In this life, he was still far from catching up.

Mu Yunting might not be attacking him now, but who knew what the future held?

He had to protect himself. Only by growing stronger could he protect the person he wanted to keep safe.

With the book delivered, Xiao Sha had no reason to linger.

Just as he prepared to leave, a painfully familiar figure emerged from the darkness along the narrow path through the rear mountains.

Every hair on Xiao Sha’s body stood on end. Demonic markings nearly covered him from head to toe.

It was the sign of a demon entering combat readiness upon confronting a formidable enemy.

“Mu Yunting!”

Xiao Sha clenched his fists, desperate to rush out and tear him apart.

But before he could act, Qin Du caught his shoulder in a tight grip.

“Go! Don’t let him discover you!”

“We’re just letting him go? He hasn’t come into his full strength yet—he’s only at late Foundation Establishment?! This is our only chance to eliminate him! Once he’s dead, the cultivation world will never recover!”

“Are you insane?! Kill him inside the Xuantian Sect, and you won’t get out alive either!”

“For the demon race’s great cause, I would die without regret!”

Qin Du was frantic. Seeing Mu Yunting approaching, he dragged Xiao Sha down behind the weeds.

“No! He already has his bonded spirit sword. Unless you can kill him in one blow, neither of us will escape!”

At last, Xiao Sha hesitated.

His own life was worth nothing, but endangering his lord would be an unforgivable offense.

In the end, he suppressed his murderous intent.

“Then take care, my lord. I’ll withdraw.”

“Go, quickly!”

A cloud of black smoke dispersed, and Xiao Sha vanished.

Qin Du wiped the thin sheen of sweat from his forehead and slumped onto the ground.

Exhausting. His body was tired, but his mind was even more so.

He had finally persuaded Xiao Sha to leave, and now he would have to explain to Mu Yunting why he was out here in the middle of the night.

He rose, trying to appear casual. Yet Mu Yunting walked straight past him, completely failing to notice someone hiding in the weeds.

It wouldn’t have been surprising with anyone else—but this was Mu Yunting.

The opponent who could predict Qin Du’s next move before he had even finished his current one.

What could possibly have distracted him so much?

In that case, he could hardly blame Qin Du for snooping.

Qin Du crouched lower in the weeds, concealing himself completely except for his eyes as he watched Mu Yunting nearby.

Mu Yunting walked to the cliff’s edge, summoned his bonded spirit sword, and leaped onto it before taking to the sky.

In the blink of an eye, he was gone, leaving only lingering traces of sword energy.

Where was he going at this hour?

Judging by those traces, however, he was heading toward the Xianyue Sect.

A narrow path through the rear mountains of Lingxiao Peak led directly outside, bypassing the Xuantian Sect disciples’ checks.

Over the past few years, whenever Qin Du grew bored on the mountain, he would occasionally sneak down that way to have some fun.

He knew the path. Mu Yunting surely knew it too.

What Mu Yunting probably hadn’t expected was to be caught slipping out of the Xuantian Sect in the middle of the night.

Master had clearly told him to stay on the mountain and practice his swordsmanship for the next few days, yet he had sneaked out anyway.

Why did Master think so highly of him?

Qin Du would report him tomorrow!

That was his intention. But when he saw Lin Huaiqing the next day, he swallowed the accusation before it could leave his mouth.

“Du’er, where is your junior brother Yunting?”

“Master… I… I don’t know either…”

Tattling behind someone’s back was hardly the conduct of a gentleman.

Lin Huaiqing had been feeling a little guilty, worried that Mu Yunting might read too much into things. With him absent, this would be easier.

He took a longsword from his qiankun pouch, planted it in the soft earth, and said to Qin Du, “Drip your blood onto it. Let’s see whether it’s willing to recognize you as its master.”

Qin Du felt as though a current had shot through his entire body. His obsidian eyes lit up.

“Is this for me, Master?!”

“It isn’t yours yet. Let’s first see whether the two of you are destined for each other.”

Lin Huaiqing’s warm smile instantly lit up Qin Du’s heart.

He had made a special trip to the Treasure Pavilion to choose this spirit sword for Qin Du. It was the one best suited to him.

Though it was only a high-grade spiritual weapon, far below a sacred weapon like Mu Yunting’s Qingyu Sword, it was more than sufficient for a Foundation Establishment or Golden Core cultivator.

Besides, this sword had a connection to the demon race.

Its former owner had reportedly been a direct disciple of the Xuantian Sect’s ninth sect leader. It had served as that disciple’s bonded spiritual weapon.

The disciple had been half human and half demon. The ninth sect leader had known his identity all along, yet had never thought any less of him.

He had even ordered an elder of the Artifact Forging Office to craft this weapon especially for his disciple.

Unfortunately, the disciple’s identity was later exposed just as the fifth war between immortals and demons broke out. The immortal sects demanded that the sect leader hand over his demonic disciple as a sacrifice to Heaven.

The Xuantian Sect was in a precarious position. Unless the disciple was killed, the other sects would send no reinforcements.

To protect the sect and spare his master further anguish, the disciple ultimately used this very sword to take his own life before everyone.

Lin Huaiqing had learned this rather melodramatic story from the sword’s written history during his visit to the Treasure Pavilion.

But several centuries had passed. Who could say how much of it was true?

Everyone would have their own interpretation.

Qin Du, overwhelmed with happiness, naturally knew none of this.

He immediately pressed his hand against the blade and drew it firmly across.

Though the sword was rusty, the moment it touched his blood, it burst into dazzling white light.

When the light faded, the spirit sword was completely renewed, its edge gleaming with a dark red sheen.

It had recognized Qin Du as its master.

He was beside himself with joy. This was a spirit sword Master had chosen especially for him. No one else had one like it!

Holding his bonded sword in both hands, Qin Du dropped to his knees at Lin Huaiqing’s feet.

“Thank you for granting me this sword, Master!”

Lin Huaiqing reached out and helped him up.

There was no need for thanks. He was simply finding another way to make things up to Qin Du.

Lately, most of his attention had gone to the young male lead, and he had often neglected the little villain.

He only hoped the boy wouldn’t resent him.