"It's him! That man right there!"
Qiusheng shouted. Upon seeing the white mask, he was half out of his mind.
"Flee! No, we must flee!"
Perhaps thinking I had frozen in fear, Qiusheng screamed as if having a fit.
"Even you cannot stand against that man! Let us flee at once."
When I remained still, Qiusheng frowned and drew his sword.
"Damn it! Let's attack together!"
"As expected, you are a man suited for the orthodox faction."
"Have you lost your mind? What nonsense at a time like this!"
I could understand why his father had left a dying wish not to trust people. Even in this situation, he was a man who did not run and looked after my safety.
Before we knew it, the man in the white mask had approached our table.
The white-masked man stared at us silently.
Qiusheng trembled violently. Though he had sworn revenge, now that he faced his opponent, his body would not move as he willed.
It was I who broke the heavy silence hanging in the hall.
"Why did you not show me this dangerous world before?"
To my surprise, he was the real Ji'e Xiaomo.
When I first saw him, I had naturally assumed he was the fake Ji'e Xiaomo who had come to Yuefengmen.
But watching him walk toward us, I realized he was the real Ji'e Xiaomo. It was an air that only Ji'e Xiaomo could exude.
"Why on earth are you here?"
"Why is the Second Young Lord here?"
At our conversation, Qiusheng's eyes widened in surprise.
He must have been confused. Whether the real one had come, or whether I had been in league with the fake.
I asked Qiusheng.
"Look closely. Is that the man who came that day?"
Qiusheng looked at Ji'e Xiaomo, trembling. After a moment, he exclaimed.
"Ah! He is different. He is definitely different. He is more handsome than that man!"
"But he is wearing a mask?"
"Indeed. He is definitely more handsome."
I smiled and looked at Ji'e Xiaomo.
"It seems this man can see through Lord Xiaomo's mask."
"Or perhaps my mask is simply more handsome."
I could understand the meaning behind Qiusheng's words. Not just anyone could give off Ji'e Xiaomo's feeling simply by wearing a mask.
An air, a feeling, an atmosphere. There was a unique aura belonging solely to Ji'e Xiaomo. Qiusheng had expressed that as 'handsomeness.'
"So this is the real Ji'e Xiaomo."
"Did I not tell you? That man was a fake. Now, greet him. This is Lord Ji'e Xiaomo, the Demon Venerable of our cult."
Qiusheng froze as if struck by lightning. He did not know what to say. He looked back and forth between me and Ji'e Xiaomo in shock and terror.
But the truly surprising matter for Qiusheng began now.
"Before leaving the cult, I visited Eren Gu to see you, but you had already departed."
"I heard there was someone going around imitating me."
Given Ji'e Xiaomo's temperament, there was no way he would let such a person be.
"But how did you know I would be here and come yourself?"
"I did not know the Second Young Lord was coming."
A surprising answer flowed from Ji'e Xiaomo's lips.
"Today, I came to this place to collect the Enyuan Coin."
I was greatly surprised. Rather, I was more surprised than Qiusheng.
"The owner of the Enyuan Coin is you, Lord Xiaomo?"
Ji'e Xiaomo opened his hand, revealing a coin cut in half resting in his palm.
At that sight, the moment Qiusheng took out the necklace hanging from his neck.
"Huh? Wha?"
The coin attached to the end of the necklace and Qiusheng, floating in midair, were suddenly pulled forward. Ji'e Xiaomo had drawn him through the air.
The coin in Ji'e Xiaomo's palm likewise rose to meet the coin hanging from the necklace in midair. The two halves joined perfectly.
Dragged before Ji'e Xiaomo, Qiusheng looked back and forth between the joined Enyuan Coin and Ji'e Xiaomo in shock. He could never have imagined that the man his father saved was Ji'e Xiaomo. It was the same for me.
With a casual flick, Ji'e Xiaomo snapped the necklace cord and reclaimed the other half of the Enyuan Coin.
Speaking in place of the dazed Qiusheng, I said to Ji'e Xiaomo.
"I truly never imagined that you were the owner of the Enyuan Coin, Lord Xiaomo."
"It was a very long time ago."
It felt new to me that there had been a time when Ji'e Xiaomo had such a clear debt of gratitude. Moreover, it was even more surprising that he had appeared here today to keep a promise.
"Seeing you, Lord Xiaomo, is a joyous occasion, but this place feels like a trap today."
Indeed, even before Ji'e Xiaomo appeared, all the guests had left, and even the innkeeper had vanished afterward. Not a single person passed by the front of the inn.
"That person's disguise as Lord Xiaomo does not seem to be a coincidence either."
It seemed not merely that someone wore a mask and impersonated Ji'e Xiaomo, but that they had targeted Ji'e Xiaomo from the start. Did that mean the Tianminghui was targeting Ji'e Xiaomo?
"Is there anyone you suspect?"
After a moment of thought, Ji'e Xiaomo spoke with a perplexed expression.
"Would there be only one? Just those who came to mind number some fifty people."
When I laughed in disbelief, Ji'e Xiaomo laughed as well. Qiusheng remained silent, still seemingly unable to adapt to the situation, merely listening to our conversation.
"Is there anyone else besides Lord Xiaomo who uses the Xueyangzhi?"
"!"
For a moment, I sensed Ji'e Xiaomo flinch.
"Why do you ask?"
"The traces the fake left on Yuefengmen's walls were extremely similar to Lord Xiaomo's Xueyangzhi. It was such an exquisite technique that one might say it was left by you yourself."
Ji'e Xiaomo answered after a brief pause.
"There is another."
I asked no further. Because I knew he had given me that answer only because it was me.
"Perhaps the enemy we face is no ordinary opponent."
Ji'e Xiaomo nodded at my words. He clearly seemed to have a guess as to who was behind this.
When our conversation paused for a moment, Qiusheng asked me.
"But he called you the Second Young Lord. Surely it is not...?"
I returned the question to him with a meaningful smile.
"If not, who else in the world could converse with a Demon Venerable at such a young age?"
"Are you truly the bloodline of the Heavenly Demon?"
"I am."
"Ah! To think the day would come when I see the bloodline of the Demonic Cult Leader and a Demon Venerable in one place!"
He was seeing at once people that an ordinary martial artist might never encounter in their entire life.
"I had suspected you were no ordinary person. In fact, it would not have been strange at all if you had said, 'I am the Heavenly Demon.' I would have believed you were a Heavenly Demon who had returned to youth. You truly are... No, I suppose I should call you Second Young Lord now."
Ji'e Xiaomo smiled softly, as if he understood exactly what was in Qiusheng's heart.
"Do not stand on ceremony with me. Treat me as comfortably as you have until now."
"May I?"
"It is fine. Had I desired special treatment, I would have revealed my identity from the start."
"Understood. No, I understand."
Once our exchange was over, Ji'e Xiaomo spoke to Qiusheng.
"Whatever the situation, a past debt must be repaid. Now, what help do you need? Speak carefully. The Enyuan Coin can be used but once. I am granting this request out of respect for your father, so choose wisely."
Qiusheng, who had been pondering briefly, glanced at me.
"The Second Young Lord will make the request in my stead."
He had entrusted me with the use of the Enyuan Coin.
"Why entrust it to me?"
"Listening to your conversation, this matter seems not to be solely our family's affair. Is this something that ends simply with 'avenge us'? In my humble opinion, it does not seem so. I do not know what request to make of Lord Xiaomo now. That is why I entrust it to you, Second Young Lord."
I thought it a wise decision.
Yes, Qiusheng. Continue to live making good use of that sharp head of yours.
Smiling, I said to Ji'e Xiaomo.
"What do you say? Will you recognize my request in his stead?"
"I had decided to grant requests only from immediate family, but since it is the Second Young Lord, I shall make a special exception."
"Thank you."
After a moment's consideration, I spoke to him.
"Please make me the successor to our cult."
Startled, Qiusheng cried out as if to argue.
"Why are you using my Enyuan Coin to ask for your own affair?"
"You entrusted it to me, did you not?"
"No, but still. I never imagined you would make such a request. You should ask for revenge for my family."
Just as Qiusheng was arguing, Ji'e Xiaomo answered.
"Very well, I accept."
What he accepted was not the Enyuan Coin's request, but my jest.
Qiusheng, on the other hand, was frantic.
"It cannot be! This is invalid! Invalid!"
Ji'e Xiaomo looked at him with cold eyes.
"Who are you?"
Startled by Ji'e Xiaomo's attitude, which said their business was done.
"Who is it that has been hovering before me since earlier?"
Looking back and forth between Ji'e Xiaomo and me, he sighed and reproached himself.
"I suppose my temperament is selectively short-tempered. That vessel of patience that brimmed over even at pebbles does not brim over before this man. It seems it would not overflow even if the sea were poured into it."
At his self-mocking sigh, I smiled and spoke.
"You have lost the Enyuan Coin, but in exchange, have you not gained a future Heavenly Demon?"
At those words, Qiusheng looked at me with a surprised face.
"I apologize for the jest. Now, let me formally introduce myself. I am Jian Wuji, Second Young Lord of the Tianmo Shenjiao. I shall avenge your family upon my name."
Only then did Qiusheng realize it had been a jest, and he was deeply moved. A promise more certain than the Enyuan Coin had been made.
There, Ji'e Xiaomo stepped forward as well.
"This matter is related to me, so I intend to handle it myself. Therefore, do not worry and return home."
"Thank you. Truly, thank you."
"It is deeply regrettable that your family became entangled because of me. Had I known it would come to this, I would never have given the Enyuan Coin to your father."
Though he did not say the words 'I am sorry,' I could tell he felt apologetic.
"No, how could that be Lord Xiaomo's fault?"
"This is no place for you. Return at once."
"Yes."
I asked worriedly.
"Is it safe to send him alone?"
With enemies clearly already nearby, I was worried he might encounter mishaps returning alone.
"You need not worry."
It was an answer that suggested he knew who was behind this scheme.
Qiusheng cupped his hands toward me and Ji'e Xiaomo, then turned. Just as he was about to leave the inn, he turned back at the door.
"I say this because I fear we may not meet again. Perhaps when this matter ends, my main sect may join the orthodox faction. So I say this: should a war between orthodox and demonic ever break out later... please look favorably upon my family."
At his joke, I too reciprocated in jest.
"Then you must save me once. I shall cut a coin for you."
Qiusheng smiled broadly.
"I am certain. My father sent a precious person to me. Second Young Lord, please become a Heavenly Demon who does not start a war between orthodox and demonic. Then I shall look forward to meeting you again someday."
Qiusheng gave a very respectful final greeting and left.
Left alone in the inn, Ji'e Xiaomo spoke.
"Second Young Lord, give up on becoming the Heavenly Demon."
"What do you mean? I spent the Enyuan Coin for this."
"Travel the Central Plains like this. Meeting people like Qiusheng, living while smiling like this. This suits you more."
I could tell. That Ji'e Xiaomo was speaking from the heart.
"Have you perhaps accepted a bribe from my elder brother? Have you sided with him in the time we have not met?"
Ji'e Xiaomo laughed loudly.
Once Qiusheng left, as if they had been waiting, enemies revealed themselves one by one. Indeed, this place today was undoubtedly a trap to lure Ji'e Xiaomo.
The first to appear were three old men.
They were old men of similar age, but peculiarly, they were dressed in matching red armor. From that attire alone, I recognized who they were.
Xuelu Sanjun.
They were once vagabonds who dyed the martial world in terror, accepting any contract as long as money was paid. They killed indiscriminately, women and children alike, and were known to kill even their own parents if paid.
Eventually, their evil deeds became so excessive that they were condemned as public enemies of the martial world and vanished from it, yet today they revealed themselves here.
They had made their notorious names at middle age; now they had grown old. The wickedness they had accumulated through countless trials replaced their diminished muscle. They seated themselves at a table far from us.
Again, a middle-aged woman appeared in the inn, swaying a pink fan. She wore gaudy palace attire with thick makeup, and her figure was voluptuously sensual, as if bursting.
Jile Yaoji.
She was a heinous villainess who had sucked the vital essence of countless men to forge her internal energy. That skin and figure, so ill-suited to her age, had been created by stealing the vital essence and lives of countless men. She too had once ranked first among the public enemies of the martial world. Rumor had it that she had fallen prey to a heinous lecher and died from having her internal energy drained in reverse, yet here she was, brazenly alive.
She revealed her pale legs, crossed them, and sat astride a table.
Next, a middle-aged man entered.
Wearing a single straight blade at his waist, he emanated an air like a beast wandering the wilderness.
Xuelang Dao.
He was the very martial artist who had sought out experts of the Central Plains solely to grow stronger. He did anything to win and forcibly fought even those who wished to avoid combat. Thus, too many experts had died unjustly by his hand.
Eventually, he too was condemned as a public enemy of the martial world, and there were many rumors regarding his end: that he died fighting an elder of the Martial Alliance, that he died challenging a Demon Venerable, that he died at the hands of a nameless hermit expert. Rendering all such rumors meaningless, he gulped down the teapot placed at the entrance.
The last to appear was a man dressed entirely in black clothes and shoes, with a black cloak wrapped around him.
Yanluo Shenjun.
Though he appeared sane now, he was once a mad martial artist who had massacled martial artists in his insanity. He had believed himself to be a messenger sent by the King of Hell, considering himself a god who governed life and death. He too had been condemned as a public enemy of the martial world, stirring up a storm of blood before disappearing.
Villains who had once shaken the martial world had appeared all at once, so rather, it felt unreal. Moreover, the mastermind behind the impersonation had yet to show himself.
It was not the time to act leisurely, but I could not help saying this to Ji'e Xiaomo.
"Just what on earth have you been doing?"
Looking at the villains radiating killing intent toward him, Ji'e Xiaomo replied sheepishly.
"They are all people I know."