Chapter 34

Translated by boilpoil Edited by boilpoil

Zhong Xiutang sees Bai Lianhua’s reaction, and asks, “what are you thinking about?” He was looking quite unwell just a moment ago too, but now he’s suddenly cheered up… The shine in his eyes makes him want to close in and observe in detail.

Bai Lianhua tells him honestly, “when I think about how when Lei Kuiliang is dead, his forces will collapse, and so there’s finally hope for the world to return normal.”

Nice, you know! Nice!

The system can’t help but cover its face, “host, have you actually become a real white lotus?” You’re seriously worrying about the world and its people?

Bai Lianhua doesn’t seem to get it, “what do you mean?”

The system shakes its head, “nothing, nothing… Just keep it up, host. Everything’s alright.”

Bai Lianhua “???”

Meanwhile, Zhong Xiutang appeared surprised for a moment before changing to an unreadable expression, “… if it’s you, it’s not that odd you’re thinking about something like that.”

“But, if you want world peace, wouldn’t this evil Sword here be the first factor you’d consider?”

If he still wants to jeopardise the world, there will forever be new Lei Kuiliangs in this world no matter how many are killed.

Bai Lianhua seems shocked, “eh? Didn’t you…” say I’m the only master ever in front of Lei Kuiliang? Didn’t that mean they’ve made up?

Or, does this mean you’re still not satisfied with that ‘punishment’ earlier… and you’re going to punish me some more first?

And then Zhong Xiutang’s words make Bai Lianhua feel he’s too naïve.

“Didn’t I what?” Zhong Xiutang raises his brows, “are you planning to ignore this demonic aura about me?”

“Let’s see, how long did it take for you to send all the demonic aura away the last time?”

“How about you make a guess on how long it will take you this time around?”

Zhong Xiutang closes in on Bai Lianhua, until his mouth almost touches his ear, and says in a provocative tone, “now, let’s see you try to assimilate me again.”

“Didn’t you come back for this?”

“What will you do this time? The old methods you used before, I’m afraid they’re not going to be effective this time around.”

“Try whatever other methods you can think of, see if I’m still as easy to deceive like last time.”

——Without the resolve to accompany him forever, he would never assimilate him. Now that he’s come again, don’t think of leaving again… Since, a day my demonic aura is yet to disperse is a day he can’t leave, right?

Zhong Xiutang’s evil disposition appeared stronger than ever.

In a sense, Bai Lianhua’s goals is completely exposed to the antagonist, and he can’t help but shudder; he tries to explain, “no… no.”

He’s realised Zhong Xiutang is quite the toxic antagonist. He’ll suddenly switch his stance around if he wants.

Zhong Xiutang continues, “I’ve saved you once from the vagrants and now again from Lei Kuiliang. Two times in total, so you owe me two lives.”

“You’d always adhere to morals, mm? Then you’d certainly try to repay your favours owed.”

“Since I can call you back if I reenter the demonic path, then if you owed me any causality, wouldn’t you be unable to ascend as a Buddha?”

Zhong Xiutang’s lips perk up, “why did you have to owe an evil spirit favours instead of anybody else… How could you ever repay it?”

Bai Lianhua appears dumbfounded, hey, antagonist, did you hallucinate that I’m a monk? Ascend as a Buddha? Why’d I want something like that? To leave a Sarira behind for you as a memoir?

The system also sighs, “my silly little host. When have you ever seen an antagonist that is easy to deal with.”

While the antagonists are effectively noncombatants in the ring against you, but they’d still try their best to struggle in the process.

Now come see the mission progress, do you see a great leap in it?

Bai Lianhua feels like he’s as if the protagonist of a Greek tragedy, the type that’s already spoilt how he’d be suffering a tragic fate beforehand.

He thought he’s already had rich enough of an experience since he returned to this world, and then it turns out it’s not even an appetiser when it comes to assimilating the antagonist?

He looks at Zhong Xiutang without a clue what to do.

Zhong Xiutang chuckles, “what’s with this pitiful look?”

“Wouldn’t you always be calm like a peaceful lake, unmoved by all external factors?”

Bai Lianhua “…”

He cuts Zhong Xiutang off, “we can talk about us later, now let’s leave first.”

It’s not really switching the topic. It’s the right thing to do in the current situation.

Zhong Xiutang seems he’d welcome more players into this chaotic play, perhaps even quite willing to prolong this to attract more onlookers… He can’t do this though. He’s just a little pitiable soul that’s afraid of things like this, so best to leave when he can.

The disappearance of Lei Kuiliang won’t remain unnoticed forever. Even if he might have told others not to come for a while just to be safe, they probably won’t be quiet for long.

——He’s already wasted six, seven minutes talking nonsense with the antagonist from the start already!

But the problem is how are they going to leave safely? They definitely won’t make it out with force…

This isn’t a cultivation world. While Zhong Xiutang is a supernatural existence, his powers are still under the governance of the rules that govern the world. He can’t do something like, for example, teleportation. Or he wouldn’t have had to fly all the way to save him.

Zhong Xiutang nods, “sure, let’s leave. But before that, we’ll have to deal with somebody.”

“Someone is here.”

Bai Lianhua’s nerves grow tense for a bit and so he quietly steps over to the side of the window, and peers outside of the little hole the Sword of Inverse Springs poked through.

Someone is here that he seems to recall is one of the underlings present when Lei Kuiliang came to catch him earlier. His name was… Wu Hechui?

Zhong Xiutang raises his brows, “he’s here to kill Lei Kuiliang too.” As an evil spirit, he can easily decipher the evil intentions on humans.

Bai Lianhua is quite surprised. He examines that man from head to toe, and remembers that this is the person that appeared the most fanatical when looking at the sword among everyone presenst… Then it’d explain why he’d wanted to kill Lei Kuiliang.

They’ve probably planned to do this since back then.

Bai Lianhua glances over Zhong Xiutang with a neutral expression, thinking about how he’s certainly the antagonist that most attracts troubles ever…

Still, no matter whether Wu Hechui succeeded or not, the dude also planned to execute his plans today? Does today have some kind of special meaning?

The Sun hangs high outside, and it doesn’t appear to be some night suited for killing with the Moon concealed and the wind howling. Why’s everyone thinking about killing?

If the fortune of the day is tested, today must read ‘ Great Misfortune .’

Bai Lianhua is correct in his guess that Wu Hechui is here to kill Lei Kuiliang for the Sword of Inverse Springs. He didn’t feel it this intensely before, but since he’s been shocked by the specialness of the Sword that day, he’s often felt that if he also had such a mystical weapon, then he could take the place of the General.

By chance, he also discovers Lei Kuiliang’s suspicious moves today, even dismissing everyone near the place today. Wu Hechui, therefore, thinks that this is a one-in-a-thousand opportunity.

After seeing Lei Kuiliang leave his room and enter the annexe, he walks in circles for 15 minutes and is finally defeated by his desire for the Sword of Inverse Springs in his mind. He decides to take his chance and go into the annexe to do it.

——A whole 2 hours without any guards to interfere… Lei Kuiliang who dared to order something like that meant he should die today.

As Wu Hechui approaches the door, Zhong Xiutang controls and rests the Sword in Bai Lianhua’s hands.

Bai Lianhua pauses. What did he mean by this?

“I won’t help you this time. Deal with him yourself.”

Bai Lianhua seems stupefied.

“What, seeing me betray Lei Kuiliang before made you too scared to hold me? Afraid I’d also suddenly kill you?”

Bai Lianhua bites his lips, “no.”

He’s not afraid of that; he knows Zhong Xiutang won’t hurt him.

“So what are you afraid of? Wu Hechui is also someone who’s committed countless evils. Long before he became an underling of Lei Kuiliang he’s already infamous in Jianghu. People would rejoice if he was killed. You don’t need to hesitate either against killing him nor feel any kind of mental burden.”

Zhong Xiutang says gently, like a deception.

Bai Lianhua takes a deep breath and holds onto the Sword while trembling slightly. Zhong Xiutang can’t ascertain if Bai Lianhua listened to what he said or not.

Wu Hechui also happens to enter the door right now. The situation inside surprises him, it’s a scene he didn’t expect.

And then he’s attracted by the Sword that Bai Lianhua held in his hand. He realises that Bai Lianhua has already taken the Sword from Lei Kuiliang. With a ferocious look, he rushes forward.

——He’s so excited he just ignored Zhong Xiutang who’s also standing there next to Bai Lianhua.

Common sense would suggest that Bai Lianhua would suffer a certain defeat; unfortunately, the Sword of Inverse Springs does not operate along the lines of common sense.

Like the system has said, no matter how much of a trash Bai Lianhua himself is, as long as he has the Sword in his hand, he wouldn’t even be able to hold back his strength…

The moment Bai Lianhua has suppressed Wu Hechui and only needs to put him out of his misery, he is clearly hesitating.

Rationally thinking, it’s best for a bad guy like this to die. But isn’t this too much for a little white flower like him? He’s never seen a little white lotus that needed to be this savage … Will the antagonist be responsible for the psychological trauma this slash will cause him?

The system is also overloading him with warnings telling him his character setting of not being affected by mortal mundanities must be maintained.

What should he do?

Zhong Xiutang who’s observing Bai Lianhua’s actions can’t help but mockingly smirk at himself after staying silent. It’s still the same. His powerful ability to deceive people is again useless in front of Bai Lianhua… Or he wouldn’t have hesitated at all.

Right. Bai Lianhua’s hands have always been clean. So clean that it’s laughable he’s the actual owner of an evil sword like him.

He’s forever clear and untainted, never to be psychologically manipulated by anyone——That’s the true Bai Lianhua.

Oh well, if he’d really dip Bai Lianhua’s hands in blood, the one to regret it in the future would be himself… He wants to test him, of course, but every single time it’s just torture on himself.

He’s probably just exercising in futility.

Zhong Xiutang says, “no need to force yourself to do it. His life is still useful in letting us leave quietly.”

Bai Lianhua sighs in relief.

He steps back and gives Wu Hechui to Zhong Xiutang.

Then he sees Zhong Xiutang using the Sword as his medium to control the mind of Wu Hechui, making him fall to insanity.

This is easily done because Wu Hechui is full of negativity inside. There are exploitable holes everywhere.

Zhong Xiutang looks at Bai Lianhua and says, “we’ll be able to leave soon.”

Bai Lianhua “???”

After that, he takes the role of the drying salted fish, and observes as Zhong Xiutang has Wu Hechui drag Lei Kuiliang’s body out. He remains quiet at first, until he makes his way somewhere with people, then he screams out the General is dead while accusing a nearby leader present to be the perpetrator. After causing a scene he’d again scream so when he catches another leader. Rinse and repeat.

Lei Kuiliang’s death is too big of a shock, and the whole military camp descends into chaos. Leaders who are accused are fighting against those who aren’t. Their respective subordinates are also affected. The situation between the sides is volatile.

Bai Lianhua who’s already disguised himself quietly holds the Sword of Inverse Springs in his arms as he leaves. He doesn’t attract any attention because there are people panicking everywhere. Even those guarding the side entrance to the camp are too preoccupied to care.

——There’s always some of them that are forcibly conscripted that are originally unwilling to stand against the imperial court. When will they run away if not now when they’ve heard that Lei Kuiliang is dead?

When some people finally react and try to reestablish order, Bai Lianhua has long since sneaked out of camp and then ran for his life. He ran with even more enthusiasm than the real deserters and he quickly runs out of sight, making them look dumbfounded.

Though, Bai Lianhua is the one more dumbfounded than them——Zhong Xiutang is dismayed at how slowly Bai Lianhua is running. So when they’re out of sight, he has Bai Lianhua hold onto the hilt and flies him out.

Bai Lianhua “…”

Oof. In the cultivation world they’d be stepping on the sword and flying in style. What’s this here? The evil sword version of that with a wingless dragonfly attached? Uh, perhaps not, the Sword of Inverse Springs wouldn’t spin in circles like they do…

——In any case, he wouldn’t dare to step on it, since the Sword is the antagonist himself. Even if he offered it Bai Lianhua wouldn’t be brave enough to put his foot on it.

So… This works.

It’s just a few minutes anyway. When they make it into a] remote forest, the antagonist lets him down.

Zhong Xiutang speaks to Bai Lianhua, “I’ve helped you again.”

Bai Lianhua doesn’t understand what he’s implying, “what?” You mean helping him experience a different kind of flying with a sword?

“Don’t you want to see Lei Kuiliang’s forces disperse? Now I’ve helped you make it even more chaotic… Plus the Sword of Inverse Springs has ‘disappeared’ along with Lei Kuiliang dying. What do you think those people will think?”

Bai Lianhua pulls his thoughts back and understands what Zhong Xiutang meant.

Those that have actually seen Bai Lianhua exerting an uncanny control on the Sword of Inverse Springs are in the absolute minority. Most of the underlings of Lei Kuiliang do not know this nor will they believe anyone telling them that. Then they’d start to suspect each other of taking away the Sword. It’s another excuse for them to infight.

Bai Lianhua blinks and feels that the antagonist did do a good thing. So he says earnestly, “thanks.”

Zhong Xiutang, who receives the gratitude of Bai Lianhua as planned and even specifically pointing out that he ‘helped’ him, feels bored.

Isn’t there something more besides ‘thanks’?

Like when Bai Lianhua left before when he said ”to finally see the demonic energy dispelled from you is such a happy thing.” All his earnest actions for him only gave him that “happiness” in the end.

When will he be able to receive more than empty buzzwords?

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