My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion-Chapter 51 - 38 Outer Heaven Demon

The mountain gate opened, and tourists, stepping over the corpses on the ground, streamed into Qian Deng Temple.

Chen Yi waited until Min Ning returned, noticing the lingering flush of intoxication on her face.

"That strike was splendid."

In truth, it wasn’t just splendid—Min Ning’s strike had ended the life of Luo Sha Li Yidao, a fellow eighth-tier martial artist. With that stroke, she was practically invincible within her rank.

"How did you come up with that strike?"

Chen Yi asked her after she took her seat.

"Years of honing my blade, and eventually I grasped it."

Min Ning replied with an air of haughty maturity, her words laced with the boldness of liquor.

Of course, she couldn’t directly confess that it had been inspired by watching him kill someone in a rain-soaked alley.

Min Ning didn’t know that if Chen Yi found out she had attained such insight in just a few days since that alley, he’d be even more astonished.

His rapid success in martial arts arose from external aids, while hers was born purely of innate talent.

"Teach me," Chen Yi said.

"Swear fealty," she replied.

"I won’t."

Min Ning took another sip of wine, casting a dissatisfied glance at him.

"No fealty, yet you want martial skills? Such a bargain doesn’t exist."

"Aren’t I helping you investigate your grandfather’s death? Consider it my recompense."

Hearing Chen Yi’s words, Min Ning raised her delicate brows and pondered for a moment.

"Teach me," Chen Yi said with a teasing grin.

"If you don’t teach me, I’ll sleep with you."

Upon hearing such shameless words, Min Ning, bolstered by drink and emboldened, snorted softly and retorted loftily:

"Between us, who sleeps with whom is yet uncertain."

Chen Yi burst into laughter.

He knew she was disguised as a man, though she was unaware that he knew.

Taking another swig, the Daughter’s Red in the gourd dwindled fast. Min Ning spoke directly:

"After thinking last night, I decided—I can teach you without swearing fealty, but you must promise me one thing."

Chen Yi immediately guessed and replied:

"It’s not about refraining from touching your sister, is it? Then I’d rather not learn."

Min Ning gritted her teeth in frustration. Who could have imagined such an audacious person existed? Hard tactics would never work on him—he wielded the slow knife, slicing repeatedly to coerce and bully.

And yet, this very person was the only one who could help her right now.

Softening her tone, Min Ning said:

"One year... You must not touch my sister for one year."

Chen Yi, amused, decided to tease her and asked:

"One year is too long. And what about you?"

Min Ning shivered slightly. She sensed the heated desire in Chen Yi’s voice and strained to maintain her composure as she said:

"As long as you don’t touch my sister, I... I’ll try to accept you."

After these words, her shoulders trembled. Seeing the enormous effort she expended to say this, Chen Yi decided to cease teasing her and replied:

"Once the crowd thins, I’ll head to Qian Deng Temple."

"Then I’ll rest here for a bit..."

Yin Tingxue overheard their conversation from start to finish. The sharp-witted princess discerned Chen Yi’s longing for Min Ning, and inwardly rejoiced: Wonderful, so he truly dislikes women, and he doesn’t like me.

Perhaps, if she could please him in time, she might retrieve her contract of servitude. That would grant her freedom—not only freedom but freedom while still pure and untouched.

Her musings blossomed like a sudden spring flower.

Half an hour later, as the crowd at Qian Deng Temple dwindled, Min Ning leaned back in her chair, half-closing her eyes, evidently reluctant to move. Her face still bore traces of rosy intoxication.

Chen Yi began the hike up the mountain with Yin Tingxue in tow.

Qian Deng Temple was divided into three halls—front, middle, and rear. Passing through the corridors between halls, oil lamps were visible, burning brightly. Yin Tingxue observed many statues of Taoist celestial beings, but the most striking among them was a figure with eyes affixed to its hands. Though it was afternoon, the lamps in the corridors shone unusually bright.

The duo prayed briefly in the front and middle halls before moving towards the rear hall. Upon entering, Yin Tingxue marveled at the sight: the platform before the altar was adorned with eternal lamps, the altar had nine levels, and behind it stood Blessings Venerate. Yin Tingxue brought her palms together and bowed reverently.

After the bow, Chen Yi turned his attention to business. He presented his waist token to a Taoist child at the temple, and shortly thereafter, a Taoist arrived to guide him to a guest room.

"Are you Chen Qianhu?"

Inside the guest room, a Taoist master with an immortal demeanor sat cross-legged in meditation. He was the senior elder responsible for scriptures in the Shangqing School, known as Feiyuan True Man.

This Feiyuan True Man, accomplished in Taoist skills, was reputed to have lived for one hundred and ten years; yet his appearance suggested he was barely over sixty.

"Master, under the Heavenly Family’s orders, I seek to investigate the premature arrival of Demon Extermination Day."

Chen Yi spoke directly.

"I had heard of this matter upon my arrival in the Capital City. Along the way, I discussed it not only with members of my sect but also with accompanying Taoists from Yin Sword Mountain."

Feiyuan True Man replied steadily.

"Do you know, Qianhu, how Demon Extermination Day came to be?"

Without waiting for Chen Yi to respond, Feiyuan True Man continued:

"At the founding of our dynasty, the first emperor, upon capturing the Capital City, unleashed his troops to slaughter and plunder. The civilian population suffered over half its number in deaths and injuries. Hundreds of thousands of souls gathered like a black mist, nearly blotting out the sky. Desperate, the emperor sought Taoist rituals from the Shangqing School, initiating the Grand Heaven Offering Ceremony to pacify the spirits. Since that time, the Praying Place has become a tradition passed down across generations."

Chen Yi nodded slightly.

Feiyuan True Man sighed and said:

"Throughout the year, aside from Demon Extermination Day, the Capital City is no different from usual. But come Demon Extermination Day, these spirits all emerge. Why do they appear? Many struggle to grasp the cause.

In reality, the answer is simple: all hearts harbor ghosts. Malice rises unchecked, darkness abounds, and man turns into ghost."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yi asked for clarification:

"Master, are you saying that in these days, the Capital City has been overcome by unprecedented malice and darkness?"

"Indeed, that is so."

"But why has malice and darkness risen so much in these days?"

Feiyuan True Man turned his gaze, as though peering into the distance.

"Because..."

.........

"Outer Heaven Demon."

In Jingren Palace, a Taoist nun stood solitary before the Empress Dowager of the Yu dynasty. Her long hair cascaded like a waterfall, a sword hung at her waist, a lotus-shaped crown adorned her head, and her gaze was chillingly sharp, evoking the bitter chill of spring amidst a snowy night.

Even the empress, famed for her nation-toppling beauty, couldn’t help but be momentarily shaken by the nun’s striking elegance.

The only imperfection lay in her physical handicap—she had but one arm, her right. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

"Outer Heaven Demon... Master Zhou, what is the Outer Heaven Demon?"

The empress collected her thoughts and asked.

"It does not belong to this world. It is a demonic creature from beyond the three realms."

Zhou Yitang replied with an even voice.

"So, are you saying that the Capital City’s surge in malice and darkness is because of this Outer Heaven Demon?"

The empress queried.

Zhou Yitang nodded faintly, her gaze lowering.

"And who is this Outer Heaven Demon, exactly?"

The empress pressed further.

Zhou Yitang’s gaze flickered momentarily, then softened again. She replied indifferently:

"Outer Heaven Demons are countless. Who can name them all?"

The empress’s face revealed confusion, but Zhou Yitang said no more.

Seeing this, the accompanying female Taoist Lu Ying explained:

"Your Majesty, the title ’Outer Heaven Demon’ is but a general term. During the Han and Tang eras, Buddhism spread eastward, bringing with it the Buddhist Law of the Western Heavens. Various demonic entities from India also came along, and figures such as Yama, Rakshasa, Asura, and Kalaravaka were all collectively referred to as Outer Heaven Demons."