“Three esteemed guests, do you need any other girls?” she called out cheerfully.
Luo Jinxiao quickly waved her hands in refusal.
The brothel keeper watched them ascend the stairs, stuffing the silver coins into her bosom while shaking her head and muttering about how today’s youth were becoming more and more outrageous.
Luo Jinxiao followed Qu Weiyin up the stairs. The second floor was lined with private rooms, and since it was still early, most doors were wide open, revealing faint silhouettes moving inside. Only a few doors were tightly closed.
The creature named Qiongqi sniffed each door until it finally paused at the last one, its expression suddenly shifting as it turned and tugged at Luo Jinxiao’s sleeve.
Luo Jinxiao understood that they had found something unusual inside. She exchanged a glance with Qu Weiyin, who nodded in agreement. Only then did she stretch out her hand and knock on the door.
After a long moment, someone cracked the door open just enough to reveal a single eye—odd and eerie in appearance, appearing a faint gray under the firelight.
“Who is it?” a voice came from within, deep yet laced with a hint of seduction, making it difficult to determine whether it belonged to a man or a woman.
Luo Jinxiao was just about to speak when Qu Weiyin suddenly reached out, seizing the wooden door. The person inside tried to slam it shut with force, yet it was as if the door had been nailed in place; it would not budge an inch.
The person lifted their gaze and glared fiercely at Qu Weiyin, seemingly wanting to bite off her wrist, but in the next moment, their expression shifted.
Unfazed, Qu Weiyin’s hand remained steady as she effortlessly pushed the door open, stepping inside with one leg. The individual inside staggered back several steps, unable to withstand the force.
In a flash, a silver gleam passed by, making Luo Jinxiao’s pupils constrict in alarm. However, before she could utter a sound, Qu Weiyin reacted with lightning speed, pinning the assailant against the wall with movements imperceptible to the naked eye.
Her long fingers gripped the person’s throat, her expression as calm and indifferent as the wind. But only the one being choked understood that her strength was like a mountain pressing down; with the slightest squeeze, it could easily be lethal.
“Luo Jinxiao, close the door,” Qu Weiyin said lazily, raising her phoenix-like gaze to examine the face of the struggling person.
Hearing this, Luo Jinxiao cautiously secured the door latch.
The person continued to struggle in vain, but it was futile. At that moment, the ethereal and androgynous voice from earlier chimed in. It was the owner of those gray eyes, who tilted his head to look at Qu Weiyin and spoke in a soft tone, “Miss, you have barged into our room without cause. What is your intention?”
Luo Jinxiao took a closer look at him. Not only were his eyes gray, but even his hair was a pale hue, and his skin was inexplicably white, almost to a sickly extent. Veins were distinctly visible, giving him an exquisite appearance like a porcelain doll in a snowy landscape—both alluring and fragile.
Yet, even after scanning his entire form, she couldn’t discern whether he was male or female.
Qu Weiyin’s expression grew impatient as she turned away, only to stop dead in her tracks, her gaze locking tightly onto the androgynous figure, emotions swirling in her eyes.
The individual remained calm, even as he lowered his head and covered his thin lips with his bony fingers, breaking into a violent cough.
“Yu Gui,” Qu Weiyin suddenly said.
“How does the lady know my name? It’s a name known only to those closest to me,” he replied with a slight smile, the enchantment around him intensifying, evoking a sense of sympathy rather than blame.
“Yao Yao, come down,” Yu Gui said, reaching out to pull the young boy that Qu Weiyin had pinned. He stumbled awkwardly, nearly losing his balance, but to Luo Jinxiao’s surprise, Qu Weiyin released him and steadied him.
Given a second chance at life, the boy hurriedly scurried back behind Yu Gui, fearfully glancing at Qu Weiyin.
Closest person? Luo Jinxiao felt a wave of confusion. How was she unaware that Qu Weiyin had any close acquaintances?
Moreover, she had never heard of this individual in her past life.
After steadying him, Qu Weiyin lowered her gaze, hiding her emotions, and said coolly, “You are a demon.”
“More or less,” Yu Gui responded gently, his eyes seemingly perpetually glistening with tears, conveying a softness whenever he looked at Qu Weiyin.
Luo Jinxiao clenched her fists tightly, feeling a wave of disgust wash over her, accompanied by a shiver down her spine.
Luo Jinxiao couldn’t help but step forward, pulling the androgynous figure to one side and positioning him in front of Qu Weiyin. She spoke with a stern expression, “Is the disappearance and injury of the No Regrets Sect members related to you?”
Yu Gui’s fan-like eyelashes fluttered slightly as he looked back at Luo Jinxiao, shaking his head gently. “No.”
If not, then why had Qiongqi followed the traces of the missing disciples all the way here? Luo Jinxiao didn’t believe him; she remained firm, glaring at him defiantly.
“Do you think just because I am a demon, I must automatically be your enemy?” Yu Gui’s voice was soft, his pale face appearing fragile, almost translucent.
Luo Jinxiao instinctively glanced at Qu Weiyin, her anger surging. This person seemed to be speaking, but each statement was laced with ambiguity.
Was it an unintended slip of the tongue, or was it deliberate?
Fortunately, Qu Weiyin had concealed all unusual emotions—her expression was inscrutable.
“Yao Yao is a little rabbit demon with very low cultivation; he can’t possibly compete with your people. As for me…” Yu Gui shook his head lightly with a self-deprecating smile, closing his eyes. “This frail body finds it hard to survive. Thank goodness the owner of the Aroma Pavilion took pity on us and allowed us to stay here to recuperate for a few days. If you seek to eliminate demons, then by all means, come at us.”
His display of weakness left Luo Jinxiao uncertain about her next move. She frowned and turned to pull Qu Weiyin closer, whispering, “Master Uncle, I still feel something is off with this person. Qiongqi shouldn’t be mistaken.”
Qu Weiyin did not respond right away, and Luo Jinxiao turned to look at her, noticing that she seemed lost in thought, her gaze fixed intently on Yu Gui.
“Master Uncle!†she leaned in again, prompting Qu Weiyin to snap back to attention with a soft “Hmm?” and shift her gaze away.
“Why have you ended up in such a place?†Qu Weiyin asked.
Yu Gui stumbled over to the table and chairs, reaching out to grip the back of a chair as he slowly sat down. His long fingers brushed through his hair, giving the ends a gentle curl.
Seeing this motion, Qu Weiyin’s gaze shifted slightly.
“This is a long story. I was originally just a wandering cultivator, never having joined any sect. During my cultivation, lacking guidance, I fell into madness, becoming a half-demon, half-human creature. My family, seeing me like this, naturally drove me out of the home and warned me never to return,” Yu Gui explained.
“The world fears demons, and every cultivator who sees me vows to eradicate me. Not long ago, someone shattered my leg,” he revealed, lifting the hem of his robe to show a leg that was scorched and blackened.
As he spoke, his demeanor was surprisingly calm, yet tears welled in the corners of his eyes.
He turned his gaze slowly toward Qu Weiyin, gently tilting his head back, revealing a perfectly sculpted jawline as he closed his eyes and said, “Since you have found me here, just go ahead and kill me.”
As Qu Weiyin listened, her fingertips trembled slightly.
Luo Jinxiao noticed her discomfort and quickly reached out to grasp her fingers. The warm touch enveloped Qu Weiyin’s hand, calming her somewhat, allowing her to extract her hand from Luo Jinxiao’s grip.
“It’s nothing,” Qu Weiyin replied.
“Cultivators are like this; they pride themselves on being righteous yet continuously engage in senseless acts of extermination. As long as you’re a demon, whether good or evil, you will be slain without mercy,” Yu Gui continued.
“Not only that, they will destroy your last sanctuary, insult and murder your family, driving you to the brink of unbearable frustration. The moment you retaliate, they will declare you a demon—a heartless, bloodthirsty monster.”
Yu Gui slowly rose to his feet and walked closer to Qu Weiyin.
“You understand this, don’t you? You, now, are the righteous one, fiercely opposing evil, correct?”
“Carrying out the wishes of those hypocrites, dividing the world into good and evil, noble and ignoble?”
Yu Gui’s words seemed to have a magical quality, and Qu Weiyin suddenly closed her eyes tightly, whispering, “Yu Gui!”
She could not become a demon; she only needed to take revenge on one person and did not need to turn into a demon.
“When they realize you are an anomaly, they will fear you. That fear will transform into hatred. You might not have done anything wrong, yet you’ll be labeled as the most vile villain in all the realms.”
Luo Jinxiao felt a surge of alarm, her gaze toward Yu Gui darkening. Without saying a word, she summoned her sword, its silver light slicing through the air. Yu Gui let out a pained grunt, his body toppling back to the ground like a blade of grass blown away by the wind.
She wanted to step forward, but Qu Weiyin suddenly called out to her.
“Luo Jinxiao!” she said, pressing her fingertips against her temples, her voice sharp. “Stop.”
Luo Jinxiao halted abruptly, turning back to Qu Weiyin, her heart filled with confusion. Qu Weiyin was acting unusually today, and Yu Gui’s words, though seemingly normal, felt like daggers piercing her heart.
“Little Sweet!” Luo Jinxiao called out for Qiongqi, but saw that the usually serious Qiongqi was now standing in the doorway, dazed, as if his soul had been lost.
What was going on today? Luo Jinxiao couldn’t understand it at all.
“Come back. You need to come back,” Qu Weiyin spoke again, her tone not as forceful as usual but rather filled with a sense of pleading.
Luo Jinxiao naturally couldn’t defy her wishes any longer. She sheathed her sword and walked back to Qu Weiyin, lowering her head to ask, “Master Uncle, what is going on?”
“Do you know each other?” she cautiously guessed.
Qu Weiyin shook her head, then nodded. She bit her lip tightly, forcing out the words between clenched teeth, “It’s none of your business, don’t ask.”
“Miss…” Yu Gui spoke again, his tone seemingly imbued with a beguiling power. With every interaction with Qu Weiyin, she appeared to sway ever so slightly.
“Miss, I will not harm you, I will never do so.” His words were confusing.
Qu Weiyin’s stance seemed to freeze, and she took a step forward, unable to contain her astonishment. Luo Jinxiao instinctively grabbed her sleeve.
She couldn’t make sense of what was happening, but she felt that Qu Weiyin might leave.
This sudden thought made her feel as if her heart was being gripped tightly, and her blood surged upwards.
“Master Uncle…” she murmured softly.
Qu Weiyin halted, her fists tightening with each passing moment, and her brows knitted tightly together, appearing quite distressed.
“They killed your father, killed your mother, flattened everything you held dear, drove you to the brink, and even burned your home…” Yu Gui’s piercing gaze fixated on Qu Weiyin, his eyes filled with trembling emotions.
“Shut your mouth!” Luo Jinxiao shouted, her anger surging. She raised her hand, sending a shard of ice hurtling towards Yu Gui with fierce energy, knocking him away and making him roll several times on the ground.
She rarely felt such intense rage, a fire that almost consumed her heart and lungs.
Gripping Qu Weiyin’s wrist tightly, she pulled her back a few steps, positioning herself protectively in front of her, blocking her view of others.
“Master Uncle, don’t listen to him! No one will harm you, and no one can harm you,” Luo Jinxiao said through clenched teeth, fixating her gaze into Qu Weiyin’s eyes as she grasped her fingers.
Qu Weiyin instinctively flinched, but Luo Jinxiao did not relent until she held both of Qu Weiyin’s hands. The clear, cold spiritual energy flowed between their connected hands, gradually soothing Qu Weiyin’s turbulent spiritual veins.
The oppressive hints of demonic energy slowly began to freeze.
The young girl’s brow was tightly furrowed, worry filled her gaze, and her delicate face glistened with beads of sweat.
“Master Uncle, don’t believe him. I will protect you,” Luo Jinxiao whispered, her voice soft yet resolute.
Qu Weiyin suddenly felt an unfamiliar wave of pressure wash over her, causing her heartbeat to race. The sadness and pain she had felt moments before seemed to coalesce into the rhythm of her heart, all because of Luo Jinxiao.
As the spiritual energy gradually lessened, Luo Jinxiao’s tightly strung heart began to ease, and she finally released her grip, although her fingers still clung to the fabric of Qu Weiyin’s sleeve, unwilling to let go.
“Master Uncle, don’t leave,” she murmured, her head lowered.
Qu Weiyin felt warmth bloom at the corners of her eyes, and after a moment of allowing the warmth to dissipate, she nodded softly, murmuring, “Mm.”
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