Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Crack Seeds, Eat Melons

Luo Yi’s entire body tensed like a leopard poised to strike, filled with explosive power—at the slightest wrong word, he would immediately flee.

He tugged at the corners of his stiff mouth.

“Brother Fang, I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

Fang Chang casually grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds from the table beside him.

Crack—

He bit one open.

The sound made Luo Yi’s eyelid twitch.

For some reason, even though the man before him was merely a First Realm Qi Absorption cultivator, he felt an inexplicable pressure, like dark clouds pressing overhead.

“How about I tell you a story?”

Luo Yi did not respond.

Only his eyes grew darker, like two bottomless dry wells.

Fang Chang did not mind. He cracked another seed and began leisurely.

“Once upon a time, there was a small town. At the eastern end lived a family—the man died early, leaving behind a sickly mother and a young boy.”

“That boy was tough. When he was seven, his mother also passed away. He lived alone in a broken house, surviving on leftovers given by the townsfolk, like a stray dog.”

“That winter was exceptionally cold. Starving beyond endurance, he went into the mountains hoping to catch a rabbit. He didn’t catch one—instead, he fell into a ditch, broke his leg, and couldn’t climb out.”

Dai Bojun, standing to the side, didn’t understand why a story had suddenly begun.

But with a youthful mindset, he was happy to listen. He grabbed a handful of seeds as well.

Crack, crack—he started eating along.

The bow of the boat was packed with righteous-path cultivators gossiping and watching the excitement.

The three of them stood at the stern, where it was empty and quiet.

Another wave of exclamations came from the bow—faintly, it sounded like Lü Muxue was chatting with Wang Yichen. Some female cultivators let out sharp, piercing cries, filled with jealousy.

Fang Chang paused, then cracked another seed.

“The boy thought he would die there. But when he woke up, he was lying in a cave. Beside him sat a little girl, dressed in rags, with rare golden eyes, staring at him without moving.”

“He didn’t speak, and she wouldn’t speak either. While he recovered, she would go out to find food—sometimes wild fruits, sometimes roasted birds. He asked her name, and she shook her head.”

“Later, he found out—she wasn’t human at all.”

Dai Bojun frowned in confusion.

“Not human? But Brother Fang, you said she was a little girl.”

Fang Chang patiently explained, “Among the demon race, there is a rather popular path. They believe that ‘form is the vessel of the spirit.’ The beast body is both the foundation of cultivation and its greatest shackle. Thus… they strip away the flesh…”

Luo Yi’s eyelid twitched.

He murmured, “Skin-Peeling Path…”

“Brother Luo is indeed well-informed… now, let me continue.”

“As you said, the boy also knew she was a little demon girl of the Skin-Peeling Path, her cultivation incomplete—her face not yet fully transformed.”

“But the boy didn’t care. After his injury healed, he went down the mountain, then returned again and again. As time passed, he grew up.”

“Later, he became a disciple of a proper sect. Once, he was gravely injured again—it was her who saved him. When he left, he said, ‘Wait for me to come back and take you away.’ She said yes.”

“But he never came to take her.”

“She waited for him for many years. Her face gradually completed its transformation. She killed and peeled skins along the way, accumulating countless sins. By the time he finally found her, she was already on the verge of death.”

Fang Chang deliberately did not continue.

Dai Bojun’s delicate brows furrowed, his fair face showing a trace of feminine sorrow.

“Why didn’t he go back for so many years? Even if she was a demon… she saved him multiple times.”

“People are shaped by their environment. He had good talent and became a Dao Child of his sect. From a young age, his master taught him that righteousness and evil are opposed, humans and demons are different. So every year he thought of her, and every year he hesitated.”

“How could he be like that!”

Fang Chang noticed Luo Yi’s shoulders trembling.

He couldn’t help but smile.

“Fortunately, he still came in the end. One by one, he killed everyone surrounding the demon girl—left none alive.”

“It’s just a pity… the little demon girl was gravely injured. It won’t be easy for her to recover.”

“That… Glaze Pill might have a chance to save her.”

Boom!!!

A crisp explosion suddenly rang out in the sky.

Fireworks burst brilliantly—though it was daytime, they still drew countless gazes.

Luo Yi’s gaze sharpened, locking onto Fang Chang.

“Who exactly are you?”

Fang Chang said, “Relax. I came to tell you—the pill is fake. It’s just bait to lure you out.”

Luo Yi trembled, gritting his teeth. “Whether it’s real or fake, I’ll know when I see it.”

“Suit yourself.”

Boom!

Another explosion sounded.

But this time, it was not in the sky—it came from the massive pleasure boat not far away.

Cultivators’ blood mixed with that of mortals, scattering across the air.

The spectators on the small boat erupted in another round of shocked cries.

“Die!!”

A furious roar rang out from the sky, filled with boundless rage.

Sword light swept across the heavens—

Yet was intercepted and restrained by other, opposing sword lights.

“Senior Brother Yichen! This is the Crown Prince of Yan Country, protected by imperial dragon fortune—do not act rashly!”

“Even with dragon fortune, karma must be repaid! To dare use such filthy means against Junior Sister Muxue—the Heavenly Dao’s fortune will not protect him!”

“Senior Brother Yichen!”

“Don’t!”

Amid the shouts,

the sword light did not fall.

A talisman suddenly stood in midair, stirring the clouds like ink swirling through water.

The next moment—thunder crashed down.

“No!!!”

After a scream, the waters of White Sun Lake surged violently.

At the same time, a faint yet unmistakable dragon’s roar echoed in everyone’s ears, wailing in agony.

Silence fell over all.

Lü Muxue stood there, delicate and proud, looking arrogantly at the tense, sweating soldiers of Yan Country in the distance.

“Since he came for me, I have the right to kill him. I, Lü Muxue, never borrow another’s hand.”

With those words,

the previously light and cheerful atmosphere on the lake vanished, replaced by a slowly gathering sense of solemn killing intent.

The cultivators on the small boat looked at one another, whispering and exchanging guesses.

But one thing was certain:

The Crown Prince of Yan Country had offended Lü Muxue of the Taiyi Talisman Palace—and was struck dead by her lightning.

Crack, crack—

Dai Bojun bit open another seed, indignant. “That Crown Prince was so bold—he truly didn’t value his life!”

Luo Yi lowered the brim of his bamboo hat, showing no concern for the incident.

His eyes swept over Fang Chang again. Only after a long moment did he confirm that this person held no hostility.

“No matter what, Lü Muxue killing a royal crown prince will bring dragon resentment upon her. There may be future consequences.”

“But the prince was in the wrong first.”

“The imperial dragon fortune is formed from the world’s destiny. It follows only natural instinct—it has no sense of right or wrong.”

Dai Bojun frowned, expressing strong dissatisfaction with such fate. “How can that be!”

The scene carried a hint of irony.

Fang Chang shook his head—you forget that you yourself are also one blessed by destiny, perhaps even more so than imperial dragon fortune.

He looked toward the lingering heavenly might above the grand pleasure boat.

A faint smile curved his lips.

Very good.

It seemed that the preliminary events on this side had not changed.

The butterfly effect of his actions had not yet reached such a profound level.

Proceeding according to the original plan should pose no problem.