A City Swept by Wind and Snow GL - Chapter 39

◎From the signing of the first contract, a Dark Agent is no longer required to be loyal to anyone else.◎

Qinglong, the Eastern Protector of the Free & Easy Divine Cult, on par with Xifeng; Louwai Lou, the Chief Dark Agent of the Water Moon Palace; and the mysterious Demon Slayer, unheard of in the martial arts world—these three names ultimately overlapped in the same person.

Appearing with this person was a pair of parrots, one red and one green, fluttering their magnificent wings in the bl00d mist. They circled twice, finally alighting obediently on the shoulders of the newcomer.

Facing the vigilant murderous intent of the three women, the Demon Slayer offered a gentle smile and said leisurely, “You do not need to be at daggers drawn. The five duels are already settled. Here, we have the Spirit Emissary of Nangong Qing as witness.”

The two parrots chirped in sharp voices, “Immediately, the five duels are over. The Demon Slayer of the Water Moon Palace will lead the Free & Easy Divine Cult challengers Jinse, Xue Qianxun, Yi Xinci, and Xifeng to Tianyuan Peak.”

With that, they flapped their wings, flew into the sky, and vanished in an instant. From beginning to end, none of the people present could see the mythical figure of Nangong Qing, the Martial Arts Scribe, or even sense a trace of his aura. This eleventh-generation Martial Arts Scribe, whose martial arts had reached perfection, and the mysterious Corpse-Witch whose gender remained a mystery, had always recorded martial arts events with the most objective and fair brush, while also serving as the highest authority in the Dark Martial Arts Faction, personally bestowing titles such as “Beast Tamer,” “Puppeteer,” and “Corpse-Witch” upon the elites. He was one of the great pillars maintaining the balance of power in the world, having become so through his power alone. And this pillar had stood tall in the martial arts world for over ninety years.

Across the hazy red mist, Xifeng looked at that familiar face and slowly said, “Old friend, when did you learn this novel martial art? I almost didn’t recognize you.”

The Demon Slayer gently shook his head: “Just showing off, please forgive me.” He then turned to Jinse and said, “Former Vermillion Bird Protector Jinse, a pleasure.”

His eyes were clear and handsome, and his temperament was elegant. Jinse felt this face was somewhat familiar, but she could not recall the reason for a moment. When Jinse joined the Free & Easy Divine Cult, the Azure Dragon Protector had already been dispatched abroad as a Dark Agent by Prince Zhuang, He Qishu. He occasionally returned to report, but never met Jinse. Thus, the two knew each other only by reputation but had never actually met.

Jinse nodded slightly to him: “I’ve heard much about you.” She looked at the faint bl00d mist still enveloping him and smiled, “Azure Dragon Protector, to defeat an old friend, you really spared no cost.”

The Demon Slayer shrugged: “Although the token was lost, fortunately, the cost was recovered.” As he spoke, the bl00d mist slowly gathered towards him. He seemed to possess a magical power that allowed the dispersed bl00d to quietly seep back into his body, while his skin was as smooth as ever, showing no sign of breakage. In that duel, which no one witnessed, Xifeng did not seem to have injured him in the slightest.

Jinse kept her composure, but was inwardly shocked. Such bizarre martial arts far exceeded her imagination.

Xue Qianxun suddenly said, “Your bl00d is so obedient. Does it enter other people’s bodies?”

The Demon Slayer seemed to only then notice Xue Qianxun’s presence, acknowledged it, and said, “You are very clever.”

Although it was a compliment, his expression was extremely indifferent. The peerless Zither Player, famous in the capital, astonishingly talented, and the object of countless men’s admiration, failed to cause even a ripple in his eyes. Xue Qianxun, with her innate feminine sensitivity, noticed this.

It wasn’t that she cared about the deliberate or unintentional admiration or desire expressed by men, but this person was truly unique: this man, whom she had just met, looked cultured and amiable, without any murderous intent, yet when he faced her, he revealed a hidden and deep hostility.

Xue Qianxun calmly continued, “Your bl00d probably isn’t so gentle when it enters another person’s body.”

The Demon Slayer laughed heartily and clapped his hands: “You figured that out immediately? I think I understand why Prince Zhuang is obsessed with you.”

Hearing the Demon Slayer mention He Qishu, Xue Qianxun couldn’t help but frown.

Prompted by Xue Qianxun’s words, Jinse couldn’t help but ponder the difference in martial arts between the Demon Slayer and Xifeng. She looked at Xifeng, who had won the Demon Slayer’s token but was completely unharmed. Presumably, in the recent match, the Demon Slayer had only used the bl00d mist for defense. Was it because they were former colleagues in the Free & Easy Divine Cult that he held back? If the Demon Slayer gathered bl00d to form a blade, its power should be no less than Xifeng’s ability to condense qi into a sword.

Thinking of this, Jinse couldn’t help but be inwardly shaken, and she re-examined the Demon Slayer: he was always composed and spoke with ease, appearing unperturbed. Even within ten steps, Jinse could not sense him circulating qi. It seemed he controlled his bl00d entirely with his will! If that were truly the case—

What if the bl00d mist quietly entered an opponent’s body and then condensed into a blade from within? The Demon Slayer would surely recover his cost!

Jinse dared not think further, staring straight at Xifeng, afraid to see a terrifying scene. It seemed Xue Qianxun also just thought of this, and a sudden, horrified pallor appeared on her composed face.

Xifeng, however, had been staring at the Demon Slayer since his appearance, not shifting her gaze, as if she could discern some kind of magic from his face. Although deliberately maintaining his composure, the Demon Slayer was eventually illuminated by that clear and moon-like gaze, losing his original coolness. He took two steps, scratched his brow uncomfortably, and actually dared not make eye contact with her.

In that instant.

Xue Qianxun suddenly understood. She couldn’t help but curl her lips, letting out a faint sigh of breath, like a subtle, cold laugh. She understood why the Demon Slayer did not engage Xifeng with full force, and she also knew why the Demon Slayer harbored so much hostility towards her—thinking of this last point, Xue Qianxun felt a little joy in her heart.

The Demon Slayer noticed Xue Qianxun’s subtle change and looked over at her. That peerless face and mocking, faint smile were utterly detestable in his eyes. Thus, his gaze carried even more hostility.

Xue Qianxun ignored him and said indifferently, “The five duels are over. Are you here to guide us or to glare at people?”

The Demon Slayer forced a slight smile and pointed to Yi Xinci, who was still unconscious: “We will leave when your physician stops pretending to sleep.”

Since Jinse, Xue Qianxun, and Xifeng found the Vermillion Bird, Yi Xinci, in the wolf den, she had been unconscious. The three protected her in the middle while talking with the Demon Slayer, but they did not know when she had woken up and kept silent. Now that the Demon Slayer had exposed her, Yi Xinci was both embarrassed and flustered, covering her face tightly, with her exposed, exquisite, jade-like ears blushing deeply. Xifeng helped her up and found her slightly trembling, as if struggling to restrain herself, yet she finally broke down in tears, with one crystalline drop after another rolling down her pretty chin.

The Demon Slayer was bewildered: “Why is she crying?”

Jinse said, “I heard from Grandma White Tiger that Xinci was made to cry the first time she met you.”

Xue Qianxun said meaningfully, “Jinse, I still remember how you dealt with those smelly men who made the girls of Chunjiang Court cry.”

Jinse said, “To be honest, even if he didn’t make our little Sister Yi cry, I’d still want to beat him up. It’s just…” Jinse paused slightly, making a helpless expression: “Whether I can beat him is another question.”

The Demon Slayer smiled: “You can try another day, but don’t fantasize about any optimistic outcome.”

Jinse said, “The future is long, please look forward to it.”

“Always at your service.” The Demon Slayer waved his hand freely and said, “We can go now.” He walked ahead, no longer paying attention to the crying Yi Xinci.

“Wait,” Xifeng raised her hand to stop the Demon Slayer, who was about to use his qi to fly, “Xinci should have something to ask you.”

Jinse gently grasped Yi Xinci’s hand. That icy, jade-like hand transmitted a warm sense of calm to her.

“No, there’s nothing to ask,” Yi Xinci had wiped away her tears. She was deeply ashamed of her earlier loss of composure and quietly said, “Because when he killed Tang Fei, I already asked, and he answered me with the gesture of his finger-sword.” Recalling the man’s cold expression at the time, Yi Xinci still felt a lingering chill. The gentle Azure Dragon, the murderous Louwai Lou, the demonic Demon Slayer—was the same face bearing these three aliases merely a top-tier Dark Agent with no true identity whatsoever?

“Yi Xinci, if you want a clearer answer, I might as well tell you,” the Demon Slayer stopped walking and slowly said, “A Dark Agent is inherently a profession of solitary combat. Even having worked together for years in the Free & Easy Divine Cult, you should not have regarded Azure Dragon as a companion. From the moment the first contract is signed, a Dark Agent is no longer required to be loyal to anyone else. As long as the first contract is not betrayed, a Dark Agent can receive the final respect, even if they commit heinous crimes. Azure Dragon’s first contract was not signed with Prince Zhuang, He Qishu. Therefore, Yi Xinci, by the laws of the jianghu, you have no right to complain; but, from a personal perspective, no one is stopping you from hating. Are you satisfied with this answer?”

Yi Xinci tried hard to look as still as water, and coldly said, “I’ve learned my lesson. From now on, I will no longer regard you as a companion.”

The Demon Slayer gave a soft laugh, the smile gentle and elegant, as warm as an old friend. He said word by word, “Naive girl, you haven’t truly learned. Are you not tightly holding the hand of another Dark Agent right now?”

As soon as he finished speaking, a slight tremor ran through Yi Xinci’s left hand—it was Jinse’s hand, which was slightly colder than that of an average person.

Jinse smiled knowingly: “By the laws of the jianghu, I am a Dark Agent; from a personal perspective…”

“You signed the Dark Agent contract with He Qishu at the age of fifteen… indeed at a very young age,” the Demon Slayer gently interrupted Jinse, seemingly pondering, “And you also became a Beast Tamer at the beginning of that year. Who supported you in completing that cruel Beast Taming trial, the ‘Genius Beast Tamer’ in Nangong Qing’s writings? Heh, a girl of fifteen, you are already a person with quite a story…”

“If you wish to express your respect and admiration here, I will gladly accept,” Jinse said with a smiling interruption.

The Demon Slayer shook his head frankly: “You have misunderstood. I am merely asking you now: was the contract signed with He Qishu your first Dark Agent contract?”

“Of course it was,” Jinse said without hesitation or doubt.

The Demon Slayer laughed heartily: “A Dark Agent is a profession that can lie with self-righteousness! The true and the false, who can discern the profound mystery within? But, smart as you are, you will naturally understand that the one thing a Dark Agent absolutely cannot have is friends.” With that, he glanced at the person next to Jinse, revealing a sympathetic look toward her.

Jinse replied dismissively, “Making friends is a matter of the heart. I signed a contract, but I did not sell my heart.”

The Demon Slayer seemed to have heard an incredibly funny joke, and retorted, “Can a Dark Agent have a heart?—With a heart, you lose.” He gazed into Jinse’s eyes, saying meaningfully, “But you, by all appearances, don’t seem like someone who would lose, huh.”

Jinse was silently shaken, and could only respond with silence.

Xifeng stepped forward and took Jinse’s hand, saying lightly to the Demon Slayer, “Jinse and her friends’ matters are none of an outsider’s concern. Thank you for your zeal. If Prince Zhuang were present, he would surely appreciate your reminder.”

“Then what about the Dragon’s Kiss Cult Master, who stands on equal footing with Prince Zhuang? Could it be that you have replaced him already? Do you also appreciate my advice to your Cult?” the Demon Slayer said indifferently.

“Do you not know whether I have replaced him, Azure Dragon Protector, after lurking in the Free & Easy Divine Cult for years?” Xifeng spoke as if she were chatting with an old acquaintance.

“How would I know?” the Demon Slayer looked innocent.

“If you hold a position, you must fulfill its duties, Dark Agent,” Xifeng earnestly instructed.

The Demon Slayer agreed profoundly: “The High Priestess speaks wisely. Azure Dragon neglected his duty; he deserves punishment, he deserves punishment.” With light steps, he took the lead and set off towards Tianyuan Peak. The four women followed closely.

In the near distance, a verdant peak could be seen towering amidst the dark blue mountain ranges. The peaks and ravines were shrouded in mist and fog, and faint clouds drifted between heaven and earth. That was the legendary Tianyuan Peak, the location of the Water Moon Palace’s most precious treasure, a place that countless ambitious people coveted yet feared.