Chapter 283: Identity Exposed
On this day, the great demonic titan of the upper realm, the former Grand Elder of the Hehuan Sect, a supreme powerhouse one step away from the Venerable Realm—the Heavenly Demon Supreme Being.
Opened the door to a new world.
One hour later.
Within Shen Qingwu's sea of consciousness, the originally turbulent soul power was now as calm as a pool of dead water.
Two souls sat side-by-side in a corner, hugging their knees, their eyes both hollow, as if they had just experienced a baptism that subverted their cognition.
After some more time had passed.
Shen Qingwu's soul slowly spoke, his voice tinged with bitterness: "There truly is no such thing as a free lunch in this world..." His hollow gaze looked into the distance, "So Senior's original intention was possession from the very beginning."
The remnant soul of the Heavenly Demon Supreme Being nodded silently. That once ferocious and terrifying demonic face was now filled with a sense of utter hopelessness.
His withered fingers unconsciously drew circles on the ground, and even his soul body appeared listless.
Shen Qingwu suddenly revealed an expression of having let go of everything, turning his head to look at the Heavenly Demon Supreme Being: "In that case, I entrust this body to your care, Senior."
Silence, a deathly silence.
And then...
"How about..." the Heavenly Demon Supreme Being hesitantly began, his voice as hoarse as if it had been rubbed with sandpaper, "You take this body back."
Shen Qingwu forced a wretched smile: "Hehe, Senior looks down on it?"
The Heavenly Demon Supreme Being's soul body visibly trembled. He stammered: "It's not that... your body... even if you haven't cultivated to the Return to One Realm where you can expel impurities from your body through breathing..."
He paused, as if carefully choosing his words.
"At least, you probably won't be constipated for the rest of your life."
...
Shen Qingwu's soul slowly turned its head: "Senior really won't consider it?"
The Heavenly Demon Supreme Being's remnant soul trembled violently: "No, no, no!"
His hands waved back and forth. "This seat, at the very least, also attempted to ascend to the pinnacle. Even if I fell short in the end..."
"In my lifetime, I still roamed the demonic path, my word was law!"
"Even in death... this seat is not afraid of a bowl-sized scar..." he paused, then hesitated, "But a bowl-sized chrysanthemum... this seat will have to respectfully decline."
Seeing that Shen Qingwu still looked utterly hopeless, the Heavenly Demon Supreme Being suddenly realized that if this kid also harbored a death wish, then all his previous schemes would be for naught. Moreover, in order to survive, he might have to take over this 'withered flower and broken willow'.
Thus, the Heavenly Demon Supreme Being began to try to console Shen Qingwu: "Kid, think about it this way..."
He tried his best to make his voice sound sincere, "Although... you experienced so much... (skipping over it quickly) at least I won't have designs on your body in the future, right?"
"We can cooperate sincerely. You can be considered half a disciple of this seat..." As he spoke, he couldn't help but adopt a slightly bewitching tone, "Isn't that better than living in fear of me every day?"
"With this seat here, won't you be like a fish in water in the lower realm? In the future, when you achieve fame and success, who will still remember what happened today?"
As if moved by the Heavenly Demon Supreme Being's words, the grayness in Shen Qingwu's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a faint glimmer of light: "Senior, I understand."
Good that you understand... the Heavenly Demon Supreme Being heaved a huge sigh of relief.
Afterward, Shen Qingwu's soul stood up: "How about... I return to consciousness now?"
Now?
Remembering how vigorous those two beasts were before he lost consciousness...
The Heavenly Demon Supreme Being gave a dry laugh: "How about... you wait a bit longer?"
...
The night was deep, and the bright moonlight spilled in through the porthole, casting mottled light and shadows inside the cabin. The flying shuttle traveled quietly through the sea of clouds, and occasionally the sound of whistling wind could be heard from outside.
Shen Qingwu slowly opened his eyes. As his eyelashes fluttered, he found himself lying on the soft bed in the cabin. He tried to move his fingers and felt the silky touch of the bedding beneath him, feeling momentarily dazed.
The entire cabin had been cleaned until it was spotless, and even the air was filled with a faint scent of incense, as if everything had just been an absurd dream.
—if not for the dull, hidden pain in his rear courtyard. That faint, almost nonexistent pain, like a thin needle, pricked his nerves from time to time.
"Is anyone there?" he tried to ask, his voice as dry as sandpaper rubbing together, only to discover the silencing array had been lifted. He subconsciously touched his throat, where the discomfort from the long period of being silenced still lingered.
"Yes, yes~"
Bai Li walked in with light steps, her skirt swaying gently with her movements, shimmering with a soft luster in the moonlight. A sly smile hung on her face, and the corners of her eyes and brows were filled with the pride of a successful prank. Her bright eyes twinkled with a cunning light, like a kitten that had just stolen a fish.
Shen Qingwu's pupils suddenly contracted, his chest heaving violently as a monstrous hatred surged in his heart. His nails unconsciously dug into his palms, leaving deep crescent-shaped marks. At this point, how could he not understand—that even if this Senior Bai before him was not the mastermind, she was absolutely complicit!
But the next moment, his blood instantly froze, and he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.
At the cabin door, Li Hanzhou stood in his black robes, which fluttered dramatically, the corners of his clothes moving without any wind.
Those cold eyes were fixed intently on him, his gaze as sharp as if it wanted to pierce right through him: "Since you're awake, then explain."
His voice was low and authoritative, allowing no refusal.
"Explain, explain what?" Shen Qingwu forced himself to remain calm, trying his best to keep his voice from trembling, but his fingers unconsciously tightened on the bedding, wrinkling the fine brocade. He could feel that his back was already soaked in cold sweat.
"Of course, explain the matter of the Heavenly Demon Supreme Being," Li Hanzhou's voice was like it had been dipped in ice, every word carrying a bone-chilling chill.
Shen Qingwu felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, his heart nearly pounding out of his chest: "You all... how did you know..." his voice grew smaller and smaller, finally fading into a mere whisper.
"You can't blame anyone else for that~" Bai Li hopped closer, her skirt fluttering. She suddenly put on a stern face, cleared her throat, and mimicked an old, hoarse voice:
"I am the Heavenly Demon Supreme Being from the upper realm. What are you doing? Don't come any closer! Stop!..."
Her imitation was vivid and true to life, down to the desperate tremor and terrified tone.
What was even more terrifying was that she perfectly mimicked that sense of hysterical struggle.
Just listening to this voice was enough to make one imagine what kind of cruel scene the original owner had experienced.
Shen Qingwu's face instantly turned deathly pale, and his lips began to tremble uncontrollably.
...
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