Chapter 290: It’s Coming
Ming’s longsword pointed at Ye Ye’s neck.
The blade shimmered faintly with moonlight.
But even with a sword at her throat, Ye Ye remained eerily calm.
Ye Ye glanced at the sword in Ming’s hand and said, “This sword forged by Master Wang on West Wind Street is of decent quality, but it’s still just an ordinary sword. A Zhuāngyuán Láng like you using such a sword seems rather… pitiful.”
Ming replied nonchalantly, “My old sword got lost when I killed Sect Leader Xia He from the Heavenly Profound Gate. This one was picked up on the fly. Not sure if it’ll last me through tonight.”
Ye Ye smirked slightly, “Just an ordinary sword? That might not be enough.”
“Hmm.” Ming maintained his cool demeanor, “Guess we’ll see. But I hope this sword doesn’t have to be used tonight.”
Ye Ye raised her gaze, looking at Ming curiously, “I hid my demonic aura quite well. Unless one is a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator or a Far-Ranging Martial Artist, it’d be hard to detect me. How did you find me?”
Ming casually made up an excuse, “Maybe I’ve always been sensitive to ghostly and demonic energies since childhood. Could be something I was born with.”
Indeed.
If he were an ordinary person, Ming felt he wouldn’t have noticed her.
But over the years, he had increased his “perception” attribute points significantly.
So for him, detecting that faint demonic aura wasn’t too difficult.
“Do you wish to rid the world of evil? Exterminate demons?” Ye Ye tilted her head curiously.
“The so-called ‘rid the world of evil’ first requires confirming whether you’re actually causing harm,” Ming lowered his sword.
“I’m not one to meddle in other people’s affairs, but since I encountered this, I must take responsibility. Especially since Han is my brother.”
Ye Ye stared directly into Ming’s eyes, “You sincerely consider Han as your brother, which makes me deeply grateful. Han has always been mischievous, often getting into fights, and didn’t have many friends.”
“Then can you explain?” Ming asked.
“What exactly do you want me to explain?” Ye Ye countered.
“What can you say?” Ming questioned.
Ye Ye glanced at Han’s bedroom before shifting her gaze back to Ming, “Whatever you ask, I will answer.”
Ming wasted no time, “Where are you from?”
“White River Kingdom, Three Immortal Caves,” Ye Ye responded.
Ming shook his head, “Forgive my ignorance, but I’ve never heard of that place.”
Ye Ye chuckled, “Of course not. The Three Immortal Caves were a small sect created by a group of demons in the White River Kingdom, which has long since disappeared.”
“What about your cultivation level?” Ming pressed.
“Please forgive me for making a fool of myself, but I’m merely at the Nascent Soul Stage,” Ye Ye admitted.
Ming paused.
Although he had suspected her level, learning the truth left him speechless.
A Nascent Soul Stage cultivator was already someone who could establish their own sect.
Even though he had always excelled at fighting above his level, facing a Nascent Soul Stage demon cultivator gave him little confidence.
“If I’m not mistaken, for a demon race member to reach the Nascent Soul Stage is no easy feat. It takes far longer than it does for humans,” Ming remarked.
Ye Ye nodded, “That’s true. Human cultivators reaching the Nascent Soul Stage can take fifty to sixty years for geniuses and around five to six hundred years for ordinary ones. For us demons, it takes a thousand years.”
Ming smiled wryly, “Your lifespan exceeds that of the White River Kingdom itself.”
“That’s correct. Our Three Immortal Caves existed long before the White River Kingdom was established,” Ye Ye confirmed.
Ming frowned, “With your cultivation level, you must have held a high position in the Three Immortal Caves. You could easily have become an elder anywhere. Yet, you came to the Wu Kingdom and took in these children. Could it really be out of pity?”
Ye Ye shook her head, “Not at all. I’m not a good person. Taking in these children wasn’t for any noble cause. I had my own reasons.”
Ming quipped, “Straightforward, aren’t you?”
Ye Ye retorted, “Would you believe me if I said I was doing good deeds?”
Ming asked seriously, “What is your purpose?”
Ye Ye’s eyes flashed with a hint of coldness, “To kill someone.”
Ming pressed further, “Can you tell me who?”
“I apologize, but I cannot disclose that information,” Ye Ye refused to answer.
Ming guessed, “Personal vendetta?”
“Personal vendetta,” Ye Ye confirmed.
“And what if I insist on investigating?” Ming challenged.
Ye Ye smiled, “What you choose to do is your business, and what I choose to do is mine. However, I won’t reveal this matter to you. Also, the children in this courtyard are very adorable.”
Ming locked eyes with Ye Ye, who didn’t flinch under his gaze.
“Are you threatening me with these children?” Ming chuckled, “Do you really think I’d let you manipulate me with them?”
Ye Ye shook her head, “I didn’t say that. Your sword qi is so sharp, indicating you make decisions swiftly and decisively. No one would be foolish enough to threaten a Sword Cultivator. But since Han is your brother, I believe you care about him.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Ming’s sword qi surged powerfully, slicing through Ye Ye’s body like wind.
Her clothes were shredded piece by piece, revealing pale skin marked with thin trails of blood.
“Why involve these children in your revenge?” Ming questioned.
“This, too, I cannot say,” Ye Ye evaded.
“Will these children die because of you?” Ming demanded.
Ye Ye shook her head, “No, they won’t. Although I’m using them, I don’t intend to harm them. I adopted them for my purposes, and because of me, they’ve survived. We simply help each other.”
Ming sneered, “What a convenient mutual benefit.”
Ye Ye only smiled faintly, ignoring Ming’s mockery.
“I won’t interfere with what you plan to do. Your personal grudge is your karma,” Ming stated coldly. “But if anything happens to Han or the children here, or if you sacrifice others for your revenge and I find out, I won’t spare you.”
Ye Ye bowed slightly, “Thank you for your understanding.”
“I’m not showing understanding toward you,” Ming retracted his sword and vanished into the night.
Watching Ming disappear into the distance, Ye Ye remained seated, gazing at the tranquil night sky:
“It’s coming… It’s almost time…”
