Chapter 25 - Without Beating the Grass, the Snakes Startle Each Other
Luo He himself hadn't expected that not long after coming out of Little Azure Peak, before he even had time to adjust his mindset, he would immediately encounter a problem.
Luo He looked at Huoxin before him, who was smiling and speaking cheerfully to him; in his hand hidden in his sleeve, a black lotus leaf slowly condensed.
This was still that small alley in Gengyang City, the place where Luo He had boarded the divine sedan chair at that time.
But why Huoxin had appeared here, and even appeared here in her true form, Luo He had no way of knowing at all.
Her current public identity was Shen Huai; there was no reason for her to be swaggering down the street like this, even if she herself had set up a barrier... That's right.
Luo He realized.
Sure enough, she must have given the game away and been caught by Luo Hongyu and Gu Jing; that skin of Shen Huai that she wore... was probably gone already.
However, to encounter her so directly here... he didn't know if it was bad luck or good luck.
"Since we parted that day, I didn't expect you to actually still be lingering in this Gengyang City. What, did you participate fully in the Water Lord Festival? Mmm... it doesn't quite look like it."
Huoxin was still speaking to him about trivial topics just like before, but Luo He knew very well that the situation between the two of them now was completely different.
Previously, Huoxin might still have regarded him as a pawn that could be used; now... they were already out-and-out enemies.
What she was thinking in her heart now was probably why he could appear before her so alive and kicking.
In fact, just as Luo He had expected, Huoxin was currently very perplexed.
After seeing Luo He, Huoxin was then completely certain that the Demonic Seed had been swallowed by Luo He.
The demonic qi that emanated from his body after it was detonated was to a degree that absolutely couldn't be concealed; even Huoxin, who was not a demonic cultivator, could sense it.
But how did he look completely unaffected?
Could it be...
Huoxin pondered in her heart.
That Demonic Seed, after all, was something that wasn't quite compatible with her; she actually wasn't too sure what Luo He's current situation really was.
And in the end, that Demonic Seed wasn't without a solution; although within such a short time, it was fundamentally impossible for him to achieve it...
But, what if?
Huoxin really liked to ask herself this question; this was one of the secrets to her being able to survive as a ghost cultivator to this day.
Thinking of this, Huoxin immediately changed her expression and slowly approached Luo He.
"Speaking of which, it seems you have some things to explain to me, little fellow."
"What, the feeling of demonic qi entering your body, not too bad, right?"
"......"
A trace of demonic flame opportunely appeared on the surface of Luo He's body. Although Luo He quickly suppressed it, it still didn't escape Huoxin's eyes.
Sure enough... it's impossible for there to be no effect at all; otherwise, she would almost suspect if it was a fake.
It seems this person before me is even more capable of forbearance than I imagined... Ha, or perhaps, his brain is sick.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have done such a foolish thing as swallowing the Demonic Seed himself to protect that woman.
Huoxin's tone began to become mocking and playful. She looked at Luo He's mask and said faintly:
"Little fellow, ah, I've lived for so long, it's truly the first time I've seen someone so eager to rush himself to a dead end... I'm really rather curious about what you're thinking."
"Tell me, why on earth are you trying so desperately?"
"......"
"Eh, don't be silent now, it's really uninteresting... Ah, you shouldn't be able to speak. Hehe, I forgot."
Huoxin covered her mouth and chuckled lightly twice.
"However, I have to say, you've got quite some nerve, little fellow."
"After tricking me like that, you actually still dare to appear before me..."
"Are you truly not afraid that I'll kill you?"
As her final sentence was spoken, countless aggrieved souls emerged from behind her, surrounding Luo He layer by layer.
His surroundings were filled with chaotic ghostly wails and whispers; these undead spirits were constantly trying to converse with him.
Actually, Huoxin still had a very big question: that was why Luo He would encounter her here.
Looking at Luo He in the center, Huoxin thought coldly in her heart.
She certainly wouldn't foolishly consider it some coincidence, although it really did look like a coincidence.
Even if the possibility was only one in ten thousand, Huoxin had to be prepared for the possibility that Luo He had developed the ability to counter her; otherwise, on what grounds would he dare to just stand before her like this...
Ah.
Huoxin remembered that ghost language book she had given him.
Although the content in the ghost language book concerning the Three Great Oaths absolutely could not be read by living people, strictly speaking, the person before her couldn't be considered a living person in the complete sense either.
Adding to that some guesses of his own, it probably wasn't difficult to guess the content of one of the Great Oaths... Alas.
Huoxin shook her head, quite vexed.
Starting from this Demonic Seed, it truly felt like one wrong step leads to every step being wrong... This Luo He before her, she had only considered him a minor character, but unexpectedly, he turned out to be the most troublesome problem.
But even so, it still made her somewhat incredulous.
She, extremely rarely, asked with a hint of doubt in her tone:
"You, understood that ghost language?"
"......"
Although Luo He did not respond, Huoxin could get the answer from his eyes.
"Heh... perhaps you really are very suited to be a ghost cultivator."
Is this really something that could happen? A fellow who isn't even a ghost yet can actually read and recognize the ghost language in just a few short days...
When she first started as a ghost cultivator, she spent quite a lot of time studying the ghost language.
Frankly speaking, Huoxin was now already feeling some inclination to retreat and didn't much want to bother with this damned mess anymore.
It wasn't that she was worried about herself; it was mainly just very troublesome... because she couldn't act directly.
And the other party had figured out the first Great Oath, so the deterrence she could exert on this person before her was much reduced.
But that favor witnessed by the Heavenly Dao over there, the Heavenly Dao hadn't yet judged that she had repaid it completely... Tsk, how troublesome.
Huoxin heaved a deep sigh. Under the current circumstances of having no preparations, she couldn't do anything to him for the time being.
"Alas, fortune is truly not on my side. Everything that was originally well-planned, because of you, little fellow, has now all turned into a complete mess... You really make things difficult for me."
"Let's meet again if fate allows, little fellow. At that time, I hope it will be our last meeting."
I really don't want to have any more dealings with a troublesome fellow like you... Anyway, the Demonic Seed has already erupted; one way or another, he's a short-lived ghost.
Huoxin ultimately still chose not to create extra complications for now; she summoned the soul ship of the Crossing of No Return and departed from here ethereally.
And Luo He also heaved a sigh of relief; he put away the lotus leaf in his hand.
This unexpected encounter was also quite a headache for him.
Ghost cultivation, in essence, was also a more extreme form of soul cultivation. And at that time, when Huoxin placed this Demonic Seed in his hand, she had specially said that this Demonic Seed had the effect of defiling one's spiritual platform and scattering one's clarity of mind.
Therefore, Luo He could conclude that given the grade of this Demonic Seed, it could definitely harm Huoxin.
Not to mention, this Demonic Seed was now also tainted with a trace of malevolent qi.
But after this encounter, given Huoxin's style of looking back three times with every step, she would definitely be on guard against him for appearing here without reason.
Perhaps even the "her" from just now was not necessarily her true entity... It was also mentioned in the ghost language that ghost cultivators had the ability to create their own soul bodies.
Now, it was equivalent to both sides having beaten the grass and startled the snake; they were wary of each other's possible actions.
It seemed he still needed to lie dormant for a period; he couldn't let Huoxin grasp his movements, and had to find a good opportunity to appear again.
It's just that, when Huoxin first met him, she said many people were looking for me...
That should be expected.
After all, the Immortal Ascension Assembly was also fast approaching; that was the moment when things would be truly settled.