It's Hard for a Villain Character Not to Collapse - Chapter 20

Chapter - 20

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Half an hour ago, Xiao Jiuci and Lu Zhui were taken to the reception area of Lingbao Sect, where they sat down to drink tea.

"Why do you seem so distracted?" Lu Zhui asked Xiao Jiuci, who was sitting beside him. "Worried about Qiao Han wandering around alone? There are quite a few disciples from Qingyun Sect here."

"No," Xiao Jiuci replied calmly, his mind still lingering on that familiar figure.

Lu Zhui chuckled and teased, "Did your junior brother just argue with you over something about Qiao Han?"

Xiao Jiuci's expression turned a bit helpless. "They'll understand each other once they get to know each other."

"You seem pretty confident in Qiao Han," Lu Zhui said with a laugh.

Xiao Jiuci glanced at Lu Zhui's nose, noticing that the redness had almost faded but still looked somewhat red. Thinking about the personalities of his junior brother and Qiao Han, he suddenly felt like he wasn’t as confident as he claimed.

Seeing Xiao Jiuci's reaction, Lu Zhui couldn’t resist joking around, bringing up the old cliché about strained relationships between "uncle-in-law and nephew-in-law."

Xiao Jiuci finally understood why Qiao Han liked to mess with Lu Zhui.

"Speaking of which, how's your relationship progressing?" Lu Zhui asked, his curiosity obvious. "I heard you've been treating him really well."

Xiao Jiuci was momentarily stunned. "I’ve been treating him well?"

Lu Zhui had initially wanted to say "Of course," but when he saw Xiao Jiuci’s genuinely puzzled expression, he paused and thought more carefully. Considering their current nominal relationship and comparing Xiao Jiuci’s usual kindness to others, it really didn’t amount to "good" by any meaningful standard.

"Actually, it’s not really good," Xiao Jiuci said softly, lowering his eyes.

Setting aside his underlying motive of surveillance, everything he had done was merely minor gestures of care for someone living under the same roof, small acts of deliberate goodwill.

Yet every time he did something like that, Qiao Han would react with overwhelming gratitude, as if he couldn’t wait to repay him tenfold. That kind of response left Xiao Jiuci feeling both dazed and unfamiliar, compelling him to show even more care, something worthy of such gratitude. But no matter what he did, he could never quite match the astonishment and flattery in Qiao Han’s eyes.

After some thought, Lu Zhui said, "If you’re really willing to accept him, then treat him even better. Otherwise, you’ll only invite trouble from outsiders, all hoping to see discord between you two."

"What?" Xiao Jiuci asked, confused.

Lu Zhui pointed to his own eyes. "I just casually mentioned to my sister that you two seemed close, maybe even heading toward "mutual affection", and I got punched for it."

Xiao Jiuci’s expression turned awkward not because of Lu Zhui’s ridiculous claim of "mutual affection," as he was used to hearing such nonsense but because Lu Zhui had mentioned his sister.

No wonder Lu Zhui had run out with dark circles under his eyes, it turned out he was hiding from his sister.

Seeing Lu Zhui’s resentful glance in his direction, Xiao Jiuci could only lower his head and sip his tea.

"Tsk, here comes another admirer," Lu Zhui muttered just as a group of people entered from outside.

Leading the group was a young woman with bronze-toned skin and strikingly bold, attractive features. Her deep brown, slightly wavy hair framed her face, and her athletic, well-defined figure was accentuated by a practical, no-nonsense outfit. Unlike the ethereal elegance typical of female cultivators, her attire exuded a confident and untamed wildness, reminiscent of a graceful leopard on the plains.

At her waist hung a small hammer that faintly shimmered with a golden glow.

This was none other than He Tong, the senior sister of the Lingbao Sect and a renowned genius in artifact crafting.

He Tong’s bright, piercing eyes locked onto Xiao Jiuci as soon as she entered, her gaze carrying an air of assertiveness. However, when met with Xiao Jiuci’s calm and unflappable demeanor, her initial aggression felt as if it had landed on soft cotton, leaving her without any momentum.

She could only let out a hearty laugh and say, "Xiao Jiuci, Lu Zhui, long time no see! My master is busy crafting artifacts and has no time to spare, so the sect’s affairs are being handled by me and my junior brother for now."

"Where’s your junior brother? Out playing again?" Lu Zhui teased with a grin.

The Lingbao Sect had their brilliant senior sister, He Tong, as the leading figure, while the sect leader’s only heir, Wu Hao, was a bit of a disappointment. It was similar to the situation in the Qingyun Sect. It seemed likely that future inheritance would rely on the senior disciples rather than bloodlines, allowing the junior disciples to live carefree lives.

"Anyway, he doesn’t understand much and can’t handle serious matters. Once we’ve finalized things, we can just get him to confirm it," He Tong said with a dismissive wave, boldly inviting the two to sit down.

As soon as they sat, He Tong’s sharp eyes flickered with interest, and she couldn’t help but address Xiao Jiuci directly. "I heard your Dao companion turned out to be a man? Are you even okay with that? Why not cancel the engagement and be with me instead?"

Lu Zhui nearly choked on his tea, giving He Tong a thumbs up in admiration.

He Tong straightened her elegant shoulders and lifted her chest with confidence, raising an eyebrow with a playful smirk. "Whether it’s dual cultivation or artifact crafting, I can support you. Plus, I’m a gold spiritual root cultivator. I’m not any worse than that Luo Yan Mystic Body."

Xiao Jiuci looked a bit uncomfortable. He wasn’t particularly skilled at dealing with such situations and could only shift the topic. "Let’s discuss the arrangement for the artifact supplies instead."

"Tch, boring. You’re such a nerd," He Tong pouted. "Still, I can’t help but like handsome men. The path of cultivation is long and uncertain... who knows what the future holds? I’ll wait for you."

He Tong had never seen a man more to her taste than Xiao Jiuci, so naturally, she wasn’t willing to give up. However, she couldn’t blatantly try to steal someone else’s partner. The key issue was Xiao Jiuci’s indifferent temperament and he was too principled. Getting him to abandon an arranged engagement was impossible. Her only option was to wait patiently.

After all, she’d heard that Qiao Han wasn’t exactly a saint. If the day came when Qiao Han crossed Xiao Jiuci’s bottom line, their relationship might end. When that happened, her chance would finally come.

He Tong, after her playful banter, shifted to the formal negotiations between the two sects. After reaching a preliminary consensus that would require follow-up discussions, she dispatched someone to fetch Wu Hao.

"Since you’ll need to have further private discussions, why don’t Jiuci and I step out and take a stroll?" Lu Zhui suggested.

He Tong regretfully replied, "I’d love to accompany you, but I wouldn’t want to waste your time. Go ahead."

The two bid farewell and exited the loft room.

As they walked out, Xiao Jiuci’s gaze lingered on the ship’s guards and the formations scattered around the vessel. Suddenly, he spoke. "I’ve heard that Lingbao Pavilion’s airship often falls prey to attacks by the demon clans?"

From her seat, He Tong snorted coldly. "Hmph, just a bunch of little beasts coveting our artifacts."

"The demon clans rarely use artifacts for attacks. They’re more inclined to rely on their bodies as weapons," Xiao Jiuci remarked.

He Tong paused, surprised. "Really? You seem to know a lot about this. But their attack targets are always our artifacts."

Having listened quietly for some time, Lu Zhui chimed in, "Have you tried communicating with them?"

He Tong let out a disdainful chuckle. "What are you thinking? It’s common for humans and demons to fight the moment they meet. Our relationship is practically built on mutual hostility. They raid us like bandits so why bother asking why? Their nature is inherently vile. Beasts that gain intelligence are still beasts. Do you really expect them to understand concepts like propriety or morality?"

It seemed He Tong’s encounters with the demon clans had left her deeply embittered, fueling her harsh assessment.

Xiao Jiuci and Lu Zhui, sensing her irritation, chose not to press further. They simply nodded and left.

After coming down from the pavilion, they arrived on the deck.

Their attention was quickly drawn to a vibrant scene on the deck.

Lu Zhui pointed at a booth surrounded by many cultivators and said, “Xiao Jiuci, when did your Qingyun Sect become so sly? You came up with this trick and didn’t even notify us at Yuxu Sect!”

Xiao Jiuci was equally puzzled and led Lu Zhui forward to take a closer look. There, they saw Jiang Yin and the disciples from Puxian Peak enthusiastically promoting their pills. Judging by their ecstatic smiles, it was clear they were making a fortune.

“What is this all about…?”

“Senior Brother, you’re here! The situation was urgent, so we didn’t have time to report to you, so we just went ahead with it,” Jiang Yin said immediately upon seeing Xiao Jiuci. He quickly explained, knowing it wasn’t a violation of rules and thus didn’t fear reprimand, he only needed to inform his senior brother.

As expected, Xiao Jiuci didn’t say much after hearing the explanation, though he looked slightly surprised. “The Lingbao Sect has no objections?”

Jiang Yin smirked. “We paid them, so they don’t care what we sell. As for objections… they’re probably just jealous as if we’ve stolen their advantage of time and place.”

“Jealous, huh? That’s putting it lightly.” Lu Zhui covered his mouth to stifle a laugh. “I saw one of their stewards looking furiously angry. If He Tong finds out, her opinion of you, Senior Brother, might fall straight to the ground. You guys are ruthless, throwing your sect’s dignity aside!”

Jiang Yin replied, “Dignity doesn’t smell as good as money. Besides, they use our two sects’ recruitment conferences to do business. Us taking advantage of them in return is perfectly reasonable. Isn’t that right, Senior Brother?”

Xiao Jiuci could only chuckle helplessly and didn’t deny it.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. I’ll immediately notify Yuxu Sect’s disciples to join in. We can’t let you hog all the profits. Still, Junior Brother Jiang, you’re really clever to come up with this.” Lu Zhui sounded impressed.

Seeing that Xiao Jiuci wasn’t upset, Jiang Yin finally admitted, “Not at all... it was Qiao Han who suggested it to us."

Lu Zhui immediately looked at Xiao Jiuci in astonishment.

Xiao Jiuci was equally surprised and asked, “You encountered him? Where is he now?”

Jiang Yin recounted the events in detail.

Lu Zhui laughed so hard he almost rolled over, slapping Xiao Jiuci’s shoulder. “I didn’t expect him to be this sharp. You really owe him a proper thank you later.”

“Definitely,” Jiang Yin said with a grin.

Xiao Jiuci shook his head with a chuckle, already picturing Qiao Han’s crafty and calculating expression when he came up with this idea.

“Which direction did he head off in?” Xiao Jiuci asked with a smile.

Jiang Yin pointed them in a direction before hurrying back to his work.

The two of them followed the indicated path. As they walked, Xiao Jiuci suddenly halted, his gaze sharply tracking a shadow that disappeared around a corner. It was that same man in the gray cloak. Frowning, Xiao Jiuci’s thoughts were interrupted by Lu Zhui’s voice.

“Huh? Isn’t that Jiang Qiluo with Qiao Han?”

Xiao Jiuci froze and looked in the direction Lu Zhui was pointing. Sure enough, standing in front of a booth were Qiao Han and Jiang Qiluo.

"Why is Jiang Qiluo here?"

Back when they were at Qingyun Sect, Xiao Jiuci was well aware of Jiang Qiluo's disdain for the notion of Qiao Han being his dao companion. It was unclear what Jiang Qiluo had overheard back then, but his attitude had been nothing except resistant. Now, seeing him here, Xiao Jiuci couldn’t shake a growing sense of unease.

He was about to step forward when Lu Zhui stopped him.

Lu Zhui raised an eyebrow with a mischievous grin. “Looks like there’s some drama unfolding.”

Holding Xiao Jiuci back, Lu Zhui followed quietly alongside him. As they trailed the duo, the situation gradually became apparent.

“What do you call this? A failed provocation turning into a trap? Your junior really needs more worldly experience. He’s far too naive!” Lu Zhui remarked, watching as Qiao Han effortlessly guided Jiang Qiluo into the most luxurious shop in the area. “Qiao Han is being downright ruthless here. If he steps inside, it will cost him a fortune.”

Lu Zhui turned his head toward Xiao Jiuci after speaking, only to notice that his friend’s usual gentle demeanor had vanished.

From Lu Zhui’s understanding of his sworn brother, Xiao Jiuci was decidedly displeased.

“Maybe step in and stop them before Qiao Han takes things too far,” Lu Zhui suggested. “He probably doesn’t know that person is Jiang Qiluo, so don’t hold it against him.”

“I’m not angry,” Xiao Jiuci replied in a low voice.

Lu Zhui froze for a moment. Was Xiao Jiuci not angry, or just not angry at Qiao Han? Surely, he wasn’t upset with his own junior, Jiang Qiluo especially when it was obvious Jiang Qiluo was being played.

Seeing that Xiao Jiuci had no intention of stepping in to stop the escalating situation, Lu Zhui grew a little anxious. If things went too far, it could genuinely turn into an awkward family dispute.

But it was already too late. Jiang Qiluo had lost a staggering 500 high-grade spirit stones and, embarrassingly, couldn’t afford to pay. The tension exploded into outright conflict. To make matters worse, Qiao Han had known Jiang Qiluo’s identity all along. He had orchestrated the entire thing intentionally. Wasn’t this an open slap to Xiao Jiuci’s face?

Lu Zhui’s heart tightened. He glanced at Xiao Jiuci, trying to think of a way to smooth things over. Just as he was about to speak in Qiao Han’s defense, Xiao Jiuci’s expression shifted.

In an instant, the atmosphere turned icy, and Lu Zhui could almost feel the temperature drop.

Lu Zhui thought "This is bad. Qiao Han’s done for."

Xiao Jiuci stepped inside, immediately cutting through the confrontation with his imposing presence. He didn’t address either of them at first, calmly dealing with the external issues and ensuring the shopkeeper’s demands were satisfied. But Jiang Qiluo wasn’t done. He rushed forward, indignantly pointing at Qiao Han and pouring out his grievances to Xiao Jiuci.

Xiao Jiuci turned to Jiang Qiluo, his gaze sharp and icy.

Jiang Qiluo, naturally intimidated by Xiao Jiuci, felt a chill run through his entire body under that piercing look.

“Go back,” Xiao Jiuci commanded in a low, firm tone.

Jiang Qiluo wanted to argue further but realized that this was an order from his senior brother. Decades of respect and fear ingrained since childhood left him no room to disobey. He didn’t even dare cast a final glare at Qiao Han as he left, his frustration swallowing him whole.

As soon as Jiang Qiluo left, Xiao Jiuci finally had a moment to turn his attention to Qiao Han. Just as he was about to speak, he caught sight of a familiar figure flashing by outside.

In that instant, Xiao Jiuci's mind raced, piecing things together—the man in the gray cloak had been following Qiao Han!

Who is that person...?

Xiao Jiuci's eyes narrowed, a sharp glint flashing within them. Without hesitation, he darted out in pursuit, determined to uncover the man's identity.

However, a small force tugged at him from behind, stopping him in his tracks.

Startled, Xiao Jiuci turned around, confused. The one pulling him back was none other than Qiao Han.

For the first time, Xiao Jiuci saw Qiao Han like this—his body stiff, his voice trembling, his reddened eyes brimming with unease. It was a stark contrast to the brazen and arrogant demeanor he had displayed earlier. Now, he was like a declawed and toothless kitten, meekly revealing his soft underbelly in submission.

The first thing Qiao Han did was apologize, his voice full of guilt and hesitation. This sudden act snapped Xiao Jiuci out of his thoughts, "Did Qiao Han misunderstood something?"

Just as he was about to explain, the surrounding atmosphere shifted abruptly.

Xiao Jiuci instantly sensed a surge of demonic energy heading their way. Without a moment’s hesitation, he pulled the still-dazed Qiao Han into his arms and leaped into the air.

A deafening explosion erupted at the spot where they had just been standing. Simultaneously, other parts of the airship were engulfed in blasts—it was a coordinated assault using demonic magic.

As the thick smoke dissipated, countless robust demons surged forward. The protective formations could only fend off lower-level demons, while the stronger ones managed to break through, leaving craters in the deck as they landed.

Most of the cultivators aboard the airship were Qi Refinement stage disciples who had come to participate in the selection process. They were utterly outmatched by the formidable demons and could only seek protection near the artifact craftsmen of the Lingbao Sect or huddle together to barely resist the invading forces.

The disciples of the Lingbao Sect quickly sprang into action, employing various magical artifacts to repel the attackers.

Xiao Jiuci tightened his hold around Qiao Han's arm and said softly, "Hold on to me!"

As he spoke, he unsheathed the Ice Soul Sword. With a single slash, a flash of blue light surged forward, instantly freezing the demons charging toward them.

At that moment, Qiao Han finally realized what was happening—the original plot had begun.

There was no time to dwell on apologies now. The fact that the protagonist had saved his life meant he wasn't angry enough to be beyond reconciliation.

Snapping back to full alertness, Qiao Han immediately adjusted himself, doing his best to cooperate with Xiao Jiuci's movements. Clinging to him like a non-obtrusive ornament, Qiao Han ensured he wouldn’t get in the way.

The distant sounds of magical attacks exploding continued relentlessly, but the steady rhythm of Xiao Jiuci's breathing close to his ear stood in stark contrast, grounding Qiao Han.

This was the first time he had been in such close contact with his idol. Qiao Han found himself struggling to rein in his wayward thoughts, his heart racing uncontrollably.

Qiao Han’s head rested against Xiao Jiuci’s solid chest, where the powerful heartbeat echoed through the firm muscles, striking his ears like thunderclaps. The sound alone had Qiao Han’s heart racing, leaving him flushed and exhilarated.

The arm holding him felt like an iron band—unwavering and secure no matter how Xiao Jiuci evaded or counterattacked.

And that embrace… it radiated a comfortable warmth. The crisp, clean scent of Xiao Jiuci, like the air after a fresh snowfall, was intoxicating.

"Oh no, oh no! Is this even allowed?!"

One second, he was in hell; the next, he was in heaven.

"A single hug from my idol, and I’m energized for an entire day!"

Even if the protagonist decided to settle accounts with him later, Qiao Han was sure he wouldn’t feel upset anymore.

If only he had the courage—he’d totally bear-hug the protagonist!

"No, no. Calm down, control yourself! I am a proper fan, not a creep!"

"But… but Xiao Jiuci was hugging me!", Qiao Han desperately wished time would stop at this very moment.

"Can I really enjoy this? Is this even allowed to a fan?"

"Qiao Han, it’s dangerous near me. I’ll set you down soon; find a place to hide and keep yourself safe," Xiao Jiuci said, analyzing the situation and giving a quick warning.

Qiao Han froze and thought, "What? No! My huggs! Wait, no, focus. The main plot is about to happen!"

His instincts kicked in, and Qiao Han reflexively wrapped his arms around Xiao Jiuci’s neck.

Xiao Jiuci was startled for a moment, glancing at him, "What’s this? Are you scared?"

The gesture clearly screamed, "I don’t want to get down."

Swallowing hard, Qiao Han braced himself and played the coward card. "Scared… Am I… getting in your way?"

Based on Xiao Jiuci’s combat prowess and the descriptions in the original plot, it shouldn’t be an issue, right?

It wasn’t like Qiao Han was deliberately trying to make things difficult for the protagonist. But the development of the original storyline was too unpredictable fights in cultivation worlds always involved people flying everywhere, and since he couldn’t sword-fly himself, how was he supposed to stay near and subtly influence the plot?

Clinging to the protagonist like a koala was the only stupidly simple method he could think of.

Anyway, if he truly became a hindrance, Xiao Jiuci would probably let him go. After all, the protagonist wasn’t one of those showboating, over-the-top types who risked everything for dramatic effect. Xiao Jiuci would make rational decisions based on feasibility.

“…Not really in the way," Xiao Jiuci replied after a moment, though he was still worried about Qiao Han, a mere Qi Refinement cultivator, being caught in the aftermath of clashing spells.

As he deflected another wave of attacks with a sword strike, Xiao Jiuci glanced down at Qiao Han, who was clinging to him tightly with a nervous expression, as if terrified of being set down. Xiao Jiuci’s lips curved ever so slightly into a faint smile.

"Then hold on tight. Just don’t throw up on me later."

Qiao Han: ?

"AAAAHHHHHH!"

Down below, Lu Zhui, who had just repelled a wave of demon attacks, looked up at the sound and was utterly dumbfounded.

He saw Xiao Jiuci holding Qiao Han while unleashing an impressive display of power.

With a burst of spiritual energy and using Lingyun Steps, Xiao Jiuci darted through the air. In an instant, he utilized the forming ice shards scattered across the battlefield as footholds, accelerating himself and striking down dozens of massive demons before they could react, sending them hurtling far from the airship.

All the while, he deftly avoided incoming attacks. His movements in the air were sharp and swift, so much so that he was nothing more than a flash of blue light.

Naturally, the faint red silhouette of Qiao Han clinging to him like a flickering flame about to be snuffed out was also visible.

The scream from earlier had ceased. Who knew if the poor guy had fainted?

"Seriously? Going this wild? Brother, we’re in the middle of a fight! Why are you carrying someone like that? Is this combat or weight training?!" Lu Zhui muttered through gritted teeth, swatting away another demon with a twitching eye.

On the high loft, He Tong was busy attacking the approaching demons when suddenly, behind her, Wu Hao was snatched by one of the demons and carried away.

“Ahhh! Senior Sister, save me!”

“Wu Hao!”

Before He Tong could react, the demon carrying Wu Hao was struck down by a flash of brilliant blue light and fell instantly. Wu Hao was thrown back toward her, and she managed to catch him. Her face lit up with relief as she looked up, hoping to see Xiao Jiuci.

It was Xiao Jiuci, but... what on earth was he holding?

Why was there a man in Xiao Jiuci’s arms? What was going on? Even though the airship was under attack, the situation wasn’t that dire. Couldn’t he have left this person to be guarded by the disciples of Lingbao Sect?

Wait a second. Could that person be...

He Tong’s face froze. Any joy she had earlier evaporated completely, replaced by an urge to spit in disbelief.

Meanwhile, Jiang Qiluo, who hadn’t left yet, happened to regroup with the disciples of Puxian Peak and also caught sight of the scene in the sky.

“What’s Senior Brother doing? Is it really necessary to hold someone that closely?”

Sensing the sarcasm, Jiang Yin deliberately added, “Well... they’re dao companions, aren’t they? Junior Brother Jiang, you might not know, but Senior Brother Xiao and Qiao Han are very close. Of course, he wouldn’t let anything happen to him.”

Jiang Qiluo’s expression instantly twisted in frustration.

Elsewhere, in a shadowy corner, a man in a gray cloak stared at the scene above in disbelief, his brows furrowing. A demon suddenly lunged at him, forcing him to rely on his combat skills to fend it off. Thanks to his battle experience, he managed to defeat the minor demon, albeit barely.

In the sky, Xiao Jiuci had just finished dealing with another wave of demons when he paused and looked down at the person in his arms. Qiao Han’s face was pale, and he was biting down on his arm to suppress any cries. His eyes were tightly shut, as if he’d surrendered his life entirely to Xiao Jiuci.

“How are you? Are you okay?” Xiao Jiuci asked, his tone laced with concern.

Qiao Han opened his eyes, which had been squeezed shut so tightly that the corners were now slightly red. His moist gaze made him look like he’d been wronged, pitiful and vulnerable.

“I... I’m fine.”

Xiao Jiuci’s heart tightened with guilt. “If you’re not feeling well, I can put you down. It’s safe enough now.”

“Am I bothering you?”

Xiao Jiuci felt Qiao Han’s arm tighten around his neck as if he really didn’t want to be put down. Resigned, he replied, “You’re not. I just don’t want you to overexert yourself.”

“Don’t worry! Even if I were dying, I wouldn’t dare throw up on you. If I had to throw up, I’d swallow it back down immediately!”

Xiao Jiuci: ...That level of determination isn’t necessary.

“If you’re uncomfortable, just tell me,” Xiao Jiuci said gently. He adjusted his grip on Qiao Han and resumed fighting the demons, though his movements now were noticeably gentler as if he was intentionally taking care not to jostle the person in his arms.

Qiao Han, for his part, no longer felt like he was trapped in a 360-degree spinning washing machine.

However, Xiao Jiuci’s impressive display of skill naturally drew the attention of even more demons.

This time, Qiao Han managed to get a clearer look.

All of them were... monkeys.

The monkeys, each one larger than a gorilla, were either fully human in appearance or half-human, half-beast. The closer their form was to a human, the higher their cultivation level.

These monkey demons mainly aimed to seize or destroy the spirit treasures of the Spirit Treasure Sect. If anyone obstructed their progress, they would attack without mercy.

Just as the monkeys were unable to deal with Xiao Jiuci, suddenly, a young man appeared, wearing a red moon-patterned armor on his upper body and a skirt woven from spirit plants on his lower body. He carried a giant wooden staff.

The man had a wild, rugged appearance, and his muscular frame looked natural. His hair was short and spiky, with a long braid at the back that, if not looked at carefully, could be mistaken for a monkey's tail.

“Get the hell out of my way! This person is mine to deal with!”

"Young Master, you're amazing!" someone shouted in the background.

Qiao Han’s heart tightened as he locked eyes with the newcomer.

He could feel the arm around him suddenly tighten, signaling that the male protagonist, Xiao Jiuci, considered this monkey demon to be on a different level than the others they had faced.

“Hey, are you the top young hero of the human race, Xiao Jiuci?” the man shouted.

Xiao Jiuci responded coldly, “I am Xiao Jiuci of the Qingyun Sect.”

The man’s eyes widened in excitement as he grinned arrogantly. “Remember this! The one who defeated you is Yin Lou, the young master of the Spirit Monkey Clan!”

Xiao Jiuci's expression darkened, and the Ice Soul Sword in his hand began to gather icy power.

But Yin Lou didn’t strike immediately. Instead, he pointed at Qiao Han, who was in Xiao Jiuci's arms and frowned. “Wait, why are you carrying a burden? Throw him away!”

Qiao Han grumbled internally, "Who’s the burden here? Well, maybe a little bit..."

But this ghost of a person had appeared, so he knew it was crucial. He couldn't just leave; he had to figure out a way to change the outcome.

"Xiao Jiuci, I need to..." he began, but before he could finish, Qiao Han raised his hand in a "stop" gesture and spoke directly to Yin Lou.

“Wait! I have something to say!”

Yin Lou stared at him, looking incredulous, as if thinking, "Who the hell do you think you are to tell me what to do?"

But Qiao Han didn't care and shouted, “Why are you attacking here? If there’s a conflict, it can be resolved. The human race and the demon race don’t have to be enemies! Do you want to see your... monkeys and offspring suffer massive casualties?”

The young master of the Spirit Monkey Clan dying here explained why the protagonist would be chased so relentlessly, but the original plot never explained the reason for the conflict, which bothered Qiao Han. If they could resolve it, maybe they could avoid the coming disaster.

Yin Lou was taken aback. This was the first time he had ever heard a human say something like this. Usually, every time they encountered humans, they were all about fighting and killing.

“Shut the hell up, are you brainless? What nonsense are you talking about? If you don’t let him go, I’ll beat you both!”

Without further ado, Yin Lou rushed forward.

Qiao Han gritted his teeth and could only let Xiao Jiuci hold him as they engaged in a brief battle with Yin Lou.

Though Yin Lou was tough, it seemed like everything was under Xiao Jiuci’s control.

With one misstep, the distance between the two sides grew.

Yin Lou, surprised by Xiao Jiuci's strength, became furious and was about to strike again, but then he noticed that Xiao Jiuci was turning the fight into a back-and-forth, distancing himself while chatting.

"What the hell is wrong with this human?", he thought.

Xiao Jiuci, having been awakened by Qiao Han’s words, realized the importance of the situation. As he continued fighting, he spoke to Yin Lou, “The Spirit Monkey Clan has abundant resources in their territory and usually uses the spirit wood from their mountains for weapons. They don’t need to steal spiritual artifacts. Moreover, based on your actions, there’s more destruction than plundering.”

Yin Lou faltered for a moment but ignored the explanation and pressed on with his attack.

“You are far from here. If it was just a simple grudge against humans, there are sects nearby you could talk about. You traveled all this way to chase after the Spirit Treasure Sect’s artifacts, there must be a deeper reason,” Xiao Jiuci continued, quickly pointing out the inconsistencies.

Qiao Han’s eyes lit up. “Could it be a personal grudge?”

Yin Lou exploded in anger. “Are you two fighting or chatting with me?!”

Qiao Han said helplessly, "I wanted to talk to you, but you wouldn't listen and had to fight instead! No wonder you became a dead fool! Serves you right!"

Xiao Jiuci said, "The cultivators here are participating in the Qingyun Sect and Yuxu Sect selection competition, and we have to get involved. If we make the reason clear, we can mediate the conflict. Otherwise, we can only intervene and protect. You... can't defeat me."

By the time Xiao Jiuci said the last sentence, though he didn't use any domineering or contemptuous tone, Yin Lou was still enraged because it was the truth, but he couldn't accept it.

Yin Lou's movements became more decisive, but he was willing to speak.

"If I were you, I'd mind my own business and take those weak cultivators away. Our target is only the magical weapons. Once those weapons are gone, human cultivators will find it hard to harm our demon race."

This statement stunned both Xiao Jiuci and Qiao Han.

So... they came to destroy the opponent's weapons on the principle that if the weapons are gone, the opponent won't dare to fight me? That's why they targeted the Lingbao Sect, which produces powerful magical tools?

Did they even understand that it's the people who act, not the weapons in their hands?

Qiao Han was shocked by the straight-line thinking of these demons. But for some reason, he felt a bit of admiration.

It wasn't simply about doing evil for the sake of it, and since Qiao Han was saving Xiao Jiuci for his future, it wasn't really a big deal.

Because Yin Lou's reasoning was so "simple and crude," simple to the point that Xiao Jiuci couldn't think of any way to mediate. For the moment, he could only defend against Yin Lou's seemingly endless attacks.

Stopping Xiao Jiuci? Impossible, he was the strongest in combat right now, and the other cultivators were surely relying on him. He couldn’t leave everyone behind to avoid the fight.

Chasing away Yin Lou? Damn, this mad monkey was already excited and yelling; even if he got knocked away, he'd rush back to continue fighting.

How would he explain to Xiao Jiuci that someone would attempt to kill Yin Lou?

Qiao Han's mind raced, and his eyes frantically scanned the surroundings, trying to figure out where the person who would act against Yin Lou might be. The original text only mentioned that a hidden weapon struck Yin Lou’s back and exploded, which was why he died.

Qiao Han's eyes flashed, and he suddenly switched his thinking. Since he couldn't stop it, he would just have to be prepared—protect Yin Lou's back.

Even if he could only block a little, a kill would turn into an injury, and that would completely change the outcome.

As Qiao Han thought this, his gaze fixed on Yin Lou's grass skirt. The skirt was made from spiritual plants, containing abundant wood-element spiritual power, and recently, Qiao Han had been practicing sensing and controlling spiritual plants.

In the midst of the battle, Qiao Han quickly formed a hand seal and concentrated on feeling the spiritual plants. A faint green light spilled from his fingers and flew toward Yin Lou. The power was weak enough that it didn't attract the attention of the two fighters. The green light successfully attached to the grass skirt, attempting to control several spiritual plants to grow upwards. That way, it could block an attack aimed at Yin Lou's back.

At that moment, Qiao Han, always alert, suddenly sensed a flash of silver light not far away, aimed directly at Yin Lou.

The speed of the attack was so fast that it clearly came from a special magical weapon. Qiao Han barely had time to react. Instinctively, he poured more spiritual energy into the green light, and it suddenly surged with power, attempting to force the plants to grow even faster and pull them back.

It seemed that Xiao Jiuci noticed something, but he didn't react in time, and he couldn't tell if someone was trying to help him or what.

At this critical moment, Yin Lou suddenly felt a chill on his back, but before he could fully register it, a chill swept through his lower body. It was a real chill, cutting straight through him.

"Ahhhhhh!"

Yin Lou screamed in horror, instinctively raising his hands to shield himself as his body dropped.

Everyone, along with the onlookers, looked up in shock, seeing a piece of grass skirt drifting down. "What?! Ah! A monster is flying and showing his manhood!"

Some covered their eyes, some screamed, and others cursed.

As Yin Lou was falling, the concealed weapon attack exploded just in time. A huge explosion sounded, shaking everyone.

The blast's force was so strong it flipped Yin Lou, who was nearby.

Xiao Jiuci immediately turned around, holding Qiao Han, and raised a blue energy barrier behind him to protect against the impact.

Qiao Han was still in a daze.

But Xiao Jiuci’s face changed drastically as the explosion went off, his mind quickly processing, and he shouted to the onlookers, "Lu Zhui!"

The two brothers had great chemistry, and as Xiao Jiuci’s Ice Soul Sword began to spread a large-scale ice attack, Lu Zhui immediately adjusted, transforming his sword into a giant fan.

Before the demon clan could react to the fact that their young master had been seen by the humans, they suddenly felt a cold aura spreading around them. The chill forced all the demons to gather around Yin Lou.

Since their young master had been hit hard and his eyes were vacant with no energy to resist, all the demons were also stunned and trapped by the cold.

Then, a gust of wind formed, and the fan sent all the demons flying into the sky until they turned into shooting stars.

Lu Zhui panted heavily, his spiritual energy completely depleted.

Xiao Jiuci then landed with Qiao Han.

The ship fell silent for a moment, but soon the excitement resumed, with cheers and shouts. The demon clan had been repelled.

The crowd cheered and helped one another, and naturally, there were discussions about the recent dramatic scene.

Lu Zhui, at the front, couldn’t hold back his laughter as he looked at the two descending and said, "I bet we won’t see the monkey demons for a long time. Monkeys are very proud, and after such a humiliating situation, hahahaha! But how did this happen? The clothes came off too?"

Xiao Jiuci set Qiao Han down and glanced at a certain guilty person, a helpless smile forming at the corner of his mouth. It was a coincidence that helped him; otherwise, the earlier situation would’ve been hard to handle.

"Hey, did you see "that" thing? How’s the demon young master on that side?" Lu Zhui couldn't help but gossip. "I only saw a red butt from the back."

Qiao Han immediately glared at Lu Zhui with a look that clearly said, "You pervert."

Xiao Jiuci also showed a speechless expression.

Lu Zhui, with great confidence, responded, "We’re all men, what’s wrong with discussing this? I didn’t see it, so I’m curious. I think he has a good physique. What about you two? You were face to face, you must have seen "that" clearly, right? Tell me quickly, what was it like?"

Lu Zhui was genuinely curious and gossiping. Qiao Han was somewhat influenced by his excitement.

Just as Xiao Jiuci was about to stop this pointless conversation, he saw Qiao Han reluctantly raise his hand and gesture a rough size to Lu Zhui. "Something like this."

Xiao Jiuci looked at Qiao Han in disbelief, wondering if he really paid attention to "that".

Lu Zhui's eyes widened in surprise and he clicked his tongue. "That’s all?"

Qiao Han was stunned. "That’s not impressive??? what do you mean, ‘that’s all’? I’m really impressed!"

Noticing Qiao Han’s expression, Lu Zhui grinned lecherously. "Based on body type, it's indeed nothing special, totally doesn’t compare to your Jiuci."

Qiao Han: !!!!! Can I even hear this?!

"How can he compare both sizes? The male lead would be as majestic as the original text described?!" , he thought.

Xiao Jiuci was completely flustered by Lu Zhui’s comment. Just as he was unsure what to do, he saw Qiao Han quietly lower his head and sneak a glance at the male lead's pants...

Xiao Jiuci stiffened, his face turning red, and he acted instantly.

Qiao Han, still in reflex, didn’t react in time before feeling his forehead being pressed down and slowly turned away.

Suddenly realizing, Qiao Han panicked, "I didn’t peek!"

"Hahaha, you really want to see!" Lu Zhui gleefully said, "Qiao Han, don’t worry after you go to the spiritual spring with Jiuci, you’ll definitely see more, I guarantee you’ll be satisfied."

Qiao Han: I don't want to get satisfied at all, ahhhh!

Xiao Jiuci could no longer stand the conversation. He grabbed Qiao Han’s wrist and ran towards the sect disciples.

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