Chapter 279: Blood Exchange!
Chapter 279: Blood Exchange!
Tu Hu grabbed a pig demon and went back. After that, he visited the Demon Market again and spoke to Chen Changsheng about this matter, hoping Chen Changsheng could cast another spell.
After hearing this, Chen Changsheng said, “I can try. But since we didn’t catch him the first time, there might not be much chance this time.”
Tu Hu asked, “Why is that?”
Chen Changsheng said, “The Toad Demon King is cunning, but he’s also very clever. He knows when to advance or retreat. Since we failed the first time, it’ll be harder later.”
Tu Hu still wanted to try again. He brought an object belonging to the Toad Demon King to Chen Changsheng for tracking. But the golden bird formed by the spell didn’t move for a long time, as if it couldn’t find him.
Tu Hu frowned, “Why is this happening……”
Chen Changsheng said, “The Toad Demon King is now an abandoned pawn. Still, it must be admitted that he must have gained some benefits from Heaven and Earth before. Perhaps that’s his support.”
Tu Hu frowned, “So, he’ll surely come back?”
Chen Changsheng nodded, “It’s only a matter of time. Then, many might point their fingers at you.”
Tu Hu frowned, “That’s deadly work……”
“Didn’t I leave you three strands of hair?”
“Could you give me two more? I’m afraid it’s not enough.”
“It’s plenty.”
Chen Changsheng waved his hand and said, “I should pack my stall now. Anything else?”
Tu Hu said, “Actually, yes. In that natural Formation Array, I saw a human youth. I was busy chasing Chan Du back then, and when I returned, that youth was gone. That youth……”
Hearing this, Chen Changsheng paused. Currently, the Demon Realm was sealed. Chen Changsheng easily guessed who that youth was.
After a moment, Chen Changsheng replied, “Don’t know him.”
Tu Hu agreed upon hearing this and said, “Then I won’t stay longer.”
After Tu Hu left, Chen Changsheng began packing the items on the stall.
After setting up for several days, he only sold four small trinkets. These things were indeed quite unnoticeable.
Qing Tianyou wondered why Chen Changsheng was so happy about running a stall. Sitting quietly these days, Qing Tianyou had found it boring and stifling.
He had asked Chen Changsheng before, but Chen Changsheng told him, “Being able to stay idle is a rare thing.”
Chen Changsheng was especially fond of being lazy. He preferred nothing to be his responsibility.
The snow among the forests had melted completely. The morning sun felt warm on the skin.
Qing Tianyou went out once and came back holding a Chang Qin (Long Zither).
“Wasn’t the previous one destroyed?” Chen Changsheng asked.
“I made a new one.”
Qing Tianyou said, “I went to the Ancient Mulberry Forest.”
Chen Changsheng was stunned upon hearing this. “That Silkworm Demon again?”
Qing Tianyou nodded.
Chen Changsheng looked at him suspiciously and said, “You actually didn’t kill her.”
Qing Tianyou said, “Why kill her? I’ll need her silk later. Might as well keep using her if she has purpose.”
After thinking, he added, “I’ll kill her when she’s useless.”
Chen Changsheng laughed upon hearing this. “Makes sense.”
“Brother Chen.”
Qing Tianyou sat down cross-legged and placed the Chang Qin beside him.
“Want to hear me play a tune?” Qing Tianyou smiled.
Chen Changsheng nodded slightly. “Very well.”
The graceful sound of the Chang Qin floated through the valley. With a Spring tune, the Vegetal Essence of the plants seemed to stir with liveliness.
Early Spring birds flew over and landed beside the Chang Qin.
Chen Changsheng warmed some tea, quietly enjoying this moment.
He thought to himself, such days aren’t so bad after all.
……
Time slipped by; years came and went.
After Spring, flowers bloomed everywhere as nature woke up. Those patches of Death Qi faded, and all eyes saw new life instead.
Qing Tianyou often played songs, making the Spiritual Energy in this valley several times richer than anywhere else. It became a special blessed place.
Chen Changsheng passed the idle times walking by the Mountain Stream, sometimes sitting by a pond to fish, occasionally picking wild fruits, or going to the Demon Market to run his stall. The days were ordinary, yet full of interest.
When Summer arrived, the weather got warmer. The woods buzzed with cicadas, and many wild fruits ripened.
In the mountains, time slipped away without notice. In the blink of an eye, another season passed.
Then, one day, Chen Changsheng went to the Demon Realm as usual to man his stall. Unexpectedly, he met a familiar person.
Meeting him again was a big difference.
The youth wore a Wooden Carved Mask, giving off a strong Demonic Qi. His gaze pierced through the mask, fixed on the Green-Robed Gentleman seated at the stall.
That Green-Robed Gentleman was looking right back at him.
Gou’er never imagined meeting someone he once knew here in the Demon Realm.
He looked several times before realizing the man covered in Demonic Qi before him was Mr. Chen.
Chen Changsheng asked him, “Buying something?”
The person in the Wooden Carved Mask froze, then shook his head. “No.”
Chen Changsheng gave a slight nod and fell silent.
Standing before the stall and hesitating for a long time, the person in the mask finally moved his feet, seemingly about to leave.
As he turned away, Chen Changsheng suddenly spoke, “Leaving already?”
The person paused, then turned to look back.
Behind the Wooden Carved Mask, his heart skipped a beat. “Has Mr. Chen recognized me?”
Chen Changsheng looked at him and said, “How did you become like this?”
This masked person was none other than Gou’er, who’d entered the Demon Realm the previous Summer and Autumn.
That day, Chen Changsheng packed up his stall early.
Gou’er followed Chen Changsheng to that valley.
“Have you been in the Demon Realm long, sir?”
“You arrived here almost right after me,” Chen Changsheng replied.
Gou’er glanced around. A tidy hut stood nearby with a Waterwheel and various other things. It all looked very peaceful.
“Sit.”
The two sat down.
Gou’er finally removed his mask.
Underneath was a terribly pale face. His lips were bloodless, and his eyes held traces of Death Qi.
Chen Changsheng frowned, “How did this happen?”
Gou’er said plainly, “Blood exchange is why.”
“Blood exchange?”
Chen Changsheng looked at him, then understood. “You swapped yours for……?”
Gou’er nodded. “A demon’s blood.”
Chen Changsheng was stunned. “Whose idea was this?”
“I figured it out myself.”
Gou’er sighed. “At first, I noticed that demon blood had strong Demonic Qi, so I smeared it on my body to cover my human scent. But this only lasted half a day.”
“Later, I tried letting demon blood seep into my body. The blood was fierce and almost took half my life away. However, I discovered that demon blood could temper my body.”
“Over the past six months, I stayed in the outer edges. I used demon blood for Cultivation. But I could only operate there. Compared to real Great Demons, my body needed much more improvement.”
“I planned to wait a while longer. But the Demon Realm changed, and I couldn’t wait. So, I tried another way.”
“First, I attempted using blood from some low-level, second or third-realm demons for exchange. Then I sought blood from an Eighth-Realm Great Demon.”