webnovelfull Chapter 417 Under the Sun
Chapter 417 Under the Sun
Duan Leizhi hugged the person in his arms tighter and said gently, "Your senior brother already knows what just happened."
Feeling Shang Yan stiffen slightly in his arms, he smiled faintly: "But I know that Junior Sister was wronged, right? How could Junior Sister be that kind of person..."
Upon hearing Duan Lei's subsequent words, Shang Yan relaxed and said pitifully, "Yes, senior brother, you must stand up for me. They're the ones who bullied me."
Duan Leizhi: "Senior brother knows that junior sister's feelings for Xiao Jin were also a false accusation. Don't worry, senior brother will stand up for you."
Shang Yan felt a little guilty when she heard the name Xiao Jin, but she nodded in agreement and said affectionately, "Yan'er is already my senior brother's person, how could I possibly like Xiao Jin?"
Duan Lei looked down at Shang Yan in his arms, stroked her hair with one hand, and smiled slightly: "I knew my Yan'er was the best."
Then he picked her up horizontally with both hands, placed her on the bed, and leaned over her...
"Senior brother..."
"Junior sister...you're still so beautiful..."
Only the occasional low breathing of the two remained in the bedchamber; no one could see the wisps of black mist swirling around the entire bed.
……
Xuanmiao Gate.
After disembarking from the flying boat at the main gate square, the disciples greeted Yun Qingyi and the others before returning to their respective peaks.
Ji Zhaoling: "Finally back! To be honest, I always felt uncomfortable and stifled in Zixiao Sect."
Leng Zhan: "I feel the same way. Although it's quite lively, I just don't feel very comfortable."
Gu Qiqing smiled and said, "After all, it's not as comfortable as staying in your own sect as it is in someone else's sect."
Xie Xiyan had been watching Yun Qingyi closely. He noticed that Yun Qingyi had been lost in thought since they boarded the flying boat and hadn't said much. So he stepped forward and brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead: "What are you thinking about?"
The others stood there stunned, their eyes gleaming with gossip.
Ji Zhaoling: "Holy crap, is there something incredible I don't know?"
Gu Qiqing: "We've all been staying together the whole time, what's going on?"
Feeling Xie Xiyan's warm fingertips, Yun Qingyi looked up and shook her head: "It's nothing, we'll talk about it later."
Then he turned to look at Ruan Qi and the others, "I'll tell you about Xi Yan and me later. Right now, the important thing is to come back to Peach Blossom Peak with me to discuss how to settle the demons."
When it came to serious matters, Ji Zhaoling and the others lost their gossipy mood and became much more serious. "Uncle-Master, should we tell Sect Leader Cigui about this?"
Upon hearing this, Ji Zhaoze also looked at Yun Qingyi: "Zhaoling is right. We do need to talk to Master about the matter of the Demon Clan."
Yun Qingyi nodded. "I already sent a message to Master about this on the flying boat. He said he needs to get some things back, which will take about three months. He told us to settle down first."
Yun Qingrou: "Three months? Then, elder sister, won't you be attending the disciple recruitment ceremony, which is slated to be the sect leader's responsibility?"
Gu Qiqing: "It seems that there is indeed no time to participate. However, it doesn't matter whether the sect leader participates or not. After all, he already has two disciples, a senior brother and a junior sister. Moreover, the purpose of this disciple recruitment is to replenish the sect with fresh blood."
Ji Zhaoze: "Junior brother is right. Let's go to your Peach Blossom Peak first, junior sister, and discuss it before making any plans."
……
Peach Blossom Peak.
When Xingyan and Xingyu saw Yun Qingyi and the others return, they happily went forward to greet them, "Uncle-Master, you're finally back!"
Seeing the two girls' delighted expressions, Yun Qingyi smiled and sat down with Yun Qingrou and the others on the stone benches in front of the courtyard. She said to Xingyan and Xingyu, "Well, it's nothing. You can go and do your own thing."
Xingyan and Xingyu could tell from their demeanor that they had something important to discuss, so they wisely retreated to the courtyard to attend to other matters.
After Xingyan and Xingyu left, Yun Qingyi, Yun Qingrou, Xie Xiyan, and Ji Zhaoze habitually set up a barrier each at will.
After the barrier was set up, Yun Qingrou said, "I have already communicated with the demons on my side. Because I saved them and I am also a demon, they trust me quite a bit."
However, there were too many injured demons. Most of them were relatively easy to heal, but... some required specific elixirs for treatment.
"Is that so?" Yun Qingyi pondered. "Does Arou know what kind of pill it is?"
Yun Qingrou nodded: "They are quite difficult to find. They usually appear near the Demon Capital, and it takes years of treatment for them to recover."
Speaking of the Demon Capital, Yun Qingyi's eyes flickered slightly as she thought of the task Ci Gui had given her. "If it's near the Demon Capital, that would be perfect. After the disciple recruitment conference, my senior brother and I need to go to the Demon Capital."
Yun Qingrou frowned and said without hesitation, "Sister, I want to go too." Although Yun Qingyi's strength was already quite great, she was still worried.
Yun Qingyi shook her head. "This trip to the Demon Capital may take a long time, but the Demon Clan still needs your care, Arou."
A struggle flashed across Yun Qingrou's eyes. Knowing that it was not appropriate for her to go under the circumstances, she could only lower her head and say unwillingly, "Alright, then you must take good care of yourself then, sister."
Yun Qingrou smiled and ruffled her head. "Alright, your older sister isn't like she was a few years ago. I'm pretty capable now, don't worry, okay?"
Yun Qingrou felt a little relieved when she thought about how quickly Yun Qingyi's strength had improved over the years. "Hmm."
Yun Qingyi: "Should we place these demons on Peach Blossom Peak? What do you think, Arou?"
Upon hearing Yun Qingyi's suggestion, Yun Qingrou only thought for a moment before nodding in agreement, "I will listen to whatever you say, elder sister."
Ji Zhaoze nodded in agreement: "Peach Blossom Peak is quiet and secluded, with a strategic location, and its protective formation is on par with Master Guimiao Peak, making it much safer than other places."
Ruan Qi and the others also looked happy: "In that case, the fate of the Demon Clan is temporarily settled."
Ji Zhaoling: "Once we stabilize the situation outside, we will return to the Demon Clan's territory with Martial Aunt Qingrou and rebuild their homes."
Leng Zhan's eyes lit up: "That sounds great. I'll have to see what the demon territory, which I've only ever seen in history books, is like."
The group quickly made plans, and Yun Qingrou's eyes welled up with tears, but she stubbornly and embarrassedly turned her head away so that no one would see her red eyes.
The identity of being a demon made her hate herself for more than a decade. Since childhood, she had always felt that she was an outsider, the dirtiest and most shameful one.
On one hand, there was her innate pride and arrogance; on the other hand, there was self-loathing and self-degradation. These two emotions tore at her day and night, leaving her confused for more than a decade before she was finally freed.
It turns out I wasn't so bad after all.
"Arou." Yun Qingyi noticed Yun Qingrou's unusual behavior but didn't point it out, after all, even a little girl needs to save face. She simply said gently, "Shall we go and tidy up the place where the demons are resting?"
Yun Qingrou didn't speak, she just nodded.
The group entered the Peach Blossom Courtyard. The Peach Blossom Courtyard itself was very large, after all, it was the main courtyard of a peak. Most of the buildings on each peak were built according to local conditions. Some were built as palaces, while others, like those on Peach Blossom Peak, were built as courtyards. Although they were two different styles,
Upon entering the courtyard, Yun Qingyi did not act immediately, but instead summoned Xingyan and Xingyu.
Upon hearing the sound, Xingyan and Xingyu quickly ran over, their eyes sparkling. Seeing Yun Qingyi's serious expression, they also put away their smiles: "Uncle-Master, is there something you need us to do?"
Yun Qingyi: "Next, I have something very important to discuss with you. However, I don't want to force you, so I'll give you two choices. One is to leave Peach Blossom Peak. I will arrange a new place for you. After all, you've been on Peach Blossom Peak for several years, and I will definitely not treat you unfairly."
Before Yun Qingyi could even say the second one, Xingyan Xingyu immediately became anxious.
"Uncle-Master..." Xingyu said with a hint of grievance, "Uncle-Master, are you abandoning us...?"
Although Xingyan was also disappointed, she was much calmer than Xingyu: "Then, Martial Uncle, what is the second option?"
Yun Qingyi: "I swear to my death that even after you hear me tell this story, you will never have any thoughts of disloyalty."
"I choose the second one!" Xingyu immediately swore an oath, "I, Xingyu, hereby swear to heaven and earth that I will never betray Martial Aunt Yun Qingyi, otherwise my spiritual power will be scattered and I will die a terrible death!"
After Xingyu finished speaking, Xingyan also made a vow without hesitation.
After watching the two finish making their vows, Yun Qingyi glanced at Yun Qingrou, who understood and said, "Let me handle this matter, since it concerns me the most."
"I am a demon."
Upon hearing this, the two girls who had just made their vows froze. They then looked around and breathed a sigh of relief, "Luckily, there's no one else around."
Then, realizing what was happening, she looked at everyone and said, "Uncle-Master...she..."
Yun Qingyi: "That's right, this is the matter I wanted to tell you." Yun Qingyi briefly explained the matter of the demon race, without saying where the demons in the storage ring came from or when it happened. She simply instructed the two to prepare the courtyard and rooms.
Peach Blossom Peak has many courtyards scattered throughout the mountain. Due to the treacherous terrain, it was not suitable to build palaces, so the various courtyards were connected and teleportation arrays were set up, making it convenient to go to any courtyard.
To be honest, Yun Qingyi didn't spend much time on Peach Blossom Peak, and her familiarity with it was far less than that of Xingyan Xingyu, who had been there for many years. This is one of the reasons why Xingyan Xingyu left behind.
In three years, they will be heading to the desolate borderlands. Yun Qingrou won't be able to stay here to take care of the demons all the time, so it will be more convenient for Xingyan and Xingyu to be around.
After listening to Xingyan's words, although she was very shocked, she immediately thought carefully about the empty courtyard and seclusion of Peach Blossom Peak.
"I've got it!" Xingyu's eyes lit up. "Everyone, follow me."
Xingyu walked forward cheerfully, and the others followed. They entered the teleportation array, and after exiting the array, they found themselves in a valley full of flowers, quiet yet vibrant. The place was large enough that a dozen exquisite and elegant courtyards with different styles could be seen at a glance.
"The original purpose of this building was to allow my uncle to relax when he was bored during cultivation. Although Peach Blossom Peak is not as open as other peaks, it has a natural defense system."
"I could find ten more places like this that are secluded, quiet, elegant, and beautiful." Xingyu said with pride.
Yun Qingyi smiled, quite satisfied with the place, but she still had to ask Yun Qingrou, "Arou, what do you think of this place?"
Yun Qingrou was delighted: "Not only is it secluded, but the scenery is also beautiful. I'm very satisfied, Sister."
Ji Zhaoling was also very excited, looking left and right: "This place is really nice, with flowers, grass, trees, springs and streams. It's the perfect place to live."
Ruan Qi squatted by the spring, scooped up a handful of water with her hands, tasted it, and said, "Hmm, the water is very sweet. The water quality here is also very good."
Xie Xiyan smiled slightly, with a hint of teasing: "Then can we release all the demons? They're probably itching to be released."
Upon hearing Xie Xiyan's words, Yun Qingyi and Yun Qingrou exchanged glances and released the demons from their storage rings and personal spaces.
Because of Dawn's presence, most of the demons on Yun Qingrou's side knew what had happened, and their faces showed smiles of relief after surviving a disaster.
There wasn't much interaction with Yun Qingyi. One reason was that she wasn't a demon and didn't have the natural affinity of Yun Qingrou. Another reason was that although these demons weren't inherently bad or friendly, they had experienced inhuman torture in the experimental grounds and had become easily alarmed and wary of the slightest disturbance.
Therefore, they were unwilling to have much communication with Yun Qingyi before they understood the situation clearly.
When the two demons emerged, compared to the joyful atmosphere on Yun Qingrou's side, Yun Qingyi's side was more dazed and confused.
"Are we... are we going to be sent somewhere for experiments?" one of the demons asked, trembling.
"Waaah, Mother, Xiao Bao doesn't want to, Xiao Bao is in pain." A childish voice rang out as a little demon girl nestled in the woman's arms, sobbing softly. Her eye sockets were already hollowed out, and her little wings on her back seemed to have been forcibly cut off, leaving only two symmetrical lumps of flesh.
Looking at the terrifying wounds, large and small, on the bodies of the various demons, everyone felt a pang of sorrow and pain in their hearts.
Yun Qingyi didn't speak, after all, it was more appropriate for Yun Qingrou to handle this situation.
Yun Qingrou deftly pulled her father's remnant soul out of her personal space, "Father."
As he emerged from his personal space, the warm sunlight bathed his soul. The previously agitated soul remained stunned for a long time: "This is... my daughter, where are we?"
"Father, I led you out of here."
"They escaped?" Dawn's voice was weathered, yet it carried a hint of disbelief and excitement.
"Yes, you escaped. You are safe now, and we are all safe."
"Safety..." This time, it wasn't Dawn who spoke, but a trembling demon beside him, "Aren't we no longer being dragged into experiments?"
As he spoke, the demon's voice trembled, and his chapped lips pursed repeatedly, as if he were filled with both anticipation and disbelief.
Can we really... live in the sunlight?
"Are we no longer allowed to live as sinners?"
The other demons looked around with curiosity and reverence, carefully observing Yun Qingyi and the others' expressions as they moved their feet.
Realizing that the others truly meant no harm, and with Dawn present, they loosened their guard a bit, slowly squatting down to stroke the grass on the ground with their withered, thin hands, their voices trembling with barely suppressed excitement.
"There's still grass, we're really out."