184: 4.49 The Demon Is...

4.49 The Demon Is...

Through the growing crack, everyone could get a glimpse of pitch black sky and gigantic bloody moon that was contrasting to the dusty blue sky in the background. Rapidly, the light was swallowed by the spreading darkness as if someone had just pulled the curtain shut and the entire space was only illuminated by the barest crimson light from the moon. Creatures similar to crows flew around, except they were bare of feathers and their wings had a sharp tip to it, deadly enough to kill. Their long beaks opened up but instead of cawing, what came out of their mouths were the wails of resentful ghosts, its sound was eerie and mournful, reverberating through the air like a cacophony of hell's symphony.1

The cultivators were frozen in shock, petrified. "W—What is this?"

"The demonic realm…?"

There were sharp inhalations of breath. "Goodness, did Jingxue-Jun do this…? Had he just opened the gate to the demonic realm?!"

"Does he want to kill everyone?!"

The hushed and panicked murmurs ceased abruptly as soon as a dark shadow approached from deep within the night. Everyone subconsciously held their breath as if they could hide better this way, eyes wide open in shock, unable to look away as a figure stepped through and fully revealed themselves. It… It was a demon, a real demon. Glowing crimson eyes and dilated slits, blunt horns above his head, rows of jagged fangs from the space of his parted lips… No one could have mistaken it.

It was a real, genuine demon. 

The air seemed to go stale with the arrival of the creature, hush grass withered in his presence. His every step oozed with power and confidence. There was a stagnant pause before a muted scream reverberated through the air. The cultivators snapped out of their reveries at the terrified screech and put on a defensive stance, swords turning from Lu Yizhou toward the demon out of instinct. Despite their bravado appearance, it was ironic how no one dared to talk, for fear that the demon's attention would turn to them.

The demon maneuvered through the crack that was too small to accomodate his towering figure and landed on the ground with a soundless thump. He didn't seem to realize the presence of dozens of cultivators whose swords were pointing at him because from the start, his attention had been wholly focused on Heimo, who was pale with shock and openly gawking at him.

"U—Uncle Luqiu…?" Heimo inquired, breathless. The rims of his eyes reddened as he took in the appearance of the demon. It was completely different from the man in his memory, yet some aspects remained the same. His brisk and steady footsteps, the way his eyebrows rose when he smiled and Heimo only needed the demon to tilt his head with a remorseful look for him to be convinced that this was the same man who had raised him up and taught him everything he knew. "How… Why…" 

Too many questions swiveled in Heimo's mind. Uncle Luqiu was a demon? Since when? How? He didn't die? All these times, he had been alive and well in the demonic realm? What exactly happened three years ago?!

However, instead of explaining, the demon — Uncle Luqiu — merely talked. His voice didn't sound right out of his mouth but rather echoing in Heimo's mind. He would have felt uncomfortable at the feeling of someone intruding into his mind if he wasn't too caught up with the sudden appearance of the man whom everyone had assumed dead. "Lan'er, may I ask you to bring Ningning here? I will heal her."

Snapping out of his thoughts, Heimo looked up blankly, flabbergasted. He wanted to ask something — anything — but there was something in Uncle Luqiu's eyes that compelled him to obey. Heimo scrambled to his feet and nodded, still out of sorts. He flew into the direction of the dormant volcano whilst swaying, making Lu Yizhou worry whether he would be able to make it there safe and sound.

With Heimo gone, the demon turned to him and the remaining warmth in his eyes chilled. Heavy pressure bore down on Lu Yizhou's weary heart and soul and in an instant, he spat out a mouthful of blood. His legs trembled underneath him and he felt as if he was carrying a mountain on his shoulder but Lu Yizhou gritted his teeth and refused to let anything show on his face. He tightened his grip on Hexue, which tip chinked off in order to bear the pressure. Lu Yizhou felt the pain like his flesh was torn apart and blood surged up in throat again which he decisively swallowed. He narrowed his eyes, trying to convey the message loud and clear. Even though he was clearly the weaker party between the two, he wouldn't back down without a fight.

Then, the demon spoke, mirroring what Immortal Zhao said to him. "You're not of this world."

Lu Yizhou had seen this coming. Afterall, the demon in front of him felt a hundred times more dangerous than Immortal Zhao beneath his serene exterior. 

"I am not," Lu Yizhou replied with gritted teeth. More blood spilled through his lips, staining his robe further and splattering the pure white snow beneath his feet.

"Why are you here, young man? And what did you summon me here for? I have an insight of Lan'er's fate early on. Just like how I was fated to be trapped in this demonic body after my mortal death, he is fated to be the one who called on me." Uncle Luqiu's eyes turned melancholy. "But he's bound to fail and die under Heaven's wrath, becoming a soul filled with hatred and resentment for centuries to come. You have altered his course of fate with this action of yours."

Lu Yizhou nodded. "That's my exact intention, to prevent his death."

"You're coming here… just to save him?" 

His chest was hurting and he could feel his bones crack somewhere. But still, he looked straight into the demon's crimson eyes. This was the man who had saved Heimo's life, the man who had sheltered him, fed him and given him a home. For that, Lu Yizhou would be forever grateful. "I am." The corner of his lips tilted up without him realizing. "The reason why Lan'er wishes to summon you is the same as why I am doing this."

.

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A/N: fyi, Heimo and Luqiu Hong only speculated that Uncle Luqiu sold his soul to the demon to save his wife and there's no confirmation after that. In truth, after his death, his tainted soul kind of... fell into the demonic realm to become a demon himself. 

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