The sound of footsteps grew louder and louder. Feng Yongrui had stopped knocking on the wall. Instead, he used one hand to stroke the puppy, hoping and praying it would not make any noise.
Feng Yongrui held his breath and turned around to look at the source of the sound. A middle-aged lady was walking towards them, her hips swaying involuntarily. She was wearing a fiery red dress and had thick makeup on her face.
Feng Yongrui looked at her with heated eyes, yelling in his heart, "Do you dare come closer?! Don't come closer! Please...?" His voice grew smaller at the end.
Of course, the lady did not hear Feng Yongrui's thoughts. She continued walking and even quickened her pace. Feng Yongrui looked at the lady and realized that she was only a Golden Core Cultivator, which meant she probably wouldn't be able to sense his presence.
Feng Yongrui breathed a sigh of relief, but his breath hitched when the lady stopped in front of him. Did he just jinx himself?
Facts proved that Feng Yongrui thought too much. The lady ignored his presence and instead put a palm on the wall. Her black eyes flashed a dangerous red color and she began chanting a spell.
As Feng Yongrui listened, he became more and more surprised. This lady was actually a Demonic Cultivator?! Since Feng Yongrui wasn't actually a real cultivator, he was a bit slow regarding these things. A normal Nascent Cultivator would've spotted it immediately, but Feng Yongrui had just realized this now.
Feng Yongrui actually did not have any prejudice against Demonic Cultivators. Many web novels showed that Demonic Cultivators could be good people too, it's just that their way of cultivating was different from the so called Righteous Path.
However, the fact that a lady from a brothel was actually a Demonic Cultivator was suspicious. Not to mention that the brothel was located quite close to the Immortal Pathway Sect. No matter how you see it, it was suspicious.
"Who could've guess that this seemingly innocent lady was a Demonic Cultivator, huh?" Feng Yongrui muttered inside his head.
"Host, you can only blame yourself for being stupid and not realizing~" The System said gloatingly.
Feng Yongrui was silent. He was pretty much used to the System's temper and taunting. Instead, Feng Yongrui observed the lady. Her spell was finished and an array was activated.
To Feng Yongrui's surprise, it seemed like this array was actually made by a Nascent Soul Cultivator of the late stage. It was no wonder that he didn't notice it.
When the array was activated, a bright light was emitted by the wall. After a few seconds, the wall seemed to fluctuate and become transparent, exposing a dark corridor. The woman did not hesitate to step inside.
Feng Yongrui was actually a bit reluctant to follow her. He was the type of person who preferred to prepare one thousand and one things before doing something, and at this moment he was not only unprepared, but he also did not know what dangers were inside.
However, knowing that there probably wouldn't be a second chance to go inside this suspicious corridor, Feng Yongrui could only grit his teeth and follow the woman. As soon as Feng Yongrui entered the corridor, the hole closed and the wall returned to normal.
The corridor was really dark, the kind of darkness that made you feel insignificant and wanted to swallow you whole. However, for a Nascent Soul Cultivator like himself, Feng Yongrui could see with no problem.
Feng Yongrui was actually quite worried about the little guy in his arms. The puppy had been quiet all this time... It was fine, right? Could it be... the puppy was so scared that is fainted?
"Host, the puppy is not like you," The System said disdainfully.
"...What is that supposed to mean, huh? Are you saying I'm a coward?" Feng Yongrui grumbled.
"Host, this System did not say anything~ You're the one who said it yourself~"
Feng Yongrui cursed silently in his heart. How could he be tricked by that System again?! Meanwhile, the lady had walked to the end of the corridor, where a single torch was lit.
The lady walked closer to the torch and touched the wall on the right side. She pressed downwards and almost immediately, Feng Yongrui heard a grating sound. The wall had moved sideways, showing a well maintained room inside.
Feng Yongrui followed the lady and entered the room. The room was quite large and had traces of a person living there. There was a low table and cushions, along with writing tools and books scattered all around.
When he looked further, Feng Yongrui saw a bead curtain hanging from the ceiling and separating the room into two. The lady showed a helpless smile and picked up the books that were laying on the ground, arranging them in a bookshelf on the right.
"Young Master..." The lady whispered.
There was no response. Feng Yongrui ignored the bead curtain and directly floated to the other side of the room. The first thing he noticed was a bed, a very large bed that seemed to be fit for two people.
Sprawled on the bed was a youth who looked like he was fourteen or fifteen. Feng Yongrui bent down and examined him. The youth had a sickly, pallid, face that resembled a vampire that had never seen the sun.
The youth's eyebrows were twisted in pain and he was biting his soft pink lips, causing them to bleed. He had well defined features and his skin was ivory white, without a single blemish. However, his fingers were gripping so tightly unto the blankets that his knuckles had turned white.
Feng Yongrui inched closer and closer, because he felt like there was something wrong with this kid. When Feng Yongrui's face was inches away from the child's face, the child's eyes suddenly flew open.
Feng Yongrui: !!!
As swift as lightning, Feng Yongrui backed away and hid behind the curtain. Ahh! Why did it seem like the youth had seen him?!
"Host, did you know? Just now, your expression when you were looking at the boy was just like a pervert," The System said.
Feng Yongrui: "..."
There was something wrong with the boy, okay? That was why he was looking so closely at him!
"Also, did you forget that no one can see you at the moment? What are you hiding there for?" The System scolded in his head.
Feng Yongrui wanted to retort. He knew that no one could see him, but it was just an instinctive response to run and hide, you know?
"Young Master, are you awake?" The lady stood behind the bead curtains and bowed.
The youth got up from the bed, stretching his body strenuously and putting his blanket away.
"Well, I'm awake now. Where is Little Nine? Why are you here?" The youth's voice was as cold as ice, sending shivers down Feng Yongrui's spine.
"Replying Young Master, Little Nine is currently busy doing errands, so this servant was sent here to serve the Young Master..."
The youth stood up and glanced at the lady with his deep black eyes. He was wearing only an inner coat, so Feng Yongrui could see how thin the youth was. The youth walked slowly to the lady, his steps making a dull sound on the floor.
The lady seemed to sense something and knelt on the ground, her forehead touching the cold floor.
"Y-young Master..."
Before she could finish her sentence, the youth had already arrived in front of her. He grabbed her by the throat and lifted her up, his black orbs gleaming dangerously.
"Didn't I say I only want Little Nine to take care of me?" His voice was low and soft, but even Feng Yongrui could sense the heavy murderous intent in the air. It was so thick that Feng Yongrui felt suffocated. He hugged the little puppy closer into his arms.
"T-this servant knows her wrongs... Young Master, please forgive this servant!" The lady managed to choke out her words.
The youth released his hold and the lady dropped onto the ground, coughing and spluttering.
"T-his servant thanks the Master for his mercy!" The lady bowed while the youth sneered at her.
"Scram! And get Little Nine here!" He hissed.
The lady bowed again and left hastily, leaving the stunned Feng Yongrui in the room with the youth. You see, when the youth had been talking to the woman, Feng Yongrui had noticed an anomaly in the youth, making him distracted.
The youth's body actually had a unique constitution: he had a pure, light spirit root. This kind of spirit root was very, very rare. However, the more Feng Yongrui looked at the boy, the more confused he was.
Near the light spirit root, Feng Yongrui saw dense black clouds gathering to attack the spirit root, contaminating it with Demonic Energy. It goes without saying that a spirit root with a light attribute will naturally be at odds with dark energy, especially Demonic Energy.
To the pure spirit root, Demonic Energy was like a lethal poison, a worm that ate away at its vitality. It was amazing that the boy managed to survive for so long. Feng Yongrui wanted to go closer and inspect the boy, but he was a bit scared.
This youth was obviously very fierce and cold. What Feng Yongrui found incredulous was that the youth's temperament was not in line with his spirit root. Usually... someone with a light spirit root should be kindhearted and have a "Holier Than Thou" attitude, right?
Could it be... this boy's temperament was changing because of the Demonic Energy that was attacking and contaminating his spirit root? Feng Yongrui was puzzled, but also found himself excited. This is... a real life mystery!
***
Feng Yongrui: I think I just came across a conspiracy! I'm so excited~
System: ...Shouldn't you be fearing for your life instead?
Feng Yongrui: Why should I be afraid? I have you, System~ ♡
System: ...Host, each man for himself.
Feng Yongrui: =_= You ruined the mood, System.