The scene seemed somewhat silent.
After a moment, suddenly, a phrase echoed synchronously from within the room: "What's that you see?"
Chu Liang and Lady Ming simultaneously pointed with their left hands towards the other person's back, right hands concealed behind them.
Then, neither of them turned around.
The move was heavy.
The atmosphere was slightly awkward.
"Hehe." Lady Ming chuckled, "Well, if so, I won't waste words with you. Ever since you entered the room, the candle I ignited has concealed Illusory Heart Poison. If you want the antidote, leave obediently without causing any trouble."
"As I dare to enter, naturally I am wary. In fact, since the moment Lady Ming lit the candle, I have been holding my breath and restraining my inner energy, so I wouldn't be contaminated." Chu Liang said.
Lady Ming retracted her smile, only at this moment did she realize that even if she is sharply observant… this young man before her eyes was just as much if not more.
"In these years, I have not harmed anyone, just wishing to live in peace with my husband. Since you have completed your mission, can't you just leave as if nothing happened?" Her tone became somewhat pleading.
Chu Liang said: "But so, it is still inappropriate."
The very next moment, the situation abruptly changed!
The soft and weak woman in front of him suddenly sprung forward, flicked her right hand, and a long, dark whip coiled towards Chu Liang, like a snake spitting venom, about to seize him at once!
Chu Liang vibrated his left hand, the bracelet transformed into a sword with clangs, resisted Lady Ming's long whip, rolled it a few times, attempting to chop it off.
But the whip, regardless of what it was made from, it actually withstood the cut of the Shu Mountain Flying Sword.
Thump-
Both parties each tugging at an end, momentarily locked in arm wrestling.
The space inside the bedroom was narrow, as each other's True Qi was agitated, a succession of thumping sounds were non-stop, furniture and decorations were shattered one after another.
After a moment of stalemate, Lady Ming flicked her left hand, instantaneously turning into sharp claws, casting three razor-sharp black lines.
Chu Liang dodged by shifting his body, raised his left arm, likewise shooting out a red ray.
Lady Ming also dodged nimbly, but that red ray, as if possessing a spirituality of its own, bent and swiftly covered her body at the moment she sidestepped.
Turtle Shell Binding!
Demon Binding Rope!
At such close range, it was really difficult to dodge Demon Binding Rope's control. Lady Ming, whose Cultivation is arguably higher than last night's Cat Spirit, was hit all the same with just one strike!
Thump.
Lady Ming, who was firmly bound from head to toe in the posture of Turtle Shell Binding by the layered red rope, immediately lost her balance and fell to the ground, the black whip in her hand also fell to the ground.
But she raised her head nevertheless, grinding her teeth as she looked at Chu Liang: "You…"
Just as the fight here was coming to an end, a cry for attention came from outside the door.
"My lady? What was that noise just now? Are you alright?" While shouting, Landlord Ming stepped into the bedroom.
Then.
He saw the scene before him.
The room was in complete disarray, his wife was lying on the ground, bound in a strange and prominent posture…
"Ah." Landlord Ming stepped back two steps, hand at his forehead, a bit dazed, could not help but blurt out: "This this this… what are you doing with my wife?"
…
Chu Liang quickly stopped Landlord Ming, asking him not to panic, the situation was not as he imagined… asked him to sit down and calm his nerves, also asked him to help his wife, who was on the ground, to get up.
After such a binding, the gracefully slender Lady Ming really did appear enticing, and Chu Liang dared not reach out to help her.
"Young Hero Chu, have you no plans of untying my wife first?" Landlord Ming asked.
"This..." Chu Liang said, "That would only bring trouble."
He then revealed that Lady Ming was a demonic creature.
"What?" Landlord Ming was greatly shocked upon hearing this. "My wife is a demonic creature? How could that be? You... you must not make false accusations!"
Chu Liang responded, "If Landlord Ming doesn't believe me, I can make the Lady reveal her true form."
"There is no need!" From the moment Landlord Ming had walked through the door, his wife had been silent, until now, when she suddenly interrupted, causing Chu Liang to retract the half brick he had just pulled out.
"My lord, the truth is... I've always been afraid to tell you." Lady Ming said solemnly, "I am indeed a demon."
"Ah? How is this... how is this possible? You're so gentle and kind..." Landlord Ming still refused to believe it.
"Who said that all demons are evil?" Lady Ming raised her eyes, already brimming with tears.
"My family and I grew up in the mountain outside the city, even though we are demonic creatures, we never dared to harm any humans. I lived like this for nearly a hundred years, until one day... I met you..."
"Me?" Landlord Ming was taken aback.
"Yes, you." Lady Ming gently looked at him, "You of course do not remember, who would remember saving a small mountain cat twenty years ago?"
"Ah, that was you!" Landlord Ming exclaimed.
"Indeed, at that time my cultivation was incomplete, I was threatened by a wolf in the mountains and nearly lost my life. I escaped into a forest but was caught in a hunter's trap. That's when a young boy happened by and saved me." Lady Ming gently explained.
"I was young at the time, and one day I just didn't feel like studying. I snuck out from school and went to the mountains to play, where I saved an extremely cute little mountain cat... I remember!" Landlord Ming nodded again and again, "I wanted to bring you home for treatment, but as soon as you were freed, you ran away."
"Then I worked hard on my cultivation, and ten years later, I mastered the art of transforming into a human." Lady Ming stared at her husband, "I didn't even dare to tell my brother, I couldn't wait to go into the city and have some fun. Unexpectedly, I ran into you again. You had grown up, but were still just the same."
"I thought it was our first meeting, never did I imagine... it was actually the second time." Landlord Ming realized.
"Yes, after that we fell in love, got married, everything was like a dream. I couldn't believe how happy a human's life could be." Lady Ming said bitterly, "Until the day I got pregnant."
"My lady, you... you can bear a child?" Landlord Ming was shocked once again.
"Naturally, that's possible, however, I didn't dare to..." Lady Ming said: "Because I can't truly become a human, the child I was carrying was a demon child. As soon as the child was born, my identity would be instantly revealed... so I lied and said I was going to my mother's house, but in reality... I secretly went to the mountains to abort the child."
"My lady, you..." Landlord Ming held her hand, also weeping. "Even if you are a demonic creature, so what? Over the years, our love has grown deep, does being human or demon make it any less real?"
"Who would have thought, our child would turn into a resentful spirit..." Lady Ming wailed, "This is probably my retribution."
"No!" Landlord Ming cried, "What fault do you have? If there is any retribution, it should fall on me!"
"To have been able to meet you in this life and share ten years of fate, I am content." Lady Ming looked at Chu Liang, "You can do as you wish with me."
"No, not like this!" Landlord Ming suddenly knelt down and grabbed Chu Liang, "Young Hero Chu! I am willing to give you all of my property, in exchange for a way out for my wife and me. I beg you! Spare my wife!"
Chu Liang looked at the deeply affectionate couple before him, his eyes profound.
If he were to kill Lady Ming right now, it would be rational to everyone else. Demonic creatures living in the human city just isn't tolerated.
There would also be a reward from the White Pagoda.
If he decided to spare her, taking Landlord Ming's wealth and leaving... that wouldn't be such a bad choice either. Even a mortal's wealth, accumulated over generations, is not something that can be easily obtained.
Either way, it would be a gain.
However...
Chu Liang shook his head without hesitation.
Just as the couple's gaze was filled with desperation, he continued, "If Lady Ming really never harmed anyone, then you both can follow me back to the mountain gate. Perhaps... I can plead for Lady Ming's pardon."