Characters in the Play

Seeking the Dao in the Mortal World!

Arriving at Ye Ling's small hut, Qin Yi immediately saw Ye Ling sprawled on the floor, her tiny body seemingly smoking. Her small hand still clutched a small piece of wood, which was now charred beyond recognition. There was a large hole in the roof, the edges of which were covered in soot, indicating that the black smoke that had shot into the sky earlier had indeed come from Ye Ling.

Her clothes were also full of holes, revealing her delicate, fair skin, which was also covered in patches of soot. Strangely, her wings seemed to have shrunk, looking like a child wearing a cute little devil costume, very adorable.

Qin Yi quickly stepped forward, looked around, and saw an outer garment by the bed. He grabbed it and wrapped it around Ye Ling, helping her up.

Seeing it was Qin Yi, Ye Ling whimpered, "It hurts so much..."

"What's going on? Were you struck by lightning?"

"I don't know..." Ye Ling was very confused. "It felt like a fire was burning from inside my heart, and with a boom, it charred everything..."

Qin Yi was speechless. Asking this foolish snake was probably useless. Liu Su was more reliable.

Sure enough, he heard Liu Su say, "The Breaking Darkness Chasing Gloom Seven Stars Control Array draws demonic fire to burn the body, returning demonic energy to the heavens. It has miraculous effects against small demons whose wild instincts and killing intent are still difficult to suppress. This foolish snake is actually quite capable; she didn't die. If there were any other small demons hidden in Lihuo City, they're probably all dead."

Qin Yi understood. This was likely the reason Minghe hadn't continued to pester him. Perhaps seeing that the wooden sword had lost its connection, she concluded that Qin Yi had colluded with the demons and no longer hoped for his cooperation. Instead, she had resolutely set up a large array to eliminate all the demons in Lihuo City.

Simple, brutal, and direct.

Minghe's gaze, calm and distant, like the Milky Way suspended in the night sky, appeared in his mind.

Qin Yi sighed slightly, his gaze falling on the charred wood in Ye Ling's hand. "Then what is this? I thought you accidentally touched something that caused it."

"It's just ordinary wood..." Ye Ling choked up slightly. "I just carved a little monkey, I wanted to give it to you... I've been listening to your stories and using your medicine, but I have nothing to give you..."

Qin Yi's heart skipped a beat. He looked at the charred wood in silence.

Any resentment he had felt about her messing things up had vanished without a trace.

"Foolish snake..."

"You're the foolish one!" Ye Ling struggled to get up. "Did I expose myself? I need to run. Thank you for these past few days..."

With that, she transformed into a black light and shot out through the hole in the roof.

The next moment, she fell back in a heap, landing on the floor with a thud, her eyes looking at the sky with some fear.

Qin Yi was also looking at the sky. Looking up through the hole, Minghe floated quietly above, looking down.

Qin Yi knew there was no escaping trouble, so he simply called out, "Daoist Minghe has graced us with your presence. Why not come in for a chat?"

Minghe slowly descended, her Daoist robe fluttering, her sash flowing. Qin Yi truly felt she was a celestial maiden descending to the mortal world.

In reality, for mortals, a genuine cultivator like her was indeed a celestial maiden.

Ye Ling, startled and fearful, crawled halfway across the floor and shrank behind Qin Yi. Qin Yi also shifted half a step, shielding her more tightly, and looked directly at Minghe. "A figure like Daoist Priestess, like a celestial maiden, should be soaring through the winds and moon, playing in the mortal world. Why do you involve yourself in worldly power struggles and act as someone's thug?"

Minghe shook her head slightly. "Worldly power struggles are none of my concern. However, demons killing people, I cannot ignore."

Qin Yi said, "To be honest, demons killing people also has nothing to do with you. Having cultivated to this realm, don't you know that all beings are equal? From your perspective, is there a difference between a demon killing someone and a human killing someone?"

"Yes," Minghe said calmly. "What the young master says sounds reasonable. Ten thousand years ago, someone also held such views, but the consequence was that monstrous fiends ran rampant in the world, wantonly devouring people, causing desolation for thousands of miles and turning the land into near-wasteland. This is already contrary to the Heavenly Dao. Even if you avoid the mortal world and pretend not to see, demons will eventually seize your spiritual mountains and invade your cave dwellings. This is what is meant by 'those not of our kind are sure to have different hearts'."

"..." Qin Yi was speechless.

He had thought this Daoist nun's mortal heart was impure, but what she was considering was on a completely different level.

Minghe continued, "We cultivators, if we only seek the Dao of Longevity, then we would close our mountain gates, be selfish, and just refine pills and meditate. Why then do we learn the art of flying swords, the method of the Five Thunders, and arrays of slaughter? It is not for conflict, but truly to subdue demons and eliminate monstrous fiends, protecting the world. It is precisely because monstrous fiends dare not run rampant that the current generation of living beings flourishes. Young Master, you enjoy the fruits of this peace, yet you speak for the monstrous fiends. This is truly the view of a fool."

As she spoke, her gaze fell upon Ye Ling behind Qin Yi, who was nervously tugging at Qin Yi's sleeve, secretly peeking at her.

"I have said all I need to say. Does Young Master Qin truly insist on protecting this monstrous fiend?"

Qin Yi could only say, "Can't there be good demons? If a harmless little rabbit was accidentally enlightened, would you also say it's not of our kind and must be killed quickly?"

"This humble Daoist is naturally not unreasonable, but does this demon not harm people?" Minghe said lightly, "Who killed the Crown Prince, Young Master need not argue. This matter can be hidden from others, but how can it be hidden from this humble Daoist?"

Qin Yi found that he truly couldn't refute her for a while, because ever since he came down the mountain, the demons he had encountered along the way truly ate people. There was absolutely no problem with her upholding the heart of eliminating demons and protecting the Dao. If you were to say that demons also have good and bad, Ye Ling did indeed assassinate the Crown Prince, which counts as killing someone in front of Minghe. How could she be cleared?

If he had to say it, he was the one who had been led astray by a monstrous fiend, and his values were incorrect.

But... to say that she was right and kill this child, how could he do that?

Looking at the charred wood on the ground, Qin Yi knew he couldn't do it.

At this moment, Liu Su's voice transmission risked coming through: There's a change in Ye Ling. I suspect her demonic energy is gone at this moment, which is why Minghe is rambling so much. Otherwise, she would have acted long ago under the pull of the demonic energy.

Qin Yi's heart stirred. This made things easier. Who wouldn't play dirty? "Who said she's a demon? Daoist Priest, you need evidence when you speak."

Minghe frowned slightly.

Liu Su had hit the nail on the head. Minghe had been sensing Ye Ling ever since she entered the room, but found that the demonic energy on Ye Ling was so faint it was almost imperceptible, completely different from the sharp and slightly fierce aura that was so strong when the Crown Prince was assassinated.

Based on the previous aura, there should have been a snake demon in this residence, seemingly a Teng Snake.

Teng Snakes are cunning, associated with lies, and have killing intent. This kind of demonic energy is different from that of plants and trees and is easy to distinguish.

Looking carefully at Ye Ling, she was wrapped in a coat, her small face was blackened by smoke, and her large eyes looked at her with fear. At first glance, she looked very pitiful. Not only was her demonic energy very faint, but she truly couldn't sense any killing or fierce intent.

She had sworn an oath when she came down the mountain to only kill demons and not harm people. She was also worried that if she made a mistake, she might accidentally break her oath. That's why she said so much to Qin Yi; otherwise, she would have acted long ago.

"Although her demonic energy is faint, it is still there. If she is not a demon, then what is she?"

Qin Yi bluffed, "Her name is Zhou Dongdong, and she is a foolish child."

Minghe: "..."

Qin Yi knew that Minghe wasn't being fooled, just cautious, so he struck while the iron was hot: "Daoist Priest, this matter is a bit complicated, not as black and white as you imagine. How about this, there must be a good show in front of the residence gate right now. Why don't you come with me to take a look? After watching this play, we can make our decision?"

Minghe stared at him for a long time, then slowly said, "Does Young Master know that this humble Daoist's oath does not completely forbid harming people?"

Most likely, if someone tries to deceive or harm you, you can kill them. Qin Yi said indifferently, "If I'm not mistaken, Daoist Priest came to this mortal world precisely to seek the Dao in the mortal world, to see all aspects of human life. To put it plainly, you came to watch a play. It's meaningless to just focus on eliminating demons and monstrous fiends..."

Minghe was slightly moved by these words. Looking at Qin Yi's eyes, Qin Yi's eyes were clear.

She suddenly smiled slightly: "A play watcher... Is Young Master also one?"

"Me?" Qin Yi was startled for a moment, pondered for a while, and sighed: "Perhaps I was originally, but now I am a character in the play."