Undercover

The Flower Demon reacted a step too slowly, but the words "surrender without a fight" still drifted into her ears.

"Y-yes... all right."

The Flower Demon landed, lowered her hands, and answered instinctively.

She stood motionless where she was, then started to undo her belt so she could tie her hands together.

Just then, Li Ye darted forward, transforming into a blur as he appeared before her.

As the Flower Demon broke free of Words Manifest Reality, a flash of cold light passed before her eyes.

Her face paled. "You can't kill me."

Li Ye's sword was already resting against her neck.

"Oh? You wanted to kill me. Why can't I kill you?"

"Come, come. I'll give you a tour."

Grinning, Li Ye ushered the Flower Demon toward the Corpse Incineration Hall with his sword at her neck.

As they entered, a gloomy, ominous aura washed over them.

The Flower Demon couldn't help shivering.

The first thing she saw was a tall, dark-red furnace. In front of it stood a corpse rack, and beyond that sat a small offering table.

The table held incense, candles, joss paper, a copper basin, and other things.

A huge vat of cold water sat in the corner.

"Why did you bring me here?"

The Flower Demon asked coldly.

Li Ye explained the procedure in advance. "That rack is the Corpse Cleansing Platform. I'll put you on it in a moment."

"As a Corpse Incinerator, my services are extensive. If you're wounded, I'll stitch up your injuries. If you're dirty, I'll wash you clean. In short, I'll make sure you leave this world looking presentable, my lady Flower Demon."

"And I won't skimp on the incense, candles, or joss paper, either."

"Since we have a bit of a history, I can make an exception and burn extra joss paper for you. That way, you can keep living in luxury and debauchery on the other side."

By now, the Flower Demon knew exactly what this place was.

He wanted to burn me!

The Flower Demon sneered. "You certainly know your business."

"What a waste, for a genius of the sword to be doing this."

Li Ye kept smiling. "Gold shines wherever it goes. Wherever in the world I'm needed, that's where I'll shine and do my part."

"If you're satisfied, please leave me a five-star review when you get to the other side. Thank you!"

The Flower Demon had no idea what a five-star review was. She said solemnly, "Li Bai, I admit you've earned the right to speak with me as an equal."

Li Ye nodded. "Thank you for your appreciation, Lady Flower Demon. So, when would be a convenient time for you to set off? I'll see you on your way."

"I think right now would be an auspicious time."

Black lines appeared across the Flower Demon's smooth forehead.

She was breathtakingly beautiful, peerless beneath the heavens.

She had fallen into his hands twice, and the man still hadn't shown the slightest wicked intent.

All he wanted was to burn her.

What good would burning her do him?

No, wait. How had he failed to understand what she was getting at? He only wanted to burn her.

The Flower Demon had been rattled by Li Ye until she began doubting herself and questioning her charms.

"I want to cooperate with you."

"Maybe in your next life."

"I mean, I want to deal with Mad Devil."

"All right. In my next life, I'll be sure to help you. What did you say?"

"I said I want to deal with Mad Devil. His Blood Demon Great Law may be about to break through the sixth layer."

"You're about to break through too?"

"Yes, but he should get there before me. If one of us breaks through, we can..."

"I understand. You want me to cultivate the Blood Demon Great Law, break through the sixth layer ahead of him, and dual-cultivate with me, right?"

Is there something wrong with his head?

Is that what I meant?

The Flower Demon gazed at Li Ye, her eyes distant and mocking. "Yes. If you can do that, I'll dual-cultivate with you."

Li Ye raised a finger and jabbed it hard into her smooth forehead. Her head jerked to the side, and she nearly lost her balance.

"What are you thinking?"

"A few hours and you're already getting this full of yourself, huh?"

"Did you forget what I told you last night? Brother Li is a man you'll never get in your life."

He jabbed the Flower Demon's little head with every line he spoke.

Before long, he had her wobbling like a punching doll, stumbling this way and that.

"Damn it, I'll fight you!"

The Flower Demon cried out in a sweet voice, frantic and furious. She felt deeply insulted, swore, and completely lost her temper.

She clawed at the air, ready to fight Li Ye to the death.

But then the sharp edge of the Profound Ice Sword at her neck made her behave.

"Fight me? You think you're worthy?"

"You've fallen into my hands twice. Don't you have any idea how strong you are?"

"You're weak, but you love stirring up trouble. I can't even be bothered to deal with you anymore, got it?"

"Besides, you're the one who wants to dual-cultivate with Mad Devil. I'm not the one doing it with him, so why should I help you?"

"And weren't you just trying to kill me? Now you can't beat me, so you want to talk cooperation. Do you take Brother Li for a fool?"

"Why should I believe you?"

Li Ye said, prodding the Flower Demon over and over.

Her fair forehead had turned red from all the jabbing.

At first, the Flower Demon had looked defiant, her large eyes wide with murderous fury.

But soon she ran out of fight. She closed her eyes and put on a pitiful little expression.

The Flower Demon was a remarkable woman who knew when to bend and when to stand firm. Seeing that Li Ye had finally stopped poking her, she opened her eyes and said meekly, "Brother Li, I was wrong."

"I was blind to your greatness and offended you. Please accept my apologies."

Li Ye nodded. "That's more like it."

Lady Flower Demon certainly knew when to bend and when to stand firm; her behavior just now had made that clear.

So she seized the chance to bring up cooperating with Li Ye again.

In a sweet voice, she said, "Brother Li, your Divine Ability is boundless. I'll lure Mad Devil out and kill him. You just need to use that Divine Ability of yours to help me from the sidelines."

"With your Divine Ability, Brother Li, I'm confident I can kill him in one strike."

Li Ye stared at her. "Why should I believe you? How do I know you won't team up with Mad Devil against me when the time comes?"

"You were just trying to kill me."

The Flower Demon shook her little head like a rattle. "No, no, I wouldn't. I don't like Mad Devil. Killing him is the only way to avoid dual-cultivating with him. You already used your Divine Ability to ask me about that last night..."

"Besides, I only decided to cooperate with you after I suddenly thought of your Divine Ability."

Li Ye accepted the Flower Demon's explanation.

She had admitted she disliked Mad Devil while under the influence of his Words Manifest Reality, so her motive for killing him made sense.

But Mad Devil's Cultivation Method was close to breaking through. By then, he might well enter the second level of the Object-Commanding Realm.

And Li Ye's Words Manifest Reality had no effect on men.

So Li Ye chose to reject the Flower Demon's proposal.

He had no reason to take that risk with her.

"Little sis, stop talking and just be on your way, okay?"

Li Ye said with a cheerful grin.

This time, he didn't sound like he was joking. The Flower Demon's face blanched, and she gritted her teeth. "I'm a spy!"

What?

The sword in Li Ye's hand froze.

Whoosh!

Seeing this, the Flower Demon transformed into a blur and seized the chance to break free of Li Ye's control.

She appeared at the other end of the Corpse Incineration Room, both hands covering her ears so Li Ye couldn't "ambush" her again.

Her frightened little expression looked unexpectedly cute.

"I'm an agent planted in the Devil Sect by a great Righteous Path sect. My mission is to uproot the Devil Sect one day."

"This concerns my life and death. I have no reason to lie to you."

"If I were lying, I'd have bolted through the door by now."

The Flower Demon said.

The Devil Sect wasn't necessarily terrifying, but it had overwhelming numbers and countless lairs.

It was difficult to eradicate.

The great sects had besieged them more than once, but every time the siege ended, the Devil Sect reemerged in an astonishingly short time.

Like grass springing up again when the spring breeze blew.

Li Ye was astonished. He hadn't expected the notorious Flower Demon to be a spy planted in the Devil Sect by a great Righteous Path sect.

"Your way of doing things doesn't seem much like a spy."

"Does that mean you agree?"

"I said your way of doing things doesn't seem like that of a spy. It's hard for me to believe you."

"Then count it as a favor you owe me."

Li Ye gestured at the Flower Demon. "Get your damn hands off your ears."

Noticing Li Ye's gesture, the Flower Demon remained wary. Slowly and cautiously, she lowered her little hands from her ears a bit at a time. "I-I look forward to working with you."

Li Ye's expression darkened. "Working with your sister!"