The Heavenly Demon had no time to worry about anything else. Staying alive came first. Xi had forgotten all about his mission too; Qin Fen could torment him to death. Nian was already itching to join in, and even Sui was egging them on. To this simple plant spirit, life would be lovely as long as Xi was there to take the worst of it whenever Qin Fen lashed out.
"Say that again if you dare!" the Heavenly Demon raged. "Lord Dao Ancestor, allow me to purge this traitor for you!"
"You've got the nerve to say that? Master, let me help you kill this backstabbing bastard instead."
Xi shot back, putting on the air of a loyal and righteous servant.
"Enough!" Qin Fen growled. The two turncoats immediately fell silent and stood quietly to one side, watching him.
"So you're both utterly loyal to me?" Qin Fen smiled.
"My loyalty is absolute!" the Heavenly Demon spoke first.
"Hongjun is a bastard!" Qin Fen snapped. That fellow was actually stirring up internal strife. Did he have no idea what damage Chi-Mei-Wang-Liang could cause?
"You're absolutely right! I've disliked him for ages. Someone who puts private interests above the public good has the nerve to claim the Heavenly Dao is impartial!" Did the Heavenly Demon have any choice now? Of course he had to tell Qin Fen what he wanted to hear. Whatever the Dao Ancestor said was right, and he had to play along. It was only a little badmouthing of Hongjun, wasn't it? Surely Hongjun wouldn't know? If he did, he should have flown into a rage already, or told him beforehand what to do.
The Heavenly Demon was no saint, but he wasn't an idiot either. His brain worked just fine; it was simply that facing Qin Fen