I'll keep watching him

The atmosphere in the Sword Sect's main peak hall was tense.

The leaders of the four great sects had gathered there. As the doors opened, all their gazes fell on Lou Yunxiao as he walked inside.

Though Lou Yunxiao could not see, he could still sense something of the powerful auras locking onto him.

He cupped his hands in a bow, his voice cool and clear, neither servile nor arrogant.

"Yunxiao pays his respects to the four sect leaders."

After he emerged from the Demon Abyss, the sect leader had imprisoned him in the Demon-Sealing Pagoda. He had resented it, but he could also understand.

His older sister had once told him that once he stepped onto the path of demonic cultivation, he would have to bear the consequences.

Even if his own kind feared him, shunned him, or hunted him down, he could neither hate them nor regret his choice.

"This boy gets more handsome every time I look at him. Much better-looking than his father." Hong Yao's soft laugh broke the silence as she lifted a hand through the air.

An invisible force drew Lou Yunxiao upright.

"Although Demonic Aura surrounds him, it has formed a delicate balance with his spiritual energy. Even after such a calamity and more than half a year locked in the Demon-Sealing Pagoda, his power shows no sign of disorder. That alone proves how steady this boy's Dao heart is."

She raised her hand. "So I agree to let him out."

Wei Qinghai smiled. "I think you've simply fallen for this boy's looks again and are afraid we'll crush such a pretty flower."

"Bullshit! I appreciate talent!"

"Wei Qinghai," Gao Ze called.

Only then did Wei Qinghai stop teasing Hong Yao, his expression turning unusually serious.

He glanced at Abbot Wujue, who had yet to speak, and said, "I'm sorry, Sect Master Gao, but I agree with Abbot Wujue. Anyone carrying Demonic Aura cannot be allowed to live."

Though Wei Qinghai was on good terms with Lou Jing, there were too many uncertainties surrounding Lou Yunxiao. He did not dare gamble.

"Two against two. It seems Sect Master Gao will not get his wish this time either," Abbot Wujue said. "However, Sect Master Gao, if you truly cannot bear to kill him, imprison him in the Demon-Sealing Pagoda for the rest of his life. Sect Leader Wei and I could reluctantly accept that."

They intended to lock him away for life.

Lou Yunxiao's heart shook.

I still have so much to do! I have to cultivate! I have to avenge myself! How can I spend my whole life in that lonely pagoda?!

As his emotions faltered, the Demonic Aura and spiritual energy that had been balanced began to ripple faintly.

Abbot Wujue narrowed his eyes, a cold smile curling his lips.

He had said those words to test Lou Yunxiao.

Once Lou Yunxiao revealed a weakness, he would have every justification to kill the boy. When that happened, even Gao Ze would not be able to protect him!

But just then, bang!

A person riding a sword crashed through the hall doors!

The next moment, everyone saw the beautiful youth standing on the sword pretend to lose his balance, then flop at Lou Yunxiao's feet with painfully clumsy acting...

"Ow!" Ning Ke cried theatrically, taking the opportunity to tug at Lou Yunxiao's trouser leg and draw all his attention to himself. "Eldest senior brother, help me up! I can't get up!"

Eldest senior brother?

For a moment, Lou Yunxiao did not know what to make of that form of address.

Still, he instinctively bent down and felt around. The hand he extended was immediately clasped firmly by a soft, warm hand.

The other youth's body was very warm, and as he rose with Lou Yunxiao's help, he drew close to him.

He carried a pleasant scent.

It even felt somewhat familiar.

"Thanks, eldest senior brother," Ning Ke whispered beside his ear.

Then he turned to bow and apologize to the sect leaders, who were exchanging looks. "Master! Sect leaders! I'm sorry! My Sword-Flying Technique wasn't up to standard, and I crashed straight into the hall! I'm sorry for the trouble. Please punish me!"

The four sect leaders thought, ...Who is this brat trying to fool? The Sword-Flying Technique is a basic lesson for Foundation Establishment disciples! He's a Golden Core prodigy. Who would believe he didn't crash in here on purpose?

But Ning Ke's arrival had clearly broken the oppressive atmosphere in the hall, interrupting both Abbot Wujue's test and Lou Yunxiao's spiraling thoughts.

Lou Yunxiao's emotions steadied, and his Demonic Aura and spiritual energy returned to balance.

He raised his head and "looked" straight toward the sect leaders, lifting three fingers to the sky with a resolute expression. "Master, sect leaders, Yunxiao can swear to Heaven's Way that if Demonic Aura ever takes control of me, I will slit my own throat in atonement. I will never allow myself to harm any of my own kind!"

Abbot Wujue sneered. "Hah, pretty words! When the time comes, it won't be up to you!"

"Then I'll keep watching him."

Ning Ke had heard their entire conversation from outside, and the longer he listened, the angrier he became.

After all, he knew that Lou Yunxiao had remained upright throughout the novel. Even when demonic thoughts arose in him later, he had never harmed anyone innocent.

There was no need to push this boy so hard.

Of course, his cultivation was low right now, and he was merely a nobody before these powerful figures. He could only resort to a trick, crashing through the doors to back Lou Yunxiao up.

Standing shoulder to shoulder with Lou Yunxiao, he declared clearly, "As Lou Yunxiao's junior brother, I'll follow him wherever he goes from now on. I'll watch him closely and keep him in check. If I discover that Demonic Aura has taken control of him, I'll be the first to act against him."

He bent forward and lowered his head in a humble bow.

"So I, A Ke, respectfully beg the sect leaders to give my senior brother a chance to leave the pagoda!"

The hall fell silent.

The four sect leaders wore differing expressions.

Lou Yunxiao instinctively turned his head to "look" at Ning Ke.

He did not know this junior brother named A Ke, yet this young man was willing to help him and protect him like this...

Ever since he emerged from the Demon Abyss, his sect had treated him coldly, and his own kind had scorned and feared him. He had been imprisoned in the Demon-Sealing Pagoda for more than half a year, without even a single person willing to speak to him.

In his despair, he had prepared himself for a lifetime of never being understood.

Yet this junior brother had shattered that belief.

He made him feel as though...he was not alone.

"All right, all right." Wei Qinghai waved a hand and smiled.

"He's still just a child. I don't think giving him a chance would be such a bad thing."

With his concession, the vote became three to one. Any further objections from Abbot Wujue would be overruled. Furious, he stamped his staff against the floor and stormed away.

Hong Yao and Wei Qinghai also said their farewells.

Before leaving, Hong Yao said to Ning Ke, "A Ke, you're quite a loyal boy. I knew I hadn't misjudged you."

"But..." She suddenly leaned down and whispered beside Ning Ke's ear. "Since you've promised to keep watching him, you mustn't go back on your word."

"After all, you know what happens when a wild beast loses its trainer, don't you?"