Blood-Robed Devil Dragon
By the dim light, Sang Ying was able to clearly see the vine clinging to the man's shoulder.
The vine seemed to possess a certain intelligence; its rounded head had a slit that opened and closed somewhat like a human mouth.
"My apologies, I've been here too long and forgot to teach it some manners. I didn't expect it to run away and steal your things when I wasn't watching it. This is truly my fault. I wonder what kind of compensation you would like, young lady?" The man's attitude was gentle and polite. If he weren't tightly bound by chains, Sang Ying would have even suspected that he wasn't a cultivator, but rather a young master from a noble Aristocratic Clan.
But the other party's attitude did not reassure Sang Ying; instead, it made her more wary.
She slowly sat up from the ground, holding a sharp bone sword horizontally in front of her, fully prepared to run away at any moment.
"There's no need to be so polite. We've been staying on your land, and we'd appreciate your protection. It's just some food; it's nothing important," Sang Ying said carefully.
Upon hearing this, the man didn't react much, but the vines wrapped around his shoulder immediately stood up, as if showing off something to the man, which made him laugh.
Sang Ying paused for a moment, then, taking advantage of the other person's seemingly good mood, quickly asked, "If Senior has no further instructions, may I leave first?"
She glanced at the chains on the man's hands, unsure if they could completely subdue him.
Those who can be trapped in this crack are certainly not good people.
The man was very kind and immediately said, "If you want to leave, then go ahead. But be careful not to die so soon. Otherwise, my vines will be very sad."
Having received the man's permission, Sang Ying didn't have time to think further and immediately turned to leave.
But she was a step too slow. Before Sang Ying could get far, a sharp sword light descended from above.
The Dragon Abyss Sword hummed as it protected Sang Ying, and the commotion immediately made the man look up.
Sang Ying, who had been watching him closely, naturally didn't miss it. It was because of this glance that Sang Ying discovered that the other person's eyes were actually damaged!
"Sang Ying, I'm here to save you!" Gu Shu shouted.
Fearing further complications, Sang Ying immediately gripped the hilt of her sword and, before the man could notice Gu Shu, hid the Dragon Abyss Sword behind her back.
Only after Gu Shu was completely hidden did Sang Ying apologize, saying, "Senior, please forgive me. My friend misunderstood your vines and rushed in in a moment of panic. I hope you will forgive him."
Upon hearing this, Gu Shu, who had been struggling to protect Sang Ying, immediately quieted down, and the strange buzzing sound disappeared instantly.
However, he became docile too late.
The man's interest had been piqued, and even though he was blind, he still managed to pinpoint Sang Ying's location.
Sang Ying clearly saw that interest gradually emerge in those smoky gray eyes, like a wild beast that had spotted its prey and slowly bared its fangs.
"How interesting, the Dragon Abyss Sword of the Dragon Race has actually fallen into the hands of a Human Race cultivator." The man paused, his smile widening, "And a cultivator whose Dantian has been damaged!"
At that moment, a sense of fear arose in Sang Ying's heart.
This person was clearly invisible and had never had any contact with Sang Ying. Yet, in just a few words, he saw right through Sang Ying. Such a being was truly terrifying.
"What do you mean by this, senior? I don't quite understand." Sang Ying carefully stepped back, her apprehension deepening.
The man remained smiling, but his gentle demeanor vanished the moment he spoke, "Are you trying to run away? Your footsteps are so obvious, it's hard for me not to hear them."
Sang Ying paused, her forehead beaded with sweat.
"You don't need to be so nervous. I said I would let you go, and I won't go back on my word. But before that, how about we make a deal?" the man said.
Sang Ying: "What kind of deal?"
"Your Dantian is damaged, yet a few traces of your Golden Core's aura remain. It seems your Golden Core was shattered." The man's voice was soft and gentle, with a hint of seduction. "You see my current predicament. I want freedom, and you want healing. I can heal your Dantian and restore your Golden Core. In return, you must give me the Dragon Abyss Sword."
So, the Dragon Abyss Sword could cut through the chains binding this person?
Sang Ying quickly came to this conclusion.
She had to admit that the other party had indeed guessed her thoughts; if this person had made a different request, Sang Ying might have actually agreed.
However, since the Dragon Abyss Sword does not belong to Sang Ying, it seems that the deal is not going to happen.
However, since the other party's strength was unknown, Sang Ying couldn't refuse directly, so she said, "This matter is of great importance. The Dragon Abyss Sword is a rare divine artifact, and I need to consider it carefully before making a decision."
"Alright, I'll give you three days. After three days, you can follow the vines back here to find me. I can tell you're a smart person; you should know what's best for you." The man seemed certain that Sang Ying would agree, and he let her go quite readily.
Sang Ying nodded haphazardly, then immediately led the silent Gu Shu out of the cave.
The man's voice, like a ghost, followed behind Sang Ying: "Don't forget, you only have three days. Also, my name is Jiang Zhuoxue."
The dim light outside the cave fell on Sang Ying, and at that moment she suddenly felt as if she had escaped death.
She dared not linger in front of the cave and quickly retreated back into the wooden house.
Gu Shu tried to speak several times during this time, but Sang Ying stopped him.
After Sang Ying returned to the cabin and found the paper and pen in her Storage Bag, the two, one human and one sword, began their difficult exchange:
"That man has very sensitive hearing; he might overhear our conversation. It's safer to write it down."
Fortunately, Gu Shu was literate. After reading the words, he used his sword as a pen and began gesturing rapidly in the courtyard outside. "Did you hear that person's name? His name is Jiang Zhuoxue!"
Sang Ying naturally heard it, but who was Jiang Zhuoxue?
Thinking this, she asked the same question.
Gu Shu: "Jiang Zhuoxue, don't you even know that the disciples of your Flowing Light Sword Sect don't bother to learn about the history of their own sect?!"
Because he was so excited, the words he wrote were crooked and difficult for Sang Ying to decipher.
Sang Ying: "The library of the Flowing Light Sword Sect was damaged by an elder who practiced Fire Element Cultivation Method. Many of the old scriptures Jade Slip were burned, and very few things survived. So naturally I don't know about these past events."
Gu Shu sighed helplessly and continued writing, "Well then, I'll tell you, but I only heard it once. Jiang Zhuoxue is a Devil Dragon!"
"His mother was once Devil Race princess, and his father was a black dragon banished from the Upper Realm. Jiang Zhuoxue, born from their union, was considered by many to have the lowest bloodline, unacceptable to the Heavenly Dao. Normally, a hybrid like him would not survive to adulthood due to his overly powerful bloodline. But Jiang Zhuoxue seems to be exceptionally resilient, having lived to this day."
"He is a man of unpredictable temperament, acting solely on his moods without regard for reason, and he enjoys indiscriminate killing. It is said that no one who has offended him has ever had a good end. Moreover, not only is he ruthless, but he also likes to wear white clothes. However, every time he goes out, his white clothes will be stained with blood, thus earning him the fearsome name of 'Blood-Robed Devil Dragon.'"
"Back then, he almost turned the Cultivation World upside down. No one knows what evil deeds he committed now. The only thing I know is that later he was besieged by powerful figures from both the righteous and demonic paths. Even in such a situation, he did not lose any ground and almost dragged everyone down with him."
"In the end, it was the founding patriarch of the Flowing Light Sword Sect who used the sect's fortune as an array to imprison her. Legend has it that as long as the Flowing Light Sword Sect's fortune remains undiminished, Jiang Zhuoxue will never have a chance to rise again..."