Demonic technique? Shen Li wrinkled her brow .
The Demon realm had been under heaven’s jurisdiction since the end of the Thousand Year war . The boundary dictated by heaven was firmly enforced by the Demon Emperor, so even if the demon people didn’t like it, they couldn’t disobey . Despite this there were those in heaven who suspected the demon people had evil intentions and were simply biding their time, waiting for a chance to strike back . However because the Demon Emperor took great pains to enforce the boundaries, there had been no issues between the realms, thus nothing for heaven to complain about or latch onto as evidence .
This would change if immortal beings were being kidnapped . If a link, no matter how dubious, could be drawn to the demon people, the already suspicious people of heaven would jump to conclusions and pass a guilty judgement .
The reputation of the Demon Emperor and his people would be tarnished and the already tenuous peaceful relationship between the two realms would crumble .
Shen Li thought it would be great if the feigned friendship between the two realms fell apart and they could stop pretending to be nice to each other, however she had an issue with being used .
“Undo the limiting spell,” Shen Li said to Xing Zhi as she walked to the group of men clad in black . She said this, but before he could do as she asked, she had already broken through the ice, grabbed one of the men by the scruff of his neck and punched him to the ground .
He lay in a fetal position clutching his belly . She promptly kicked his legs out and sat on his stomach, then she forced his mouth open to keep him from committing suicide .
“I’m going to ask each question once and only once . Refuse to answer and I will cut your finger and force you to eat it, so take stock of how many fingers you have . ”
Xing Zhi knew from the coldness in her eyes she was serious . She was a king of the Demon realm after all, so her ferocity was not in doubt .
The man under her trembled, wanting to escape, but Shen Li was like an immovable thousand-pound weight .
“Who do you work for?”
The veins on his face bulged and he looked like he was choking . Since he refused to answer Shen Li moved her hand to his waist and reached for the dagger sheathed there . She slid it out and pressed the blade to a finger, ready to slice it off . The man squeezed out the words, “Gate guard… “
Before Shen Li could ask the next question his face turned a ghastly purple . The already bulging veins on his face expanded and pulsated like worms . Their movement grew in intensity until his eyes bulged out . A whinny sound of pain escaped his throat before a loud “pop” erupted from his head .
The brunt of the blood splatter landed on Shen Li’s hands, but some still managed to make it to her face . She glanced down at the body underneath her before tossing the dagger away and standing up .
Bones and flesh disintegrated into sand spilling out of his clothes like an overfilled bag .
“What a malicious death curse . Answering questions will cause you to blow up . ”
With a grave expression Xing Zhi, turned to the other men in black only to find their eyes closed in suicide . Apparently they didn’t want to die the same horrible death their comrade suffered .
Shen Li turned to follow his gaze . With a frown she said, “We lost our only lead . ”
“I… I once overheard about a lake . ” Hu Lu hesitated but pushed forward . “The immortals being kidnapped are being held in a cave near a cliff that’s covered with green vines . It’s by a huge waterfall . The only place that fits that description is Qingya cave . ”
Shen Li was quick to reply . “Let’s go . We’ll rescue any immortals we find and figure out our next steps afterwards . ”
Xing Zhi muttered some things to himself before speaking out . “We should disguise ourselves first . Let’s change clothes so it’ll be easier to approach the cave . ”
“When the time comes, Xing, you take care of them with your spell-casting and I’ll take care of them with my fists . ”
Xing Zhi nearly laughed at her words . He picked up a stick and tapped her forehead lightly with it . “What is wrong with your brain? Always so violent . ”
Shen Li distractedly touched the spot he tapped and turned away without saying a word .
Xing Zhi had been careful how he behaved around her, but all that care went to waste with that single action that made his personality shine through . The way he touched her, the way he spoke, they were identical to the other jerk! The mortal him rejected her but the immortal him was seducing her . What was with him? She wanted to beat him up for unsettling her heart so much!
Shen Li was still stewing when she felt her clothes morph into the same black outfit the men wore . Xing Zhi had changed both his appearance and his clothes to resemble the leader as well . Now he gave off a competent heroic air, instead of that of a lazy loafer .
“Ahem, let’s go,” said Shen Li after clearing her throat .
Hu Lu led the way to the cave . The idea of passing through the waterfall made Shen Li’s scalp prickle with discomfort, but she swallowed any complaints and followed behind Hu Lu . She was expecting to get wet but not a drop of water landed on her . She looked up to find a golden barrier above their heads . She turned to Xing Zhi, but he was staring intently ahead into the darkness .
He stepped inside and she followed behind like nothing had happened .
They continued down the dark path until they reached a vermilion door . Earlier Hu Lu had told them about the monster that lived in the area . Because of its easy temper, it easily co-existed with the other immortals in the area . Both sides minded their own business, so there were no problems . No one expected the cave would become a prison for the immortals .
Shen Li’s group didn’t stand in front of the door long before it opened a slit and a voice from within asked . “Password?” It was a cold and unwelcoming voice .
The three of them had come disguised in the right clothes but they didn’t know the password . Xing Zhi could tell Shen Li wanted to kick the door down, so he immediately gripped her hand and shook his head .
Xing Zhi was disguised as the leader of the group and he had brought his stick with him . He limped closer to the door making the person guarding it on the other side nervous .
The guard cautiously asked, “What?”
“Gate guard…” Xing Zhi imitated the dead man’s voice perfectly .
The one behind the door visibly relaxed and opened the door for them .
Xing Zhi looked to Shen Li and said, “Now,” letting her do what she had been itching to do all along .
She shifted inside and knocked out the guard and his companion with a swift chop to the neck .
Xing Zhi turned to Hu Lu and said, “Return to the woods . We will release the other immortals imprisoned here . ”
Hu Lu wasn’t so sure about that plan . “They’re really powerful…will you guys really be OK? I can stay with you and help…”
The offer made Xing Zhi smiled but Shen Li was openly disdainful of it . “Huh? You should just worry about yourself . ”
Xing Zhi placed the stick in Hu Lu’s hand . “It’s alright . We’ll be fine . Take this stick for protection . ” You’re welcome .
Hu Lu stared at the stick in his hand . “How am I supposed to defend myself with this tiny stick?”
Shen Li stared at it . “For an ancient god, he sure is stingy with his gifts . ”
Xing Zhi overheard this and his smile faded . What? Where are my thanks for finding the clues and rushing over to help? Even if I haven’t succeeded yet… I still came… “As long as he doesn’t lose it, no one within a hundred miles will be able to touch him . ”
They left Hu Lu behind and continued onwards . Eventually they reached the end of the passageway and entered a cavern . It was a huge space with ten floors embedded into the walls . The water on the floor cast a green light that lit the entire cavern up .
Immortals were held in individual iron cages all along the wall straight down in a line . Light, like the one that imprisoned Hu Lu when they found him, encased each cage .
A guard was patrolling the area unaware of their presence .
Shen Li wrinkled her brows . “How do we save them?”
Xing Zhi laughed . “Like you said, I’ll handle the magic . You handle the brute force . ” He waved his hand as he said this and a golden light snaked forward to the cages weaving in between the restricting white light .
“Break,” he said in a low voice that still somehow resounded throughout the cavern . The light responded to his voice and the spell binding the cages broke .
Taking that as her cue, Shen Li formed her spear and flew to the cages, destroying each lock quickly and easily, releasing the immortals inside .
Alerted, the guards rushed over to attack, but they were no match for Shen Li and she dispatched them in no time .
The immortals all bowed their heads in gratitude .
“It’s not safe to stay here . “Xing Zhi said . “Let’s leave first and talk later . ”
Upon reaching the outside and seeing the light again, many immortals wept in joy . They thanked Xing Zhi again for rescuing them .
Strangely enough no one approached or thanked Shen Li, not that she noticed .
They would have continued to ignore her had she not asked, “Do you know where the first immortals were caught?”
This question made them turn to her . No one answered for the longest time . Finally a young man pointed at her and heatedly said, “You demon! You dare have the audacity to ask?!”
The person next to him immediately grabbed the hem of his robe and tried to pull him away . “She also saved us! Come on, don’t act that way!”
Shen Li frowned . “I will only say this once . The matter with immortals being kidnapped has nothing to do with my people . I only incidentally learned about it today . ”
“Like hell you did!” Now that the joy of being freed wore off, he gave vent to his anger at being kidnapped and imprisoned . “You demon people are barbaric, evil villains! This time you captured us in the Mortal realm . What next? Do you plan to go to heaven and kidnap those immortals too?! Every single one of you are disgusting criminals! And that includes your stinking Demon Emperor-”
Shen Li lifted him up by the collar before he got through his sentence . “Such impudence! I, the Azure Sky King will cut you to pieces!”