WBICDPH Chapter 90

Chapter 90: Stars in the Hairpin, Moonlight in Motion

Lin Jin was terrified.

All he wanted was to make a simple trip to Fanghua Peak—just casually passing by the boundary between Qiuyun Terrace and Fanghua Peak. He had vaguely heard voices behind him but didn’t think much of it, until he heard Jiang Zhenfeng’s cold voice ask, “Who’s there?”

At first, he thought she was talking to her junior disciples. But who would’ve guessed that when he pushed through the grass, stumbling step by step, he’d find a massive demon standing across from her?

In that brief instant, Lin Jin stood frozen, his mind racing.

He tried to recall whether Jiang Zhenfeng had any connections to the demon race.

He also wondered whether he had just stumbled upon some major, secret plot.

First, it was certain that the Sword Trial Assembly involved a major event tied to the Mingzhu Heaven demon clan.

Second… could Jiang Zhenfeng be the mastermind behind all of this? Was she working with the demons from the inside? That didn’t seem right. But now that he had run into them like this, what was he supposed to do? Jiang Zhenfeng already knew he wasn’t the original owner of this body—and now he had discovered their shocking secret. Was he about to be silenced?

His heart sank.

He looked up at the towering “big demon guy.”

What now? This guy looked even more dangerous than the Mingzhu Twelve Guards he’d encountered before. He looked like he could crush him with a single slap.

Someone save him. He was allergic to demons. Seriously—could someone save him?

“You?”

To Lin Jin’s surprise, Jiang Zhenfeng reacted with complete calm.

She simply said, “Perfect timing. Come here.”

“…”

Lin Jin shuffled forward a few steps.

“You don’t need to be afraid. He may be a demon, but for now he won’t do anything harmful to Piaomiao Pavilion. And we weren’t discussing anything secret. You didn’t stumble onto anything important, and no one’s going to kill you to keep you quiet.”

Jiang Zhenfeng seemed to see right through him. She glanced at him and spoke lightly.

“Well, that’s…” Lin Jin paused awkwardly, racking his brain before finally forcing out a few words. “…that’s great.”

At his reaction, the big demon guy seemed to chuckle.

Lin Jin had no idea what he was laughing at—and didn’t dare look at him again.

“I need your help with something,” Jiang Zhenfeng said bluntly, not bothering with small talk.

“This is a friend of mine. His name is—”

She paused mid-sentence, glancing at Xiao Lanqi, unsure how to introduce him.

After a moment, she pressed her lips together, looking both impatient and slightly helpless.

“Never mind. He can introduce himself later. In any case, you can tell his identity isn’t suited to appearing openly. Due to certain unavoidable circumstances, he needs to stay here temporarily. So I’d like you to help me—let him stay with you until the Sword Trial Assembly is over. I did save your life before. If you help me this time, we’ll call it even.”

Her words put Lin Jin in a difficult position.

If he agreed, he’d be hiding a demon in his room—and if anyone found out, no amount of explanation would save him.

If he refused, he’d have no way to repay her life-saving favor.

After thinking it over, Lin Jin gritted his teeth and steeled himself.

“Senior Sister, I should help you—but a life-saving favor is too great to be repaid with just this.”

“It’s fine. This isn’t a small matter. If I say we’re even, then we’re even.”

Jiang Zhenfeng didn’t seem to care much. She glanced at Xiao Lanqi and said, “The front mountain needs me. I’ll be going. For the next few days, just stay with him. And don’t cause trouble—otherwise, it’ll be a problem for all of us.”

With that, she leapt away, leaving Lin Jin and Xiao Lanqi standing quietly in the red maple forest.

What… just happened?

What was he supposed to do now?

He had only wanted to check on his puppy at Fanghua Peak—so how had he somehow ended up bringing a demon home?

Lin Jin couldn’t make sense of his situation. He felt completely lost.

He glanced awkwardly at Xiao Lanqi.

They stood there in silence for a moment before Lin Jin finally spoke.

“So… should we head back first?”

“Sure.” Xiao Lanqi replied casually, giving him a sideways glance. “Lead the way?”

He stepped up beside Lin Jin.

Lin Jin couldn’t help but look up at him—and realized he barely reached the man’s shoulder.

He himself was about 5’11”. This guy… was he 6’7″? No—closer to 6’11”?

Either way, the height alone was overwhelming.

Lin Jin swallowed nervously and stiffly started walking toward Qiuyun Terrace.

Along the way, he sneaked another glance at Xiao Lanqi.

Long, slightly wavy black hair flowed down his back like spilled ink. Mixed within it were many thin braids, decorated with small silver ornaments.

A striking earring hung from his left ear. His ears weren’t rounded like a human’s—they were slightly pointed, like something out of a fantasy illustration.

His features were sharp and well-defined, with deep-set eyes and a faintly wicked kind of handsomeness—an exotic charm. His eyes were a vivid green.

Lin Jin noticed something.

That eye color… looked a lot like his puppy’s.

No—looking closer, it was almost the same.

But that couldn’t be right. His puppy was a green-eyed spirit dog, not a demon. And if his puppy could turn human, it would definitely be a soft, adorable little boy—not this towering, intimidating figure.

As Lin Jin listened to the faint clinking of silver ornaments with each step Xiao Lanqi took, his heart pounded nervously.

He glanced at him again.

Finally, Xiao Lanqi snapped, clearly annoyed.

“What are you staring at? What do you want to say?!”

Lin Jin jumped.

He quickly lowered his head, staring at his toes. “I just wanted to ask… how should I address you?”

Xiao Lanqi realized he hadn’t introduced himself.

But what should he say? Tell him his real name?

Lin Jin was strange—he seemed to know a lot. “Xiao Lan” was a surname unique to demons. If Lin Jin knew Xiao Lancheng’s name and happened to know he had a younger brother, it wouldn’t be hard to figure out his identity.

For now, Xiao Lanqi didn’t want to expose that.

After a moment’s thought, he simply said, “Qi.”

“…Huh?”

Lin Jin looked up at him, confused.

Xiao Lanqi lowered his gaze to meet his eyes. “You can call me… A’Qi.”

Lin Jin paused—then suddenly let out a soft laugh.

Xiao Lanqi raised an eyebrow. “What are you laughing at?”

“Nothing.”

Lin Jin pressed his lips together.

A’Qi.

Kind of cute.

Like a sneeze.

After that, Lin Jin didn’t try to make conversation. He simply led him back to Qiuyun Terrace.

Luckily, they didn’t run into anyone along the way. Otherwise, with Xiao Lanqi’s eye-catching appearance, they definitely would’ve been stopped and questioned.

Lin Jin unlocked the barrier around his small cottage and pushed the door open. Xiao Lanqi followed behind him, ducking slightly to clear the low doorway.

“This is where I live. You can stay here for the next few days. If you need anything, just tell me—I’ll try to help.”

The room had seemed spacious before—but with Xiao Lanqi inside, it suddenly felt cramped.

Standing awkwardly in front of him, Lin Jin gestured vaguely. “So… if there’s nothing else, you can rest first? I have something to take care of—I’ll head out for a bit.”

He turned to leave, but had only taken a few steps when—

“Wait.”

Lin Jin froze again.

He was genuinely afraid. If he could, he’d happily give up his room and sleep outside for the next few days.

Humans had an instinctive fear of creatures larger than themselves. And beyond that, Lin Jin had nothing but bad experiences with demons. The first time, he’d been stabbed through the abdomen. The second time, he would’ve died if not for Zhu Eryao sacrificing herself to save him.

Every encounter with demons in his life had been bloody and deadly.

And the one standing behind him now carried an overwhelming sense of pressure.

“Where are you going?”

Lin Jin answered weakly, “My bonded beast is still at Fanghua Peak. I want to check on him.”

“No need.”

Xiao Lanqi said it immediately.

What bonded beast? If you can even find it there, I’ll take your last name.

But seeing Lin Jin’s surprised expression, he added, “What’s there to see? I… don’t allow it. If you go out and report me, wouldn’t I be walking straight into a trap?”

“I won’t. I promised Senior Sister I’d keep you here—I wouldn’t break my word.”

Lin Jin edged toward the door again. “My beast is still very young. He’s never been alone in a strange place. I’m worried he won’t take care of himself… what if something happens?”

Hearing this, Xiao Lanqi felt a surge of irritation.

So that’s how little you think of me? You think I can’t even take care of myself? The one constantly getting injured and bedridden isn’t me!

“If a beast can’t even take care of itself in a new environment, what use is it?! Stop making excuses. I said you’re not going, so you’re not going! If you step foot on Fanghua Peak during these next few days, I’ll burn the entire mountain to the ground!”

“…”

Lin Jin looked at him, feeling aggrieved.

Why… why did he explode like that?

He was so fierce. Was he really going to bite him to death?

Were all demons this unpredictable?

Lin Jin felt helpless.

“O-okay… I won’t go. Please don’t be mad…”

He dragged over a small stool and sat by the window. He didn’t know what to do—he wanted to say something to ease the tension, but was afraid of saying the wrong thing and angering him further.

So he just sat there quietly, fiddling with his fingers, every second feeling like an eternity.

The room fell into an awkward silence.

Xiao Lanqi glanced at Lin Jin, who was sitting as far away as possible, and began to doubt himself.

Is he… scared of me?

Why? Wasn’t he usually pretty bold? He even dared to perform soul sacrifices—so why was he shrinking back now?

Was he being too harsh? That didn’t seem right. Was he really scarier than the Asura Blood Prison? He’d always been like this. Even when he bit Lin Jin before, the guy hadn’t cared.

So why was he suddenly this timid after just a few words?

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t figure it out.

After a while, he looked at Lin Jin, who seemed ready to stick himself to the window.

“Hey.”

“…Huh?” Lin Jin looked confused.

Xiao Lanqi touched his nose awkwardly, making small talk. “Am I… that scary?”

“No, of course not.” Lin Jin forced a dry laugh.

“Then why are you sitting so far away?”

“Far? Not really.”

Lin Jin nudged his stool an inch closer.

“I don’t eat people. Humans taste terrible.”

Xiao Lanqi rolled his eyes, then paused—apparently feeling that wasn’t precise enough.

“Unless… the person happens to be a spirit-rich cultivation vessel, and I’m seriously injured. Then I might reluctantly consider it.”

Perfect. Every word hit a nerve.

Lin Jin couldn’t help but suspect that was directed at him. He hesitated, then asked cautiously, “A-are you… injured right now?”

“Yes. My previous injuries haven’t fully healed.”

“…”

Lin Jin fell silent again.

Watching him, Xiao Lanqi still couldn’t understand what had gone wrong. Why was Lin Jin so afraid? He used to talk nonstop—now he was quiet as a chick.

Am I really that scary?

How do humans show friendliness? How do you make someone understand you don’t want to kill them? Give them something they need?

He never thought he’d have to worry about something like this.

After hesitating, he stood up from the bed and walked over to Lin Jin.

Lin Jin practically shrank into himself.

Hearing the approaching footsteps, his mind spiraled—had Xiao Lanqi seen through his special constitution? Was he about to be killed right here?

He was terrified.

Until Xiao Lanqi reached him, extended a finger, and poked his shoulder.

Lin Jin flinched again.

But that was all he did.

Gathering some courage, Lin Jin turned back.

He saw Xiao Lanqi take a string of glittering silver ornaments from his waist, slap it onto the table, and push it toward him.

“For you.”

With a stiff expression and an awkward tone, Xiao Lanqi said, “Sell it. It’s worth a lot.”