Chapter 666: Professional Blackie

　　Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

　　Yuan Yang City

　　“Chef, how do you think the dark fire came about?” Lonemoon turned to address Yi Qing. Logically, the dark fire should be confined to the underworld. Even if the other party was a demon, there was no way he would be able to bring the dark fire out of the underworld. This Earth Demon aside, Lonemoon doubted that even Little Black would be able to do something like this. He would not be able to break through the several realm gates to get the dark fire out of the underworld.

　　Yi Qing frowned and shook his head. “Shortie should have been in the Underworld. The dark fire shouldn’t appear in either the mortal realm nor the immortal realm.”

　　“That’s not for certain,” Shen Ying suddenly commented.

　　Both of them turned to face her at once. “What do you mean?”

　　“Isn’t there a hole?” Shen Ying asked.

　　“A hole?” Lonemoon stared blankly at her for a moment and suddenly realized what she was talking about. “You mean the hole in the River of Forgetfulness in the immortal realm!”

　　“Master, you mean to say that…” Yi Qing was just now catching on. “The dark fire fell through that hole in the River of Forgetfulness?”

　　“Mm.” Shen Ying nodded.

　　Both Lonemoon and Yi Qing pondered over this. There was indeed that possibility. The dark fire in the Underworld was meant to take in the ghouls. It was normal that it would appear in the River of Forgetfulness. What’s more, the Earth Demon had said earlier that he was severely injured. He thought he would never wake up again. Now, from the looks of it, he was not just imagining things. He had really been dead. His soul had entered the River of Forgetfulness and even the Underworld.

　　However, before he could reincarnate, the invader came and broke a hole into the River of Forgetfulness. The Earth Demon was probably at where the hole was created. He must have fallen through the hole, together with the dark fire, and landed in Zhong Yi’s body. This would explain why he didn’t think the dark fire was particularly harmful to his body in the beginning. It was because he was already a wandering soul. The dark fire was naturally ineffective on him. But once he landed in the fiendish cultivator’s body, he became infected more or less with the latter’s life. That’s why the dark fire began to attack him.

　　What’s more, he didn’t seem to know how to answer most of their questions earlier. It was almost as if he had already forgotten many things. It must be because his memories had been partially wiped off when he was in the River of Forgetfulness. What remained were just bits and pieces of his memory.

　　“I remember Shortie saying that a soul was missing from the River of Forgetfulness,” Lonemoon suddenly said. “It’s not this Earth Demon, is it?”

　　Yi Qing’s expression darkened. He nodded. It was obvious that it was.

　　Lonemoon pursed his lips. This was all caused by that stupid invader! They had to solve this problem quickly, otherwise they could only imagine what else they would have to clean up! They were moving a bit slowly – they had to do what they could to help a certain someone advance in terms of cultivation level! Lonemoon’s mind became filled with various lesson plans and training programmes.

　　Zuo Shuming, who had been meditating just nearby: “…” Why did he feel a chill run down his spine all of a sudden?

　　——————

　　After hearing that the fiendish cultivator Zhong Yi had been dealt with, Shu Yuan finally heaved a huge sigh of relief. He no longer looked as strict and nervous as he did before. Now, he was much more relaxed. Smiling brightly at Yi Qing, he said, “You’re really an Uncle-Master indeed. You got rid of that demon so quickly. I just wonder how Uncle-Master found that demon?”

　　“It wasn’t me!” Yi Qing answered.

　　“Eh?” Shu Yuan stared blankly at him, not understanding what he meant.

　　Zuo Shuming answered seriously, “Elder Shu, actually this entire matter was solved thanks to Senior Sister Shu… No, Uncle-Master Shu. If she had not found the fiendish cultivator’s traces in the west of the city, Supremacy Yi Qing would not have found the demon so quickly.”

　　“You mean Little Yi?” Shu Yuan exclaimed. A look of worry flashed across his face. “She went out of the city last night?”

　　“That’s right!” Zuo Shuming nodded profusely. “Uncle-Master Shu must have been worried that the fiendish cultivator would cause harm to the other disciples. She did not sleep for the entire night. Finally, she found the place where the fiendish cultivator had been hiding at. Although it was extremely dangerous, at least the entire matter has blown over now. Uncle-Master Shu is indeed a Golden Core-”

　　“Hmph!” Before he could finish speaking, Shu Yuan’s expression darkened. He angrily said, “She’s really messing her life up now. She won’t even listen to her own father’s words.” With that, Shu Yuan walked off, leaving the rest of them standing there.

　　“Eh? Elder Shu…” Why did he walk away? Zuo Shuming turned to face his three companions innocently. “Did I… say something wrong earlier?”

　　Lonemoon: “…”

　　Yi Qing: “…”

　　Shen Ying: “…”

　　He was indeed a professional enemy of Shu Yi! Why did it feel like he was totally faking his emotions?

　　╮(╯_╰)╭

　　Shu Yuan of the Dan Chen Mountain was a terribly strict person. He expected high standards, be it from his own disciples or from his daughter. What’s more, he was the master of discipline, put in charge of disciplining the entire sect’s disciples. He had always been impartial. One could say that he was overly fair.

　　It was obvious that Shu Yi had broken the rules by going out of the city at midnight.

　　This time, Zuo Shuming really struck Shu Yi where it hurt. There was no doubt that the father and daughter would get into an argument soon enough. However, it remained to be seen how Shu Yuan would punish his daughter. After all, she was Tian Ji’s disciple. Since she was already a part of the sect, all her punishments and rewards had to go through Tian Ji. Even though Shu Yuan was her father, he had no say in these matters.

　　Over the next few days, none of them saw Shu Yi.

　　Without the threat of the fiendish cultivator, their mission progressed especially quickly. Al the disciples remained in the palace for four more days before the evil aura left those who were infected before. Shu Yuan left behind several pills, but led his disciples to carry the rest back with him.

　　It was then that Zuo Shuming finally caught sight of Shu Yi. He instinctively greeted her. “Uncle-Master Shu, you-”

　　“Get lost!” Before he could finish greeting her, Shu Yi shot a death glare in his direction. It was almost like she was shooting daggers at him with her eyes. How she wished she could stab him several times right there and then.

　　Zuo Shuming halted. His hand remained in mid-wave.

　　Shu Yi tutted and boarded the spirit boat. Then, she sought out a seat in the far corner and sat down with her back facing Zuo Shuming. It was like she was having difficulty controlling her anger.

　　Zuo Shuming wanted to ask how her injury was healing. Now, he set down his hand and pouted. He turned and nudged the person beside him. “Brother Lonemoon, what’s wrong with Senior Sister? Why is she so fierce all of a sudden?” She looked like she wanted to kill him.

　　“You don’t know?” Lonemoon looked at him, at a loss for words. You’ve played her for so long – do you not even realise?

　　“I don’t know!” Zuo Shuming answered, genuinely confused. “I realized there was something weird about her from the moment we moved out of the main peak.”

　　Lonemoon cast a sideways glance at him, but did not say anything. It’s time you figured these things out for yourself from her expression.

　　“Could it be…” He suddenly realized something and looked shocked.

　　“What?”

　　Zuo Shuming looked around and lowered his voice nervously. “Do you think.. she knows that I didn’t like the way she looked before? Was that why she changed the way she looked? To try to get my attention?”

　　Lonemoon: “…”

　　Yi Qing, who was seated beside him: “…”

　　-_-|||

　　That’s unbelievable!

　　A while later…

　　“Two Bucks…” Lonemoon sighed and patted his shoulder.

　　“Huh?”

　　“I say, you look ugly but your imagination is beautiful!”

　　“…”

　　Faintly, Zuo Shuming felt a dagger stab right through his chest. He pondered for a moment and could not help but answer, “But she’s changed so much. She used to be so warm toward us. Now, she can’t even be bothered with Lady Shen.”

　　“How do you know she can’t be bothered with Shen Ying?” Both of them don’t even know each other.

　　“I saw it with my own eyes!” Zuo Shuming pointed in front of him.

　　Lonemoon turned to see that there was someone now seated beside Shu Yi. The lady was resting her chin on one hand, and holding a fruit with the other. As she gnawed on her fruit, she studied Shu Yi closely. She was leaning so close to Shu Yi that their faces were almost touching. Yet, Shu Yi did not seem to realise.

　　“Holy shit!” Lonemoon jumped to his feet.

　　When did that thing go over there?!

　　(゚Д゚≡゚Д゚)