Chapter 1291: This Is Her World

"Yes. Dao-Dao. It's me." Niu Youdao nodded, caught between laughter and tears. He still found it difficult to get used to this demon's way of addressing him.

With that confirmation, Yin'er giggled, innocent and carefree, looking as though she could finally relax.

Seeing that things had settled down, Zhao Xiongge and Yun Ji cautiously approached.

The moment Yun Ji saw Yin'er's face, she breathed a sigh of relief. She knew this girl. They had met at Maolu Villa. Even so, she was still astonished. So this girl truly was the Holy Rakshasa. Earlier, when Niu Youdao said they had come here to find Yin'er and that Yin'er was the Holy Rakshasa, Yun Ji had still harbored doubts.

Now it appeared that the people beneath Heaven had no idea the Holy Rakshasa of the Butterfly Dream Illusory Realm had once lived for years at Maolu Villa.

"Her?" Zhao Xiongge exclaimed when he saw Yin'er's face.

Yin'er's memory was poor, and she had little impression of either of them. When she saw the two approach, she instinctively hid behind Niu Youdao. Newly returned to human form, she seemed timid and wary, one hand clutching tightly at his clothes while she watched them with guarded eyes. Her porcelain-white feet were bare.

Niu Youdao looked back at the clothes she was tugging and felt helpless. The girl's old habits had not changed in the slightest. She was exactly the same as when he had first met her.

Turning back to Zhao Xiongge, he said, "Yes. Back then, you nearly beat her to death. Good thing you didn't enrage her at the time. Otherwise, how could you possibly still be alive?"

"..."

Zhao Xiongge was left speechless. He remembered what had happened back then. After all, he had not met Niu Youdao many times, and he still vaguely recalled injuring this girl. He even remembered that Niu Youdao had once wanted to hand this demon over to him.

Thinking of that now sent a chill through him.

At last, he understood why Niu Youdao had insisted on bringing him here. Seeing the person herself was enough. Nothing else needed explaining.

Before Zhao Xiongge had ever told Niu Youdao the secret, the Holy Rakshasa had already left the Illusory Realm with him. How could Zhao Xiongge still suspect Niu Youdao had fabricated anything after learning the secret?

He had originally made up his mind that no matter what Niu Youdao said or did, he absolutely would not believe him.

Now disbelief was no longer possible.

The facts had always been what they were.

Even so, Zhao Xiongge still stared at Niu Youdao in disbelief.

This man—Senior Brother Dong Guo's disciple—was actually the one whom generation after generation of Demonic Sect Saintesses had waited for so bitterly?

Zhao Xiongge fell silent.

Once Yun Ji recovered from her surprise, she looked Niu Youdao over from head to toe. "Are you all right?"

Niu Youdao raised both hands, revealing the bloody splits across the webs between his thumbs and forefingers. He smiled bitterly. "Do I look all right?"

He awkwardly reached into his robes and felt around until he found a wax pellet. Crushing it open revealed a bright red Heavenly Succor Pill, which he started to put into his mouth.

A slender white hand suddenly reached over and caught his wrist, stopping him.

Niu Youdao looked back.

It was Yin'er.

She was staring fixedly at the pill in his hand. Her nostrils flared as though she had caught the fragrance of the Heavenly Succor Pill. Then her bright eyes blinked up at him with a pitiful look.

"Dao-Dao. Hungry!"

Niu Youdao did not know whether to laugh or cry. "You can't eat this."

Yin'er immediately used both hands. One tried to pry open his fingers while the other reached for the pill.

"You can't eat it... Ngh!"

Niu Youdao panicked. In the struggle, she happened to wrench the wounded web of his hand. Pain made him bare his teeth, and his fingers loosened instinctively.

The instant Yin'er got the Heavenly Succor Pill, she shoved it straight into her mouth.

Then she gave Niu Youdao a dazzling smile.

"Smells good!"

Crunch. Crunch.

The sound of her chewing echoed from her mouth.

Niu Youdao stared at her, utterly speechless.

"Puh!"

Yin'er suddenly frowned. The chewed-up Heavenly Succor Pill sprayed back out of her mouth in several bursts. She wiped her mouth with her sleeve and pouted.

"Bitter. Tastes awful!"

Zhao Xiongge and Yun Ji stared like fools.

Niu Youdao was dumbfounded too. He lowered his head and looked at the red paste scattered across the ground, almost wanting to cry.

"More than a million gold coins... wasted just like that?"

Yin'er's bright eyes blinked. She seemed unsure whether she had done something wrong. She spat out the lingering bitter taste once more, wiped her mouth again, then grabbed Niu Youdao's clothes as though afraid he might run away.

That unquestioning trust made the corner of Niu Youdao's mouth twitch.

Yun Ji clicked her tongue. "No mistaking her. She's definitely that glutton from Maolu Villa."

Niu Youdao looked around, then lifted his chin toward a bulging leather bundle lying in the distance. "Could you bring that over for me?"

It was something he had brought with him. The Holy Rakshasa's blow earlier had knocked it away.

Yun Ji flashed over, picked up the leather bundle, and retrieved Niu Youdao's fallen sword at the same time.

Once the bundle was in his hands, Niu Youdao opened it and pulled out the oiled-paper package inside. He handed it behind him.

"Yin'er. This is for you."

Zhao Xiongge immediately caught the aroma of meat. Yun Ji already knew what was inside. She had personally purchased it for the journey.

Yin'er took the oiled-paper package and opened it.

The moment she saw a whole bundle of chicken legs inside, her eyes lit up. She grabbed one immediately and stuffed it toward her mouth, chewing away noisily. She nodded again and again at Niu Youdao to show how good it tasted.

After swallowing one huge mouthful, she gave him a delighted "Hehe," utterly satisfied, then went right back to gnawing.

At last she released Niu Youdao. One arm hugged the food to her chest while the other hand held a chicken leg as she ate contentedly beside him.

Niu Youdao sighed. "Good thing we found you in time. Otherwise this gift would've gone bad."

Zhao Xiongge stared at him. "You came all the way here and specifically bought a huge bundle of chicken legs?"

"No choice. That's the one thing she loves."

Niu Youdao reached into his robes again and produced another wax pellet. After crushing it open, he even glanced warily back at Yin'er before finally putting the pill into his mouth and swallowing it.

Fortunately, they had obtained quite a few Heavenly Succor Pills from Ling Sect. He had also known Yin'er might injure him during this trip, so he had deliberately brought several.

He sat down cross-legged on the spot, regulated his breathing, refined the medicine, and guided its power through his body to treat his injuries.

No matter how miraculous a spirit pill was, it could not restore a man instantly. Once the pooled blood inside his body had been cleared and his injuries stabilized, Niu Youdao slowly opened his eyes. The remaining medicinal power could continue helping his body recover over time.

He tried to stand, only to discover that he could not.

Looking back, he found Yin'er curled up asleep just behind him, breathing deeply and peacefully. One hand still clutched his clothes.

He had long since grown used to being grabbed by her.

The greasy hand that had just been holding chicken, however, was another matter entirely.

Niu Youdao looked around. Yun Ji was sitting cross-legged nearby, treating her own injuries, while Zhao Xiongge had taken responsibility for standing guard and was watching the surroundings vigilantly.

Seeing Niu Youdao finish his meditation, Zhao Xiongge walked over.

"Nothing serious?"

Niu Youdao looked at his hands and shook his head with a bitter smile.

Hearing their voices, Yun Ji ended her meditation and opened her eyes as well.

Zhao Xiongge plainly had something he wanted to discuss with Niu Youdao. He cupped his hands toward Yun Ji.

"He dragged me all the way here. I'd like to speak with him."

Yun Ji understood. She rose and moved away to give them privacy.

Zhao Xiongge came over and sat cross-legged opposite Niu Youdao. He tipped his chin toward the sleeping Yin'er.

"Is it convenient?"

"She's an idiot. She won't leak secrets. Say whatever you want. There's no need to worry about her."

Zhao Xiongge asked, "What exactly is going on?"

Niu Youdao smiled. "What do you mean?"

"How did you find Shang Song's Traveling Palace? And how did you know how to subdue the Holy Rakshasa?"

How was Niu Youdao supposed to explain that?

He would have to start with his previous life.

Niu Youdao sighed. "Some things simply can't be explained. There are things I still don't understand myself. If you really want to know exactly what happened, you'd probably have to ask Shang Song and Li Ge in person."

"At this point, does any of that still matter?"

"Martial Uncle Zhao, you're not planning to go back on your word about the Demon Canon, are you?"

"The Demon Canon isn't on me, and it couldn't possibly be kept on me. It's hidden somewhere safe."

Zhao Xiongge continued, "Don't worry. Once we're out, I'll hand it over to you. What you do with it afterward is your business. Once I've given it to you, I can consider my promise to the Saintess fulfilled."

"But have you thought about one thing? If the Demon Canon falls into Wu Chang's hands, I'm afraid the fact that Shang Shuqing possesses the military tally won't remain hidden."

"Naturally I've considered that," Niu Youdao said. "Problems are meant to be solved. That's why I had to bring you here."

"I need to obtain the Demon Canon first and see it with my own eyes before I can decide how to handle it."

"Tell me honestly. What exactly is recorded inside the Demon Canon?"

"Nothing particularly remarkable," Zhao Xiongge replied. "It records some heterodox secret arts, but most of its contents are matters Li Ge personally wrote down as warnings and instructions for later generations."

"What warnings?"

"You'll know once you see it."

Niu Youdao frowned. "There's one thing I don't understand. If the Demon Canon was meant to be given to the master of the Holy Rakshasa, and the Holy Rakshasa was trapped here, why wasn't the Demon Canon left here too?"

"Wouldn't that have been safer, and made it easier for her master to obtain?"

"You'll understand after you see it."

"If that's the case, then let's return as soon as possible. Xi Haitang is waiting for us, and it won't be good to delay Yuan Gang's matter for too long."

With that, Niu Youdao turned slightly and gently circulated magic, tearing the section of his own clothing Yin'er was gripping before standing up.

He did not wake her.

Yin'er remained asleep with a scrap of torn cloth clenched tightly in her hand.

Niu Youdao looked at her in silence for a moment, then raised his head and beckoned Yun Ji over.

Yun Ji flashed back.

Niu Youdao said, "Let's go."

Zhao Xiongge stared at him in astonishment and pointed toward the sleeping Yin'er.

"What about her? You're not taking her with us?"

Niu Youdao sighed. "You know what kind of situation I'm in right now. How can I take her with me?"

"The moment she leaves this place, she'll stick to me and refuse to let go. If I'm out of her sight for even a moment, she'll start shouting for me."

"And there is a Misty Pavilion spy hidden among the people around me. Can I possibly bring her back?"

Zhao Xiongge hesitated. "She's returned to human form. If we leave her here alone, will she really be all right?"

"You're overthinking it."

Niu Youdao looked toward the quiet palace-city.

"This is her world. This is where she belongs."

"We're only passing travelers."

Zhao Xiongge still seemed unwilling to leave her. "If that's true, why disturb her at all?"

Niu Youdao shot him a sidelong glance. "You still have the face to ask?"

"If you hadn't been so damned stubborn, would I have needed to come here?"

"I nearly lost my life. Didn't you see that?"

Yun Ji spoke up. "I remember the Commandery Princess seemed able to calm her. We could take her out and leave her with the Commandery Princess."

"The Commandery Princess?"

Niu Youdao shook his head. "Can the Commandery Princess keep her mouth shut?"

"Her mind isn't right. If she gets outside and starts shouting things like 'Dao-Dao,' every last one of us is finished."

"Do you have any idea what kind of situation we're in right now?"

Thinking about it, Yun Ji had to admit he was right. Even so, she still felt he was being somewhat cold-hearted.

"She trusts you so much. Can you really bear to abandon her here like this?"

"This isn't about whether I can bear it."

Niu Youdao's voice grew serious.

"We don't even know what will happen to us in the future. Every one of us is gambling with our lives."

"She's simple. The outside world is dangerous for someone like her."

"So what if she's overwhelmingly strong?"

"With nothing more than her gluttony, other people could come up with countless ways to kill her."

"If we drag her outside merely because of our own feelings, we'd actually be harming her."

"This is the world that belongs to her."

"Let's go."

He turned and walked away without hesitation.

The three returned the way they had come.

On the stone-paved ground, Yin'er remained peacefully asleep, still clutching a scrap of torn cloth.

Alone in the quiet palace-city, sleeping in perfect tranquility, perhaps when she woke she would wonder whether everything had only been a dream.

[End of Chapter 1291]