The Demon Lord Wants a Vacation - Chapter 21: Revisiting the Past

Luo Xianyun’s proclamation startled not only the gathered members of Qingtian Sect, but even Song Gui himself.

He had believed Luo Xianyun was merely calling Duanmu Wuqiu his shidi to placate him, defusing the tension surrounding Song Gui’s alleged espionage. Never had he imagined that Luo Xianyun would formally declare their brotherhood before the sect, and for such a righteous cause. For a moment, Song Gui found himself at a loss for how the situation might unfold.

Only Duanmu Wuqiu responded with serenity. His spine straightened, his gaze steadied, a faint smile graced his lips, and the murderous air about him began to dissipate.

He advanced slowly toward Luo Xianyun, releasing the full pressure of his Mahayana cultivation. His overwhelming aura made his imposing stature feel as immovable as a sacred mountain, standing unshakably behind Luo Xianyun in silent support.

“Luo Xianyun, do you comprehend the weight of your words?” Duan Chengying demanded sharply.

Even as he spoke, his gaze involuntarily flicked toward Duanmu Wuqiu. This man’s power could no longer be overlooked. There was no denying he was a formidable force.

It wasn’t that Duan Chengying had never laid eyes on Duanmu Wuqiu before, nor that he had missed the sinister air about him. He simply hadn’t connected this enigmatic figure with the infamous Supreme Sovereign of the Demonic Path. The notion that the Demonic Sovereign would casually appear at Qingtian Sect aboard a flying vessel had seemed too absurd to consider.

Luo Xianyun, in contrast, remained calm. He knew well that in a war of words, losing one’s composure was the first step to defeat.

Duan Chengying’s emotions were beginning to slip beyond his control, while Luo Xianyun maintained a quiet, steady demeanor. “Sect Master Duan, you may see Mu Ge’s ruthlessness as the righteous cause of sacrificing evil for good. But in that case, would my shidi’s torment among the demonic cultivators not likewise be a noble sacrifice?

“Today, I must vindicate him. He has paid dearly for the peace our world now enjoys. Now, having finally accomplished his life’s work, he was nearly slain by Mu Ge. Can you still call this a matter internal to Qingtian Sect?”

Duanmu Wuqiu, hearing himself called “shidi” time and again, was nearly floating with bliss. His composure slipped into indulgence, and at that moment, there was nothing he would not do for his beloved shixiong.

“Elder Luo, your words are becoming increasingly preposterous,” Duan Chengying said, his voice trembling with fury. “You dare to fabricate these claims because Duanmu Wuqiu isn’t here to refute them. You seek to stir chaos under false pretenses—”

A deep voice interrupted him.

“Who says this Lord is not here?”

Duan Chengying fell silent.

All eyes of Qingtian Sect slowly turned toward Duanmu Wuqiu. Now that they looked more closely, the resemblance was unmistakable—this man truly was Duanmu Wuqiu.

“This Lord,” Duanmu Wuqiu said, “is Beichen Sect’s Carefree Elder, who has long toiled for the good of the realm. Though his deeds may be uncelebrated, they ought to be acknowledged. Yet just as his goals come to fruition, he is ensnared by the treachery of a so-called righteous cultivator. Such injustice is intolerable. He had resolved to raze Qingtian Sect in vengeance, but his merciful shixiong entreated him to forgo slaughter. Thus, he has agreed to pursue only Mu Ge’s transgressions and spare the rest of your sect.

“It is regrettable that Qingtian Sect refuses to yield. Must this Lord personally drag Mu Ge forth?”

Hearing Duanmu Wuqiu refer to himself as “this Lord” and speak of slaughter, Duan Chengying was both aghast and incensed. “Luo Xianyun!” he bellowed. “Is this the long-suffering younger brother you seek to defend? Just listen to him!”

Unfazed, Luo Xianyun replied serenely, “My shidi spent decades among demonic cultivators, and his manner of speech has grown coarse. But his words are just that—words. If his tone is improper, we shall correct him once he returns to Beichen Sect. This is a matter internal to our sect. Would Qingtian Sect deign to interfere in affairs that do not concern it?”

He had returned Duan Chengying’s argument to him word for word. Duanmu Wuqiu nearly clapped in admiration.

With Luo Xianyun backing him, Duanmu Wuqiu grew more audacious. He sneered, “You may hand over Mu Ge of your own will, or wait for this Lord to make you. The choice is yours.”

Before Duan Chengying could respond, Luo Xianyun stepped forward, gently blocking his shidi with a raised hand. “My shidi’s tone may be harsh,” he said mildly, “but his heart is kind. He abhors conflict and only postures for effect. Sect Master Duan, we merely seek to speak with Mu Ge. If his actions are upright, we shall not falsely accuse him. Have you not long known my character? Why then do you bar our way?”

Duan Chengying, his guard slightly lowered, was caught off balance by the unexpectedly conciliatory tone. Luo Xianyun had offered him a way to retreat without losing dignity.

Duan Chengying sighed deeply.

Luo Xianyun stepped forward and saluted him with cupped hands. “Senior Duan, I entered the path long after you. Though I’ve spoken as an equal, I am in truth your junior. I once studied for many years in Qingtian Sect, and you always treated me with the utmost courtesy. Though I hail from Beichen Sect, I was profoundly shaped by the spirit of Qingtian, and have always revered its honesty and unwavering resolve.

“Two centuries ago, I rallied the righteous sects to restore the Heavenly Pillar. While all others hesitated, it was you, Senior Duan, who answered first. Without your support, my call might have gone unheeded.

“You are a man of integrity who does not suffer evil. In the past, even if Mu Ge had spoken truth, you would have chastised him for his dishonorable conduct and his betrayal of the sword’s path. But now, you shelter him. It seems to me that the one you truly seek to protect is not Mu Ge, but Senior Mu Qianli.”

Luo Xianyun had long suspected that Duan Chengying’s motives lay deeper. A sword cultivator such as him would never condone corruption unless he had a personal reason to do so—and that reason could only be Mu Qianli, the hero who had once offered his life to save the world.

Once Luo Xianyun had reached this conclusion, he advanced with calculated steps—first reasoning, then pressuring, then offering reconciliation. And when Duan Chengying hesitated, he struck precisely at the heart of the matter, speaking Mu Qianli’s name and tearing open the unspoken truth.

Duan Chengying’s expression wavered. At the mention of Mu Qianli, he closed his eyes in bitter resignation. “Xianyun… it appears you came here prepared. You already know, don’t you?”

Luo Xianyun, though ignorant of the truth, nodded. “Senior Duan, you know I have some skill in divination. I would not have broken seclusion unless something had gone awry.”

Duan Chengying’s voice cracked. “So you know… Xianyun, I beg you—save Mu-shixiong. He… he’s lost his mind!”

He raised a soundproofing barrier to conceal their conversation—but it could not bar Duanmu Wuqiu, whose cultivation far outstripped his own.

“Senior Duan,” Luo Xianyun said gravely, “is it true that Mu Qianli, unable to accept the loss of half his spiritual root, and tormented by the five declines, fell into obsession? And in seeking to heal himself, did he harm dozens of mortal women to produce a child—Mu Ge?”

“Not merely dozens!” Duan Chengying cried. “There were many—he continued until Mu Ge was born with a pure metal spiritual root. Only then did he stop.”

Luo Xianyun had already guessed as much.

A pure spiritual root is rare. Even when two cultivators have a child, the result is usually a mixed root. Mu Qianli could not have succeeded on the first try. There must have been many failed attempts.

“Senior Duan,” Luo Xianyun asked quietly, “you knew nothing of this?”

Duan Chengying shook his head. “Mu-shixiong lived in seclusion, and I never disturbed him. I had no inkling that he was slipping away to commit such atrocities. Only when he brought Mu Ge to me, asking I accept him into the sect, did I notice the resemblance—they were clearly father and son.

“When I confronted him, he confessed. I was ready to punish him, but… when it comes to Mu-shixiong, I carry a burden of guilt. I could not act.

“Two hundred years ago, when you summoned us to mend the sky, I intended to go. My root is pure metal—I was ready to offer my life.

“But though I was willing, I still hesitated. I feared. Mu-shixiong saw that fear and volunteered to take my place among the Seven Stars. I should have stopped him, but I lacked the resolve.

“It should be me—crippled, decaying, dying with every breath. Instead, he bears the curse that was meant for me.

“He once told me he didn’t fear death—only the shame of living in cowardice. If he had perished in the array, he would have had peace. But he survived.

“I forbade him from harming Mu Ge. I hoped he could heal himself with my spiritual root, and not through such horrific means. But… alas…”

Duan Chengying shook his head with a bitter chuckle, falling into momentary silence.

“He was unable to make use of your spiritual root,” Luo Xianyun stated.

Duan Chengying nodded. “Our cultivation techniques differ, and our spiritual roots nurture incompatible sword qi. His frail meridians could not endure the strain of mine. We attempted the transfer, but when I saw it beginning to harm him, I ended it immediately.

“I continued to shield Mu Ge, intending to seek alternative methods to cure him. He agreed.

“Since then, he raised Mu Ge with meticulous care. I assumed their blood bond had awakened some lingering humanity in him, and so I let down my guard.

“But who could have foreseen…”

“Mu Qianli usurped his body,” Duanmu Wuqiu interjected, growing impatient with Duan Chengying’s slow, meandering speech, littered with sighs and half-finished sentences.

Duan Chengying’s expression darkened. “How can you hear us?”

“If this Lord wishes to hear something, who could possibly stop him?” Duanmu Wuqiu said self-righteously. Then, suspiciously, he added, “You’ve spoken at length, but all you’ve said is that Mu Qianli lost his mind. If that’s the case, shouldn’t he have joined the demonic path? Why target me specifically? There are plenty of righteous sect traitors in the demonic path—he could have joined our ranks. Was his lifespan so long that he grew bored and decided to provoke this Lord?”

Crude as his phrasing was, Duanmu Wuqiu’s reasoning was sound. Mu Qianli’s descent into madness and his possession of another’s body didn’t justify his assault on Duanmu Wuqiu.

Duan Chengying gave a wistful smile. “I only recently discovered the truth. Just before I received your letter, he explained everything.

“Knowing the weight of his sins, he sought redemption by attempting to eliminate what he deemed a threat to the world—Duanmu Wuqiu.

“Though his means were severe, his heart remains aligned with righteousness.”

What utter drivel. Burning Carefree Valley was redemption? That wasn’t atonement—it was further transgression. Duanmu Wuqiu was ready to strike Duan Chengying dead on the spot.

Thankfully, his ever-persuasive Luo-shixiong was present to make sense of this absurdity.

Luo Xianyun said solemnly, “Senior Duan, do you truly believe that? After all his struggles, he finally secures a youthful body and escapes, if only temporarily, the ravages of the five declines. Why would he endanger himself by provoking the Supreme Sovereign of the Demonic Path? Over the years, my shidi has maintained control over countless dangerous elements through ruthless, yet necessary, action—so much so that even deathless puppets fear him. Why would Mu Qianli, newly reborn, challenge him without reason? There must be a deeper motive behind his actions.”

“He tried to kill Duanmu Wuqiu. What deeper motive could there be?” Duan Chengying retorted. “Could it be that he knew Duanmu Wuqiu had joined Beichen Sect and sought to strike at the sect itself?”

The words landed like thunder, weaving disparate threads into a coherent possibility.

A hypothesis formed in Luo Xianyun’s mind—unlikely at first glance, yet disturbingly plausible.

He spoke with deliberate clarity, “Sect Master Duan, you’ve struck upon the truth. Perhaps Mu Qianli’s true objective… was Beichen Sect itself.”