The Demon Lord Wants a Vacation - Chapter 23: An Arm Around the Waist

Sect Master Duan made up his mind, lifted the soundproof barrier, and declared in a loud voice: “Elder Mu Qianli has fallen to demonic cultivation, defiled a mortal woman and sired Mu Ge, then usurped Mu Ge’s body, slaughtering his own flesh and blood. He even conspired with the demonic path, refined vengeful spirits, and caused countless wrongful souls to be denied rebirth!

“Mu Qianli’s crimes are heinous. Not even his past deeds of saving the world can atone for the sins he has committed.

“As the sect master, I have failed in my duty of supervision and have repeatedly indulged Mu Qianli, allowing him to stray further with each mistake. I will personally cleanse our sect and send Senior Brother Mu on his final journey.

“Once Senior Brother Mu is executed, I will step down from the position of sect master and descend into the mortal world to cultivate, accumulating virtue in Mu Qianli’s name.”

Sect Master Duan’s voice echoed throughout the entire Qingtian Sword Sect. Everyone in the sect heard his words.

It would not take long before this news spread across the entire cultivation world.

He was declaring to all that Mu Qianli’s crimes would not be tolerated, and expressing Qingtian Sect’s unwavering stance against evil.

For a moment, some within Qingtian Sect admired Sect Master Duan, while others were stunned by the depths of Mu Qianli’s depravity.

Song Gui thought that, had he been in the same position, he likely wouldn’t have been able to act with such impartiality. His heart brimmed with respect, and he resolved to take Sect Master Duan’s actions today as a standard for his own conduct in the future.

Luo Xianyun recalled the scenes of battling shoulder to shoulder with Mu Qianli in the past, and then thought of the many atrocities Mu Qianli had committed over the years. He couldn’t help feeling despondent.

Everyone was filled with emotion—everyone except Duanmu Wuqiu, who was impervious to sentiment. He leaned close to Luo Xianyun’s ear and said in a voice that was far from quiet, “Announcing a killing to the entire world first—by the time you finish shouting, Mu Qianli would already have escaped. Couldn’t you kill him first, and shout later?”

Sect Master Duan’s forehead throbbed with veins of fury.

He had long found Duanmu Wuqiu an eyesore!

If Duanmu Wuqiu had stormed into the sect directly, demanding Mu Qianli as the sect master of Taoyuan Sect, Sect Master Duan might have at least granted him a degree of respect.

But who would have expected Duanmu Wuqiu to follow Luo Xianyun around, pushing everything onto him and showing not a trace of the bearing of a demonic overlord?

Sword cultivators were known for their upright character, and they despised such underhanded behavior.

Previously, Sect Master Duan had felt guilty and had no grounds to rebuke Duanmu Wuqiu.

Now, having made his decision with a clear conscience, he no longer intended to tolerate Duanmu Wuqiu’s antics.

His sharp gaze swept toward Duanmu Wuqiu, and he said sternly, “You, elder of the dem—of the sect, I respected you as a figure of stature, yet you speak ill of others behind their backs. That is the conduct of petty scoundrels. Beichen Sect is open and upright, and Elder Luo is as virtuous as the bright moon and the gentle wind—how could he have taken on a junior like you?”

Luo Xianyun was just about to defend his junior brother with a few words, but Duanmu Wuqiu, upon hearing Sect Master Duan malign Luo Xianyun, immediately stepped forward to defend his senior brother.

Duanmu Wuqiu said, “When has this elder ever spoken ill behind anyone’s back? I have always spoken my criticisms to people’s faces. If I didn’t want you to hear it, I’d have used sound transmission long ago.”

Sect Master Duan: “…”

Duanmu Wuqiu went on, “Since you find my whispering to my senior brother inappropriate, then I shall raise my voice even louder!”

Mimicking Sect Master Duan’s earlier grand declaration, he gathered qi in his dantian and used his true essence to project his voice over a hundred li: “Announcing a killing to the world first—by the time you finish shouting, Mu Qianli would already have escaped. Couldn’t you kill him first and shout later?”

The valley echoed with, “Kill him first and shout later—shout later—later—ter—~~”

Sect Master Duan: “…”

But Duanmu Wuqiu was not finished. He once again declared loudly, “Sect Master Duan received my senior brother’s letter an hour ago and immediately confronted Mu Qianli. If I were Mu Qianli, I’d have fled right after that confrontation. Would I really wait around for someone to come knocking?”

The valley echoed again, “Come knocking—knocking—king—ing—~~”

“You—!” Sect Master Duan pointed at Duanmu Wuqiu, speechless with frustration.

The disciples of the sect, enraged by Duanmu Wuqiu’s insolence, summoned their life-bound flying swords one after another.

Dozens of swords pointed at Duanmu Wuqiu. Duanmu Wuqiu let out a cold laugh, raised his hand slightly, and looked ready to discipline these foolish righteous cultivators.

At that moment, Luo Xianyun stepped forward, shielding Duanmu Wuqiu behind him.

Duanmu Wuqiu immediately became obedient, lowering his hand and waiting for his senior brother to speak up.

Luo Xianyun said, “Junior Brother, I was just about to tell you that you misunderstood Sect Master Duan. Before he made his announcement, he had already activated the array formation of Chixue Peak to ensure that no one could escape. Only then did he declare his decision.”

Sect Master Duan’s expression softened slightly.

Luo Xianyun continued, “However, the fact that Sect Master Duan didn’t give me time to explain and offered no defense of his own, choosing instead to rebuke you outright, was indeed impulsive. You felt he was abusing his power and felt wronged, so it was understandable that you raised your voice.”

Luo Xianyun’s words were veiled criticisms—he seemed to be reprimanding Duanmu Wuqiu, but was in truth chastising Sect Master Duan for scolding Duanmu Wuqiu without investigating first. His words were filled with protective affection.

Sect Master Duan was unable to retort and, feeling a bit guilty, let out a loud “hmph,” then mounted his sword and led his disciples in a mighty flight toward Mu Qianli’s domain.

Duanmu Wuqiu said, “He couldn’t win an argument with my senior brother, so he ran.”

Luo Xianyun smiled. “All right, let’s be forgiving. Sect Master Duan is about to kill one of his own sect, and his heart must be heavy. Letting him vent a little isn’t a big deal—we ought to be gracious.

“If he had scolded me just now, I’d have let it slide. There’s no need to bicker. But he chose to take out his anger on you—that was wrong. Though you are technically peers, he is already over four hundred years old, while you are only ninety. That’s a difference of over three hundred years—an entire dynasty apart. It’s simply bullying the younger generation. As your senior brother, of course I wouldn’t let you be mistreated.”

Duanmu Wuqiu, soothed by Luo Xianyun’s words, magnanimously said, “Seeing as he’s old and in a bad mood, this elder will spare Qingtian Sect for now and not annihilate them.”

Luo Xianyun praised him, “Junior Brother truly is considerate of others.”

The newly bonded pair of senior and junior brother stood in harmony, while Song Gui, watching from the side, was rendered speechless.

Previously, his life—and the safety of Beichen Sect—had been preserved by just a few words from Elder Luo. And now, the crisis at Qingtian Sect was similarly resolved in a casual exchange of banter.

He didn’t know whether to be terrified of Duanmu Wuqiu’s ruthlessness—always threatening to wipe out entire sects—or to be in awe of Elder Luo’s demon-subduing skills, calming this killer deity’s fury with such ease.

Regardless, the crisis at Qingtian Sect had, in the end, been averted.

Song Gui respectfully addressed the two, “Honored Elders, Sect Master Duan has left us a flying sword guide. Shall we go witness his battle with Mu Qianli?”

In truth, Luo Xianyun had no desire to witness Sect Master Duan’s act of purging his own house. Just as the Sect Master had stated, this was an internal matter of the Qingtian Sword Sect, and for an outsider like him to watch would be a slight against the sect’s dignity.

However, upon seeing that Duanmu Wuqiu was clearly eager to observe, Luo Xianyun said, “It would be good to act as a witness. In the future, should anyone question the Qingtian Sword Sect’s culpability, I can serve as a testament that this entire affair was solely Mu Qianli’s doing. The sect, upon learning the truth, responded with righteousness and severed familial ties without leniency.”

These words were spoken beautifully—both preserving the sect’s honor and satisfying Duanmu Wuqiu’s curiosity. The disciples of the Qingtian Sword Sect, standing by as hosts, were so moved they felt they ought to take the initiative and escort the three guests to serve as witnesses.

A disciple stepped forward and said, “Senior Brother Song, Elders, please follow me.”

He summoned a flying sword, which transformed into a long blade over ten meters in length and two meters wide, hovering beside their feet.

The three stepped onto the flying sword. The disciple guided it through the air, taking them toward Mu Qianli’s dwelling.

The flying sword, unlike a flying boat, lacked stability. The wind was fierce during flight, the mountaintops cold, and they couldn’t sit—they had to stand atop the sword, where even the slightest misstep might send them tumbling into the abyss.

This, too, was a method the Qingtian Sword Sect used to temper their disciples. Novices frequently fell from the swords of their elders only to be caught again, and over time, all disciples became adept in agility and developed excellent balance.

The three were all experts; even without a sword, they could soar through the air with spiritual light and would not fall.

Nevertheless, Duanmu Wuqiu was rather disdainful of the flying sword.

“Not as large as a flying boat, not as steady, and I even have to use my own spiritual energy to shield against the wind and frost,” he grumbled loudly in Luo Xianyun’s ear.

Grumbling aside, he still raised a barrier to shield Luo Xianyun within it, sparing him from depleting his limited stores of spiritual energy.

Luo Xianyun smiled and transmitted a message with his spiritual sense, “Indeed. Thanks to your protection, I am spared the torment of wind and frost.”

Duanmu Wuqiu grinned proudly, standing in front of Luo Xianyun to block the oncoming wind, and said, “Hold onto my robes tightly, lest you get blown off.”

Luo Xianyun complied, clutching the wide hem of Duanmu Wuqiu’s robe with both hands.

Of course, Luo Xianyun was in no danger of falling, but he understood that if he refused, Duanmu Wuqiu would surely brood in silence.

He could tell Duanmu Wuqiu was someone who wouldn’t take advantage of others, but also refused to be in debt—one who strove always for fairness and justice.

Luo Xianyun had continuously defended Duanmu Wuqiu in the Qingtian Sword Sect, and the latter had clearly taken notice, keeping it close to heart. He had long desired to repay Luo Xianyun in some way.

To Luo Xianyun, it was nothing more than a matter of a few words—he didn’t feel he had truly done anything for Duanmu Wuqiu and didn’t want the man burdened by any sense of obligation.

Letting Duanmu Wuqiu “repay” the small favor under the guise of shielding him from the wind allowed the latter to balance the scales and avoid accruing too many karmic debts.

Luo Xianyun’s intentions were open and honorable. Unfortunately, the Savior System within his consciousness was steadily releasing psychic contamination.

Savior System: [Romance! It’s all romance!]

Savior System: [He’s holding the waist! You could’ve just stood firm, but instead you had to hold Duanmu Wuqiu’s waist! Admit it, Host, you’ve already fallen for him!]

Luo Xianyun couldn’t help but argue, “I’m merely holding his robe with both hands. How is that considered waist-holding? System, your words are far too exaggerated.”

Savior System: [In this system’s understanding, touching the waist is holding the waist. Locking eyes is a prelude to kissing. Touching clothing is disrobing. Disrobing leads to entwined passion. To summarize: the two of you are entirely willing.]

Luo Xianyun had a splitting headache.

Savior System: [Don’t be fooled by how upright Duanmu Wuqiu is standing—his heart rate is already double that of a normal person. If you actually held his waist and leaned against him, you could hear his heartbeat right through his chest. His ears might even flush red.]

Perhaps it was out of defiance, or perhaps to refute the devilish whispers of the Savior System, Luo Xianyun, driven by some inexplicable impulse, followed its words—he wrapped his arms around Duanmu Wuqiu’s waist.

And thus, he heard the man’s heartbeat pounding like a war drum.

Not only were his ears burning red—even through the layer of enchanted robes, Luo Xianyun could feel the heat radiating from Duanmu Wuqiu’s entire body, as if he were ablaze.