Chapter 16: I can’t possibly have that kind of fetish!

After leaving Chunding Mountain’s spirit vein, Shi Xiangwen took out a small flying artifact from Thousand Mechanism Peak:

“Miss Xianer, please board. Unless you prefer riding the horse again.”

“Hmph, don’t act like a good guy!”

Li Xingruo gritted her teeth and climbed onto the artifact, her expression strained.

Her earlier leap tugged at her stinging, reddened hips, the burning pain a constant reminder of her recent humiliation.

Damn stinking Taoist, you think offering a flying artifact will win me over? I’ll make you kneel and beg for mercy one day!

As she fantasized about trampling Shi Xiangwen, a warning sounded:

“Miss Xianer, hold tight. This artifact isn’t as stable as a flying boat—falling off would be troublesome.”

With a whoosh, the artifact surged forward, carrying them across the sky.

Nearly thrown off, Li Xingruo grabbed the handrail.

Glaring at Shi Xiangwen, she suddenly remembered something they’d forgotten.

“The horse! Your horse!” she shouted, urging him.

Perhaps because the demonic path was so resource-scarce, Li Xingruo, raised in its ways, was frugal despite her mischievous nature. Leaving a fine steed in the wilderness pained her.

“No matter. The horse will find its way back to the city,” Shi Xiangwen said.

“Yeah, right,” Li Xingruo sneered. “What, you learned beast-taming too?”

Shi Xiangwen nodded. “I dabbled in it during my spare time.”

“Jack of all trades, master of none,” she muttered.

“No need for Miss Xianer to worry about my skills,” Shi Xiangwen replied calmly, steering the artifact.

After that exchange, neither spoke, the only sound the whistling wind as the artifact sped on.

About half an hour later, Li Xingruo adjusted her sleeves, her face showing impatience.

Staring at Shi Xiangwen’s back, a restless urge grew within her.

Perhaps the intermittent pain in her hips stirred her emotions, but she couldn’t calm down.

She tried several times to suppress it, but the more she did, the more vivid the burning sensation became.

Even the Clear Heart Mantra couldn’t shift her focus.

At first, Li Xingruo was terrified.

She’d endured countless injuries in the demonic path—why was a mere spanking haunting her?

Could she have awakened some bizarre trait?

Was it because she’d read too many of those Hehuan Sect pamphlets, lingering on that type?

No, no way!

Li Xingruo’s eyelids twitched, and she shook her head fiercely.

So what if I read some pamphlets? The whole demonic cultivation world loves them. Me, Li Xingruo, former chief disciple, having such a shameful trait? Impossible!

It must be because I had it too easy in the demonic path, never facing setbacks, so my heart’s unsteady.

Can’t help it—I was just that strong…

Drawing on her demonic path experience, Li Xingruo analyzed and reached a chilling conclusion—

It’s a heart demon!

Definitely a heart demon!

She hadn’t adjusted to being a woman, constantly dreading marriage. Now this stinking Taoist humiliated her so viciously—who could endure such a grievance?

Her gaze locked on Shi Xiangwen’s back as he piloted the artifact, teeth clenched. This grudge must be avenged to purge the heart demon!

For this outwardly refined but secretly lecherous Taoist, only a heavy blow would do.

Pouting, she clenched her fists.

These past days showed her that, despite her water-type Heavenly Spirit Root, she couldn’t match this vile Taoist’s strength.

Brute force wouldn’t work—she’d need cunning.

But… how to outsmart him?

She couldn’t devise a satisfying revenge plan on the spot.

“We’ve reached Fancheng,” Shi Xiangwen’s voice interrupted her plotting. “Why so glum, Miss Xianer? Shouldn’t you be happy?”

Startled, she snapped back, “Happy about what?”

“You’ll soon ride a flying boat to the Huangji Sect and fulfill your wish to cancel the engagement,” he said with a teasing smile.

“Hah!”

Li Xingruo sneered, refusing to engage on that topic.

But his words reminded her—

She was about to go to the Huangji Sect to cancel the engagement.

Once done, she’d likely leave, making it hard to track this stinking Taoist.

She had to seize this trip to dig into his background and, ideally, bind him to her somehow, ensuring he couldn’t vanish before her revenge.

With this in mind, Li Xingruo followed Shi Xiangwen into Fancheng, bought two tickets for a small flying boat, and sped toward the Huangji Sect…

…

Three days passed in a flash.

As the fourth day’s sunrise broke, Li Xingruo, meditating, felt the spiritual energy around her grow dense.

Opening her eyes, she stepped to the boat’s bow and saw towering peaks piercing the sky, wreathed in clouds and mist-like spiritual energy.

Above the peaks, grand halls peeked through the fog; in the sky, spiritual runes spanning miles flickered.

Before even entering, Li Xingruo was awed by the Huangji Sect’s grandeur, a bitter envy rising within.

This is the immortal sects’ super sect? Compared to it, the Radiant Holy Sect, the demonic path’s top power, feels small and frail…

Can I really fulfill my mission to revive the demonic path in such a place?

Seeing her lips part, as if forgetting to breathe, staring at the peaks, Shi Xiangwen reminisced:

“To be honest, when my master brought me here to train years ago, I reacted the same way.”

Nodding, Li Xingruo hid her shock and asked:

“Where are Chui Xing Peak and Thousand Mechanism Peak?”

“Still a bit away from the boat’s docking point. Follow me.”

Shi Xiangwen led her off the boat, descending slowly.

He explained, “The sect has a mountain-protecting array isolating it. Without a key, you can only enter through the main gate.”

“You’re taking me straight to Chui Xing Peak?” Li Xingruo asked, eyeing the nearing ground.

“Naturally.”

With his confirmation, she gave a soft “mm” and fell silent.

She’d decided: at Chui Xing Peak, she’d tell Si Ruochen this guy instigated her to cancel the engagement.

Stinking Taoist, get ready for trouble!