Incense

Yan Wushuang held her head. “Stop. What are you talking about? Why don’t I understand? What demon, what human, how did it get to demon cores?”

Lian Qiao glanced at Lu Wu Jiu and pursed her lips, saying no more.

There were two ways to cultivate. One was to absorb the spiritual energy between heaven and earth after one’s spiritual meridians were opened. The other was to seize another’s inner core.

A cultivator’s inner core was called a golden core, while a demon’s was called a demon core.

Demons and cultivators had fought for a thousand years, and an important reason was coveting the other’s inner core.

After all, the lifespans of both demons and humans were limited, and their natural talents varied. Relying on absorbing spiritual energy for cultivation was far from enough. But if one could take another’s inner core’s spiritual power for one’s own use, it would be a shortcut to the heavens.

Unfortunately, seizing and refining a core made it extremely easy for one’s meridians to be corrupted.

Throughout history, cultivators had gone mad because of this.

In mild cases, their meridians would break. In severe cases, they would lose their minds completely and fall into Qi deviation. Such people were also called “Fallen Immortals.”

Over time, the cultivation world fell into chaos, and the losses outweighed the gains, so this path was forbidden.

The demon world was like a pan of loose sand, so there were no explicit restrictions, but the great demons were also very restrained and would never risk using this method unless it was absolutely necessary.

Both the immortal and demon realms were extremely cautious, so one could imagine how harmful this cultivation method was to oneself and others.

But Lian Qiao had never expected that Lu Wu Jiu, who had received strict teachings since childhood, would actually touch this thing.

When she caught him, Lu Wu Jiu was refining the inner core of a red-eyed snake demon.

After completely absorbing it, his eyes also began to glow with an eerie crimson light, identical to the snake’s, his pupils turning into vertical slits.

When he glanced over, the then-hiding Lian Qiao was so scared she covered her mouth, holding her breath tightly.

But this demonic color flashed by in an instant, and Lu Wu Jiu did not go mad.

Instead, as he passed by her, he asked in a calm tone, “Did I scare you?”

Lian Qiao was indeed scared silly at the time.

Lu Wu Jiu, however, looked perfectly normal. “I just wanted to try it. I didn’t see you were here.”

If this matter were reported to the Discipline Hall, even Lu Wu Jiu would probably have a hard time staying.

But not long before, he had just tied an outer robe around her waist, giving her enough face.

Lian Qiao was at a loss for words, her hands nearly twisted into knots.

Finally, she turned her head and just said very angrily, “Don’t do this again! If I catch you again, I won’t let you off!”

Lu Wu Jiu replied with an impatient grunt.

From then on, Lian Qiao indeed never saw him use this method again.

However, after this incident, she did learn that some high-level demons would not die immediately even without their demon core.

Because later, that red-eyed snake, which had lost its inner core but had a high cultivation level, was just like that.

He transformed into an ordinary person, without a trace of demonic energy, and swept the floor for half a year on Red Peak for that female Peak Master who hated demons to the bone.

Then, on a snowy winter night, he died quietly and was personally buried by the female Peak Master.

Only then did Lian Qiao know that the red-eyed snake had actively asked Lu Wu Jiu to help him vivisect his inner core.

So, today, when she heard about Gu Sheng’s relationship with the fox demon and couldn’t find any demonic energy, Lian Qiao instantly thought of this red-eyed snake.

Except, the red-eyed snake had no malicious intent, but the fox demon might not be the same.

Lian Qiao recounted the story of the snake, omitting the background details, and then turned to Zhen Niang, bending down slightly. “I hear that after a demon becomes human, many of its habits don’t change. For example, that snake would get drowsy every day when it got cold, and would still hibernate like a snake. It’s probably the same for a fox. For example, the foxy smell is very difficult to get rid of. Zhen Niang, do you think that if this fox demon became human, she would also need to apply some perfume or powder to cover up the smell?”

With her saying this, even a fool would understand.

Zhou Jiannan, who was originally standing next to Zhen Niang, quickly jumped away. This woman before him was the owner of a perfumed powder shop!

Zhen Niang, however, let out a sound of slight surprise. “I have never seen a fox and do not know about these things. Is the fairy suspecting that this fox demon once bought perfumed powder from my shop?”

“Still playing dumb!” Yan Wushuang couldn’t take it anymore. “More than just buying, I’m afraid it was you!”

Zhen Niang was very aggrieved. “With no proof, and not a trace of demonic energy on my body, why is it that just by telling a story, the fairy can throw dirty water on me? Are the immortals perhaps unable to catch the demon and, finding it hard to answer to the townspeople, have decided to use a widow like me as a scapegoat?”

“You… you silver-tongued shrew!”

Yan Wushuang was furious, but Lian Qiao said, “Don’t be hasty.”

She had an obedient face, looking harmless, but she could always say something shocking when one least expected it. “What I said just now was indeed a bit rash, but—I have one thing I don’t understand. Zhen Niang, you just said that the injuries on your body were from Gu Sheng’s crazed attack, right?”

Zhen Niang said calmly, “Yes, is there anything wrong with that?”

Lian Qiao’s delicate eyebrows raised, and she simply made it clearer. “Of course it’s wrong. You used a strong perfume, the powder is very easy to transfer, and the scent is extremely rich. If your injuries were caused by him, he should at least have been stained with some of it. But when I was examining Gu Sheng’s body just now, I found not a trace of powder in his fingernails, nor any scent on his body. How… do you explain that?”

Zhen Niang covered her lips and chuckled lightly. “I thought it was something serious. Sir Gu’s body was covered in so much blood, and the smell of blood was so strong, that even if a little was transferred, it would have been covered up long ago. The fairy isn’t going to accuse me of being a demon just based on a little bit of perfumed powder, is she?”

This person was simply impenetrable. Lian Qiao was also getting a little anxious. “This is not ordinary perfumed powder! Yesterday I only used a little, and even after washing three times at night, Miss He could still smell it, which led to the subsequent argument. Even the people I’ve touched can’t get rid of the scent. Yesterday you used the persistence of this scent to set me up, and today you’re changing your tune and denying it? Do you really think I’m a fool?”

Zhen Niang finally stopped laughing, but her expression was still unreadable.

Lian Qiao added, “You won’t admit it, right? Fine. Then come back with me to the Wu Xiang Sect and let’s test your true form with the Kongtong Seal. Then, right and wrong, true and false, will naturally become clear.”

Faster than words could say, Zhen Niang’s expression suddenly changed, and she was about to flee.

However, she activated the hidden magical artifact in her sleeve twice, but it didn’t even move.

Lian Qiao leaned in with a smile. “Did you suddenly find that you can’t use your magical artifacts?”

A hot pain shot through Zhen Niang’s leg. She stared at the medicinal powder on her wound thoughtfully, her eyes slowly narrowing.

“…It was that bottle of golden sore medicine? So you suspected me long ago and tampered with it so early?”

Lian Qiao was smug, the pride in her eyes and brows unconcealable. “Hmph, you think you’re the only one who knows how to deceive people?”

“A petty trick!” Zhen Niang sneered. “So what if it was me?”

At this point, she made no effort to hide it. She instantly transformed into her original form. It was indeed a huge white fox.

Its eyes were crimson, its four claws were sharp, and with a sweep of its enormous tail, the room was suddenly filled with a fragrance.

The scent was intoxicating, making one dizzy and confused, and would even cause hallucinations, making it impossible to distinguish between reality and illusion.

Lian Qiao immediately covered her mouth and nose with her sleeve and said to the others, “Don’t breathe, this fragrance is poisonous!”

However, it was already too late. Zhou Jiannan was the first to fall for it. He spun around three times in place and said with righteous indignation, “Demon, don’t even think about escaping!”

Although he said this, his sword was aimed at Yan Wushuang.

“Jiannan, you scumbag, do you want to die?”

Yan Wushuang was so angry she rolled her eyes, and with one kick, she sent Zhou Jiannan sprawling. Zhou Jiannan was relentless, and the two of them quickly started scuffling.

With the fragrance lingering in the air, Lian Qiao also found it difficult to use her skills.

Although she wasn’t poisoned, Taotie’s mind was confused. He mistook her for the fox demon and clung tightly to her leg, not letting her move.

Lian Qiao was both angry and anxious. He was truly more of a hindrance than a help. She dragged him along, grabbing his ear and scolding him fiercely, finally managing to break free after a great deal of effort.

By this time, Lian Qiao was already panting. She didn’t have time to rest and immediately rushed toward the door to chase the fox demon.

Unexpectedly, an arm wrapped around her from behind again, and with a powerful pull, embraced her entire body from behind.

Lian Qiao, thinking it was Taotie again, impatiently tried to break free with her elbow. “Hey, you stupid dog, what are you doing!”

However, the reply she got was not a child’s voice, but a cold one.

“It’s me,” Lu Wu Jiu’s tone was displeased.

Lian Qiao froze for a moment. She looked down at the hand that was holding her waist from behind, completely baffled. “What’s wrong with you now? Did you also get hit by the hallucinogenic incense?”

Lu Wu Jiu was a head taller than Lian Qiao. Lowering his eyes, he happened to see her slightly open collar.

He averted his gaze, his tone cold, but his Adam’s apple moved slightly.

“I wish I were.”

Lian Qiao was confused. “What do you mean, you wish you were? If you’re not affected by the hallucinogenic incense, why are you holding me?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she thought of another possibility and slowly turned her head as if she had eaten a fly.

“You… don’t tell me that right now… the Love Gu has flared up?”

This was in broad daylight, with everyone here!

Lu Wu Jiu didn’t speak, but his pained expression was clearly a silent admission.