The taste of the demon cult witch is really good

After a long silence, the white-haired man finally exhaled, his expression wistful. He placed two cups before the tombstone and pulled a wine flask from his spatial ring, pouring wine into both.

“Ah… I’ve come to terms with it. You’re dead now, Ye Shidi. What’s the point of talking about this? I just hope you didn’t waste my dozens of spirit stones before dying—enjoyed yourself, became a well-fed ghost in the underworld. At least my money was put to good use.”

He raised his cup, clinking it against the cold stone in a toast, then downed it in one gulp.

“May your journey be peaceful, Brother. I hope you find a cultivation partner down there. Don’t be such a pushover like before—dying with no woman visiting your grave.

Don’t worry. I’ve already investigated. Li Junior Sister said it was the remnants of the Cold Blood Demon Cult who did it. The revenge… I’ll take care of it for you.”

He picked up the second cup—the one meant for Xiao Yu—and slowly poured it onto the ground. Clear wine soaked into the soft soil, releasing a faint aroma. From behind the tombstone, Xiao Yu sniffed—it was their usual drink. Not expensive, not even spiritual wine, but cheap and filling.

But Cold Blood Demon Cult?

Xiao Yu narrowed his eyes. Did they kill protagonist Ye Feng?

After a moment’s thought, he dismissed it. No way. The Cold Blood Demon Cult didn’t have the strength or motive. He knew the missing sect leader well—Cold Sect Leader was even one of his regular customers.

And the deputy leader? A cowardly, fearful man. No killer.

The white-haired man before him—Li Qingming—was a once-in-a-century genius of Xuanling Sect. Unique in that he possessed two soul-bound flying swords. One had remained sealed for decades, refined in secrecy, never drawn since cultivation began.

Yet, despite his talent, he’d been stuck at Golden Core peak for ten years. Now known as a problem disciple—a notorious slacker—he spent his days drifting through pleasure districts. Despite being Golden Core, he’d failed the inner sect promotion exam multiple times. A true repeat offender. He himself admitted: “I’ve accepted it. This is how life will be. Being an inner sect disciple isn’t bad.”

It was rumored his breakthrough hinged on that second, un-drawn sword. Yet he showed no interest in drawing it. No one knew why.

Now, with his closest junior brother dead, it was time for the elder brother to draw his sword—not for glory, but for justice. And for those unrecovered dozens of mid-grade spirit stones.

“Brother,” Li Qingming said softly, “this time, I go without certainty. If I fail, I’ll join you below. When I do, remember to prepare good wine. This stuff? Too strong. Burns the throat, stings the eyes. Makes the Yellow Springs Road hard to walk.”

Holding the half-empty flask, he took slow sips as he walked away, leaving only a lonely silhouette behind.

Behind the small tombstone, Xiao Yu crouched, hidden. Watching Li Qingming vanish, his expression turned complex. The so-called Cold Blood Demon Cult was impossible. A sect without its leader couldn’t possibly kill the protagonist. Someone else was responsible.

Hope Li Senior Brother returns safely.
He rarely saw his senior so driven. Maybe this was his chance to break through. With Li Qingming’s strength, killing a Nascent Soul cultivator wasn’t impossible—he’d even appeared in the late stages of the novel.

Muttering silently, Xiao Yu stepped out from behind the tombstone. Li Qingming was gone. No one else around. Time to get to work.

He rubbed his hands together, staring at the tombstone—his own black-and-white photo pasted on it, yet labeled with Ye Feng.

From his pocket, he pulled out a shovel.

Time to open the coffin.

Autopsy.

If the system could scan the wounds on the body, it could identify the method, weapon, location, time, and perpetrator of Ye Feng’s death.

There might even be a chance to revive him. After all, protagonists existed for a reason.

When the world-ending final boss arrived, without the protagonist shouting about friendship and love to defeat it, the world—and Xiao Yu—would end.

And if the world ended, retirement was off the table.

Sorry, ghost and gods, no offense intended. I’m doing this to uncover the truth. If you have any resentment, go after Zheng Fei. He treats ghosts well—I tested it myself. Five-star recommendation.

Before digging, Xiao Yu bowed respectfully to Ye Feng’s grave, murmuring silently.

Even though the system confirmed Ye Feng’s soul had scattered—no chance of becoming a ghost—better safe than sorry. A little ritual before opening the coffin.

Though bowing to his own photo felt… weird.

All preparations complete. Only one thing left.

With everything ready, Xiao Yu raised the shovel and struck the grave mound.

Ah!!

A wailing cry suddenly pierced the air.

Xiao Yu froze mid-swing. Holy sh*t—was there really a ghost?!

No!

He quickly realized—the scream didn’t come from underground. It came from afar.

And the voice sounded familiar.

He sent out his spiritual sense and soon spotted someone approaching while crying.

Plump figure. Wearing Xuanling Sect robes. Two rhombuses on the arm—inner sect disciple.

Another visitor!

Xiao Yu’s eyes widened. He instantly ducked back behind the tombstone and cast a concealment spell over himself.

“Waaah! Ye Ge, how could you die like this!”

The man sobbed, reaching the grave and collapsing to his knees. *Thud thud thud!*

Three more kowtows.

Xiao Yu: “……”

“My dear Gege! How could you leave me alone like this—abandoning me to live in an empty room?! How am I supposed to survive now?!”

Sun Qian knelt, tears streaming. Anyone watching would think he had lost a brother.

Xiao Yu winced.
Could you phrase that less suspiciously?

This was Sun Qian—Xiao Yu’s roommate during his time posing as Ye Feng in Xuanling Sect. Average cultivation talent, skilled in alchemy.

They got along well. During the Disciple Competition, Xiao Yu had saved him once. Since then, Sun Qian had called him “Ye Ge.”

So he actually cared that much?

Xiao Yu stroked his chin. Could it be… he owed this guy money too?

Thinking back—no. Never borrowed anything. Because Sun Qian was broke.

Despite having “money” in his name, Sun Qian was perpetually poor. No background. Parents were peasants. Only decent at refining pills—which made him a target for bullies.

Later, when Xiao Yu advanced to inner sect, he beat up all the bullies during the competition. Things calmed down.

“Waaah, Ye Ge! You were so young! How could you go! I still wanted to keep leaning on you…”

Like Li Qingming, he wailed a few lines, then produced two cups and a wine flask.

A far richer aroma filled the air. Xiao Yu sniffed—eyes lit up.

Wait! *Qingzhu Mountain Wine*? That’s high-end stuff! When did this guy get so rich?

Xiao Yu thought in shock.

Sun Qian cried for a while, then seemed to tire. Staring at the tombstone, his expression softened. He lifted the wine flask and took a swig.

“Cough… cough… Famous Qingzhu Mountain Wine isn’t that great. Pity you never got to taste it.

Ah… Ye Ge, I’ve come to terms with it. I’m useless. My cultivation is mediocre. Always bullied. Relying on you to protect me. Not strong. Only good at alchemy. If I tried to avenge you, I’d probably be killed before even seeing the real culprit.”

True. Don’t do anything stupid. You’re no Li Qingming. Stay away from the Cold Blood Demon Cult.

Xiao Yu nodded in agreement.

“But I can’t accept it! You’re dead, and I can’t even avenge you. I’m worthless!”

Sun Qian slammed his fist into the ground, ashamed of his weakness.

Looking at Xiao Yu’s photo on the tombstone, memories of their time together brought a faint smile to his round face.

He drained his cup, sighed deeply:

“Senior Brother, earlier, a female cultivator from the Twin Harmony Sect approached me. Said she liked me. Wanted me as her cultivation partner. Promised endless spirit stones. To support me. Said I have the Nine Mysteries Pure Yang Body—perfect for her as a furnace vessel. At first, I refused.

You always said: ‘Have dignity. Greed is fine, but lose your face, and you’re no better than an animal.’ Besides, if I married in, my father—if alive—would beat me to death.”

“But now you’re dead. Dead for no reason. And I can do nothing. I’ve decided. I may not be strong enough to avenge you directly—but if I have *money*, I can. Money isn’t everything, but without it, you can’t do *anything*. Then I’ll buy a mountain of divine artifacts, consume pills like snacks—how could I lose?”

As he spoke, he instinctively grabbed his lower back, face pale, lips twitching:

“That Twin Harmony Sect woman is filthy rich. Her family owns several spirit stone mines. Not just spirit stones—immortal stones, more than she can spend. So… I gave in. Yesterday, I went to the address she left.

One night… my legs are still weak. She’s kind. Said she’ll introduce me to her parents in a few days. Sure, she’s older—but you said, ‘three years older means golden bricks,’ right? She’s hundreds of years older—how many golden bricks will I get?!”

Xiao Yu: “……”

You’re the real protagonist here. Why am I jealous?

Sun Qian stood, pouring the entire flask of premium Qingzhu Mountain Wine onto the grave—no hesitation.

“Senior Brother, now that you’re gone, I’ll say what I kept inside. Remember that pair of underwear you hung outside that disappeared?

I sold it. To an outer sect junior sister who secretly admired you. Got twenty mid-grade spirit stones. Was too scared to tell you—afraid you’d beat me. Now I’m rich. Here’s the money I earned from selling your underwear.”

He placed a bag of spirit stones on the grave. Xiao Yu’s eyebrow twitched violently.

So that’s why you treated me to drinks and meat after my underwear went missing!

Was my underwear *that* valuable? Why didn’t you say so earlier? Where’s that junior sister? I’ll sell her all my underwear!

Whoosh~

The last drop of the expensive wine poured out. Sun Qian tossed the empty flask aside, then bowed once more to the grave.

“Senior Brother, I’ve quit Xuanling Sect. Wait for me. Once I marry in and gain control of the finances, I *will* avenge you. Heh… honestly, demon sect women? They’re really something.”

For once, he cracked a dirty joke, then turned and walked away—popping his self-made Liuwei Dihuang Pills into his mouth, replenishing the energy drained from last night. Tonight… another battle awaited. Demon women were amazing—but their desires were terrifying.

All for avenging Senior Brother.
With that thought, his steps grew firmer.

Sun Qian faded into the distance, leaving behind only a kidney-deficient silhouette.