The Protector's Reverse Infiltration

"When has it been your turn, a mad dog like you, to interrupt my words?"

In the center of the Demon Hall, Xie Qingyun's eye-catching red robes fluttered slightly in the wind. He stood with an arrogant expression, his right hand resting casually on the slender demon blade "Zhan Ye" at his waist, a hint of a mischievous and dangerous smile playing at the corner of his mouth. His handsome, almost bewitching face looked sinister and perilous under the green ghostly flames of the Demon Hall.

Before him, a burly, scar-faced demon cultivator in black had just crashed heavily into the hall's hard black crystal pillar, spitting out a mouthful of blood. He curled up on the ground, trembling like a sieve.

This man was the Mad Wolf Hall Master, who two days ago, for the sake of refining artifacts, had taken it upon himself to slaughter three mortal villages.

On the surface, Xie Qingyun's reason for kicking him was: "You fool, you kill people without reporting to me in advance! Don't you know these three villages were my designated training materials? Where are the rules? What a disgrace!"

Mad Wolf Hall Master struggled to raise his head, his mouth full of blood, his eyes filled with grievance and fear: "Milord... your subordinate, I was just..."

"Just what?" Xie Qingyun stepped forward, his red cavalry boot directly stepping on Mad Wolf Hall Master's fingers. As he slowly applied pressure, he spoke in the typical edgy cold tone of the demon sect, "The Demon Hall has its rules. Acting without reporting, today I crush your ten fingers. Next time, it won't be your fingers but your golden core that breaks. Get lost."

Mad Wolf Hall Master let out a pig-slaughtering scream, scrambling away with his minions.

The demon cultivators kneeling around trembled in fear, not daring to breathe. In their eyes, this young Red-Robed Protector was even more twisted than a ghost, acting without logic, purely tormenting people on a whim.

In reality, by crushing Mad Wolf's fingers, Xie Qingyun had ensured that the man wouldn't be able to use demonic arts to harm mortals for at least half a year, thus saving the nearby villages. Xie Qingyun breathed a sigh of relief inside, while also complaining: "Playing the madman every day, my calf muscles are getting stiff. This Demon Hall's 'corporate management' is a mess; there isn't even a form to fill out for murder and arson. No wonder it never grows."

On the main seat, the Cangming Demon Lord, hidden within thick black mist, let out a low, hoarse laugh. The black mist churned violently, revealing a pair of cold, viper-like dark red eyes that slowly settled on Xie Qingyun: "Qingyun, your temper is still so impatient. But I admire that arrogant and ruthless spirit of yours. A demon cultivator should have that audacity."

Xie Qingyun slightly bowed, performing a very irregular demon sect salute, and said lazily with a smile: "Your subordinate thanks the Demon Lord for the praise. Just a dog that didn't watch where it was going, easily dealt with. May I ask why the Demon Lord has summoned me today with such effort? What orders do you have?"

Inwardly, Xie Qingyun was rolling his eyes countless times: Old poison, can't you speak louder? Always putting on airs with ventriloquism, do you have a voice changer in your throat? And the Ten Thousand Soul Incense in this hall smells like dead rats. I'll burn this place down sooner or later.

Cangming Demon Lord's withered, eagle-claw-like fingers lightly tapped the armrest of his pitch-black throne, producing a series of dull sounds. He scrutinized Xie Qingyun for a long time, as if evaluating the young man's loyalty, before slowly speaking: "In three days, the Tianmen Mountain secret realm will stabilize completely. According to certain... understandings between the Immortal Alliance and me, this time, the younger generation of both realms may enter. I order you to lead a team and infiltrate it."

"Tianmen Mountain secret realm?" Xie Qingyun stroked his chin, putting on a greedy expression. "I heard it's the ruins of an ancient war, full of treasures. Does the Demon Lord want me to seize all the spiritual medicines and artifacts?"

"Spiritual medicines and artifacts are trivial," Cangming Demon Lord's voice deepened, the red light in the black mist growing stronger. "The most important thing is the 'Celestial Mechanism Disk' at the core of the secret realm. It records the grand trends of heaven and earth since ancient times, even involving the secrets of ascension. I have planted a very deep spy within the righteous path; this person will cooperate with you in the secret realm. You just need to bring back the Celestial Mechanism Disk. I care not about the rest."

Xie Qingyun was shocked inside. A spy in the righteous path? The Demon Lord had planted someone inside the righteous faction? This news was extremely important and must be relayed to the Shadow Hall immediately.

"Cooperate?" Xie Qingyun put on a highly disdainful expression, sneering, "Your subordinate does not need the cooperation of those hypocritical righteous traitors. But rest assured, Demon Lord, I will present the Celestial Mechanism Disk to you with both hands. Anyone who dares to stop me, my Zhan Ye blade will show no mercy."

"Hahaha, arrogant! But that's precisely the spirit I admire." The Demon Lord's voice turned colder. "Also, the leader of the Tai Xuan Heavenly Sect this time is Jiang Zheliu, the most valued disciple of Old Man Xuanguang. He is known as the 'Light of the Righteous Path' and has extremely high cultivation. If you encounter him, show no mercy, and bring his head to me."

"Jiang Zheliu?" Xie Qingyun savored the name, a cruel smile curling at the corners of his mouth. "The foremost senior disciple of the number one righteous sect... Your subordinate's favorite thing is to drag those pure and lofty famous disciples down into the mud and crush their bones. I accept this task."

"Good! Go prepare, do not disappoint me." The Demon Lord waved his hand, and the black mist around him surged again, completely swallowing him.

"Your subordinate takes leave."

Xie Qingyun flicked his red robe, turned, and strode out of the Demon Hall. His gait was swaggering, his robes fluttering in the wind, and the bloodthirsty aura emanating from him caused demon cultivators along the way to scurry out of his path.

As soon as he returned to his own Crimson Lotus Hall, Xie Qingyun slammed the heavy iron door shut, leaned against it, and his fierce expression instantly collapsed.

He gasped for breath, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and spat, "Old poison, you test me with spiritual pressure every day. One day I'll poison you. And this lousy tea —" He walked to the table, picked up the teapot, took a sip, and spit it out in disgust. "The spirit tea of the demon realm tastes like mud. Not even a dog would drink it."

He sat down cross-legged, formed hand seals, and quickly set up nine layers of soundproofing and heaven-concealing talisman arrays around the room. These talismans, though appearing to be formed by demonic qi, were actually disguised using the unique intangible talisman techniques of Penglai Immortal Island. Even if the Demon Lord swept with his divine sense, he would only see a demonic glow.

After confirming everything was secure, Xie Qingyun took out a green jade slip from his bosom.

This was the latest secret message from the Shadow Hall.

His divine sense probed into it, and the hoarse, low voice of the Hall Master sounded in his mind: "Qingyun, according to intelligence, the black curtain behind the fall of Penglai Immortal Island is extremely deep. Xuanguang True Venerable secretly mobilized demon sect experts to cooperate. To uncover the truth, you must seize the 'Celestial Mechanism Disk' in the Tianmen Mountain secret realm, which records the causal transactions between the two realms. This time, Tai Xuan Heavenly Sect is sending their great disciple Jiang Zheliu as leader. He is aloof and proud, with extremely strong swordsmanship, and is likely a loyalist sent by Xuanguang. Be cautious of him; if obstacles arise, eliminate him thoroughly."

The jade slip turned into a wisp of green smoke between Xie Qingyun's fingers and dissipated.

Xie Qingyun closed his eyes, his hands clenched into fists. The stormy night five years ago tore through his mind again.

Penglai Immortal Island, a famous talisman sect. That night, countless black-clad figures suddenly broke in, some wielding immortal sect sword techniques, others using demonic arts. They killed everyone in sight. The blazing fire lit the night sky scarlet, rain mixed with blood formed rivers on the bluestone slabs.

His father, that gentle and refined man, covered in blood, pushed him into the secret passage and sealed the entrance with his last strength. Through the stone crack, he watched his mother being run through by a sword and his father being burned to charcoal by black demonic flames.

"Live... Qingyun... find the truth..."

Those were his parents' last words to him.

To survive and to avenge, he destroyed his own immortal foundation, forcibly swallowed a violent demon core, endured seven days and nights of pain like thousands of ants gnawing at his heart and bones being torn apart, and forcibly converted his pure immortal qi into this nauseating demonic qi.

"Xuanguang... Cangming... you will both die." Xie Qingyun opened his eyes, his pupils bloodshot, letting out a suppressed roar from his throat.

"Knock knock."

Suddenly, a light knock pulled him back from the abyss of hatred.

"Come in." Xie Qingyun instantly suppressed all emotions, his face once again wearing that arrogant and unruly smile.

The door opened, and his close subordinate, Shadow Slave, entered with head lowered, holding a storage pouch in his hands. He reported flatly, "Protector, the thirty-six demon cultivators for the secret realm exploration have been assembled, all seasoned warriors. Also, as per your orders, I have prepared some... righteous snacks and wound medicine."

Shadow Slave presented the storage pouch with a hint of confusion in his tone. He didn't understand why his notoriously cruel protector always demanded those sweet righteous-style osmanthus cakes and cooling ointment before every dangerous mission.

Xie Qingyun snatched the storage pouch casually, stuffed it into his bosom, glanced sideways at Shadow Slave, and snorted, "What do you know! This is called knowing your enemy and yourself. The righteous cultivators pride themselves on purity, but their food is exquisite. By eating their food, I taste their weaknesses and find flaws in their techniques. This is the supreme demon sect art — 'Devouring Qi to Transform Resentment.' Understand?"

Shadow Slave was stunned by this string of nonsense, though the logic seemed flawed, he bowed respectfully: "The Protector is far-sighted. Your subordinate is dull."

"Hmph, get out. Don't loiter here." Xie Qingyun waved his hand.

"Your subordinate takes leave." Shadow Slave bowed and withdrew, closing the door.

The moment the door shut, Xie Qingyun quickly fished out a piece of osmanthus cake from the storage pouch and stuffed it into his mouth. The sweet, soft taste spread in his mouth, finally suppressing the bitterness of demonic qi and the smell of blood in his throat.

He brushed off the crumbs from his hands, walked to the window, and looked at the blood-red demon moon in the sky.

"Jiang Zheliu..."

Xie Qingyun murmured the name repeatedly, his fingers slowly stroking the Zhan Ye blade at his waist.

"The foremost righteous disciple, the ice beauty?" A glint of battle intent shone in Xie Qingyun's eyes, and a roguish, wicked smile curled at his lips. "Senior Brother, this pack of osmanthus cake is specially saved for you. I hope you don't get played out too quickly in the secret realm."

Under the blood-red moonlight, a streak of red turned into flowing light, disappearing instantly into the pitch-black demon realm night.