Chapter 579 - 474: But Felt It Shouldn’t Be This Way

"Our Celestial Demon Country! We must catch him!"

...

"Xiao Mo, are you okay?"

"Xiao Mo, does it hurt?"

"Xiao Mo, do you want to go to the Medical Hall to get checked out?"

"Maybe we should go to the Medical Hall anyway."

"After all, Sister Yue Shi isn’t a Medical Cultivator. What if you have some kind of long-term side effects like they talk about in the books? What are we going to do then?"

In the courtyard.

As the maid, Yue Shi, applied medicine and bandaged Xiao Mo’s wounds, Tushan Jing Ci fidgeted, her little tail twitching as she watched Xiao Mo with nervous concern.

"Miss, I’m really fine. It’s just a few superficial wounds. They’ll heal in a few days. There’s no need to go to the Medical Hall."

Xiao Mo gave a helpless smile.

Ever since Tushan Jing Ci brought him back to the courtyard, she had been fussing in his ear nonstop.

Xiao Mo didn’t find it annoying, though.

After all, having someone who cared so much about him was a blessing.

’Besides one’s parents, how many people would ever care that much about you?’

’Let alone the fact that I don’t have parents in this life...’

He just felt that his Miss was being a little too anxious.

"That’s right, Miss. Xiao Mo is not in any serious danger. He just has some superficial wounds. He’ll be fine after a bit of rest, so please don’t worry."

Yue Shi tied a knot in the bandage on Xiao Mo’s arm as she reassured Tushan Jing Ci.

Though she said that, a faint anger smoldered in Yue Shi’s eyes.

’Judging from the two scratch marks on Xiao Mo’s neck, how could this have just been a conflict or an argument?’

’Those Scholar’s Attendants were clearly trying to kill him!’

’If Xiao Mo hadn’t been skilled enough, he probably would have been a dead man.’

’And I can’t even imagine how heartbroken the Miss would be then.’

’I won’t tell the Miss about this, but I will definitely report it to the Madam!’

"Jing Ci, don’t worry. Xiao Mo is indeed fine, there’s no need to be so concerned. Otherwise, I would have had you take him to the Medical Hall right then and there."

Just as Yue Shi was lost in thought, a refined, scholarly voice drifted into the courtyard.

Everyone turned to look and saw a man in a green robe slowly walking over.

"Greetings, Mr. Xian."

The three of them—Tushan Jing Ci, Xiao Mo, and Yue Shi—hurriedly went forward and bowed to the man.

"Greetings to you all." Mr. Xian clasped his hands and bowed in return.

"Mr. Xian, what brings you here?" Tushan Jing Ci asked, puzzled.

"Me? I came to have a chat with Young Master Xiao." Xian Xichun smiled at Xiao Mo. "I wonder if Young Master Xiao has time to take a walk with me right now?"

"Since you’ve invited me, sir, this junior naturally wouldn’t dare to refuse. After you, Mr. Xian." Xiao Mo nodded.

"After you, Young Master Xiao."

Xian Xichun made a gesture of invitation, waited for Xiao Mo to walk to his side, and then the two of them headed into the woods together.

Tushan Jing Ci took a small step forward, wanting to follow.

But Yue Shi held her mistress back and shook her head.

Tushan Jing Ci could only bite her lip lightly, watching as Mr. Xian and Xiao Mo gradually walked into the distance.

...

In the woods, Xian Xichun took an elixir from his sleeve and offered it to Xiao Mo:

"This is a Spirit Healing Pill. It has miraculous effects on mending injuries, especially for regenerating flesh and blood. If you do not find it beneath you, Young Master Xiao, you may give it a try."

Xiao Mo glanced at the elixir in Xian Xichun’s hand, then back at Xian Xichun, his expression tinged with a hint of vigilance.

"Hahaha..." Xian Xichun laughed heartily. "Young Master Xiao, you may be young, but your mind is impressively meticulous. Do not worry, Young Master Xiao. This elixir is my apology. I have no other intentions. I wouldn’t stoop so low as to harm a child."

"Thank you for the elixir, Mr. Xian."

Xiao Mo didn’t stand on ceremony. He took the elixir and put it in his mouth.

In an instant, Xiao Mo felt a warm current flow through his body.

The pain in his arm and neck, which had been throbbing just moments ago, suddenly subsided significantly.

Xiao Mo could even feel his wounds beginning to heal at an accelerated rate.

"Young Master Xiao, are you not going to ask why I called this elixir my ’apology’?" Xian Xichun asked, smiling at Xiao Mo.

"I’ve guessed some of it." Xiao Mo’s expression grew serious. "Although I am of the Human Race, I am still Miss Tushan’s Scholar’s Attendant. Logically speaking, Wang Zhong and the others shouldn’t have attacked me, let alone with lethal intent. All of this was probably at the behest of the master behind them."

Hearing Xiao Mo’s reply, a flash of surprise crossed Xian Xichun’s eyes:

"Young Master Xiao is truly precocious. You are correct. The reason Wang Zhong attacked you, Young Master Xiao, was because he was instructed to by his master."

"As for the other Scholar’s Attendants, they were merely duped by Wang Zhong."

"I don’t understand." Xiao Mo shook his head.

’Logically, I’m just a Scholar’s Attendant. I haven’t offended Chen Jue. Even if he despises me for being human, there’s no need to have me killed.’

’What good would it do him?’

Xian Xichun stopped walking and bowed to Xiao Mo with clasped hands. "As for the reason, it is not convenient for me to explain it to you, Young Master Xiao. However, Chen Jue is my student. For him to do something so ruthless is indeed my failure as a teacher. But please rest assured, Young Master Xiao, something like this will not happen again."

"You taught them reason, Mr. Xian. If they didn’t listen, how is that your fault?" Xiao Mo returned the bow. "But according to the academy’s rules, how will Wang Zhong and the others be dealt with?"

Xian Xichun lowered his gaze, a hint of sorrow flashing in his eyes. "According to the academy’s rules, anyone who attempts to kill without cause, whether they succeed or not, shall be expelled from the academy, never to set foot in Cold Mountain Academy again."

Xiao Mo was silent for a moment, then he looked up and asked again, "Then may I ask, Mr. Xian, what if someone kills a demon without cause?"

"..."

This time, it was Xian Xichun who fell silent.

His throat bobbed as if he wanted to speak but stopped himself.

Finally, Xian Xichun took a deep breath and said, "He who kills a demon without cause shall pay with his life."

"I see..." Xiao Mo had his answer, his eyes as calm as autumn waters.

"Do you find it unfair, Young Master Xiao? A life is a life, so why is a demon’s different from a human’s?" Xian Xichun asked.

"A demon’s life is a demon’s life, and a human’s life is a human’s life," Xiao Mo replied. "This is the Demon Race’s World, where the lives of the Human Race are treated as worthless as weeds. It’s not that I cannot understand."

"But..." Xiao Mo raised his head and looked directly into Xian Xichun’s eyes. "I can understand it, but I do not believe it should be this way."

With that said, Xiao Mo took a step back and bowed with clasped hands again. "Thank you for the elixir, Mr. Xian, and thank you for telling me all this. It is getting late, and my Miss is still waiting for me in the courtyard. This junior will take his leave now."

"Rest well." Mr. Xian clasped his hands in farewell to Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo turned and left.

But even after Xiao Mo had vanished into the distance, Xian Xichun did not look away, his gaze fixed on the direction he had gone.

"That little boy from the Human Race is a lot like you." Jiang Feng, the Deacon from the Steward Hall, emerged from behind a pagoda tree. He leaned against the trunk, cradling his longsword as he looked at Xian Xichun. "And that little girl from the Tushan Clan is a lot like her."

"He’s not like me, and he shouldn’t be." A reminiscent look flickered in Xian Xichun’s eyes. "Being like us... doesn’t lead to a good end..."

"Speaking of which," Xian Xichun reined in his emotions and looked at Jiang Feng, "instead of going back to the Steward Hall, what are you doing following me around?"

Jiang Feng spat out the blade of grass he was chewing. "There was something I was going to tell you, but I forgot because of those little brats."

"What is it?" Xian Xichun asked his friend.

"I’m leaving the academy," Jiang Feng said proudly. "A scholar from Bailu Academy recently came to our Demon Race’s World. I hear his Sword Qi is incredible, and he’s specifically challenging Sword Cultivators from the Demon Race. I want to go test my skills against him."

"Fine... Just don’t get yourself killed." With his friend about to depart, Xian Xichun couldn’t help but feel a sense of melancholy, but he didn’t try to dissuade him, knowing it would be useless.

"You’re one to talk."

Jiang Feng walked up, patted Xian Xichun on the shoulder, and looked at him seriously.

"Don’t you die! Don’t flip the table! Being alive is better than anything!"

"If you die, forget me—even she, in the underworld, will never forgive you!"