readytorunbook Chapter 92 : A Crooked Sapling Won’t Grow Straight Without Pruning
Chapter 92 : A Crooked Sapling Won’t Grow Straight Without Pruning
Chapter 92: A Crooked Sapling Won’t Grow Straight Without Pruning
The forest south of Twin Su Manor was extremely deep.
Fang Chang, Zhao Yuntong, and Zhang Su formed a half-circle around the fallen female woodcutter lying on the ground.
Any woman capable of becoming a woodcutter possessed unbelievable strength.
The lingering heat of battle still remained in the air.
A massive wound had appeared across the crazed female woodcutter’s abdomen.
Fang Chang picked up the old axe lying on the ground.
The wooden handle had been polished slick and black from sweat and years of use, while the blade edge had long since chipped and curled.
It carried the same sort of feeling as that Vajra.
Very good.
That meant all four hidden items had now been secured.
He sealed the object away and tossed it back into the Black Tortoise Square Cauldron.
The first Demonic Seed mission in version 2.0 of 【Innate Demonic Qi】 was randomized.
Twin Su Manor was more or less the hardest one.
The main difficulty lay in needing to collect special items from hidden missions located in the four cardinal directions.
And much like the eastern 【Ghost Monkey Medicinal Garden】, each route carried elements of randomness.
Fang Chang paused.
From the corner of his eye, he noticed Zhang Shigu’s conflicted and compassionate expression.
He smiled faintly. “There are quite a few methods to identify Demonic Seeds.”
Fang Chang crossed his arms and leaned sideways against a fruit tree.
Zhang Su and Zhao Yuntong looked toward him.
A gentle forest breeze stirred beneath the sunlight, making the two beautiful Yin Corpses appear even more enchanting.
Zhang Su’s brows and eyes remained gentle as ever.
But when she looked toward Fang Chang, there was now a hint more distance in her gaze.
Fang Chang’s shadow was straight because he feared no slanted sunlight; he did not care in the slightest.
Never care about a woman’s emotions. Pay attention—I said never.
“Pupil-Reading Technique, Origin-Scent Method, Bone Resonance Scripture—you won’t learn those in a short time anyway. You can study them slowly later. Since I’m too lazy to teach, use these instead.”
Fang Chang tossed each of them a stack of talisman papers.
Zhao Yuntong glanced at them and sneered.
“Where did you buy these Purification Altar Talismans? They’re drawn so ugly.”
“I drew them.”
“No wonder. Ugly as hell.”
Fang Chang glanced sideways at her.
Zhao Yuntong’s cherry lips curved upward as she raised her pretty brows toward him, her eyes shimmering with amusement and provocation.
Today’s Zhao Yuntong seemed somewhat quiet and refined.
Her silky black hair had been neatly coiled into a gentle low bun, with only a plain silver hairpin inserted diagonally through it. Two loose strands of hair hung softly beside her ears like spring water.
Fang Chang curled his lips and ignored her.
“Why use Purification Altar Talismans?”
Over here, Zhang Su asked.
Purification Altar Talismans were a common and ordinary type of talisman paper. Cultivators used them when establishing ritual altars to light incense and candles, burn sacrificial offerings, or purify the surroundings of the altar with talisman ash.
They possessed no offensive power whatsoever and belonged among the most basic everyday consumables.
Fang Chang raised his hand and fired a qi arrow into the tree canopy before spreading his palm outward.
A moment later, a bright red fruit fell downward and landed perfectly in his palm.
“These aren’t ordinary Purification Altar Talismans. I modified them slightly. When activated, the flame color can determine whether Demonic Seeds are nearby, though the range is limited.”
During the early stages of version 2.0 of 【Innate Demonic Qi】,
Cultivators could be said to have been utterly caught off guard by Demonic Seeds, scrambling in complete chaos.
Thus, various quick and simple methods had rapidly been developed.
For example, the Purification Altar Talismans Fang Chang distributed.
But emergency measures naturally meant imprecision.
They could only detect whether Demonic Seeds existed nearby, but they could not accurately identify specific individuals.
Back in version 2.0, Fang Chang had still been dirt poor.
Yet he had no choice but to use them while doing missions.
So at the start, he would usually use one talisman to confirm that someone had been infected with a Demonic Seed, then slaughter everyone within sight before using another talisman to determine whether any remained.
If there were still more, he would repeat the process.
Ah...
Those truly had been simple and honest times...
A little nostalgic, really.
Fang Chang smiled while taking a bite of the fruit.
“......”
He spat it out expressionlessly and tossed the fruit away.
After hearing the explanation, Zhang Su did not hesitate.
She drew out a talisman. Spiritual Essence surged through it, instantly igniting a small burst of sparks as the talisman burned.
The flames curled with wisps of purple-black aura, though less severe than that of the medicinal garden owner.
Aside from them, only the unconscious woodcutter remained within the forest.
Zhang Su bit her lip, still unwilling to give up.
“I want to test the talisman’s range again.”
“Suit yourself.”
Fang Chang could not be bothered with her. He wandered far away and watched her busily move about.
Testing the talisman range, inspecting the woodcutter’s body with Spiritual Essence and magic power, chanting scriptures while using vow power to attempt contact with the Demonic Seed—
Meanwhile, the female woodcutter’s consciousness had already been completely locked away, trapped within an illusionary dream. Without Fang Chang’s permission, she could never awaken.
“Aren’t you spoiling her a bit too much?”
Zhao Yuntong leaned closer. “A crooked sapling won’t grow straight without pruning. If people aren’t disciplined, they get noisy and troublesome.”
“It’s a good thing our Zhang Shigu carries grand ambitions to save people. Otherwise, she’d become just as overflowing with evil aura as the two of us demons.”
Fang Chang yawned.
Corpse Puppets of the Corpse Refinement Path also possessed growth potential.
In 《Fallen Immortal》, this development began through exclusive missions unique to each Corpse Puppet.
Especially for Yin Corpses who chose 【Original Soul Awakening】, they needed to overcome hurdle after hurdle involving Dao Heart and cultivation in order to draw closer to the Great Dao.
Calm and steady thoughts could never stir the Great Dao.
The same was true for Yin Corpses.
The same was true for Zhao Yuntong.
The time simply had not arrived yet.
A strand of cool fragrance silently drifted into his nose.
Without noticing, Zhao Yuntong had stepped closer.
Her arm pressed against Fang Chang’s chest while her fingers reached downward, seemingly unintentionally lifting the robe before his crotch.
“......”
“Two demons, hehe...”
Zhao Yuntong found the description quite fitting. It sounded like two people united as one—Demon King and Demoness.
It pleased her greatly.
Even the scent of the forest began to smell sweet.
And once she became happy,
She could not help wanting to possess Fang Chang entirely.
She wanted to lock him viciously inside a little dark room.
Every day, he would only receive food by pleasing her.
The harder Fang Chang worked, the more she would give him.
The more he released, the more she would give him.
The sweeter his words, the more she would give him.
One object, one owner.
Since I am an object, then I must ensure my master stays obediently by my side.
Zhao Yuntong licked her lips as the crimson glow in her eyes intensified, a rosy flush spreading across her face.
Her entire body leaned softly against him, the supple jade-like softness and cool fragrance pressing warmly through the thin fabric against his chest. Heavy, elastic, as though struggling against restraint and deformation.
The feminine scent emanating from her body spread ever more intensely, cold sharpness interwoven with sweetness.
“You wandered around the outskirts for two days. Aren’t you going into the manor?”
“You saw it yourself. After two days in the outskirts, eight or nine out of every ten people we encountered were infected with Demonic Seeds. What do you think things are like inside the manor?”
“If that’s the case, then why don’t we leave?”
“If we leave now, wouldn’t the whole trip have been pointless?”
“What are you planning this time?”
Zhao Yuntong paused, remembering something. “You’re waiting for that bitch Cheng Hua?”
Cheng Hua would also be coming to Twin Su Manor, though she would arrive a few days later.
Fang Chang merely smiled without speaking.
Pressed against his chest, Zhao Yuntong heard no acceleration in his heartbeat whatsoever.
That same utterly fearless attitude again!
Zhao Yuntong’s expression darkened.
I am yours.
You can only have me.
You are mine too.
All of it.
Every last bit.
Crimson light spread from Zhao Yuntong’s eyes onto her cheeks.
She pushed Fang Chang away, removed the silver hairpin, and let the gentle bun scatter loose before sweeping all her hair upward and casually tying it into a neat ponytail.
The distinctive feature of this hairstyle—
Was that nearly all of the hair was tied up, leaving only a short playful tuft hanging adorably behind.
Fang Chang: “?”
Zhao Yuntong suddenly crouched down, pressing her knees tightly together.
The sash at her waist accentuated a narrow slender waist, forming a breathtaking contrast against the full rounded curve of her hips below.
Her ample chest naturally pressed against her knees, compressing into lush curves.
Then—
She began undoing his waistband.
Fang Chang: “!”
Th-th-th-th-th-this, l-look, you really don’t have to do this!
Fang Chang firmly opposed and rejected this sort of outdoor behavior!
But unfortunately,
At that very moment, Fang Chang’s little toe cramped.
You know how little toe cramps are—it’s that uniquely horrible sort of condition that makes your entire body freeze up and unable to move...
And thus,
Within the afternoon forest, sunlight filtered through the leaves into scattered golden fragments.
Breathing grew heavy.
Clenching and loosening... clenching and loosening...
Zhao Yuntong pressed her knees together against her chest, curling herself into a tiny bundle like a bird folding its wings.
Her ponytail bounced lightly, gradually loosening apart.
The hair ends slipped along her neck, brushing against the flushed skin at the back of her neck.
Her cheeks burned crimson from her eyes all the way to her ears, even the base of her neck tinged with faint pink.
Unskilled. Clumsy.
The forest scenery was beautiful.
Leaves brushed against one another.
Like streams flowing over pebbles, like spring silkworms nibbling mulberry leaves.
Those soft, sticky, fragmented bird-like cries within the woods mixed with occasional muffled whimpers, extraordinarily clear.
As sunlight shifted over them, Zhao Yuntong raised her eyes upward, watery light shimmering within them. Red as though holding flames, beautiful beyond mortal comprehension.
A bird suddenly burst from the forest with frantic flapping wings.
Zhao Yuntong was not startled in the slightest, nor did she attempt to hide.
She had never intended to hide at all.
All of it is mine.
Every last bit is mine.
“......”
Fang Chang pressed a hand against her shoulder and forcefully pushed her away.
Zhao Yuntong’s lips appeared vividly red, slightly swollen and glistening with moisture.
Her throat moved subtly as she suddenly raised her head and glared at him sharply with dissatisfaction.
Not enough.
I still want more!
Then, in the next moment, a voice called from not far away—
“Benefactor Fang, are you still there?”
That lustful nun!
Such a nuisance! Sooner or later I’ll twist her head right off!
A breeze carrying sandalwood fragrance drifted past.
Zhang Su passed several large trees before spotting Fang Chang hidden behind them.
The man still wore that same carefree and unruly smile.
Her delicate little nose twitched slightly, and her gentle brows furrowed faintly.
But she said nothing further.
“Benefactor Fang, using these talismans for detection is far too slow. Earlier, you mentioned other methods. Could you teach me?”
“Have you figured out how to cure Demonic Seeds?”
“Not yet... but this humble nun will not give up, nor will I abandon a single person.”
“I look forward to it.”
Naturally, Fang Chang did not refuse Zhang Su.
Just like when he taught Cui Wenxi the 《Five Turbid Nurturing Lock》, Fang Chang had always been an angel investor who spread hope.
After hearing the key difficulties of the 《Origin-Scent Method》, Zhang Su appeared thoughtful.
Suddenly,
As though sensing something, she looked into the distance.
Fang Chang followed her gaze and saw two women fleeing frantically along the trade road.
Behind them chased five armed cultivators, their movements wild and chaotic like rabid beasts.
Zhang Su said compassionately, “Benefactor Fang, this humble nun... could we save them?”
Fang Chang did not look at her.
He stared distantly at Song Zitan and her female companion on the trade road before letting out a sneer.
“Excellent. So you came here looking to die after all...”