Chapter 869: Chapter 83 The Tree Wants to Be Still but the Wind Will Not Cease

Demon Lord Hong Lie’s mansion.

After sending off the last demonic cultivator who came to congratulate him, Ying Jie narrowed his eyes, showing a hint of fatigue.

These past days, he had met with dozens of demonic cultivators from various families who came to congratulate and build connections with him.

The threshold was almost worn out from all the visitors.

Now, at last, these trivial matters could be temporarily set aside.

“Once the red clouds stir in the capital, a myriad of blossoms will bloom in astonishment…” Ying Jie murmured.

The feeling of becoming the focus of everyone’s attention enthralled him endlessly.

Although on the surface, he seemed tired of dealing with these people, he was actually enjoying it immensely in his heart.

It was an exaggerated treatment he had never experienced before.

“But now that the good times are over, it’s time to settle some old scores.” Ying Jie sat on a redwood chair, lightly tapping the back of the chair with his fingertips, speaking to himself.

He muttered a name, “Qing Ge…”

Today is different from the past.

Now, there’s a significant gap between his and Qing Ge’s status.

Even though Qing Ge was but a half-blood, even if he were pureblood, he would still have to avoid Ying Jie.

Since Qing Ge arrived in Jian Luo King City, he performed remarkable feats: slashing thirteen low-ranking Demon Generals in a row, successively defeating Feng Tianming and Ling Wu.

However, the status elevation these feats brought was insignificant compared to Ying Jie’s mastery of the Mang Cang Warfare.

One could say that, now within the Shi Wu lineage, no one could suppress him anymore.

Even Shi Wu Demon Venerable had to “backtrack” and retract the previous punishment he had promised.

“Logically, with my current status, it would seem petty to still hold grudges against a half-blood son-in-law like you…”

Ying Jie murmured, his gaze gradually turning cold, “But I am just such a petty person!”

He still vividly remembered that kick from Shi Wu Demon Venerable.

Although that kick had not caused him any substantial injury, it had left him feeling extremely humiliated.

Even with his current elevated status, he was still not in a position to settle accounts with Shi Wu Demon Venerable.

So he placed this grudge on Qing Ge instead, elevating his hatred for Qing Ge to an extreme.

He decided to trouble Qing Ge.

This time, however, he would not do it secretly as he had before.

He wanted to confront Qing Ge openly.

If one could avoid it, who would want to resort to underhanded deeds?

“However, in order to oppress you, I also need a proper reason.” Ying Jie thought to himself.

He needed a suitable pretext to pick a quarrel with Qing Ge.

Ying Jie began to ponder, and soon, a piece of information surged to his mind.

——Qing Ge had recklessly attacked Hei Wu at the Red Fruit Banquet for the sake of two little human girls.

In the end, to win over Qing Ge, Chi Li had glossed over the matter and personally sent the two human girls to Qing Ge’s house.

“Qing Ge oh Qing Ge, you are truly upright and righteous.” Ying Jie sneered, a plan forming in his heart.

….

“Young master, please go see the lady.” The maid named Jiao’er from Mingyue’s residence looked anxious.

Lu Qingshan had temporarily closed his doors to visitors, but others sought him out.

“What happened?” He frowned slightly.

Jiao’er looked aggrieved and explained the events of the past few days succinctly.

“Since she met Shi Wu Demon Venerable that time, the lady has been despondent, shutting herself in her room, not coming out for several days.”

Lu Qingshan’s heart stirred.

He hadn’t expected that Ying Mingyue had visited Shi Wu Demon Venerable again privately on his behalf, leading to this situation.

“I will go see her.” Lu Qingshan quickly composed himself, speaking calmly.

“Then I must trouble you, young master, now perhaps only you can persuade the lady.” A faint glimmer of unnoticeable joy appeared on Jiao’er’s face.

…..

Mingyue Residence.

“Miss Mingyue, this is Qing Ge.” He spoke softly outside Ying Mingyue’s room.

There was no response from inside at first.

Lu Qingshan did not say anything further, quietly waiting.

After a moment,

“Come in.” A slightly weary voice came from inside the room.

Lu Qingshan pushed open the door and walked in.

It had only been six or seven days since he last saw her, but Ying Mingyue’s complexion had worsened notably; the air of gallant spirit and vitality was gone, her cheekbones sunken, and her eyes dull.

Seeing this version of Ying Mingyue, Lu Qingshan was also quite surprised.

“Ying Jie would probably be very pleased to see you like this.”

He couldn’t help but sigh, saying, “Is it really worth driving yourself to this state over someone like Ying Jie.”

Ying Mingyue shook her head gently, “It’s not all because of him….

It’s more my father’s attitude.”

As she spoke, she couldn’t help but laugh self-deprecatingly, “I always thought that although I am a half-blood, he truly cherished me.

In hindsight, it was merely because I never competed with the purebloods for anything…”

Lu Qingshan remained silent.

Ying Mingyue continued murmuring, “Actually, deep down, I knew these things; otherwise, why else would I never have competed?

I knew that if I were to compete, he would never stand by my side, and the illusion that he cherished me would be shattered.”

“I have been deceiving myself all along…”

“But this time, I wasn’t trying to compete for anything.

You are my future husband, Ying Jie sent dead soldiers to kill you, and the evidence is conclusive, I just wanted to seek justice for you.

But even in this, my father would not stand by me.”

“Just because Ying Jie mastered the Mang Cang Warfare.” Ying Mingyue’s voice was as if weeping blood.