Shen Qing shook her head. If she had known her identity was so extraordinary, how could she have allowed Pei Xuanjing and the others to bully her?
"Li Xian, I know you're angry now, but please believe me. I really had no idea about this," she said.
"If it weren't for the True Immortal Hengling bringing it up, I wouldn't have known that I'm not actually Shen Chuyun's younger sister, nor am I from Xiaolin Village."
"Please believe me. If I had known, I would have told you. But I really didn't know. I truly, truly, truly didn't know!" Shen Qing looked into Li Xian's eyes, her thoughts in a jumble, and even her speech became stuttered.
She knew that Li Xian valued emotions and kept his promises. Even though his parents had schemed against him, he still cared deeply about the merman clan.
Now that he suddenly learned that the impending disaster facing his clan was nothing but a scheme by the dragon clan, how would he view Shen Qing, who was a member of the dragon clan?
Seeing Shen Qing like this, Hong Chaoyang summoned up the courage to loudly question Hua Ying, "Just because you say so doesn't make it true. What evidence do you have? Maybe you're just trying to sow discord!"
After shouting at Hua Ying, Hong Chaoyang turned her gaze to Li Xian, her tone filled with a strong threat.
"Li Xian, if you wrong Shen Qing just because of this soul body of unknown origin, I will never let you off!"
Although she couldn't defeat Li Xian, behind her stood the True Immortal Hongdie and the True Immortal Honghua. The entire Qingyun Sword Sect was Shen Qing's backing.
She just couldn't stand it that Li Xian would be cold and harsh to Shen Qing just because of a few words of provocation from the enemy.
"Of course I won't," Li Xian said, trying to calm his emotions. He also knew that his reaction had been too intense just now.
He had asked Shen Qing just to see if she still had any memories of her former master. If she did, they could find out whether what Hua Ying said was true.
But Shen Qing only had memories of Xiaolin Village, so no one could confirm whether Hua Ying's words were correct.
When he saw Shen Qing's hand trembling slightly, Li Xian felt extremely regretful. He shouldn't have let his emotions get the better of him and hurt Shen Qing, making her misunderstand that he was blaming her.
"Shen Qing, it's all my fault. I was too emotional just now. I didn't mean to blame you," Li Xian quickly explained, afraid that Shen Qing would build up another wall against him because of this. He had finally managed to get into Shen Qing's heart, and he couldn't let all his efforts go to waste because of a few words of provocation from others.
Shen Qing took two deep breaths. "It's okay..."
Seeing Shen Qing forcing a smile, Li Xian guiltily held her hand. "Sorry... It won't happen again."
Shen Qing held Li Xian's hand back and turned her gaze to Hua Ying, but the trust in her eyes had completely disappeared, replaced by full - fledged vigilance.
Hua Ying had managed to stir up Li Xian's emotions with just a few short sentences. It was obvious that Hua Ying was not as simple as it claimed to be.
Hua Ying was born among the flowers, and Shen Qing remembered that there was a spiritual flower called Baiwei, which could arouse the emotions in people's hearts and magnify them.
Shen Qing didn't believe that Hua Ying hadn't done anything just now.
Li Xian obviously thought of this too. His face darkened, and his eyes were filled with even more vigilance.
Seeing this, Hua Ying casually raised an eyebrow. It was certain that Shen Qing and Li Xian wouldn't do anything to it.
Shen Qing had almost caused it to be completely destroyed before. Just now, it had deliberately stirred up emotions as a little revenge.
But it had forgotten that now it was just a spiritual body.
"Hua Ying, I've been talking to you nicely, but you obviously underestimated my temper. Since that's the case, let's change the way we deal with this," Shen Qing said with a gloomy face. She waved her hand to the side, and the Soul - Locking Banner immediately appeared in her hand. After the Soul - Locking Banner recognized its master, it was stored in Shen Qing's spiritual sea just like her space.
When Hua Ying saw the Soul - Locking Banner, its face changed. Its originally purple - tinged body seemed to turn pale.
"What do you want to do to me? Ji Chongming, are you just going to watch as a treasure of the Demon Realm is used like this by others?"
Ling Zhou had been lost in thought but was suddenly called out by Hua Ying. He just raised an eyebrow and motioned for Shen Qing to continue.
Hua Ying's shouting became even shriller. "It's not that serious, is it? I was just joking with you. You're going to use the Soul - Locking Banner against me. You're supposed to be from the righteous path. How can you use such despicable means!"
The Soul - Locking Banner fluttered without wind, and a powerful suction force pulled Hua Ying into it.
Hua Ying quickly begged for mercy. "I'm wrong. I'm wrong. I won't use these little tricks anymore. Let me out. I don't want to go in. It's too scary!"
A cold smile curled up on Shen Qing's lips. "You're useless. You didn't cherish the chance I gave you. Now, enjoy your dream."
Amid Hua Ying's shrill screams, it was pulled into the Soul - Locking Banner, and then Shen Qing put the banner away.
According to the agreed - upon time, Wang Nian had already led the demon soldiers and appeared in the sky above the back mountain. Because of the mountain - protecting formation, they didn't dare to break in casually.
Shen Qing gave Ling Zhou a few instructions and then handed him the sound - transmitting jade pendant she carried with her so that they could stay in touch at any time.
Shen Qing took Ling Zhou and flew towards Wang Nian. And the Dark Wolf was standing beside Wang Nian.
When Wang Nian saw Ji Chongming, he felt a moment of unease. But when he saw Shen Qing and Ji Chongming appear together, his face showed surprise.
He knew that Lin Yibai had cursed Shen Qing in his palace more than once, and there were more than one portrait of Shen Qing that he had cursed. So he knew what Shen Qing looked like.
Now that Lin Yibai was missing and Ji Chongming appeared with Shen Qing, Wang Nian couldn't help but have other thoughts.
Did Ji Chongming fall in love with another woman because of Shen Qing's beauty? Was the position of the Demon Lord's wife going to change again?
The expression on Wang Nian's face was quite interesting. Shen Qing knew what he was thinking but didn't intend to explain. She just looked at the Dark Wolf and said, "Now, he's my master. You two must be extremely careful after you go to the Demon Realm!"
Since seeing the Illusion Bell, the Dark Wolf had become much more taciturn and didn't talk as much as before.
Although Shen Qing was worried, she also knew that the Dark Wolf had to get through this on his own.
The Dark Wolf frowned. Although he knew that Shen Qing had made proper arrangements, he didn't understand why Ji Chongming was so obedient. For the sake of safety, he still pulled Shen Qing aside.
"What's going on with Ji Chongming? Can we still turn him against his own side? He knows that you and Lin Yibai are mortal enemies."
Seeing this, Shen Qing briefly and quietly explained what had just happened.
A flash of surprise crossed the Dark Wolf's eyes. "The Soul - Locking Banner has recognized you as its master?"
Was it that easy...
But knowing that this Ji Chongming was not the original one, the Dark Wolf felt relieved.
Wang Nian nervously stayed beside Ji Chongming, afraid that Ji Chongming would settle accounts with him.
He had been turned against by the Illusion Bell. If Ji Chongming found out, he might be skinned alive. Thinking of this, Wang Nian's face tightened.
"You must be General Wang Nian. I'm Shen Qing, a friend of the Illusion Bell," Shen Qing said.
Wang Nian nodded repeatedly but nervously observed Ji Chongming's expression.
Seeing Wang Nian so nervous, Shen Qing had to explain with a smile, "Don't worry. This Demon Lord is not the same as before. He won't settle accounts with you. I'll have to trouble General Wang Nian with everything in the Demon Realm from now on."