Rearing Demons
Chapter 131: Elder Ci; Celis’ Crush

Chapter 131: Elder Ci; Celis’ Crush

"Elder." Walking into the expansive hall, Luna found a stunning woman seated with her eyes closed. A gentle breeze swirled about her, causing books to drift and pages to flutter as words filled the vast space. New disciples—and even some seniors—watched in rapt attention, their eyes alight with wonder at the dancing text.

At last, the woman’s eyes fluttered open, and in that moment, the floating books and drifting words stilled. The woman was breathtaking—her figure graceful and her face flawless. A calm, composed expression graced her features even as her heart must have been racing. "Luna, you’re here?"

"Yes, Elder Ci." Luna stepped forward, bypassing the spellbound onlookers, and smiled warmly at the woman.

When Luna first arrived at the sect, Elder Ci had been the first to approach her, not only welcoming her but taking her on as a student. Aside from Celis and Rose, Elder Ci had become Luna’s closest confidante.

Moreover, Elder Ci was an extraordinarily powerful elder of the sect, rivaling Elder Fir in might and perhaps even surpassing him in influence.

"I was hoping you could help me with something," Elder Ci said, her tone turning slightly serious.

"Is it about your mother?" she asked with a gentle smile as she regarded the adorable girl. "Don’t worry, I have several Essence Forge cultivators watching over her."

At those words, the tension on Luna’s face melted away. "Thank you," she said softly.

"No problem," Elder Ci replied. "How is your cultivation progressing?"

At that, Luna scratched her slightly wrinkled nose. "I’m actually stuck."

"Stuck?" Elder Ci looked at her in perplexity. "What do you mean? What exactly are you stuck on?" One of the main reasons Elder Ci had taken an interest in Luna was her exceptional talent; it was immediately evident that Luna possessed an innate aptitude for cultivation.

Additionally, her connection with Celis only heightened that talent.

"Well, the thing is... Celis gave me some essences to study, and I’m unsure how to determine which one I’m most compatible with." A deep sigh escaped her as she slumped slightly.

For days she had been trying to feel some sort of connection with them, yet nothing manifested. Moreover, she couldn’t pinpoint what sort of feeling to expect; what defined compatibility and what did not? These questions haunted her.

"I see." Elder Ci nodded thoughtfully. "Let me help you with that—"

"Hello, Lady Ci." Just as Elder Ci rose from her seat, Celis suddenly appeared with a bright smile.

"Celis?" Luna looked over, surprised. "I thought you had to leave on your mission?" Just a few days ago, Celis had mentioned the expedition to find her father, so his sudden presence was unexpected.

"I’ll be departing soon," Celis said, smiling at her. "I’m merely waiting for a few special individuals. Once they arrive, we’ll be off without delay."

"Got it," Luna replied, nodding.

"Anyway, Lady Ci, how are you?" Celis inquired with a genial smile directed at the beautiful woman.

Elder Ci rolled her eyes. "What do you want, Celis?"

"What? I just came by to say hello," he shrugged, his bright eyes fixed on her.

Luna’s eyebrows furrowed slightly at the exchange, though she managed a weak smile. Over the past few years, she had learned one undeniable truth about Celis: there was only one person who truly captured his interest, and that was Elder Ci.

No one else ever caught his eye, regardless of their beauty.

"Well, now that you’ve said your piece, you’re free to leave," Elder Ci said with a hint of irritation.

"Lady Ci, don’t shoo me away," Celis replied, stepping closer with a playful smirk. "Let this ugly duckling have a little more conversation with you."

"Why would I let an ugly duckling do that?" she teased in return. "I wouldn’t even let a beautiful duck do that."

"Wait—am I really ugly?" Celis suddenly grabbed his face, and both women instantly noticed a smear of blood on his hand.

"Hey, what happened to your hand?" Luna asked immediately, concern threading her voice.

"Oh, this?" Celis glanced at his hand, and in an instant, an azure flame erupted, searing it away. "What are you talking about?" he said with a casual smile.

Seeing that he wasn’t offering an explanation, Luna chose not to press further.

"What did you do?" Elder Ci asked, raising an eyebrow.

Like an eager puppy, Celis hurried forward and explained, "Some idiot Fiend tried to cause trouble, so I decided to pull his roots." He giggled as he spoke.

"You messed with the Fiends again?" Elder Ci shook her head. "You and the Azure Lord are remarkably alike. Even when he was a Fiend, he would do the same things." She shook her head and lightly rubbed it.

"Hey, hey, don’t compare me to him. He’s crazy; I’m a very good person," Celis protested, patting his chest. "He was threatening a friend, so I simply made sure no further threats would emerge."

"Celis, did you kill Snow?!" Luna, finally catching up with the conversation, looked at him in shock and dismay.

"Yeah," he nodded. "Don’t worry, he won’t bother you anymore."

"Why would you kill him, though?" she asked, her voice trembling with disbelief. "Just because of something so trivial, you killed him?"

"Don’t worry," Elder Ci interjected gently, casting a kind smile at Luna. "The Fiends are not exactly paragons of virtue. They’re powerful assets to the sect, but they’re also prime targets for everyone; especially this guy." She then glanced at Celis. "So, what about the rest of the Fiends?"

Hearing this, Celis smirked. "Protect me?"

"In your dreams."

"That’s alright too. I love seeing you in my dreams. Oh man, the things I see—"

Before he could finish, Celis’s body was suddenly hurled out of the building. He crashed through the walls and was flung into an unknown distance.

"That idiot," Elder Ci muttered with a frown.

"Ah!" Luna yelped, her voice trembling with fear as she observed the scene. "Elder Ci, did you kill him?!"

"I wish," she replied with an eye-roll. "He’s not so easily killed." With a casual wave of her hand, she dispelled the distraction. "Anyway, let me help you with what you came for." With that, she gestured, and in a blink, both Elder Ci and the surrounding distractions vanished.