Category: I Am the Female Lead’s Cat

Chapter 101: The River’s Secret

They traveled far upstream, but they didn’t encounter any demon cultivators. The Demon Realm was essentially a land of exile, its inhabitants scattered, gathering only in areas with relatively hospitable environments.

And mortals couldn’t survive here.

“Help! Save me! Help!”

A woman was struggling in the river, her body bobbing up and down in the black water.

Bai Jingxue, of course, couldn’t ignore her. She cast a spell, pulling the woman to shore.

The woman, soaked through, coughed up mouthfuls of black water, her face pale, her lips blue. She was clearly poisoned.

He Rong, who had some knowledge of medicine, quickly examined her, then used her demonic energy to purge the poison.

The woman, her body weakened, lost consciousness.

He Rong clapped her hands together, her voice filled with pride. “I cured her!” she exclaimed. “I’m such a genius!”

Bai Jingxue, though annoyed by He Rong’s arrogance, had to admit she was skilled.

She examined the unconscious woman, her brow furrowing as she realized she was a mortal. It was strange for a mortal to be in the Demon Realm.

Then, she noticed a thin, nearly invisible thread attached to the back of the woman’s neck, its other end submerged in the Black River.

She grasped the thread, pulling it gently. A resistance, a force pulling in the opposite direction, met hers, the thread stretching taut, then snapping.

The broken thread dissolved into nothingness.

Bai Jingxue stared at her hand, then at the river.

She expanded her divine sense, realizing there were more mortals nearby, their bodies moving stiffly, their expressions vacant.

One of them stumbled into view, then, without hesitation, jumped into the river.

Bai Jingxue, repeating her previous action, pulled him out. He hadn’t been in the water for long. The poison wasn’t as potent.

He Rong quickly healed him, then, looking up, she saw more mortals approaching the river, their movements determined. Even the one she had just healed was struggling to stand, his gaze fixed on the water.

This was a disaster. This was just one section of the river. Were there more mortals being drawn to the water further upstream?

They had no time to waste. They quickly rescued the remaining mortals, restraining them and severing the threads attached to their necks.

The moment the threads were severed, their struggles ceased.

But the surface of the river suddenly began to churn, bubbles rising from its depths.

The bubbles burst, releasing wisps of black smoke.

“Hold your breath!” Bai Jingxue shouted.

A demon crow, flying over the river, inhaled the smoke, then let out a shriek, its body plummeting into the water.

Bai Jingxue watched in horror as the crow’s body dissolved, her eyes widening.

The Black River was poisonous, but it shouldn’t have been this potent. And the mortals who had fallen in hadn’t dissolved.

Perhaps it was the black smoke.

The bubbles were coming from the riverbed. Was there something down there?

Before she could ponder this further, five threads shot out from the water, their targets Bai Jingxue and her companions.

Bai Jingxue unleashed a burst of flames, incinerating the threads, then increased the intensity of her flames, purging the black smoke from the surface of the river.

The river calmed, its surface still once more.

Bai Jingxue, her body surrounded by a protective layer of flames, turned to Lü Qingyan and the others. “I’m going down there,” she said. “Qingyan, protect them.”

The river seemed dangerous. Lü Qingyan was worried, but she knew she couldn’t stop Bai Jingxue. “Be careful,” she said. “Call me if you need help.”

Bai Jingxue knew what she meant. If she was in danger, she should teleport.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “I value my life.”

Then, she jumped into the river.

The water was dark, obscuring her vision, but her flames didn’t extinguish. Instead, they purified the water, pushing back the darkness.

A small area around her became clear, and she descended, finally reaching the riverbed.

She expanded the range of her flames, the darkness receding, revealing the riverbed.

To her surprise, there was nothing there, only bones.

But the way the darkness retreated was familiar. It was similar to the secret realm she and Lü Qingyan had stumbled into. That realm had also been filled with a black mist that had recoiled from her flames.

Her heart skipped a beat. Was this another illusion?

She cautiously scanned the area, but there was nothing there, only bones.

She was about to leave when she noticed something beneath a pile of bones.

She paused, removing the bones, then her eyes widened.

It was a small statue, its appearance familiar. She had seen it twice before: once in the Spring Snow Sect, and once in the temple where they had met Zhu Er.

She felt a strange unease. She emptied a spatial ring, then carefully placed the statue inside.

Lü Qingyan, meanwhile, paced the riverbank, her anxiety growing. Bai Jingxue’s flames had only purified a small area. The rest of the river was still dark. She couldn’t see what was happening below.

She wanted to jump in, but she knew she couldn’t. She continued pacing, her gaze fixed on the water.

Just as she was about to lose her patience, Bai Jingxue emerged from the river, her body rising swiftly.

She had barely landed when Lü Qingyan rushed forward, hugging her tightly.

“Jingxue, I was so worried!”

Bai Jingxue, startled, patted Lü Qingyan’s head, chuckling. “You were only gone for a little while,” she said.

Their affectionate display made Fu Yuan quickly shield He Rong and Jwan Jwan’s eyes.

Jwan Jwan, however, was unimpressed. She didn’t think their interaction was inappropriate. There was no need to shield the children.

She shook her head, then her gaze met that of a demon crow perched on a nearby tree.

Her eyes widened. “Someone is watching us!” she shouted.

Her voice, sharp and loud, startled the other crows, and they scattered, their wings beating against the air.

She pointed a wing at the crow flying furthest away. “That one!”

Before Bai Jingxue and the others could react, a vine shot out from He Rong’s sleeve, wrapping around the crow, pulling it down.

But it was too late. The observer had already severed the connection. They couldn’t track them.

Lü Qingyan, staring at the unconscious crow in He Rong’s hand, her voice filled with annoyance, said, “They got away. I wonder who that pervert is. I’ll find them eventually!”

The left envoy, unaware of her new title, was surprised. She hadn’t expected to be discovered. They would be more cautious now. Observing them would be difficult.

Remembering what she had seen, she felt a surge of anger. She lashed out at the tree she was sitting on, snapping off its branches, until only the one she was sitting on remained.

A group of people lay unconscious beneath the tree, their bodies connected to the Black River by thin, nearly invisible threads, just like the mortals Bai Jingxue had rescued.

But these weren’t mortals. They were cultivators, though their cultivation levels were low, barely reaching the Qi Gathering stage. And they were all righteous cultivators.

She had rescued them hoping to extract information. She had planned to wake them up and use her mind control technique.

But Lü Qingyan and Bai Jingxue’s antics had been too entertaining. She had postponed her interrogation.

She stared at them, her eyes gleaming with a jealous rage. She could tell that Bai Jingxue’s flames were special. And that was just one of her abilities.

That Fu Yuan girl was a top-grade cauldron.

But judging by the markings on her neck, she was still untouched. That was surprising.

And that dragon, although the left envoy despised her, was undeniably powerful.

Speaking of that dragon, she had been planning to return to the Demon Palace to assist the overworked right envoy when that dragon had appeared.

The Demon Palace’s defenses had been useless against her spear. The right envoy had had to intervene, stopping her at the edge of the palace’s protective formation.

The dragon, unable to enter, had simply shouted, “Mo Li! I’m here to take responsibility!”

The left envoy, her diligent work interrupted, had snapped her brush in half, then, unable to contain her fury, she had rushed out, joining forces with the right envoy to drive the dragon away.

But the diligent left envoy had quickly learned the dangers of gossip.

Demon cultivators were more open-minded than their righteous counterparts, so the rumors were even more scandalous.

As a high-ranking official, the others in the Demon Palace only gossiped behind her back. They were still respectful to her face. But the right envoy hadn’t hesitated to ask.

The left envoy, enraged, had abandoned her work, leaving the Demon Realm, hoping to create some trouble for the right envoy.

She had seen the right envoy’s work. She was lazy, but not stupid. She would be able to handle things.

She snorted, her voice laced with a bitter resentment. “If only they were all serving the Demon Lord,” she muttered. “But they’re all with Luo Nianshang.”

“Who are you talking about?”

The voice, sudden and unexpected, startled her, and she turned to see Ying standing beside her. She was sitting, so she had to look up.

Her face hardened. Why was this dragon so persistent?

She couldn’t defeat her. She grabbed her hair, her voice filled with a desperate frustration. “Are you even a dragon?!”

Dragons weren’t known for their loyalty or their devotion. She didn’t believe her own charms could alter Ying’s inherent nature.

Had Luo Nianshang sent Ying to seduce her?

“You cunning fox, Luo Nianshang!” she thought.

But Luo Nianshang had no such intentions. She was preparing for her bath. As she passed Cai Lian’s room, she remembered that the child hadn’t spoken much lately.

Children needed extra care in unfamiliar environments. She knocked softly. “Cai Lian?”

The door opened, revealing Cai Lian, her expression sullen.

Luo Nianshang paused, assuming she had neglected Cai Lian while she had been busy with the Demon Lord’s unbinding ritual.

She crouched down, pulling Cai Lian into her arms. “I have some free time today,” she said, her voice gentle. “Would you like to go out with me?”

Cai Lian was about to refuse, but her original self’s will, a silent command, forced her to nod.

Chapter 100: The Price of Resurrection

After finishing her cultivation, Bai Jingxue stepped out of her room, settling down in the courtyard. It had been raining frequently lately, the downpours unusually heavy. She had heard rumors of flooding in the mortal realm.

The floods had generated numerous requests for assistance, keeping Fu Yuan busy. The courtyard was quiet.

Bai Jingxue, realizing that her secluded lifestyle wasn’t ideal, decided to start accepting missions, to gain experience and hone her skills.

She headed towards the library, finding Lü Qingyan on the third floor, her head buried in a book.

Lü Qingyan was still reading those travelogues, but they were poorly organized, their contents a jumbled mess, their timelines spanning centuries.

Bai Jingxue approached her, tapping her fingers on the table. The sound startled Lü Qingyan, but then she saw Bai Jingxue, and her face lit up.

“Jingxue, what are you doing here?” she asked, her voice filled with delight.

Bai Jingxue, gathering a stack of books, placing them back on the shelves, her lips curving into a small smile, said, “Stop reading those. Come with me. We’re accepting a mission.”

Lü Qingyan, gathering the remaining books, rushed over to help.

“Really?” she asked, her voice excited. “When?”

Bai Jingxue, finished with her task, took half the books from Lü Qingyan, placing one back on the shelf. “Now,” she said.

They quickly organized the books, then headed towards the Merit Hall, where they encountered Fu Yuan and her companions. They seemed to be returning from a mission.

He Rong was squatting on the ground, her chin resting on her hands, her gaze distant, while Jwan Jwan perched on her head, resembling a colorful hat.

Bai Jingxue’s lips twitched. Jwan Jwan, for some reason, had stopped transforming into her human form, preferring to remain a bird, clinging to He Rong’s head.

He Rong’s hair was a mess.

Fu Yuan, having submitted her report, was studying the mission board, her expression suggesting she was considering accepting another one.

Bai Jingxue realized that she and Lü Qingyan were inexperienced in these matters. Perhaps teaming up with Fu Yuan would be beneficial.

She approached Fu Yuan, her voice calm. “What kind of mission are you looking for?”

Fu Yuan, hearing the familiar voice, turned, her hair disheveled, the scent of blood clinging to her clothes. She had been injured.

Driven by a sense of urgency, she had simply bandaged her wounds, eager to accept another mission.

She stared at the two individuals who were the source of her anxiety. Her emotions were complex, but she wasn’t jealous.

“I’m thinking of accepting a rank B mission,” she said, her voice laced with a hint of weariness. “Are you two also here for missions?”

She found it strange. The cat and dog were under the Sword Saint’s protection. They had access to all the cultivation resources and techniques they could ever need. Why would they bother with these dangerous and tedious tasks?

Bai Jingxue simply hummed in acknowledgment, her gaze scanning the mission board. At their current level, they could accept rank A missions.

The topmost row displayed the rank A missions. Bai Jingxue spotted one related to the Demon Realm. She pointed at it, addressing the disciple managing the board. “Please retrieve that one for me.”

Bai Jingxue and Lü Qingyan were well-known figures at the Ejian Sect. The disciples knew they were the Sword Saint’s companions and treated them with respect.

“Elder Bai, are you accepting this mission?” the disciple asked, his voice respectful.

Bai Jingxue took the mission token, nodding curtly, then she showed it to Fu Yuan. “Want to join us?” she asked. “We’ll split the merit points.”

Fu Yuan’s heart skipped a beat. The rewards for a rank A mission were far greater than those for a rank B mission. She couldn’t deny the temptation, but she also felt uneasy accepting such a generous offer. She hesitated, then shook her head.

Lü Qingyan, sensing her hesitation, interjected, her voice loud and cheerful. “Come on, Sister Fu Yuan,” she said. “We’re not familiar with these things. And we don’t know many people. Help us out, okay?”

Bai Jingxue, her voice soft, added, “Qingyan is right. Just consider it a favor.”

Fu Yuan’s hesitation wavered. They had a point. She agreed, but she declined their offer to split the merit points equally.

There was a long river in the Demon Realm, flowing from north to south, its waters perpetually black, its banks littered with bones.

The mission was related to this Black River. There had been reports of something living within its depths, a creature that had never been seen before.

This unknown creature had devoured several passing demon cultivators. Their mission was to investigate. If necessary, they were to capture or kill the creature and bring it back to the Ejian Sect.

Logically, this wasn’t a matter for the righteous realm to handle, but private requests weren’t bound by such restrictions.

Bai Jingxue summarized the mission, then shared her theory. “The client probably wants to use the creature’s corpse to refine an artifact.”

Fu Yuan agreed. She grabbed Jwan Jwan, who was still perched on He Rong’s head, then suggested, “Let Jwan Jwan take us there.”

Jwan Jwan’s body trembled, and she let out a shrill cry, her form expanding, her multicolored feathers transforming into a vibrant red, her tail feathers long and elegant, their tips adorned with deep purple circles.

Bai Jingxue stared at the magnificent bird, her eyes wide with disbelief. She couldn’t believe this beautiful, majestic creature was Jwan Jwan.

Despite her imposing appearance, Jwan Jwan’s voice, when she spoke, was still timid and hesitant. “I-I’m a fast flier,” she said.

Lü Qingyan, however, wasn’t fazed. She circled Jwan Jwan, her tail wagging, her voice filled with a sincere admiration. “You’re so impressive, Jwan Jwan!”

Jwan Jwan, her head bowing shyly, mumbled, “Thank you.”

He Rong, accustomed to Jwan Jwan’s transformations, climbed onto her back, her voice cheerful. “Come on, everyone! Jwan Jwan is fast!”

Once they were all settled, Jwan Jwan spread her wings, soaring into the sky.

Bai Jingxue, studying Jwan Jwan’s features, suddenly realized something.

Fu Yuan was sitting nearby. “Could Jwan Jwan be a Vermilion Bird?” Bai Jingxue asked.

Vermilion Birds were auspicious creatures, their appearance a symbol of peace and prosperity.

She had learned this from the books in the Ejian Sect’s library. Her love of reading had proven to be beneficial.

But Jwan Jwan’s appearance differed slightly from the descriptions she had read. Her feathers were darker, their red less vibrant.

Fu Yuan, who was also aware of this, wasn’t sure either, but she had reported this to the sect leader, who had been convinced that Jwan Jwan was a Vermilion Bird.

She stroked Jwan Jwan’s feathers, her voice laced with concern. “The sect leader said she’s a Vermilion Bird,” she said. “But if that’s true, then both these children are special. It might attract trouble.”

Bai Jingxue, staring at Jwan Jwan’s enormous wingspan, her shadow covering them, asked, “Then why did you let her carry us?”

Fu Yuan was usually more cautious. She should have considered this.

Fu Yuan sighed, her voice even more troubled. “I thought the same thing,” she said, “but Master said there’s no need to worry. She even encouraged Jwan Jwan to transform more often. She said she would deal with anyone who caused trouble. But I’m still worried.”

Bai Jingxue understood her concern. He Rong’s ability to resurrect the dead was already a valuable and dangerous power. And now, Jwan Jwan’s identity was also extraordinary.

The Vermilion Bird was a symbol of power and authority. Wherever she went, power followed.

But there was no need to hide. The Ejian Sect was strong enough to deter most threats.

She turned to Fu Yuan, her voice reassuring. “Don’t worry,” she said. “The Ejian Sect will protect you.”

And Luo Nianshang had given her word. There was no need to be afraid.

They flew for a long time, finally reaching the Demon Realm. They couldn’t risk attracting attention, so they switched to their swords.

Jwan Jwan shrunk, returning to her perch on He Rong’s head.

Bai Jingxue, seeing the Demon Realm for the first time, its landscape desolate and barren, couldn’t help but comment, “The book was right.”

Fu Yuan, confused, asked, “What book?”

Bai Jingxue smiled. “Nothing,” she said. “Let’s go.”

The mission had simply stated that the creature was in the Black River, but the river was long. They had no idea where to start.

They were currently at the river’s lower reaches. Although the water was flowing, its surface was still, like a stagnant pool.

Bai Jingxue tossed a stone into the river, but it produced no sound.

She closed her eyes, then opened them, her vision enhanced. There were no living creatures in the water.

She walked along the riverbank, heading upstream, Lü Qingyan following closely behind, followed by Fu Yuan and her companions.

The sky was dark, the air heavy. A flock of demon crows flew past, settling on a withered tree near the riverbank. They stared at them with their beady red eyes.

One of the crows took flight, its wings beating against the air, as it flew over the barren landscape, eventually landing on someone’s arm.

It nuzzled the left envoy’s cheek.

The left envoy stroked its feathers, her voice filled with approval. “Good job.”

“Caw! Caw!”

The crow, pleased by the praise, flapped its wings, then flew away.

The left envoy watched it disappear into the distance.

She touched her face, realizing that her mask was missing, and she felt a surge of anger.

But her personal feelings were irrelevant. Her priority was to identify the creature that had suddenly appeared in the Black River.

She hadn’t expected to encounter righteous cultivators here, but they were of little consequence. The one who truly mattered was Lü Qingyan.

She had seen the dog, through the crow’s eyes. Lü Qingyan, during her time at the Demon Palace, had been miserable, her face always etched with a mournful expression.

But now, she was with that cat, her smile constant.

The left envoy shook her head, her voice laced with a bitter resentment, as she snapped a twig. “Damn it,” she muttered. “Are all the Sword Saint’s companions destined to torment us?”

Chapter 99: The Show

After transforming into a human, the phrase “a long and arduous journey” had vanished from Bai Jingxue’s vocabulary.

All living things possessed a spirit. Although there was a designated Demon Realm, demons weren’t necessarily banished from the righteous realm. Only those who had succumbed to demonic influence were considered a threat.

To be more precise, demon cultivators were considered a threat because they were unpredictable and destructive. Demons, however, had value. They could be utilized. Some sects specialized in capturing and raising demons, preparing them for future contracts with cultivators.

The more gruesome practices, however, were best left unsaid.

Bai Jingxue, standing on her sword, her gaze fixed on the sect below, her destination approaching, felt a surge of anticipation.

Compared to the Ejian Sect’s grandeur, this sect, hidden within a dense forest, seemed rather shabby. A closer inspection revealed that the paint on their sign was peeling.

But none of that mattered to Bai Jingxue. She landed gracefully, and a moment later, Lü Qingyan joined her.

Lü Qingyan stared at the sect below, a sense of familiarity washing over her. She sniffed the air, recognizing the scent.

She soon realized where they were, but she couldn’t understand why Jingxue had brought her here.

This place held unpleasant memories. This was where Jingxue had nearly been killed by the male lead. If she hadn’t summoned the spirit wolves, she and Jingxue wouldn’t be together in this life.

She didn’t want to trigger any bad memories. She tugged Bai Jingxue’s sleeve, her voice gentle. “There’s nothing interesting here, Jingxue,” she said. “Let’s go.”

Her concern was evident, but Bai Jingxue wasn’t that fragile. She gently removed Lü Qingyan’s hand, then squeezed her ear.

The soft, fluffy texture lifted her spirits. “Don’t worry,” she said, smiling. “I’m not that weak.”

Lü Qingyan allowed Bai Jingxue to pet her. She had retained her ears for this very purpose. But Bai Jingxue, now capable of transforming at will, had chosen to conceal her cat ears and tail. It was a bit disappointing.

She sighed. She knew Jingxue was strong, but she wished Jingxue would allow herself to be vulnerable, to cry when she needed to.

But she hoped Bai Jingxue, in this life, would never have a reason to cry.

Bai Jingxue, excited about her plan, grabbed Lü Qingyan’s hand, and they leaped from their swords, their bodies plummeting towards the ground.

The wind whipped through their hair, their clothes billowing, but their movements remained graceful, controlled by their spiritual energy.

She had often watched those elegant immortals flying through the air on television in her past life. She hadn’t expected to have the opportunity to experience it herself.

Lü Qingyan, as they descended, noticed the smile on Bai Jingxue’s face.

She had rarely seen Bai Jingxue smile in their past life. She had often told jokes, trying to make Bai Jingxue laugh, and Bai Jingxue would occasionally smile.

She had been proud of herself, believing her jokes were funny, but she had eventually realized the truth.

Bai Jingxue had smiled not because the jokes were funny, but because she had known that Lü Qingyan wanted to see her smile. She had been playing along.

Lü Qingyan had been heartbroken, but Bai Jingxue had simply cupped her face, her thumbs gently smoothing away her frown, then she had hugged Lü Qingyan, her voice soft. “But my happiness is real,” she had said. “It’s not because of the jokes. It’s because you care about my happiness.”

Lü Qingyan, remembering that moment, smiled.

As their feet touched the ground, she couldn’t help but ask, her voice filled with excitement, “Isn’t this like bungee jumping?”

Bai Jingxue, ever the pragmatist, considered this for a moment, then said, “No, we didn’t bounce back up. It’s more like skydiving.”

Lü Qingyan, realizing she was right, immediately switched to praise mode. “You’re right, Jingxue! Skydiving is a better analogy!”

Bai Jingxue, in both her past and present lives, had never been a fan of flattery. She shuddered, then sighed.

Unlike the Ejian Sect, with its strict rules and disciplined disciples, this small sect, known as the Beast Control Sect, was rather lax. They didn’t even have a protective formation. There was only a single disciple guarding the entrance, and he was currently napping.

Bai Jingxue could tell he was at the peak of Qi Gathering.

Guarding the entrance to a sect wasn’t a task for the weak. The Ejian Sect’s gatekeepers were so powerful that she couldn’t even sense their cultivation levels.

She wondered how Zhu Chi had dared to provoke the Ejian Sect’s ancestor.

Perhaps the fact that she hadn’t been challenged by the Ejian Sect’s gatekeepers had been a mercy, a way of protecting the Spring Snow Sect Leader’s pride.

But there was no need to worry now. Zhu Chi was completely devoted to that little whale demon, An Ran. She had gradually relinquished control of the sect’s affairs.

Bai Jingxue, realizing that her thoughts had strayed too far, approached the sleeping disciple, her voice gentle. “Little Daoist.”

The disciple, startled awake, rubbed his eyes, his gaze blurry as he stared at Bai Jingxue. He thought he was still dreaming.

He yawned. “Why am I dreaming of a fairy?” he muttered. “I must be tired.”

Bai Jingxue, seeing that he was about to fall asleep again, quickly interrupted him. “Little Daoist, we’re disciples of the Ejian Sect,” she said. “We’re here to see your sect leader.”

The disciple’s eyes flew open. The Ejian Sect? He was wide awake now. He scrambled to his feet, wiping the drool from his mouth, his voice filled with a nervous respect. “Do you have any proof, Immortal?”

Bai Jingxue retrieved her identity token.

The disciple, examining it, his eyes widening in surprise, exclaimed, “You’re guest elders of the Ejian Sect?!”

Bai Jingxue nodded.

The disciple’s gaze turned reverent, his posture stiffening.

He forgot to bow. He turned and dashed towards the sect’s main buildings, his voice echoing through the air. “Elders from the Ejian Sect are here! Sect Leader!”

His frantic reaction amused Bai Jingxue. She exchanged a look with Lü Qingyan, then they both chuckled.

Luo Nianshang had chosen this title carefully. Guest elders weren’t bound by the sect’s rules, but they had access to all its resources.

The Sword Saint was truly kind to them.

Their arrival had shattered the peace of this small sect. The disciple’s shouts startled the birds and beasts, their cries filling the air.

“The Ejian Sect! Why are elders from such a prestigious sect here?”

“Is there a demon cultivator among us?”

“Did Senior Brother Ke offend someone from the Ejian Sect?”

“Don’t be ridiculous! No one from the Ejian Sect would be interested in him!”

The disciples, though curious, only dared to observe from a distance.

In the cultivation world, a single wrong word could lead to the destruction of an entire sect. If a large sect was destroyed, there would be an investigation, but if a small sect like theirs was destroyed, it would simply be forgotten. And if any surviving disciples sought justice, they would most likely be blamed, the crime attributed to demon cultivators.

In the end, those seeking justice would only be met with hypocritical righteous cultivators, their faces filled with a feigned sorrow, their voices chanting, “Those damned demon cultivators!”

Bai Jingxue understood their fear, but she was glad they were keeping their distance. She didn’t want to be surrounded by a crowd of curious onlookers.

The disciple soon returned, dragging an elderly man in gray robes, his hair streaked with white.

Bai Jingxue could tell that he was only at the middle stage of Golden Core. He wasn’t even at Nascent Soul.

The sect leader, seeing the two women, their auras powerful, their beauty intimidating, his legs nearly buckling, greeted them with a trembling voice. “What brings you here, honored immortals?”

Lü Qingyan, hearing his question, turned to Bai Jingxue, her brow furrowed.

Bai Jingxue hadn’t told her why they were here.

Bai Jingxue smiled, her expression gentle and approachable. “Does your sect raise spirit wolves?” she asked.

The sect leader, assuming they were interested in the pack of spirit wolves living on their back mountain, his heart sinking, nodded. Those wolves were their sect’s greatest asset.

They had managed to survive in this cutthroat world thanks to those wolves. They were numerous, ferocious, and venomous. They had protected the sect from countless threats.

But he had no choice. If he refused, his sect might not survive.

He swallowed his pain, his voice respectful. “If you desire those wolves, honored immortals, you may take them.”

Bai Jingxue, amused by his eagerness, shook her head. “That’s not why we’re here,” she said.

She was simply here for revenge.

The alpha wolf, dragged before Bai Jingxue, had no idea what was happening, but his keen sense of smell recognized the two demons.

His pack, sensing his unease, growled, their eyes fixed on Bai Jingxue and Lü Qingyan, their bodies tense.

Bai Jingxue unleashed a wave of pressure, and the wolves instantly submitted, collapsing to the ground.

The sect leader, at Bai Jingxue’s command, instructed his disciples to bring out several iron rings. Bai Jingxue, with a flick of her wrist, levitated the rings, arranging them in a circle, their spacing precise.

She then ignited them with her flames.

She smiled at the alpha wolf, her voice laced with amusement. “I heard your wolves are skilled at jumping through hoops of fire,” she said. “Show me.”

The alpha wolf, unable to resist, led his pack through the hoops, their movements clumsy and awkward.

Bai Jingxue, however, felt like something was missing. She thought for a moment, then transformed into her cat form, her green eyes gleaming with a mischievous light as she watched the wolves struggle.

Her tail twitched, and she leaped into Lü Qingyan’s arms, licking her paws, then settled down to enjoy the show.

Lü Qingyan, wanting to pet her, reached out, but Bai Jingxue swatted her hand away.

Lü Qingyan, unfazed, simply chuckled. “You really hold grudges, don’t you?”

Bai Jingxue snorted, her tail twitching. She was clearly enjoying herself.

The wolves continued their performance until nightfall, their bodies exhausted. Bai Jingxue, satisfied, leaped from Lü Qingyan’s arms, transforming back into her human form as she landed.

She approached the alpha wolf, ignoring his hateful glare, then retrieved a talisman, placing it on his forehead.

The alpha wolf, assuming she was about to kill him, snarled, “We saved your life! You ungrateful wretch!”

Bai Jingxue, unfazed, her voice calm, said, “I’m a cat. You’re a wolf.”

The alpha wolf was speechless. Then he felt a surge of energy coursing through his body. His cultivation was increasing. And a new cultivation technique appeared in his mind.

Bai Jingxue, ignoring his shock, turned and left, Lü Qingyan by her side.

The night air was cool. Lü Qingyan, glancing at the receding scenery, then at Bai Jingxue’s elegant figure, caught up to her. “You gave him a cultivation technique?” she asked.

Bai Jingxue nodded, the moonlight reflected in her eyes, but her gaze was even brighter, the moonlight simply a backdrop.

She smiled. “I’m not an ungrateful cat.”

Chapter 98: A Gift

The Demon Lord’s worries soon materialized. It was time for the next unbinding session, and she was forced to create a body double to replace Cai Lian.

But the body double, unlike her original self, wasn’t as skilled at deception. She had inherited the Demon Lord’s fiery temper. The two of them, facing each other, the body double, Cai Lian, glared at her original self, her eyes filled with a disdain that surprised the Demon Lord.

She had never realized how annoying her own personality was. She grabbed Cai Lian, spanking her hard.

But in her anger, she had forgotten that she shared a connection with her body double. She dropped Cai Lian, clutching her own backside, her face pale.

Cai Lian, rubbing her bruised bottom, her voice filled with a childish rage, shouted, “Damn you! How dare you hit me?!”

The Demon Lord, her anger intensifying, grabbed Cai Lian’s shoulders, shaking her. “Damn you!” she mimicked. “Didn’t anyone teach you that children shouldn’t curse?!”

The body double was newly created. Of course, no one had taught her such things. She was simply afraid that Luo Nianshang would notice Cai Lian’s unusual behavior.

This Cai Lian body double was supposed to be a sweet and obedient child. She couldn’t be cursing like a sailor.

Cai Lian, her head spinning, collapsed onto the floor, then, her composure returning, she retorted, her voice defiant, “I’m you! If you curse, then I curse too!”

The Demon Lord’s face contorted in anger, but she couldn’t argue with that logic. She silenced Cai Lian.

Cai Lian, realizing she could no longer speak, clutched her throat, coughing, then, seeing that no sound emerged, she began to curse silently, her lips moving.

The Demon Lord, reading her lips, her smile smug, said, “Speak up, I can’t hear you~”

Cai Lian, enraged, lunged at the Demon Lord, her teeth bared, but the Demon Lord dodged, grabbing Cai Lian by the collar, tossing her out of the room.

She slammed the door shut, satisfied, her anger spent. Then, resuming her true form, she walked out into the courtyard.

Luo Nianshang was out. Ying had taken the fox to the Demon Realm. And Fu Yuan, her work ethic improving, was out on a mission with He Rong and Jwan Jwan.

Only the cat and dog remained. Bai Jingxue was in seclusion, her focus on her cultivation, oblivious to the outside world. Lü Qingyan was sitting at the table in the courtyard, reading.

The Demon Lord grabbed Cai Lian, who was charging towards her, and tossed her back into the room, locking the door.

The sound of pounding echoed from within, but the Demon Lord, with a snap of her fingers, silenced it, leaving only the image of the red door shaking violently.

Lü Qingyan, looking up from her book, her brow furrowed, said, “Your body doubles seem to have their own consciousness. Aren’t you afraid they’ll rebel?”

The Demon Lord, her arms crossed, scoffed. “They’re my creations,” she said. “They can’t harm me.”

She then settled across from Lü Qingyan, her chin resting on her hand, her other hand idly flipping through a book on the table.

The Flora and Fauna of the Demon Realm

She was intimately familiar with the Demon Realm, having lived there for most of her life, but compared to the scenery of the righteous realm, the Demon Realm was a desolate and terrifying place. It was a land of exile.

She tossed the book aside, her voice laced with a hint of bitterness. “Don’t bother reading that,” she said. “There’s nothing beautiful in the Demon Realm.”

Lü Qingyan, her eyes tired from reading, closed her book, nodding in agreement.

She suddenly remembered something. The left envoy was the Demon Lord’s most trusted subordinate. “Ying went to the Demon Realm to find the left envoy,” she said.

Ying hadn’t hidden her intentions, but the Demon Lord hadn’t realized she was going to see her left envoy. But she wasn’t surprised. She had heard Ying’s voice that day.

Although she was a rather irresponsible leader, she appreciated her subordinates’ loyalty. It seemed her trusted envoy was in trouble. She felt obligated to intervene.

Seeing that Lü Qingyan seemed to know a lot about the situation, she asked, “What happened?”

Lü Qingyan sighed. “It’s like this…”

She recounted Ying’s story, then explained Ying’s reason for seeking out the left envoy. “She’s going to take responsibility.”

The mask had been a clear clue. Ying had simply asked around and had learned that the Demon Realm’s left envoy always wore a mask. She had then set off on her journey.

The Demon Lord couldn’t believe her ears. “Say that again,” she said, her brow furrowed.

Lü Qingyan, assuming she hadn’t spoken loudly enough, repeated herself. “I said Ying is going to find your left envoy and take responsibility!”

The Demon Lord, hearing the same words again, scoffed. “That pink dragon has none of her father’s flaws,” she said. “Don’t dragons care about such things?”

Not only did dragons not care, but demon cultivators also didn’t care. And the left envoy was solely focused on serving the Demon Lord, on restoring the Demon Realm to its former glory.

But the Demon Realm’s glory had always been short-lived. Whenever it seemed like they were gaining power, Luo Nianshang would appear, crushing the current Demon Lord.

She pitied her left envoy for being born in the same era as Luo Nianshang.

She didn’t agree with Lü Qingyan’s assessment of Ying. After all, there was that Seven Girlfriends book. But that book, despite its harem setup, was actually a “choose one” story.

Lü Qingyan didn’t want to get involved in that drama. She didn’t want to get caught in the crossfire.

Ying would have a happy ending, so Lü Qingyan decided to simply observe from a safe distance.

Speaking of observing, her gaze drifted towards the Demon Lord.

This one also had a lot of drama in her life. She wanted to warn her, but revealing the truth would alter the story’s course. The original story, at least, had a happy ending.

But changing the story could lead to an unpredictable outcome.

The Demon Lord, feeling Lü Qingyan’s gaze, shifted uncomfortably. “What?” she asked, waving a hand in front of Lü Qingyan’s face.

Lü Qingyan, quickly averting her gaze, picked up her book, her voice nonchalant. “Nothing.”

Thankfully, no one dared to intrude upon Luo Nianshang’s residence. Otherwise, having such a powerful enemy within their midst would have caused chaos.

As she thought about this, she felt a sudden chill. She looked up to see Luo Nianshang approaching from the sky.

She landed gracefully, her gaze lingering on the Demon Lord, her expression a mixture of awkwardness and uncertainty.

Her feelings towards the Demon Lord were complex. Bai Jingxue’s words had prompted her to visit the village where the Demon Lord had been born, but there had been no trace of the past. She had returned empty-handed.

The Demon Lord, however, seemed unfazed. “Hey, Venerable One,” she said, her voice casual. “Long time no see.”

It hadn’t been that long. In the Demon Lord’s world, they were together every day.

But it was the same for Luo Nianshang. She couldn’t stop thinking about the Demon Lord, her thoughts filled with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

Lü Qingyan, sensing the awkward tension between them, quietly gathered her books and left, slipping into Bai Jingxue’s room.

Luo Nianshang, alone with the Demon Lord, her social anxiety intensifying, struggled to find the right words. She had mentally rehearsed countless opening lines, but they all seemed inadequate. Finally, she settled on a simple, “Have you eaten?”

The Demon Lord, staring at her, her serious expression making the question even more absurd, couldn’t help but laugh. “Venerable One, have you forgotten?” she asked, her voice filled with amusement. “We don’t need to eat.”

Luo Nianshang, realizing her mistake, simply hummed in acknowledgment.

Perhaps love truly was blind. The Demon Lord found Luo Nianshang’s awkwardness endearing.

She wanted to tease Luo Nianshang, but then she remembered their encounter at the spirit spring. Her previous attempts at teasing had ended badly.

Her face paled. She decided to be cautious. Luo Nianshang might seem aloof and restrained, but there was a hidden fire within her.

She abandoned her playful intentions, her voice regaining its usual calmness. “Alright, what do I have to do?”

Luo Nianshang, relieved to be discussing a serious matter, her anxiety lessening, stared at the Demon Lord’s modest attire, her words escaping before she could stop them. “Take off your clothes.”

The Demon Lord, clutching her collar, took a step back, her eyes narrowed with suspicion. Had she fallen into a trap?

Luo Nianshang, realizing her words had been inappropriate, quickly clarified. “Not all of them,” she said.

The Demon Lord, her hand releasing her collar, relaxed, then felt a pang of disappointment.

The courtyard wasn’t a suitable location. “It’s not convenient here,” Luo Nianshang said. “Come to my room.”

Now it was the Demon Lord’s turn to be nervous, but she was too proud to show it. “Lead the way, Venerable One,” she said, her voice smooth, her smile unwavering.

Luo Nianshang nodded. “Alright.”

She led the way, the Demon Lord following closely behind.

Lü Qingyan, watching them disappear from view through the crack in Bai Jingxue’s door, her heart sinking, couldn’t help but mutter, “That’s it?”

Bai Jingxue, emerging from her meditation, saw Lü Qingyan peeking through the doorway, her backside facing Bai Jingxue.

She put on her shoes, then walked over to Lü Qingyan, patting her shoulder. “What are you looking at?”

Lü Qingyan, startled by Bai Jingxue’s silent approach, jumped, her hand flying to her chest. “Jingxue, you scared me!”

Bai Jingxue, unrepentant, also peered through the doorway, but she didn’t see anything unusual.

She straightened up, noticing the pile of books on the floor. She picked one up, flipping through it.

It was a travel guide, its focus the Demon Realm.

She skimmed through it, her gaze drawn to a particular page: an illustration of the Land of Fallen Gods, its sea of flowers a breathtaking sight.

Millennia had passed. Many things had changed. The division between the human, demon, and spirit realms hadn’t existed then. But the location of the Ejian Sect remained the same.

She mentally calculated the location. The Land of Fallen Gods was most likely the former site of the Xuan Tian Sect.

Lü Qingyan, peering over her shoulder, also saw the illustration. They had seen the real thing. The illustration, lacking the vibrant colors of the actual location, wasn’t as impressive.

Seeing Bai Jingxue’s interest, she asked, “Do you want to go there again, Jingxue?”

Bai Jingxue shook her head. “No.”

She tapped Lü Qingyan on the head with the book, her voice laced with amusement. “Still not cultivating?”

Lü Qingyan, rubbing her head, stuck her tongue out. “I’m going now,” she said.

She was about to gather her books and return to her room when Bai Jingxue stopped her. “Come with me tomorrow,” she said.

“Where to?” Lü Qingyan asked.

Bai Jingxue smiled, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “You’ll see.”

Chapter 97: A Troubled Heart

Dark clouds gathered, casting a shadow over the town.

Bai Jingxue and Lü Qingyan stood beneath the eaves of a building, waiting for the impending storm.

A clap of thunder echoed through the air, and dark spots began to appear on the ground, their numbers increasing, their density growing.

Lü Qingyan reached out a hand, catching a raindrop. The coolness against her palm made her shiver, but she was in a good mood.

She had retained her ears and tail. She had discovered that Jingxue enjoyed petting her ears, although Jingxue would never admit it.

She wagged her tail, a mischievous glint in her eyes. She suddenly wanted to walk in the rain, sheltered by an umbrella.

But there were no umbrellas here. She often forgot that she was a demon in this life.

Remembering this, she snapped her fingers, and a barrier formed around her, deflecting the rain.

Ying, carrying the fox, rushed towards them, seeking shelter beneath the eaves.

Bai Jingxue moved aside, making space for them.

For some reason, Ying hadn’t used a spell to shield herself from the rain. Her pale pink hair, darkened by the water, clung to her face, her usual vibrant energy replaced by a somber stillness. She resembled a beautiful water spirit.

The fox, however, was dry.

Ying set the fox down, then gathered her hair, squeezing out the water.

Bai Jingxue had noticed that Ying had been unusually quiet lately.

Honestly, the dragon, despite her cluelessness, was a good person: powerful, of pure blood, kind-hearted, and always willing to help.

If this were their past life, Ying would be the kind of person who helped elderly people cross the street, offered her seat on the bus, and turned in lost wallets to the police.

Bai Jingxue couldn’t bear to see her like this. She decided to talk to her.

Another clap of thunder echoed through the air, then, once the sound had faded, Bai Jingxue asked, “Is something bothering you?”

Ying sighed, her honesty surprising. “I think I caused some trouble,” she admitted.

Lü Qingyan’s ears perked up. Her keen sense of smell had detected the scent of gossip.

“Tell us about it,” she said, her voice eager. “Maybe we can help.”

Ying, seeing no harm in sharing, retrieved a mask from her sleeve. It was a white mask, its only openings two eyeholes, with a pair of eyes painted beneath them.

The painted eyes were downcast, their expression mournful.

Bai Jingxue didn’t recognize it, but Lü Qingyan instantly knew what it was.

It was the left envoy’s mask! How did Ying get it?

Lü Qingyan stared at it, her eyes wide with surprise, then Ying’s expression mirrored the mask’s sadness, her voice filled with regret. “I think I messed up,” she said.

As a demon, she didn’t care about the conflict between the righteous and demon realms. She didn’t enjoy killing. She only resorted to violence when provoked.

So she had released the left envoy, but she had accidentally picked up the mask the left envoy had dropped.

The mask was unusual. It seemed to reflect its owner’s emotions. Ying had watched as its expression had shifted from anger to sadness.

She guessed it was because of what had happened that day. She had initially dismissed it, but now, she felt a pang of guilt.

Humans and demons were different. She felt responsible.

But the left envoy had revealed so little about herself. Even her appearance might have been a disguise.

Bai Jingxue, listening to Ying’s story, realized that the events in that storybook were starting to unfold.

But there was no need to be sad. According to the story, their relationship was a classic enemies-to-lovers trope. No matter how tumultuous their journey, the ending would be happy.

She wasn’t in the mood to comfort a lovesick dragon. “You’ll see her again,” she said. “You can talk to her then.”

She turned to see Lü Qingyan, her expression troubled, and she asked, her voice laced with concern, “What’s wrong?”

Lü Qingyan grabbed Bai Jingxue’s hand, pulling her into their room. She cast a soundproofing spell.

She pushed Bai Jingxue onto a chair, then poured herself a cup of tea, gulping it down.

She gasped for air, her voice filled with a horrified realization. “That mask belongs to the left envoy.”

Bai Jingxue wasn’t familiar with the left envoy. “What’s so strange about that?” she asked, her brow furrowed.

Lü Qingyan slumped onto the chair beside her, her expression miserable. “It’s just weird,” she said. “It’s like seeing two people from completely different parts of your life suddenly become best friends.”

Bai Jingxue thought for a moment, then said, “Like seeing a childhood friend’s wedding announcement on social media, and realizing their spouse is your college classmate?”

That was a perfect analogy. Lü Qingyan nodded vigorously.

She felt like the world had gone mad. But then again, the world had always been mad. The male lead had been a terrible person.

She shouldn’t have read that book. She had been curious about the overwhelmingly negative reviews.

Everyone else seemed to be finding love, but when would she and Jingxue be together again, like in their past life?

She slumped onto the table, her heart sinking. The Sword Saint, the Demon Lord, even the pink dragon… their fates had already been written.

But what about her?

What would happen to her and Bai Jingxue?

“Jingxue,” she asked, her voice subdued, “the male lead is gone. What do you want to do now?”

Bai Jingxue stared at her. Lü Qingyan’s ears and tail, their movements listless, were a clear indication of her unhappiness.

Was it because of the storm? But Lü Qingyan had always enjoyed the rain.

She had been a cheerful and energetic girl, often rushing out into the rain, her umbrella forgotten. Bai Jingxue had repeatedly scolded her for it.

As for what she wanted to do… Bai Jingxue wasn’t sure. She still felt like something was wrong with this world.

If this was truly the end, she would probably just stay home and sleep.

But…

She glanced at Lü Qingyan, a new plan forming in her mind. She reached out, gently squeezing Lü Qingyan’s ear. “Once everything is settled,” she said, her voice soft, “we’ll fulfill our promise from our past life.”

Their time in university had been the happiest period of their lives. They hadn’t made any grand vows, but they had talked about the future.

They had been naive, their dreams filled with hope. They had wanted to travel the world together, to experience everything it had to offer.

They had wanted to go skiing, bungee jumping, skydiving, and see the ocean.

They hadn’t been able to fulfill those dreams, but perhaps they could in this life.

Lü Qingyan’s eyes lit up, her energy returning. Her previous gloom seemed to have vanished.

“Are you talking about traveling?” she asked, her voice filled with excitement.

Bai Jingxue nodded, her gaze meeting Lü Qingyan’s, her lips curving into a small smile.

Lü Qingyan wagged her tail, eager for that day to arrive.

She had spent a long time planning their trip in their past life, creating a detailed itinerary, but they hadn’t been able to go. This world was different. She would have to start planning again.

She couldn’t sit still any longer. She jumped to her feet, rushing out of the room.

“Jingxue! I’m going to the library!”

Bai Jingxue chuckled, amused by Lü Qingyan’s sudden thirst for knowledge.

The rain had stopped, the dark clouds dissipating, a rainbow arching over the distant mountains, its colors vibrant.

She stepped outside, her gaze drawn to the beautiful scenery, then she noticed Ying, her brow furrowed, her expression mirroring the sadness of the mask in her hand.

She moved away, her voice filled with a genuine appreciation. “It’s beautiful,” she said, her gaze fixed on the rainbow.

Ying, glancing up at Bai Jingxue, thought, “This cat demon is heartless.”

Meanwhile, in the library, Lü Qingyan, with Fu Yuan as her translator, had gathered a stack of books, preparing for a long night of research.

Fu Yuan, staring at the pile, her head spinning, hesitated, then she looked at Lü Qingyan, her voice soft. “Why are you suddenly interested in this?”

Lü Qingyan realized she had a better idea. Instead of reading, she could simply ask.

The Ejian Sect’s inner sect disciples often accepted missions to earn cultivation resources. These missions varied in difficulty and location.

Fu Yuan, before becoming the Sword Saint’s personal chef, had been a frequent mission-taker. She must have traveled extensively.

She quickly explained her purpose. “Sister Fu Yuan, do you know of any interesting places?” she asked. “Or places with beautiful scenery?”

Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “I want to travel with Jingxue someday.”

Fu Yuan, seeing her happy expression, couldn’t help but smile, but the places she had visited had been dangerous.

Wait, Lü Qingyan was already at the Nascent Soul stage.

Realizing this, she slumped onto the table, her previous cheerfulness vanishing, her voice filled with a despair that alarmed Lü Qingyan.

Her translator had collapsed. “What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice frantic.

Fu Yuan covered her ears, her voice a despairing chant. “I’m useless, a worthless burden.”

Lü Qingyan instantly understood, but Fu Yuan’s words and her tone made Lü Qingyan blurt out, “You’re a girl, a beautiful girl.”

She immediately covered her mouth, her cheeks burning.

But Fu Yuan suddenly stood up, her voice firm. “I need to accept more missions,” she said. “I can’t slack off. I refuse to be a useless flower vase!”

She then rushed out of the library, leaving Lü Qingyan standing there, speechless.

“I didn’t call her a flower vase,” she muttered.

Chapter 96: Worth It

With the new Demon Lord in power, the Demon Realm was experiencing a rare period of peace. As a result, the right envoy, Lin Fuying, had far less work to do, which was exactly what she wanted.

Unlike that fool, the left envoy, she wasn’t going to overwork herself.

The sun was shining, a rare occurrence in the Demon Realm. She lay on the roof of her bedchamber, enjoying the warmth.

A demon hawk suddenly landed on her forehead, its feathers shimmering. It transformed into a wisp of black smoke, entering her mind.

She instantly sat up, her eyes flying open, her expression turning grim. She vanished in a flash of light, reappearing in the Hall of Government. The desk, usually piled high with documents, was empty.

“Damn it!” she cursed.

She stormed out of the hall, checking the adjoining room, which was Mo Li’s bedchamber. It was spartan, its furnishings minimal, the room meticulously clean.

Mo Li, for convenience, had moved her bedchamber to a room adjacent to the Hall of Government, although she rarely used it. She never slept.

Lin Fuying expanded her divine sense, searching the entire Demon Palace, then, her search fruitless, she slumped onto Mo Li’s chair, her expression resigned, as she began to process the mountain of documents.

A servant girl, passing by, seeing Lin Fuying sitting there, her eyes widening in surprise, nearly spilled the Revitalizing Soup she was carrying.

She steadied herself, kneeling before Lin Fuying, her voice trembling slightly. “Would you like some Revitalizing Soup, Right Envoy?”

Lin Fuying, waving a hand dismissively, said, “No, you may leave.”

“Yes, Right Envoy.”

The servant girl, her footsteps hurried, closed the door behind her.

The hall was plunged into darkness, but Lin Fuying, with a thought, ignited the lamps.

Dozens of candles flickered to life on the bronze and gold lampstands, illuminating her face, her expression still grim. She had only read one document, and she was already annoyed.

The flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows on the walls, her own shadow mimicking her restless movements. She finally tossed the document aside, her voice filled with a frustrated anger. “She didn’t even tell me she was leaving! I can’t handle this mess!”

“What?” a voice said, amusement lacing its tone. “This little thing is making you angry?”

The voice seemed to be coming from her shadow. She ignored it, closing her eyes, refusing to face reality.

Her shadow suddenly rippled, rising, taking on a human form. A moment later, a woman, her features becoming visible, stepped out of the shadow.

She wore a black dress, its sheer fabric clinging to her curves, revealing glimpses of her tanned skin. A pearl anklet adorned her right ankle. Her long black hair cascaded down her back, reaching the floor.

She walked towards Lin Fuying with a graceful stride, her lips curving into a playful smile.

She picked up a strand of Lin Fuying’s hair, twirling it around her finger. “Tell me what happened,” she said, her voice soft. “Maybe I can help.”

Lin Fuying swatted her hand away, her voice sharp. “Get away from me! Who are you to meddle in my affairs?!”

The woman, ignoring Lin Fuying’s hostility, simply chuckled, then, to Lin Fuying’s further annoyance, she licked her hand.

“You’re so beautiful when you’re angry,” she said, her voice a low purr.

Lin Fuying sighed, defeated. She resumed her work, her brow furrowing as she struggled to decipher the complex reports.

The woman, watching her, her amusement growing, finally intervened. She took the brush from Lin Fuying’s hand, her voice gentle. “Let me handle this,” she said. “You go rest.”

Lin Fuying, who had been about to snap at her, suddenly changed her mind. She relinquished her seat, and the woman settled down, her movements graceful.

Lin Fuying watched as the woman worked, her gaze sharp, her movements precise, her assessments accurate. She relaxed.

But sitting there doing nothing was boring. “I didn’t know you were capable of this,” she said, her voice laced with a hint of sarcasm.

The woman, without looking up, ignoring her tone, said, her voice a playful tease, “I have many talents. Would you like to experience them?”

Lin Fuying’s face darkened. She shouldn’t have spoken. She closed her eyes, blocking out all external stimuli, focusing on her cultivation.

Silence fell. The woman, setting down her brush, stared at Lin Fuying, her eyes gleaming with a strange light. She retrieved a small statue from her spatial ring.

It was a goddess, her arms cradling a bouquet of flowers, her expression serene, her gaze filled with compassion.

She brushed away the dust, placing the statue on the desk, then clasped her hands together, her head bowed in a silent prayer.

When she opened her eyes, she noticed that the statue’s features seemed clearer, more defined. She leaned closer, confirming her observation.

Had the deity answered her prayers? Her previous attempts had been met with silence.

“Ugh,” Lin Fuying groaned, her voice laced with frustration.

The woman, startled, quickly put the statue away.

Lin Fuying, her eyes opening, seeing that the woman was diligently working, felt a pang of guilt. She picked up a document, her frustration growing as she read through the reports.

She mentally cursed Mo Li.

Mo Li, meanwhile, sneezed violently. This minor inconvenience didn’t slow her down, but she was unaccustomed to such restrictive clothing. She felt suffocated.

But thanks to her teleportation talisman, she reached the foot of the Ejian Sect’s mountain in a single day.

As the leading sect of the righteous realm, the Ejian Sect’s protective formation was formidable. She found a secluded spot, retrieving the pearl the Demon Lord had given her. She tried to contact her.

The Demon Lord, however, was being forced to cultivate by Luo Nianshang. She had severed their connection, wary of Luo Nianshang’s presence.

Mo Li, staring at the silent pearl, her heart filled with a desperate rage, thought, “That hypocritical Luo Nianshang must have imprisoned her!”

She wasn’t wearing her mask. She had hidden it in her sleeve.

She lifted her head, her beautiful face etched with a determined resolve. “I swear,” she said, her voice firm, “even if it costs me my life, I will rescue the Demon Lord.”

“What are you doing here?”

The voice, sudden and unexpected, startled her, her heart pounding. She turned to see a woman with horns and pink hair.

She instantly recognized her as Ying.

An idea formed in her mind. Perhaps she could use this dragon to sneak into the Ejian Sect.

She collapsed, her body slumping to the ground.

Ying, startled, quickly scooped her up, about to rush towards the Ejian Sect, when something tugged on her pant leg. She looked down to see the fox.

But this wasn’t the time for games. “I’ll play with you later,” she said.

The fox, releasing her grip, barked twice, its meaning clear.

“You can’t bring strangers into the Ejian Sect,” it said. “Use the pills in your spatial ring.”

Ying, realizing the fox was right, gently laid the unconscious woman on the ground, then rummaged through her spatial ring.

Luo Nianshang had always been generous with her pills and artifacts, but she had never bothered to label them. Ying searched for a while, her brow furrowed in frustration.

“Revitalizing Pill, pink bottle,” she muttered. “Found it!”

She retrieved two pink bottles. She couldn’t remember which one contained the Revitalizing Pills and which one contained the Transformation Elixirs, but consuming the Transformation Elixir wouldn’t harm a human, so she poured out one pill from each bottle, forcing them into the woman’s mouth.

Mo Li hadn’t resisted. Consuming a Revitalizing Pill wouldn’t hurt her. But the moment the pills entered her stomach, she felt a wave of heat coursing through her body.

She couldn’t pretend anymore. She hadn’t expected Luo Nianshang’s companion to resort to such a despicable tactic.

This was an aphrodisiac!

She opened her eyes, her body bolting upright, her hand grabbing Ying’s collar, her voice filled with a furious disbelief. “You drugged me!”

Ying, staring at her flushed face, was confused. Was she a demon? Was that why she was reacting this way?

She leaned closer, sniffing the woman’s neck, then muttered, “But there’s no demonic aura.”

She was bewildered, but Mo Li was suffering. Her body was incredibly sensitive, and Ying’s breath against her neck was making her shiver.

Whoever had refined this drug, its potency was far greater than any ordinary aphrodisiac. The more she tried to suppress it, the stronger it became.

A metallic taste filled her mouth.

She wiped the blood from her lips. She had to do something, or she would lose control.

Her eyes darkened, and she made a decision.

Ying, seeing the blood, her concern growing, reached out to check Mo Li’s pulse, but Mo Li grabbed her wrist, pulling her down. Ying landed on top of her.

Meanwhile, back at the Ejian Sect, Luo Nianshang, oblivious to the events unfolding below, had left the mansion. The Demon Lord, seizing the opportunity, contacted her left envoy.

This time, it took a while for Mo Li to respond, and her voice sounded strange.

“Your Excellency, are you alright?”

The Demon Lord had been enjoying herself. She had been using her child identity to her advantage, earning Luo Nianshang’s favor. She had even managed to convince Luo Nianshang to let her sleep in the room next to hers.

She was in a good mood and decided to check on her subordinate. “I’m fine,” she said. “Why is your voice so hoarse?”

Mo Li’s voice seemed to be filled with a mixture of relief and anxiety. “I’m fine, Your Excellency,” she said. “Are you at the Ejian Sect? Do you need assistance?”

The Demon Lord had no intention of letting anyone interfere with her plans. “No,” she said. “Just focus on managing the Demon Realm.”

Mo Li, clutching the pearl, her emotions complex, felt a wave of relief. It seemed the Demon Lord wasn’t being held captive. But she had also come all this way for nothing.

“Who are you talking to?”

She quickly stored the pearl away, surprised that Ying had broken through her spell so quickly. She lunged, her hand aiming for Ying’s neck.

Ying, however, easily intercepted her attack, her voice filled with a horrified disbelief. “You were going to kill me after using me!” she exclaimed. “How cruel!”

Mo Li, struggling to break free from Ying’s grasp, her voice a low growl, said, “Let go of me!”

Seeing her anger, Ying decided to negotiate. “I’ll let you go,” she said, “but you can’t attack me.”

Mo Li nodded.

Ying released her, but Mo Li instantly attacked again.

Ying sighed. She had no choice. She retrieved a rope from her spatial ring, binding Mo Li’s hands.

She stared at Mo Li, her brow furrowed with confusion. “Didn’t you ask me to save you?” she asked.

Mo Li, her eyes blazing with fury, wanted to bite Ying. “You lecherous dragon!” she hissed. “You drugged me!”

Ying was even more confused. She held up the two bottles. “These are Revitalizing Pills and Transformation Elixirs,” she said. “They’re perfectly safe. The Sword Saint made them.”

Mo Li’s eyes widened, then her face paled.

A terrifying thought had just occurred to her. Could it be that Luo Nianshang had taken an interest in her lord?

Meanwhile, back at the Ejian Sect, the Demon Lord, hearing Ying’s voice through their secret communication channel, was confused. Had Mo Li come here?

But Ying had left early this morning. Perhaps Ying had gone to the Demon Realm and encountered Mo Li.

She couldn’t figure it out, but she decided to ignore it for now. If the situation became dangerous, the pearl would alert her, and she would rescue Mo Li.

The pearl was silent. Mo Li was safe.

She left her room, heading towards the courtyard. She saw Luo Nianshang plucking flowers from a tree, the white petals falling onto her black hair, enhancing her ethereal beauty.

The Demon Lord stared at her, mesmerized.

Luo Nianshang, brushing a petal from her hair, noticed the little girl staring at her. She walked over, scooping the girl into her arms. “Why are you standing here?” she asked, her voice soft.

A petal drifted down from Luo Nianshang’s hair, and the Demon Lord reached out, catching it, then she looked up at Luo Nianshang, her smile bright. “You’re so beautiful, Master,” she said.

Children were always honest. Luo Nianshang’s lips curved into a small smile. “You too.”

Chapter 95: The Truth

Bai Jingxue and Luo Nianshang exchanged information. Upon learning that this world was actually a novel, Luo Nianshang, usually quiet and reserved, became surprisingly talkative.

She listened as Bai Jingxue summarized the original story, then her brows furrowed, her expression troubled.

After a long silence, she finally spoke, her voice laced with disbelief. “You’re saying that I… and the Demon Lord… fought and were jealous over such a pathetic man?”

A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the trees, the pale blue flowers swaying gently, their petals threatening to fall.

Bai Jingxue stared at the flowers growing on the cliffside. They had sensed the presence of demons, their stems reaching upwards, then, sensing Luo Nianshang’s aura, their fear overriding their instincts, they retreated, their movements subdued.

The details of the original story no longer mattered. Only the setting was relevant. Bai Jingxue was relieved.

She knew the male lead was dead. She understood why the stars had shifted that night. The protagonist of this world had changed. But she was also worried.

The male lead had been a notorious womanizer. Every female character in the story had fallen for him, becoming part of his harem.

She nodded, confirming Luo Nianshang’s question, then she discreetly glanced at Luo Nianshang’s face, its beauty enhanced by a faint, ethereal glow, a hint of divinity.

Luo Nianshang’s personality, her aloof and righteous nature, didn’t seem capable of such behavior. But She Yuwei’s story had claimed that Luo Nianshang would only love one person.

Bai Jingxue disliked spoilers, so she only knew the general outline of the story. She didn’t know who that “one person” was.

Luo Nianshang, her head bowed, was lost in her thoughts. If Bai Jingxue could read minds, she would know that Luo Nianshang was thinking about the Demon Lord.

Luo Nianshang, realizing that her thoughts were straying towards dangerous territory, quickly refocused, reminding herself that there were more important matters to consider. But she couldn’t seem to stop thinking about the Demon Lord.

This wasn’t good.

She was overwhelmed by the information she had received: Bai Jingxue and Lü Qingyan were from another world, the cycle of reincarnation was malfunctioning, and Bai Jingxue had revealed the truth about Luo Nianshang’s past.

Luo Nianshang wasn’t surprised by her half-human, half-demon heritage. Her masters had never hidden it from her, but she had never learned her parents’ names.

Now, in this distant future, she had heard about them from the cat she had picked up.

She had faced so many changes since waking from that dream. She sighed, but her gaze remained firm. “I understand,” she said. “I’ll investigate this.”

Bai Jingxue, reassured by the female lead’s determination, decided to leave. She knew that her presence was making Luo Nianshang uncomfortable.

“Then I’ll take my leave,” she said.

She turned to go, but Luo Nianshang’s voice stopped her.

“Wait.”

Bai Jingxue, surprised, turned back to face her. “Do you have any more questions, Venerable One?”

Luo Nianshang, her head bowed, her voice calm, asked, “Did that book say anything else about the Demon Lord?”

Bai Jingxue hadn’t expected that question. But based on the current situation, although the male lead was gone, their relationship was still strained.

So Luo Nianshang was trying to gather information about the Demon Lord’s weaknesses.

But Bai Jingxue also cared about the Demon Lord.

The Demon Lord had endured a difficult childhood, yet she hadn’t become twisted or cruel. She might be reckless and impulsive, but she possessed a strong sense of justice, a trait many righteous cultivators lacked.

She wasn’t truly a villain. She simply happened to be Luo Nianshang’s opponent.

As a reader, Bai Jingxue hoped they could find a way to coexist peacefully. She decided to speak up for the Demon Lord.

“The Demon Lord is different from the typical demon cultivator,” she said. “Both her demonic influence and her ascension to the throne were driven by fate. Please, try to see her differently, Venerable One.”

“She wasn’t the one who massacred that village,” she continued. “Her unique constitution made her a target. She has suffered greatly. She became the Demon Lord to protect herself.”

Luo Nianshang listened in silence. She knew this Demon Lord was different from her predecessors. Qiu Yingxi, since her ascension, had been surprisingly quiet, almost too quiet.

But it was difficult for a demon cultivator to maintain a pure heart. Her own attitude towards demon cultivators had shifted over the years. She had initially hated them, then she had encountered a child who had succumbed to demonic influence out of hatred. She had tried to save him, but she had failed.

Her stance had wavered, and when she had sensed the possibility of redeeming Qiu Yingxi, she had been willing to try. But then, so much had happened. She had been twice subjected to the Demon Lord’s advances, her anger overriding her desire for peace.

Seeing Luo Nianshang’s contemplative expression, Bai Jingxue realized her words had been too sudden, too direct. She sighed, then left.

She returned to her room, only to be tackled by Lü Qingyan.

“Jingxue, you’re back!”

Bai Jingxue, Lü Qingyan clinging to her, couldn’t help but smile. Thankfully, they were alone. She wasn’t embarrassed.

Seeing that Lü Qingyan had no intention of letting go, she patted Lü Qingyan’s back gently. “Let go of me,” she said. “I need to rest.”

Lü Qingyan, her need for affection satisfied, released her, then followed Bai Jingxue into the room.

Bai Jingxue, glancing back at the little dog trailing behind her, noticed that Lü Qingyan seemed unusually happy.

Bai Jingxue couldn’t understand her optimism, but Lü Qingyan’s smile, as always, was infectious.

That smile had illuminated the darkness of her past life.

Bai Jingxue couldn’t help but smile, her expression softening.

She settled at the table, pouring herself a cup of tea, then paused, her gaze fixed on Lü Qingyan. “Why are you so happy?” she asked.

Lü Qingyan settled beside her, leaning against her shoulder. “Because something good happened,” she said.

That was a rather vague answer. Bai Jingxue took a sip of her tea, its bitterness unpleasant.

She preferred milk tea. She suddenly missed it.

But she had no idea how to return to her own world, or what she would even do if she did.

She was avoiding reality. This world might be more dangerous, but it had been surprisingly kind to her.

She had been incredibly lucky in this life. It almost felt unreal.

She sighed, lamenting her own suspicious nature. Even when happiness was within reach, she couldn’t help but wonder if it was a trick, a prelude to more pain.

“Jingxue, do you still remember our promise?”

Bai Jingxue, confused, blinked. “What promise?”

Lü Qingyan, her voice filled with an excited urgency, her hands gesturing wildly, as if afraid Bai Jingxue had forgotten, said, “You promised that if the Demon Lord and the Sword Saint became friends, you would get back together with me! You didn’t forget, did you?”

So that was it. Bai Jingxue had an excellent memory. Of course, she hadn’t forgotten.

It had simply been an excuse, a way to deflect Lü Qingyan’s advances. But now, it seemed Lü Qingyan was taking it seriously.

Silly dog. They were practically together already.

Bai Jingxue nodded. “I remember,” she said. “But…”

Before she could finish, Lü Qingyan, her smile wide, her hand outstretched, said, “Pinky swear! One hundred years, no take-backs!”

Bai Jingxue, staring at Lü Qingyan’s outstretched pinky, chuckled. “Are you a child?”

But she extended her own pinky, intertwining it with Lü Qingyan’s.

She couldn’t bring herself to say the childish rhyme. The only time she had said it had been in her past life.

She had waved Lü Qingyan’s love letter, enjoying the girl’s flustered reaction.

She had been a terrible person. She had enjoyed seeing the girl’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. But that girl had to be Lü Qingyan.

She had no idea how Lü Qingyan had transformed from a rebellious delinquent into a lovesick puppy, but perhaps she had always been this way. Bai Jingxue had simply never noticed.

“You received it,” Bai Jingxue had said, her voice teasing. “So what do you think of me?”

Even the most confident person could become insecure in front of the person they loved.

Bai Jingxue had stared at her, surprised. She had never imagined anyone would love her, and she had never imagined that she would love them back.

What was she supposed to do?

She had thought about it for a long time. Rationality had dictated that her family situation wouldn’t allow her to accept Lü Qingyan’s feelings.

She had taken a deep breath, her voice calm and measured. “You know about my family,” she had said. “You…”

“That doesn’t matter,” Lü Qingyan had interrupted, her gaze meeting Bai Jingxue’s. “Look at me. What do you think of me?”

Bai Jingxue had looked at her.

She was beautiful, cheerful, and talented. She could sing, dance, and play sports.

They were from different worlds. Bai Jingxue had wanted to run, to hide. “You’re amazing,” she had said, her voice hesitant, her gaze dropping to the floor. “But…”

Lü Qingyan had interrupted her again, her cheeks still flushed, but her eyes filled with a determined intensity. “So you like me too, right?”

She had leaned closer, and Bai Jingxue had heard her own heartbeat quicken.

Her rationality had vanished.

“Jingxue, I’m serious,” Lü Qingyan had said, her voice soft.

“I want to be with you. I want you to be part of my life. I know my reputation isn’t great, but you know I’m not that bad.”

“It’s okay if you don’t understand,” she had continued. “I’ll prove it to you. Just don’t reject me yet, okay?”

Her voice had been so sincere, her usual arrogance replaced by a vulnerability that had surprised Bai Jingxue.

But she didn’t like seeing Lü Qingyan like this.

She had opened the love letter, her gaze scanning the lines, her assessment simple: “Too many flowery words.”

She had reached the last line, then carefully refolded the letter along its original creases.

She had sighed, her gaze fixed on the sky, then she had smiled.

She had wiped her eyes with her sleeve, her voice nonchalant. “The wind is making my eyes dry,” she had said.

Lü Qingyan had clenched her fists, then reached for Bai Jingxue’s hand, but she had quickly withdrawn it, afraid of scaring Bai Jingxue. “Let’s go somewhere else,” she had said, her voice a nervous stammer.

She had turned to leave, but a hand had grabbed hers, stopping her. She had turned back to see Bai Jingxue.

“Your love letter wasn’t very good,” Bai Jingxue had said, her voice soft.

Lü Qingyan’s heart had sunk, and she had forced a smile, but Bai Jingxue’s next words had made her smile genuine.

“But you’re not bad.”

Chapter 94: The Acceptance

Taking on disciples was a significant event for the Sword Saint. The Ejian Sect Leader had wanted to hold a grand ceremony, but Luo Nianshang had refused.

The moment she had returned, Bai Jingxue had sought her out, wanting to discuss her recent discovery. It seemed the cycle of reincarnation in this world was malfunctioning.

They found a secluded spot to talk, leaving the Demon Lord, Lü Qingyan, and the others behind. But they had their own matters to discuss. Lü Qingyan had some questions for the Demon Lord.

The Demon Lord was currently sharing a room with Hong Ying. She could have had her own room, but she had been too clever for her own good.

She had tried to use her child identity to get closer to Luo Nianshang, pretending to be afraid of the dark, but Luo Nianshang had responded by filling her room with night-pearl lamps.

Nearly blinded by the excessive brightness, she had tried a different tactic, claiming she was afraid to sleep alone.

Luo Nianshang had almost assigned her to share a room with her two puppets.

Thankfully, Luo Nianshang, afraid of corrupting her new disciple, had changed her mind, placing the Demon Lord’s new identity in the same room as her first identity, Hong Ying.

After those failed attempts, the Demon Lord had given up on her schemes.

Now, she sat across from her body double, her gaze scrutinizing. “Tsk,” she muttered. “I should have made her prettier.”

Hong Ying, hearing that, her temper flaring, raised an eyebrow, her voice laced with a mocking amusement. “You’re not exactly a beauty queen yourself.”

Unlike puppets, body doubles possessed their own consciousness and personalities, similar to their original selves, but not identical.

The Demon Lord was stunned. She had used body doubles before, but never for this long. She had never been insulted by her own creation.

She laughed, her eyes narrowing dangerously. “Are you tired of living?” she asked, her voice a low growl.

But Hong Ying wasn’t afraid. She chuckled, her voice defiant. “Why not?” she said. “If you’re so annoyed, then absorb me.”

The Demon Lord’s smile vanished. “You think I wouldn’t dare?” she hissed.

Hong Ying shrugged, her expression nonchalant, then rolled her eyes, her voice sharp. “Then confess your feelings to the Sword Saint,” she said. “No matter what happens, you won’t have to see me again.”

She then turned her back on the Demon Lord, pulling the blanket over her head.

The Demon Lord, her anger simmering, was about to absorb her body double, then she realized it was pointless. She would simply have to create a new one, and it would be no different from this one.

She sighed, her hand reaching for the edge of the bed, preparing to jump down, when she noticed Lü Qingyan peeking through the doorway.

Having just lost an argument with her own creation, her pride wounded, she was even more annoyed to find that a traitorous dog had witnessed her defeat.

She jumped down from the bed, flinging the door open, her voice sharp. “Enjoying the show?”

Lü Qingyan thought it was rather entertaining to watch the Demon Lord argue with herself. If she created a few more body doubles, they could form a theater troupe.

But she couldn’t say that. The Demon Lord was clearly in a bad mood.

She shook her head vigorously. “No, it wasn’t entertaining at all,” she said.

Afraid of being interrogated further, she quickly stated her purpose. “Are you doing all this to pursue the Sword Saint?”

She whispered the words “Sword Saint,” as if afraid of being overheard.

But those two simple words made the Demon Lord’s heart skip a beat. She was currently in a child’s body, forced to look up at Lü Qingyan. Her usual aura of power and intimidation had vanished.

She couldn’t admit it, of course. The Demon Lord, the ruthless ruler of the Demon Realm, resorting to childish tactics to win over her nemesis, the Sword Saint?

It was too humiliating!

She denied it vehemently, her voice a nervous stammer. “W-who said that?!” she exclaimed. “I’m her sworn enemy! You’ve been reading too many storybooks!”

Her voice regained its usual confidence, her denial unwavering.

If it hadn’t been for She Yuwei’s accurate predictions, Lü Qingyan might have been fooled by her performance.

“Thank you, She Yuwei,” Lü Qingyan thought. “Even the most absurd things can come true. I don’t even have to worry about that agreement anymore.”

She stared at the Demon Lord, her gaze knowing, her voice gentle. “Tsundere is so outdated,” she said. “Just be honest with yourself.”

The Demon Lord, despite her current appearance, hated being treated like a child. But Luo Nianshang was an exception.

She scoffed, levitating, her gaze meeting Lü Qingyan’s. She then rose even higher, until she was looking down at Lü Qingyan. “Stop saying such ridiculous things,” she said, her voice cold. “I haven’t forgotten your betrayal. There will be consequences.”

Lü Qingyan, staring up at her, suddenly realized how awkward she was. She had seen this before.

She thought for a moment, then it hit her. Bai Jingxue was also incredibly awkward.

“Why am I surrounded by awkward people?” she thought. But she was experienced in dealing with such individuals. She simply had to understand their true feelings and play along.

The Demon Lord had gone through so much trouble to infiltrate the Ejian Sect. And she was calling the Sword Saint “Master” so casually. It was clear she was in love.

Lü Qingyan, her plan forming, decided to be direct. “I’m simply trying to create opportunities for you and the Sword Saint,” she said.

The Demon Lord’s anger diminished, but she wasn’t that easily fooled. This dog was simply looking out for her own happiness, not her master’s.

She scoffed. “Do you think I’m stupid?”

Her voice was sharp, but Lü Qingyan didn’t feel threatened. The Demon Lord clearly wasn’t going to hurt her.

She decided to continue her flattery. “You’re too smart for me,” she said, her voice sincere. “But honestly, I think you and the Sword Saint are a good match.”

She truly believed they were a good match, and her sincerity was evident in her expression.

The Demon Lord, staring at Lü Qingyan, her annoyance fading, her heart softening, felt her resolve crumbling. But her pride wouldn’t allow her to admit her feelings.

But her joy was undeniable. “You two are so eager to see sworn enemies fall in love,” she said, her voice dry. “From fighting to… well, you know.”

That was an accurate summary. Lü Qingyan was indeed a fan of such stories. She nodded enthusiastically. “I didn’t realize you liked that kind of thing too,” she said.

The Demon Lord, speechless, rolled her eyes.

Her annoyance returned. “Is that why you came here?” she asked, her voice sharp.

Lü Qingyan nodded, her expression smug, as if she had already attended their wedding, and Bai Jingxue could no longer refuse her.

The Demon Lord, seeing the dog’s smug expression, her annoyance intensifying, flew away, settling at the vanity, her gaze fixed on Lü Qingyan.

She never lost money in a deal. Now that her secret had been exposed, she wanted to know more about Lü Qingyan.

She had suspected something was strange about the cat and dog for a long time. They had been inseparable since their first meeting, and they had given themselves names after transforming.

In her experience, naturally transformed demons rarely bothered to name themselves. They would simply choose a random name once they realized it was inconvenient to be nameless.

The snake demon she had encountered in the Demon Realm, for example, had called herself “Bamboo Leaf.” It had been more of a designation than a name.

But the cat and dog had given themselves proper names. This was unusual.

Her curiosity piqued, she stared at Lü Qingyan, her lips curving into a playful smile. “You’ve asked enough questions,” she said. “It’s my turn. What are you?”

Lü Qingyan, confused, blinked. “What do you mean?” she asked. “We’re humans.”

The Demon Lord chuckled. So they were soul borrowers.

Those capable of soul borrowing were powerful individuals, but these two seemed to be completely ignorant of the cultivation world, their skills rudimentary.

Her eyes narrowed. “You’re a demon,” she said, her voice cold. “Why are you pretending to be human? What’s your purpose?”

Lü Qingyan, finally realizing something was wrong, seeing the dangerous glint in the Demon Lord’s eyes, decided to tell her the truth about their transmigration.

Lü Qingyan was a natural storyteller, her words vivid and engaging, and the Demon Lord, listening, her emotions swirling, slammed her hand against the vanity.

The jewelry on the surface jumped, then settled, and Lü Qingyan flinched.

She had just been describing her relationship with Bai Jingxue in their past life. Their love, in that world, had been a constant struggle.

Societal pressures aside, both their families had faced their own challenges.

She had been about to tell the Demon Lord about how Bai Jingxue’s parents had tried to use her to pay off their debts when the Demon Lord had interrupted her.

The Demon Lord was furious. That story was too depressing. No wonder Bai Jingxue was so quiet and reserved. Who wouldn’t be, after experiencing such a childhood?

And Lü Qingyan’s family? It was a nightmare.

She stared at Lü Qingyan, her gaze softening, her voice gentle. “Don’t worry,” she said. “I’ll protect you from now on.”

Lü Qingyan felt a strange sense of familiarity. She had often said those same words to her followers in her past life, though she had eventually abandoned them to pursue Bai Jingxue.

Her emotions were complex, but then she felt a surge of joy. The Demon Lord always kept her promises.

She suddenly realized that being pitiful had its advantages, as long as the person you were appealing to was powerful and righteous. And the Demon Lord was both.

But the Demon Lord, her curiosity piqued, leaned closer, her voice a mischievous whisper. “So, how far have you two gotten?”

Lü Qingyan’s heart sank. “Just a one-second kiss,” she mumbled, her ears drooping.

She then wondered about the Demon Lord’s progress, but seeing how much effort she had put into pursuing Luo Nianshang, she assumed they hadn’t even kissed. Hoping to find some comfort, she asked, “What about you two?”

The Demon Lord, understanding her implication, her cheeks burning, quickly flew away, her voice sharp. “What do you mean ‘you two’?” she exclaimed. “Stop with your ridiculous fantasies!”

She then pushed Lü Qingyan out of the room, slamming the door shut.

Her heart pounded in her chest. She turned to see her body double, her smile smug. “Just admit it,” Hong Ying said.

“What do you know?” the Demon Lord snapped, her voice laced with a mixture of anger and embarrassment.

Hong Ying yawned. “I’m you,” she said. “Of course I understand.”

Chapter 93: The Slow Climb

When Bai Jingxue returned to the Ejian Sect, Luo Nianshang was absent, so she went to the library to research. Whether in her past life or this one, reading had always been one of her interests. Thanks to her increased cultivation, she could now access the top two floors.

Fu Yuan accompanied her, watching as Bai Jingxue ascended to the floors she had never been able to reach. She only snapped out of her daze when Bai Jingxue disappeared around the corner.

She slumped onto a chair, disheartened. She couldn’t believe that the cat and dog had only been gone for a month, yet their cultivation had already jumped an entire level.

Feeling a pang of inadequacy, she rested her head on the table, unable to focus on the book she had chosen.

“Sister Fu Yuan, what’s wrong?”

She recognized Lü Qingyan’s voice and mumbled, without looking up, “Nothing.”

A moment later, she added, “I feel like my cultivation is too slow.”

Lü Qingyan settled beside her, picking up a random book and pretending to read. Bai Jingxue preferred to be alone when she was reading or thinking, so Lü Qingyan hadn’t followed her.

Waiting alone was boring, so she had sought out Fu Yuan, hoping to distract herself, but it seemed Fu Yuan was in a bad mood.

The library was quiet. They were on the first floor. An elder sat at a small desk near the entrance, his job to check the identity tokens of the entering disciples. It was a boring task. He only looked up when someone entered.

Everyone here had a role, a purpose. Lü Qingyan sometimes felt like she didn’t belong.

But she quickly dismissed the thought, her usual optimism returning.

She nudged Fu Yuan, wanting to play the role of a therapist. “Don’t worry about it,” she said, her voice cheerful. “Cultivation takes time. Maybe you’ll have a lucky encounter and suddenly reach a higher level.”

Fu Yuan smiled wryly. She sat up straight, her voice laced with a hint of amusement. “You’re not talking about yourself, are you?”

“Even if I was, it would also apply to you.”

Lü Qingyan wanted to say more, but then she remembered Fu Yuan’s fate in the original story.

She was a natural cauldron, her cultivation method… Lü Qingyan shuddered, pushing those thoughts away. She didn’t want to think about the original story.

Thankfully, none of the male lead’s future concubines had been corrupted yet.

Speaking of which, she hadn’t contacted the Demon Lord in a while.

She felt a pang of guilt. She had been enjoying herself, completely forgetting about the Demon Lord.

The Demon Lord was currently disguised as Hong Ying. “Where’s Senior Sister Hong Ying?” she asked Fu Yuan.

Fu Yuan, her mood seemingly improved, had opened her book and was reading quietly. Lü Qingyan noticed the unblemished rose mark on the back of her neck.

She suddenly felt reluctant to disturb this peaceful scene. She quietly stood up, placing the book back on the shelf.

She decided to check on Hong Ying. She left the library, heading towards Hong Ying’s room.

He Rong and Jwan Jwan were the only ones left in the courtyard. They were digging a hole. Seeing the oiled paper package beside the mound of dirt, Lü Qingyan’s lips twitched.

She had once tried to dig a tunnel to bypass the Ejian Sect’s protective formation, only to get stuck at the entrance because of a roasted chicken. If the Demon Lord hadn’t arrived, the consequences would have been dire.

She would never crave roasted chicken again.

She had only been gone for a month, yet He Rong had already grown into a young woman. Jwan Jwan, however, hadn’t changed.

She suspected they were wasting food again, but there was no aroma. The oiled paper package seemed to contain a dead chicken.

Jwan Jwan, noticing Lü Qingyan, greeted her shyly. “Sister Qingyan.”

He Rong turned, her eyes red-rimmed, tears streaming down her face. She was a far cry from her usual cheerful self. “Sister Qingyan,” she sobbed.

Who could possibly make the fearless He Rong cry?

Lü Qingyan was both surprised and curious, but seeing He Rong’s distress, she suppressed her curiosity, acting like a responsible adult.

She wiped away He Rong’s tears, her voice laced with concern and a hint of anger. “Who bullied you?” she asked. “Tell me, and I’ll teach them a lesson.”

Her increased cultivation had revived her sense of chivalry.

He Rong, finding an outlet for her emotions, burst into tears, her words choked with sobs. “Sister Qingyan, my chick died.”

“I wanted to plant it and grow a new one, but it didn’t work,” she continued. “It worked before.”

“Can Sister Jingxue help me?”

It had worked because Bai Jingxue had been there. But resurrection came at a price. The memory of Bai Jingxue clutching her own throat, her body struggling against an invisible force, was still fresh in Lü Qingyan’s mind.

She couldn’t let that happen again. She turned serious, her hands resting on He Rong’s shoulders. “Life is precious,” she said. “You can’t play with it like that. And resurrection comes at a price. Your Sister Jingxue might even die.”

Although He Rong looked like a young woman, her mind was still that of a child. She couldn’t understand such complex concepts. And she wasn’t close to Bai Jingxue. She pouted, her eyes welling up again.

“He Rong, let it go,” Jwan Jwan said, her voice gentle. “Sister Qingyan is right.”

He Rong, her eyes widening in disbelief, stared at Jwan Jwan, her voice trembling with betrayal. “You’re not going to help me either?”

Jwan Jwan sighed. “Just bury it,” she said. “We can get a new one.”

He Rong refused, her body shaking with sobs. She was about to throw herself onto the ground, her tantrum imminent, when Jwan Jwan transformed.

She was a beautiful, multicolored bird, her feathers vibrant, her tail long and flowing, its color a fiery red.

“If you really want a pet,” she said, her voice still Jwan Jwan’s, “you can keep me.”

He Rong, seeing Jwan Jwan’s true form for the first time, her tears forgotten, her mood instantly shifting, scooped Jwan Jwan up, her voice filled with delight. “You’re so beautiful, Jwan Jwan!” she exclaimed. “I don’t want a pet anymore. I want to keep you!”

She then abandoned the dead chick, carrying Jwan Jwan back to their room.

Lü Qingyan, watching this exchange, was speechless.

She worried that Jwan Jwan wouldn’t survive He Rong’s care, but she also found this situation rather amusing.

She glanced at the small hole in the ground, then, remembering her initial purpose, she buried the dead chick, then headed towards Hong Ying’s room.

But to her surprise, the room was protected by a barrier.

She sniffed the air, recognizing the Demon Lord’s scent. “Are you in there?” she called out.

There was no response. She tried again, but still, silence.

Her face paled. Had the Demon Lord’s identity been exposed? Had Luo Nianshang imprisoned her? She was about to use her spatial ability to enter the room.

She took a few steps back, avoiding the barrier.

Just as she was about to teleport, a hand grabbed her arm, stopping her. She couldn’t move, but her keen sense of smell told her who it was.

She stared at the locked room, then at the child in Luo Nianshang’s arms, who possessed the same scent as the Demon Lord.

Her gaze darted back and forth between them, then she suddenly remembered the Domineering Sword Saint novel. The Demon Lord’s current situation mirrored that of the “runaway bride.”

The Demon Lord was the bride? No way.

She had wanted to turn the Demon Lord and Luo Nianshang into friends, but she had never imagined them becoming lovers.

Her expression shifted rapidly, finally settling on a delighted grin.

She hadn’t even had to intervene. They had gotten together on their own. This was even better.

Bai Jingxue, assuming Lü Qingyan’s joy was due to her return, felt a surge of happiness.

Her voice softened as she introduced the Demon Lord to Lü Qingyan. “This is Cai Lian,” she said. “She’ll be my disciple too.”

She then waved a hand, dispelling the barrier, and they entered the room to find Hong Ying meditating on the bed.

She was so deeply immersed in her cultivation that she hadn’t even noticed their arrival.

Luo Nianshang, pleased by her disciple’s diligence, turned to her new disciple, her voice filled with a gentle pride. “This is your eldest sister,” she said. “You should learn from her and cultivate diligently.”

The Demon Lord, disguised as Cai Lian, nodded obediently, then mentally rolled her eyes.

But seeing her own body double, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of anxiety. She shared a mental connection with her body double. She was afraid she might accidentally say something as Hong Ying that Cai Lian would say.

She hoped this would be her last disguise. Any more, and she would start to worry about her own sanity.

Luo Nianshang, seeing that she seemed to understand, led her away, taking her to meet her other two disciples.

Fu Ren seemed a bit… slow, so Luo Nianshang had assigned her to share a room with Xiao Xia, hoping Xiao Xia would look after her.

They weren’t cultivating. Luo Nianshang instructed them to introduce themselves.

This was a problem for the Demon Lord. She didn’t dare to control her puppets, and even if she could, she had forgotten their names.

Thankfully, her puppets could still respond to simple commands.

She greeted them, her voice hesitant. “Hello, Senior Sisters. My name is Cai Lian.”

The two puppets nodded in unison, their smiles identical, their movements synchronized.

“Hello, Junior Sister,” they said together.

Neither of them had mentioned their names. Luo Nianshang, her brow furrowing, said, “Your names.”

The puppets tilted their heads, their expressions troubled, then said, “We don’t remember.”

The Demon Lord felt a cold sweat forming on her brow. She was afraid Luo Nianshang would see through her disguise. She glanced at Luo Nianshang, but her expression was unreadable. Her anxiety intensified.

Luo Nianshang, however, was internally panicking. “Is stupidity contagious?” she wondered.

She turned to the Demon Lord, her voice gentle. “Your sisters are a bit slow,” she said. “Please be patient with them.”

The Demon Lord, relieved, nodded obediently. “I understand, Master.”

Chapter 92: A Promise

After it was all over, Luo Nianshang still couldn’t believe that the Demon Lord had willingly transferred her destiny to her.

The golden threads had vanished, the room’s layout restored to its original state. Everything was peaceful, as if nothing had happened.

The door suddenly opened, revealing the left envoy, her eyes filled with a barely concealed resentment.

Luo Nianshang, however, didn’t notice her envoy’s disrespect. Her mind was still reeling from the shock. She needed answers.

She turned to the left envoy, her voice laced with confusion. “Why?” she asked. “Why did she give it to me?”

“That was the Demon Lord’s decision,” the left envoy replied, her voice cold. “I don’t know the reason. If you have a message for her, I will relay it. Otherwise, please leave the Demon Palace.”

The Demon Lord, who had always been a well-behaved, obedient disciple in front of Luo Nianshang, was stunned by her left envoy’s rudeness.

She was both angry and anxious. Wasn’t this ruining her chances with Luo Nianshang?

She should have reminded Mo Li to be polite to Luo Nianshang.

She couldn’t correct Mo Li in front of Luo Nianshang, so she simply glared at her, her eyes filled with a silent threat.

The left envoy, sensing the Demon Lord’s displeasure, shivered.

Luo Nianshang, standing up, walked past the left envoy, pausing at the doorway, her voice calm. “Thank your lord for me,” she said. “And tell her to visit me at the Ejian Sect every month, in the middle of the month. She must abstain from killing and… intimacy for a week prior to her visit. Otherwise, the unbinding process will be delayed.”

Then, she vanished.

The left envoy, her mind reeling from the information contained within those words, stood there, speechless.

What had happened? Why was the Demon Lord bound by a restriction?

She thought back to the Demon Lord’s recent actions, then she reached a conclusion.

The Demon Lord had infiltrated the righteous realm because of the restriction. Luo Nianshang must have used a powerful technique to control her, forcing her to transfer her destiny for her own safety.

The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became. She panicked, retrieving the pearl from her pocket, wanting to contact the Demon Lord.

But before she could figure out how to contact her, the pearl grew hot, and the Demon Lord’s voice reached her ears.

“Treat the Sword Saint with the same respect you would treat me,” the Demon Lord ordered. “Do you understand?”

The left envoy, assuming the Demon Lord was simply enduring this humiliation for the sake of her safety, her heart aching, her voice trembling with a forced loyalty, said, “Yes, Your Excellency. Please take care of yourself.”

The Demon Lord, hearing the strange tremor in her voice, was confused. She wasn’t dead yet. Why was Mo Li acting like she was mourning her?

She was about to ask, but Luo Nianshang was staring at her, so she cut off the connection.

She looked up at Luo Nianshang, her expression innocent. “What’s wrong, Master?”

Luo Nianshang, her gaze fixed on the horizon, her voice distant, said, “Nothing.”

She was simply lost in her thoughts. But the Demon Lord would be visiting her soon. She would demand an explanation then.

Meanwhile, in the Demon Realm’s Demon Palace, the door to the Hall of Government was slightly ajar, the stench of alcohol emanating from within.

The right envoy, her brow furrowing in disgust, pushed the door open to find empty wine bottles scattered across the floor. One of them rolled towards her feet.

She kicked the bottles aside, staring at the left envoy, who was slumped over her desk, surrounded by scrolls and jade slips, a wine jug in her hand. She was speechless.

Everyone knew the new left envoy was a workaholic. She never touched alcohol. But now, she was drunk.

Had the Demon Lord corrupted her?

Seeing the left envoy lift the wine jug to her lips, the right envoy snatched it away, her voice sharp. “Stop drinking!”

The left envoy, her vision blurry, struggled to focus, trying to identify the person who had dared to scold her.

Recognizing the right envoy, she chuckled. “Ah, Right Envoy Lin,” she said, her voice slurred. “What brings you here?”

The right envoy tossed the wine jug aside, then settled down across from the left envoy. “If those servants hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known,” she said. “How long were you planning to drink?”

Although her mind was hazy, the left envoy knew that her relationship with the right envoy was purely professional. This sudden concern was unusual.

She was drowning her sorrows in alcohol, not for herself, but for the Demon Lord. But she couldn’t do anything to help her lord, who was facing a formidable opponent like Luo Nianshang. Alcohol was her only solace.

But she couldn’t reveal her true feelings. This right envoy, like the previous left envoy, wasn’t truly loyal to the Demon Lord.

But she had had enough. Drowning in despair wouldn’t help her lord.

She circulated her demonic energy, purging the alcohol from her system. She was sober again. “I didn’t realize you cared so much, Right Envoy Lin,” she said, her voice laced with a hint of amusement.

The right envoy, seeing her regain her composure, relaxed. She was honest. “I don’t,” she said. “I just don’t want to do your work if you collapse.”

She glanced at the mountain of unprocessed documents, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and relief.

The left envoy was stunned. So the right envoy was simply trying to avoid extra work. “It is our duty to assist the Demon Lord,” she said, her voice filled with indignation. “How can you be so lazy?”

The right envoy, staring at her, her expression a mixture of amusement and disbelief, thought, “She’s clearly lost her mind. What kind of drug did the Demon Lord give her?”

Now that the left envoy was sober, she had no reason to stay. She stood up, smiling. “You’re right,” she said. “I’ll go assist the Demon Lord.”

She then left, thoughtfully closing the door behind her. The left envoy was alone again.

The left and right envoys were equals. She couldn’t order the right envoy around. She grabbed a wine jug, flinging it at the door. It shattered upon impact.

Her anger spent, she picked up a jade slip, starting to work, but her thoughts kept drifting to the Demon Lord.

She couldn’t focus. She paced her chamber, her anxiety growing, then she seemed to reach a decision.

Meanwhile, the Demon Lord, the subject of her left envoy’s worries, was being pampered by Luo Nianshang. She had casually mentioned wanting to eat rice cakes, and Luo Nianshang had stopped at this small town to fulfill her request.

The Demon Lord, oblivious to her subordinate’s concern, was currently facing a different problem. She had secretly created a body double of Hong Ying and had sent it back to the Ejian Sect to avoid being exposed.

But she had always preferred using puppets instead of body doubles. Body doubles were more difficult to control and more easily detected.

She was afraid Luo Nianshang would discover her deception. What would Luo Nianshang think?

She would probably be suspicious. They were supposed to be enemies. The Demon Lord’s sudden affection was clearly a sign of malicious intent.

She often cursed her own identity. It brought her so much trouble. But she was also grateful for it. Luo Nianshang was so powerful, so aloof. She wouldn’t have been able to get close to her if she hadn’t been the Demon Lord.

She decided she needed to find a way to sever their master-disciple relationship.

She was about to lie when a rice cake was suddenly shoved into her mouth, silencing her.

The rice cake was dense and chewy. She choked, her eyes watering, her hands clutching her chest. She pounded her chest, trying to dislodge it, and finally, it went down.

She gasped for air, feeling like she had narrowly escaped death.

Luo Nianshang panicked. She had grown up in the mountains, her life sheltered. She had never experienced the joys of mortal food. She hadn’t realized rice cakes could be so dangerous.

Perhaps breaking it into smaller pieces would help.

She set the Demon Lord down, carefully breaking the rice cake into bite-sized pieces, then offered one to the Demon Lord.

“This way, you won’t choke,” she said.

The Demon Lord stared at her, her mind blank, her previous plan forgotten. She opened her mouth, accepting the rice cake.

She had only mentioned rice cakes as an excuse to delay their journey, hoping to find an opportunity to escape.

But now, she was reluctant to leave. She had never experienced this kind of tenderness as Hong Ying. Only when she was sick had Luo Nianshang cared for her.

She was greedy. She wanted everything.

But her greed was only for Luo Nianshang.

Luo Nianshang, seeing the Demon Lord’s blank expression, assumed she didn’t like the rice cake. “Do you want something else?” she asked.

The Demon Lord shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. “No,” she said, her voice trembling. “My mother used to buy me rice cakes.”

She wasn’t acting. Before her life had been shattered, her mother had often brought her sweets and pastries from the town.

She had forgiven them for leaving her behind, bribed by those treats.

Her favorite had been rice cakes. She had never tired of them.

And her mother had broken them into pieces, feeding them to her, just like this.

Perhaps that period of her life had been too happy, so she had blurted it out without thinking. She rarely thought about those days.

Luo Nianshang hadn’t realized she had accidentally triggered a painful memory. She set aside the rice cake, pulling the Demon Lord into her arms, wiping away her tears with her sleeve.

“Don’t cry,” she said, her voice soft.

She was awkward, her attempts at comfort clumsy. She had seen people cry before, but they had usually been crying because of her. The only exception had been Zhu Chi.

Zhu Chi had been heartbroken, but Luo Nianshang had been unable to offer any comfort.

She felt a cold sweat forming on her brow, but children were easier to handle than heartbroken adults.

She patted the Demon Lord’s back, her voice soothing. “It’s okay,” she said. “I’ll be like your mother from now on.”

The Demon Lord nearly choked on her own saliva. She stared at Luo Nianshang, her eyes wide, her sadness forgotten.