Chapter 114: A Strange Familiarity
She had assumed the princess had reformed, but she had been wrong.
And of all the people to target, she had chosen Luo Nianshang. Bai Jingxue couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy for the princess, then she grabbed Lü Qingyan’s hand, eager to watch the drama unfold.
Bai Jingxue didn’t understand this sudden turn of events. She frowned, deep in thought, then she slowly raised her hand.
Bai Jingxue and Lü Qingyan, assuming she was about to attack, quickly retreated, not wanting to be splattered with blood. They were wearing white. Bloodstains would be impossible to hide.
But instead of attacking, Luo Nianshang, her gaze fixed on the Second Princess, her expression serious, simply said, “I surrender.”
Luo Nianshang, with her sword at her waist, her demeanor confident, had seemed like a formidable opponent. The guards hadn’t expected her to surrender so easily. They hadn’t even drawn their weapons.
The Demon Lord hadn’t expected this either. She was furious. She was currently Bai Cheng, and Luo Nianshang hadn’t even resisted.
But her anger was fueled by her infatuation. Once she had calmed down, she understood.
Luo Nianshang was here to deal with the statues, but Cang Xi was a strange place, its unique properties hindering her abilities. The royal family’s assistance would expedite the process.
She understood, but she couldn’t accept it.
She had been looking forward to a fight. Luo Nianshang’s cultivation was suppressed. She was confident she could win.
Her face hardened. “Forget it,” she said, her voice cold. “She’s not even that pretty. I’m not interested.”
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Luo Nianshang, feeling the weight of their gazes, her cheeks flushing slightly, noticed Lü Qingyan’s knowing smile. She had no idea what the Demon Lord was doing.
Bai Jingxue stared at the Second Princess, her eyes wide with disbelief. “This princess has questionable taste,” she muttered to Lü Qingyan.
Lü Qingyan chuckled awkwardly. She was about to reveal the Demon Lord’s identity when she noticed Luo Nianshang retrieving a rope from her sleeve and swiftly tying herself up.
This was a first. The princess usually did the capturing, not the surrendering.
The Demon Lord, though amused, couldn’t allow Luo Nianshang to humiliate herself like this. “Interesting,” she said, her voice laced with a hint of amusement. “Bring her to me.”
Luo Nianshang, without waiting for the guards to approach, untied herself and climbed into the carriage.
The Demon Lord, the familiar scent of Luo Nianshang filling the carriage, her heart pounding, suddenly panicked. Her cultivation was suppressed. She couldn’t change her height or physique. Only her appearance was alterable, thanks to her disguise.
She was afraid Luo Nianshang would recognize her.
She moved away slightly, then composed herself. She settled into the carriage, then turned, her gaze meeting Luo Nianshang’s. Luo Nianshang was sitting stiffly, her brow furrowed, her gaze fixed on the Demon Lord.
The Demon Lord’s anxiety intensified. She wanted to touch her face, to check for flaws in her disguise, but she couldn’t risk it, not now.
She placed a hand over her face, her voice haughty. “What is it?” she asked. “Is there something on my face?”
Luo Nianshang, hearing her voice, looked away, a strange sense of familiarity unsettling her. She had never met this princess before, yet there was something about her that felt… familiar.
But it was just a feeling. She dismissed it.
The commotion ended, and Bai Jingxue and Lü Qingyan, who had been left behind, watched as the carriage departed. They had agreed to stay together, but they had somehow been separated.
But Luo Nianshang shouldn’t be in any danger, right?
Bai Jingxue shook her head, chuckling. She was being ridiculous, worrying about the female lead. She should be more concerned about the Second Princess.
The street returned to its usual bustling activity, the sounds of vendors hawking their wares filling the air. The residents, who had been watching from their windows, their faces pale with fear, finally relaxed.
Bai Jingxue, remembering her initial purpose, decided to buy some food for Lü Qingyan.
Normally, after such an incident, Lü Qingyan would be chattering non-stop, her commentary filled with amusement and outrage. But she was unusually quiet.
Bai Jingxue turned to see Lü Qingyan staring at the departing carriage, her expression unreadable.
Bai Jingxue waved a hand in front of her face. “Earth to Qingyan,” she said.
Lü Qingyan blinked, her gaze focusing on Bai Jingxue, her voice filled with a hesitant uncertainty. “That Second Princess,” she said. “I think she’s the Demon Lord.”
Bai Jingxue frowned, assuming she had misheard. “What?”
Lü Qingyan nodded. “Yes,” she said. “She tried to mask her scent, but I could still smell it.”
Bai Jingxue was confused. “What’s the Demon Lord doing here?” she muttered.
Lü Qingyan, having read the Domineering Sword Saint story, its protagonist now revealed to be the Demon Lord, had a theory.
She didn’t quite understand it. This method of pursuing someone was rather unusual, even awkward. Couldn’t the Demon Lord be more direct?
But she couldn’t interfere. Changing the story’s course could lead to unforeseen consequences.
Remembering their agreement, she felt a surge of frustration. She was also eager for them to get back together! She wanted to grab Luo Nianshang and the Demon Lord, shove them into a room, and lock the door.
Lost in her frustrated fantasies, she suddenly realized that Bai Jingxue was gone. Panic flared in her chest, and she looked around frantically, finally spotting Bai Jingxue at a food stall.
She rushed over, grabbing Bai Jingxue’s hand.
Bai Jingxue turned, then, before Lü Qingyan could speak, she offered her a sugar cake, her smile gentle. “Try this,” she said. “If you don’t like it, we can try something else.”
Lü Qingyan, still dazed, took a bite, then, under Bai Jingxue’s expectant gaze, she nodded. “It’s good,” she said.
Those two simple words were enough to make Bai Jingxue buy several more, as if afraid Lü Qingyan wouldn’t have enough.
Lü Qingyan, watching her, her heart melting at the sight of Bai Jingxue’s smile, felt a surge of happiness.
But weren’t they here to eliminate the evil god? Why were they casually strolling through the streets, enjoying themselves?
And Luo Nianshang had just been kidnapped!
Lü Qingyan’s conscience twinged. She felt like she should be doing something, even if it was just cheering Luo Nianshang on from the sidelines.
As she munched on a sugar cake, her guilt growing, the aroma of steamed buns reached her nose, followed by Bai Jingxue’s voice, soft and indulgent. “Try this.”
Lü Qingyan took a bite. “Delicious!” she exclaimed.
Bai Jingxue turned to the vendor. “I’ll take a basket,” she said.
And that wasn’t all. She spotted another stall selling dumplings, and she grabbed Lü Qingyan’s hand, pulling her along.
Lü Qingyan, watching Bai Jingxue’s slender figure, the tassels on her hairpin swaying gently, followed, her initial worries forgotten.
This wasn’t so bad.
They wandered through the streets, their arms laden with food, returning to the inn as the sky darkened.
The young woman who had warned them earlier finally emerged from her room, her face uncovered. She was relieved to see them return safely, though she was also confused.
Perhaps because she was bored, she approached them. “Did you buy all that food for a journey?” she asked.
Bai Jingxue placed the food on the table in their room, while Lü Qingyan stayed in the hallway, chatting with the young woman.
A while later, Bai Jingxue joined them, her questions more direct, quickly gathering information about Cang Xi and the young woman’s situation.
As their conversation ended, the young woman suddenly realized something. “I don’t even know your names,” she said.
“I’m Bai Jingxue,” Bai Jingxue replied. “And this is Lü Qingyan.”
The young woman, tired from their long conversation, rubbed her eyes, her voice apologetic. “Excuse me, but I’m tired,” she said. “See you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow,” Bai Jingxue said.
Once she was gone, Bai Jingxue and Lü Qingyan returned to their room.
Lü Qingyan closed the door, her voice filled with a quiet concern. “According to her,” she said, “this entire kingdom is under the evil god’s control.”
Bai Jingxue nodded.
A flower demon had caused chaos, then a goddess had appeared, subduing the demon and bringing peace to Cang Xi.
This myth didn’t fool them. They knew about the evil god, that the flower demon and the goddess were one and the same.
But as long as the people of Cang Xi believed it, it didn’t matter. Their faith, however, was deeply rooted. It wouldn’t be easy to change their minds.
Bai Jingxue, noticing Lü Qingyan’s now-black hair, said, “We’re not supposed to be here. We need to be careful.”
Lü Qingyan, her heart warmed by Bai Jingxue’s concern, smiled, then she sighed, her head resting on the table. “I wonder how Luo Nianshang is doing.”
Bai Jingxue, assuming she was worried, reassured her. “She carries the destiny of this world,” she said. “She’ll be fine.”
Lü Qingyan, seeing that Bai Jingxue had misunderstood, grinned, then quickly schooled her expression.
Meanwhile, the Demon Lord, returning to the princess’s residence, was stunned. It might not have been as large as the Demon Palace, but it was filled with beautiful women.
She stared at them, her scalp tingling, but they simply glanced at her, then resumed their activities.
Luo Nianshang was right behind her, and she felt a twinge of guilt, then she reminded herself that this was Bai Cheng’s doing, not hers.
She felt a little better.
Luo Nianshang had been unusually quiet and obedient during their journey. The Demon Lord’s mind began to wander.
The heavy ornaments in her hair were giving her a headache. She wanted to rip them out, but that would expose her disguise.
She stopped a servant girl who was approaching her, then she turned to Luo Nianshang, who seemed to be lost in thought. “Come with me,” she said, her voice cold.
Luo Nianshang, startled, followed her inside.
The Demon Lord, however, froze as she entered the room. This wasn’t a bedchamber. A screen concealed a steaming bath.
She swallowed, memories of their previous encounter at the spirit spring surfacing.
She suppressed her anxiety, reminding herself that Luo Nianshang was just a mortal now.
She took a deep breath, her voice regaining its usual arrogance. “Remove my hairpins,” she ordered.
Luo Nianshang’s eyes narrowed, but she obeyed, approaching the Demon Lord and gently removing the hairpins from her hair.
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