Chapter 53: Entering the City
The Demon Lord, preoccupied with her schemes, had neglected her two puppets. They were capable of basic functions even without her direct control, so she had simply left them to their own devices.
She sat at her desk, listening to the left envoy’s report, a smile playing on her lips, but her eyes were cold, a dangerous glint in their depths.
“Your Excellency, since your retreat, there have been several rebellions,” the left envoy reported. “Some have established their own factions, but they are insignificant. The most serious threat is Que City. They have allied themselves with Lin’an and other cities. Their strength should not be underestimated.”
“Furthermore, the former city lord of Que City, Su Yunluo, has been secretly communicating with the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion.”
The Demon Lord’s interest piqued. She sat up slightly, her voice casual. “Oh?” she asked. “What are they discussing?”
“It seems to be related to Ouyang Ba’s destiny,” the left envoy replied.
This intrigued the Demon Lord even further. No cultivator could resist the allure of destiny, and she was no exception.
The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion’s attack on her and Luo Nianshang had surprised her. Demon cultivators were despised by the righteous realm, and as the Demon Lord, she was a prime target. Being attacked wasn’t unusual.
But why had they attacked Luo Nianshang? Did they have a death wish? Or was it a decree from fate itself?
It seemed the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion’s divinations weren’t always reliable.
The Demon Lord leaned back, closing her eyes, a smile curving her lips. “So many fish have taken the bait,” she murmured. “It’s time to cast the net.”
The left envoy, unable to contain her admiration, her eyes gleaming behind her mask, said, “Yes, Your Excellency. I will begin the preparations immediately.”
The Demon Lord, observing her envoy’s enthusiasm, felt a mix of emotions.
She had seized her position through brute force, then spent years consolidating her power. Few truly respected her. It was only after the death of her previous left envoy that she had appointed Mo Li.
But even now, she couldn’t understand the source of Mo Li’s unwavering loyalty and admiration.
She didn’t care much for the opinions of others. The only person who truly mattered to her was Luo Nianshang.
She waved a hand dismissively, sending her left envoy away, then walked over to the empty dog bed in the corner of her chamber. She sighed. “Traitorous little mutt,” she muttered. “You deserve a beating.”
But if Lü Qingyan were actually here, she wouldn’t have the heart to punish her.
She snapped her fingers, and her red robes transformed into white. She removed the golden hairpins adorning her hair, replacing them with simple jade ones, her black tresses now neatly coiled.
The reflection in the bronze mirror was no longer the imposing Demon Lord. It was Hong Ying, her features delicate, her figure graceful.
She nodded in satisfaction. She would soon be returning to the Ejian Sect under this disguise. Puppets were useful, but nothing beat being there in person.
She hummed happily, then vanished from the chamber.
Her destination was Que City. She wanted to see how many heads that so-called Child of Destiny had.
But when she arrived at the city gates, she encountered someone unexpected.
Clad in black, a moon-white guqin strapped to her back, a pink bell tied to her wrist… it was Zhu Chi.
The Demon Lord’s good mood vanished as she saw the bell, even the beautiful scenery of Que City turning ugly in her eyes.
What was a blind righteous cultivator doing here, especially during such a chaotic time?
According to the left envoy’s reports, the new city lord of Que City was a notorious womanizer, his desires extending to even the servants.
Despite her jealousy, the Demon Lord remembered that Zhu Chi and Luo Nianshang were on good terms.
Zhu Chi turned to address her disciple.
The Demon Lord, admiring her profile, decided to intervene.
She approached them, bowing respectfully. “Greetings, Sect Leader Zhu.”
Zhu Chi turned, her blindness making her acutely aware of sounds. She recognized the voice.
“You’re the Sword Saint’s eldest disciple, Hong Ying, correct?”
The Demon Lord straightened her back. “Yes, Sect Leader Zhu,” she said. “What brings you here? This place is dangerous.”
Zhu Chi, her mission personal, couldn’t explain. “I’m looking for someone,” she said, her voice gentle.
The Demon Lord glanced at the guqin strapped to Zhu Chi’s back. She sensed a familiar aura emanating from it, and a wave of displeasure washed over her. But she forced a smile. “I’m also looking for someone,” she said. “Perhaps we could travel together, Sect Leader Zhu?”
Zhu Chi hesitated. She sensed that the woman’s cultivation was only at the early Golden Core stage. Although reaching that level in such a short time was impressive, it was still too weak for the dangers of the Demon Realm.
Concerned, she agreed.
The cities in the Demon Realm were less strictly governed than those in the righteous realm, and as a result, they were far more chaotic.
Que City had no gates. Anyone, whether righteous cultivator or demon cultivator, could enter freely.
The Demon Lord followed Zhu Chi, pretending to be curious about her surroundings, then remembered that Zhu Chi was blind. There was no need to act.
She straightened her back, observing the city.
A faint scent of blood hung in the air. Vendors brawled with customers over trivial matters.
It wasn’t long before they were targeted. Zhu Chi’s status as a righteous cultivator and her striking appearance attracted unwanted attention, as did the guqin strapped to her back.
The Demon Lord, despite her ordinary face, possessed a rare and valuable spiritual root, her potential evident to those with a discerning eye. Greedy gazes followed her.
This feeling of being treated like a commodity brought back unpleasant memories. She had been weak and vulnerable then, her unique constitution making her a target. She had been sold into slavery, forced to become a test subject for dangerous drugs.
She hadn’t expected to experience this again.
Her heart turned cold. She was not a kind person. She memorized their faces.
Zhu Chi, however, was not to be trifled with. She paused, shielding her disciple and the Demon Lord behind her, then unleashed a wave of spiritual pressure.
The pressure, emanating from a Nascent Soul cultivator, crushed their malicious intent. Weaker demon cultivators coughed up blood, collapsing to the ground.
Satisfied, Zhu Chi withdrew her pressure.
The Demon Lord, watching her, felt a surge of admiration.
Zhu Chi, at only six hundred years old, had already reached the Nascent Soul stage. Her talent was exceptional. Luo Nianshang had good taste.
Zhu Chi rubbed her eyes, which ached slightly, then continued walking.
Once they were a safe distance away, Su Yunluo, who had been watching them from a nearby restaurant, turned her gaze towards Ouyang Ba.
She had been feeling restless lately, her anxiety reaching its peak today. She had left the city lord’s manor, seeking solace in the finest restaurant in the city.
She had just settled into a seat on the second floor when a wave of spiritual pressure had washed over her.
Her own cultivation was strong enough to shield her from harm, but her unease intensified.
She subtly gestured to her servant girl, who quickly left. She turned back to find Ouyang Ba staring at the retreating figure of the woman who had unleashed that pressure, his eyes filled with a strange longing.
She suppressed a surge of disgust. She couldn’t understand why the heavens had chosen this lecherous fool.
She rose to her feet, pouring Ouyang Ba more wine, her voice gentle. “What are you looking at, my husband?”
Ouyang Ba, snapping out of his trance, chuckled. “Are you jealous, Yun’er?”
Su Yunluo shuddered. She resisted the urge to smash the wine pot over his head, forcing a smile. “You’re teasing me again, my husband.”
Ouyang Ba set down his wine cup, his smile fading as he stared at Su Yunluo’s gentle expression. He found her lack of jealousy disappointing. He would have enjoyed seeing her lose her composure.
But he knew how he had attained his current position. He knew that without Su Yunluo, his situation would be precarious.
He hid his annoyance, taking her hand, his voice filled with false sincerity. “Don’t worry, Yun’er,” he said. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me.”
Su Yunluo’s stomach churned as she stared at him, his eyes filled with feigned affection. She discreetly withdrew her hand, then, to maintain the illusion of normalcy, she dabbed at the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief, wiping away a stray drop of wine.
“Have you taken an interest in that woman, my husband?” she asked, her voice soft. “Shall I handle this for you?”
Ouyang Ba’s eyes lit up. He hadn’t expected such an offer. But remembering how Su Yunluo had forbidden him from even touching the servant girls in the city, he suspected this was a test.
He was currently engaged in a power struggle with the Demon Lord. He couldn’t afford to be distracted by a mere woman. Power was far more important than fleeting pleasures.
With power, women would flock to him.
He shook his head, his voice filled with feigned sincerity. “No,” he said. “That unknown woman is nothing compared to you, Yun’er.”
Su Yunluo rolled her eyes, her expression still gentle and demure. “I understand, my husband,” she said, her voice soft.
But she wasn’t done yet. She wanted to test Ouyang Ba, but destiny was a powerful force. She needed a different bait.
That woman in black, with her powerful aura and Ouyang Ba’s obvious interest in her, was perfect.
If Ouyang Ba managed to seduce her, then the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion’s prediction was likely true. If he was killed by her, then it meant their divination had been flawed.
Her eyes gleamed with a calculating light.
Zhu Chi, walking down the street, suddenly paused, sensing a familiar presence. She turned, her blind eyes searching, but she could only perceive a vague aura.
It resembled someone from her past, but the memory was too distant, too faded.
She hesitated, then turned, heading towards the restaurant where Ouyang Ba was drinking.
The Demon Lord, seeing her change direction, her heart sinking, sighed.
Her fears had been realized. But Zhu Chi was lucky. She had encountered Qiu Yingxi.
Ouyang Ba, seeing the beautiful woman seemingly staring at him from afar, felt a surge of excitement.
Zhu Chi approached their table, but as she got closer, she realized it wasn’t the person she had been searching for. Disappointed, she turned to leave.
“Wait, honored immortal,” Su Yunluo said, her voice smooth. “Would you care to join us for a drink?”
Her words were bold and flirtatious. Zhu Chi frowned. “Step aside,” she said, her voice cold.
Her disciple whispered, “Sect Leader, that’s Su Yunluo.”
Su Yunluo, seizing the opportunity, said, “Please don’t misunderstand, honored immortal. I simply wish to befriend you.”
Zhu Chi sensed danger emanating from the woman, but she was the city lord. Perhaps she could be of assistance in her search.
She relented, her voice softening as she joined them at their table.
Leave a Reply