Chapter 70: Punishment
The Demon Lord had never seen such a tall, sturdy tree. She stood at its base for a long time, speechless, before finally finding her voice.
“So… you can really grow a whale?”
Having been the Demon Lord for so long, she had seen many things, but she had only ever heard of resurrection methods like soul summoning or spirit gathering. This was the first time she had heard of someone being resurrected by planting their bones.
Luo Nianshang nodded. This was also when she began to realize that the kitten she had picked up was not as simple as she had initially thought.
The Demon Lord clearly had the same thought. She had sensed something unusual about the kitten even before it had transformed, a certain intelligence that seemed almost too sharp.
But she hadn’t been certain. Now, thinking back, could it be that these two little creatures were actually powerful beings reborn into the bodies of a cat and a dog?
But that didn’t make sense either. If that were true, they would have been able to cultivate on their own without needing guidance.
The Demon Lord couldn’t figure it out, but one thing was certain: they were kind-hearted, willing to pay a price to help someone they barely knew.
Pale blue flowers bloomed on the enormous tree. The flowers had no pistils or stamens, clearly incapable of bearing fruit. A faint floral scent, tinged with the smell of the sea, lingered in the air.
The Demon Lord glanced up, her voice laced with amusement. “One of these petals is as big as a ship. Be careful not to let them fall and crush someone.”
Luo Nianshang agreed. She placed her palm against the tree trunk, and ice spread outwards, encasing the entire tree.
She withdrew her hand, then turned, noticing her disciple staring at her. Flustered, she turned back to face the tree.
She hadn’t destroyed the tree. She had simply frozen it, preserving it for further research.
This resurrection method was extraordinary. Luo Nianshang had declared this area forbidden, setting up barriers and relocating He Rong and the others to her current residence.
She knew that if this news spread, it would attract unwanted attention, endangering both Bai Jingxue and He Rong.
She had intended to keep this a secret from her disciple, but He Rong had confessed everything.
And Luo Nianshang wasn’t good at lying.
She couldn’t help but worry. Her disciple was still young, easily manipulated.
And there seemed to be a strange connection between her and the Demon Lord. The Demon Lord was cunning. If she learned of this method, she might try to use it for her own purposes.
Perhaps even to resurrect the previous Demon Lords.
Lost in her anxieties, she hadn’t noticed the Demon Lord standing right before her.
The Demon Lord, however, wasn’t interested in resurrection. She had no one she wanted to bring back. The painful memories of her past were long gone. And resurrection, it seemed, came at a price.
Why torment the living for the sake of the dead?
She was more interested in Luo Nianshang’s ice technique.
It was a rather frustrating experience to have your crush be more powerful than you. It made pursuing her incredibly difficult. One wrong move, and she might end up frozen like that tree.
Being the Demon Lord was surprisingly difficult.
But she couldn’t resist teasing Luo Nianshang, even if it meant getting beaten up.
Seeing that cold, impassive face contorted in anger and embarrassment was too delightful to resist.
Remembering Luo Nianshang’s shocked and flustered expression after that stolen kiss, she couldn’t help but smile.
Luo Nianshang, misunderstanding her disciple’s amusement, assumed she was laughing at her awkwardness. She turned, her eyes flashing with annoyance, but her voice remained calm. “What’s so funny?”
The Demon Lord quickly schooled her expression, her gaze meeting Luo Nianshang’s without fear. “Nothing, Master,” she said. “You might seem cold, but you’re actually very kind. I’m happy to have you as my master.”
Her flattery was sincere, and Luo Nianshang, unsure how to respond, remembered that her disciple had recently met her two senior sisters. “I’m often busy,” she said. “I can’t always be there for you. You’ve reached the peak of the Golden Core stage now. If your sisters need help, please assist them.”
She paused, then added, “Especially your youngest sister, Fu Ren. She’s a bit slow.”
The Demon Lord, hearing Luo Nianshang’s concern for her two puppets, felt a surge of jealousy and annoyance, but also a sense of triumph.
Good thing she had acted quickly. She couldn’t bear the thought of someone else stealing her spot.
Her inner turmoil hidden behind a mask of obedience, she said, “Don’t worry, Master. I’ll take good care of them.”
Luo Nianshang was pleased by her disciple’s response. Perhaps, with time, Hong Ying would forget about the Demon Lord.
But the Demon Lord was so exceptional. It was unlikely that Hong Ying would let go so easily.
If she could orchestrate a marriage for her disciple, could she also find a suitable partner for the Demon Lord?
But who could tame that wild, unrestrained woman? Luo Nianshang couldn’t think of anyone.
The Demon Lord seemed to be interested in her, but she was a warrior, not a seductress. And manipulating someone’s feelings was wrong.
She was once again lost in her thoughts, her brow furrowed. Then she remembered that Lü Qingyan was also on the verge of a breakthrough. Once she transformed, she would need to start thinking about marriage proposals.
Bai Jingxue, unaware of Luo Nianshang’s matchmaking plans, had finally managed to get rid of Ying. She closed the door, setting up multiple layers of barriers.
Only then did she feel safe enough to attempt transforming back into a cat.
“Focus on your original form,” Ying had said.
She closed her eyes, repeating those words, embarking on her first attempt at transformation.
A strange sensation washed over her. Her ears felt itchy, but she resisted the urge to scratch them.
“Jingxue! Help!”
Lü Qingyan’s frantic voice reached her from outside, and Luo Nianshang, her thoughts interrupted, paused, her gaze falling upon her hands. They were still human hands.
She hadn’t even begun the transformation process.
She was disappointed, but Lü Qingyan was more important. The dog was at a crucial stage in her cultivation. Any disruption could be disastrous.
She removed the barriers, opening the door to find Lü Qingyan writhing on the floor, her body trembling.
Bai Jingxue’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly scooped up the dog, her hand gently stroking Lü Qingyan’s back. “What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice filled with concern. “Where does it hurt?”
Lü Qingyan patted her belly, whimpering. “It hurts here.”
Bai Jingxue touched Lü Qingyan’s soft belly, her expression darkening as she felt its unusual firmness.
The dog was simply overfed.
But seeing her discomfort, Bai Jingxue’s heart softened. She gently rubbed Lü Qingyan’s belly, using her spiritual energy to aid digestion.
The round belly gradually deflated, and Lü Qingyan, her pain subsiding, looked up at Bai Jingxue, her tail wagging.
“Thank you, Jingxue,” she said, her voice cheerful. “I feel much better now!”
Bai Jingxue set her down. Lü Qingyan could have solved this problem herself. She was simply looking for an excuse to be pampered.
And Lü Qingyan was indeed a master of manipulation. She had noticed that Bai Jingxue had been attracting more attention lately, and she was starting to feel insecure.
She was still a dog, while Jingxue was so beautiful and talented. She wouldn’t stand a chance against a human rival.
Thankfully, she was one step away from transforming.
Her mood lifted, and she rolled around on the floor, her movements joyful. She rolled until she was behind Bai Jingxue.
She noticed something black and furry beneath Bai Jingxue’s robe, twitching slightly.
Curious, she reached out a paw, batting at it.
Bai Jingxue yelped, turning to see Lü Qingyan dangling from her tail.
She quickly retracted her tail, her cheeks burning. She had no idea how to make it disappear.
Lü Qingyan, realizing what had happened, looked up, her gaze drawn to the cat ears on top of Bai Jingxue’s head.
Bai Jingxue’s pale skin was flushed, her cat ears twitching, as if trying to swat away imaginary insects.
She was adorable.
Lü Qingyan, unable to resist, teleported, landing on Bai Jingxue’s head. She batted at the cat ears, then released them, her voice filled with delight.
“You’re so cute, Jingxue! Hehehe.”
The sensation on her head made Bai Jingxue realize that she hadn’t just sprouted a tail. She had ears too.
She ignored her embarrassment, pulling Lü Qingyan down, her voice cold. “Was that fun?”
Lü Qingyan, dangling from Bai Jingxue’s grasp, knew she was in trouble. She quickly apologized, her eyes filled with fake tears. “I’m sorry, Jingxue,” she whimpered. “I was wrong.”
But Bai Jingxue wasn’t going to let her off so easily. This dog had no boundaries, crawling under her robe, perching on her head. She was out of control.
“Is ‘sorry’ enough?” she asked, her voice laced with a hint of menace.
Lü Qingyan’s face fell. She knew Bai Jingxue wouldn’t hurt her, but she might give her the silent treatment, which was far more torturous than any physical punishment.
Her tail drooped.
Bai Jingxue, seeing her dejected expression, couldn’t help but smile. She scooped Lü Qingyan up, settling onto a chair.
Lü Qingyan, nestled in Bai Jingxue’s lap, rolled around, then flipped onto her back, her soft belly exposed.
Bai Jingxue, her expression impassive, her heart filled with amusement, said, “It’s time for your punishment.”
Lü Qingyan’s ears perked up. She had been so bold because she knew Bai Jingxue wouldn’t punish her.
This was unsettling. Would Bai Jingxue give her the silent treatment again? That was torture.
Her tail stopped wagging.
Bai Jingxue, seeing her crestfallen expression, her lips curving into a small smile, then her gaze fell upon Lü Qingyan’s head.
The dog’s ears were adorable, soft and fluffy, like white marshmallows.
She reached out, squeezing them gently. The texture was delightful.
Her mood improved considerably. She squeezed them again.
This was bliss.
Lü Qingyan whimpered, reaching out a paw to push Bai Jingxue’s hands away, then paused, seeing the smile on Bai Jingxue’s face.
She sighed. It was fine. The petting was a bit too enjoyable.
Wait, was this considered punishment?
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