Chapter 9: Sword Wound
After hearing Bai Jingxue’s words, Lü Qingyan fell silent, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, the battle below had ended. The slug demon’s remains had dissolved into the rain, indistinguishable from the puddles forming on the ground. Scattered around the area were the undigested remains of its victims.
Among the animal carcasses were human bones. Fu Yuan closed her eyes and chanted a sutra, guiding the souls of the deceased towards peace.
When she turned to check on the male lead, he was gone. She frowned, but decided not to dwell on it.
She sheathed her sword and sensed something approaching from above. Instinctively, she reached out, and a black cat landed gracefully in her arms.
Fu Yuan recognized the cat as her ancestor’s companion. Out of respect, she decided to take the cat with her.
Another gust of wind brushed past her, and she felt something land on her head. She flinched, swatting at it, only to find a fluffy white dog clinging to her hair.
She stared at it, her brow furrowed. It looked exactly like the Demon Lord’s pet. She wanted to toss it aside, but it was just too adorable.
After a moment of deliberation, she decided to take both the cat and the dog with her. The Demon Lord was one thing, her pet another.
As a cultivator of the righteous path, she had to be reasonable. She couldn’t stoop to the level of those savage demon cultivators.
And so, Bai Jingxue and Lü Qingyan ended up perched on Fu Yuan’s shoulders, one on each side. The woman had surprisingly broad shoulders.
Bai Jingxue glanced at Lü Qingyan. “Have you figured it out yet?” she asked with her eyes.
She had wanted Lü Qingyan to follow her. This secret realm was dangerous. The slug demon had been a minor threat compared to what else lurked within. If Lü Qingyan wandered off alone, who knew what would become of her.
Traveling with Fu Yuan was the safest option.
Lü Qingyan tilted her head. “Figure what out?” she asked.
Bai Jingxue narrowed her eyes and turned away, refusing to engage.
There was no point in wasting her breath. She wondered where Luo Nianshang and the Demon Lord were.
She hoped they weren’t together. Their personalities clashed, and their powers were too evenly matched. If they fought, it would only hinder their chances of escaping this place.
Of course, the universe seemed determined to test her patience. On the other side of the secret realm, the Demon Lord and Luo Nianshang were indeed having a rather heated discussion.
Well, it wasn’t exactly a discussion. It was more like a one-sided rant from the Demon Lord.
“Luo Nianshang, you infuriating woman!” she fumed. “You’ve lived for thousands of years, yet you can’t even recognize a blatant trap? You just had to play the hero! Do you really think you can save everyone? Get over yourself!”
Luo Nianshang, knowing she had been reckless, remained silent, her gaze downcast.
As they had flown over a swamp, she had spotted a baby lying in the mud. The umbilical cord had been freshly cut, and the child was naked, without even a blanket to protect it from the elements.
There wasn’t a soul in sight, not even a ghost. It was a clear trap.
But the bait was a real, living child. Luo Nianshang couldn’t ignore it. She had descended to rescue the infant, only to be nearly swallowed by a monstrous fish demon lurking beneath the murky water.
The fish demon hadn’t been a threat to Luo Nianshang, but the stench of the swamp had lingered on her clothes.
The child in her arms had fallen asleep, its small face flushed, occasionally letting out a whimper. It was a pitiful sight.
The Demon Lord stared at the infant, her anger fading. She chided herself for worrying.
This was Luo Nianshang, the woman who had single-handedly slain two Demon Lords.
But now, it was Qiu Yingxi who sat upon the throne of the Demon Realm.
She glanced at Luo Nianshang’s sword. Even sheathed, it radiated a chilling aura. She wondered if it would be painful to die by that blade.
Her anger dissipated entirely. The truth was, she hadn’t been concerned for Luo Nianshang’s safety. She had been furious because the fish demon had splashed mud all over her.
The Demon Lord was meticulous about her appearance. Even after cleansing herself with a purifying spell, she still felt a phantom stench clinging to her clothes.
She knew it was irrational, but she couldn’t help it. She began to unbutton her robes.
Then, she paused, sensing a gaze upon her.
She looked up, meeting Luo Nianshang’s clear, unwavering eyes. After a moment of silence, she chuckled. “Are you that interested in my body, Venerable One?”
Luo Nianshang turned away, her voice stiff. “That wound on your chest… it looks like it was caused by my sword.”
The Demon Lord’s eyes widened. She glanced down at the faint scar on her chest and let out a bitter laugh. “If you’re willing to take credit for it, Venerable One, perhaps you’ll allow me to return the favor.”
Luo Nianshang frowned. She had no recollection of ever injuring the Demon Lord. The fact that someone could so perfectly mimic her sword energy was unsettling.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said coldly.
The Demon Lord couldn’t reveal the truth. It would expose her weakness. Her cultivation method was unique, but it came with limitations.
If those limitations were discovered, she wouldn’t survive.
Especially not with Luo Nianshang, the champion of the righteous path, a woman known for her ruthlessness, standing before her.
The Demon Lord tossed her discarded robes aside and donned a fresh set.
At their level of cultivation, such precautions were usually unnecessary. But this secret realm was unpredictable. There could be hidden dangers, fatal traps that could cripple even the most powerful cultivator.
She wondered how her disciples were faring.
They had left the swamp behind and arrived at a field carpeted in forget-me-nots.
The Demon Lord plucked a flower, crushing it between her fingers, its blue petals staining her skin.
She sauntered over to Luo Nianshang, her gaze falling upon the sleeping infant. “You certainly have a way with people, Venerable One,” she said, her voice laced with mockery. “Not only do you charm the righteous cultivators, but even animals and infants fall prey to your manipulative ways.”
As if to prove a point, she snatched the child from Luo Nianshang’s arms. The moment she did, the infant began to wail, its face turning as red as a beetroot.
She hastily returned the child, scoffing. “What a crybaby,” she muttered.
Luo Nianshang, sensing her frustration, decided to try a different approach. “You’re actually quite pleasant,” she said.
The words were unexpected, delivered without preamble.
The Demon Lord raised an eyebrow. “Oh?” she asked, her voice skeptical. “And what, pray tell, makes me so pleasant?”
Luo Nianshang faltered. She wasn’t sure how to answer.
“Kind?” No, that didn’t fit. The Demon Lord had a penchant for smiling while inflicting pain.
“Compassionate?” Same issue. Definitely not.
“Generous?” The woman was notoriously vindictive. If someone stole a foot of fabric from her, she would retaliate by taking three feet and hanging them upside down for good measure.
“Beautiful?”
Luo Nianshang turned, her gaze sweeping over the Demon Lord from head to toe. Finally, she nodded. “You’re beautiful.”
The Demon Lord, surprised by the unexpected compliment, knew she was beautiful. But coming from Luo Nianshang, it felt like an insult.
After all, Luo Nianshang was the one who possessed an ethereal, almost otherworldly beauty.
The Demon Lord’s lips twitched. “How predictable,” she sneered. “Even you, Venerable One, are susceptible to such shallow observations.”
Luo Nianshang didn’t respond. She sensed her cat nearby.
A moment later, Fu Yuan arrived, the cat and dog in tow.
Seeing that the Demon Lord was unharmed, Lü Qingyan leaped down, her tail wagging furiously as she settled beside her.
The Demon Lord, pleased that her dog had chosen her first, felt a surge of smug satisfaction. She had won this round.
Bai Jingxue, however, sauntered back to Luo Nianshang and resumed her leisurely grooming session.
Luo Nianshang, observing the cat’s lack of enthusiasm, couldn’t help but envy the Demon Lord.
“It must be me,” she thought sadly. “The cat doesn’t like me enough.”
Bai Jingxue, mid-lick, felt a shiver of apprehension.
Fu Yuan bowed respectfully. “Ancestor.”
Luo Nianshang nodded and handed her the infant. “If you cannot find its parents,” she instructed, “take it in as your disciple.”
Fu Yuan cradled the child, her movements stiff with anxiety. She didn’t want to hurt the delicate infant.
“Yes, Ancestor.”
The child’s features seemed familiar, reminding her of someone. She dismissed the thought, attributing it to exhaustion.
As she recounted the events of her journey, her thoughts returned to the mortal she had rescued from the slug demon.
There was something strange about him. She emphasized this detail in her report.
Luo Nianshang and the Demon Lord exchanged a knowing glance.
Fate, it seemed, had a twisted sense of humor. “Well, well,” the Demon Lord purred, her smile not reaching her eyes. “The little rat followed us.”
The secret realm was no longer a priority. Luo Nianshang handed Fu Yuan a jade pendant. “This contains three strikes of my sword energy,” she said. “Gather the disciples and meet me at the location where you encountered the slug demon.”
She scooped up the grooming cat and flew towards the designated spot.
The Demon Lord, unwilling to be outdone, followed close behind.
Lü Qingyan, momentarily forgotten, stared after them, then bolted after them, barking frantically.
“Woof! Woof! Woof!”
The Demon Lord, realizing her oversight, doubled back and scooped up the dog.
By the time they arrived, the male lead was long gone.
Luo Nianshang sighed. “We’ve lost him.”
Bai Jingxue’s heart sank. It seemed the male lead was indeed favored by fate.
She hoped this world wouldn’t descend into the chaos of the original story.
The Demon Lord surveyed the area, wrinkling her nose in disgust. “How repulsive,” she muttered, perching on a branch.
Suddenly, the entire secret realm began to shake. The Demon Lord leaped into the air, her eyes narrowed.
After what felt like an eternity, the tremors subsided.
But the message was clear.
The Demon Lord looked towards the west, where the setting sun was inexplicably rising again.
She patted the dog’s head, a sly smile spreading across her face. “It seems the true prize has revealed itself,” she purred.
Luo Nianshang remained silent, her gaze fixed on the crimson sun.
Except, it wasn’t the sun.
Bai Jingxue knew exactly what it was. It was a human eye. Someone had reached the heart of the secret realm.
And the secret realm had awakened.
Luo Nianshang shot towards the west, a streak of silver against the crimson sky.
“That old woman is surprisingly quick,” the Demon Lord muttered, annoyed at being outmaneuvered.
With a burst of speed, she caught up to Luo Nianshang, a smug grin on her face.
The cat and dog exchanged a weary look.
“I don’t think those two will ever get along,” Lü Qingyan sighed.
This time, Bai Jingxue didn’t turn away. She nodded in agreement.
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