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.”
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