The Last One (3)

Lin Qianshuang leaped down from the chair with her stubby paws, ignoring Han Shengyao sprawled lazily on the sun-drenched eaves above. She settled into a meditative pose, her chubby legs crossed as demonic energy cycled through her dantian to replenish her strength. To Han Shengyao, they were mere acquaintances—Lin knew her master’s temperament too well. When had the demon lord ever shown such warmth to an insignificant pawn? Especially after erasing Lin’s memories of those forbidden scrolls in the study.

This sudden friendliness reeked of suspicion. Han Shengyao likely recognized her as a favored subordinate of Tianshu City’s ruler and sought to exploit her for information. Worse, if Mu Weiyin returned to the courtyard and witnessed their proximity, the City Lord’s mistrust would deepen.

Refusing the Demon Realm’s sovereign outright would bruise her pride. Better to feign ignorance.

Han Shengyao idly rested her chin on a palm, observing the silver beast meditating below. She’d come here to rendezvous with a shadow guard tasked with reconnaissance, only to stumble upon Lin Qianshuang instead.

Han Shengyao grew wearier by the second of coaxing the fluffy creature below, its obliviousness squashing any remaining amusement. She abandoned the effort when the silver beast remained stubbornly absorbed in meditation.

“Domain Lord,” the shadow guard kneeling before her rasped, “We’ve located the mechanisms on the Beast-Subduing Tower’s exterior. They’re layered with a ring of peculiar talismans.”

Accepting the transcribed runes from his proffered hands, Han Shengyao’s icy beauty sharpened into something lethal. Crimson flames consumed the parchment as she shredded it, her phoenix eyes narrowing with predatory intensity. “So the righteous sects still scheme against the Demon Realm. How…typical.”

The guard’s gaze flickered to the meditating fox demon cub. Weapon drawn, he hissed, “That creature overheard everything, Domain Lord. Shall I eliminate it?”

Han Shengyao observed the silver beast’s gradual shift toward humanoid form—ostensibly oblivious, though wisps of demonic energy betrayed its focus. “Unnecessary. The Qingyi Curse still binds its memories. Should intervention prove required,” she trailed off, languid menace coating her words, “I’ll handle it personally. Rally the Right Protector. Destroy all demon-suppression diagrams before dawn, then secure the Beast-Subduing Tower. We won’t be ambushed by Mu Weiyin’s theatrics.”

The guard hesitated, weapon trembling toward Lin Qianshuang’s guileless facade until Han Shengyao’s glacial stare iced his resolve. With a curt bow, he dissolved into writhing shadows.

Lin Qianshuang heard every word exchanged between Han Shengyao and the shadow guard. Her pulse quickened as she stole a wary glance at the Demon Lord, fear tightening her throat—especially as Han Shengyao began advancing toward her. She’ll silence me for overhearing, Lin thought, the cold certainty making her palms sweat.

The heavier her dread, the easier she’d betray herself.

Forcing her breathing steady, Lin closed her eyes and slackened her posture, retreating fully into meditative stillness. Footsteps neared, each crisp click against stone pricking her nerves until her trembling lashes stilled. Strangely, the razor-edge of danger honed her mind sharp.

A way out—there has to be.

The chill of something lethal brushed her throat. Lin remained motionless as Han Shengyao’s bone flute, now a dagger’s gleaming edge, traced her jugular.

“Pity to kill such an… entertaining little demon cultivator,” the Domain Lord mused, her voice low and contemplative. “But a voiceless witness is safest of all.”

Just as she tightened her grip, those serene, pale-blue eyes flew open, mirrored clearly in their tranquil depths. Han Shengyao froze mid-motion—only to stagger back when Lin Qianshuang crashed into her chest, the impact knocking her wrist sideways.

No one in the Demon Realm was bold enough to treat the Domain Lord this way.

A flicker of anger darkened Han Shengyao’s face, but before she could retaliate, Lin’s voice cut through the tension—an artful blend of coquettish scolding and indignation. “Domain Lord, I’ve barely settled into my shape-shifting cultivation. Must you distract me like this?”

Han Shengyao’s phoenix eyes narrowed in bewilderment, her earlier fury momentarily upstaged by confusion.

Lin Qianshuang’s newly formed human body shimmered with residual silver light. Her eyelashes dipped coyly as she leaned in, lips brushing Han Shengyao’s ear with a practiced exhale. The hand she draped around the Demon Lord’s neck trembled with exaggerated innocence, her smile a mismatched blend of seduction and childish mimicry.

“I’ve… admired you from afar,” she stammered, gaze lowered. “You kept drawing close—I thought perhaps—” A shy pause, fingers plucking at Han Shengyao’s sleeve. “That day at the cave, I panicked. Felt unworthy. But now, unstable as this form is… if you want to continue where we left off before…”, she trailed off suggestively.

Han Shengyao observed her, faint amusement softening the sharpness of her violet eyes. The little demon cultivator’s antics were transparent as glass, yet the earnestness in her faltering confession pricked at something dormant.

Lin Qianshuang knew that she now looked young and naive, clearly appearing like someone troubled by love—just as if her earlier restlessness had truly come from seeing the person she liked, rather than from eavesdropping on their conversation.

Seeing no outward response from Han Shengyao, Lin pressed on, voice wavering. “If my feelings disgust you, I’ll never speak of this again.”

The Domain Lord studied her a beat too long before chuckling, ruffling Lin’s hair as one might indulge a reckless kitten. “Clever little thing. Your spirit intrigues me. But my heart holds another—a shadow I cannot name, yet whose absence carves deeper than any blade.” Her thumb brushed Lin’s cheek, fondness tinged with distant melancholy. “Cultivate your path, child. Leave love’s follies to fools who can afford them.”

Lin Qianshuang lowered her head as if in loneliness, her heartbeat racing like she’d just plummeted from a dizzying height. With trembling fingers, she withdrew the lingering demonic energy into her core. Alive. She spared me. Han Shengyao’s unexpected patience suggested the Demon Lord might harbor at least a sliver of approval—had their exchange unfolded differently, she’d have been cut down where she stood.

“Domain Lord,” came a cool voice, “visits to my Tianshu City usually merit a formal announcement.”

Mu Weiyin approached, her sharp eyes narrowing as she observed Han Shengyao’s hand lingering in Lin’s hair with something disturbingly akin to tenderness. The Demon Realm’s ruler, renowned for her icy ruthlessness, affectionate? The Tianshu City Lord nearly scoffed aloud. So this is why Du Shuang insisted on replacing herself with the clever-mouthed Jieyu Gongzi before leaving. Remarkable indeed.

Lin Qianshuang dropped into an instant kowtow, her voice steady despite the fear coiled in her gut. “This servant thanks the City Lord for the restorative medicine. My injuries are healed.”

Mu Weiyin’s lips twitched. She could smell the terror beneath the girl’s precise manners. “Healed?” she drawled, feigning impatience. “Then cease groveling and attend me. We’ve matters to discuss.”

Lin Qianshuang let out a relieved breath. Lowering her head in salute to Han Shengyao, she moved to stand behind Mu Weiyin.

Han Shengyao approached the Tianshu City Lord. “My Right Protector will handle the joint inspection of the Beast-Subduing Tower’s layout the day after tomorrow,” she said. “This seat must return to the Demon Realm to attend to matters, and thus takes her leave of the City Lord.”