The Position of Left Guardian

Han Shengyao was startled when she heard her disciple’s voice, and her shoulders had already been affectionately touched with both hands.

She turned her head, and at some point her disciple transformed into a human figure and stood beside her, affectionately wrapping her hands around her neck.

The clear and clean eyes that were exposed outside the veil curved into a new moon, and at this moment, they were looking at her brightly, as if waiting for praise.

Han Shengyao wanted to pull away Lin Qianshuang’s hand around her neck, but after touching the scar on her hand, she wrapped it around her palm and didn’t have the intention to let go. She whispered softly, “Shuang’er, you’re being reckless. Do you know that I’ve set up a barrier around you? Once you leave the barrier, no one will be able to protect you.”

She thought about how her disciple had saved Bai Wan, who should have been her enemy. The Demon Emperor even called fifty lashes on her disciple for Bai Wan’s sake.

Han Shengyao’s heart ached as she gently applied ointment to the scar on the back of her disciple’s hand.

Lin Qianshuang embraced Han Shengyao’s neck and playfully twirled loose strands of hair between her fingers. her eyes sparkled with an innocent mischief as she said coquettishly, “Master, I’m not that fragile. Look, I’m perfectly fine, aren’t I?”

Han Shengyao playfully tugged on Lin Qianshuang’s ear, then seeing her wince, flicked her forehead. “Remember this lesson. I still need to discipline you for crashing the banquet.”

Despite Han Shengyao’s reprimand, Lin Qianshuang remained unabashed. She shifted her arms from Han Shengyao’s neck to her waist, embracing her tightly. She rested her head on Han Shengyao’s shoulder, her face close to hers, and said with a radiant smile beneath her veil, “I understand, Master.”

Bai Wan observed the affectionate exchange between Lin Qianshuang and Han Shengyao with an inscrutable expression. When she noticed the Demon Emperor’s gaze upon her, her eyes turned slightly red, and she stumbled into his arms, away from Lin Qianshuang.

Tears of anguish streamed down her face as she cradled her swollen belly with one hand and reached out with the other to caress the Demon Emperor’s face. Her voice was choked with emotion as she whispered, “Ah Heng, Wan’er thought we would only meet again in the afterlife. But by some grace, I have been granted a second chance…”

The Demon Emperor grasped Bai Wan’s hand and pressed it against his face. His gaze held deep affection for her as he gently patted her back with his other hand and murmured, “Xiao Wan, all is well. I am here with you.”

Lin Qianshuang couldn’t resist clicking her tongue as she observed the affectionate display between Bai Wan and the Demon Emperor.

Bai Wan lay in the Demon Emperor’s embrace, her eyes vacant, her mind elsewhere.

The Demon Emperor offered empty comfort, his gaze occasionally drifting towards Han Shengyao and then back to Bai Wan.

It was unclear who these two were truly pretending to be for as they feigned affection.

Their public display of intimacy continued for a time, causing Right Protector Su Qing and the demon cultivators at the foot of the steps to blush and avert their eyes, unable to bear to watch further.

The Devil Emperor calmed Bai Wan down for a while, then rested his eyes on Lin Qianshuang’s body for a few seconds. Turning to Han Shengyao, he said, “Holy Maiden, your disciple saved this honored one’s beloved concubine, and also saved the child in the concubine’s belly. There should be a reward for that, what do you think?”

Han Shengyao knelt down with Lin Qianshuang and said, “It would be an honor for this seat’s disciple to receive a reward from His Majesty the Demon Emperor.”

As expected, the Demon Emperor heard Han Shengyao’s words and a hint of a triumphant smile appeared on his face. His fiery gaze was cast at Lin Qianshuang without any concealment. His voice intensified as he said, “The position of Left Protector has been idle for a long time, and I am worried about not finding a suitable candidate. Right Protector, what do you think of the Holy Maiden’s personal disciple?”

Right Protector Su Qing saw the Demon Emperor’s gaze lingering back and forth on Lin Qianshuang’s body for a long time. Since the Demon Emperor was interested, how could he say anything to refute it?

Su Qing knelt down respectfully on the side, bowed his head and clasped his hands, and said, “Your Majesty the Demon Emperor, the Holy Maiden’s disciple has good qualifications and is indeed a talent that can be cultivated. In less than half a year, she will definitely be a famous figure in the demonic path.”

Upon hearing Su Qing’s words, the Demon Emperor’s face lit up with joy. He turned to Lin Qianshuang and said, “Then it’s decided. This young lady shall be my Left Protector. May I ask what your name is?”

Lin Qianshuang glanced furtively at Han Shengyao from the corner of her eye. Her hair concealed her expression, but her hands, tucked beneath her sleeves, clenched slightly, as if she were suppressing something.

Han Shengyao’s spirits were low. It seemed that the position of Left Protector might involve some hidden complications.

Lin Qianshuang lowered her head, her voice trembling slightly with trepidation. “My… my name is Lin Qianshuang,” she said.

The Demon Emperor savored the name, recalling the ethereal beauty who had emerged from the water bathed in radiant light. The mysterious figure, concealed beneath a veil, ignited his curiosity and left him feeling restless.

Kneeling on the ground, the veiled beauty felt her explanation was insufficient, so she gestured to elaborate, “Lin is written with the characters of two trees, Qian is the character for thousands, Shuang the character for frost and snow.”¹

As she gestured, her gaze towards him was pure and bright, those turquoise blue eyes were like a lake, as if they could reflect his ugly inner world, revealing his original form.

The Demon Emperor realized his gaffe, and instantly assumed a majestic stance, smiling, “Lin Qianshuang, that’s a really good name.”

He instructed towards Su Qing who was at the side, “Right Protector, you will send someone to clean up the Tianyi Hall where the Left Protector will be moving to. I remember that there are more than a thousand Hundred-Year Frostwoods within the Spirit Garden, all of them remember to be moved to the periphery of the palace.”

“Your Majesty, you are…”

Su Qing was taken aback. The Spirit Garden’s Frostwoods were rare demon sources that only emerged once a century. How could they be so easily transferred to a young demon cultivator?

The Demon Emperor gazed at Lin Qianshuang for a moment before turning to Han Shengyao. “My Left Protector is the Holy Maiden’s disciple. Naturally, we cannot neglect her.”

With another slight smile, he met Lin Qianshuang’s eyes. “Besides, if the sleeping hall were filled with Frostwoods planted in the Left Protector’s chambers, wouldn’t it be in perfect harmony with the artistic conception of the name ‘Qianshuang’²?”

Lin Qianshuang felt goosebumps under the Demon Emperor’s gaze. Maintaining a flattered expression, she cursed inwardly.

Scum. He has a pregnant girlfriend but still thinks about getting another woman.

Loser. Just to impress a pretty face, he gave away the precious Frostwoods so easily.

This Demon Emperor was truly a despicable and pathetic wretch.

Lin Qianshuang suddenly felt that she should assume the role of Demon Emperor, which was indeed a wise decision. If the Demon Emperor continued to behave in such a manner, he would inevitably bring about his own downfall.

Bai Wan nestled in the Demon Emperor’s arms, her heart filled with a mix of jealousy and envy towards Lin Qianshuang. She could clearly see that Lin Qianshuang’s expression and demeanor were all a pretense, which made her feel uneasy. Inwardly, she cursed the seductive vixen.

Su Qing appeared momentarily puzzled, then glanced at Lin Qianshuang on the ground before finally retreating, stating, “I will attend to it now.”

The Demon Emperor, satisfied that everything was in order, departed with Bai Wan, leaving the group of demonic cultivators behind to continue repairing the collapsed walls and pillars of the Wanhua Hall.

Jiuyang Peak was the location of Han Shengyao’s secluded cave house where she practiced daily. Snow-capped and inaccessible year-round, it was isolated from the outside world and served as an ideal place for cultivation and retreat.

After leaving the Wanhua Hall, Han Shengyao brought Lin Qianshuang to Jiuyang Peak, where the master and disciple engaged in a fierce hour-long duel on the mountaintop.

The cold moonlight illuminated their intertwined figures, one clad in crimson and the other in white.

Not long after, the white figure was sent crashing to the ground as if struck by a powerful blow. It took a moment for the figure to regain its composure and rise to its feet.

“Master, please stop. I’ve exhausted all the demonic energy in my body.”

Lin Qianshuang, who had lost count of the times she had been knocked down, called out to Han Shengyao to cease the battle, her voice laced with exhaustion.

Han Shengyao lowered herself slightly, observing Lin Qianshuang’s sweat-drenched appearance. She retrieved a handkerchief and gently wiped away her sweat, saying in a serious tone, “Shuang’er, the position of Left Protector is not to be taken lightly. Before the downfall of the previous Demon Emperor, his Demon Empress also held the title of Left Protector. This position is reserved for the future Demon Empress.”

Your current situation is precarious. Not only will Bai Wan regard you as a threat, but the members of the Three Demon Sects will also scrutinize you and seek to eliminate you.

“I initially intended to introduce you to the Demon Emperor in a year, but I did not anticipate the abruptness of this matter.”

Lin Qianshuang accepted Han Shengyao’s handkerchief and sat cross-legged on the ground, gazing at her intently. “Master, I comprehend your intentions. As the direct disciple of the Holy Maiden of the Demon Realm, I possess a distinguished status and an unambiguous identity that is unrelated to the Three Demon Sects of the demonic path. Should I ascend to the position of Demon Empress in the future, the Demon Emperor would be liberated from the constraints of the Three Demon Sects, and you could covertly dismantle the forces that have infiltrated Bai Wan’s court.”

Han Shengyao cast a slightly surprised glance at Lin Qianshuang. She had not anticipated her disciple, who appeared unassuming, to possess such a keen intellect.

Lin Qianshuang pursed her lower lip, her thoughts churning. She had already gained a clear understanding of the responsibilities of the Left Protector from Su Qing’s voice transmission.

In the coming days, she would undertake assassination missions for the three sects of the Demon Realm and resolve the tumultuous affairs of the Demon Emperor’s Palace.

These are all trials to prepare her as the future Demon Empress.

If something happens to her, Bai Wan can take her place, but Han Shengyao will be unable to escape the whirlpool of power and will inevitably be implicated because of her.

Lin Qianshuang recalled the ending where Han Shengyao was sacrificed as a pawn to Liang Jingxuan, and her eyes narrowed for a moment. She stood up and tightly embraced Han Shengyao.

Han Shengyao was slightly bewildered by Lin Qianshuang’s sudden embrace and was about to remove her hand from her waist when the sweet and slightly nasal voice whispered in her ear, causing her heart to soften slightly and she no longer resisted.

“Master, let me hold you a little longer. In the future, our chances of meeting will be rare. Your disciple will miss you.”

Lin Qianshuang’s gaze swept past Han Shengyao’s shoulder and towards the falling snow, her face resolute and tinged with a hint of unfeeling indifference.

This ending will definitely be changed, no matter the means used! This is the reason she came here, and also the most important task she must accomplish.

“Yo, it’s so late at night, and Sister Shengyao is still clinging to our newly appointed Left Protector. Are you reluctant to part with your precious disciple?”

A provocative and mocking female voice came from above.

Bai Wan, supported by her Right Protector Su Qing, held onto her abdomen and gracefully landed on the ground.

“Master, I’m leaving.”

Lin Qianshuang whispered in Han Shengyao’s ear before walking to Bai Wan’s side.

Bai Wan glanced briefly at Lin Qianshuang, snorted, and waved them off. Soon, their figures disappeared.

Han Shengyao watched as Lin Qianshuang left, an unexpected emptiness filling her heart. A wave of loneliness washed over her, lingering long after Lin Qianshuang’s departure.

As for what had been lost, she dared not and did not want to contemplate it.