Han Shengyao's Promise

Han Shengyao walked out of the Jiuchong Demon Palace, and did not return to the Jiuyang Peak to cultivate as usual, but turned into a wisp of demonic qi and flew straight to the Yixiang Tower in Tianshu City.

Her heart was unusually chaotic, and she desperately needed to find a quiet place and a listening ear to ease her emotions and clear up her disorganized thoughts.

Du Shuang, as her old friend for many years, was a good choice as they often met for a drink to talk about their feelings.

The entertainment district where Yixiang Tower is located was bustling at night, with a dense flow of people, and business has always been good even during the day.

The colorful lanterns hanging from the eaves of the pavilions swayed in the wind, and the colorful ribbons tied to the plaques scattered a faint golden powder, filling the air with a fragrant scent.

Liang Jingxuan stood by the carved window on the fifth floor of the tower, waiting for his master, Fairy Jinghua. Suddenly, a purple light fell from the sky and slanted into the position in front of the window where he had just stopped.

The purple mist slowly dissipated and a graceful beauty in red emerged from the bright sunlight.

Her jet-black hair was styled in a bun, adorned with a jade hairpin featuring flowing beads and tassels that rippled lightly in mid-air. As she turned around, a few strands of green silk cascaded down like seaweed. Her snow-white wrist wore a dark purple jade ring, and her slender waist was adorned with a purple gauze belt, from which hung broken jade ornaments that made beautiful sounds of pearl and jade pendants as she swung her sleeves.

The beauty in red landed gracefully on the ground, her crimson veil billowing around her feet and trailing onto the floor. As the wind rustled, her long, slender legs were tantalizingly revealed.

Liang Jingxuan’s gaze returned to her face, his eyes momentarily entranced. He found himself unable to tear his gaze away.

“You are the disciple of Fairy Jinghua. Is Du Shuang with her?”

A magnetic and crisp female voice, as tingling as it was captivating, reached Liang Jingxuan’s ears. Never had he heard such a melodious voice, and his fascination with the woman in red intensified.

Han Shengyao’s brow furrowed, her displeasure evident at the unabashed stare of the handsome young man before her. “Fairy Jinghua’s disciples are as frivolous and inexperienced as ever.”

With a cold snort, Han Shengyao bypassed Liang Jingxuan, pushed open the door, and entered Du Shuang’s study.

When Liang Jingxuan regained his senses, he realized he had been so captivated that he had neglected to inquire after the woman’s name, leaving him slightly vexed.

Han Shengyao entered the study. The room was in disarray. The wooden window was half-open, and books were strewn across the floor. In the distance, two figures were concealed behind a thin veil that hung over a soft duvet.

Du Shuang, her eyes slightly drooping, embraced a tall, aloof woman in white. Their postures were intimate.

The unfamiliar woman heard footsteps and swiftly pulled Du Shuang behind her, shielding her from view.

She quickly grabbed a brocade cloak and covered them both, her face cold as she turned to Han Shengyao. “Who are you? This is Du Shuang’s room. Is it not customary to knock before entering?”

It was the first time Han Shengyao had witnessed Du Shuang openly embracing a woman. Her surprise rendered her speechless.

Du Shuang, her eyes dazed and confused, detached herself from the woman’s embrace. Upon seeing Han Shengyao, she sobered up and hurriedly gathered the scattered clothes on the floor. “Holy Maiden, please wait in the side room. I will be ready shortly.”

Han Shengyao watched Du Shuang, who was still getting dressed, with displeasure. She glanced at Fairy Jinghua, whose gaze was full of hostility towards her, and said coldly, “Du Shuang, didn’t you say that your beloved Fairy Jinghua is getting married next month? What’s going on here? Are you so contemptuous of yourself to sleep with a woman who is going to abandon you?”

No matter how thick Du Shuang’s skin was, she still couldn’t help but blush as she listened to Han Shengyao’s questioning. She pushed Han Shengyao out of the study and whispered to her, “Go sit in the side room for a while. I’ll tell you later.”

Jinghua’s eyes turned cold as she watched Du Shuang speak affectionately in Han Shengyao’s ear. She asked behind her, “Who is she? Why are you so close to her?”

Du Shuang hurriedly pushed Han Shengyao out of the door, then slammed the door shut and awkwardly smiled a few times, saying, “She’s my friend. Don’t worry, she’s very straightforward, and she has her own sweetheart.”

Han Shengyao was forced out of the door, her mood worsening. She paced back and forth in Yixiang Tower, her anxiety unrelenting.

Suddenly recalling Du Shuang’s secret wine cellar, Han Shengyao entered the side room and discovered a jar of peach blossom wine. She began drinking alone, downing bowl after bowl.

After an indeterminate amount of time, she felt the air becoming stifling and oppressive, prompting her to leap out of the window. Her clothes fluttered gently as she landed on the roof.

Holding the peach blossom wine, Han Shengyao sat there from the sunny afternoon until sunset. She gazed at the clouds in the sky, which seemed to constantly reveal her disciple’s face.

The more she observed the floating clouds, the more their features resembled those of her disciple, as if she were smiling at her.

“Holy Maiden, you seem troubled today. Why have you consumed so much alcohol?”

Dazed, Han Shengyao felt someone snatch the wine jar from her hand and sit down beside her.

“Last time, you advised me to drink less. This time, it’s my turn to advise you.”

Du Shuang sighed helplessly as she observed Han Shengyao’s near-unconscious state. She employed a demonic aura to induce her to vomit the wine she had consumed.

Han Shengyao let out a dry cough and regained some consciousness. She looked at Du Shuang vaguely and uttered, “Du Shuang, you’re here.”

Du Shuang supported Han Shengyao’s back and asked, “What happened? How did you become like this? You’ve never gotten drunk before.”

Han Shengyao narrowed her purple eyes momentarily before abruptly pulling Du Shuang’s shoulder in front of her. “You and Fairy Jinghua have gotten together again. Don’t tell me you’re truly in love.”

Du Shuang was startled by Han Shengyao’s sudden grip. Recalling her recent conversation with Fairy Jinghua, a blissful expression spread across her face. “Jinghua has promised me that she will never marry anyone but me in this life. Her engagement next month has been canceled, and she plans to purchase a residence in Sanxiu City. When the time comes, she will leave the Penglai Immortal Sect and live with me.”

Han Shengyao’s eyes darkened, and she asked Du Shuang, “Aren’t you afraid she’ll change her mind and leave you waiting in vain?”

“No,” Du Shuang replied firmly. “Every moment I have, I think of her face. I can’t bear to see her with others, and my heart aches when I see her sad. Even when I’m with other women, my mind is filled with thoughts of her, and I can’t help but imagine her in their place.”

Du Shuang turned to Han Shengyao and said, “Holy Maiden, I’ve made up my mind. In this life and the next, I can’t leave her. I love Jing Hua. No matter what the future holds, she is the only one for me.”

Han Shengyao listened to Du Shuang’s words, her heart filled with turmoil.

In her spare time, she had always been concerned about her disciple’s well-being.

As she witnessed her disciple walking closely with Bai Wan, Han Shengyao’s heart felt like it was being gnawed at by a venomous snake. She struggled to maintain her composure.

When she took her disciple to watch as that Taoist couple entwined, she subconsciously imagined her disciple in their place. Even when she observed the Demon Emperor teasing his favored concubine, she couldn’t help but wonder how her disciple’s face would look if she had done the same to her.

Could this be… love?

Han Shengyao’s purple eyes shimmered with complex and indescribable emotions. She acknowledged the rapid beating of her heart and was forced to confront the possibility that she might be in love with her own disciple, rather than the Demon Emperor whom she had always believed to be the object of her affection.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so devastated when the Demon Emperor suggested that Lin Qianshuang sleep with him. The pain had been so intense, as if she had been stabbed and left breathless.

Perhaps she had never truly understood the meaning of “love” before. It was not the tranquility she felt when facing the Demon Emperor, knowing that it was her childhood sweetheart by her side, nor was it the fleeting desire and possessiveness driven by emotions.

That indefinable emotion, when faced with Lin Qianshuang, “love” seemed to have a new meaning and a true home in her heart, and it was defined solely by their relationship.

A deep purple light shone from the depths of Han Shengyao’s eyes. Casting aside the fetters of her heart, she had never felt such an intense desire to cherish someone. She wanted to possess her kiss, her heart, her every emotion, and to have her willingly stay by her side for a lifetime. Even with the Demon Emperor, she had never felt this way.

A wisp of demonic smoke appeared before them.

Du Shuang reached out to the ethereal smoke and retrieved a note, the wisp of smoke dissipating with the wind.

Han Shengyao noticed Du Shuang’s peculiar expression as she read the note and inquired, “What news have you received? Does it concern me?”

Du Shuang destroyed the note and replied to Han Shengyao, “It is not directly related to you, but it is inextricably linked to your disciple.”

“I just received news that the newly appointed Left Protector of the Jiuchong Demon Palace secretly sent dozens of Frostwoods to the Beiyou Demon Sect and had a pleasant meeting with the sect leader. She also sold all the gold, silver, and jewelry bestowed upon her by the Demon Emperor into refining spirit stones and distributed them to the wandering demonic cultivators in the demon realm.”

Han Shengyao smiled slightly and said, “Shuang’er did a good job. If the Beiyou Demon Sect were to assist her, she would be much more assured in her position as the Left Protector.”

Du Shuang looked at Han Shengyao and said, “I don’t think so. Your disciple is not giving preferential treatment to others in the name of the Demon Emperor, and her behavior of extending a helping hand to those demonic cultivators in the demon realm seems suspicious. That group of demonic cultivators were all exiled from the three major demonic sects for various reasons. Giving them these spirit stones is equivalent to giving them a glimmer of vitality. Her actions not only win the hearts of the people but also attract the attention of the three major demonic sects.”

Han Shengyao knew what Du Shuang was thinking and smiled, saying, “You’ve thought too much. My disciple here wouldn’t have such courage and determination.”

Du Shuang looked at Han Shengyao’s confident expression and jokingly said, “Maybe one day your disciple will defy heaven and earth, conquer the entire Demon Realm, and become the Lord of the Demon Realm, with an existence higher than the Demon Emperor. When that time comes, you’ll surely regret what you’ve said.”

Han Shengyao listened to Du Shuang’s nonsense, poked her cheek, and said with a smile in her purple eyes, “Du Shuang, on behalf of my apprentice, I would like to thank you and send you your good wishes.”

Du Shuang chuckled and slung an arm around Han Shengyao’s shoulders, saying with a wide grin, “No need for thanks, no need for thanks.”

As dusk descended, Han Shengyao’s thoughts turned to Lin Qianshuang, and she bid a hasty farewell to Du Shuang.

Du Shuang took a sip of wine, raised the peach blossom wine towards Han Shengyao, and said with a knowing smile, “Such haste, are you in a hurry to meet your lover?”

Han Shengyao nodded and smiled faintly at Du Shuang. “I need to confirm the feelings in my heart. It seems I’ve truly fallen for Shuang’er.”

Du Shuang’s half-swallowed wine erupted violently from his mouth. He stared at Han Shengyao in disbelief. “What are you saying? You’ve actually fallen for your disciple? Didn’t you already present your disciple to the Demon Emperor? No, isn’t it the Demon Emperor you like?”

Han Shengyao seemed deeply troubled and offered no response to Du Shuang’s questions. Instead, she transformed into a wisp of demonic energy and swiftly vanished from sight.

As Du Shuang watched Han Shengyao’s anxious figure depart, she finished the wine in her bowl and a slight smile played on her lips. Han Shengyao seemed to have truly fallen for Lin Qianshuang, confirming her belief that she was the most suitable partner for her.

Tianyi Hall was ablaze with light, the hall adorned with vibrant decorations as if to welcome a joyous occasion in anticipation of the Demon Emperor’s arrival.

Servants bustled about, moving belongings and presenting delicacies to the table, their footsteps creating a rhythmic cadence.

In contrast to the animated outer hall, the inner hall was tranquil.

Lin Qianshuang sat upon a plush cushion, meditating and cultivating, a faint sheen of sweat beading on her forehead. At her feet, a three-tailed white fox lay sprawled on the floor, its tiny paws playfully batting at her fingers.

Within the depths of her divine consciousness, a fierce battle raged, the outcome remaining uncertain.

After a cup of tea, Lin Qianshuang opened her eyes and activated the spiritual energy in her lower body. Her eyes lit up slightly. After refining all three magic cores in her body, she added another layer of spiritual energy swirling around the core field, which was already a cultivation method for refining her body.

After defeating the villain in the sea of her divine consciousness, she had broken through the second form of the Floating Sword Technique.

She tried to condense the demonic energy in her hand again, and a sharp long sword appeared in her hand, with several more engraved lines on the sword’s body due to her breakthrough.

Lin Qianshuang looked at the natal magic sword that appeared in her hand with satisfaction and said to Bai Wan, who was lazily lying beside her, “Slaying demons and consuming cores is indeed the fastest way to cultivate. This afternoon, I only hunted and killed three low-level demons who were wreaking havoc in the demon realm. I then broke through the second layer of the sword technique and subdued all the low-level monsters in that area.”

Bai Wan licked her paws, shook her three fluffy and soft long tails, and said to Lin Qianshuang, “For both demon cultivators and beast cultivators, what truly nourishes them is the inner core and flesh and soul of human cultivators. If you have the ability to kill more than thirty cultivators who have formed a Golden Core, I guarantee that you can form a demon baby and a physical demon body within two years.”

“In other words, as long as I improve my cultivation in the future and have the strength to kill notorious Golden Core stage cultivators and seize their cultivation, the Demon Infant will soon be formed, and I can also accumulate merit. This is not a bad thing.”

Bai Wan listened to Lin Qianshuang’s words with a hint of disdain. Cultivators should not kill at will, in order to accumulate merit and seek the blessings of the Heavenly Dao when crossing tribulations¹.

But for the strong, the Heavenly Dao is nothing. Kill when you need to kill, take what you need to take, it’s that simple.

Lin Qianshuang’s eyes lit up as she touched the body of her natal sword. Upon being touched by her, the spirit sword hummed with a very spiritual sound. She smiled and said, “I really hope to form a baby soon, so that I can also actualize my natal sword and wear it by my side. Otherwise, it will take some time to remove it every time, which is a bit inconvenient.”

Bai Wan observed that Lin Qianshuang seemed to have forgotten about her nighttime duties and was engrossed in cultivation. She reminded her aloud, “The Demon Emperor will arrive shortly. Follow my instructions. I will conceal myself beneath your bed. Should any unforeseen circumstances arise, I will emerge to assist you.”

Lin Qianshuang grasped the wine jug and shook its contents. The Illusionary Love Pill had been seamlessly integrated into the liquid. She turned to Bai Wan with an air of assurance, “Rest assured, I have a plan. I will undoubtedly pour the entirety of this wine into the Demon Emperor’s mouth.”

Bai Wan, perceiving Lin Qianshuang’s self-assured demeanor, surmised that she possessed a cunning strategy to persuade the Demon Emperor to consume the wine. She reduced her fox form’s size, slipped beneath the bed, and crouched there, her presence masked by a shroud of demonic energy.

“His Majesty the Demon Emperor has arrived.”

As the maidservants’ announcement echoed outside the door, Lin Qianshuang deftly dissolved the antidote for the Illusionary Love Pill beneath her tongue. With composure, she sat upright at the pearwood table, her gaze fixed on the closed door. Calmly, she listened intently to the approaching footsteps, silently counting in her mind.

One, two, three.

As she reached the count of three, the door opened.

The maidservants gently pulled open the door on both sides, and the Demon Emperor, adorned with a white jade crown and a luxurious black brocade robe, stepped across the threshold. Unlike the elaborate and cumbersome attire he wore during the day, his current appearance complemented his tall figure, exuding an air of elegance and charm. He resembled a handsome and wealthy young man from the mortal realm, a transformation evidently made to impress the beauty for the evening.

As the door opened, Lin Qianshuang’s composed demeanor subtly shifted. Her indifferent gaze became clouded with a veil of uncertainty, her arms instinctively wrapping around her body as she trembled slightly. She resembled an unmarried woman filled with confusion and trepidation upon meeting her unfamiliar husband.

Upon entering, the Demon Emperor’s gaze fell upon the exquisite beauty seated at the table, her shyness and timidness as captivating as a blooming lotus. Her delicate body quivered with slightly with fear.

Her clear and azure eyes gazed at him tenderly and confusedly, her eyelashes trembling up and down to conceal the fear in her eyes, like a startled deer that had wandered into a trap.

Against such a beautiful and delicate person, any man’s heart would soften in an instant.

“Shuang’er…”

The Demon Emperor embraced Lin Qianshuang affectionately, and the violent thoughts in his mind dissipated at that moment. He gently inhaled the fragrance of her hair, his voice slightly hoarse with pleasure, “Don’t be afraid. Although I spoke cruelly to your master, I lied to her. I will treat you well and will not let you get hurt.”

The corners of Lin Qianshuang’s mouth twitched slightly as she grabbed the Demon Emperor’s hand, which was trying to remove her outer garment. Her soft, boneless hands lightly covered his arm as she refused, saying, “Your Majesty, I heard from my master that on the first night, anyone who does such a thing officially needs to drink a toast.”

The Demon Emperor paused when he heard Lin Qianshuang mention Han Shengyao, a hint of displeasure in his eyes.

Lin Qianshuang noticed his subtle demeanor and said naively, “Shuang’er already regards Your Majesty as her future husband. Would Your Majesty be willing to drink with Shuang’er?”

The person in his arms looked at him with pure anticipation in their eyes.

Husband, no favored concubine had ever called him that. They all regarded him as an emperor, separated by status and rules they could not cross. Only the clear and flawless person in front of him was close enough to call him husband. “I listen to Shuang’er, as long as Shuang’er likes it.”

The Demon Emperor retracted his aura and looked at Lin Qianshuang with a slightly softened gaze.

Lin Qianshuang’s heart danced with secret delight as she retrieved the wine jug from the table and filled the two silver cups.

She sipped from one cup and offered it to the Demon Emperor, then picked up another cup from the table.

As the Demon Emperor watched her drink, he was captivated by her alluring beauty.

He eagerly snatched the silver cup from Lin Qianshuang’s hand and drained it in a single gulp. Then, he swept her into his arms and carried her toward the bed.

The Demon Emperor failed to notice that the woman before him had subtly transformed. While her innocent facade remained, she now exuded an aura of captivating allure, like a venomous seductress lurking in the shadows, weaving layers of silken webs to ensnare her prey.

As the candles flickered and died, the room plunged into darkness. Moonlight streamed onto the floor, casting faint shadows, and the air filled with ethereal Sanskrit chants. Yet, the irrational man remained oblivious to the strange and ominous signs that surrounded him.

Illusions danced in the Demon Emperor’s pupils, like layers of cocoons enveloping and entrapping him, unable to break free from the demonic illusions. His senses were completely controlled by demonic techniques.

Lin Qianshuang stood in front of the bed, her clothes intact, watching the Demon Emperor twisting and panting on the bed like a fat fish tumbling in a frying pan. She smiled at Bai Wan, who had turned into a human, and said, “Bai Wan, your elixir is pretty good. It seems that His Majesty the Demon Emperor enjoys it very much.”

Bai Wan pinched Lin Qianshuang’s ears and said coquettishly, “Are you a fool? Now you have a clear view of the kind of obscene thoughts this disgusting guy is having about you in the illusion. You should be disgusted, yet you are still in the mood to joke with me.”

A familiar demonic aura was quietly approaching.

Lin Qianshuang’s smile faltered slightly, and she said anxiously to Bai Wan, “I sense Master’s demonic aura. She seems to be approaching the palace soon, but the Demon Emperor is in this state. What can we do?”

“Han Shengyao? What brings her here? Didn’t she say she didn’t care if you lived or died?”

Bai Wan’s tone sharpened, tinged with displeasure.

Lin Qianshuang paced anxiously, saying, “The Demon Emperor is lying in bed, while I’m standing beside him. If she sees this, it will not end well.”

“What are you afraid of? Remember, I’m a three-tailed white fox who has cultivated for seven hundred years. Transforming into someone else’s appearance and beguiling others is my forte.”

Bai Wan spoke, transforming instantly. The Demon Emperor stood there vividly, as if an illusion.

Lin Qianshuang turned beside the Demon Emperor whom Bai Wan had transformed into. Her eyes lit up as she said, “Sister Bai Wan, you’re truly amazing. I can’t tell the difference.”

Bai Wan listened to Lin Qianshuang’s praise, covering her mouth with a hint of joy, and said, “Xiao Shuang, you can rest assured. My illusionary form may not be as powerful as those in the Tribulation Transcendence Stage, but it is enough to fool your proud master. She definitely won’t see through it.”

Lin Qianshuang and Bai Wan stripped off the Demon Emperor’s clothes and threw them on the ground. Together, they lifted the Demon Emperor’s body into a wooden cabinet and placed him inside temporarily.

Sensing Han Shengyao’s demonic aura getting closer, Lin Qianshuang lay under Bai Wan with half of her clothes off. Suddenly, she remembered something and said to the person above, “The Demon Emperor loves his beloved concubine and enjoys abusing her. Later, remember to use a whip symbolically to make a few sounds. The heavier, the better. It’s best to swing a few whips on me as a gesture.”

Lin Qianshuang’s eyes sank slightly, intending to tightly grasp Han Shengyao’s heart, instead of repeatedly letting her escape in hesitation.

Bai Wan untied Lin Qianshuang’s outer garment and threw it on the ground, pulling off her belt. With a gentle tug of her fingers, her delicate collarbone and white, tender shoulders were revealed from the cracked gauze, her graceful figure pleasing to the eyes of both genders.

She playfully wrapped Lin Qianshuang’s long hair around her fingertips, her mischievous smile reaching her ear as she whispered, “You want to go all out, so thrilling, and also indulge in such tricks?”

Lin Qianshuang’s face flushed red, and she bashfully lowered her head, saying, “We need to make our ruse a bit more convincing. Master is still being deceived by that despicable man. Bai Wan, I’m asking you to play along with me. Afterward, I’ll treat you to a good restaurant in Tianshu City. The braised chicken there is especially delicious.”

“You little glutton, you’re still thinking about food now.”

A hint of a smile in her eyes, Bai Wan pressed against Lin Qianshuang’s body, cupped her face, and gently scraped her nose, chuckling softly. “Are you a fool? I’m not the one that’s been wronged, it’s you. Just don’t cry when the time comes.”

Lin Qianshuang looked up at Bai Wan with resolute eyes and said, “Don’t treat me like a child. Don’t you understand why I’m doing these things?”

Bai Wan’s gaze deepened and froze. She leaned down, her eyes flickering as she kissed the tear stain at the corner of Lin Qianshuang’s eye. She looked at her tenderly, her voice transforming into the rich and cold tone unique to the Demon Emperor. “Little fool, if you hide so much now, you’ll only suffer more. Even if you don’t know it now, in the future, I will still reveal all your secrets. You are the disciple of the Holy Maiden, but you are also my woman. Remember that for me.”

As Lin Qianshuang pondered Bai Wan’s newfound acting abilities, a knock echoed against the door, accompanied by the sound of maids attempting to restrain someone.

“Master, she’s here!”

Han Shengyao’s lithe form burst into the Tianyi Hall, her demonic energy effortlessly repelling the maids who barred her path. With determined strides, she approached the tightly shut inner chamber door.

Inside, disheveled garments lay scattered, while flickering candlelight cast an intimate glow. As a gentle breeze wafted through the room, the figures of two entwined bodies reflected on the gauze curtain, their silhouettes elongating on the wall.

The wind carried the scent of pear blossoms from the tree outside the round window, creating a dreamy atmosphere as petals danced upon the flowing curtains. Muffled murmurs echoed intermittently within the bedroom.

Lin Qianshuang composed herself and wailed, “Master… Where are you? Why have you not come to me?”

She deliberately omitted the word “I,” causing her sobs to abruptly cease. With a cold expression, she inhaled sharply, seemingly in excruciating pain. In reality, she had merely twisted her foot.

Bai Wan, observing Lin Qianshuang’s discomfort from above, assisted her in untangling her cramped foot. To avoid detection from those outside the curtain, she exaggerated her movements, causing the bed to emit an odd creaking sound.

Lin Qianshuang feigned desperation, pounding the broad chest of the figure above her, but refrained from making contact with their skin. Her tear-streaked face rivaled the most skilled actresses in any television drama.

“Still yearning for your master? Consider who now possesses your body.”

The Demon Emperor’s voice was icy and ruthless, accompanied by the sharp crack of a whip from within the veil. A woman’s cry pierced the air, pleading for mercy.

“Who will rescue me? Release me! The pain is unbearable. My heart aches. Why is it so excruciating? Why?”

“Remember who brought you this pain, Shuang’er. You’re so beautiful today… You’ve surprised me greatly.”

Lin Qianshuang looked up at Bai Wan’s face, her vision blurred by tears. She couldn’t see her expression clearly.

Bai Wan’s hand deliberately tickled Lin Qianshuang’s ticklish spot, making her want to laugh and cry at the same time.

Bai Wan’s furry fox tail wrapped around Lin Qianshuang’s waist, tossing her up and down. She looked at her with a sly and playful expression.

The fluffy fox tail seemed to move towards Lin Qianshuang’s feet, itching and moving as if it had been padded with a layer of soft velvet.

To those outside the curtain, the movements of the shadow seemed as if it was literally dismantling Lin Qianshuang and devouring her. Lin Qianshuang was so tickled that tears flowed out of her eyes uncontrollably. Her voice gradually became strange and out of tune, and her body went limp as if she were being ravished. Her current state was very wrong, but it was also consistent with the feeling of intimacy and love that followed being forced to be intimate.

With a deafening rip…

The curtain was torn open by a surge of demonic energy.

Han Shengyao stood there quietly in her crimson robes. Lin Qianshuang turned her head to look at her, her heart pounding with surprise.

The expression on her master’s face was one she had never seen before.

Her face was filled with complex and tangled emotions such as remorse, regret, and sadness, and the uncontrollable love contained in her purple eyes seemed to engulf her whole being and drown her in it.

“Shuang’er, Master is late.”

Han Shengyao’s hand trembled as she caressed Lin Qianshuang’s tearful face. Sternly, she rebuked Bai Wan, who was feigning to be the Demon Emperor above, “Get off her!”

Bai Wan winked slyly at Lin Qianshuang, patted her waist with the fox tail, and in an instant changed into a majestic and gloomy look as she looked at Han Shengyao. Her tone was slightly heavy as she said, “Saint, you broke into my beloved concubine’s sleeping room late at night and disturbed the pleasure of my beloved concubine and myself. Are you aware that this is a serious crime?”

Lin Qianshuang cooperated by shedding two more tears. Her hand tightly clutched Han Shengyao’s sleeve, and biting her lips, she shook her head weakly.

The fear and concern in her eyes caused Han Shengyao’s heart to ache anew.

Han Shengyao looked directly at Bai Wan and said icily, “Your Majesty, I am the saint of the demon realm. Even if it is you, since I have the power to elevate you, I also have the authority to strip you of your position as Demon Emperor. Release my beloved disciple at once.”

Bai Wan snorted coldly and pulled Lin Qianshuang from beneath her, casting her at Han Shengyao’s feet like a broken doll. She said mockingly, “Saint, with your meager cultivation, you dare to threaten to depose me as Demon Emperor? If I wished it, I could accuse you of harboring malicious intent and execute you on the spot.”

After speaking, Bai Wan glared at Han Shengyao with growing displeasure. She took flight, seized the Demon Emperor’s personal weapon, and struck Han Shengyao forcefully with the Cosmos Orb².

Han Shengyao lifted Lin Qianshuang from the ground, shielding her with her body, and forcefully took the Cosmos Orb’s crushing blow on her back. Blood trickled from her lips, but she swallowed the blood that surged up her throat without spitting it out.

“Master, you’re bleeding.”

Lin Qianshuang’s eyes trembled, tears streaming down her face.

Han Shengyao clasped her disciple’s cold, small hand, holding it in her palm, and smiled faintly. “I’m fine, Shuang’er, don’t worry.”

“You may leave. You’ve ruined my amusement tonight.”

Bai Wan approached Han Shengyao, her gaze provocative despite her disguise as the Demon Emperor. “Holy Maiden, remember this. Your disciple is the Left Protector, my woman, and you have no right to interfere in my affairs with her. This is the first time I’ve spared you, considering your devotion to your disciple and your accidental intrusion into Shuang’er’s bedchamber. If you repeat this offense, I will imprison you, even as the Holy Maiden of the Demon Realm, to prevent you from obstructing me again.”

Han Shengyao remained silent, her embrace of Lin Qianshuang tightening. When she looked at Bai Wan disguised as the Demon Emperor again, it was as if she were looking at a stranger. She pushed open the door and, with Lin Qianshuang in her arms, disappeared into the night.

After the two left, Bai Wan gradually regained her original appearance, and her eyes glared fiercely at the back of Han Shengyao.

Bai Wan did not forget that the Demon Emperor was still sleeping soundly in the cabinet. She quickly moved the Demon Emperor’s body out of the cabinet and placed it back on the bed to handle the next steps.

In the hot spring pool of Jiuyang Peak, Lin Qianshuang closed her eyes and pressed her body against the pool wall in the misty hot spring. Occasionally, her eyebrows and head twisted in pain, and the long and deep whip marks on her back, which were deeply ingrained in her skin, were hot and spicy. Coupled with the cold medicine that Han Shengyao applied to her wound, it was like a combination of ice and fire, especially agonizing.

Speaking of whip marks, Lin Qianshuang recalled the fifty lashes the Demon Emperor gave her when he was interrogating Bai Wan in the Demon Palace.

She couldn’t help but complain about Bai Wan in her heart. In this way, Bai Wan had beaten her twice. When she got the chance, she had to get back at her.

Han Shengyao’s slender hands were so gentle as she applied medicine to her disciple’s wound. Her fingertips lightly touched the wound on her back, and her beautiful eyebrows furrowed in distress. A strange emotion spread through her heart, making her feel pained and confused at the same time. An inexplicable desire arose within her, making her subconsciously crave more than just a brief touch.

Her actions were gentle and considerate, as if the pain her apprentice endured could be slowly alleviated through their close contact and interaction.

Before this, there had been moments when she had applied medicine to her apprentice, but never had it felt so awkward and shy as it did now.

“Shuang’er, have you cleansed the remaining filth from your body?”

Lin Qianshuang closed her eyes and endured the torment of the medicine’s application. She listened to Han Shengyao’s voice, which was uncharacteristically gentle, as if she feared something.

Han Shengyao’s hands seemed to want to check her injuries, slowly moving down her body. A faint blush crept up her cheeks, starting from her neck.

She abruptly swatted Han Shengyao’s hands away and shifted her body aside as if startled. With an awkward expression, she uttered, “Master, I’ve already tended to it and no longer require your assistance.”

Han Shengyao observed Lin Qianshuang’s subconscious distancing, and a flicker of hurt crossed her violet eyes.

Lin Qianshuang, noticing the desolate look on Han Shengyao’s face, hastily said, “Master, that’s not what I meant. I handled it well, I’m not implying any fault on your part.”

Han Shengyao’s violet eyes were unfathomable as she gazed upon Lin Qianshuang. She drifted to her side and tightly embraced Lin Qianshuang from behind, as if seeking reassurance of her presence through their shared body heat.

She recognized that this embrace transcended the customary bond between master and apprentice. Her emotions for her were like the companionship of the sun and moon, lucid, profound, and radiant.

Instinctively, she clung to everything while dreading the possibility of loss.

“Master?”

Lin Qianshuang was taken aback, unsure of Han Shengyao’s intentions. She glanced sideways at her, and in an instant, her lips were met with a gentle kiss.

Han Shengyao closed her mesmerizing eyes, her kiss landing on the surface of Lin Qianshuang’s lips with the delicacy of a dragonfly touching water. After receiving tacit permission, she kissed her cautiously, as if afraid that the person before her would vanish from her side. This kiss was no longer merely predatory and disrespectful, but carried a profound and unwavering love, lingering and tender.

Lin Qianshuang passively accepted this fiery embrace, and after a moment, she gently lowered her eyelids and returned the kiss.

Their hands intertwined unconsciously.

As Han Shengyao kissed her, the system’s favorability interface abruptly appeared before her eyes.

Han Shengyao’s avatar frame was fully illuminated, and the horizontal bar below indicated her favorability had far surpassed that of a close friend, reaching a staggering 90%.

[Host, your strategy favorability towards the target strategy character Demon Palace Saint Han Shengyao has been achieved. Please quickly complete the strategy task of assisting her to become the Demon Emperor within two years. Otherwise, if you cannot keep up with the progress of the plot, you may face terrifying plot penalties.]

Lin Qianshuang listened to the system’s prompts, her gaze fixed on Han Shengyao’s face, awaiting her to open her eyes.

“Master, Shuang’er likes you. If you kissed Shuang’er, does it mean that you also like Shuang’er?”

Han Shengyao opened her eyes, and Lin Qianshuang gazed at her with a mixture of confusion and joy. Her serene light blue water eyes radiated a warmth as gentle as the morning sun, as if it could melt her heart away.

“Shuang’er, I now realize that my feelings for you have long transcended mere fondness.”

Han Shengyao gently cupped Lin Qianshuang’s face and kissed her mesmerizing ice-blue eyes, her heart pounding with each beat of her voice.

Her usually elegant and aloof countenance now flushed with an ardent crimson. “I love you, and I desire to have you by my side for the remainder of our days. Shuang’er, would you become my dual cultivation companion?”

Lin Qianshuang reveled in Han Shengyao’s heartfelt words of love, yet amidst her euphoria, a trace of sorrow lingered in her gaze. She leaned her head against Han Shengyao’s shoulder and uttered with a tinge of lament,

“However, Master, I am the Demon Emperor’s left protector, and it is highly probable that I shall one day ascend to the throne of Demon Empress. Were I to become your dual cultivation companion, the Demon Emperor would never acquiesce.”

Han Shengyao firmly grasped Lin Qianshuang’s shoulders, urging her to meet her gaze. With unwavering sincerity, she uttered each word with determination, “A year, Shuang’er, grant me a year. Within this year, I shall devise a plan to prevent the Demon Emperor from interfering. After a year, I shall rectify the Demon Realm and take you home.”

Upon hearing the word “home,” Lin Qianshuang’s eyes glistened with tears. She embraced Han Shengyao, her head nestled against her shoulder. A faint smile graced her lips, adorning her cheeks with shallow dimples.

“Master, I shall await your return.”

“No matter how long it takes, I will always be here, waiting for your return.”