Ruan Qianmei's Provocation

“How dare you, Bai Wan! If you harm her, I will never let you go as long as I live!”

Tears streamed down Han Shengyao’s face as she watched Bai Wan carrying Lin Qianshuang vanish from sight, her voice swallowed by the swirling vortex.

When she regained her senses, an impenetrable barrier separated her from the Demon Realm.

In a flash, Han Shengyao was transported to the frozen lake of the Jiuyou Secret Realm. The frigid wind howled and whipped up the swirling snow, battering her slender frame.

A chill settled upon Han Shengyao’s brow and temples, strands of hair escaping her forehead. Her bloodshot eyes radiated an icy fury.

Jagged black rocks and sharp stones littered the desolate landscape, upon which crawled grotesque creatures of all sizes, their drooling jaws emitting eerie laughter that echoed across the barren wasteland.

Amidst the howling snow, a pack of formidable monsters charged towards Han Shengyao, their sharp fangs bared.

The piercing cacophony of flesh tearing and blood splattering reverberated through the air as the monstrous forms fell one by one. Demonic energy surged forth, enveloping the sky in a crimson veil, suffocating and rending all life beneath its crimson embrace.

The pristine snow was stained crimson, and the frost-laden earth transformed into a ghastly river of blood.

Amidst the carnage, the alluring figure of a woman clad in scarlet emerged from the blood mist, her body drenched in crimson. She resembled a bloodthirsty Shura, newly risen from the depths of hell to wreak havoc.

“Shuang’er, when I emerge from the Jiuyou Secret Realm, I shall raze the Ninefold Demon Palace to the ground and liberate you.”

Han Shengyao cast a lingering glance towards the impenetrable barrier of the Demon Realm, her eyes filled with an unyielding love. With bloodstained hands, she retrieved the bone flute, a relic of great power, and whispered an incantation. Her form dissolved into a swirling vortex of demonic energy that plunged into the abyss of the Jiuyou Secret Realm, disappearing amidst the relentless snowfall.

Lin Qianshuang got up from the bed with a sore body and realized that she had returned to her bedchamber in the Tianyi Hall.

Bai Wan sat by her bedside. When she woke up, she poured a glass of water from the table and handed it to her. Lin Qianshuang took the water handed to her by Bai Wan and moistened her dry and hoarse throat. The blood that had seeped out of the skin on her body had been wiped clean, and she had also changed into a set of powder blue clothes.

“What happened to you? How did you fall unconscious within the courtyard of the Tianmu Cave? I was originally searching for the Demon Emperor, but I happened to bring you back.”

Bai Wan had an inquiring expression on her face, and she also looked at Lin Qianshang with a bit of disgust covering her mouth and nose and said, “The smell of blood on your body is really heavy. When I helped you wipe it off, my nose was smoked so much that I had to sneeze.”

Although she said this, her eyes couldn’t help but wander around Lin Qianshuang’s undulating body contours several times.

Lin Qianshuang was stunned for a moment, recalled the scene before she fell unconscious, raised her eyes and said, “Xiao Wan, is it the Demon Palace you took me back to? What about the Master? Where are they now?”

Bai Wan glanced at Lin Qianshuang with an inexplicable expression, and said, “Didn’t the Holy Maiden tell you before, she has now gone to the Jiuyou Secret Realm, and His Majesty the Demon Emperor was injured by the Holy Maiden, but fortunately, there is no major problem.”

Lin Qianshuang frowned, clearly recalling the Demon Emperor’s attack on her and Han Shengyao, after which she had been gravely injured and lost consciousness, so she was unaware of what had happened afterward.

How could Han Shengyao have left without a word? It was unlike her.

A strange feeling arose in Lin Qianshuang’s heart. Perhaps Han Shengyao had been afraid of the Demon Emperor’s interference and left first.

As for not bidding her farewell, it was probably because she feared that seeing her again would make it difficult to part ways.

Bai Wan watched as Lin Qianshuang sat lost in thought, her brows knitted and lips pursed. She couldn’t help but feel a twinge of displeasure at the forlorn and uncomfortable expression on the face of the woman before her. In her eyes, Han Shengyao was a woman unworthy of Lin Qianshuang’s favor.

Suddenly, she felt her cheeks being pulled to the sides.

Lin Qianshuang was taken aback and gazed at the lovely face that was so close to her.

Bai Wan playfully pinched Lin Qianshuang’s cheeks and lifted them up, smiling, “Xiao Shuangshuang, you should smile more. Frowning so tightly will only shorten your life span.”

Since their alliance, this white lotus seemed to have grown closer to her, and the atmosphere between them was more relaxed.

At times, Lin Qianshuang would almost feel as if they were long-time friends.

Taking advantage of Bai Wan’s loosened grip, Lin Qianshuang pinched her cheek back, a relaxed smile in her eyes as she remarked, “You should smile less, or your sly demeanor won’t match your image as a pure white lotus.”

Bai Wan didn’t quite grasp the meaning behind those words, but she sensed the mischievous intent in Lin Qianshuang’s gaze. Swiftly, she reached out to tickle Lin Qianshuang’s waist, causing her to curl up and burst into laughter.

Watching the natural smile on Lin Qianshuang’s face, Bai Wan raised the corner of her mouth in satisfaction. Her ink-like eyes held an enigmatic emotion as she said, “That’s right. You should smile more. It suits you better.”

“Alright, don’t you know that’s ticklish? That’s going too far, isn’t it?”

Lin Qianshuang glanced at the teasing smile on Bai Wan’s face, feeling slightly dissatisfied. Childishly, she retaliated by tickling Bai Wan’s waist. She watched as Bai Wan also broke into a smile, tears streaming down her face before she let go.

On the bed, the two women tickled each other’s waists, their laughter echoing through the room.

Until a notification came from the door.

“Left Protector, Blood Demon Sect’s Ruan Qianmei requests an audience.”

Bai Wan swiftly got off the bed and stood aside.

Lin Qianshuang also sat up, tidied her appearance, and said to the person outside the door, “Let her in.”

Ruan Qianmei stepped into the bedroom with Chun’s head, only to find a captivating scene unfolding within the chamber.

Bai Wan slapped Lin Qianshuang and said angrily, “Lin Qianshuang, you shameless hussy. The Demon Emperor was injured for you, yet you remain indifferent here. You must be very pleased now. The Demon Emperor is truly bewitched by you.”

Lin Qianshuang covered her face, a sneer appearing at the corner of her mouth. She gazed into Bai Wan’s eyes and said word by word, “Bai Wan, it’s because of your incompetence that you’re angry with me. It’s better to look in the mirror and see your current appearance. Will the Demon Emperor still spare you a glance?”

“You, you…”

Bai Wan pointed at the tip of Lin Qianshuang’s nose, seething with rage. Too exasperated to continue arguing, she turned to leave with a cold snort. “Don’t be so arrogant! Just wait!”

As she and Ruan Qianmei passed each other, Bai Wan’s expression flickered with concern. She glanced at Lin Qianshuang, and a tiny spider emerged from her sleeve and scurried into the room. She then hastily exited the Tianyi Hall.

Lin Qianshuang descended from the bed and sat at the table. She took a fruit and nibbled on it, then said to Ruan Qianmei with a hint of impatience, “I wonder what urgent matter brought Miss Ruan here? If it’s another trivial matter, please take your leave.”

“The Left Protector has recently taken office, and I, Qianmei, naturally came to offer a congratulatory gift.”

Ruan Qianmei placed Chun’s head on the table with a heavy thud, a coy smile playing on her lips. She looked at Lin Qianshuang and said, “They say that the Cauldron I’ve been using lately is the elder brother of Protector Zuo. I have been nourishing my body with his flesh and blood, and he has served me well. I thought, such a good thing should be shared with Protector Zuo.”

Lin Qianshuang’s face turned ashen as she gazed at Chun’s disfigured head. Her eyes narrowed, their depths unreadable as they locked onto Ruan Qianmei’s outstretched hand. Her hand beneath the table clenched almost imperceptibly.

In the palm of Ruan Qianmei’s open hand lay Chun’s magic core, emanating an aura of dark purple demonic energy.

This gesture was clearly another display of power, a warning that should Lin Qianshuang defy her, she would suffer the same fate as Chun.

Though Lin Qianshuang’s heart was hardened, it was not made of stone. Witnessing the cruel fate of someone she knew, and seeing their most prized possession callously discarded before her eyes, churned her stomach. The flames of rage within her threatened to consume her.

She tried to steady her slightly shaking hands to pour herself a cup of tea, while her eyes looked towards Ruan Qianmei with a smirk and said, “Miss Ruan’s kindness, I am not blessed to receive it. Please take it back.”

When Ruan Qianmei heard Lin Qianshuang’s reply, her radiant face darkened immediately. Ordering the slave girl in the room, she said, “Hold her down for me. No one has ever been able to refuse anything gifted by me. If she doesn’t want to eat it today, she must be made to eat it!”

Han Shengyao stayed away from the Demon Palace, bent on stripping the position of the Holy Maiden.

Long since stripped of her position in the Demon Palace, Lin Qianshuang’s sole protection was the favor of the current Demon Emperor.

Without a powerful patron, the slaves naturally held her in contempt.

Lin Qianshuang lowered her gaze, feigning fierce resistance against the group of slave girls who pinned her to the wooden table, rendering her immobile.

Ignoring Lin Qianshuang’s struggles, Ruan Qianmei pried open her mouth and shoved the blood-soaked magic cores into it.

As soon as Ruan Qianmei released her, Lin Qianshuang’s stomach revolted. She clutched the table and retched violently, cold sweat beading down her spine.

Ruan Qianmei took pleasure in Lin Qianshuang’s wretched vomiting, a gleeful smile adorning her face. “Protector Zuo, how does your senior brother taste? Is he particularly delectable and sweet?”

Lin Qianshuang’s gaze turned icy as she met Ruan Qianmei’s, a hint of mockery playing at the corner of her mouth. “Ruan Qianmei, you may leave now. I have received this gift and I will remember it.”

“Take your time digesting it, sister. With your meager cultivation, I can’t help but worry for you.”

Ruan Qianmei feigned concern as she consoled Lin Qianshuang, who clung weakly to the wall, before exiting the room.

As the door closed, Lin Qianshuang, covered in sweat, leaned against the wall. She slowly retrieved the magic core from under her tongue, her gaze enigmatic as she looked toward the door.

“Senior Brother Xia, I know you’re at the door. Enter.”

Xia entered the room swiftly and embraced Lin Qianshuang tightly, almost lifting her off her feet. He cradled her head on his shoulder and spoke with a heavy heart, “Junior Sister, I understand your pain. If you need to weep, do so…”

“I can’t cry. If Master were to find out about this, she would ridicule me for my weakness.”

Lin Qianshuang pushed Xia away, her eyes turning red as she spoke. “Senior Brother, I will avenge my senior brothers. Ruan Qianmei, I must eliminate her.”

Xia’s gaze fell upon the complex and ever-changing dark swirls in Lin Qianshuang’s pupils, and his heart suddenly sank, a pang of sorrow for his junior sister’s transformation.

“Senior Brother, could you please bury Brother Chun’s magic core in the ground? I recall that mortals have a custom of doing so. It’s safe to bury it in the soil. I don’t want Senior Brother to fall prey to low-level monsters after his death, sullying his purity.”

Lin Qianshuang placed the magic core in Xia’s hand and forced a smile. “Senior Brother, I’m alright. I’ll ask you to take care of the bloodstains in the room.”

With those words, Lin Qianshuang left the room and exited the Tianyi Hall.

As she walked through the Frostwood Forest, the soothing demonic energy she inhaled gradually cleared her mind.

Han Shengyao was still in the Jiuyou Secret Realm, and it was uncertain when she would return.

When she returned to the Demon Palace, she would inevitably engage in a fierce battle with the Demon Emperor, but this would not solidify her determination to seize his position.

If Han Shengyao truly loved her, she would only ask the Demon Emperor for her person, rather than seeking the position of Demon Emperor itself, as that restricted her freedom.

Lin Qianshuang gazed at the lush forest, her eyes glimmering slightly.

In fact, making Han Shengyao the Demon Emperor was quite simple. She could use Han Shengyao’s love for her to gradually push her into that position. Although this method was underhanded, it was the most practical.

If she were to become the Demon Emperor, she would be superior to ten thousand people.

If she were to fall in love with someone else and move on to another relationship…

What would Han Shengyao do?

“Left Protector, His Majesty the Demon Emperor summons you to his bedchamber.”

The voice of Right Protector Su Qing suddenly came from behind her.

Lin Qianshuang’s thoughts were interrupted. She turned around and saw Su Qing standing not far behind her.

Behind Su Qing, a sedan chair was placed a short distance away, with maids and servants waiting at the side, apparently waiting for her.