The Demon Emperor's Throne (2)

Lin Qianshuang entered the hall in a vibrant red dress, instantly captivating the crowd’s gaze.

“How brazen, donning the garb of the Holy Maiden,” one murmured.

“That’s Han Shengyao’s disciple. She resorted to trickery to become the Left Protector, and now she shamelessly wears the Holy Maiden’s attire to gain the Demon Emperor’s favor. Despicable.”

“It is said that she was the one who forced the Saint to leave, and after the Saint left, the Holy Lake in the Demon Realm dried up. Many demons poured out of the Demon Realm barrier and ran to the human world to cause trouble. It was truly a disaster.”

Amidst the whispered condemnations, Lin Qianshuang remained unmoved. With a serene expression, she took her seat and calmly reached for a piece of fruit.

Xia, who had been observing Bai Wan seated beside the Demon Emperor, stepped to Lin Qianshuang’s side.

Ruan Qianmei’s fleeting surprise at Lin Qianshuang’s entrance did not go unnoticed.

Biting into the thick peel of the fruit, Lin Qianshuang paused in puzzlement. She fumbled around for a moment before peeling the skin off, breaking off a piece of flesh, and tasting it. It was juicy and sweet, the flavor delectable.

A slight smile played on her lips. She was still alive, and Ruan Qianmei was indeed surprised.

Lin Qianshuang intentionally maintained an unfocused gaze, seemingly oblivious to Ruan Qianmei’s probing stare from the opposite table. She rested her chin in her hand, her eyes fixed on nothing in particular, convincingly portraying the demeanor of a blind person.

“Why is she still alive? Master Mingxia used the Demon Suppressing Bell gifted by Master Shangqing of the Penglai Immortal Sect. Its power should be more than sufficient to deal with a young demon with such shallow cultivation.”

In contrast to Ruan Qianmei’s indifference, the man in blue standing beside her expressed disbelief, saying, “Could this woman have a powerful backer?”

Ruan Qianmei nudged the man in blue with her elbow, chastising him with a voice transmission, “This is all your fault. I instructed you to find someone to repair the Cauldron pot, but you brought back a glutton who’s only interested in indulging in food and drink. You let him handle the task, and he botched it.”

The man in blue caressed the back of Ruan Qianmei’s hand and said, “Madam, don’t be hasty. Don’t let your anger harm the child within you. Though that human cultivator is greedy and cowardly, he is, after all, a descendant of a renowned cultivation family. Keeping him around may prove useful in the future.”

Ruan Qianmei stroked her pregnant belly and glanced at Bai Wan, who sat to the right of the Demon Emperor. She witnessed the Demon Emperor tenderly caressing Bai Wan’s head, who responded with a gentle and loving smile.

Her expression became slightly enigmatic, and her grip on the fruit tightened. She sneered inwardly, “Vile hussy, enjoy your triumph while you can, for your laughter will soon turn to sorrow.”

The Demon Emperor’s gaze fell upon Lin Qianshuang as she gracefully approached. Unlike Han Shengyao’s sharp and piercing beauty, Lin Qianshuang exuded a radiant and alluring aura. The vibrant red of her attire accentuated her fair skin, making her appear even more stunning and captivating. She tucked a stray hair behind her ear and delicately lifted the hem of her skirt to find a suitable seat. As she sat there, she resembled a solitary red lotus blooming in the serene Guanghan Qiong Pond, her ethereal beauty tempered by a subtle reserve that made her stand out among the crowd.

“Ah Heng, why do you bother with her? She’s just a woman who parades herself as a saint. Can she compare to my beauty?”

Bai Wan noticed the Demon Emperor’s blatant gaze directed towards Lin Qianshuang at the foot of the steps and squeezed the Demon Emperor’s hand hard.

Ignoring Bai Wan’s childish antics, the Demon Emperor turned his amused gaze towards Lin Qianshuang. “Left Protector, your attire today is quite distinctive. Do you perhaps have a grand gift to bestow upon me?”

Noticing Xia holding the qin beside Lin Qianshuang, he continued, “I’ve heard that you are skilled in playing the ‘Flowing Fragrance Melody.’ Would you honor me by performing it?”

Taken aback, Lin Qianshuang recalled the note Bai Wan had slipped her. Rising from her seat with Xia’s assistance, she approached the Demon Emperor and knelt before him. “Your Majesty, the Demon Emperor, I have recently been afflicted with an eye ailment and fear I am unable to play for you. However, I am still capable of performing a dance for your entertainment.”

The Demon Emperor’s eyes glinted with interest. He had never witnessed Lin Qianshuang’s dance before. Could it be that she had donned the Holy Maiden’s attire to perform a dance as an apology for her master’s actions?

With this thought in mind, the Demon Emperor’s mood lifted. “I grant your request,” he declared.

Lin Qianshuang’s gaze shifted towards Bai Wan, who stood beside the Demon Emperor. “I have a request,” she uttered. “I’ve heard that Sister Bai’s dance is exquisite and unparalleled in the world. May I request that Sister Bai join me in a dance?”

The Demon Emperor, with his arm around Bai Wan’s waist, eyed her protruding belly with concern. “My beloved concubine is with child. While the demon fetus is secure, it does exert pressure on her body. Such an exertion would be unwise.”

“Left Protector invites me, how can I refuse?”

Bai Wan looked provocatively at Lin Qianshuang, then touched the Demon Emperor’s face coquettishly, and said, “Ah Heng, today is your birthday. How can I be upstaged by this lowly woman?”

The Demon Emperor was very receptive to Bai Wan’s words, and he also looked forward to what an interesting scene it would be if these powerful people were to dance together for him.

He scraped the tip of Bai Wan’s nose and said, “Xiao Wan, I agree, but you must pay attention to your body.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Bai Wan bowed and descended the steps, looking down at Lin Qianshuang. With a fiery glint in her eyes, she taunted, “Didn’t we agree to compete? Why are you still kneeling? Are you afraid?”

A burst of mocking laughter erupted from the audience, eliciting a frown of displeasure from Bai Wan. Such insolence towards the people she treasured left her seething with anger. She resolved to make them pay dearly for their disrespect.

Despite feeling a lingering weakness in her body and instability in her lower abdomen, Lin Qianshuang quickly regained her composure and faced Bai Wan defiantly. “Miss Bai, I have no interest in vulgar and ordinary dances. Why don’t we compare our skills in sword dancing?”

As she spoke, she summoned her demonic energy and condensed it into two swords. With a swift motion, she plunged one of the swords deep into the ground beneath Bai Wan’s feet, her murderous intent evident in the eyes of the onlookers.

“Let us compare our abilities. I am not one to shy away from a challenge.”

Bai Wan retrieved the sword and ran her fingers gently over its surface, inhaling its scent. A slight lick of her lips revealed a hint of amusement. This sword, imbued with Qianshuang’s demonic energy, carried a faint trace of her fragrance. It was a tantalizing aroma.

Lin Qianshuang cast a brief glance at Ruan Qianmei, who sat composedly on the sidelines, before she gracefully wielded her sword in one swift motion, its movement as fluid as water. With a flick of her water sleeve, the sky was adorned with crimson gauze, while a sword aura drew upon the peach blossoms outside the window, condensing them into the blade of her sword. With a gentle stroke, they transformed into a shower of flowers, flowing harmoniously with the ever-changing shadows of her swordplay within the hall.

Bai Wan danced gracefully amidst the flower petals, her waist as soft and supple as a willow as she wielded her sword. As their paths crossed, she noticed the paleness of Lin Qianshuang’s lips and neck, glistening with beads of sweat, and her gaze grew heavy.

All of a sudden, a flurry of couplets descended from the ceiling, their congratulatory messages capturing everyone’s attention. Seizing the moment, Bai Wan swiftly grasped Lin Qianshuang’s arm and pulled up her sleeve. The purple toxin from her wrist had spread from the two bite marks on her arm. “Qianshuang,” Bai Wan exclaimed in alarm, “you’ve been poisoned?”

Lin Qianshuang’s eyes darkened as she retorted, “I was about to ask you about this. You must be familiar with the formation in my room, so you must also know who released the poisonous snakes.”

Bai Wan noticed blood seeping from the corners of Lin Qianshuang’s mouth and felt deeply distressed. “I had someone destroy the formation in your room early this morning. How could this have happened?” she asked.

“Trust me, I will investigate this matter thoroughly.”

A soft touch lingered on Lin Qianshuang’s forehead for a few seconds, bringing a surge of warmth. Her eyes widened in surprise as Bai Wan’s lips pressed gently against her forehead, as if afraid of startling her. They quickly parted.

Bai Wan’s lips parted slightly, and she spat out a spirit pill. With a light breath, she offered it to Lin Qianshuang. The hand holding Lin Qianshuang’s arm released a trace of demonic energy that halted the spread of the toxin.

Swallow this pill first, and I will detoxify you later.

As Bai Wan gently guided the spirit pill into Lin Qianshuang’s mouth, a faint kiss brushed against her lips. The warm touch lingered, and with another gentle breath, Bai Wan transferred the remaining spiritual energy, helping Lin Qianshuang swallow the pill completely.

A breath flowed between the lips of the two, its meaning ambiguous.

Lin Qianshuang shifted her gaze slightly in discomfort. Bai Wan’s body leaned forward slightly, gently approaching the corner of her lips, and slowly transferring spiritual energy. As the elixir entered her mouth, a faint kiss landed on her lips. When the warm lips touched, another breath of spiritual energy came, helping her completely swallow the entire pill down her throat.

Bai Wan shielded the two of them with her paper fan, and the fluttering falling flowers dazzled everyone’s sight.

On the fan’s surface, the four large splashed-ink characters in the couplet seemed to complement each other, and the falling petals formed a heavy heart shape. They fell beside the Demon Emperor, forming a long brocade carpet made of flowers that stretched down from the steps.

Admiring the words on the couplet, the Demon Emperor praised, “‘A Thousand Autumns and Ten Thousand Generations,’¹ Xiaowan, you are thoughtful.”

Overjoyed, the Demon Emperor bestowed upon them several rare immortal fruits from the Immortal Mountain as a reward. These fruits possessed the power to resurrect mortals, and when consumed by a demon cultivator on the brink of death, they could stabilize their soul and sustain their life, making them invaluable lifesavers.

Lin Qianshuang and Bai Wan knelt side by side, expressing their gratitude to the Demon Emperor for his generous gift. Lin Qianshuang felt a blush creeping across her cheeks, mingled with a sense of unease. After administering the pill, Bai Wan had slowly parted her lips from hers. Though it was a perfectly natural way to feed her, Lin Qianshuang couldn’t shake the feeling of being teased.

After pulling away, Bai Wan even shot her a mischievous glance and whispered conspiratorially, “I have no interest in women. Why is your face so flushed? You haven’t fallen for me, have you?”

Lin Qianshuang nearly choked on her own words. She couldn’t help but argue that her blushing was entirely involuntary. After all, who wouldn’t feel a tingling sensation when someone’s breath brushed against their face and their lips faintly touched?

Furthermore, the exchange of breath between them… seemed a little excessive for mere friends.

Lin Qianshuang’s gaze fell upon Bai Wan, who was now wearing a knowing smirk. She glared at her in exasperation.

Bai Wan raised an eyebrow and glanced at Ruan Qianmei before giving Lin Qianshuang a knowing look.

Lin Qianshuang returned to her seat and undid the protective spiritual point on her chest. Immediately, a mouthful of blood surged into her throat. She calmly scanned her surroundings, coughed a few times, and spat the blood into her handkerchief. Her grip on the fragment of the Demon Suppressing Bell tightened.

A good show was about to begin.

Bai Wan clutched her abdomen and ascended the steps, taking her original position. A maid soon approached with a bowl of soup.

“This bowl of magic qi nourishing soup is a gift from Miss Ruan,” the maid informed Bai Wan. “She drinks it regularly. Miss, you should try it.”