The Demon Emperor's Throne (7)
“Don’t joke around, I’m not pleased about any of this.”
Lin Qianshuang stored the sword technique manual within her jade slip, paused in her tracks, and offered Du Shuang a smile. “Du Shuang, I’m truly grateful for your help in establishing this identity for me at Yixiang Tower. Once I leave the Demon Realm, I’ll treat you to a proper meal.”
Du Shuang noticed Lin Qianshuang’s pale and haggard face, a clear sign that she hadn’t yet taken her inner core today.
After so many days of interaction and guidance, Du Shuang discovered that Lin Qianshuang was different from other demon cultivators who formed demon babies.
Her realm is unstable, and the demonic energy condensed by the demon baby often flows away like sand in a leaky hourglass. If she does not practice diligently, she will be in danger of falling.
Lin Qianshuang put up a sign in Yixiang Tower and took on those assassination jobs in order to extract pills and absorb cultivation to make up for her shallow demonic roots.
Du Shuang also thought of Liang Jingxuan, who came to Yixiang Tower a few days ago to ask her about the news of the Demon Realm. Since the first time he came to inquire about Lin Qianshuang’s identity with a jade slip, he has been coming to inquire about her every few days.
Through subtle inquiries with Fairy Jinghua, Du Shuang had gleaned a rough understanding of Lin Qianshuang’s time at Penglai Immortal Sect and her supposed demise after the calamity. However, the reason behind her current state as a being neither human nor demon, along with her seemingly fragmented memories, remained a mystery.
As Lin Qianshuang reached for the door handle, Du Shuang spoke up, “You’ve been in the Demon Realm for so long, have you ever considered returning to Penglai Immortal Sect? It seems Fairy Jinghua has caught wind of your situation. She was your mentor when you were still a human cultivator, and you were her personal disciple. Now that you’re facing such hardship, she wouldn’t simply stand by. Perhaps she could help you find a solution.”
“The relationship between demonic and human cultivators is like fire and water. It’s impossible for me to visit her directly in this state. Once my cultivation stabilizes and I can fully conceal my demonic energy, I will return to Penglai Immortal Sect to pay respects to my mentor.”
Calculating the time, Lin Qianshuang realized Han Shengyao’s emergence from the Jiuyou Secret Realm was imminent. Turning to Du Shuang, she said, “Du Shuang, Master and I are ultimately on different paths. If one day I leave the Demon Realm and return to Penglai Immortal Sect, please inform Master that our connection was an unexpected twist of fate, destined for a beginning but not an end. Please ask her to seek happiness elsewhere.”
“And as for my involvement with Yixiang Tower, I ask that you keep it confidential.”
With that, the door opened and closed firmly behind Lin Qianshuang.
Watching her figure vanish through the crack, Du Shuang felt a pang of sympathy for Han Shengyao.
If only Lin Qianshuang weren’t Jinghua’s disciple, Du Shuang could have intervened to help. But given her unique circumstances, it was simply beyond her reach.
It was the witching hour, the Tianyi Hall cloaked in darkness and silence. A streak of demonic energy descended from the sky, landing before the hall.
Lin Qianshuang pushed open the door to her bedchamber, crossing the threshold. As she reached for a candle, she found it already lit, illuminating the room.
“Shuangshuang, you’re back late,” Xuan Luowan’s voice drifted over as she sat at the table, her eyes fixed on the newcomer.
“The mission was unsuccessful,” Lin Qianshuang replied, shedding her outer robe and draping it over a screen. “Not only did I fail to eliminate the target, but it also took longer than anticipated.”
Xuan Luowan rose and moved behind Lin Qianshuang, gently helping her out of the rest of her clothes. The sight of her bare back revealed the harsh reality of her life – a tapestry of scars, both fresh and old, crisscrossed her skin. A particularly deep gash ran from shoulder to collarbone, a gruesome reminder of the dangers she faced.
Wounds inflicted by true energy were notoriously difficult to heal, requiring meticulous application of demonic energy to mend the damaged flesh bit by bit. A flicker of helplessness crossed Xuan Luowan’s eyes as she dipped her fingers into a jar of medicinal balm and carefully applied it to the gash.
Once finished, she embraced Lin Qianshuang tightly from behind, her voice laced with concern. “Shuangshuang, if you need inner cores, I can help you. Please don’t put yourself in such danger anymore.”
“I value my life greatly. When taking on assassination missions, I always investigate the true circumstances of those involved, so usually nothing goes wrong. However, this time, I nearly got caught due to some leaked information.”
Lin Qianshuang explained briefly, a smile playing on her lips. She turned around, embracing Xuan Luowan and expressing her gratitude, “Xiaowan, thank you so much. It’s all thanks to you every time, or else I’d have to tend to my wounds alone, which is quite troublesome.”
“If you keep thanking me, won’t you take some concrete action?”
Xuan Luowan gave Lin Qianshuang a playful look, then planted a casual kiss on her cheek, saying, “Consider this as interest. You’ll have to repay me everything you owe when the time comes.”
“Alright, I understand. I’ll repay you then.”
Lin Qianshuang took Xuan Luowan’s jest lightly, noticing the neatly folded sets of bridal attire on the table, meant for the Demon Empress. She observed the quality of the fabric with admiration.
“Are these what we’ll wear tomorrow? The material seems quite good.”
As Xuan Luowan held Lin Qianshuang’s hand firmly at her waist, their eyes met, and she offered reassurance, “I’ve made all the arrangements for the coronation ceremony. Just follow the protocol, and everything will proceed smoothly.”
Lin Qianshuang could only manage a slight reply as a sharp pain ripped through her body, every bone aching intensely. Within moments, her flesh melted away, leaving behind a chilling skeletal form.
Xuan Luowan’s grip remained unwavering on Lin Qianshuang’s bony hand as she scooped her up in a princess carry. After storing the garments from the table into a jade slip, she swiftly flew out of the Demon Palace, heading towards the Demon Lotus Pond.
As Lin Qianshuang endured the agonizing transformation, a question that had long lingered in her mind surfaced. She spoke softly to Xuan Luowan, “Xiaowan, I’ve always wanted to ask… this form of mine is quite terrifying, yet you weren’t surprised at all when you first saw it.”
“Why would I be surprised?” Xuan Luowan replied, her voice filled with warmth, “As long as it’s you, I cherish you no matter what form you take.”
This love sentence deserves a 99 out of 100—I’m withholding one point to keep you from getting an ego. Are all fox demons such smooth talkers?
That said, it’s not a big deal if friends talk flirty once in a while.
Lin Qianshuang lifted her head, meeting Xuan Luowan’s gaze. She couldn’t help but wonder if it was just her imagination, but his eyes seemed much deeper in color than usual. They held a profound intensity, as if burdened by heavy thoughts.
A sudden tickle grazed the hollow end of her tailbone, and a furry tail slid down the length of her exposed spine, teasingly brushing against the bare marrow.
Lin Qianshuang flinched, nearly tumbling from Xuan Luowan’s hold. Gripping her neck, she shot her a glare. “Don’t scare me like that! That’s not funny.”
Xuan Luowan leaned in close, her voice husky. “I just wanted you to know, even like this, I still find you desirable.”
With a gentle splash, Xuan Luowan lowered Lin Qianshuang into the water. Demonic energy enveloped her from all sides, flesh gradually returning to her bones.
She had neither the time nor the inclination to ponder the meaning behind Xuan Luowan’s words.
All that mattered was that after today, she would finally be free from the agonizing cycle of flesh decaying into bone.
Lin Qianshuang closed her eyes, bracing herself against the pain of rebirth.
A spark of warmth ignited within the cold, hollow structure of her skull, specifically where her lips used to be. Lin Qianshuang’s newly formed left eye fluttered open to see Xuan Luowan, eyes closed, gently kissing the surface of her bone, her hand cupping Lin Qianshuang’s jaw. As flesh gradually returned, Xuan Luowan’s tongue traced the contours of her regenerating skin, leaving a trail of soft, pink marks with each feather-light suckle.
“You… what are you doing?” Lin Qianshuang stammered, bewildered by Xuan Luowan’s actions in the midst of her skeletal state.
“Feeling better now? The pain’s gone, right?” Xuan Luowan opened her eyes, concern etched on her face as she gazed at Lin Qianshuang. A gentle kiss landed on her newly formed lips before Xuan Luowan pulled away, her hand resting comfortingly on Lin Qianshuang’s smooth shoulder.
Realization dawned on Lin Qianshuang – the kiss was a distraction, and it had worked. The pain of her regenerating body had completely vanished.
“Much better, I’ve fully recovered.”
Lin Qianshuang offered Xuan Luowan a grateful look, but a flicker of something unusual in her eyes caught her attention. Her gaze, intense and fiery, swept over Lin Qianshuang’s body several times.
Xuan Luowan, her damp undershirt clinging to her curves, placed her hands on Lin Qianshuang’s shoulders. Her fox tail playfully wrapped around Lin Qianshuang, brushing against her skin.
Lin Qianshuang, aware of her own nakedness in the water, wasn’t particularly bothered. Sharing a bath with another woman wasn’t unusual, but the intensity and frequency of Xuan Luowan’s gaze made her feel slightly self-conscious.
“I wouldn’t have guessed… you have quite the figure. You would look stunning in a wedding dress.”
Xuan Luowan’s eyes flickered towards Lin Qianshuang’s chest, and before she could react, she reached out and gave it a playful squeeze.
By the time Lin Qianshuang processed what had happened, Xuan Luowan had already stepped out of the water. She donned a vibrant red wedding dress, its intricate design shimmering as she used her demonic energy to dry her hair.
Turning back, Xuan Luowan saw Lin Qianshuang struggling with the ties on her waist.
A smile tugged at the corners of Xuan Luowan’s lips as she watched beads of sweat form on Lin Qianshuang’s forehead from the effort. “My wife is so adorable,” she mused.
Stepping closer, Xuan Luowan gently untied the knot for Lin Qianshuang, her fingers lingering playfully on her waist. “Shuangshuang,” she teased softly, “why are you still so clumsy? You can’t even dress yourself. Hold still, or you’ll just tie yourself in knots again. Let me help.”
A blush crept across Lin Qianshuang’s cheeks. Despite being in this world for some time now, she still felt lost when faced with such intricate clothing.
With Xuan Luowan’s patient guidance, Lin Qianshuang finally managed to dress herself, securing the waistband and adjusting her outer robe until she felt presentable.
“Shuangshuang, could you help me with my eyebrows?” Xuan Luowan requested.
“Of course,” Lin Qianshuang readily agreed. “You taught me how to dress, so leave the eyebrows to me.”
A look of pure tenderness, sweet as honey, bloomed on Xuan Luowan’s face as she watched Lin Qianshuang.
The captivating smile, like that of a legendary beauty, momentarily stunned even Lin Qianshuang, herself a woman.
The smiles Lin Qianshuang usually saw from Bai Wan were either mocking or nonchalantly cold; it was rare to witness such a charming expression.
Before the dressing mirror, Xuan Luowan sat combing her long hair while Lin Qianshuang stood beside her, delicately filling in her brows. With practiced ease, Lin Qianshuang completed the task in one fluid motion, adding a few light touches of floral decoration to Xuan Luowan’s forehead.
As she observed Xuan Luowan’s face, Lin Qianshuang marveled inwardly. Fox demons truly were enchanting creatures. Despite possessing features that were inherently gentle and refined, with a touch of makeup, Xuan Luowan’s appearance transformed into one of captivating allure.
“Shuangshuang, come sit,” Xuan Luowan said, rising and guiding Lin Qianshuang to the seat before the mirror. Picking up the eyebrow pencil, she began to trace Lin Qianshuang’s brows with gentle precision, her gaze etching the image of Lin Qianshuang’s current form deep within her heart.
“You’re so beautiful, Shuangshuang,” Xuan Luowan murmured, her warm breath alighting on Lin Qianshuang’s ear. Leaning closer, she nestled her cheek against Lin Qianshuang’s head, her arms gently encircling her neck. With unwavering determination in her eyes, she gazed into the mirror, reflecting the image of two breathtaking women. “Today is our wedding day,” she declared, a hint of possessiveness coloring her voice, “and I will move heaven and earth to have you. No one can hinder us.”