Difficult Decision

Xuan Luowan wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, her earlier coldness replaced by a chilling laugh that sent a shiver down Han Shengyao’s spine.

Han Shengyao’s eyes narrowed, perplexed by Xuan Luowan’s amusement. Her beast cultivator identity had been exposed, leaving her with no hope of survival in the Demon Realm.

Xuan Luowan grabbed Han Shengyao’s collar, her once innocent beauty now twisted with malice. “Han Shengyao,” she sneered, “how did it feel to be trapped in the Jiuyou Secret Realm? Is battling monsters every day so entertaining? You’re lucky to have escaped with the Tourmaline, but it’s meaningless. Lin Qianshuang has given her heart to me. Even if you break her body, you’ve already lost.”

Han Shengyao wrenched Xuan Luowan’s hand away, twisting her arm with a single, swift movement. The bone snapped, leaving Xuan Luowan’s arm dangling uselessly.

“Do you think I’m a fool?” Han Shengyao asked, her voice laced with icy disdain.

Xuan Luowan’s pained expression only brought a flicker of satisfaction to Han Shengyao’s face.

A smirk of satisfaction played across Han Shengyao’s lips. “You? You drugged the wine and still have the audacity to claim Shuang’er loves you?”

Her gaze, haughty and cold, swept over Xuan Luowan. “We once vied for the Demon Emperor’s affection, and you lost. This time, you remain my defeated adversary.”

Xuan Luowan met Lin Qianshuang’s gaze, a flicker of defiance in her eyes. She then turned to Han Shengyao, a wicked smile twisting her lips. “If you doubt me, kill me now. See who Shuang’er truly protects.”

Han Shengyao, her eyes blazing with murderous intent, condensed demonic energy above Xuan Luowan’s head. “Very well, if you crave death so desperately, I shall grant your wish.”

Lin Qianshuang, bewildered, watched from a distance as Xuan Luowan was thrown to the ground. She could see them communicating, but couldn’t make out their words.

Just as Han Shengyao’s palm, charged with demonic energy, was about to strike, it was intercepted by an unseen force.

Lin Qianshuang forced Han Shengyao back with a sword, then pulled Xuan Luowan up from the ground, shielding her with her body. Kneeling before Han Shengyao, her posture was so humble it was almost painful to watch. Her lowered lashes hid the complex emotions swirling in her eyes as she spoke, “Master, I confessed everything to you during our meditation. Bai Wan and I are both exiles, and she has been kind to me. If you want to kill her, please kill me first!”

Han Shengyao stared at Lin Qianshuang, her gaze filled with a suspicion she’d never shown before. “Shuang’er, when did you become so distant from me?” she asked, her voice laced with a new, unfamiliar hurt. “Why are you defending this cunning woman? Don’t you remember how she plotted against me, how she tried to eliminate us both? Have you forgotten the hundred lashes I received in the main hall?”

Lin Qianshuang, her hand clasped tightly in Xuan Luowan’s, whispered, “Xiaowan, don’t worry, I’ll get you out of the Demon Realm safely.”

A flicker of joy lit up Xuan Luowan’s eyes as she popped a spirit core into her mouth. Watching Lin Qianshuang kneel before Han Shengyao again, a sweet warmth spread through her. Han Shengyao had wanted to kill her, and Lin Qianshuang could have remained silent, but instead, she stood up for Xuan Luowan, defying a powerful Tribulation Transcendence Stage demon cultivator who could crush a life as easily as a bug.

Xuan Luowan’s eyes, tinged with a faint red glow, curved into a smile. She knew that her place in Lin Qianshuang’s heart was far more significant than Han Shengyao realized.

Han Shengyao saw Lin Qianshuang kneeling before her, silent, and a surge of jealousy ignited within her. Grasping Lin Qianshuang’s shoulders, she demanded, “Shuang’er, tell me, do you have feelings for Bai Wan?”

“When you were with her, did she ever kiss you, touch you? If so, would you have been disgusted and pushed her away? Tell me!”

Lin Qianshuang’s eyes trembled. This question was impossible to answer. In her eyes, it was normal for close friends to playfully touch and even kiss each other as a sign of affection. Xuan Luowan’s directness and openness were endearing to her.

And Xuan Luowan’s way of expressing her affection for her was very direct and carefree. She actually liked this kind of straightforward person who didn’t hide her feelings from her friends.

“Therefore, there is no such thing as disgust,” Lin Qianshuang thought, her expression resolute. “Only people with dirty minds would think so badly of others. Anyway, I think it’s normal.”

The affirmative expression on Lin Qianshuang’s face already said it all.

Han Shengyao’s dark purple eyes narrowed, her reason consumed by a fiery jealousy. Her disciple liked Bai Wan, and that kind of affection made her forget their master-apprentice bond. Lin Qianshuang, knowing it would anger her, had risked punishment and even death for Bai Wan, kneeling before her in a gesture of submission.

Even when, in the Sea of Divine Consciousness, she forced herself on her, Lin Qianshuang had escaped by committing suicide. Yet, for this woman, she stood before her, humbly silent, offering no defense.

“You actually fell in love with her, Shuang’er,” Han Shengyao said, her voice laced with disappointment. “You’ve let me down so much!”

Lin Qianshuang’s expression was stunned. She looked at Han Shengyao, her face filled with confusion.

She hadn’t said anything. Why did Han Shengyao jump to that conclusion?

A sharp pain shot through her arm as she was forcefully pulled, her body lurching to the side. She landed, breathless, on the soft bedding.

She was back in the Tianyi Hall.

Someone must have used a formation to bring her here.

She pushed herself up, noticing the intricate barriers set up inside and outside the palace. Such advanced spells were nearly impossible to break, even for her, and would require considerable time to decipher.

Han Shengyao, regal and languid, lounged on the edge of the bed. With a delicate touch, she removed the ornaments from her temples, her thick, inky hair cascading down her back.

Lin Qianshuang watched, bewildered, as Han Shengyao turned away and began to unfasten her sash. The crimson silk of her dress fell to the floor.

In the past, Han Shengyao often changed clothes in front of her, and the two women would look at each other without a care. But now…

Lin Qianshuang shyly turned her head away, not daring to look. She was afraid that Han Shengyao would mock her if she saw her blushing.

Wearing only a loose undergarment, Han Shengyao gazed at Lin Qianshuang with a hint of coldness in her lazy eyes. She grabbed Lin Qianshuang’s chin and forced her to meet her gaze, sneering, “Shuang’er, I’m giving you another chance. As long as you sever ties with Bai Wan, I will forgive everything you’ve done.”

An attendant opened the door and pushed in a half-person-high iron cage. Xuan Luowan, with her hair in disarray, sat inside. Her mouth was gagged with a white cloth, preventing her from speaking. She stared intently at Lin Qianshuang, anxiously trying to break free from the iron bars.

A cold wind swept in through the open door, sending a shiver down Lin Qianshuang’s spine. She lowered her head, realizing she was now clad only in an undergarment.

Han Shengyao considered Xuan Luowan her rival in love. She had deliberately brought Xuan Luowan here, bound and gagged…

Was she trying to humiliate Lin Qianshuang in front of Xuan Luowan? Or was she deliberately trying to flaunt their intimacy, mimicking the actions of lovers, to make Xuan Luowan abandon her pursuit?

Lin Qianshuang’s eyelashes fluttered, her eyes filled with turmoil, and her heart ached. Regardless of Han Shengyao’s intentions, Lin Qianshuang couldn’t bear the thought of Xuan Luowan witnessing this scene. What would she think of her?

She recalled Xuan Luowan’s past scorn for Han Shengyao’s graceful demeanor, criticizing her for being favored by the Demon Emperor. Now, Xuan Luowan would surely judge Lin Qianshuang in the same way and despise her.

Was she about to lose this precious friend?

And she couldn’t be certain if Han Shengyao would silence Xuan Luowan after this.

Lin Qianshuang weighed these possibilities, her face turning pale, her body feeling as if struck by lightning. She sensed the impending danger.

In the next instant, she frantically activated her magic core, attempting to transform into a wisp of demonic energy to break free from Han Shengyao’s grasp. However, she discovered her demonic energy was completely blocked. She could circulate it, but she couldn’t draw it out and use it.

“Shuang’er, you must remember,” Han Shengyao whispered softly into Lin Qianshuang’s ear, “you are my only disciple and my chosen soulmate. We should belong only to each other. You shouldn’t love any woman other than your master.”

Seeing Lin Qianshuang’s shocked and helpless expression, Han Shengyao’s fingers, resting on Lin Qianshuang’s back, tightened, and the sound of tearing fabric echoed.

The coolness on her back made Lin Qianshuang’s lips tremble. She mentally berated Han Shengyao’s wasteful habit of tearing clothes, but her heart pounded with fear. “Oh no,” she thought, “is this really happening?”

Big Boss, please let me go!

Han Shengyao and Lin Qianshuang were practically nose to nose, the crazed madness in Han Shengyao’s eyes making Lin Qianshuang’s very soul recoil in terror.

It was as if Han Shengyao saw Lin Qianshuang as a prime cut of meat, meticulously deciding where to take her first bite.

Lin Qianshuang’s eyes trembled. Even though she was straight, anyone would be a fool to miss the implications of this situation.

The Big Boss that she had been pleading with in her heart was now further emboldened.

“Master, I’m not delicious! Really! Swear on my heart!”¹

The system’s friendly reminder chimed in: “[Host, your demonic energy is sealed due to the demonic aphrodisiac. To prevent you from being accidentally injured and killed by the target, the system has temporarily sealed your Dantian. This will require a three-minute buffer. Additionally, the pressure exerted on you by the target strategy character (Han Shengyao) has been lifted. Please proceed to the next strategy target’s location on your own.]”

Three minutes of buffer time.

Lin Qianshuang felt a strange sense of relief.

This meant it would take three minutes for her demonic energy to be released, and after that, she’d have a chance to escape Han Shengyao’s grasp.

She had to make Han Shengyao lower her guard, and within these three minutes, she needed to take control, otherwise…

Lin Qianshuang’s face flushed. Her innocence wouldn’t stand a chance!

Han Shengyao leaned down, showering Lin Qianshuang’s chin, lips, and the corners of her eyes with kisses, over and over, as if she couldn’t get enough.

Lin Qianshuang placed her hand on the back of Han Shengyao’s head, gently stroking her hair as if soothing her. Looking up with her innocent, wide eyes, she said timidly, “Master…”

Han Shengyao’s eyes widened in surprise before she looked up. Her beautiful blue eyes, shimmering with countless stars, were breathtakingly beautiful.

“This… this is my first time being like this, I don’t want to be so passive.”

Seizing the moment of Han Shengyao’s surprise, Lin Qianshuang spoke shyly. She flipped over, pinning her master beneath her.

Closing her eyes, she silently recited a few calming mantras, pleading with the Bodhisattva for forgiveness. She tore down the bed curtain, flinging it over the iron cage that held Xuan Luowan, obscuring her view.

Lin Qianshuang then leaned in, kissing Han Shengyao’s lips. The touch was fleeting, but it was enough to break the tension. Her face flushed as she whispered, “It’s unfair to treat me like this, Yaoyao. I like you too. If we weren’t destined for different paths, how could I have run from you? You can’t judge me just because of my friendship with someone else.”

She pressed her arms against Han Shengyao’s sides, their hair tangled together. “Besides, you’re too hasty. I haven’t even taken my hairpin out.”

With a touch of playful shyness, Lin Qianshuang removed the hairpin from her hair, letting it cascade down her back. Her eyes met Han Shengyao’s, catching the fleeting flicker of surprise in her gaze.

Master, how did we get here?

Closing her eyes, she betrayed her true feelings, responding to Han Shengyao’s affections with a passionate French kiss.

The sound of “Yaoyao” made Han Shengyao falter for a moment, as if something had stirred within her.

Her disciple had never called her by name before. This was a first.

Han Shengyao’s cold, emotionless face softened instantly, her gaze tender as she looked at the woman kissing her so earnestly. She reached out and pulled Lin Qianshuang into a tight embrace.

“System, how much time is left?!”

Lin Qianshuang, though appearing docile and gentle towards Han Shengyao, was inwardly panicking. She was worried about Xuan Luowan’s injuries, and Han Shengyao’s emotional instability. Lin Qianshuang feared that Han Shengyao might do something they would both regret.