Jian Lin hadn't even registered what was happening. One moment she was speaking, complaining, and the next, they were fighting.
This was not the time for a brawl. She still had something important to say!
"No, no, stop!" Jian Lin quickly called out to mediate. "Calm down, everyone. Don't start fighting. Time is precious, just listen to me for a moment."
However, Hong Qu, consumed by hatred born from love, had already gone blind with rage. She had a fiery temper, and when she lost it, no one could stop her. She certainly wouldn't listen to Jian Lin's pleas.
Seeing the two of them exchanging blows, Jian Lin had no choice but to turn her attention to the Demon Lord. "Young Master! We only have an hour. Can you stop fooling around?"
The Demon Lord paused, reached out, and grasped Hong Qu's wrist, pulling her into his embrace. As he spoke, he couldn't resist commenting, "I've noticed that demons, when cultivating, focus only on inner cultivation and neglect outer refinement. Their fighting styles are instinctive, relying on pounces and bites. But you're different. You know some martial arts, and judging by your moves, you've learned them from me. You're quite an insightful little demon."
Hong Qu struggled but couldn't break free. The Demon Lord's words struck her heart again. Why did she know his techniques? Because during those years spent by his side, her gaze had always been fixed on him.
Watching him meditate, drink tea, admire flowers, and walk in the snow – those memories were etched into her soul.
Two lines of clear tears silently traced down her cheeks. Hong Qu, heartbroken, suddenly reverted to her original form: a beautiful, alluring fire fox.
Her fur was fiery red, with only her chest and the tips of her tails adorned with white, arranged with perfect symmetry. Her eyes were crimson and bright, with elegantly upturned eyeliner, truly a gem among foxes.
The gem among foxes was in a terrible mood. She turned sideways and lay down on the ground, covering her face with her large tail, curling into a ball of utter despair.
Jian Lin's heart melted at the sight. She exclaimed that the Demon Lord was a true menace!
With a sigh, Jian Lin sat beside Hong Qu and said gently, "Miss Hong Qu, please listen to me. Ignore the Demon Lord. There's something more urgent now. Do you know why I locked you up that day? Because Lord Bai Mei died of poisoning..."
Hong Qu's pointed ears perked up. As Jian Lin spoke, her expression grew increasingly serious. Her gaze shifted, and she suddenly realized something important: the Demon Lord had come to the demon realm on official business, not to find her.
"When Bai Mei was drunk, he boasted to me. He said they knew a terrible secret about the Demon Emperor, which was why the Emperor dared not touch them. He even said that the Emperor would eventually die by his own hand, and then Bai Mei would ascend to the throne and make me his Empress. He was very powerful; I never imagined he would die." Hong Qu voiced her thoughts.
Bai Mei was a thousand-year-old Eagle King who had served the Demon Emperor for many years, with great merit. The Lin Yu Guards were trained by the Demon Emperor from eagle eggs provided by Bai Mei.
"This issue isn't important right now, Miss Hong Qu. The most crucial thing is what you should do next. Hiding in my treasure box forever isn't a solution," Jian Lin said worriedly.
"It's alright. You don't need to worry, Miss A'Pei. Just let me out," Hong Qu said, her heart as dead as ashes. "If I die, I die. There's no point in living anymore. Miss A'Pei, you are very capable. In the end, you have a demon to accompany him. It's not that demons are inadequate, it's just that I am."
Jian Lin realized then that Hong Qu believed she was a genuine fox demon, and this misunderstanding had dealt her a devastating blow.
"Miss Hong Qu, let me explain. This is a bit complicated—"
"Hong Qu," the Demon Lord suddenly spoke, interrupting Jian Lin. He had been pretending to admire flowers all this time. Now, his gaze shifted, and he glanced coldly at her. "You don't need to belittle yourself. I won't care. It's not worth dying for me."
Jian Lin clenched her fists. This heartless, cruel man spoke words as sharp as ice blades.
Hong Qu lifted her face, her tail drooping, clearly overcome with sorrow. Her lips trembled as she struggled to speak, "Lord Demon Lord, it was my own choice. My life or death has nothing to do with you."
"So," the Demon Lord's tone suddenly shifted as he inquired, "I'll give you a chance to survive. Do you want it?"
Jian Lin's eyes lit up. Excellent! She believed that if the Demon Lord were to intervene, Hong Qu would surely escape death at the hands of the Lin Yu Guards!
Hong Qu was stunned. Her clear, beautiful eyes trembled as she stared intently at the Demon Lord, but she couldn't utter a single word.
Jian Lin, anxious for her, quickly urged her, "Miss Hong Qu, please agree. If you follow me, I can only lock you in the treasure box, which is like being in prison. That's not a pleasant experience at all."
Hong Qu was clearly at a loss. She unconsciously turned to look at Jian Lin. Under her gentle, encouraging gaze, Hong Qu finally spoke, "Lord Demon Lord, I want it."
"Very well. During my stay in the demon realm these past few days, I've learned many new things. Hong Qu, are you willing to sign a contract with me and become my contracted spirit beast? I will protect you, and you will obey my every command."
Upon hearing this, Jian Lin felt it was too perfect. For Hong Qu to obey the Demon Lord unconditionally would be as easy as eating and sleeping.
"I am willing!" Hong Qu immediately agreed.
The Demon Lord remained still, instead saying with even greater calm, "Hong Qu, you must think carefully. Obeying my every command means you will lose your own thoughts. Even if one day I ask you to leave me, you must still do so."
It was like giving a sweet treat and then a slap. Jian Lin began to waver again. Losing oneself was a great price. Should Hong Qu really follow the Demon Lord?
However, Hong Qu did not hesitate. She said with determination, "As long as I can follow the Demon Lord, Hong Qu will have no regrets, no regrets even in death."
Jian Lin's mind raced, but in the end, she didn't speak to stop her. It was clear there was no better option. In the face of life and death, everything else could be compromised.
Even if she took Hong Qu out in the treasure box, what would happen afterward? Hong Qu couldn't return to the demon realm. Alone and helpless, with no place to go, she would still have to rely on the Demon Lord to provide her with a place to settle down.
In the end, no matter how she looked at it, the outcome was the same.
While Jian Lin was lost in thought, the Demon Lord had already set up the formation. The oppressive aura of his powerful demonic energy caused this small world to tremble.
Jian Lin worried that Tao Niang wouldn't be able to withstand it and repeatedly reminded the Demon Lord to control himself, lest he shatter this world.
The Demon Lord's brow furrowed, clearly displeased. He raised a finger and forcefully suppressed his demonic energy, struggling to maintain a stable balance. "Hong Qu, if you are willing, step into the formation. Remember, once you make a move, there's no turning back."
Hong Qu reverted to her original form and stepped into the formation. The strong demonic energy blew her robes outward and her long hair fluttered. Yet, the expression on her face was one of profound peace. She repeated the Demon Lord's words, "Hong Qu, no turning back."
As her voice fell, the demonic energy instantly coiled around her entire body. The formation beneath her feet spun and transformed, shrinking until it settled on the center of Hong Qu's forehead. Hong Qu shrank with it, and amidst the violent fluctuations, she finally transformed into a small jade pendant.
The jade pendant shimmered with formation patterns. After flashing about a dozen times, it transformed into the pattern of a fox with upturned eyes.
The Demon Lord extended his hand, and the jade pendant floated into his palm. He examined it quietly for a moment before tucking it into his embrace.
With everything settled, Jian Lin slumped to the ground, lost in thought. She felt no sense of relief. One problem led to another. She hadn't found what she was looking for; instead, she had been drawn into the Demon Emperor's conflict, sinking deeper and deeper.
"Lord Demon Lord, what do you plan to do next?" Jian Lin asked with a worried frown. "Nothing has progressed at all. I'm very anxious right now."
"What are you anxious about?" The Demon Lord sat down cross-legged, looking perfectly calm. "I never expected you to accomplish anything. My only request is that you don't cause trouble."
Those words were truly infuriating. Jian Lin retorted, "Lord Demon Lord, that's not how you should say it. We've come all the way to the demon realm, and if we don't find out the whereabouts of Zhan San Dao, nor the Dragon Pill, what is the meaning of our trip?"
Jian Lin was a person with clear goals and strong execution abilities, someone who pursued a result in everything, whether good or bad. What she feared most was wasting time meaninglessly.
"You're too anxious. Do you even remember the first level of the Ming Yue Divine Skill? No wonder you haven't broken through," the Demon Lord shook his head in disappointment. "It seems I was wrong. When we return to the Demon Sect, I'll find you a master to teach you again. The Ming Yue Divine Skill isn't suitable for you."
Jian Lin had a lot she wanted to say, but the Demon Lord's words completely deflated her. There was a saying, wasn't there? The emperor isn't anxious, but the eunuch is. She was that eunuch right now.
The Demon Sect was being slandered. The Guan Lan Sect was gathering the hundred sects of the immortal world to encircle and suppress the Demon Sect. If the Demon Lord wasn't anxious, why should she be?
Her main task was to win over the Demon Lord, not to uphold justice. Amitabha, don't be anxious, don't be anxious...
Seeing Jian Lin gradually calm down, the Demon Lord spoke, "The day after tomorrow is the Ghost Festival. Would you like to join the Hundred Demons Parade? We can go and join the fun."
Jian Lin smiled and nodded. "Okay, let's go and join the fun."
Don't be anxious, don't be restless. Going out to play was a good thing.
The two chatted about trivial matters, and soon an hour passed. A gentle breeze blew, scattering the peach blossoms from a tree. Petals fell, filling the space between heaven and earth.
Jian Lin felt as if her eyes were filled with petals, a romantic pink scene before her. Suddenly, a familiar fragrance wafted over. When her vision cleared, they were back in Tao Niang's boudoir.
Tao Niang closed the wooden box and smiled at the two of them, saying, "The one-hour time limit has expired. Have your matters been resolved satisfactorily?"
Jian Lin took a deep breath, her composure growing. "They have been resolved. Thank you for your help, Tao Niang."
The Demon Lord suddenly leaned forward, grabbed Tao Niang's chin, and turned her face to the left. His gaze was focused and serious as he said in a low voice, "You were injured by the Lin Yu Guards."
Jian Lin was greatly alarmed, startled by the abrupt action. She quickly grabbed the Demon Lord's wrist. "Young Master, what are you doing? This is not permissible!"
Tao Niang's cheeks visibly flushed, her eyes filled with panic. She whispered, "Y-yes, but it's alright. I cultivate and heal daily, so I should recover soon."
"This wound is tricky and won't heal easily," the Demon Lord said, reaching out with his other hand to touch a red mark on Tao Niang's side neck. "As a token of my gratitude, I'll give you a hand."