Jian Lin had always assumed that Tao Niang's injury was minor. It was only when the Demon Lord mentioned it that she realized she had been negligent.
She prided herself on liking Tao Niang, yet she wasn't as attentive as the Demon Lord. She felt ashamed.
Jian Lin quickly let go and asked in surprise, "Are the Lin Yu Guards that powerful? It looked like a small wound."
"The Lin Yu Guards are covered in poison. Even a small touch can be fatal to lesser demons," the Demon Lord explained while healing Tao Niang. "What appears to be a minor wound is actually very difficult to recover from. However, for cultivators, it's merely a simple matter."
Tao Niang's pupils widened, thinking she had misheard.
Jian Lin was also startled, not understanding why the Demon Lord would reveal his identity at this moment. Had he accidentally let it slip?
The Demon Lord's expression remained unchanged. He pressed his fingertip against the red mark on Tao Niang's neck and, using some unknown method, pulled the mark away, restoring her skin to its original fair and smooth state.
After the healing, the Demon Lord returned to the small table. Facing the shocked gazes of the two young women, he said nonchalantly, "There's no need to be so surprised. It's not some earth-shattering secret."
Jian Lin recovered first and said disapprovingly, "Young Master, you've frightened Tao Niang. Don't just blurt things out so suddenly. You should at least build up to it."
"You were frightened?" the Demon Lord asked Tao Niang.
Tao Niang quickly waved her hands in denial, controlling her expression. She covered her neck and said softly, "It's nothing. Thank you for your help, sir."
"You're welcome. The matter is concluded. I shall take my leave," the Demon Lord said, rising leisurely and walking towards the window as was his habit.
"Young Master, wait..." Jian Lin chased after him, pulling him closer to the window, and whispered, "You're leaving, but I still have to interact with Tao Niang. Please, give me some advice. Why did you tell Tao Niang that we are humans?"
"It's an experiment," the Demon Lord replied softly. "As I said, I've gained a lot of insight during my time in the demon realm. The relationships between demons are often forged through secrets. I wanted to see if it works between humans and demons. Don't you like Tao Niang? Tell her more secrets; a mysterious force will bind you together."
Jian Lin was stunned and wanted to ask more questions. However, while she was lost in thought, the Demon Lord kicked off and disappeared into the night.
"Hey?" Jian Lin, unable to catch him, stamped her foot in frustration. "Damn it! He disappeared again!"
If the Demon Lord could leave, where could she go? She could only brace herself and face Tao Niang.
She didn't know Tao Niang's opinion of mortals, nor did she know Tao Niang's thoughts on her concealing her identity and lying...
Jian Lin awkwardly played with her hair strands, walked back, and sat at the small table. She decided to directly reveal another secret. "Tao Niang, there's something you don't know. It was me who saved Hong Qu that night. She has gone with our Young Master now, and she is safe, so please don't worry."
Tao Niang's pupils widened again. She had always believed that Hong Qu had escaped using her secret techniques and never expected Jian Lin to be involved.
"Miss A'Pei," Tao Niang's lips twitched, and she said helplessly, "You didn't have to tell me."
Jian Lin couldn't help but smile. Recalling Tao Niang's previous behavior, it indeed matched the Demon Lord's words. Demons maintained polite distance with each other, their relationships were indifferent, and they valued privacy.
"Tao Niang, do you have any wine? Let's have a couple of drinks together." Jian Lin was in high spirits tonight and wanted to chat more with Tao Niang.
That night, Jian Lin was very happy. Although Tao Niang spoke little, she accompanied Jian Lin for drinks many times.
After that night, Jian Lin truly felt a magical force rapidly closing the distance between her and Tao Niang.
In the blink of an eye, it was the Ghost Festival. The demon city, already brilliantly lit, became even more so. Jian Lin's teeth ached, always feeling that a fire might break out, which would be quite a spectacle.
That afternoon, the Chuyun Pavilion was unusually lively. Whether they were great demons or minor ones, top performers or mere helpers, everyone came out to hang lanterns, decorating the Chuyun Pavilion anew, joyfully awaiting the descent of night.
It was then that Jian Lin learned that the Chuyun Pavilion was closed for the day, and most demons would be out participating in the Hundred Demon Parade that night.
Jian Lin asked in surprise, "Tao Niang, what about you? Are you going tonight?"
"I'm not going," Tao Niang gathered her sleeves and walked upstairs with elegant grace. "I dislike the crowds. Miss A'Pei, you should be careful. You might not know that on the day of the Hundred Demon Parade, fighting is permitted in the streets. Many demons lose their lives every year. You must not get caught in the crossfire."
Tao Niang's mention reminded Jian Lin that there was indeed such a saying.
Within the demon city, fighting was not allowed without reason. If a demon wished to fight and seize a golden core to advance their cultivation, they had to formally issue a challenge, go to a martial arts hall, and engage in a match in front of witnesses.
Furthermore, the challenged party could refuse the challenge. Only when both parties agreed could they fight.
Demons could also agree on the standards for victory or defeat. Many demons simply wanted to spar and did not wish to fight to the death.
In short, within the demon city, seizing another's golden core was not as easy as it was outside the city.
However, all these rules were nullified on the Ghost Festival. On a day of joy and celebration, blood was needed to liven things up.
Jian Lin understood and expressed her support. Anyway, she was going out with the Demon Lord tonight. Let the demons fight if they wished; it had nothing to do with her.
Amidst the anticipation of the demons, night finally fell. Everyone cheered and went to light the lanterns. Jian Lin felt her vision blur, as if she had arrived in daylight. To be honest, it was a bit too bright.
Jian Lin shielded her eyes from the strong light and found a dim corner to sit. She ate pine nuts while waiting for the Demon Lord to find her.
While waiting, she occasionally glanced warily to her left and right, fearing the Demon Lord might suddenly appear to startle her.
Unexpectedly, this time, he walked in from the main entrance, as if following proper procedure.
He wore loose, comfortable casual clothes. As he walked, his sleeves and hem fluttered, exuding a free and unrestrained demeanor. In his hand, he carried a red lantern, arriving amidst the scattered light. The passing minor demons couldn't help but turn their heads, attracted by his imposing presence and appearance.
Jian Lin was also mesmerized. This man was so perfect, so handsome. When he acted normally, he was truly captivating.
The Demon Lord stopped in front of her and directly snatched the pine nuts from Jian Lin's hand, throwing them into his mouth.
Damn it! Jian Lin almost swore. She had spent a long time shelling those nuts, saving them for the satisfaction of eating a handful all at once, and now the Demon Lord had stolen them!
Jian Lin stared at her empty palm and then at the Demon Lord with a blank expression. The good impression she had just formed due to his appearance vanished.
If you consider this matter trivial, he was truly infuriating. But if you were to argue over it, it was truly not worth it. It was so frustrating!
Jian Lin swallowed her anger, stood up, maintained a smile, and said to the Demon Lord, "Young Master, if you like them, I'll shell them for you every day from now on."
"No need. I don't like eating them," the Demon Lord said indifferently.
Jian Lin's temper flared. "Then... why did you snatch mine..."
"Just saying hello," the Demon Lord's eyes flashed with a hint of playful amusement. He handed her the red lantern. "I bought this for you. Let's go."
Jian Lin took a deep breath, suppressed her anger, took the lantern, and strode forward.
Once on the street, infected by the festive atmosphere, Jian Lin's anger gradually subsided. She suddenly noticed that the red lantern was embroidered with crabapple blossoms, her favorite pattern.
Fine. Whether the Demon Lord did it intentionally or not, she accepted it.
She stood still, turned back, and waited for the Demon Lord to walk over slowly. The two of them then merged into the street side by side.
"Young Master, I wouldn't have guessed you're someone who likes to join in the fun. I thought you'd dislike such activities, finding them boring and crowded," Jian Lin said softly to him.
"I do dislike them," the Demon Lord replied in a low voice. "I came out tonight because I secretly received news that the High Priest would appear. I wanted to see him."
Jian Lin immediately perked up. "What? Young Master, you have a plan. Why didn't you tell me beforehand?"
"What difference does it make? You know now, don't you?" The Demon Lord put his arm around Jian Lin's shoulder, shielding her as they navigated through the crowded demon throng. "Besides, there's no plan. The High Priest is going out privately and alone. We might not even encounter him."
"Then what kind of demon is the High Priest?" Jian Lin asked eagerly, wanting to help find the High Priest.
"That's an interesting question," the Demon Lord lowered his head and whispered into Jian Lin's ear. "I heard that the High Priest is not a demon, but a human."
Jian Lin's eyes widened in disbelief. "He... he's human? Why would he get involved?"
"Only he knows that," the Demon Lord continued with the information he had. "The High Priest never reveals his true appearance; he always wears a mask. He is a figure highly trusted by the Demon Emperor and is very mysterious. Those old demons like Bai Mei have always wanted to kill him. Zhan San Dao has a good relationship with him. It was also he who divined the existence of the Dragon Core. He is a key figure."
Jian Lin nodded repeatedly, picturing a mysterious and important figure. She then naturally formed her own conjecture. "Young Master, I feel that demons are quite straightforward and not very adept at schemes and tricks. If you say the demons are colluding with the Guanlan Sect, could it be that the High Priest is behind it?"
"It's highly possible," the Demon Lord agreed. "Ultimately, it's the struggle between humans that is the most interesting."
The Demon Lord's tone was relaxed, but Jian Lin was worried. What was already a tangled mess of issues had now gained the High Priest, and moreover, a High Priest skilled in planning and scheming.
As they spoke, the two arrived at the central plaza of the demon city. Jian Lin, very conscious of safety, feared a stampede and strongly requested the Demon Lord to take her to the outermost edge.
As they were halfway against the flow of the demon crowd, a loud explosion suddenly came from the sky, like fireworks bursting. Someone shouted, "It's the High Priest! He's here to bestow blessings upon everyone!"
The demons cheered and immediately pushed forward. On the other side, two demons, for reasons unknown, suddenly started fighting.
Screams, chaos, shouting, jeering—the familiar demons were back!
Amidst the confusion, another explosion occurred, even larger than the previous one. Jian Lin couldn't dodge it and was hit by sparks, feeling a sharp pain instantly.
"Ah! It hurts so much!" Jian Lin cried out.
Suddenly, the Demon Lord's eyes sharpened. He directly picked Jian Lin up and, in a few leaps, ascended to the rooftop and fled rapidly.
Before Jian Lin could comprehend what was happening, the Demon Lord suddenly let go and threw her out.
Several black birds caught her from behind. Jian Lin looked in the direction the Demon Lord had left. He didn't even look back, transforming into a black dot and disappearing!
That scoundrel! Jian Lin cursed. She suddenly realized what had gone wrong. Her tail was gone...
The Demon Lord's magic had failed.