The dawn was approaching, and the clamor and curses within the death row gradually subsided as the demons fell asleep. Only in a corner cell were a person and a demon awake, confronting each other.
Jian Lin's expression was solemn, devoid of any smile, while Xiao Li remained as innocent and lively as ever, as if telling Jian Lin that the Dragon Pill was within her was as simple as eating or chatting.
As her dizzy, boiling brain gradually calmed, Jian Lin came to a realization: Xiao Li was not foolish; she hadn't inadvertently let slip the information.
"Xiao Li," Jian Lin said sternly, "Look me in the eyes. Why did you tell me this?"
"Because Sister Apei is good to me," Xiao Li tilted her head slightly and said earnestly. "I don't want Sister Apei to waste her efforts. I want to tell you directly that what you are looking for is with me."
So good and considerate, Jian Lin couldn't even muster the anger.
In their gaze, Jian Lin conceded defeat, clasping her forehead with both hands, her sanity beginning to fray. "Xiao Li, you don't understand. I am not a good person at all. Haven't you ever considered what you would do if I decided to kill you?"
Xiao Li lowered her eyes and shook her head with a troubled expression. "I don't know. If my mother were still alive, she would tell me what to do, but sadly, she is gone."
With these words, Jian Lin was utterly defeated. Whether Xiao Li was pretending or not, she had successfully garnered Jian Lin's sympathy. Xiao Li had won this round.
Soon, Xiao Li, hugging her tail, slept soundly. Jian Lin, with her bloodshot eyes wide open, felt like two small figures were engaged in a fierce battle in her mind.
The "pro" figure shouted, "Just pretend to be foolish and ignore Xiao Li. Leave her in death row and leave with the Demon Lord. After all, they only want to find Zhan Sandao, and the Demon Lord never expressed interest in the Dragon Pill."
The "con" figure retorted, "Don't be so cowardly! Knowing where the Dragon Pill is, it's naturally safer to keep it with you. If they can't find Zhan Sandao, you can reveal the Dragon Pill."
The "pro" figure swung a hammer, "Revealing the Dragon Pill would endanger Xiao Li. Do you want Xiao Li to die?"
The "con" figure kicked, "Xiao Li hiding in death row is not a foolproof plan. She will be discovered sooner or later, and then it will be a dead end."
The questions of whether to tell the Demon Lord and whether to take Xiao Li with her tormented Jian Lin, leaving her utterly exhausted.
Half a day passed in a blink. Xiao Li, having slept enough, stretched her paws and skillfully nestled into Jian Lin's arms, preparing to change positions and continue sleeping.
Jian Lin reached out and stroked her fluffy head. Xiao Li comfortably tilted her chin to nuzzle her. Jian Lin gave a wry smile, her heart melting.
"Hey, Xiao Li, do you want to come with me?" Jian Lin asked in a low voice.
Yes, after a morning of agonizing torment, Jian Lin had finally decided not to tell the Demon Lord yet, but to take Xiao Li with her. Firstly, it would be difficult to break into death row again after escaping. Secondly, to prevent Xiao Li from falling into the hands of the Demon Emperor, taking her was the most reasonable choice.
Xiao Li slightly opened her eyes and whispered, "Okay, I like being with Sister Apei."
Jian Lin reached out and pinched Xiao Li under her armpits, lifting her to eye level. She said sternly, "Wake up, Xiao Li. Listen carefully. Going out with me is a very risky matter. You might lose your life. You need to consider it carefully. If you want to stay in death row, I will absolutely not force you to come with me."
Xiao Li opened her eyes and looked up at the small, grimy window. Her eyes sparkled like shifting fragments of gold. "I understand. Before my mother left me, she told me that the most dangerous place in the world is also the safest. As long as I hide in death row, those demons will have a hard time finding me. But I'm so lonely."
Xiao Li withdrew her gaze and said aggrievedly, "It's very boring here. There's no good food, and sometimes the big demons around are very fierce. I can't go out and wander around, so I can only hide in my cell and sleep all day."
Indeed, for Xiao Li, possessing the Dragon Pill meant suffering, and no choice could change that.
Jian Lin tried to control her sorrowful emotions and said softly, "From now on, you'll be with Sister Apei. Sister will definitely not let you be bored. Every day will be filled with countless fun things and delicious food."
Xiao Li happily narrowed her eyes and nodded heavily. "Yes, I believe you, Sister."
Jian Lin smiled, silently vowing that as long as Xiao Li was alive, she would ensure her happiness.
That afternoon, Jian Lin placed Xiao Li into the treasure box, deciding not to consult the Demon Lord and to take Xiao Li out directly.
It had been two days since he had taken her blood. Jian Lin was certain that the Demon Lord would come to rescue her within a day or two.
That evening, as she practiced her skills, she pricked up her ears to listen for any movement outside. Suddenly, her hair stirred, and the Demon Lord's familiar aura appeared. Jian Lin opened her eyes in surprise.
"How is it?" Jian Lin stood up, her face full of anticipation.
"I've found it. It's a marking spell mixed into the blood. The only way to break it is to change the blood." The Demon Lord replied in a low voice.
"Ah?" Jian Lin took a step back in fright and quickly began to educate the Demon Lord. "Young Master, let me tell you, people are divided into four blood types. You can't just change them randomly. People can die easily!"
"Don't worry, I wasn't thinking of changing your blood. We are in the demon realm now. Where would I find someone for you?" The Demon Lord crossed his arms, disdainfully. "At this point, we can only use another method: cover the mark in your blood with a more powerful force."
"That's good then," Jian Lin breathed a sigh of relief, then realized something was wrong. She looked at the Demon Lord with suspicion. "Who will cover it for me? You, Young Master?"
"What kind of look is that?" The Demon Lord said coldly. "I specifically went to learn demonic arts for you. Not only are you not grateful, but you dare to doubt me. Don't be so heartless."
How dare he call her heartless? Jian Lin immediately retorted, "Who is heartless? Who abandoned me and ran off? And why was I thrown into death row? Young Master, don't play dumb!"
The Demon Lord remained unmoved. "So, do you want my help or not?"
Jian Lin's breath caught in her throat, and finally, it deflated. She said weakly, "Yes..."
What else could she do!
"Since that's the case, stop talking nonsense and extend your hand," the Demon Lord tilted his chin, gesturing, and said coldly. "Then find something to stuff in your mouth yourself. The process will be a bit painful, and you are not allowed to cry out."
"How painful?" Jian Lin's face turned pale, and she pleaded weakly. "Young Master, you are wise and mighty, and you are magnanimous. I know you wouldn't intentionally make things difficult for me, right?"
"Let's hurry," the Demon Lord beckoned. "We still have to escape the demon city tonight. There's too much to do."
The Demon Lord rambled on, avoiding a direct answer. Jian Lin knew then that she couldn't avoid this pain today.
But there was no other way. Jian Lin steeled herself and extended her hand. "Kill me or flay me, as you please!"
Jian Lin didn't know that as she closed her eyes, the Demon Lord almost couldn't suppress a laugh.
In the darkness, Jian Lin's arm trembled slightly. The Demon Lord reached out and grasped her wrist. Before she was mentally prepared, a sharp pain suddenly pierced her pulse. She jolted and opened her eyes, only to see the Demon Lord plunging a sharp dagger into her wrist.
The scene was too bloody. Although she managed to hold back a cry, her legs went weak, and she was about to fall to her knees.
The Demon Lord extended his leg to block her, pulling Jian Lin into his arms. Then, he lowered his head and held the wound on her wrist with his mouth.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say that Jian Lin's entire body went numb at that moment, more effective than any anesthetic.
In a daze, only one thought remained: the Demon Lord's lips were actually... quite soft.
Amidst the soft touch, a slightly cool sensation seeped from the wound on her wrist, gradually spreading to her arm and throughout her body.
Jian Lin leaned on the Demon Lord's shoulder. Looking up, she could see his firm, slender jawline. When he released her wrist, his lips were stained with her blood.
He took out a snow-white silk handkerchief from his embrace, expertly wrapped her wound tightly, and tied it with a frown.
"Get up. It wasn't that painful at all. Don't pretend," the Demon Lord said disdainfully, supporting her shoulders and helping her up. "Circulate your energy for a week, and my demonic energy will spread throughout your body. We'll be able to leave soon."
Jian Lin nodded dazedly and quickly closed her eyes to regulate her breathing. Unexpectedly, as soon as she closed her eyes, the image of the Demon Lord's jawline appeared.
It was quite... flavorful.
After completing a week of circulation, Jian Lin opened her eyes and found the Demon Lord setting up a magic array. He held a snow-white porcelain bottle in his hand and was pouring out... blood?
Jian Lin looked closely and confirmed she wasn't mistaken. More importantly, she could smell a faint scent of blood. "Young Master, whose blood is this?"
After using so much blood, Jian Lin had no doubt that the Demon Lord had killed a demon outside to obtain it.
"It's Tao Niang's," the Demon Lord said calmly.
Jian Lin gasped and immediately stood up, turning around nervously. "Tao Niang, did you kill Tao Niang to get her blood?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?" The Demon Lord straightened up, changing his posture to fill in the runes within the array. "This is a composite array. Tao Niang is the master of the array. If she dies, how can we get out?"
Oh, that's good then. Jian Lin breathed a sigh of relief, then her heart tightened again. "Young Master, are you saying Tao Niang is helping us escape?"
"Yes, in the demon realm, using demonic arts is the best strategy," the Demon Lord straightened up and continued drawing runes. "I haven't been learning demonic arts for long and am not proficient. I need the help of a high-level demon. Tao Niang volunteered, and I have no reason to refuse her."
Jian Lin felt conflicted. She really didn't want to implicate Tao Niang. So much blood... was she alright?
As they spoke, the Demon Lord put away the porcelain bottle, tucked it back into his embrace, and walked to the center of the array, signaling Jian Lin to come over. "Are you ready? We're leaving."
Jian Lin stood beside him, nervously tugging at the Demon Lord's sleeve, and nodded solemnly. "Let's go! We're finally leaving!"
The Demon Lord put his arm around Jian Lin's waist and waved, dispelling the barrier. Silver moonlight streamed in. Jian Lin looked up and saw the white figure of the High Priest standing at the cell door!
The arm around her waist tightened. Before Jian Lin could react, events unfolded in an instant.
The cell door exploded open, and the High Priest, transforming into a phantom, rushed in rapidly. At the same time, the magic array activated, and the surging demonic power shattered the cell door.
Demonic energy surged from all directions. Jian Lin felt as if her internal organs were being squeezed and crushed. Then, her feet lost their purchase, and she spun rapidly in the air, shrinking. In the last moment of her departure, she felt a sudden chill on her left wrist.
She was very familiar with that sensation; it was the High Priest's body temperature.
In the final moment, he had broken through the array and entangled them...