The Demon Lord gazed at Jian Lin, his expression as dark as water. He truly hadn't expected that the Guānlán Sect, always proclaiming itself a righteous sect, would collaborate with the demon race. They were truly hypocritical and utterly deceitful.
However, he mused, could he believe such an outrageous truth based on one person's word?
Jian Lin saw the Demon Lord's reaction and knew he was still hesitant, not entirely convinced by her story.
"Lord Demon Lord," Jian Lin said sincerely, "I know you may not trust me, and I have no evidence to offer, but as long as we capture Zhan San Dao and confront him face-to-face, the truth will naturally be revealed."
"That is only natural," the Demon Lord's gaze shifted to her, and he suddenly asked, "Jian Lin, assuming everything you've said is true, I have one question: why did you proactively tell me this?"
*Why else?* Jian Lin thought to herself. *Look at those two zeros above your head; it's all to gain favor and earn affection points.*
Of course, she couldn't say that directly. Fortunately, she had already considered this and presented her prepared explanation.
"Reporting to Lord Demon Lord, I have been gifted with extraordinary talent since childhood and harbor grand ambitions. I am unwilling to be a minor figure with low cultivation. I hope that Lord Demon Lord, in recognition of the information I've provided, will offer me some assistance to achieve a breakthrough."
This reason was quite sufficient. Jian Lin's sole desire was to seek a breakthrough, plant the demon seed, and pledge allegiance to the Demon Lord. Her words and actions were consistent, making her believable.
"You are quite daring, possessing the spirit of my Demon Sect," the Demon Lord chuckled lightly. "Very well, I promise you. Once Zhan San Dao is captured and your words are proven true, I will certainly help you refine your Golden Core."
Jian Lin's eyes lit up. Whether or not she had gained favor with the Demon Lord was unknown, but the Demon Lord had certainly gained her favor.
"Thank you, Lord Demon Lord," Jian Lin straightened up and bowed sincerely, cupping her fists in thanks. "Regarding the Twelve Peaks massacre, this humble woman will certainly tell you everything she knows."
That night, Jian Lin did not leave the Demon Lord's chambers. The Demon Lord questioned her until late into the night, so late that Jian Lin was yawning uncontrollably. He then instructed her to find a room in the side halls to rest.
The next day, she woke to bright daylight. As she got up and opened the door, she saw the Grand Steward Hei Yu standing outside.
Grand Steward Hei Yu, with a knowing smirk, flicked his horsetail whisk and said, "Miss A Pei, the Demon Lord left the palace this morning and asked me to tell you to stay honestly in the side halls. If you need anything, find me. You are not to leave the side halls even half a step. Do you understand?"
"The Demon Lord has left the palace. Where did he go?" Jian Lin asked worriedly.
Why had he left? She had wanted to go with him, to create more opportunities for them to be together.
"The Demon Lord's affairs are not for us subordinates to pry into," Grand Steward Hei Yu sighed, immediately changing the subject. "Miss A Pei, you have achieved your goal. You wouldn't mind an old man asking a question, would you? The Demon Lord's chambers are heavily guarded. How did you enter so silently?"
*I entered with my golden finger,* she thought, *but I can't say that.*
Jian Lin raised her head, put her hands behind her back, and said with feigned profundity, "It's a secret, Grand Steward. If I were to reveal it, there wouldn't be enough room for all the women in the Demon Lord's chambers."
Grand Steward Hei Yu's smile didn't diminish. He was merely curious and had no intention of digging for the answer.
They looked at each other, exchanging polite, insincere smiles.
From that day on, Jian Lin settled comfortably in the Demon Lord's chambers. Grand Steward Hei Yu was very thoughtful, sending her many beautiful clothes and accessories, and plenty of storybooks to alleviate her boredom. It was truly a heavenly life.
Jian Lin spent her days practicing cultivation and meditating, or flipping through storybooks. Her life was leisurely and comfortable.
Until about seven days later, late at night, she woke from her sleep to see a dark figure standing by her bed. She screamed in fright.
She had always been most afraid of ghosts!
"You are very noisy," the Demon Lord's cold voice cut through the air. He flicked his cloak and sat on a chair by the bed, looking very displeased.
Jian Lin patted her chest, sat up, and put on her outer robe. She stood beside the Demon Lord, catching a scent of cold dew. He must have returned overnight, just arriving at the Demon Palace.
In this state, she didn't need to guess; he must have had an unsuccessful pursuit of Zhan San Dao.
Fearing he might take his anger out on her, Jian Lin said cautiously, "Lord Demon Lord, what happened? If you don't mind, you can tell me."
"After several days of busy work, I received confirmed news that Zhan San Dao has returned to the demon realm. I have decided to go to the demon realm to capture him and will likely be away from the Demon Sect for a long time," the Demon Lord paused here, his gaze fixed on her face. "As for you..."
Ah, Jian Lin understood. The Demon Lord was uneasy about leaving someone from the Guānlán Sect alone in his Demon Sect.
*Isn't that perfect?* she thought. *I've been trying to find a way to be alone with the Demon Lord and enjoy some private time.*
"Lord Demon Lord, I am willing to accompany you to capture him and contribute my humble efforts!" Jian Lin actively declared.
"Very good," the Demon Lord stood up abruptly, tilting his chin up and looking at her. "Then let's go."
*In the middle of the night? Now?*
The Demon Lord's cultivation was profound; he could go without eating, drinking, or sleeping. Her own cultivation was not like that; she needed to eat辟谷丹 (Bìgǔ Dān - pills for abstaining from grain) and sleep every day. Not letting her sleep in the middle of the night was like trying to kill her!
"Lord Demon Lord, now that you've returned, won't you greet your subordinates and give them some instructions?" Jian Lin said, trembling.
"No need. I have already made arrangements," the Demon Lord paused, then said sinisterly, "Or perhaps you don't want to go? It's fine. I'll give you a choice. If you don't go with me, you can choose to stay in the dungeon."
Jian Lin gasped. How could she waste her time in the dungeon? Fine, she would go!
The departure was sudden, leaving her no time to pack. She hurriedly put on her boots, donned her outer robe, and tied her belt. Her black hair was simply tied into a bun, without even a hairpin. She trotted to catch up with the Demon Lord.
Outside the chambers, the wind was cool and the night was silent. The Demon Lord stood on a platform, a formation glowing with an eerie green light beneath his feet. It was a flying formation condensed from demonic energy.
Jian Lin followed, saying cautiously, "Lord Demon Lord, as you know, I cannot yet fly on my sword. I may need you to carry me."
"I know. Come up, I'll take you," the Demon Lord said softly.
"Thank you, Lord Demon Lord!" Jian Lin exclaimed joyfully and immediately stood behind the Demon Lord. This ambiguous distance was perfect!
Jian Lin had originally planned to find an opportunity to bump into the Demon Lord once they started flying, perhaps even to embrace his waist.
Unexpectedly, as soon as the Demon Lord activated the formation, he shot straight up into the sky, a thousand meters high. Jian Lin was terrified. It felt like riding a freefall ride.
Her legs went weak instinctively, and she sat down, hugging the Demon Lord's thigh. Closing her eyes, she shouted, "Sloooower—"
Grand Steward Hei Yu rushed, but he was still a step too late. Standing in front of the chambers, he watched the green light of the Demon Lord disappear. He glanced back towards the side halls and exclaimed with delight, "Oh, Miss A Pei has left with the Demon Lord! Congratulations, congratulations!"
The Demon Lord had sealed his heart and love, and had no one close to him. The Grand Steward had worried himself sick over him. Now, finally, a girl had caught his eye. Wasn't this a joyous occasion?
While Grand Steward Hei Yu was happy, Jian Lin felt like she was dying.
The Demon Lord flew steadily like an unmoving mountain for the entire night. Only when the sun began to rise in the east did he slowly descend.
Jian Lin opened her eyes a crack. She saw him flying along the edge of the mountain peaks like a circus performer. Just as he was about to crash into a massive rock, he suddenly ascended.
*Amitabha,* Jian Lin closed her eyes, her heart pounding with tension. She used all her strength to hug the Demon Lord's thigh, afraid of being thrown off if her grip loosened.
Even after they landed smoothly, Jian Lin still felt like she was in the sky.
"Let go. We've arrived," the Demon Lord jiggled his leg, trying to shake her off.
Jian Lin opened her eyes. The sun was bright. She saw a patch of lush green grass, and a gentle breeze blew. Behind her, she heard the sound of waves. Turning her head, she saw a dense forest.
This was the first time she had seen such beautiful scenery since transmigrating into this world. Her heart was filled with joy, and her fear dissipated considerably.
She released her arms, stretched her stiff limbs, and stood up, asking in surprise, "Where is this?"
"The edge of the demon realm. When the sun sets, we can enter the demon realm through the dark market," the Demon Lord withdrew his gaze, then turned to Jian Lin. "You have a strong mortal aura. Once you enter demon territory, they will devour you in a single bite. You need to find a way to disguise yourself."
Jian Lin swallowed. She asked the system in her mind, "A Zhe, is what he said true? Is he not deliberately trying to scare me?"
The system replied, "It is true. By an unwritten rule of the Three Realms, if demons go to the mortal world to cause trouble and eat people, they will suffer heavenly punishment. However, if mortals willingly fall into the demon realm, the heavenly punishment does not apply. Therefore, for demons, mortals are a rare delicacy."
Jian Lin's heart fluttered. She immediately and obsequiously sought help, "Lord Demon Lord, how do I disguise myself? I don't know how!"
The Demon Lord frowned, saying with disdain, "What do you know? Come here, I'll help you."
Jian Lin leaned towards the Demon Lord. She saw him extend two fingers, with black and gold demonic energy swirling at his fingertips. The next moment, it flew into her forehead.
A cold sensation spread rapidly from her forehead to her limbs. Jian Lin's eyes widened, and she unconsciously looked back, seeing a white tail that did not belong to her wagging wildly.
Jian Lin chuckled. She was familiar with this tail; it was the tail of that little spirit fox. They truly had a deep connection.
The Demon Lord nodded with satisfaction. "Good. You are now a fox demon."
Jian Lin narrowed her eyes. She certainly didn't miss the expression on the Demon Lord's face. She secretly surmised that the Demon Lord must be quite pleased with her tail. Who would have thought that the outwardly cold and unfeeling Demon Lord was actually a plush toy enthusiast?
She hooked the tip of her tail, making a seductive curve. Now was truly the time and place. She had to seize the opportunity to seduce him!
The day passed quickly. In the afternoon, Jian Lin napped on the grass until she was kicked awake by the Demon Lord.
"The demon realm is lighting up. Get up."
Jian Lin rubbed her sleepy eyes and got up. She looked closely and saw a red lantern floating into the valley below in the distance. As the sun took its last ray of light, one lantern instantly became a row.
The noise and clamor surged like a tide, like a magnificent painting slowly unfolding. The valley, green with grass during the day, had transformed into a bustling, noisy demon town.
Not only that, she turned her head sharply and saw that the towering mountain peaks that had once reached the clouds were now ten-thousand-zhang tall buildings. The red lanterns hanging outside the windows lit up one by one. The shocking scene left her speechless.