"My lady, how do you feel after your breakthrough?"
Xiao Ye tenderly wiped the sweat from Gu Xiaosu's brow with his sleeve.
Gu Xiaosu's beautiful eyes were filled with warmth. She said gently and seriously, "My old ailments are all gone. Husband, you don't have to... labor day and night for me."
Because of her frail health, Xiao Ye had been transferring his true qi to her every night.
This had caused Xiao Ye's cultivation to stagnate, with no progress at all.
"My lady."
Xiao Ye embraced Gu Xiaosu, his voice filled with immense tenderness.
"We will break through to the Mahayana realm together, then ascend together, and be a pair of immortal couples."
Gu Xiaosu leaned quietly against Xiao Ye, clearly hearing his strong heartbeat.
She knew Xiao Ye's deep affection, and a torrent of complex emotions arose in her heart.
For three years, she had been waiting for news from her sect, but none had come.
Every time she accompanied Xiao Ye down the mountain, Gu Xiaosu wanted to inquire about the Zheng Gu Sect.
However, Xiao Ye never took her to the cultivation world; instead, he took her to the mortal world for their marital travels.
Gu Xiaosu sighed and suddenly asked, "Husband, if one day I can no longer accompany you..."
"What did you say?"
Before Gu Xiaosu could finish, Xiao Ye suddenly lowered his head and stared intently at her.
Gu Xiaosu's lips trembled slightly. How she longed to say that she wanted to go home.
However, she was sure Xiao Ye would not agree, as she had subtly hinted at it over the years.
Xiao Ye's attitude was firm: he wanted to separate her from the righteous path.
Since her sect wasn't coming to rescue her, she had to try her best to return on her own.
The night was clear and starry.
"Father... Master, no...!"
In the deep of the night, Gu Xiaosu woke up in a cold sweat.
She had dreamed that her sect was attempting to kill Xiao Ye.
And that she, the saintess who married the Demon Lord, was to be put to death.
Gu Xiaosu saw her own family members looking at her with extreme disappointment.
Gu Xiaosu was truly afraid. Had the lack of any news from her sect for these three years been because they were disappointed in her as their saintess?
"My lady, are you alright?"
Xiao Ye's eyes opened beside Gu Xiaosu. His hand rested on her slender back.
Gu Xiaosu gradually calmed down as Xiao Ye patted her comfortingly a few times.
"Did you have a nightmare?"
Xiao Ye's voice was low and caring.
Gu Xiaosu nodded at Xiao Ye and slowly nestled back into his embrace.
Her voice held a hint of grievance, "Husband, can you let me go back to my sect? I haven't seen my master and the others in so long."
Gu Xiaosu's current state appeared extremely fragile. Xiao Ye's arm around her waist stiffened slightly.
However, upon meeting Gu Xiaosu's tear-filled eyes, Xiao Ye's expression became hesitant.
Xiao Ye remained silent for a long time, but ultimately said nothing.
He dared not gamble. If he took Gu Xiaosu back to her sect, would she still be willing to return to his side?
After all, Gu Xiaosu had been captured by Xiao Ye, and her heart still held loyalty to her sect.
Gu Xiaosu had been playing the zither with increasing frequency lately. Xiao Ye could tell that she seemed to miss her family.
Gu Xiaosu looked at Xiao Ye with melancholy. Seeing his stiff expression,
she could only offer a weak smile, "Husband, let's go to sleep. I was just saying."
Xiao Ye was unwilling to let her leave, and she herself could not escape the demon sect.
Under Xiao Ye's continuous soothing words, Gu Xiaosu reluctantly fell asleep.
When the next day arrived, Xiao Ye had someone prepare calming tea for Gu Xiaosu.
Xiao Ye, along with countless demon cultivators, once again left the demon sect to pursue development.
Over the past three years, the immortal sects had become increasingly volatile. They watched the demon sect devour the forces of the righteous path,
and were filled with terror.
The demon sect had also gained many members; the number of people joining the demon sect now surpassed that of the immortal sects.
However, they all had to adhere to one rule: they must treat Gu Xiaosu with respect.
"Madam, where are you going?"
Gu Xiaosu, while drinking her tea, ambled into the woods.
She found a carrier pigeon and tied a letter to it.
Gu Xiaosu channeled her true qi into the pigeon, silently vowing.
This would be the last letter!
If her sect still didn't send anyone to find her, she would truly spend the rest of her life with Xiao Ye.
The entire righteous path would no longer have her title of Saintess!
Gu Xiaosu's expression was complex as she stared at the trajectory of the pigeon's flight.
During her three years in the demon sect, much of Gu Xiaosu's unwillingness had been worn down.
In her time spent with Xiao Ye, she had actually found it... filled with warmth and happiness.
Gu Xiaosu disliked cultivation, yet she grew accustomed to Xiao Ye's pampering.
This was not a good omen.
Gu Xiaosu, seeing where the pigeon disappeared, lowered her gaze.
Just as she was about to turn away, she suddenly heard some movement nearby.
Gu Xiaosu normally paid no mind to the movements within the demon sect, but this time she followed the sound.
However, Gu Xiaosu did not expect to witness a shocking scene.
Two demon cultivators stood in the direction the pigeon had flown, throwing out a cloth bag.
The cloth bag covered the pigeon, and was then retrieved by a withered demon cultivator.
Beside him, a fatter demon cultivator opened another cloth bag and released several pigeons.
Their conversation reached Gu Xiaosu's ears, "Madam has sent so many letters. The Demon Lord treats her so well, why does she still pine for that damned righteous path?"
"The Demon Lord's intentions are profound. If I were him, I would have quarreled with Madam."
"Speak less. Regardless, we were assigned to collect the pigeons. We just need to do our duty."
It turned out that there were always pigeons in the woods; they were all released by these demon cultivators.
Xiao Ye and his followers had long known that she was secretly sending messages to the immortal sects.
Gu Xiaosu was devastated. Her body trembled uncontrollably.
Her eyes became vacant. No wonder the immortal sects had been silent for so long.
It turned out...
None of the messages had ever reached the immortal sects!
Xiao Ye knew everything!
Gu Xiaosu walked back stiffly. She suddenly understood why...
Xiao Ye never took her to the cultivation world; it was because he was guarding against her!
This was the husband who had almost made her forget her identity as a saintess, nearly keeping her in the demon sect!
Gu Xiaosu's eyes reddened, a few tears welling up.
As she walked back towards their dwelling, the demon sect again erupted with a clamor.
Gu Xiaosu's gaze fell upon Xiao Ye, clad in black with blood-red accents, being carried back by demon cultivators, severely injured.
When Gu Xiaosu saw Xiao Ye, she saw that he had fallen into a coma.
"What happened to the Demon Lord?"
The expressions of the demon cultivators were somewhat stiff. Xiao Ye's weakened body was supported and brought before Gu Xiaosu.
Gu Xiaosu's face instantly turned pale. She heard the demon cultivators gravely say, "The Demon Lord was ambushed and severely wounded by the combined forces of the immortal sects!"
Gu Xiaosu's beautiful eyes widened. She stared blankly at Xiao Ye's face.
His gentle eyes were closed, and he looked incredibly weak.
After Xiao Ye was taken into the room, basins of blood followed one after another.
Gu Xiaosu saw Xiao Ye's wounds; they were inflicted by the immortal sects' secret techniques.
They were almost life-threatening.
The immortal sects were truly heartless!