After Marrying the Disabled Demon Lord as a Substitute, I Ran Away with His Child - Chapter 36

Chapter 36

“What are you doing?” Xuan Mo’s voice drifted from beside her. Zuo Siqiu immediately retracted her divine sense and opened her eyes, looking at him with a flash of panic.

Xuan Mo grew more suspicious. “What is it? The Demonic Physician said you vomited again just now. Are you unwell?”

Zuo Siqiu stammered, “No, it’s nothing. I’ve just… gotten used to sleeping. I wanted to nap as soon as I saw the moon, so I entered a brief meditative state.”

Xuan Mo looked skeptical. “Do you need more rest?”

Zuo Siqiu shook her head. “No, let’s keep going.”

However, throughout the journey, she could no longer focus her mental energy as she had before. What exactly was that thing inside her Golden Core? Did everyone have a child-like core inside their Golden Core? Was this the prototype of a Nascent Soul?

But Zuo Siqiu felt something was off. It couldn’t possibly be that she was pregnant… right? She hadn’t slept with anyone…

She stole a glance at Xuan Mo.

Absolutely impossible. With a man like Xuan Mo, if she really had slept with him, would she even be alive right now? In the original book, although it wasn’t described in detail, the background setting mentioned that while Xuan Mo wasn’t popular in the cultivation world, many cultivators from the Demon, Ghost, and Monster realms wanted to dual-cultivate with him. Anyone who harbored such designs ended up dead at his hands.

Hadn’t she sworn to him at the start that she had no improper thoughts about him? It was only by using her “fake” persona to shape his public image that she had survived this long. In short, Zuo Siqiu refused to believe she was pregnant.

…

Along the way, they encountered many more heavenly treasures and monsters. They dug up the treasures and worked together to defeat the monsters, keeping the useful parts.

During this time, Xuan Mo noticed that Zuo Siqiu had stopped eating her sour plums—the ones that made his teeth ache just by smelling them. When he asked, she said she had finished them all.

Xuan Mo offered, “Should I have the disciples find you some other sour spiritual fruits?”

Zuo Siqiu shook her head quickly. “I don’t actually like sour things. I was just eating them for fun before. I made too many and didn’t want to waste them, but I actually don’t like them at all.”

Furthermore, Zuo Siqiu stopped vomiting, appearing to have adapted to the scent of the Milong Secret Realm. She acted as if nothing were wrong, even showing off her refined spirit pills and weapons. But only when everyone meditated together did she close her eyes and feel the weight in her heart. She never again let her divine sense probe deep into her Golden Core to see what that “thing” was.

…

Meanwhile, Long Xiaotian and Zuo Mudong finally tracked down Bi Zhian and Zhu Jiechou. Zuo Mudong hadn’t told Zuo Siqiu about her itinerary because she didn’t want her sister to worry about news of their parents.

However, she hadn’t expected the pair to be tailing the Xuanyun Sect. She asked Long Xiaotian, “Are you sure those two are Bi Zhian and Zhu Jiechou? They look like very ordinary Golden Core cultivators.”

Long Xiaotian was certain. “They are using the Long family’s secret techniques and disguise arts. I’m positive.”

Long Xiaotian’s sister, who had tagged along, asked, “How can we get news of Sister Mudong’s parents? Should we just ask them?”

Long Xiaotian replied, “The Second Junior Brother might not speak, but the Third Junior Sister won’t lie.”

Zuo Mudong looked at him skeptically. On the day they denounced Bimu, his “Third Junior Sister” hadn’t exactly seemed normal.

Long Xiaotian smiled bitterly. “Third Junior Sister is pure-hearted and kind. She is generous to a fault. Back at the sect, she would forgive the disciples for all the wrongs they did her. She can’t bear to hurt anyone, let alone her father.”

Zuo Mudong and Long Xiaotian’s sister exchanged a look. Given their experiences at Bixia Sect, they didn’t trust anyone from that place. They had seen with their own eyes how Bi Zhian protected her father.

Long Xiaotian’s sister said, “Brother, Mudong and I aren’t from Bixia Sect, and we have a grudge against them. If we ask, they’ll be on guard. They might even ambush us.”

Long Xiaotian wanted to defend Bi Zhian, but he softened at his sister’s gaze. It was true; they were enemies. “Fine, I’ll go ask.”

He had Zuo Mudong and his sister hide their auras while he approached the pair. Bi Zhian looked flustered when she saw him, and Zhu Jiechou immediately stepped in front of her. “Does this fellow cultivator need something? We are rogue cultivators and prefer to explore alone.”

Long Xiaotian addressed them by name. “Second Junior Brother, Third Junior Sister, I know it’s you. You’re using my family’s concealment techniques; how could I not recognize you?”

Zhu Jiechou sneered, “Hasn’t Eldest Senior Brother been busy helping those ‘cauldrons’ build a new sect? Why come to us? Do you want us to help the people who ruined the Master?”

Long Xiaotian ignored him and looked at Bi Zhian. “Third Junior Sister, is the Venerable One still alive?”

Bi Zhian was panicked. “Eldest Senior Brother, what do you mean?”

“Don’t worry,” he said. “The cauldron matter is in the past; I won’t pursue it. I only want to know if the Master is alive.”

Bi Zhian stepped past Zhu Jiechou. “Father is alive, but his life is a living hell. Why do you think we risked coming here? We are here to find spiritual herbs to save his life. I know you’re angry about your sister, but he has been punished. Please, for the sake of the years he raised you, don’t hate him anymore.”

Long Xiaotian sighed. “Sister, you are as pure-hearted as ever. Since you’ve put it that way… how could I continue to hate him? I only hope he stops committing such atrocities.”

Bi Zhian’s expression softened. The Elder Brother hasn’t changed.

Zhu Jiechou watched them with mockery in his eyes. Long Xiaotian continued, “Sister, when you rescued the Master, did you check his storage artifacts?”

“What do you mean?”

“Some of the girls said their parents were also kidnapped by the Master. After killing them, he refined their souls into puppets. Did you find any Soul Puppets?”

Zhu Jiechou’s eyes flickered as he lowered his gaze. Bi Zhian, however, looked genuinely blank. “His storage artifacts were snatched by other cultivators during the fight. We didn’t find any others. There were no Soul Puppets.”

Zhu Jiechou added coldly, “Eldest Senior Brother, don’t believe everything you hear. Those women would say anything to survive. Why listen to them?”

Long Xiaotian frowned, but seeing that Bi Zhian didn’t seem to be lying, he told them to stay safe and left. Once he was gone, Bi Zhian asked, “Why would he suspect Father of such things?”

Zhu Jiechou thought: Because your father was exactly that kind of piece of trash. But since the Soul Puppets were now in his hands, he wasn’t about to let the secret out. “Don’t trust him,” he told her. “He’s been with those women too long.”

…

The next day, when the mist arrived, the Xuanyun Sect didn’t think much of it. In this realm, such phenomena were common. But as the mist swirled, it began to obstruct their vision. One moment they were laughing together, and the next, Zuo Siqiu turned around to find herself completely alone.

She stood frozen. Usually, in novels, the heroine would ignore the hero’s warnings and wander off, only to find more danger. Zuo Siqiu sat down cross-legged on the ground. Fine, I’m not moving.

She clutched her spirit pills, ready for anything. In the dim moonlight, the wind whistled through the trees like ghost shadows. Piercing screams of battle and eerie wails echoed from the distance.

Zuo Siqiu had been an atheist before transmigrating. Even though she knew ghosts existed now, her ingrained scientific mindset provided a psychological wall. She wasn’t afraid of the atmosphere—as long as no monsters or villains appeared.

After an hour, no monsters appeared, but a familiar enemy did.

Zhu Jiechou had intentionally separated from Bi Zhian and used a method taught by the Long family to find Zuo Siqiu. Seeing her sitting on the ground, he smirked. “I didn’t think Little Junior Sister would be so clever to realize that staying still is the safest path.”

Zuo Siqiu stiffened. “What are you doing here? Did you come for me specifically?”

Zhu Jiechou laughed. “You were just playing dumb at the sect, weren’t you? You look nothing like that fool now.”

Zuo Siqiu stood up, preparing for a fight. “Why are you here? Get to the point.”

“I like this straightforwardness,” Zhu Jiechou said. “I’m here for two things: your storage ring, and you.”

Zuo Siqiu hid her hand behind her back. “The ring is mine. And I’m definitely not going with you. Besides, don’t you like the Third Senior Sister?”

“I do,” he nodded. “I don’t want you as a partner—I don’t play with women others have already used.”

The more bizarre the atmosphere became, the calmer Zuo Siqiu grew. She feigned impatience. “Why stop halfway? Are you afraid that if you tell me your plan, I’ll ruin it?”

Zhu Jiechou laughed loudly. “Xuan Mo isn’t here; why would I be afraid of you? Don’t think I don’t know you’re trying to goad me.”

Fine, Zuo Siqiu thought. If that won’t work, don’t blame me for playing dirty.

As soon as he finished speaking, Zuo Siqiu threw a pill. Zhu Jiechou leaped into the air. “Little Junior Sister! You underestimate me! Do you think I came unprepared? I know exactly what pills you have!”

But as the objects landed, he realized they weren’t pills; they were two low-grade spirit stones. Before he could react, a massive, fine spiderweb dropped from above, entangling him!

What is this? He had been following them for days; he thought he knew all her inventions!

Zhu Jiechou struggled, circulating his spiritual energy. “You think this can hold me?”

But as he hit the ground, a massive explosion erupted beneath him. His hand seal was interrupted, and the sudden shock caused his spiritual energy to reverse, leaving him unable to protect his physical body.

Then, a flurry of ice needles rained down, piercing his flesh. Finally, a Stink-Fart Pill exploded in his face. The overwhelming stench made him lose his mind; he couldn’t even think straight. He knew she had these pills, but he hadn’t expected her to set a trap right where she sat!

Zuo Siqiu stepped forward, holding a high-grade defensive treasure in one hand and a Freezing Pill in the other. “Senior Brother, you don’t know how much I value my life. Did you really think I’d just sit here like a sitting duck? Now, tell me: why do you want me? I’m curious to know what part of me ‘attracts’ you.”

Zhu Jiechou forced a cruel grin. “You think I’ll tell you?”

Zuo Siqiu sighed. “Fine. If you won’t cooperate, I’ll have to use the Truth Pill.”

Zhu Jiechou nearly spat blood. He had fallen for that before! “How can you have a Truth Pill?”

“I refined it!” she said calmly. “It wasn’t easy, but it’s possible. I also have a ‘Truth or Dare’ Pill. Do you want to try it? If you eat it and I give you a dare, you must complete it.”

Zhu Jiechou wanted to curse. She had no combat power, yet her damage output was insane! And what kind of ridiculous pills were these?

Zuo Siqiu fed him a Truth Pill. A strange power took control of him. “Why do you want me?” she asked.

He gritted his teeth, but the words forced themselves out. “Because, Little Junior Sister, you are a medicinal primer. Using you to refine a pill guarantees a successful tribulation crossing.”

The power vanished. He laughed like a madman. “So your Truth Pill only works for one sentence? I thought you were impressive, but you’re nothing compared to the one the Demon Sovereign gave me.”

“That one is hard to make,” Zuo Siqiu admitted. She pulled out a whole bottle. “But I have a bottle of these ‘one-sentence’ pills. I bet I can get every truth I want out of you. Want to gamble?”

“You’re playing with me!!”

She fed him another one. “Question two: How did I become Master’s ‘medicinal primer’?”

One by one, she fed him Truth Pills. If he resisted, she hit him with a Freezing Pill or an Explosive Boar Pill. Eventually, she got the whole story.

It turned out the drug Fugui had given her wasn’t meant to kill her, but to transform her body into a medicinal primer. However, Zhu Jiechou was only a middleman; he didn’t know the exact refining process, so Zuo Siqiu still didn’t realize that she and the Demon Sovereign had “dual-cultivated” many times because of that drug.

She also learned that this entire secret realm opening was a trap specifically set to capture her.

Zuo Siqiu narrowed her eyes. “You guys really went to a lot of trouble.”

She used a “Dare Pill” to force him to hand over the jade slip given to him by the Long family, which contained detailed maps and information on the realm. She wanted to take his storage ring, too, but the pills were experimental and their power was fading. Getting the map was enough.

Zhu Jiechou was livid. “A dare? You dared me to give you the map? What kind of dare is that?!” But his hands hadn’t listened to him.

Zuo Siqiu scanned the jade slip and smiled at her injured, webbed-up Senior Brother. “Since you love the mist so much, why don’t you stay with it?”

She clumsily performed a few hand seals. The mist shifted, wrapping tightly around Zhu Jiechou. Unless the Long family sent help immediately, he wouldn’t be getting out. For good measure, she threw a few more Freezing Pills and a Passionate Illusion Pill at him. The ice needles would slowly drain his energy, and the illusion pill would ensure he stayed “distracted.”

Zuo Siqiu used the hand seal from the jade slip to clear the mist around her. As Zhu Jiechou disappeared into the fog, screaming in agony, she muttered two words: “Serves you right.”