After Provoking the Mad Beautiful Deity - Chapter 28

“Someone is Taking Liberties with Me!”

Hongchen was dragged away by her ear, looking dazed and disheveled. San Meng doubled over with laughter, barely able to keep herself upright. Her heart finally settled into peace; aside from being fixated on “small matters,” the Demon Lord cared nothing for the affairs of the Immortal Realm. This proved she had no ambition to conquer them.

Furthermore, looking at Hongchen, who was well behaved yet possessed a streak of rebellion, it seemed Yan Lai was the only one capable of suppressing her.

The current Demon Lord’s temperament was nothing like her predecessor, Hong Yan. Her disposition was more akin to that of the Immortals, suggesting that the two realms might enjoy peace for many years to come. Because San Meng’s heart belonged to the safety of the Immortal Realm, her prejudices against the Demon Lord gradually dissipated.

Having been dragged out the door, Hongchen wailed and complained the entire way until she was tossed back into Yan Lai’s sleeping chambers. Yan Lai looked displeased. “You are not permitted to go anywhere.”

Hongchen sat by the entrance, rolling her eyes and pointing to the top of her own head. Yan Lai looked at her, confused. Hongchen huffed, “I am the Demon Lord. Have you no sense of etiquette?”

Yan Lai sat down beside her, staring into the empty space. Suddenly having nothing to do brought a sense of tranquility to her mind. She spoke up, “I went to find the Medical Immortal to inquire about your constitution.”

“The Demon-Immortal said my constitution is unique. Since there was no spiritual energy available to heal me that day, she suggested the art of Dual Cultivation.” Hongchen hummed twice, expressing her dissatisfaction with Yan Lai. However, her annoyance vanished quickly as she leaned in close to Yan Lai’s face, eager. “When shall we begin our Dual Cultivation?”

Yan Lai teased, “Wait until you find your missing soul fragments first.”

“What do I need those souls for?” Hongchen frowned, looking genuinely unhappy for once. She propped her chin in her hands, looking bored. “Actually, I did look for them. I searched for thousands of years and traveled to every corner of the world. You’ve seen the results.”

“Have you ever been to the Nine Heavens?” Yan Lai asked.

Hongchen had traveled everywhere on earth, but the Nine Heavens was the one place she had never set foot in.

“What is the point?” Hongchen repeated the question. She pressed a hand against her chest, questioning both herself and Yan Lai. “A-Rou must have died in the end, and the Imperial Consort’s soul was also incomplete. I think to myself: if she were alive, she would have surely come to see me. The past was so painful; why go looking for it just to invite more suffering?”

“The Heavenly Emperor’s cultivation is growing. Shouldn’t you be more diligent?” Yan Lai noted.

“The Dao may rise one foot, but the Demon rises ten. What is there to fear?” Hongchen said confidently.

Yan Lai knit her brows. “But what if he is the Demon, and you are the Dao?”

Hongchen was not truly dim-witted; she caught the hidden meaning. Yan Lai continued: “The Medical Immortal said that the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth is gathered in one body and cannot be shared. Furthermore, we still don’t know who the person was that injured me. Don’t you want to find out?”

Everything in the world possesses spiritual energy: the sprouting grass, the shaded mountain forests, and the thick immortal essence of the heavens. For humans, spiritual energy is sustenance. Ten thousand years ago, many High Gods walked the earth; now, in ten thousand years, only Jiu Han has appeared.

The Heavenly Emperor had bestowed countless miraculous pills, but they all ultimately came to nothing.

The Human Realm lacked spiritual energy, making birth, aging, illness, and death more frequent. The Immortal Realm’s lack of energy resulted in the stagnation seen before them. Similarly, conditions in the Demon Realm were not much better.

Having occupied the throne for ten thousand years, Hongchen naturally encouraged her subordinates to be diligent in their cultivation, but the results were poor. She had personally raised the Young Lords of the Ten Halls and ordered the Demon Physicians to refine pills to aid them. The effects were significant, but they were still young, being less than ten thousand years old. When Yan Guang and Qing Feng sparred, Yan Guang won decisively.

She thought for a moment. “Can we eat the pills the Heavenly Emperor gave you?”

Reminded of this, Yan Lai smiled slightly. “There are many cultivators on this mountain. Let’s knock one unconscious and steal some to see.”

The two took action immediately.

Phoenix Mountain was vast. Yan Lai had not walked its paths for ten thousand years, and her memories were faint. Hongchen, however, seemed strangely familiar with the terrain as she navigated toward a different peak. She looked up at a plaque that had been weathered by the wind, indicating no one had lived there for a long time.

“Eh? This place feels familiar.” Hongchen looked around. Without thinking much, she performed a hand seal to restore the peak to its original appearance.

To her surprise, after a flash of red light, the scene turned entirely crimson. Red lanterns hung from the gates, and red silk draped over the plaque. Looking closer at the plaque, it read: Qing Yan Peak.

Hongchen tilted her head and clicked her tongue mockingly. “So someone got married here. This is your place, isn’t it?”

“Why do you say that?” Yan Lai feigned ignorance.

Hongchen pointed at the characters for ‘Qing Yan.’ “Who in the entire Phoenix Mountain would dare use the name ‘Qing Yan’ except for someone as shameless as you?”

Yan Lai: “…”

Then, Hongchen added, “However, I like your shamelessness.”

Yan Lai narrowed her eyes but chose not to argue. When she had first woken up, this place was already in ruins. With so many affairs to handle on the mountain, she had gradually forgotten it. Had she come sooner, she might have discovered the truth earlier.

Hongchen stepped over the threshold as if returning home. She maintained the illusion with her spiritual power, controlling the entire mountain peak. Yan Lai followed her in. The mountain was covered in drifting red silk; it must have been a wedding of unprecedented scale.

The red was startling, yet it felt devoid of joy. Hongchen stood beneath a tree, looking at the red silk on the branches. Her eyes were as still as an ancient well, as if she were looking at a foreign object.

While her heart remained still, her words stirred a storm of desire. She said, “I want to kiss you.”

When you are with the Demon Lord, you never know if her next sentence will be something scandalous. Yan Lai was used to it; she simply gave her a look and left her to her own thoughts.

Disappointed, Hongchen walked to the steps and looked at the scarlet lanterns. Their light was brilliant, like the deep red of fresh blood. She mused for a moment and said, “I smell blood.”

Many people must have died here. She looked down at the blue bricks beneath her feet, her eyes darkening. In the next breath, she cast a spell: “Reveal!”

Instantly, winding streams of blood appeared beneath them.

Hongchen sneered. “A ‘Joyous Funeral’ then?”

Marriage is supposed to be a happy occasion; for it to end as a funeral was incredibly tragic.

Yan Lai had no memory of this and felt like a stranger to the scene. In other visions, she would feel headaches or catch glimpses of images, but here, her heart was unmoved. Perhaps the source of her memory loss lay right here.

As Yan Lai took a deep breath, Hongchen moved further inside. The hall was decorated as a wedding chamber, mirroring the simple yet festive style of the Human Realm.

The scent of blood was even stronger here. Hongchen cast the spell again to reveal the bloodstains on the floor. However, after two tries, the ground remained clean.

No blood had been spilled in this room.

Yan Lai walked in, watching the red candles burning high in the wedding hall. Her heart was like a mirrored lake. She touched her chest but felt no pain.

Hongchen looked around and suddenly asked, “Who did you marry?”

“I don’t know. I forgot.” Yan Lai lied intentionally.

Hongchen looked at her deeply, seemingly lost in thought. “If the Heavenly Emperor knew you were already married, why did he still arrange an engagement with you?”

Yan Lai couldn’t answer.

Hongchen answered for her: “A joyous funeral, it must mean the ceremony was never completed.”

“Hongchen, let’s go.” Yan Lai didn’t want to look anymore. Even if the scenery didn’t trigger her emotions, every sight felt like a needle pricking her eyes. This seemingly peaceful scene was saturated with hidden bloodshed.

Hongchen didn’t move. She scanned the surroundings. Seeing her lack of reaction, Yan Lai’s heart skipped a beat. “Did you remember something?”

“What do you hope I remember?” Hongchen rolled her eyes.

Yan Lai breathed a sigh of relief.

The two left Qing Yan Peak. As soon as Hongchen stepped over the threshold, the scene behind them reverted to its ruined state. Hongchen’s steps were light, seemingly unaffected; she even began pulling Yan Lai along to discuss cultivation methods.

The mountain scenery was beautiful, and the path down was easy. With their robes fluttering in the wind, they quickly reached the foot of the mountain.

Having talked the whole way, Hongchen’s throat was dry. Seeing red fruit on a tree, she plucked two without thinking and took a bite. They were juicy and sweet.

Hongchen was one to make herself at home; she put on no airs, whereas Yan Lai seemed uncomfortable at every turn.

Hongchen tossed the fruit pit onto the ground and looked back. The mountain was filled with halls and palaces, shrouded in mist and immortal energy.

“Are there no cultivators here who have ascended to the Immortal Rank?” Hongchen asked curiously.

“Of course, there are. Why do you ask?” Yan Lai replied. In truth, she wasn’t entirely sure. Secular affairs were handled by others, especially concerning the cultivators. The Immortal Realm would occasionally send pills or fruit to Phoenix Mountain to nurture talent against the Demon Realm.

However, the results had been meager.

Hongchen stopped asking. They knocked a male cultivator unconscious, and Hongchen stepped forward to search him. She felt around his robes, but they were empty.

As the girl’s hands wandered toward his waist, she let out a surprised “Eh?” but her hands came up empty. Yan Lai immediately thought of something inappropriate and covered Hongchen’s mouth. “Don’t say another word!”

Hongchen glanced at her; what a boring Goddess.

Finding nothing, they had to give up and continue searching the forest. They spotted a female cultivator; Hongchen knocked her out without a word. As the woman fell, Hongchen prepared to search her again. Yan Lai, reaching her limit, pulled her away and lowered her voice: “Stop touching her!”

Hongchen gave her a strange look. “If I don’t search, how will I know where the pills are?”

“You, you can’t search like that,” Yan Lai said, her face flushing red.

Hongchen was stumped. “Like what? You do it then. You try.”

Yan Lai was speechless, falling into an awkward silence. She stepped back, performed a hand seal, and whispered: “Rise.”

An object at the woman’s waist, a grey pouch, was summoned. Hongchen caught it and dumped everything out: talismans, spirit stones, and various magical tools, but no pills.

Hongchen was puzzled. Yan Lai gave up. “The pills gifted by the Immortals are likely consumed immediately. Leaving them behind is a risk; they are only beneficial once eaten.”

Hongchen smiled brilliantly, looking completely innocent. “Simple. We’ll just go to the Nine Heavens and steal them.”

Yan Lai was momentarily dazed by her smile. Hongchen seized the opportunity to close the distance, wrapping her arms around Yan Lai’s waist and standing on her tiptoes to kiss the corner of her mouth.

She was practiced and dominant; her tongue pried open Yan Lai’s lips, taking what she wanted with bold entitlement. Hongchen would not allow Yan Lai to retreat, pinning her in place with her palm. Her hand was burning hot against Yan Lai’s lower back, like winter charcoal, forcing Yan Lai to abandon any thought of pulling away.

The breeze in the forest was gentle and quiet.

It was as if Hongchen had suddenly reached a new level of realization; a simple kiss was no longer enough. She moved from the lips she had been ravaging and lightly bit down on Yan Lai’s jaw. Yan Lai gasped in pain, and Hongchen giggled.

The dignified High God had not only been taken advantage of by a Demon Lord but had also been bitten. She was so frustrated she could hardly stand, nearly tempted to chase the woman away.

In the end, she endured it. After two deep breaths, she led the annoying Demon Lord toward the Nine Heavens to steal the pills.

Meanwhile, a visitor arrived at Phoenix Mountain. Siming was in a frantic rush to see the High God Yan Lai.

The Nine Heavens were heavily guarded; one could not simply walk in to steal things. Hongchen transformed into the likeness of San Meng, while Yan Lai turned into a bead of Immortal Grass. They passed through the Southern Heavenly Gate with ease.

After a few steps, a woman in indigo immortal robes blocked their path. She arched an eyebrow at Hongchen. “Immortal San Meng, why not come to my palace for a drink?”

The woman’s voice was seductive and her tone incredibly tender. Her eyes sparkled like ripples on a spring lake. Hongchen stared without blinking. The Immortal women were truly beautiful. She didn’t move, and the other woman’s finger brushed lightly against her chin, sending a shiver through her.

Yan Lai didn’t recognize the woman, but seeing her drape an arm over Hongchen’s shoulder in such an intimate manner, nearly touching Hongchen’s ear, Yan Lai swung her sleeve and released a burst of fire. Using the distraction, she grabbed Hongchen and ran.

Since San Meng was improper, her friends were clearly improper as well.

The two bolted away. Hongchen clutched her chest, feigning a heartache. “Why are the women of your Immortal Realm so good-looking? I want to kidnap them all to the Demon Realm to be my maids. How pleasing to the eye that would be! Don’t you agree? Hey, stop running!”

Hongchen was wildly unrestrained, completely ignoring the chasm between Immortals and Demons. She didn’t even mind being flirted with. Yan Lai was fuming with irritation. “Shameless!”

“Shameless it is, then. I was just looking; it’s good for the eyes. It’s not like I’d actually like her.” Hongchen waved her hand grandly. She sighed, looking at the palaces before them. They had lost their way.

As they stood there, immortal attendants passed by, bowing and addressing them as “High Immortals.” Hongchen nodded pretentiously as they walked past.

Yan Lai caught her breath and was about to turn around when she overheard the attendants speaking.

“I didn’t expect Prince Qing Feng, who is usually so refined, to do such a shameful thing. And for High God Yan Lai to kill the Medical Immortal for his sake, what a pitiable, misguided devotion.”

“High God Yan Lai is always so proper and perfect. How could she like the Prince?”

“Oh, you haven’t seen the Prince lately. He is as handsome as jade and stands seven feet tall. It’s no wonder so many fairies secretly admire him. He is the Heavenly Emperor’s only son; marrying him makes you a Consort at the very least.”

“It’s a pity High God Yan Lai took a life for him. Truly pathetic.”

“Think about it. The High God is tens of thousands of years older than the Prince; of course she’d cling to him. I heard her looks are quite plain and unremarkable. Since she isn’t beautiful, she had to resort to such cruel methods to tie down the Prince’s heart.”

Time seemed to freeze. Hongchen turned to Yan Lai, her eyes full of confusion. Yan Lai’s face was flushed red as she whispered, “It’s all lies.”

Hongchen had a terrible temper. If this wasn’t explained well, she might flip the Nine Heavens upside down. Hongchen let out an “Oh” and asked, “Do you want to go clear your name?”

“There is no need.” Yan Lai refused. She had never cared for empty reputation. The fact was she hadn’t killed anyone; why waste time on rumors?

Hongchen’s voice dropped, laced with simmering rage. “You don’t care, but I do. Come on, where did you see the Medical Immortal? Let’s go have a look.”

“No!” Yan Lai blocked her path with her arms, using a spell to forcibly restrain the hot-tempered woman. If Hongchen found out she had been used as a “medicine human” for Qing Feng, a war would break out between the two realms, causing a catastrophe for all living beings.

“I won’t!” Hongchen was not to be trifled with. Killing intent flared from her body as she forcibly broke Yan Lai’s restraint. “They are despicable cowards. I can’t stand them saying your looks are plain. You weren’t clinging to the Prince; the Prince was clinging to you! I saw it all at Hundred Flower Mountain. Everyone else is just talking nonsense.”

The two squared off. Yan Lai refused to back down and cast another spell, this time using the Immortal-Binding Rope to tie Hongchen up.

Hongchen stood there, stunned. “Why are you binding me?”

“Keep your voice down, others will hear!” Yan Lai was frantic. She reached out to cover Hongchen’s mouth, pleading, “This is the Immortal Realm. Do not try to act tough here.”

Hongchen felt wronged. Unable to win a fair fight, Yan Lai had used a sneak attack with the rope. What kind of “pure” High God was that? She opened her mouth and bit Yan Lai’s finger. She bit down hard, but suddenly, her own heart began to ache first.

Fine, I won’t bite her.

Hongchen let go and looked at Yan Lai with exasperation. “Let me go, or I’ll scream that you’re molesting me.”

“Go ahead and scream.” Yan Lai said, effectively giving up.

Hongchen opened her mouth and shouted: “Someone is taking liberties with me!”

Before she could finish, her soft lips were blocked. Hongchen blinked, her shout cut short.

In her desperation, Yan Lai had pressed her own lips against Hongchen’s. Her teeth even nipped Hongchen’s lip in her haste; though it was painful, Hongchen didn’t try to stop her.