After Provoking the Mad Beautiful Deity - Chapter 34

“Dumb as a post, yet cutely so.”

Having discovered that Sanmeng was suffering from the backlash of the dreamscape, her internal energy in disarray, Hongchen watched the spectacle for a moment before graciously stepping in to help.

Yanlai stood to the side, her figure tall and slender, her expression cool and detached.

After a while, Hongchen withdrew her spiritual power, tilted her head, and looked at Sanmeng. Sanmeng’s heart leapt into her throat under that gaze; her mind was in a whirl. Hongchen asked, “What did you see?”

What did I see? Sanmeng shuddered again, still in disbelief. A righteous sect leader, a Phoenix Elder who had lived for over a hundred thousand years, had actually used her own disciple’s child as bait to lure a demon out, forcing A-Rou to take her own life to save her flesh and blood.

She took a deep breath. The girl before her had a refreshing smile and eyes so pure they reminded one of the cold moon—the personification of a “white moonlight” in one’s heart.

“Demon Lord, I have a question for you,” Sanmeng managed to say with difficulty.

Unaware of Sanmeng’s inner turmoil, Hongchen gave a grand wave of her hand. “Ask.”

“If your disciple were the offspring of the Immortal Clan, would you use her as bait to lure Immortals into a slaughter?” As Sanmeng spoke, her heart throbbed, and a dull ache spread through her chest.

Hongchen burst into laughter, her voice as bright as ever. “My disciple? If others don’t cherish her, I certainly will. From the day she bows to me, I will protect her for as long as I live.”

“Is that so? And what if it were your grand-disciple?”

Hongchen countered with a question of her own: “What’s the difference?”

They are all the same!

Sanmeng turned her gaze to Yanlai. “High Goddess, tell me—what is Immortal and what is Demon? What is Good and what is Evil? The Immortals have always represented justice, and the Demons, evil. But what if, one day, the Immortals can no longer represent justice?”

Yanlai’s eyes narrowed as she stood with her hands behind her back, as cold as a snow-covered pine. Her indifferent gaze was gradually replaced by one of profound pity.

“I cannot answer your question. To be honest, I am also confused; I too am searching for the meaning of right and wrong. Sanmeng, you lived through the Great War ten thousand years ago and even fell into a demonic state yourself. You understand what a demon is better than I do.”

Sanmeng froze, her slender hands clenched into fists, her face deathly pale. Hongchen, sensing none of the subtext, looked between the two of them. “What kind of riddles are you two speaking in?”

Yanlai suddenly asked, “Can you enter the Emperor’s dreams?”

“I cannot. The gap between our strengths is far too wide,” Sanmeng sighed.

Hongchen only laughed, a rare confidence and arrogance appearing on her handsome face. “Simple. I’ll charge up to the Ninth Heaven and wound him. Once he’s injured, you can explore his dreams then. Besides, I’m curious about his cultivation; is it truly as terrifying as you all say?”

“If your soul were whole, I wouldn’t stop you. But for now, stay out of trouble.” Yanlai shook her head and refused, unwilling to let Hongchen come to harm.

Hongchen let out a cry of surprise. “Am I really that weak in your eyes?”

“We’ve sparred, and I’ve fought that mysterious figure. Do you think I have no sense of the comparison?” Yanlai said.

Hongchen dismissed this with a shrug. “When I fight you, I never use my full strength.”

“The person who wounded me might not have used their full strength either.”

“You really shouldn’t boost others’ morale while undermining your own; it’s a bad habit.”

Yanlai gave a light laugh. “Find your soul, and then I will let you go.”

“You’re so annoying. Why must you always bring up my soul? It’s gone. It can’t be found. Just forget it.” Hongchen finally found something to fret about; it seemed her soul truly was gone for good.

Sacrificing to Liuguang… was I out of my mind back then? Why on earth did I sacrifice to Liuguang?

She shot a glare at Yanlai, who looked startled. “Why are you glaring at me?”

“My soul is gone, and you keep bringing it up. Do you know how sad that makes me?” Hongchen huffed in indignation.

Yanlai replied, “I remind you only to tell you how important your soul is. Remember to find a way to get it back.”

“It’s gone! It was sacrificed to Liuguang!” Hongchen lamented.

Yanlai’s heart tightened. “Why can it not be returned?”

“Devoured by a devil,” Hongchen sighed again. “You really do pick the most sensitive topics. I’m angry now. Kiss me.”

The request followed so naturally that it was impossible to refuse. Yanlai was caught between laughter and tears, while Sanmeng gave a low cough. She knew their relationship was unconventional, but she hadn’t expected the Demon Lord to be so utterly shameless.

Sanmeng lay back on the bed and waved them away. “I’m tired and want to rest. You two should leave.”

“True. We should go back to our room and settle the score. I need to teach you that you can’t just kiss and run; it’s disrespectful.” Hongchen prattled on as she pulled Yanlai away, losing interest in the Empress’s dreams for the moment. If it had been a “gorgeous dream,” she would have stayed longer.

As she was pulled toward the sleeping quarters, Yanlai looked back at Sanmeng on the bed.

What exactly did Sanmeng see?

Everything before her seemed to revolve around that catastrophe ten thousand years ago—a catastrophe that was still unfolding even today.

Back in the sleeping quarters, Hongchen swung her sleeve to shut the door. With a loud thud, Yanlai’s heart skipped a beat, and the atmosphere instantly turned intimate.

Yanlai’s eyelid twitched, and she instinctively took two steps back, but there was nothing behind her but the door. She swallowed hard. “What are you doing?”

“Kissing you. Isn’t it obvious?” Hongchen laughed triumphantly, her smile as vibrant as a flower. She hooked a slender finger under Yanlai’s chin, forcing her to look up. “Yanlai, are you happy?”

“I am not.” Yanlai reached out and grabbed Hongchen’s slender wrist.

Hongchen pursed her lips but quickly let it go. “When are we doing Dual Cultivation?”

“I have a betrothal with the Prince.”

“Simple. We’ll stay together for a hundred years, and after a hundred years, I’ll kill him. Then, you’ll be a widow. I won’t mind that you’re a widow; I’ll still want you.”

Yanlai was stunned. “Should I be thanking you for still wanting me?”

“Yes, exactly!”

Yanlai grew angry. “Take your restless hands off me.”

Hongchen released her chin but instinctively pressed closer, her waist brushing against Yanlai’s.

The physical contact made Yanlai want to find a hole to hide in. Facing Hongchen’s blatant shamelessness, Yanlai lowered her voice: “Stand up straight. Stop pressing your waist against me.”

Hongchen stood up straight, but instead used her long leg to press against Yanlai’s knee.

“Move your leg,” Yanlai said, her patience at its end.

Hongchen pulled her leg back, but just as she was about to stretch her foot out, Yanlai beat her to it and stepped on her foot. “Utterly shameless.”

“Is a Demon Lord still a Demon Lord if she’s reserved?” Hongchen argued righteously. She didn’t see “shameless” as a derogatory term at all; instead, her eyes crinkled with a pure, clear smile.

What Yanlai could least withstand was this silly smile of hers—a face that could fool anyone, hiding the heart of a devil.

The hall was lit by Night Pearls, casting a soft glow. Hongchen faced inward, the light making her small face appear even paler and more delicate. Yanlai looked at her, her thoughts drifting to the Ninth Heaven. Before her senses could return, the white silk veil covered her eyes.

Pulled back to reality by the veil, she suddenly felt Hongchen lean in. A warm, moist kiss fell upon the white silk.

Through that layer of silk, Yanlai’s heart hammered like a drum.

This time, Hongchen did not linger at the corner of her mouth. Instead, she traced along the side of Yanlai’s face before finally settling at her ear.

Yanlai closed her eyes, her limbs feeling weak. The foot she used to step on Hongchen lost its strength. Just as she felt she was about to collapse, a warm hand supported her waist, holding her steady.

Everything was dark. The misty heat behind her ear made her breathing quicken. She struggled to draw breath as the hand at her waist suddenly tightened, pulling her firmly into the other woman’s embrace.

Hongchen arched an eyebrow and nibbled at her ear, whispering with a light laugh, “You… smell very good.”

The soft voice drifted into her ear like a breeze before swirling into her heart. Yanlai instinctively rested her hands on Hongchen’s waist, her lips pressed tight. There was a slight sting behind her ear, but not enough to make her cry out.

Soon after, Hongchen let go of her ear. As she prepared to move lower, the final sliver of reason in Yanlai’s mind forced her to push Hongchen away.

Yanlai gasped for breath, her chest heaving violently and her face flushed a deep crimson. Hongchen, meanwhile, watched her with eyes full of unbridled, playful mischief.

Hongchen joked, “I can finally understand why I was willing to die for you ten thousand years ago.”

Yanlai’s allure was clearly far more important than life itself!

Following that heart-pounding moment of intimacy, Yanlai felt a sudden, sharp constriction in her chest. For a second, it felt as though someone had reached in and squeezed her heart with a ruthless grip.

Looking at the girl’s exquisite face, Yanlai’s usually upright heart began to tilt. Despite the divide between Immortals and Demons, she wanted to follow her—even if it meant falling into a demonic state herself.

The girl watched her quietly, her lips moist and glistening, looking even more dazzlingly radiant. Yanlai’s heart trembled. A mysterious force seemed to take control of her, compelling her to draw close to Hongchen and press her lips against hers.

It was a kiss of deep, unrestrained emotion.

The usually reserved and stiff High Goddess Yanlai was now governed by a heart-demon. Breaking all character, she stopped suppressing her feelings; even with her eyes veiled, she felt no fear.

Hongchen was surprised, but she wasn’t about to reject a High Goddess who had delivered herself to her doorstep.

Yanlai was not as experienced as Hongchen; her kisses were light and slow, like spring rain nourishing the earth in silence. Before they knew it, she pried open Hongchen’s teeth, and Hongchen’s expression instantly surged with excitement.

The woman who had been cold and isolated for ten thousand years had suddenly blossomed. A cool, distant fragrance slowly enveloped them both. Hongchen felt as if she were drifting among the clouds, her heart pounding frantically.

Suddenly, a loud knocking at the door jolted Yanlai back to her senses. As if she had seen a ghost, she pushed Hongchen away. Hongchen, who had been floating in bliss, was pushed so hard she nearly stumbled and broke a leg.

Fuming with irritation, Hongchen heard a voice from outside: “High Goddess, Her Majesty the Empress has arrived.”

The barrier was broken.

The two had been so lost in their kiss that they hadn’t noticed the warning from the barrier. Yanlai was filled with chagrin, shooting a glare at the culprit. “I finally understand why mortal emperors refuse to hold morning court. You are a true calamity.”

Being scolded for no reason made the fire in Hongchen’s heart fizzle out. She gave a plaintive look and sighed, “You were practically ready to do Dual Cultivation with me just now.”

“I was not! Do not overthink it,” Yanlai snapped, her voice regaining its sharp edge. “Watch your words.”

Hongchen grumbled and waved her sleeve to open the door. The Empress was standing right there. Good heavens, if they hadn’t closed the door, the Empress might have walked right in on them.

Hongchen glared at her, but the Empress ignored her entirely, focusing her gaze on Yanlai. Yanlai’s face was flushed and her lips were swollen; the Empress, being an experienced woman, understood immediately. She sneered, “The two of you certainly seem cozy.”

“We were very cozy until you disturbed us. Tell me, how do you plan to compensate us?” Hongchen puffed out her chest, her gaze fierce. She wished she could sacrifice to Liuguang again just to go back in time, kick the Empress out early, and pull Yanlai back for Dual Cultivation.

The Empress stepped toward them, her tone provocative. “Was the medicine effective?”

“You mean those candies? They’re all gone,” Hongchen blinked. Beside her, Yanlai remained silent, looking like a weeping willow by a river—swaying, gentle, and movingly beautiful.

The Empress smiled faintly. “Indeed. To you, they are merely candy.”

“Tsk tsk. So, you admit it? You sold fake medicine?”

“Whether it’s real or fake, we’ll know once Yanlai tries it,” the Empress said, handing Hongchen two more jade bottles.

Hongchen was taken aback and instinctively looked at the person beside her. Yanlai met her confused gaze and curled her lips into a small smile. “Let your disciples eat them. They can test if they’re real.”

“Are there any dogs on Phoenix Mountain? Give them to a dog to try,” Hongchen said happily as she took the bottles. Her disciples were meant to protect the Demon Realm; she couldn’t just have them testing fake medicine.

Yanlai nodded. “I’m not sure if there are. Go find one.”

Hongchen clapped her hands in delight and headed out to find a dog. Her willing departure surprised the Empress. “She is the same as before—not particularly bright. The only difference is she’s grown stronger.”

“Dumb as a post, yet cutely so,” Yanlai remarked.

Initially, she had only been curious about Hongchen—curious about the beads on her wrist—but gradually, she had sunk into the mire. The more she understood Hongchen, the more she wanted to recover her memories. Now, what she wanted to know most was whether Hongchen truly was the one who had slaughtered the Phoenix clan.

Hongchen was kind; she helped lovers from both realms and was willing to change the laws of the Demon Realm for them. Yanlai did not believe such a woman would wash Phoenix Mountain in blood without reason. Even as a Demon Lord, Hongchen had not killed the innocent; everything she did was for self-preservation.

The Empress stood outside the door, her aura refined and elegant. A cool breeze drifted past the threshold, carrying a faint floral scent. Like Hongchen, the Empress hailed from the Flower Clan. Yanlai took a half-step back. “Your Majesty, please come in.”

“Where is High Immortal Sanmeng?” The Empress didn’t move, getting straight to the point. “She wouldn’t use forbidden arts to pry into my dreams without reason.”

This time, the Empress had turned the tables and come looking for answers. The two women rarely crossed paths, and Yanlai found it impossible to like her. For some reason, the thought of the Empress allowing the Prince to steal Hongyan’s bone made all past respect feel like a joke—especially while Hongchen was busy planning for everyone’s sake in the mortal realm.

With Hongchen gone, Yanlai’s tone returned to its usual cold indifference. “Sanmeng is a High Immortal of the Ninth Heaven. How should I know? Your Majesty is asking the wrong person.”

“Yanlai, if you want to know about the past, I can help you,” the Empress said, breaking her usual pattern.

“Your Majesty speaks like someone clicking an abacus—only answering when prompted. Why the sudden rush now?” Yanlai took the initiative. The Empress was clearly hiding something—perhaps for the Emperor, or perhaps for someone else.

Yanlai had never been a pushover. Having ruled a celestial mountain for ten thousand years, her character had solidified; she was no longer the lowly High Immortal she once was. Her excessive calm made the Empress uneasy. The Empress said, “I do not wish for anyone to pry into my secrets.”

Yanlai remained silent.

The Empress continued, “You have no memory of the Great War not because someone stole it, but because you were never part of it from the very beginning.”

“Impossible. Hongyan, she…” Yanlai trailed off. If she hadn’t participated, it meant she had abandoned Hongyan, leaving her to face the world alone. She didn’t believe it.

“Yanlai, you are not of this world. You are already dead.” The Empress’s voice suddenly dropped to a whisper. She curled her lips into a smile, and the words she spoke left Yanlai stunned for a long time.

What does “you are already dead” mean?

She was living and breathing; she had lived for ten thousand years. How could she be dead?

The Empress took a step forward, and Yanlai instinctively recoiled. Suddenly, a realization struck her as she thought of the Liuguang artifact. It hit her all at once. “Hongyan used the artifact to bring me here from the moment before my death.”

“You are clever. Without A-Rou, I might have actually liked you.” The Empress’s smile was almost identical to Hongchen’s.

Yanlai felt her soul leave her body. A sudden, sharp pain bloomed in her chest, so intense she doubled over, supporting herself against the doorframe with one hand.

She was dead. She was dead. She was dead…

It turned out she had died ten thousand years ago. It was almost laughable; she had lived for ten millennia without realizing she was a ghost.

“Yanlai, you forced me to tell you. You must bear this pain yourself,” the Empress said softly. “Many things should remain secrets. You insisted on digging, making the hidden public. What good does that do you? Let it go. It will be better for both you and the Demon Lord.”

Yanlai crouched on the ground, clutching her heart in agony. She didn’t hear a word the Empress said. Her face was dark with suffering. The Phoenix clan was truly extinct.

Who was she?

She was someone who had walked out of the past, out of a forbidden art. She didn’t belong here. From her first curiosity about Hongchen to this very moment, she had never regretted it. But if a person doesn’t know what happened to them, knows nothing of their own past pains and joys, and has no desires… what is the point of living?

She was in too much pain to stand, gasping for air. The Empress remained unmoved, her face an expressionless mask.