After Provoking the Mad Beautiful Deity - Chapter 41

Yanlai stopped in her tracks, her vigilance spiking. She took a step back and immediately launched an attack toward “Hong Chen.”

The situation reversed so quickly that the Moon Goddess failed to react. Yanlai’s ruthless strike caused the figure of Hong Chen to erupt into flames.

The person within the fire suddenly burst into laughter. The Moon Goddess, terrified, lunged toward San Meng on the bed, fearing the intruder meant her harm. Yanlai stood in the center of the hall, her aura absolute, though a dark shadow flickered deep in her eyes.

The intruder extinguished the flames and retaliated with a powerful blow. Yanlai showed no fear, raising her hand to gather spiritual energy, but the opponent suddenly vanished into thin air.

Yanlai did not give chase. She stood rooted to the spot, staring into the void. She turned to the Moon Goddess and said, “Their cultivation is certainly higher than mine; I am no match for them. The fact that they could break the barrier set by Hong Chen and myself proves their power is extraordinary.”

The matter was suddenly shrouded in a thick fog. The Moon Goddess looked at the sleeping San Meng and, hardening her heart, said, “Look into her memories again.”

Yanlai paused. “I am going to check on Hong Chen.”

The fact that the intruder used Hong Chen’s face to see her meant they knew Hong Chen was not present. With a sudden shimmer, she shifted her form and hurried toward the Wind Sound Pavilion.

Outside the pavilion, maidservants stood guard in silence. She pushed open the doors; her own barrier was still intact.

Yanlai let out a sharp sigh of relief. She walked quickly to the bedside and looked at Hong Chen’s peaceful, sleeping face. Closing her eyes weakly, she lay down directly beside her. Leaning against Hong Chen, she felt an immense sense of ease.

The sleeping quarters were silent, save for the sound of breathing in her ear. She stared at the ceiling, the void in her heart finally filled.

Before her eyes, the image of that solitary, blood-soaked figure surfaced once more. It turned out that making someone’s heart break and go mad was truly that simple.

She turned on her side, her fingertips brushing over Hong Chen’s refined features. She scooted closer, her lips inadvertently brushing against the corner of Hong Chen’s mouth.

Hong Chen’s breathing was slow. Under the influence of the calming spell, she slept comfortably, undisturbed by the world.

Yanlai slowed her own breathing, pressing against that soft corner. Her heart melted completely, and she allowed herself to sink into the moment. This small spark of pleasure left her intoxicated, losing her way home.

In the next breath, she took out the magical artifact, attempting to explore Hong Chen’s past.

However, as soon as the artifact touched Hong Chen’s body, it was repelled. Yanlai held her breath and tried again, channeling more spiritual energy into the tool.

The artifact was not omnipotent. It hit a wall with Hong Chen and was repelled a second time.

Yanlai refused to give up and tried a third time.

Again, it was pushed back.

Yanlai sat up helplessly. She had wanted to see what Hong Chen was like as a child; she must have been an adorable little thing.

After a moment, she lay back down, snuggling softly against Hong Chen, completely defenseless.

Hong Chen never woke up. After lying there for a while, Yanlai released the sleeping spell and instructed the immortal attendants to guard her well.

When she returned to San Meng’s quarters, she found the Moon Goddess keeping watch, looking utterly dejected. She walked over to her. “First, reinforce the barrier. You stay here and watch over San Meng.”

“How do I reinforce it?” The Moon Goddess was frightened. That person had just walked straight in; she was terrified there would be a second or third time.

Yanlai thought for a moment. “Wait for Hong Chen to wake up. We will discuss it then.”

“She still has the heart to sleep?” the Moon Goddess grumbled.

“She’s drunk. Just keep watch for now.” Yanlai didn’t want to say much more. It was she who had gotten Hong Chen drunk and cast the sleeping spell, nearly causing a disaster.

The Moon Goddess, conscious of her own lower cultivation, didn’t press the matter.

On her way back, Yanlai encountered Hong Chen, who was skipping along looking for her. Their eyes met. Hong Chen smiled, and Yanlai gave a soft smile in return. “You’re awake.”

“Did something happen?” Hong Chen sensed something off in her expression. Yanlai’s smile seemed a bit forced.

Yanlai pondered how to put it, eventually letting out a weary sigh. “It seems I understand you very well. Just now, someone impersonated you, and I saw through them instantly. Tell me, how do I know you so well?”

Perhaps we loved once, and the memory is etched deep.

Hong Chen looked puzzled. “Are you here to claim credit?”

Yanlai was once again amused by her strange thoughts. “In a way. Someone broke your barrier. Do you have a solution?”

“If it’s broken, it’s broken. At most, I’ll just reinforce it. It’s not a difficult task. Is it worth being so unhappy over?” Hong Chen didn’t mind. “I’ll go with you.”

Yanlai walked up to her and took her hand of her own accord. “I want to know if you were very cute when you were little.”

“Cute? What’s cute about a Little Demon King?” Hong Chen didn’t understand her intent, but Yanlai’s thin lips were pressed tight. She said with suppressed emotion, “I just want to see.”

Hong Chen clearly didn’t care about her childhood; she didn’t even remember it herself. But the word “cute” didn’t seem to belong to her youth.

Yanlai gripped her wrist with a bit of force. Hong Chen felt a tickle in her heart from the gesture and blurted out, “Fine, fine. Whatever you want.”

“Good. Let’s go reinforce the array.” Yanlai smiled, a genuine, heartfelt smile. Hong Chen, bewitched by her, followed along with a foolish grin of her own.

After three or five steps, Yanlai turned her head. Tears slid from her eyes, quietly falling into the folds of her robes.

No one noticed.

Hong Chen pulled Yanlai toward the heart of the barrier to inspect where it had been breached. Arrays are profound; everyone has a weakness. When Hong Chen set the barrier, she had her own weak points, and the intruder had broken through exactly there.

Hong Chen let out a soft “Eh?” “That person is strange. It’s as if they understand me very well.”

Yanlai didn’t answer, merely tilting her chin slightly as she gazed into the distance. Once Hong Chen finished her inspection, she withdrew the old barrier and tossed a magical artifact into the air. The entirety of Phoenix Mountain was instantly enveloped in the radiance of the artifact.

“This is a demon artifact. It was originally meant to trap people, but I’m using it to protect Phoenix Mountain. No one will find us now. This was a treasure from one of those old geezers.” Hong Chen clapped her hands. “Nothing to fear now.”

Yanlai looked at the artifact in the sky. “Do you know the God-Trapping Killing Array?”

“I do. It’s an array specifically designed against celestials. It requires a blood sacrifice, and different positions need practitioners of different spiritual roots to be sacrificed. It’s quite a hassle. Once a celestial is trapped, there is no escape. I saw it in a book; it’s a major array of the demon tribe. I’ve seen it, but never used it. Why do you ask?” Hong Chen turned to look at Yanlai.

The shadows of the forest blotted out the sun, reflecting a deep emerald. The light on Yanlai’s face was cut into fragments by the shadows, flickering and making her look ethereal and illusory.

As the saying goes, the priest climbs a foot, but the devil climbs ten. The God-Trapping Killing Array once struck terror into the hearts of celestials. Eventually, no one in the demon tribe knew how to use it, and it gradually fell into obscurity.

Yanlai asked, “If such a killing array were activated, could it trap a celestial with higher cultivation than yours?”

“I don’t know, I never paid it any mind. But when you asked just now, the memory just appeared in my head. It’s strange.” Hong Chen was muddled; she couldn’t tell if she remembered it or if it was something she just inherently knew.

Yanlai took Hong Chen’s hand and they returned.

Back at the Wind Sound Pavilion, the Qilin had somehow scouted a table full of food. Hong Chen immediately cast her worries aside, walked to the table, and grabbed a chicken to eat.

The Qilin, feeling it had done something very proper, bragged, “Demon Venerable, I am much more useful! I know you like the High Goddess, I know what you like to eat, and when you go out, I can even fly with you on my back. Don’t you think I’m much more useful than that prisoner?”

Hearing this, Yanlai asked, “Are you talking about the female guard from the Flower Clan?”

“Exactly! She claims she’s the Demon Venerable’s maidservant and is trying to compete with me for favor! She even called me a traitor for serving a High Goddess.” The Qilin was very indignant.

Yanlai thought of the artifact and developed a plan. She said to the Qilin, “Go out and play.”

The Qilin, having finished its task, didn’t linger.

Hong Chen grabbed a pastry and handed it to Yanlai. “It’s very sweet.”

“How can you love eating so much?” Yanlai was puzzled. She was a Demon Venerable, yet she seemed closer to food than to her own disciples.

Hong Chen said, “Life is inherently dull. Eating is one of life’s happinesses. If one doesn’t eat, what else is there to do?”

The words were spoken with total conviction.

Yanlai had practiced fasting for years. She held the pastry but didn’t put it in her mouth immediately. Sweet, rich food was like a poison to her; it could make one addicted.

This time, she took a small bite. The sweet, rich flavor felt very pleasant on her tongue.

Hong Chen finished a chicken. After lifting a tea lid and smelling the long-lost fragrance, she thought of her days in the palace and poured a cup of tea for Yanlai.

A pastry and a cup of tea. The tea washed away the richness of the pastry, and the pastry offset the bitterness of the tea.

They complemented each other perfectly.

That cup of tea kept Yanlai sitting quietly all afternoon, while Hong Chen leisurely critiqued the delicacies on the table.

The food restored Hong Chen’s energy. Once she was half-full, she finally asked who the person impersonating her was.

Yanlai couldn’t answer. She lightly brushed her fingers over the top of Hong Chen’s head, causing Hong Chen to startle. “What’s wrong with you today? Holding hands, patting my head? Have you found your memories?”

Speaking of memories, Hong Chen slapped her own forehead. “I promised to go learn the Forgotten Dust technique. I’ll go learn it later. Don’t worry, I’m smart. It’ll take three to five days at most.”

Yanlai rested her chin on her hand, tilting her head to look at the girl. For a moment, she couldn’t distinguish whether her feelings were of guilt or love.

Hong Chen picked out a candied fruit for her and took a sour plum for herself. As soon as the plum touched her tongue, the sourness made her squint her eyes.

So silly, yet so cute. Yanlai pursed her lips and smiled. For some reason, she was starting to enjoy this time with Hong Chen. No worries, no sorrows, just a peaceful life that felt so desirable.

She suddenly asked, “Hong Chen, if you weren’t the Demon Venerable, what would you want to be?”

“If I weren’t the Demon Venerable, I’d be dead, killed by the Dark Night King.” Hong Chen didn’t pick up on the secret in Yanlai’s words, instead rambling on about other things. “Think about it, the Dark Night King is just waiting for me to die. He’s probably the one behind the attack on the cultivators, acting one way to my face and another behind my back. If you can let go, come with me to the Demon Realm and be my Demon Queen. We’ll leave everything to the Young Lords. It would be so much fun traveling, seeing the sights. Or at the very least, we could follow the Empress’s example, let our souls leave our bodies and go to the human world to be an ordinary couple.”

Yanlai laughed as she listened. Hong Chen’s thoughts were simple and her heart was kind. Such a person was well-suited to be a Demon Venerable who wouldn’t incite slaughter. Likewise, such a person would also be well-suited to be the Heavenly Emperor.

She asked Hong Chen, “You are an Imperial Princess of the celestial tribe. Have you ever thought of becoming the Heavenly Emperor yourself?”

“Never thought of it. Not interested. The Emperor is in his prime; he could live another few tens of thousands of years.” Hong Chen showed no interest. “The celestial tribe is messy enough as it is. Look at the Emperor and Empress, married but miles apart. I don’t want to take over that mess. The Demon Realm is much better.”

“What I mean is leading the celestial tribe back to the righteous path. The path of justice,” Yanlai said seriously. “You have the blood of the celestial royal family in your veins. Why shouldn’t you be the ruler of heaven and earth? You are very capable.”

Hong Chen hesitated, slowly stuffing a pastry into her mouth and remaining silent for a long time.

“What about that dog of a Crown Prince?” Hong Chen remembered the crippled prince.

Yanlai said, “Kill him.”

“Killing him is a good idea.” Hong Chen clapped her hands in approval. If the dog prince died, Yanlai wouldn’t be her sister-in-law anymore.

Yanlai continued, “Let’s restore your status as an Imperial Princess, shall we?”

“This is bad. If I restore my status as an Imperial Princess, I’ll have to call you ‘Sister-in-law.’ What a disaster,” Hong Chen muttered, refusing to agree. The chasm between immortals and demons was too deep; once her identity was revealed, the Demon Realm would no longer tolerate her, and the Immortal Clan would slaughter her to vent their hatred.

Hong Chen pondered for a moment. “It might be better if I lead the demon soldiers to storm the Heavens, challenge the Immortal Clan, and overthrow the Emperor’s reign. That sounds like a plan.”

 

The conversation had strayed quite far. Yanlai gave her a look of pity and popped a sour plum into her own mouth.

 

The plum was incredibly tart. Having practiced fasting for years, the sharp sensation almost left Yanlai speechless. Hong Chen sat beside her, doubled over with laughter. “Your eyes are all twisted! Squeezed shut from the sourness!”

 

Yanlai’s face flushed from the teasing. She tried to cover Hong Chen’s eyes to block her view and preserve her own dignity.

 

Hong Chen was hardly a serious person. Seeing the opening, she leaned directly against Yanlai, taking the opportunity to snuggle in while her restless hands climbed onto Yanlai’s shoulders.

 

Yanlai was forced to let go. Hong Chen’s hands wandered down to her waist and lifted her up abruptly, startling Yanlai so much she nearly retaliated with magic.

 

Fortunately, Yanlai steadied herself in time. Hong Chen carried her toward the inner chambers, her steps as swift as a gust of wind.

 

Once inside, Hong Chen settled her onto the couch and looked her up and down. “This moment is perfect.”

 

“Perfect for what? I still have serious business to attend to. Phoenix Mountain is opening its gates to recruit disciples; it’s going to be very busy.” Unlike her usual self, Yanlai had a smile on her porcelain face as she gripped Hong Chen’s wrist with one hand. “Be serious. Has the matter with the Dark Night King been cleared up? Why was he attacking cultivators?”

 

Hong Chen’s eyes widened at the question. “How do you always manage to ask about serious business at the most critical moments?”

 

Things were clearly becoming ‘unserious,’ yet this question brought them right back to reality.

 

Hong Chen was thoroughly dissatisfied. Yanlai gave a faint smile and brushed her sleeves. “Alright, time to handle official business.”

 

“I’m not going.” Hong Chen didn’t retreat; instead, she sat close to Yanlai, her greedy gaze lingering unabashedly. Yanlai covered her eyes again. “What is wrong with your eyes? Where are you looking? Has your Heart-Cleansing Incantation failed?”

 

As soon as she spoke, the white veil of the spell covered Hong Chen’s eyes.

 

Yanlai chuckled, letting go and looking at Hong Chen. “See? Your heart is being naughty.”

 

Hong Chen waved the veil away, sounding very impatient. “I say, why are you so lacking in romance?”

 

“I cultivate the Great Path. I don’t understand romance. Do you even understand spiritual cultivation?” Yanlai teased. Hong Chen lowered her eyes and let her head droop, looking pitiful—nothing like the invincible Demon Venerable.

 

While her head stayed still, Hong Chen’s hand quietly crept forward a few inches to find Yanlai’s pulse. Then, she lunged forward, pinning Yanlai down.

 

The sudden attack caused Yanlai to let out a cry of surprise. Hong Chen’s large eyes were right in front of her. Yanlai panted, annoyed. “Are you a dog? Pouncing at every turn.”

 

Hong Chen let out a low laugh. “Dogs can bite, too. Tell me, where would be the best place to bite you?”

 

She sounded triumphant, as if victory were already hers.

 

The brocade curtains hung low, and a faint fragrance drifted through the air. Hong Chen pinned Yanlai’s hands, her eyebrows arching with high spirits. Yanlai teased her, “You look exactly like a hungry wolf pouncing on its prey.”

 

“So what? You’re a Phoenix. Roasted Phoenix meat sounds quite tasty,” Hong Chen replied.

 

Yanlai asked, “Just how many of these ‘outrageous phrases’ do you have?”

 

“I’ve read many human storybooks. My words are very pleasant to the ear! If you read them, you’d learn to say interesting things too. Pity you don’t; you can’t appreciate humor and wit,” Hong Chen sighed.

 

Yanlai shot her a look. “Humor and wit? Those are clearly lewd words.”

 

“You should consider this: without lewdness, how would there be descendants? It’s clearly a necessity, isn’t it?” Hong Chen tilted her head in defense, her eyes bright and looking perfectly serious. She used her pinky to press against Yanlai’s wrist, her fingertip rubbing back and forth over the wrist bone. Yanlai, being ticklish, shifted her arm slightly.

 

Yanlai experienced a momentary trance. A familiar feeling surged into her heart as she gazed blankly at Hong Chen. Hong Chen lowered her head, her lips pressing against the wrist bone, her tongue lightly circling it.

 

The sensation was not just ticklish; a wave of numbness rushed to Yanlai’s brain, threatening to destroy her reason. She took a deep breath, trying to suppress the thumping in her chest and act as if nothing was happening. However, Hong Chen didn’t stop there. A mere taste wasn’t enough; she tried to close her teeth gently around the bone.

 

“Hong Chen,” Yanlai called out softly, her breathing becoming heavy. Hong Chen looked up at her. Yanlai struggled to steady her breath. “Don’t misbehave.”

 

She lay elegantly on the bed, her cheeks slightly flushed, every inch of her radiating temptation. Hong Chen watched her, her lips twitching, but she didn’t speak.

 

A strange silence made time stand still. Yanlai managed to pull her hand back, and Hong Chen let go.

 

This moment felt exceptionally long.

 

Hong Chen lay down beside Yanlai, staring at the ceiling with her. She didn’t move, but Yanlai took the initiative to hold her hand.

 

Hong Chen said, “You’re very strange. You won’t let me touch you, yet you’re always holding my hand.”

 

Yanlai’s heart skipped a beat, and she reflexively let go. In truth, she didn’t know why either; holding hands had become the only thing she could bring herself to do.

 

Only by holding Hong Chen’s hand could she feel a moment of peace.

 

Hong Chen asked again, “Are you very conflicted?”

 

“Conflicted?” Yanlai asked, holding her breath.

 

“Yes, conflicted. Is it that you like me, but you fear the chasm between immortals and demons and don’t want to tarnish your reputation?” Hong Chen asked frankly. Her temper was actually quite good; if it were anyone else, they would have left in a huff long ago after Yanlai’s back-and-forth behavior.

 

Thinking this, she felt even more that she was too good-tempered, and that Yanlai was bullying her because of it.

 

She felt indignant. “Is it appropriate for you to bully a Demon Venerable like this?”

 

Yanlai didn’t sense any unhappiness or anger from her; it seemed she had said it very calmly.

 

She’s interesting, Yanlai thought. “How have I bullied you?”

 

“Flirting with me, but refusing to touch me,” Hong Chen said with a long face.

 

Yanlai laughed again. “Is that so? When did I flirt with you? Is holding hands considered flirting?”

 

“It is flirting! Blatant flirting! And now you won’t even admit it, which makes it even worse.” Hong Chen nodded, finding her own words very logical. Then, she added, “Let’s do spiritual cultivation.”

 

The words came out naturally. Yanlai was almost exasperated. Hong Chen smiled as if it were a lighthearted matter. “I’m serious. If we do spiritual cultivation, maybe my missing soul and spirit will be found.”

 

Yanlai: “…”

 

What nonsense.

 

Yanlai ignored her and tried to push herself up with her hands. Hong Chen immediately circled her slender waist. “Your waist is so thin.”

 

If it were anyone else, Yanlai would have surely struck them. She shot Hong Chen a look. “Let go.”

 

Hong Chen frowned and offered another compliment: “Your legs are so long.”

 

Yanlai’s brow furrowed. “And?”

 

“You smell so good.”

 

“Your feet are so cute.”

 

“Your… your eyes are so big.”

 

“Your eyelashes are so long.”

 

Hong Chen paused, seemingly running out of things to say. After racking her brain, she added, “Your chest…”

 

Before she could finish the sentence, Yanlai covered her mouth. Yanlai was furious. “Say one more word and I’ll throw you out.”

 

Hong Chen felt very wronged. It was Yanlai who told her to speak; how was it her fault? Fine, she wouldn’t hold a grudge. Hong Chen consoled herself, but her arms remained around Yanlai’s waist. Slowly, her hand began to creep upward.

 

Yanlai slapped her hand away. “Demon Venerable, you are a cold-blooded killer. How can you sneakily take advantage of someone like this?”

 

Hong Chen was unbothered. “It’s true I am the Demon Venerable, but I am also a person with desires. When the Dark Night King sees me, he has women on both arms! Why can’t I take advantage of you?”

 

Yanlai was speechless. With a flick of her fingers, she summoned a red silk ribbon. Hong Chen’s eyes widened. “What are you doing? Blindfolding me for spiritual cultivation?”

 

Yanlai: “…” She really knew too much.

 

The red silk was used to tie Hong Chen’s hands together.

 

Forced to lie down, Yanlai’s expression softened. She lay back down comfortably. “If you don’t stay still, I’ll tie your legs, too.”

 

As soon as the words left her mouth, Hong Chen cheekily pressed her leg against Yanlai’s knee and swung it triumphantly, looking completely defiant.

 

Yanlai sighed and summoned another red silk ribbon, tying the legs together as well.

 

The sleeping quarters grew quiet. Hong Chen lay perfectly straight, staring into the void. She let out a sigh. “You’re so bossy. You can hold my hand, but you won’t let me touch you. It’s unfair. One rule for you and another for me.”

 

Yanlai ignored her and closed her eyes comfortably, enjoying a rare moment of rest.

 

Hong Chen wasn’t satisfied and began to prattle on about Yanlai’s bossiness. She rambled on and on. Yanlai initially thought the noise would keep her awake, but she soon drifted off.

 

Hong Chen struggled to turn onto her side and nudged Yanlai. “I won’t take advantage of you, but it would be fine for you to take advantage of me.”

 

No one answered.

 

Hong Chen sighed. Talking about love with someone was truly a difficult task. If she had known, she should have found a girl with a better temper and a gentler personality.

 

Yanlai’s personality… no one could stand it.

 

Hong Chen began to feel regret, regret for ever starting this. Thinking of San Meng, she sat up again and said, “I think San Meng has a better temper and is gentler than you.”

 

The person who had just fallen asleep gave no response.