After Provoking the Mad Beautiful Deity - Chapter 47

Star Sovereign Xing Yao’s sudden death left the assembled immortals breathless. They looked around in trepidation, fearing they might be the next target. Hong Chen stood with her hands behind her back, mocking the Immortal Clan. The Heavenly Emperor, having lost all face, roared at the heavenly guards for their perceived negligence.

Hong Chen raised an eyebrow in derision. “Whether the guards are negligent or you are all thieves crying ‘thief,’ I do not know. You know best yourselves. It matters not that he is dead; I can simply summon his soul.”

The Demon Venerable’s provocation was blatant and her words sharp. After her gaze swept the room, no one dared to answer.

The Heavenly Emperor gave a light cough and said, “I understand the Demon Venerable’s meaning. I shall investigate thoroughly to return justice to the Demon Realm. As for summoning the soul, that is a matter for the Immortal Clan.”

“This Seat only desires a clear name. Since the Emperor is willing to provide it, I shall not press further,” Hong Chen sneered.

Just as she spoke, the Prince rushed in. Hong Chen looked at him, her lips pressing into a thin line.

Prince Qin Feng greeted the Heavenly Emperor and looked down at Xing Yao’s body, his eyes filled with pity. Hong Chen observed him and clicked her tongue: Tsk, tsk, tsk. What an act. What a brilliant act.

She chuckled and turned to leave. Prince Qin Feng called out to her: “Demon Venerable.”

Surprised, Hong Chen stopped and turned around gracefully.

The two locked eyes. Prince Qin Feng bowed to her. “In ten days, I shall be wed. I hope the Demon Venerable will attend the ceremony.”

“Attend the ceremony? I fear it would be inappropriate. This Seat has a foul temper; I am afraid that if I become unhappy, I might flip your Nine Heavens upside down. By the way, half a month from now, I shall have my own grand wedding. You are welcome to come to the Demon Realm and play,” Hong Chen said lightheartedly, showing no pressure despite facing the host of immortals.

Prince Qin Feng, gentle as fine jade, gave a soft smile. “Very well. I shall certainly go.”

The corners of Hong Chen’s lips curved beneath her mask. She stepped forward and said to the Prince, “My Demon Queen is a peerless beauty. Your Highness must not covet her.”

Prince Qin Feng’s mouth twitched, looking as if he had seen a ghost. Hong Chen waved at him, leaped into the air, and flew away.

“Shameless,” Qin Feng muttered under his breath. He took a breath and turned to the Heavenly Emperor. “Father Emperor, I find the Demon Venerable somewhat familiar, as if she is someone we know.”

The Emperor stared at the horizon where she had disappeared, his brow furrowed. “I also find her familiar. But she refuses to show her true face; there must be something strange afoot.”

Hearing this, the immortals dared not speak. Siming was hidden in the crowd, also watching the direction in which the Demon Venerable had vanished. Others did not know, but she did: the Demon Venerable was Yanlai’s disciple, Yan Chen. Yan Chen had once come to the Nine Heavens openly to discuss important matters, yet none of the immortals had recognized her true identity.

Siming quietly slipped away from the crowd while they were still discussing the matter of Xing Yao. she chased after her outside the Nine Heavens.

“Demon Venerable! Demon Venerable!” Siming shouted, struggling to catch up.

The Demon Venerable had no mount and was not traveling fast. Hearing the shouts, she stopped. Siming approached, huffing and puffing, and offered a greeting.

“You can barely breathe, yet you’re still worried about etiquette,” Hong Chen rolled her eyes.

Siming bowed low, her back bent. “May I… May I ask who the Demon Queen is?”

“None of your business.” Hong Chen crossed her arms. This person was a bit dim; she didn’t want to talk much.

The disdain in Hong Chen’s eyes was obvious. Siming’s face flushed under the gaze as she whispered, “Is your Demon Queen High Goddess Yanlai?”

Hah, she was smart for once. Hong Chen was momentarily speechless. She raised her hand to condense her spiritual power. Siming was terrified and stammered, “Demon Venerable! Please do not be angry! I will tell you the wedding procedures; it will make things easier for you.”

“This Seat does not believe you would betray the Immortal Clan.” Hong Chen stopped. Fearing they might be seen, she raised her hand to set up a barrier so no one could observe them.

Hong Chen sat cross-legged, leaving Siming with no choice but to squat down to speak.

“I am also a friend of High Goddess Yanlai. I do not wish to see her fall into a demon’s den. It would be better if you came to snatch the bride. If you snatch her back to the Demon Realm, she will have been forced into the Demon Realm; you will be the one scolded, and the Goddess will be the victim. This will protect her reputation,” Siming said without blinking, completely ignoring the Demon Venerable’s increasingly dark expression.

“Demon Venerable, think about it. If I tell you all the procedures, you will know where it is best to strike. This way, your chance of success will be much greater. Right?”

Hong Chen propped up her chin. “You are supposedly the Siming of the Immortal Clan, but right now, you sound more like the Siming of my Demon Realm.”

“The Goddess likely doesn’t know the Prince’s secret,” Siming’s expression changed, her eyes filling with disgust. She continued, “Prince Qin Feng swapped… he swapped someone else’s bone-root. His cultivation is all stolen.”

Hong Chen mused, “I think I’ve heard something about this.”

“Do you know whose bone-root was taken?” Mentioning this made Siming’s anger boil. How could such a person be the Crown Prince and rule the three realms?

Hong Chen had some recollection; Yanlai had mentioned it. She nodded. “Whose?”

“The Demon Venerable Hong Yan’s,” Siming sneered.

Hong Chen looked thoughtful. “So that’s how it is. This Seat understands.” She looked down and toyed with the Bodhi prayer beads on her wrist. “Qinggu, Qinggu, come out quickly.”

A figure flew out from the bracelet. The woman’s graceful silhouette caught Siming’s eye. Siming’s eyes widened. “How beautiful.”

Hong Chen reached out and patted her head. “Close your eyes. How can you desecrate your own Immortal Clan’s Princess?”

Siming was dismissive. “She’s just an artifact spirit now…”

“Who are you?” Qinggu’s gaze fell upon the woman in the purple dress beside Hong Chen. Siming was squatting on the ground, her dark hair loosely tied with a matching purple cord. Siming immediately stood up and bowed. Qinggu was naturally proud and paid little mind to the etiquette, instead looking at Hong Chen. “Why have you summoned me again?”

Hong Chen toyed with a Bodhi bead and smiled radiantly. “I know the reason you’ve been hiding things. You’re afraid This Seat will kill your younger brother, aren’t you?”

Qinggu’s face changed instantly. “I have followed you for ten thousand years and protected you for ten thousand years. Please, spare him.”

Hong Chen flicked her sleeve and straightened her back, a mocking smile appearing on her lips. “First, tell me exactly what happened.”

“Why bring up old matters?” Qinggu looked at the woman in purple, her gaze cold. “And who are you?”

Siming spoke up quickly, “This humble immortal is Siming.”

“So you are Siming. You are the Immortal Clan’s Siming; why are you with the Demon Venerable?” Princess Qinggu was aloof, her words suddenly carrying a weight of pressure that made it hard for one to lift their head.

Siming was so scared she dared not look up, stammering and unable to find words. Hong Chen pulled her up. “What are you afraid of? You are Siming, an immortal. She is just an artifact spirit; she doesn’t even have an immortal body anymore.”

“Hong Yan!” Princess Qinggu roared.

Siming froze and looked at Hong Chen. “You are Hong Yan?”

“You didn’t know? This Seat thought you did.” Hong Chen gave Siming a brilliant smile. “Do not be afraid; This Seat does not kill people randomly.”

Princess Qinggu covered her forehead. “Hong Chen, you looked for me just for the matter of the bone-root?”

“That’s right. Tell me about it; This Seat wants to listen. And don’t worry, This Seat will definitely take the bone-root back,” Hong Chen said airily. Her voice was like ice, sending a shiver through those listening.

She slowly removed her mask, revealing a clear and beautiful face. Her eyes were like deep, still pools; it was hard to imagine those cold words had come from her mouth.

Princess Qinggu looked troubled. “Hong Yan, that bone-root is of no use to you anymore.”

“If it is my property, I would rather destroy it than leave it to him,” Hong Chen said dismissively. “My things are for others to use. If I dug out your bone-root and gave it to Siming, would you grit your teeth when you saw her?”

Qinggu remained silent.

Siming, having understood their conversation, found her legs had gone numb from squatting. She quietly sat down, imitating the Demon Venerable by sitting cross-legged.

After a long silence, Princess Qinggu said, “Hong Yan, if you do this, it will trigger a war between immortals and demons. Life will be devastated, and countless immortals and demons will perish. To trigger a war for a personal grudge and harm so many innocent souls… wake up.”

“You are the Demon Venerable, not an ordinary demon. If you were ordinary, revenge would be your business alone. But you happen to be the Demon Venerable.”

Siming chimed in from the side, “The Princess is right. If a war breaks out, who knows how many will die. Besides, you have a prior agreement not to harm Prince Qin Feng for a hundred years. Just endure it; wait for the hundred years to pass before you kill him.”

“Siming!” Qinggu roared. Siming shrunk back and didn’t dare say another word.

The two princesses before her were of the same temperament: fierce, overbearing, and unreasonable.

Princess Qinggu continued to try to persuade Hong Chen. Hong Chen found it annoying and used a spell to pull her back into the bracelet. With one person suddenly gone, Siming’s vision cleared. She patted her chest, feeling puzzled. She tilted her head and asked Hong Chen, “If your bone-root was swapped, then whose bone-root is currently in your body?”

“Oh, right. Whose bone-root is in my body?” Hong Chen was stumped by the question. She gave Siming an annoyed look. “It’s all your fault. Otherwise, I could have asked Qinggu.”

Siming thought for a moment. “Could it be your mother’s?”

“Medicine People” were rare; they were also “cauldrons,” a shortcut to increasing cultivation. Not everyone could simply swap bone-roots.

This was where the rarity of a Medicine Person came in. If the Demon Venerable’s root was stripped, she would have lost the chance to cultivate. Similarly, her mother could also provide a bone-root for someone else.

In this world, aside from a mother, no one would be willing to give their bone-root to another. The Demon Venerable was small back then; it must have been forced. Furthermore, she later showed she couldn’t bring herself to strip others’ roots—firstly because she lacked the power, and secondly because she didn’t have the heart. Thus, the person who gave her the root must have been someone close to her.

Only a mother who was also a Medicine Person.

Hong Chen felt this made sense. She stood up and adjusted her robes. “Give me the procedures, and This Seat will give you some good things in return. Do you want this Bodhi prayer bead bracelet?”

“I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare. You should keep it yourself.” Siming didn’t dare take it; Princess Qinggu’s temper was simply too foul. If such a big figure followed her, would she ever have a peaceful day again?

Hearing this, Hong Chen searched her storage artifacts and gave Siming some high-quality spirit pills. “I hope you become a High Goddess soon.”

Siming’s mouth twitched. Being stuck as Siming showed she had no combat power; ascending to High Goddess had nothing to do with her.

The two parted ways. Hong Chen returned to the Demon Realm, and Siming returned to the Nine Heavens.

Siming held an important post. Upon her return, she was summoned by the Heavenly Emperor to discuss the wedding procession. The Prince could not personally go to welcome the bride; therefore, two highly respected elders had to be invited to go on his behalf.

After some discussion, they chose High Immortal Sanmeng and the Elder of Yuanji. They were older than most and were ancient immortals who had survived from the primordial era.

Hearing this, Siming whispered to herself, “What’s the use of being highly respected? They can’t win a fight. If they meet the Demon Venerable, she’ll take them down in one move. They’ll die very quickly.”

After she finished whispering, Sanmeng glanced at Siming as if she wanted to say something, but she quickly pursed her lips.

Siming discussed with the Elder of Yuanji what they should do if they encountered danger on the road.

The Elder of Yuanji stroked his beard and asked, “What kind of danger?”

“For example… snatching the bride?” Siming stammered.

The Elder of Yuanji laughed. “The Prince of the Immortal Clan is getting married. Who would dare to snatch her?”

Siming’s expression was terrible. Fearing she might scare the old man, she gave a kind hint: “What if it’s the Demon Clan?”

“The Demon Clan snatching a bride? Siming, have you been reading too many storybooks lately? The Demon Venerable is a woman; if she were to snatch someone, it should be the Prince. Why would she snatch the High Goddess? You’re overthinking it.” Yuanji smiled kindly. “You youngsters just love those mortal storybooks; your heads are full of wild ideas.”

Siming couldn’t say more. Having spoken to this extent, she had already been very kind.

Sanmeng, who was behind them, heard the conversation. her gaze turned cold, and she soon vanished from the hall.

Returning to the Qingxu Hall, the Moon Goddess was lounging on Sanmeng’s bed, holding one of the “mortal storybooks” the Elder of Yuanji had mentioned. As Sanmeng approached, the Moon Goddess sat up and smoothed her robes. “Where did you go?”

“The Heavenly Emperor ordered me to go to Phoenix Mountain on behalf of the Prince to welcome the bride,” Sanmeng spoke truthfully. She sat on a couch more than ten paces away, faintly maintaining a distance from the Moon Goddess.

The Moon Goddess didn’t mind. Instead, she walked over and sat beside Sanmeng. Sanmeng looked at her and asked, “Are you not going back to the Moon Palace?”

“I’ve discovered something, and I don’t know if I should tell Yanlai,” the Moon Goddess said, caught in a dilemma. She squeezed closer to Sanmeng until her knee touched Sanmeng’s. Sanmeng frowned and quietly moved away. “What is it?”

The Moon Goddess’s gaze suddenly turned icy. She lowered her voice: “The Prince has a lover. Many in the Heavenly Realm know, yet no one has told Yanlai.”

“A lover? I know; it is a Jiao maiden.” Sanmeng nodded. Yanlai wouldn’t care about such trifles. Forget a lover—even if the Prince had children, she wouldn’t blink.

Whether one loves or not is visible in the details.

The Moon Goddess, hearing that she already knew, couldn’t help but complain: “Why didn’t you tell me? By the way, how did you know?”

Sanmeng was expressionless. She formed a hand seal, gathering spiritual power, and commanded softly: “Appear.”

A cloud of mist appeared before the Moon Goddess. The mist slowly faded to reveal a scene; it was a vivid, erotic dream.

“This… this… why are you watching people’s erotic dreams?” The Moon Goddess stammered. The scene was truly scandalous; the Prince and a woman were scantily clad, entwined together in a passionate embrace that would make anyone’s heart race.

The Moon Goddess had never seen such a thing; her face turned red instantly, and she covered her eyes, too ashamed to look up.

“You… stop looking, stop looking!”

Sanmeng’s face was calm. Perhaps she had seen too much of this normally; she was indifferent to such erotic dreams. She flicked her sleeve to put the dream away. “It wasn’t that I wanted to see it, but rather that Yanlai summoned it while she was dreaming. I watched it once; it is indeed the Prince. This must be the Jiao maiden’s dream.”

“You watched it once?” The Moon Goddess couldn’t comprehend. She said she watched it “once” so casually—how many such dreams must one see to be this calm?

If you eat three meals a day, you become calm when you see food. Thinking of it this way… the Moon Goddess covered her forehead. Over hundreds of thousands of years, how many people’s dreams had Sanmeng seen?

Sanmeng nodded. “I watched it once and confirmed it was the Prince.”

The Moon Goddess nearly collapsed. “How can you watch people’s intimate acts so calmly?”

“When others see a beautiful moon, they are surprised. Are you surprised when you see the moon? We each perform our duties; naturally, we must treat them with a normal heart.” Sanmeng explained, lightly lifting her eyelids to look into the void. “What I do are just ordinary, small matters.”

The Moon Goddess was speechless. Watching a live show was an “ordinary, small matter”? What, then, counted as debauchery?

“I am wondering if I should tell the Goddess about the Jiao maiden. What do you think?”

“It’s the same whether you say it or not. After all, the Goddess is not interested in the Prince’s private affairs; there is no need for us to be the villains. Moon Goddess, I am tired. I have to go welcome the bride in a few days; you should head back.” Sanmeng didn’t want to talk about disgusting things. When she saw that dream that day, it had disgusted her so much she hadn’t slept well for days.

The Moon Goddess didn’t want to leave. “I just got here. You sleep yours, and I’ll sit mine.”

“Suit yourself.” Sanmeng didn’t drive her away. Instead, she went to her bed and lay down. A gentle breeze blew, and the brocade curtains fell, obscuring the view of the bed.

The Moon Goddess was forgotten, but she wasn’t dissatisfied. Instead, she pushed open the window to look at the view outside.

The Qingxu Hall was vast and empty, silent and still. Occasionally, a few birds flew by, creating a fleeting, elegant spectacle.

After watching the scenery for a while, she closed the window again and looked at the curtains. Yanlai’s wedding was approaching; could Sanmeng really sleep?