After Provoking the Mad Beautiful Deity - Chapter 52

Even through the palace doors, the tension inside was palpable.

Yan Lai stepped slowly into the hall. Both figures inside turned their heads at once. As Yan Lai approached with graceful steps, Hong Chen tilted her head, her delicate brows curving like a crescent moon. “So, you finally remembered to come back.”

“I was tending to some minor matters. Are you feeling any better?” Yan Lai acted as though she hadn’t noticed the biting sarcasm in Hong Chen’s voice. She walked to the bedside, where Hong Chen lay reclined against a pillow. Her red collar was slightly open, revealing skin as smooth and white as fine porcelain.

Yan Lai reached out, her eyes shimmering with a soft, tender light. With a gentle flick of her fingers, she adjusted the loosened collar. Hong Chen didn’t seem to mind, but the Moon Goddess covered her eyes, unable to watch. Yan Lai’s current behavior was a far cry from her usual cold, ethereal demeanor.

Love had truly changed so much.

Seeing that Yan Lai had returned, the Moon Goddess didn’t linger. She announced her departure, but Yan Lai spoke up: “Xuan Jing is dead. The Flower Tribe is no longer of any significant use.”

“Dead?” The Moon Goddess caught a hint of something deeper in Yan Lai’s gaze. How could Xuan Jing just die out of the blue? As a clan leader, his death would surely cause ripples.

Furthermore, Xuan Jing was the Empress’s elder brother. If he was killed, would the Empress be enraged?

While the Moon Goddess felt anxious, Hong Chen spoke up lazily, “If he’s dead, he’s dead. The Flower Tribe has been declining for a long time; they’re only good for schemes and plots now. With Xuan Jing gone, the Heavenly Emperor might just fold the tribe into the Ninth Heaven.”

“Not necessarily. You said it yourself—they aren’t of much use. Why would he want them?” The Moon Goddess disagreed. Since Yan Lai had been in seclusion and Hong Chen was a Demon Lord, she felt they didn’t fully grasp the Flower Tribe’s standing among the various races.

Without the connection to the Empress’s brother, who would care about them? Now that the most capable one, Xuan Jing, was dead, what use were the rest? It would be better to discard them.

However, Hong Chen countered, “Even a mosquito has meat. Using them to balance the other tribes isn’t a bad idea.”

Hearing the word “balance,” Yan Lai frowned slightly. The last time they discussed balance, Hong Chen had lost her temper. Today, she spoke of it with surprising calm.

The Moon Goddess asked, “It’s all too messy; my head hurts. When are you two leaving?”

Hong Chen’s complexion wasn’t great. Though she was smiling, her energy was far lower than before. Yan Lai glanced at her and replied, “In a few more days.”

“Fine, I’m going to find San Meng.” Unable to read the two of them, the Moon Goddess took her leave.

Hong Chen’s posture became even more lethargic. Her head rested on the pillow, eyes half-closed. Yan Lai watched her carefully, checking her injuries once more.

Hong Chen didn’t resist; she closed her eyes completely. She had become prone to lethargy. Now that Yan Lai was back, she felt safe enough to sleep a bit longer. Before Yan Lai could even withdraw her spiritual power, Hong Chen’s head lolled to the side as she fell fast asleep.

Helplessly, Yan Lai straightened her out and tucked her in. Hong Chen’s breathing was long and steady. Yan Lai recalled the last time Hong Chen slept for three years, after which her injuries had healed on their own. Perhaps sleep was her way of recovering.

Yan Lai didn’t disturb her. Instead, she sat on the couch to meditate, having exhausted much of her own spiritual power.

Inside and outside the hall, all was quiet. Not far away, the Empress stared blankly at the green grass in a pot. Since leaving her seclusion, staring into space had become her primary pastime.

She didn’t need to worry about the vast Heavenly Palace, and the Heavenly Emperor wouldn’t allow her to interfere anyway. She only managed her own palace, where even the Emperor couldn’t intrude.

Day after day, year after year, her life was far too lonely.

She had waited so long for Chu Rou to recover that she had grown bored. After a long daze, she snapped out of it, her eyes filled with desolation. Chu Rou still hadn’t returned.

She lay down clutching the grass and stared at the ceiling. A rebellious thought crossed her mind: she wanted to go to the mortal realm again. She would find Si Ming and have her arrange a life as an Empress.

The palace was dull. She placed a barrier over the green grass and went to find Si Ming. Her previous attempt to go to the mortal realm had been blocked by Si Ming, so she had to give her a heads-up this time to avoid further complications.

At the South Heaven Gate, she found the Flower Tribe elders arguing with Si Ming. Si Ming refused to let them in, and the elders were rebuking her for her lack of etiquette.

Si Ming, already frustrated, snapped back. Hearing the commotion, the Empress stepped in to stop them. “Such noise! Where is your decorum?”

Upon seeing the Empress, the elders burst into tears. “Empress! The Patriarch is gone! Yan Lai went to the Hundred Flower Mountain and killed him!”

“Oh, he’s dead?” The Empress wasn’t surprised or pained. After a moment of thought, she asked, “Do you wish to seek revenge against Yan Lai?”

The elders knelt and kowtowed. The Empress scanned them lazily. “Bowing to me is useless. You can’t beat her, and neither can I. Don’t think for a second that I will kill Yan Lai for you just because you bow. Xuan Jing brought this on himself. Go back now.”

“Empress, you can’t let Yan Lai bully us like this! To come to our home and kill our leader is a great humiliation!”

“Empress, he was your biological brother!”

Si Ming watched from the side, staying silent.

The Empress asked, “Why did Yan Lai kill him?”

“She claimed the Patriarch was involved in the theft of a spiritual root. He tried to explain that he only knew about it and didn’t participate. Yan Lai said knowing was also a crime. She burned him to ash right in front of us! His soul is scattered!”

The corners of the Empress’s mouth curled up—not in pain, but with a hint of pleasure. She nodded. “Xuan Jing violated heavenly laws by practicing forbidden arts. How can I seek revenge for that? Just because you have the numbers doesn’t mean you have the right.”

The elders grew desperate. “But Yan Lai coming to our door to kill… it’s too much!”

The Empress nodded. “Then go seek revenge yourselves.”

“Empress, we… you are the Empress! You must stand up for us!” They pleaded. They knew their entire tribe combined couldn’t kill Yan Lai.

The Empress sneered. “You can’t win, so you want me to go die? Yan Lai has left the Immortal Tribe; even the Heavenly Emperor can’t handle her. What can I do? If all else fails, go back and practice hard. Come back for your revenge in ten million years.”

With that, she pulled Si Ming away, leaving the elders to their weeping.

Si Ming was overwhelmed with fear. “If you need something, just say it.”

“I want to descend to the mortal realm and be an Empress. Can you help?” The Empress was direct. She knew Si Ming was entangled with Yan Lai and Hong Chen.

Si Ming’s eyes widened. “An Empress? The human race has no female emperors.”

“You decide.” The Empress spoke those two words lightly, then looked into the distance. “You are deeply involved with the Demon Lord. If the Heavenly Emperor finds out, having your soul scattered would be a mercy. You’d be cast into the Thunder Tribulation to have your soul smashed into dust.”

Si Ming swallowed hard, her breathing tight. She frantically began to calculate. The human world didn’t even have female officials, let alone an Empress. How could she make this happen? It was agonizing.

The Empress waited quietly.

After a long time, Si Ming’s brow furrowed. She stammered, “Let me go back and arrange things. Please wait a moment.”

“Good. Thank you, Si Ming.” The Empress nodded and glanced back. The Flower Tribe elders were still kneeling. How embarrassing.

To have no talent of one’s own and rely solely on others? How foolish.

The Empress walked back to her bedchamber with a light step. To her surprise, a guest was waiting.

The Heavenly Emperor stood there with his hands behind his back. A wave of nausea hit her, but she acted as if nothing was wrong. The Emperor turned, his face as handsome as jade, maintaining the sharp features of a young man.

With one look, the Empress felt disgusted. She suppressed her feelings and said, “If you want something, go get it yourself. Why come to me?”

“Qing Feng is your son, is he not?” The Emperor’s tone was gentle, lacking his usual imperial pressure.

The Empress sat down lazily. “Both my children were ruined by you, and you killed my foster daughter. Now you mention my son? Chong Fang, let us mind our own business. I will pretend I don’t know about your disgusting deeds. But if you want your reputation to rot, go ahead and try me.”

“Chu Hua Nian!” The Emperor was furious. “How can you be so selfish? For the sake of your own desires, you won’t even care for your son? If you had stepped in that day in the hall, would Qing Feng be in this state?”

“He stole Hong Chen’s spiritual root and committed a grave error. Am I supposed to coddle him? To be incompetent and then blame one’s parents? Chong Fang, you taught your son well. I haven’t settled the score for the root bone yet, but that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten. I am ashamed to have such a son. If you have the ability, go ahead and try a second time. Your son is beyond saving; no amount of spiritual roots will help him now. You want me to feel pity, but he hasn’t acted like a human being.” The Empress’s eyes reddened.

If Hong Chen had been fine, she would never have been bullied on Phoenix Mountain. In time, she would have become a High Immortal or even a High God. She wouldn’t have been manipulated by Yan Jing, which ultimately led to Chu Rou’s death.

The root of everything lay with Qing Feng.

The Empress suppressed her emotions, her voice growing heavy. “Do whatever you want. What does it have to do with me?”

“I know she has a connection with San Meng. I have ordered San Meng to be seized to force her out.” The Emperor smiled with confidence. “Everything I want, I get.”

The Empress couldn’t be bothered to look at him. She turned her gaze to the window, her heart racing with turmoil.

When the Empress didn’t respond, the Emperor stepped forward and gripped her shoulders, looking at her affectionately. “I like you. I spoil you. I only wish you would understand sooner who is truly best for you.”

“Is that so? Killing my foster daughter is being good to me? I’m sorry, I can’t handle your ‘goodness.’ Give it to your concubines instead; they’ll appreciate it much more.” The Empress’s voice was sharp. She was trying her best to restrain herself so as not to bring trouble to others.

Her resistance disappointed the Emperor, and he left in a huff.

The Empress used a cleansing spell to wash away his touch, then changed every layer of her clothing before heading off to find Yan Lai in a rage.

Hong Chen woke up again. She looked around and quickly moved to Yan Lai’s side.

As she approached, Yan Lai opened her eyes. Hong Chen huffed, “You are so boring.”

Yan Lai felt quite innocent. “How about I close my eyes and you try again?”

The words sounded somewhat doting, but Hong Chen didn’t catch the sentiment. Instead, she complained that Yan Lai lacked romantic flair. Yan Lai listened in silence as Hong Chen grew restless, resting her head on Yan Lai’s shoulder and wrapping her arms roughly around her waist.

Yan Lai was held so tightly she could barely breathe. “Loosen up a bit.”

“Yan Lai,” Hong Chen whispered.

Yan Lai: “Hmm?”

Hong Chen: “Yan Lai.”

Yan Lai: “Yes.”

Hong Chen: “Yan Lai.”

Yan Lai sighed and thought for a moment. “Do you want to engage in dual cultivation?”

“Oh? Can we?” Hong Chen blinked. “How did you suddenly become so enlightened?”

“The Empress said it would help your injuries. I thought we could try.” Yan Lai spoke with utmost seriousness. Even with her waist held, her back remained straight. Though her heart had softened, her cool demeanor hadn’t entirely faded.

Hong Chen rubbed her shoulder against Yan Lai’s. “I get what you mean, but let’s not. It’s boring.”

Yan Lai: “…”

“When you’re better, we’ll go back to Phoenix Mountain to find Liu Guang.” Yan Lai had a plan. Liu Guang was an unsolved mystery; she needed to find the truth and recover her soul to stand against the Heavenly Emperor. She tried to convince the restless Demon Lord: “Think of your Young Lords and the Demon Tribe. If you die, what will become of them?”

“Think of the Young Lords you spent ten thousand years raising. If they are eaten by the Dark Night King, won’t your heart ache?”

“And if your demon soldiers are killed by heavenly troops? Your people will be trapped or even have their souls scattered.”

Hong Chen listened quietly, her gaze falling on Yan Lai’s blushing earlobe. She asked in surprise, “Are you begging me to cultivate with you?”

Yan Lai: “…”

“No, that’s not it,” Yan Lai defended herself. “I’m only thinking of your health.”

Hong Chen covered her ears, refusing to listen. She insisted, “You are begging me to cultivate with you.”

Flustered and annoyed, Yan Lai grabbed her wrists and pulled her hands away from her ears. She said firmly, “You should think of your own body. You sought me out for dual cultivation before. Now that you can have it, aren’t you happy?”

Hong Chen stared at Yan Lai. “You’ve changed.”

Yan Lai pushed down her shyness and nodded. “I… I like you. I want to cultivate with you.”

“I don’t believe you.” Hong Chen’s lashes fluttered with doubt.

Yan Lai nodded, trying to make her words sound more credible. “You should believe me. I am your Master.”

Hong Chen pouted. Yan Lai immediately summoned the Mirror of Reverting Light, showing her the final scene of the child. She pointed to the dazed-looking girl: “That is you.”

“You point at a child and say it’s me? Why should I believe that? She looks so silly. Why would she give the full stick of candied haws to you? Am I really that stupid?” Hong Chen didn’t believe it. As the Demon Lord, she would rather eat them all than give a full stick to a stranger.

Yan Lai asked, “If you had two sticks now—one full and one half-eaten—which would you give me?”

Hong Chen said without thinking, “The half-eaten one.”

Yan Lai looked incredulous. “Why?”

Hong Chen said seriously, “Because you’ve reached the state of ‘Inedia’ (abstaining from food). If I gave you the full one, you wouldn’t eat it anyway. It’d be a waste.”

Yan Lai was speechless. She looked at Hong Chen’s mischievous face in silence before asking again, “And if I did eat sweets? What would you do then? Think carefully.”

Hong Chen looked at her empty hands, unable to understand why Yan Lai was asking “what if” questions. After a long pause, she answered seriously, “I’d give you both.”

“And you wouldn’t eat any?” Yan Lai was confused again.

Hong Chen said, “Look at my hands.”

Yan Lai looked at her hands—slender fingers, well-proportioned joints, and clear palms. “Is your hand injured?” she asked.

This drew Hong Chen’s disdain. She brushed Yan Lai’s hand away. “I don’t have any candied haws. Not even one. How am I supposed to answer your ‘what if’?”

Yan Lai frowned, wanting to smack her head. “How can you be so dense?”

Hong Chen was indignant. “Think about your question! ‘What if’ questions are unrealistic. Since it’s all imaginary anyway, I’d give them all to you. I wouldn’t keep any.”

Yan Lai leaned her head on her hand and tapped Hong Chen’s forehead. Hong Chen complained, “You asked, I answered. What’s wrong with that?”

“Demon Lord, did the Dark Night King ever mention that you aren’t very smart?” Yan Lai wondered how Hong Chen had managed the Demon Realm for ten thousand years with a brain like this.

Hong Chen didn’t care. “In the Demon Realm, might makes right. Whoever wins becomes the Lord. The Dark Night King fought me many times and could never win.”

“He could have poisoned you,” Yan Lai pointed out.

Hong Chen laughed. “He did. I ate it, too. It couldn’t kill me. I am immune to all poisons.”

Yan Lai: “…”