After Provoking the Mad Beautiful Deity - Chapter 53

Hong Chen’s unique constitution had saved her many times, at least a hundred times regarding poisoning alone.

The Demon Realm was never a place of honor or fair play, assassinations and poisonings were endless. When Hong Chen first took the seat of the Demon Venerable, the Young Lords had not yet been appointed. She did everything herself, and in her exhaustion, oversights were inevitable. The Night King often tripped her up from the shadows, planting no small amount of poison. Hong Chen consumed them as easily as one eats a meal, much to the Night King’s delight as he went home to celebrate.

When he returned to the Demon Palace a few days later, Hong Chen was alive and well, living elegantly and freely. Furious, the Night King went back to beat and kill the subordinates responsible for the poisoning.

When his subordinates failed, the Night King took matters into his own hands. He invited Hong Chen for wine; the wine and even the very air were laced with toxins. Yet, Hong Chen left his estate full of life and energy.

After repeated failures, the Night King began to suspect his poisons were fake. He even went so far as to refine the toxins himself before using them on the Demon Venerable once more.

In the end, he failed again. The Night King watched with his own eyes as the Demon Venerable consumed his poison. Forget her soul dissipating instantly, she should have dropped dead within days.

Instead, she acted as if nothing had happened.

After several such encounters, the Night King dejectedly ceased his poisoning attempts.

Hong Chen had known all along that the Night King was poisoning her. She continued to act unbothered, taking the “medicine” and remaining lively just to spite him to death.

The Night King didn’t die of anger, but Yanlai was about to. Furious at Hong Chen’s stubbornness, Yanlai tossed the Mirror of Returning Light aside.

Hong Chen leaned lazily against her, grandly making empty promises: “I will give you whatever you want. Never mind candied haws, I’d even give you my life.”

“Is that so? Then let us cultivate doubly,” Yanlai said, her lips curling into a faint, mocking smile.

Hong Chen refused. “I am injured. I might faint. If the dual cultivation ends by the time I wake up, I won’t even know how it felt. No, wait until my injuries are healed.”

Yanlai felt her spirits dampen. Dual cultivation required mutual consent; she couldn’t exactly force her.

Despite her frustration, Yanlai gathered herself to try persuading her again. Before the words could leave her mouth, she stopped abruptly. Simultaneously, the smile vanished from Hong Chen’s face.

The hall suddenly fell silent, making the sound of the knocking at the door seem louder.

The Empress pushed the door open and stopped at the threshold. She spoke: “Cong Fang has captured San Meng, intending to force the Demon Venerable to appear.”

“Let him. Why are you Immortals using your own people to threaten me, the Demon Venerable?” Hong Chen didn’t care in the slightest. What did the internal strife of the Immortal Tribe have to do with her? Was something wrong with the Heavenly Emperor’s head?

At that moment, Yanlai patted Hong Chen’s head. Hong Chen grew impatient: “Mind yourself; I am the Demon Venerable.”

“This Demon Venerable is a bit dim-witted,” Yanlai sighed. She addressed the Empress: “The Heavenly Emperor must have another reason for wanting to see her. Does he want the spiritual root within her body?”

The Empress arched an eyebrow. “You are as clever as ever. I like that.”

“Watch your words, Lady Empress. She is my Demon Queen,” Hong Chen interrupted instinctively, unable to stand the Empress’s teasing tone.

Ignoring her, the Empress stepped closer and said, “He needs the spiritual root to save his son.”

“But Qing Feng uses water-based arts, while Hong Chen is fire-based. The two are incompatible,” Yanlai said, puzzled. Back then, the roots were swapped because Hong Yan was still small, a babe as clean and untainted as a blank sheet of paper. Such a pure replacement was ideal, allowing one to paint upon it as they pleased without restriction.

Now, Hong Chen had mastered fire arts and developed her own style. If her root were forcibly taken now, it would not fit Qing Feng’s body.

The Empress remained silent. Hong Chen’s lips curled into a smile as she said, “That’s simple. Just destroy my cultivation and make it clean again.”

Displeased, Yanlai shot her a look. “How did you suddenly become clever again?”

Hong Chen raised her chin proudly and huffed twice. “I have always been brilliant. The Heavenly Emperor can capture San Meng or even the Young Lords, but I still won’t give him my spiritual root. I’m not stupid.”

“What if he captured Yanlai?” the Empress asked inopportunely. “San Meng helped Yanlai strip Qing Feng of his root; the two share a deep bond. How could Yanlai stand by and watch her die? And if Yanlai shows herself, will you still sit idly by?”

Hong Chen fell silent. She understood the Empress’s point but didn’t want to admit it. She felt nothing for San Meng and saw no reason to risk her life for her. But for Yanlai, San Meng was different.

Then, Yanlai spoke: “We don’t necessarily have to rescue her.”

The Empress focused her gaze. “You have a plan?”

“Collect malicious thoughts and let her fall into demonhood. Once she turns, the Heavenly Emperor might not be able to control her. After the High Immortal San Meng turns, her cultivation will soar, for as the Dao rises a foot, the Demon rises a yard,” Yanlai explained.

The Empress hesitated for a moment, saying nothing. Hong Chen, however, nodded. “Not bad. You two go handle it. But can you hold up? Perhaps the Empress should do it instead.”

One shouldn’t have to do such grueling work more than once; the body couldn’t take it. Hong Chen looked at the Empress pleadingly. The Empress glared back: “I really should have strangled you back then.”

Hong Chen had no memory of that time and did not know the Empress was her foster mother. She was puzzled by the remark but didn’t argue, simply grinning foolishly at her. “The capable should do more work; this High God’s spiritual power is lacking.”

“You certainly protect your wife well,” the Empress remarked sarcastically. “I hope you keep it up and don’t give up halfway.”

“Is the Empress suggesting I give up halfway?” Hong Chen pondered the words, about to ask if the Empress was waiting for her to fail so she could step in, but Yanlai covered her mouth before she could finish. Yanlai looked at the Empress awkwardly: “She, she isn’t very good with words. Please forgive her.”

Every word out of her mouth was outrageous.

“I raised this child; I know her better than you. It’s not that she can’t speak, it’s that she’s too good at it. Every word is a wolf or a tiger,” the Empress said with a cold laugh, not truly angry. She continued, “Why should I help you?”

The Empress usually stayed out of trivial matters. Even if the Heavens collapsed and the tribes were destroyed, she wouldn’t blink. Her gaze was icy, a perfect blend of tenderness and indifference.

Hong Chen didn’t know much about the Empress and wisely kept her mouth shut. Only Yanlai sat in thought; she knew the Empress’s ultimate goal was to resurrect Chu Rou.

For ten thousand years, Chu Rou had remained an immortal grass with only a few lingering soul fragments, unable to regain human form.

Yanlai looked straight at her and said, “What if I help you resurrect Chu Rou?”

“How?” The Empress’s expression shifted.

Yanlai had hit the mark; the only thing the Empress cared about was Chu Rou. She looked toward Hong Chen. “She is the medicine. Perhaps Hong Chen can repair Chu Rou’s shattered soul.”

Both mother and daughter were rare medicinal treasures. Naturally, Hong Chen could serve as the cure.

The Empress narrowed her eyes. She had thought of this over the years, but the person before her was merely Hong Chen, the soul-shorn Demon Venerable who no longer had anything to do with Hong Yan.

Hong Chen said nothing, sitting quietly. She didn’t refuse, nor did she agree.

The Empress thought for a moment. “確也, only Hong Chen can barely protect herself right now.”

“Where is the immortal grass?” Yanlai asked. “The Divine Physician once said that being friends with a Medicine Human is a blessing. Her blood is the best nourishment.”

Hong Chen rolled her eyes. “You’re going to drain my blood just for San Meng?”

Yanlai squeezed Hong Chen’s hand comfortingly. A gentle spiritual power flowed from her fingertips into Hong Chen’s wrist. Hong Chen felt as if she were wrapped in a warm spring, comfortable and soothing.

The Empress did not hesitate. If there was even a shred of hope, she would seize it with everything she had.

Hong Chen accepted Yanlai’s energy and, without being dramatic, cut her wrist to let the fresh blood drip onto the immortal grass.

The blood seeped into the leaves and was quickly absorbed. Hong Chen glanced at the Empress, took a deep breath, and began to nourish it further with her heart’s blood.

Yanlai did not stop her. Chu Rou had died because of her.

To a Medicine Human, heart’s blood was the most precious thing. The world births all things to complement one another, and a Medicine Human’s heart blood had the power to bring the dead back to life.

Nourished by the blood, the immortal spirit began to grow.

Gradually, the grass bloomed and grew rapidly. The Empress was overjoyed. At that point, Yanlai stopped Hong Chen. Hong Chen’s face was deathly pale; the heart’s blood was draining her very life force.

Hong Chen pulled back, every inch of her skin showing her exhaustion. Yanlai supported her, immediately aiding her with spiritual power.

The Empress’s eyes never left the immortal grass. With it blooming and bearing fruit, her hope was one step closer. She looked at Hong Chen, the words she intended to say dying in her throat. Hong Chen’s own body was at its limit.

“I will help you collect the dreams of malice,” the Empress said, suppressing her guilt. Her lips twitched with a hint of irrepressible loss as she added, “Yanlai, the fastest way to heal her is still the method I told you before.”

Hong Chen was drenched as if by rain, her wet hair sticking to her temples. Yanlai distressedly brushed the damp strands behind Hong Chen’s ear and whispered, “We shall trouble the Empress then. However, if we do this, the Immortal Tribe will no longer tolerate High Immortal San Meng.”

“San Meng is both righteous and evil; she fits the Demon Realm just as well as the Heavens. Given her temperament, she and the Demon Venerable are actually quite a match,” the Empress remarked snidely. She shot a sidelong glance at Yanlai. “If you don’t treasure her, someone else will.”

Yanlai looked back, meeting the Empress’s gaze unexpectedly. “The fact that I lost my memory does not mean I cannot find it again.”

The Empress had been the most sober person for ten thousand years, living in solitude. Yanlai had lived her life without conflict, while Hong Chen struggled in the Demon Realm, both forgetting each other and living peacefully. Without the Demon Physician, their paths might never have crossed; it was the Physician who bound them together again.

Only the Empress had never forgotten Chu Rou for a single day, never ceasing to pine for her beloved.

The Empress smiled bitterly. Yanlai said coldly, “You were unwilling to let it go, so you forced the two of us to meet again after ten thousand years. Your resentment has upended the entire Heavens once more.”

“Yanlai, you blame me. Without my interference, you would be the Crown Princess right now, wouldn’t you?” The Empress’s tone turned icy.

Yanlai placed Hong Chen on the bed and funneled spiritual power into her. “I should be grateful,” she said. “Without the Demon Physician’s meddling, I would have pushed myself into a pit of fire.”

The Empress snorted coldly and left first, clutching the immortal grass. She would not go back on her promise to Yanlai.

Yanlai remained, staring at Hong Chen without a word. Once Hong Chen recovered slightly, her chest still ached, but her spirits were decent. Seeing that the guest had left, she asked, “Is the Demon Physician one of the Empress’s people?”

“You heard it yourself,” Yanlai didn’t hide it. It was lucky the physician belonged to the Empress; otherwise, having such a major spy nearby would have been a disaster.

Hong Chen fell silent, her expression cooling. She didn’t like those close to her harboring loyalties to others.

She leaned against the pillows. Yanlai comforted her, and the two sat in silence for a while.

Yanlai’s gaze remained fixed on Hong Chen’s features. Her fingertips brushed Hong Chen’s hand unconsciously, as if she wanted to do something.

Hong Chen’s injuries were worsening; her eyelashes were damp with sweat, making her eyes look misty. Yanlai’s heart softened. Her slender arm lifted several times before she finally resolved to touch the corner of Hong Chen’s mouth.

Her cold, soft fingertip brushed the bloodless lips, rubbing gently. Hong Chen couldn’t help but look up. “What are you doing?”

Yanlai didn’t answer. She sat on the edge of the bed, her eyelashes trembling uncontrollably. Bitterness swelled in her throat, momentarily overriding her shyness.

Bashfulness felt insignificant in this moment; all she wanted was for Hong Chen to recover quickly.

After a mental struggle, she finally opened her lips: “Close your eyes.”

Hong Chen felt dazed, her heart racing at the temptation. She finally couldn’t help but grab Yanlai’s slender wrist. “You’re trying to take advantage of me.”

“You are injured,” Yanlai simply said.

Hong Chen was defiant. “I can be peaceful while injured. I can recover by sleeping.”

“How long will you sleep? Three years?” Yanlai sighed softly, gently pulling her wrist away. Her gaze moved past Hong Chen’s eyes to her hair, which was dark and lustrous. Yanlai looked down again, and after a moment of silence, said, “But I cannot wait three years for you.”

Hong Chen’s grip on her wrist loosened. For the first time, she understood what it felt like to be a burden.

The spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak.

“I first return to the Demon Realm, wait for you to find me,” Hong Chen said with a faint smile, the light in her eyes exceptionally brilliant.

Yanlai chuckled. “I want to go back to the Demon Realm with you. Let’s get married. We’re going back to get married right now.”

Once married, everything else would follow naturally.

Hong Chen frowned. “You really just want to take advantage of me.”

“Let’s go. Back to the Demon Realm. We wed tomorrow.” Yanlai stood up, her skirt swaying slightly. Her lips trembled as she leaned down, ignoring Hong Chen’s protesting gaze, to lightly brush her lips against Hong Chen’s. “We wed.”

Hong Chen wanted to refuse, but she found Yanlai’s kiss impossible to resist. How could she say no?

“When we cultivate doubly, I want to be awake,” Hong Chen stated as her only condition.

Yanlai laughed. “Fine.”

As they reached their agreement, chaos erupted outside the palace. High Immortal San Meng had fallen into demonhood and was killing everyone in sight. The Immortals were horrified, unable to bring themselves to harm her. However, their mercy only caused San Meng’s demonic energy to surge. Through the crowd of Immortals, Yanlai caught a brief glimpse of San Meng.

San Meng was surrounded by Heavenly Soldiers, but they didn’t dare get close; if they did, they were instantly corroded by demonic energy.

Hong Chen possessed demonic energy, but she could control it, as could the others in the Demon Realm. San Meng, however, had been consumed by malice; her demonic energy was completely out of her control.

The Nine Heavens fell into utter turmoil. Hong Chen and Yanlai took the opportunity to leave. As they passed the Southern Heavenly Gate, the Arbiter of Fate, Si Ming, was chatting with a lazy colleague.

Si Ming felt someone approaching and looked up. Her colleague followed suit. Si Ming immediately knocked him unconscious with a palm strike and shouted, “How are you asleep again? I’ve seen lazy people, but never anyone as lazy as you!”

As she spoke, she looked up toward the Nine Heavens. Strangely, not a single Heavenly Soldier, who usually appeared at a moment’s notice, showed up today.

Si Ming was curious but shouted into the void: “Hurry up and go!”

Yanlai appeared to apologize. Hong Chen didn’t forget to tease: “Since you’re living so miserably here, why not come to my Demon Realm to be a Guardian?”

“I am an Immortal,” Si Ming refused, peeking back inside. “I have a feeling something has happened.”

Yanlai gave a light laugh but didn’t explain. She took Hong Chen’s hand, and they flew away from the Nine Heavens.

Inside the Heavenly Palace, San Meng had already killed many soldiers. No one dared approach. The Moon Goddess, Yue Shen, arrived upon hearing the news, her body freezing and her head buzzing. She instinctively tried to rush forward, but the God of Marriage, Yue Lao, pulled her back, ignoring the danger. “She has been controlled by malice, Moon Goddess!”

“How could she be controlled by malice again?” the Moon Goddess asked in disbelief. She tried to grab Yue Lao’s hand. “How do we save her?”

“I don’t know! This, this, this! Oh, I’ve never seen anything like it!” Yue Lao stammered in panic, stumbling as the Moon Goddess dragged him along. “Where did she come from?”

That sentence was like a cold splash of water. The Moon Goddess was reminded: Where did San Meng come from?

She had just been to the Pure Void Palace, which was empty. She had thought San Meng went out to scout the situation, but now it seemed things weren’t that simple.

She asked Yue Lao, “Did someone attack her? Is that why she’s angry?”

Yue Lao knew absolutely nothing. He stood with his mouth agape, unable to respond. The Moon Goddess was frantic and was about to rush forward regardless of the cost when the Heavenly Emperor suddenly appeared.

The Moon Goddess immediately screamed, “Heavenly Emperor, spare her life!”

The Heavenly Emperor hovered in the air, hands behind his back, his face a mask of grief. “High Immortal San Meng, you have actually been consumed by malice. I can no longer let you remain.”

The Moon Goddess turned pale with fright. At that moment, Si Ming pulled her back. “What are you worried about? San Meng’s true form is a dreamscape. As long as dreams exist, she will not die.”