Marry First, Love Later With The White Cat Princess - Chapter 39.1

She dismissed the four attendants and personally served tea to the two.

“Did the Grand Priest know from that day?” Liu Fenyun asked, taking the teacup directly.

She was referring, of course, to the incident in which Luo San and Luo Jiu set up a demon exorcising formation in the hunting grounds, only to be burned by Qi Ran with demon fire.

Luo Binglun looked up at her. With Yu Qingyue not by her side, her usual cold and sharp demeanor returned.

“I do know some of the inside story,” she said, “but now is not the time to alert others. If you’ve come to question me about it, I’m afraid I cannot tell you.”

“I only came to inquire about my master’s whereabouts,” Liu Fenyun replied calmly, caressing her teacup. She had already communicated with Lianyi through their telepathy on the way. “Even if the poison in your body has been neutralized, in order not to arouse suspicion, during the spring hunt, my master would still stay by your side. But now… my master is not here. Where has she gone? To the hunting grounds?”

Luo Binglun had already anticipated this question and answered lightly, “This is part of my plan with her. I trust your master’s abilities, and she has agreed to follow my instructions. She will not put herself in danger.”

In truth, Luo Binglun was also anxious when she made that agreement.

She even hoped, just a little, that Yu Qingyue was truly a demon, so that facing a rampaging beast wouldn’t frighten her.

Unfortunately, she still didn’t know whether Yu Qingyue was human or demon.

Since this was their private matter, Liu Fenyun didn’t press further. She sipped her tea and prepared to leave, but then Lianyi said quietly, “Luo High Priestess may trust old friends, but let me say one thing: no matter how fierce a fire is, if you keep dousing it with cold water, it will eventually go out.”

Liu Fenyun understood immediately, and so did Luo Binglun. A flash of regret appeared in her eyes.

Lianyi didn’t drink her tea. She grabbed Liu Fenyun’s wrist and pulled her along.

“We’re going to the hunting grounds,” Lianyi said as they left the Guizhi Hall. “Your master must have gone with Luo Binglun’s demon exorcising team. If others find out…”

“Let’s go.” Liu Fenyun didn’t dare to overthink, leapt onto her horse, and followed.

Liu Fenyun didn’t doubt her master’s abilities. Her master came from the demon world, settled in a human kingdom, and became a famous doctor her capabilities were unquestionable.

She only worried that Qi Ran might try to harm her master. Demons were capricious, and Qi Ran worked for the Fourth Princess. Even if he had once been her master’s disciple, betrayal was not impossible.

The afternoon sun was hot on their skin. Liu Fenyun immediately used a water talisman, turning it into a mist that shielded Lianyi’s head from the sun.

No sooner had she finished than she noticed a shadow above a huge lotus leaf hovering overhead.

It was Lianyi, who had transformed a nearby leaf into a magical shield.

Protecting each other from the sun, they rushed toward the mountain hunting grounds.

After meeting the High Priest, Sha Fuli immediately led the accompanying demon exorcists back to the hunting grounds. By the time Liu Fenyun and Lianyi arrived, a canopy had already been set up at the entrance, where medical practitioners were busy, ready to tend to the injured.

Aside from the doctors, guards and demon exorcists were stationed at the entrance. They didn’t stop Liu Fenyun, but they tried to prevent Lianyi from entering, worried she might be implicated.

Although the people of Zhuohuang despised demons, Lianyi had performed her duties as the Holy Lady, hosting and overseeing the summer festival each year. The guards and exorcists respected her and didn’t want her to be blamed.

Lianyi understood their concern but shook her head. She showed them the blood pact mark on Liu Fenyun’s nape. “I have taken a blood pact with my husband. If I ever harm humans, he only needs a thought, and I will die.”

The exorcists knew what a blood pact between human and demon meant. Astonished, they stepped aside.

As Crown Prince, Sha Fuli didn’t need to enter danger, so he stayed behind. Passing him on horseback, Liu Fenyun heard him laugh: “Be careful on the road.”

Startled, Liu Fenyun glanced at Lianyi, who had a complicated expression, part embarrassed, part flustered.

“First, we find my master,” Liu Fenyun decided, opening the system map and sending out her spiritual sense.

The map quickly revealed Yu Qingyue’s light spot, just as Liu Fenyun had suspected. Qi Ran’s light spot was nearby.

“It seems my master has been following Qi Ran,” she said, turning the horse. “Shall we go?”

“Let’s,” Lianyi agreed, unconcerned. Though following Yu Qingyue was risky, it was still safer than being elsewhere.

Lianyi’s depths were unfathomable. Unlike Qi Ran, Yu Qingyue was reserved; perhaps no one knew her true strength.

Demons instinctively respected the strong, and Yu Qingyue was such a figure worthy of her reputation.

Yu Qingyue had already chased Qi Ran into the deep mountains, which bordered the hunting grounds. Liu Fenyun and Lianyi galloped, sweating, only reaching the central hunting grounds.

“Looks like we’ll stay on the mountain tonight,” Lianyi said half-jokingly, half-seriously. “This involves Zhuohuang and the demon realm. If I turn back without figuring it out, I won’t sleep tonight.”

Liu Fenyun nodded. “I’ll stay with you, Your Highness.”

Lianyi, being weak, needed a rest. Liu Fenyun found a water source and led her to a shaded spot.

“Is it really safe to leave the Fifteenth Prince alone in the Morning Star Hall?” Liu Fenyun asked, wiping her sweat.

“Lihua is there. Even if the Fourth Princess sends demons into the hall, they can evacuate Rulang,” Lianyi replied, tilting her face for easier wiping. “If you worry, you can check with them through telepathy.”

Liu Fenyun shook her head. “No. I’m more worried about you, Your Highness.”

Caught off guard by the concern, Lianyi froze, then felt her heart bloom.

A cloud of white fur the tips of her cat ears peeked out.

Liu Fenyun resisted touching her demon subordinate, but in front of Lianyi’s true form, she had no defense.

She rubbed Lianyi’s fluffy cat ears with both hands, feeling the soft fur in her palms, letting her worries dissipate.

The only downside was that Lianyi was shedding hair…

Lianyi’s true form was a long haired white lion cat, with thick fur on her ears. After Liu Fenyun finished, she looked at her hands and saw clumps of fur.

They both glanced at the fur and fell into an awkward silence.

“…I heard that demons shedding fur indicates a breakthrough in cultivation, like from Qi Refinement to Golden Core,” Liu Fenyun coughed lightly, taking the chance to ask about breakthroughs, especially how to cultivate. “Congratulations, Your Highness.”

Lianyi replied, “I’ve already formed my demon core. I’m far from a breakthrough. If shedding fur indicates a breakthrough, then after the blood pact, humans can use demon power to cultivate, and the signs will show in demons too. Probably, the one about to break through is you.”

Liu Fenyun laughed. “How could that be?…”

Before she could finish, Lianyi grabbed her right hand, placing her fingers on Liu Fenyun’s pulse, closing her eyes to examine.

“You’re about to form a core in the next few days,” Lianyi said, opening her eyes with joy and adoration. “Once we meet your master in the hunting grounds, I’ll take you to a feng shui spot to help you form it.”

Liu Fenyun was stunned, instinctively waving her hand. “No, I don’t want to form a demon core…”

No wonder she resisted her system had clearly told her that her inner core was formed from demon energy, essentially a demon core.

As a human, forming a demon core… would she still be human or demon?

Lianyi’s gaze sharpened. She leaned close, whispering into Liu Fenyun’s ear, “I never told you how to form a core. How do you know it will be a demon core? Did Yu Doctor say so?”

Her breath brushed Liu Fenyun’s ear. The sudden cold tone made her shiver.

Then Liu Fenyun realized: it wasn’t the system trying to make her a demon it was Lianyi, wanting to transform her into a loyal companion.

By taking a blood pact, allowing Liu Fenyun to use her demon energy, and teaching her demon techniques…

She had been trusted by this obsessive cat-demon, and now the cat had truly decided to turn her into a loyal companion.

Her heart raced. At this point, she couldn’t refuse, and surprisingly, she wasn’t strongly opposed… to becoming a demon.

Since winter, Liu Fenyun had used demon techniques countless times. When she cultivated daily, demon energy flowed through her meridians.

With or without forming a core, she was already half-demon.