Master is Also Running Away from Marriage Today (Transmigration) - Chapter 56

Yan Qi furrowed her brows tightly.

She couldn’t even remember how many Mu Lings there were in her palace anymore.

Judging by her bone structure, the girl wasn’t very old perhaps fifteen or sixteen. Her nose was red, her cheeks rosy and dewy, and her clear, beautiful eyes brimmed with unshed tears, making her look utterly pitiful.

Yan Qi sneered inwardly. Some fool with lard for brains must have sent this little girl into the Demon Palace, probably thinking she could win the heart of someone whose age was a hundred times hers.

She glanced at the girl again. There was something odd about the way the girl was looking at her not exactly fear, but something else…

Yan Qi pressed her lips together, instinctively disliking the sight of the girl’s tearful face.

“You know who I am, don’t you?” Yan Qi hardened her expression and frowned at Mu Ling, feeling an inexplicable irritation. This irritation was different from her usual murderous restlessness, carrying a hint of helplessness she didn’t even realize herself. “If you keep crying, I’ll kill you!”

The girl seemed startled by her words, widening her teary eyes to stare at her like a young animal just out of its den. After a moment, as if truly frightened, she lowered her head and sniffled, not daring to look up again.

Yan Qi narrowed her eyes, her gaze lingering on Mu Ling’s reddened eyes before shifting to the nearby rockery. She leaned against a large stone and lay down, closing her eyes to feign sleep.

The sound of the girl’s muffled sobs still reached her ears, but Yan Qi’s tightly knitted brows gradually relaxed. In that moment, she thought she truly lived up to her reputation as the Demon Queen. While the cries and pleas of others had always annoyed her, the intermittent sniffles of this little girl stirred a strange, secret delight within her.

What a foolish little fool.

Yan Qi curled her lips slightly. The Demon Queen was ruthless and merciless. She never wasted words and always acted directly. If she really wanted to kill her, why would she bother with threats?

…

Mu Ling, however, had no idea what Yan Qi was thinking.

She would rather this were just a nightmare, but Yan Qi’s demeanor showed no pretense. She genuinely didn’t recognize her.

After surviving life and death to return to this world, only to find herself fifteen years in the future, the disciple she had raised with her own hands, the one she had loved and nearly married, had turned into a heartless ingrate. Not only had she lost her memories and thrown the three realms into chaos, but she was now threatening to kill her.

Mu Ling mused that if she had a fiercer temper, she might have lunged at Yan Qi right then and there, ready to fight to the death.

But Mu Ling wasn’t fierce. Right now, she just wanted to cry.

“You heartless woman.” The guilt from suddenly leaving fifteen years ago and the longing for Lin Qingge seemed to pour out with her tears. Though she knew something must have happened to Yan Qi, Mu Ling couldn’t help feeling deeply wronged. She instinctively glared at Yan Qi, only to see her lying comfortably on the stone, eyes closed as if already asleep.

At that, Mu Ling felt even more aggrieved.

Yet, despite her misery, she dared not cry aloud, afraid that this amnesiac Demon Queen might truly make good on her threat and kill her.

Mu Ling hung her head, unsure how long she had been drowning in sorrow. She trembled from holding back tears until her body went limp, and in her dazed state, she collapsed into a soft embrace.

“Why so many tears?” A voice tinged with impatience sounded above her. Cool fingers brushed against her flushed cheeks, carrying a refreshing chill, yet the touch held an awkward tenderness. Recognizing the familiar presence, Mu Ling instinctively tried to lift her head, but a sudden wave of dizziness overwhelmed her.

Yan Qi frowned at her own fingers before shifting her gaze to the unconscious Mu Ling in her arms. She had no memory of ever using spiritual energy to lull someone to sleep, yet the motion felt practiced, as if she had done it countless times before.

The girl slept restlessly, clinging to Yan Qi like an octopus, wrinkling her immaculate collar. Yan Qi stared at the creases for a moment, brows furrowed, before her eyes drifted back to Mu Ling’s face. Her fingers twitched. She could easily snap the girl’s neck in an instant, yet she found herself utterly unable to do so.

“Just a mere mortal,” Yan Qi muttered.

With a cold snort, she laid Mu Ling down on a large rock and settled beside her, propping herself up on one elbow. Her long hair cascaded to the ground as she studied the girl’s face with quiet fascination.

This mortal’s skin was flawless, delicate as if it might tear at the slightest touch.

Her features were sweet and lively, like a soft, sticky rice dumpling.

Only her courage seemed lacking.

Yan Qi didn’t know why the thought of rice dumplings crossed her mind. She had never been fond of sweets. Yet she spent a long while observing the girl, pinching her hands and stroking her hair like a child with a newfound toy. Strangely, she felt no annoyance, only an unfamiliar tranquility, as if she had yearned for this moment for years.

By the time Mu Ling awoke, night had fallen.

The forest was chilly, and she shivered, sneezing as she sat up. She couldn’t understand how she had slept so soundly in such cold, but what truly unsettled her was the absence of that heartless woman.

“That scoundrel!” Mu Ling puffed her cheeks in frustration, snapping a plum branch in half before stumbling out of the grove, teeth chattering.

“Scoundrel?”

Only after Mu Ling left did Yan Qi withdraw the thread of consciousness she had left in the grove. Lying back on the grand bed in her demon palace, she smirked.

Many in the cultivation world despised her, hurling all manner of vile insults her way but this was the first time someone had called her a scoundrel.

Yan Qi closed her eyes with a yawn, suddenly feeling drowsy. Perhaps the girl’s deep slumber had rubbed off on her.

Cultivators didn’t need sleep, but most still took occasional rests while the body could endure, the mind required balance.

Yet Yan Qi hadn’t slept properly in ages.

Every time she drifted off, her head would ache unbearably, as if countless needles were piercing her skull, as though something inside was struggling to break free.

This time, however, she slipped into sleep without realizing it.

In the dream, there was the fragrance of flowers, hot springs, and a beautiful bamboo cottage. Though destined to be forgotten upon waking, it was one of the rare sweet dreams Yan Qi had had in recent years.

So even though Yan Qi forgot everything about the dream upon waking, her mood was unusually cheerful.

Just then, her subordinate reported that the demonic cultivators had dealt a heavy blow to the Heavenly Sword Sect this time, capturing a large number of its disciples. Yan Qi pondered for a moment, and suddenly, the image of that little girl flashed through her mind, the one who called herself ‘Mu Ling.’

Yan Qi had never visited the rear courtyard, but she knew most of the girls sent there had undergone special training. To seduce her, many had mastered various skills…

What kind of talent did this seemingly dull and clumsy little girl possess?

Yan Qi narrowed her eyes, a faint sense of anticipation rising in her heart. Casually, she gave the order: “In seven days, hold a banquet to reward those who have distinguished themselves in battle.”

Then, as if it were an afterthought, she added, “A banquet with only food and drink would be dull. I recall there are some women kept in the rear courtyard. Have them prepare well and perform at the feast to liven things up.”

With Yan Qi’s command, the demons naturally arranged everything accordingly. Though no one knew what whim had suddenly struck the Demon King, this was the first banquet the Demon Palace had held in years. The demonic cultivators were all on edge, terrified of making any mistake that might provoke the Demon King’s wrath.

Meanwhile, the girls in Mu Ling’s courtyard from the opposing faction were practically overjoyed.

After waiting all these years, the Demon Palace was finally hosting a banquet. Even if they couldn’t seduce the Demon King, the high-ranking demonic cultivators would all be in attendance. Snagging just one would ensure a life of comfort.

Soon, the sounds of music and dance filled the rear courtyard, with female cultivators practicing their performances everywhere.

Mu Ling had initially been disheartened by Yan Qi’s attitude, but now, dazzled by the dazzling performances around her, her gloomy mood gradually lifted. After all, there were plenty of beautiful women in the world. She could treat this as a simple heartbreak. As a modern person, she wasn’t about to lose herself over love.

Mu Ling quickly pulled herself together.

At this stage, her cultivation was still weak. With no one to rely on, leaving the Demon Palace would likely mean certain death. So she decided to lie low, cultivate diligently, and make other plans once she had gained some strength.

With this in mind, Mu Ling increased her training time, spending entire days in the plum grove. Over the next few days, she never saw Yan Qi there again. She assumed Yan Qi’s earlier appearance had been accidental and didn’t dwell on it. Unaware that every time she trained in the grove, a certain spiritual sense was observing her with keen interest.

The little girl was so composed, still focusing on her cultivation even now. She must already have something impressive prepared.

Yan Qi suddenly felt a flicker of anticipation.

Soon, the seven days passed.

The usually silent Demon Palace was now adorned with lanterns and decorations, ablaze with light. The air was filled with the melodies of music and the aroma of fine wine and delicacies. Countless beautiful and alluring women moved gracefully among the guests, while the grand hall buzzed with lively toasts and laughter.

The Demon King, clad in a long black robe that trailed elegantly on the ground, her white hair loosely cascading down her back, sat alone on the high throne.

She knew her presence made the other demonic cultivators uneasy, so she kept her distance from the rest.

Yet, as she watched the female cultivators in revealing attire performing at the center of the banquet, Yan Qi frowned tightly. She hadn’t expected such performances. Would the little girl have to wear such clothes when it was her turn to perform?

The mere thought of the little girl dressed like that, drawing everyone’s attention, filled Yan Qi with unbearable agitation. Without thinking, she extended her divine sense, searching among the performers. She had to stop the little girl from appearing.

But after scanning the hall twice with her divine sense, Yan Qi still couldn’t find Mu Ling.

If the little girl wasn’t in the hall, where could she be?

To the others, the Demon King appeared disinterested, her eyelids lowered as she sipped wine slowly. Only Yan Qi knew that her divine sense had already ventured into the rear courtyards of the demon palace, searching room by room for any trace of the little girl. Finally, in one room, Mu Ling’s presence was unmistakably strong yet the door was tightly shut.

What was she doing behind closed doors?

Yan Qi narrowed her eyes, and her divine sense slipped into the room.

Inside, the air was thick with steam. Mu Ling had just stepped out of the bathtub, her skin flawless and glowing, cheeks flushed, completely unclothed as she prepared to dress.

Before the eyes of the crowd, the Demon King who remained unshaken even if a mountain collapsed before her suddenly choked on her wine, her face burning red. Before anyone could even register her expression, she vanished from her seat.