Queen of Ten Thousand Demons Insists on Marrying Me - Chapter 12

In front of Yao Xia Palace.

“Palace Head Wan left the Palace a few days ago and has not yet returned. It would be best for Tan Taijing to remain confined until then.”

Lu Wanbai: “Hall Head Xi, you are placing her under house arrest! Confining Fellow Daoist Tan before her guilt is confirmed—what will the other disciples think of her?”

Xi Xiaoshuang said indifferently: “Such are the Palace rules. This is also for the safety of all disciples of Yao Xia Palace.”

Lu Wanbai was about to argue further but was softly stopped by Tan Taijing: “Let’s follow Hall Head Xi’s arrangement. The innocent will prove their innocence, and the guilty will prove their guilt.”

Xi Xiaoshuang then added: “Lu Xiaoxiao was with Tan Taijing that day, and Mei Yuanhua was killed by Lu Xiaoxiao’s sword. She is also suspected of collusion and should likewise remain confined.”

In the end, all three returned to Tan Taijing’s courtyard. Don’t ask why Lu Wanbai was also placed under confinement—it was because of her stubbornness… She insisted that three of the four people who left returned, and since Mei Yuanhua was in her team, she also bore responsibility for the incident.

Shen Xiaonan, as Wan Xuan’er’s senior disciple, heard about the matter and brought some fruits, vegetables, meat, and dishes to visit them—primarily to see Lu Xiaoxiao and Lu Wanbai. Lu Xiaoxiao didn’t understand how Tan Taijing had managed to live as an undercover agent for so many years without making a single friend.

The three were left staring at each other in the courtyard. They could no longer go to the cafeteria, so they had to rely on their own skills.

Lu Xiaoxiao certainly didn’t expect Tan Taijing, being a demon, to know how to cook human food.

“Senior Sister, perhaps, maybe, likely, you know how to cook?”

Lu Wanbai, looking wilted, sat on a chair and shook her head: “I have never learned.”

Lu Xiaoxiao felt a headache coming on. Why couldn’t they yet abstain from food? As for cooking, Lu Xiaoxiao knew a little, but it was limited to boiling some noodles, instant noodles, or spicy noodles.

Looking at the two live, hopping chickens and one fish in front of her, she really had no idea where to start.

A sound like celestial music reached the ears of the two sisters.

“I do.”

Lu Xiaoxiao’s jaw nearly dropped to the floor: What? The demoness knows how to cook? Don’t demons eat everything raw?

Ignoring the one who was shocked and the one who was suspicious, Tan Taijing picked up the ingredients and headed toward the small kitchen.

“Lu Xiaoxiao, come in here and light the fire and wash the vegetables for me.”

Lu Xiaoxiao, having adjusted her jaw, followed the chicken into the kitchen.

Tan Taijing deftly rolled up her sleeves, washing and cutting vegetables meticulously. This version of Tan Taijing swept away her usual coldness and had an added touch of everyday life. Perhaps cooking gave her a different sense of accomplishment; the expression on her face was much more relaxed and natural, like a captivating peony flower slowly blooming, just as Lu Xiaoxiao first saw her.

Lu Xiaoxiao wondered how this person was made. She clearly had a seductive and enchanting face, yet she always gave people a cold feeling.

“I called you in to work, not to supervise. What are you standing there spacing out for?” Tan Taijing said, her hands never stopping, processing the fish in just a few quick motions.

Lu Xiaoxiao was momentarily lost in thought, feeling that white clothes didn’t suit Tan Taijing at all; deep red or black suited her best.

“I really can’t believe it, Tan Taijing—you can run a home, slay a demon head, and handle a kitchen. You look so beautiful like this! Why do you always wear a cold face and curse people? Does the one in the Demon-Locking Pagoda like your icy face?”

Tan Taijing paused her chopping: “Yes, she likes me no matter what I look like. Stop the nonsense and get the fire started.”

Hmph, such a good relationship.

Lu Xiaoxiao mocked her inwardly, then “Hoo~ Hoo~ Hoo~” blew hard at the stove, but couldn’t get the kindling inside to light. This was the third time it had gone out.

Receiving a roll of Tan Taijing’s eyes, the soot-covered Lu Xiaoxiao angrily pulled out dozens of talismans and threw a Fire Control spell into the stove. This time, she didn’t dare to cut off the spiritual energy, forcing the fire to burn until the water was boiling before stopping the energy.

“Why is lighting a fire so difficult? It ignites, but the wood just won’t burn through.”

Lu Xiaoxiao was initially highly skeptical of Tan Taijing’s cooking skills, but after helping out in the kitchen, she was utterly impressed. The four dishes and one soup, when brought out, were absolutely perfect in color, aroma, and taste.

Watching the potato chicken, which had been stewing for nearly half an hour, become tender and fragrant, with a layer of glistening oil floating on the surface of the chicken soup, Lu Xiaoxiao was practically drooling.

Taking advantage of Chef Tan Tai turning her back, she reached out with her chopsticks to grab a piece, wanting to ‘test the poison’ for Lu Wanbai first.

Smack! A chopstick shot out and firmly struck her finger.

Lu Xiaoxiao cried out in pain: “Ten fingers are connected to the heart! Tan Taijing, how cruel you are!”

Tan Taijing stood with her arms crossed, looking at her: “Wash your hands first.”

“I washed them when I was washing the vegetables!”

“That’s still not allowed.”

Only after watching the person obediently wash her hands and carry the dishes out did Tan Taijing secretly chuckle. She didn’t know why, but every time she saw Lu Xiaoxiao being defeated, she found it extremely amusing—a feeling like… watching a little dog.

At the dinner table, Lu Wanbai and Lu Xiaoxiao each ate three large bowls of rice. Only after both of them heartily belched did they leave the remaining rice alone.

Lu Wanbai praised her: “Fellow Daoist Tan’s cooking is much better than the head chefs in mortal restaurants. I’ll take care of the washing up; you two worked hard just now.”

“Yes, yes! The world has lost a peerless chef and gained a first-rate sword cultivator. How can the merit of a sword cultivator be higher than that of a chef? What a pity! How about Senior Sister and I reluctantly eat a few more meals here, and then we’ll write a few books for you to pass down, so people will know that the cuisine of the Seventh on the Seventy-Two Fiends List is the best in the world.” Lu Xiaoxiao also chimed in with flattery.

Tan Taijing fiercely stomped on Lu Xiaoxiao’s toes under the table: “Oh, please! I think you just want to freeload on my meals every day, and besides, I barely use a sword anyway.”

Lu Xiaoxiao’s face flushed red. She yanked her foot back and gritted her teeth: “Yes, yes, yes. You use the Gui Chen Whip. That whip skill is superb and elegant beyond compare.”

In the evening, Lu Wanbai and Lu Xiaoxiao were sitting cross-legged on the couch, meditating and cultivating.

Lu Xiaoxiao quietly opened her eyes, glanced at Lu Wanbai, and tiptoed toward the bedroom.

“Tan Taijing~ Wake up~ Wake up.”

The person in bed woke up, lay on her side, and looked at Lu Xiaoxiao kneeling by her bedside, her head so close it was almost touching her face.

Tan Taijing yawned and gently pushed the person away with her index finger.

“What are you doing, sneaking around so late?” Her voice carried a hint of languor.

Lu Xiaoxiao wore a fawning expression: “Sister Tan Tai, do you have a way to evade Palace Head Wan’s detection? If you can’t hide it, it’s too dangerous. Why don’t you quickly run away while it’s dark? Forget about the Demon-Locking Pagoda.”

Tan Taijing said calmly: “There is no way, and I won’t run.”

“Hey, you! ‘As long as the green mountains remain, one need not worry about firewood.’ You have to save your life to save people.”

Tan Taijing understood, pinching Lu Xiaoxiao’s chin: “So that’s what you were waiting for, Lu Xiaoxiao! I won’t give you the antidote. Even if I die in Yao Xia Palace, I will drag someone down with me. Otherwise, the journey to the Yellow Springs will be lonely, but with you, I’ll have someone to amuse me, won’t I?”

“Don’t do that, Sister! I have an eighty-year-old mother above me and a twenty-two-year-old, slow-witted Senior Sister below me. Please spare my life. Give me the antidote, and I’ll take care of the rescue mission. Even if you die young, I will inherit your task.”

Tan Taijing laughed in exasperation: “Stop joking with me! Where do you have an eighty-year-old mother? But your twenty-two-year-old Senior Sister is indeed a bit slow-witted.” She then poked her over with her index finger, saying: “Stop disturbing my sleep, or I’ll call out the Gu worm to play with you.”

The person who was defeated returned with a worried face and continued to meditate through the night, but couldn’t come up with a way to save herself.

She was then greeted with bad news.

That’s right, Wan Xuan’er had returned and had sent word inviting the three of them over.