Queen of Ten Thousand Demons Insists on Marrying Me - Chapter 53

Lu Xiaoxiao and the two others, having just emerged from the Teleportation Array, walked onto the main street of Xuantian City in Wuwang State. This city was once affiliated with the Xuantian Sword Sect, and the Sect itself was less than a hundred li away.

However, the world had changed, and the current City Lord of Xuantian City was unlikely to care much for the two of them.

After several days of continuous travel, Lu Wanbai suggested, “Junior Sister, let’s take a rest here for the night. Tomorrow, after about half a day of flying on our swords, we should be able to reach the Xuantian Sword Sect.”

“Sounds good, Xiaoxiao will follow Senior Sister’s arrangements.”

“Snap!”

A loud slap suddenly rang out from up ahead.

They saw a large crowd gathered in front of them, and amidst the people stood two women who were loudly arguing. Lu Xiaoxiao raised an eyebrow, pushed her way through the crowd, and squeezed herself into the center.

Lin Yizhi, clutching her face, cried out, “You are simply being unreasonable! Dongchang City is currently hosting the Immortal Sect Grand Assembly. Whether human or demon, any cultivator in the Golden Core or Nascent Soul stage can participate. The first-place winner will receive ten Condensing Qi Pills and a million mid-grade spirit stones. Second place gets nine Condensing Qi Pills, and so on, until the tenth place winner who receives one Condensing Qi Pill. Fortieth to fiftieth place receive ten thousand mid-grade spirit stones, and fifty-first to one hundredth place receive five thousand mid-grade spirit stones.”

After saying this long list in a single breath, Lin Yizhi paused for a deep gasp, then shouted, “This is such a good opportunity! Why won’t you let me go?!”

The woman standing beside her seemed to be the speaker’s cultivation partner. She reached out her hands, trying to pull her back: “Dong Qinglan, the City Lord of Dongchang City, has long since colluded with Yan Gengshen. This matter is certainly fraudulent. Otherwise, who could possibly hand out millions of spirit stones to others for no reason?”

Lin Yizhi shook off her arm. “Chu Jiawen! I told you that you have the overcautious nature of a common woman! Even if there is a conspiracy, look at how many people from all over the world are going, not to mention the many Demon Clan members participating in the competition. If I win a ranking, do you really think she would dare to withhold the spirit stones and elixirs from me?”

With that, she turned and continued walking forward without looking back.

Chu Jiawen shouted after Lin Yizhi’s retreating back, “Lin Yizhi, if you insist on going, then the marriage between us will be called off right here and now!”

Lin Yizhi turned back, looking at Chu Jiawen with an air of disbelief.

Seeing the two or three circles of people around them who had all heard Chu Jiawen’s proposal to annul the engagement, her face instantly flushed crimson. “There are so many women in this world; I refuse to believe I can’t find another cultivation partner.” After saying this, she turned and wiped the corner of her eye with her sleeve, covered the side of her face that had been slapped red, and pushed past Lu Xiaoxiao to leave the crowd.

Lu Xiaoxiao watched the whole spectacle unfold from within the crowd. It turned out that this young cultivation couple was having a massive fight, even resorting to breaking off their engagement, all because one of them wanted to go to Dongchang City to participate in a competition.

She let out a scoff, but forgot to modulate her voice, and the sound was heard by the woman named Chu Jiawen.

“What are you laughing at! What’s so funny! What, do you want a slap too?” Chu Jiawen walked up to the front, staring at Lu Xiaoxiao with wide, enraged eyes.

Lu Xiaoxiao quickly waved her hands and retreated: “I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare. I just suddenly had a toothache and sucked in a breath, that’s all.”

Hearing her explanation, the woman still seemed somewhat unappeased. However, without a clear pretext, she could not reasonably make trouble for Lu Xiaoxiao again, so she could only glare at her fiercely, bump her shoulder, and walk out as well.

Lu Wanbai supported Lu Xiaoxiao’s body. “This woman is not to be trifled with. She is the City Lord of Xuantian City’s most cherished daughter, and she is known for her violent temper, refusal to be disciplined, and general tyranny within the city.”

Lu Xiaoxiao nodded. “I was wondering how someone with only a Golden Core stage cultivation could be so arrogant.”

“The woman just now was her fiancée, whose family was once one of the top cultivation aristocratic families in Xuantian City, but they have fallen on hard times in recent years. The City Lord doesn’t approve of their marriage, so Lin Yizhi must want to go to Dongchang City to win a top ten spot, hoping to smoothly marry the City Lord’s daughter.”

“Guests, are you stopping for a meal or a stay? Our inn offers excellent prices and honest service. We have plenty of superior rooms and guarantee attentive service; you will be satisfied.” A friendly-looking inn waiter suddenly appeared beside the two, speaking to them.

“Do you know much about this Immortal Sect competition in Dongchang City?” Lu Xiaoxiao asked.

The waiter skillfully picked up the slightly yellowed towel draped over his shoulder, gave it a gentle shake, and then snapped it forcefully. The towel made a light “snap” sound in the air. He extended one hand toward the door, bowed his head, and invited them in: “I know seven parts of the large and small happenings in this city, and no one would dare claim to know eight. Please, come inside and rest for a bit. I will prepare a superior room for the two of you, brew a pot of fine tea, and then I can tell you all the details.”

Lu Xiaoxiao tossed out ten taels of silver and smiled helplessly. “Then we’ll trouble you to lead the way.”

A straight, vertical Sky Ladder slanted through the swirling clouds, its figure faintly discernible in the haze, leading directly to the foot of the mountain.

Lu Wanbai looked at the dilapidated mountain gate. Weeds grew everywhere, and the tottering plaque was covered in cobwebs and stained with dark blood.

Her eyes felt a bit sore, but she forced a smile, suppressing her emotions, and said, “Xiaoxiao, we’re finally back.”

Lu Xiaoxiao gazed at the scene before her. In just one year of abandonment, this once-prosperous Immortal Sect had fallen into a state of shocking disrepair. The formerly magnificent buildings were now broken walls and crumbling ruins, their spiritual light utterly lost, overgrown with weeds, appearing desolate and bleak. In the main square, only the rustling sound of wind blowing leaves echoed in the emptiness. Deep within the sect, the spiritual springs were dry, the spiritual herbs withered, and the atmosphere was one of total stillness.

A thought arose in her mind: Can this place really be saved? Just a thorough clean-up alone would probably exhaust half their lives.

“It’s Senior Sister Wanbai! Senior Sister Wanbai is back!” A little girl suddenly walked out from behind the crumbling ruins, running towards Lu Wanbai and hugging her leg.

The sudden voice startled Lu Xiaoxiao. The girl in front of her looked about eight or nine years old, her face and skirt were filthy, making her look like a little homeless child, but her eyes were remarkably bright.

Lu Wanbai was stunned at first. After recognizing the person, she embraced the girl without caring about the dirt on her, her eyes filled with tears, and said, “You’re still alive, Silky Willow.”

This girl was Mo Siliu. She was currently in the Qi Refining stage and was a newly-initiated disciple of the Xuantian Sword Sect. The Sect ceased to exist just half a year after she joined.

When the Demon and Monster Clans attacked the Xuantian Sword Sect, she was still very young and managed to hide, luckily escaping the disaster. However, she was also an orphan and possessed nothing. She had been hiding on the mountain, eating wild fruits when hungry and drinking spring water when thirsty, barely surviving.

Mo Siliu lay in Lu Wanbai’s arms, sobbing and saying, “Wuwu—Sister Wanbai, why did you take so long to come back? I’ve been waiting for you all for so long. Silky Willow has been cold and hungry here. I wanted to clean up the broken wood and stones in the hall, but I’m too small and can’t move them.”

“It’s all Sister Wanbai’s fault. Sister is back this time, and she won’t leave again. I will never let you go hungry or cold again.” Lu Wanbai gently patted the girl’s back, comforting her.

The girl was truly too miserable and exhausted. Before long, she fell asleep in Lu Wanbai’s arms.

Lu Wanbai patted the tiny person in her embrace, her eyes filled with distress: “Mo Siliu should be over ten years old, yet she’s still so light. I can feel her bones when I hold her.”

“We should have come back earlier.” Lu Xiaoxiao gently rubbed Mo Siliu’s small head, thinking about how such a small girl had lived rough on the mountain for a year, and her heart felt a little heavy.

The two of them found a room, patched up the holes, and cleaned the room thoroughly.

Watching the sleeping Mo Siliu, Lu Xiaoxiao went to the kitchen and prepared some food, waiting for her to wake up.

The sleeping little girl sniffed her nose, sat up in a daze, and her stomach let out a “grumble.” Seeing the fragrant food on the table, she quickly darted off the bed, ran to the table, and began to eat voraciously.

Lu Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but say with concern, “Slow down, don’t choke.”

Mo Siliu mumbled a couple of replies, continuing to bury her face in the bowl and stuffing herself, until she finished two bowls of rice and finally let out a loud burp, putting down her chopsticks.

Her eyes were tearful, and she choked up as she said to Lu Xiaoxiao, “Thank you, Elder Sister. I haven’t had rice in months.”

It turned out that when the Xuantian Sword Sect was first breached, Mo Siliu could still find some grain and cured meat in the messy kitchen, but it was all eaten up in less than half a year. After that, she could only rely on wild fruits from the mountain.

Lu Xiaoxiao looked at her sympathetically and asked, “Why didn’t you go down the mountain?”

“The Xuantian Sword Sect is naturally far from the secular world. The nearest town is over a hundred li away. How could a little girl like her walk out there?” Lu Wanbai wiped the corners of Mo Siliu’s mouth.

Hearing this, Lu Xiaoxiao quickly pulled out a few high-grade spirit stones from her pocket and placed them on the table, afraid that Mo Siliu would go hungry or cold again in the future.

“This is our first meeting; consider these spirit stones a gift.” A single high-grade spirit stone is equivalent to a thousand mid-grade spirit stones.

Lu Wanbai was confused. “Xiaoxiao, this isn’t your first meeting with her. When she first joined the Xuantian Sword Sect, you even gave her guidance.”

Lu Xiaoxiao pulled off the mask on her face and said, “Yes… what I mean is that this appearance of mine is meeting her for the first time.”

She thought to herself, That was close. I almost revealed my secret.

Mo Siliu suddenly cried out, “Waaah!”

While weeping loudly, she asked in broken gasps, “Are you still going to leave this place? I don’t want the spirit stones; I only want to stay with you.”

Seeing her reaction, Lu Xiaoxiao immediately became flustered. She quickly wrapped her arms around her, then placed the spirit stones in her hand, gently patted her back, and comforted her: “That’s not what I meant. It was just a gift for our first meeting. We came back this time to rebuild the Xuantian Sword Sect.”

“Cough, cough… Re-re-really?” Mo Siliu asked, sniffling, perhaps coughing from crying for too long.

“Yes, yes, Senior Sister, say something quick!” Lu Xiaoxiao truly had no experience in coaxing people. She both held the “hot potato” and then stuffed her into Lu Wanbai’s embrace, while giving her a look to quickly comfort the little girl.

Lu Wanbai clearly had more experience than she did. In her arms, Mo Siliu gradually stopped crying and revealed a smile. Then, while Lu Wanbai was leading Mo Siliu away to bathe, Lu Xiaoxiao took the opportunity to retreat to her room.

As night fell, Lu Xiaoxiao tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. The image of Mo Siliu, with her filthy clothes and lack of food, kept flashing through her mind.

She couldn’t help but wonder if Tantai Jing was just like this when she was wandering the streets, or perhaps even worse. After all, Mo Siliu had wild fruits on the mountain and the buildings of the Xuantian Sword Sect, and as a Qi Refining stage cultivator, she could withstand heat and cold better.

She felt a pang of heartache for Tantai Jing, wondering how she managed when she was little, and if any demons bullied her for being a half-demon after she was taken back to the Demon Clan by Fu Zhao. She also wondered if her injuries had recovered yet, and if Fu Zhao had made things difficult for her after finding out about their relationship.

Just as she was lost in thought, Lu Xiaoxiao suddenly felt a warm liquid slowly trickling down her nose.

She instinctively raised her hand and lightly wiped below her nasal bridge. When her fingers touched the wet patch, a vibrant red color was starkly visible before her eyes.

This is bad, she thought. Lu Wanbai had found many famous doctors for her along the way, but none of them could provide a permanent cure. At most, they could suppress it for a few days, and now, in less than seven days, it had flared up again.

She had to talk to Lu Wanbai. Otherwise, forget about revitalizing the sect; she might need to use the front gate of the mountain as her coffin lid before it could even be installed.

A long sigh echoed in the dark and empty room: “Sometimes, having too powerful a cultivation partner is not good. Tantai Jing’s views on love are still too unhealthy. The next time I see her, I must give her a proper lesson on healthy relationship concepts.”

A few more days passed.

The Xuantian Sword Sect was mostly cleaned up, but the two still had no idea how to recruit disciples and officially announce the re-opening of the Xuantian Sword Sect.

Lu Xiaoxiao’s physical condition was deteriorating daily. Now, even making a meal required her to sit down and rest for a while afterwards.

Looking at Mo Siliu, who was sitting at the table eating, Lu Xiaoxiao pulled Lu Wanbai aside and said to her, “Senior Sister, although I know we just returned to the Xuantian Sword Sect, there’s something I must tell you. I have to say, Tantai Jing’s Gu is truly too potent. If you don’t let me go find her soon, I’m afraid you won’t have this Junior Sister anymore.”

Lu Wanbai scratched her head. “Is this Gu really as powerful as Wan Qingyi said? But didn’t that Physician Li, or was it Physician Wang, say that after taking her medicine, the Gu would die inside your body?”

She had taken Lu Xiaoxiao to see at least ten famous physicians along the way. Yet, the last physician clearly said the medicine would cure the illness.

Lu Xiaoxiao placed her hand between them and gently shook it open. A handkerchief, crumpled and stained with patches of blood, slowly unfolded. As a slight breeze passed, it narrowly missed Lu Wanbai’s face.

“Senior Sister, have we run out of money, or did you intentionally find quacks to try and kill me?”

Lu Wanbai’s face flushed crimson. “I didn’t! It’s just that your Love Gu is truly unique. Several physicians couldn’t even detect a Love Gu inside you. If Wan Qingyi hadn’t told me, coupled with the fact that you genuinely have health issues, I would never have thought you were affected by a Gu.”

Looking at Lu Xiaoxiao’s pale complexion, Lu Wanbai opened her mouth again: “Since the people of Yaoxia Palace could detect the Love Gu, why don’t we go back to Yaoxia Palace again? We can beg Palace Mistress Wan to save you.”

Lu Xiaoxiao’s face was full of dark lines. “Auntie Wan went through all that trouble to let me out. I can’t go back and stab her in the back by telling everyone that I wasn’t in the Demon Locking Tower. Senior Sister, my advice is that you should stop giving random orders. Our goal, after all, is to revitalize the Xuantian Sword Sect.”

Lu Xiaoxiao’s eyes suddenly lit up: “Why don’t we go back to Dongchang City! That place is a confusing mix of humans and demons, and the Immortal Sect competition is about to start. Why don’t we raise a banner and go back to Dongchang City to recruit soldiers and horses?”

At the thought that going to Dongchang City meant seeing Tantai Jing, Lu Wanbai hesitated. “But…”

“Stop with the ‘buts.’ If you ‘but’ any further, I’ll be completely cold and dead.” Lu Xiaoxiao finished speaking and dramatically coughed twice.

Lu Wanbai glanced at Mo Siliu, whose cheeks had gained some weight. “Then let’s set off today.”

“Ah, so urgent? Then I’ll go pack things for Mo Siliu.” Lu Xiaoxiao looked up at the sky. The last rays of the setting sun were already fading, slowly sinking behind the distant mountain peaks, leaving only a touch of brilliant orange-red sunset.

“Exactly. The Teleportation Array from Xuantian City to Dongchang City opens once every seven days.”

Watching Lu Xiaoxiao and Mo Siliu’s retreating figures, Lu Wanbai forcefully slammed her fist against the door frame. The door frame slightly vibrated, emitting a dull thud.

“Demons are just demons,” she muttered resentfully. “I was foolish to think she was a good person and a suitable match for Xiaoxiao before.”

Late at night, within the large Teleportation Array in Xuantian City, the three members of the Lu sisters’ group were lining up to step into the array.

“The Teleportation Array to Dongchang City, a total of ten people, is about to open,” the blue-robed cultivator responsible for maintaining order said in a clear, firm voice. She tightly held an exquisite jade token that emitted a warm luster, embedding it into an array eye on the edge of the Teleportation Array.

As the jade token was set, the runes on the Teleportation Array began to slowly light up, and ripples of faint light spread outwards.

Just at this moment, a dazzling white light suddenly cut through the distant night sky. That light, like a rapidly moving meteor, was closely followed by dozens of other figures flying on their swords, all speeding toward the Teleportation Array.

“Look quickly, someone dares to fly on their sword within Xuantian City,” a bystander exclaimed in surprise.

“They must have a death wish; don’t they know the rules of Xuantian City?” another cultivator shook his head and sighed, his eyes full of pity.

“Wait, that person… isn’t that young lady, Chu Jiawen, the eldest daughter of the Chu family?” Suddenly, someone recognized the white-robed woman in the lead, their voice laced with disbelief. The Chu family was famous in Xuantian City and throughout the cultivation world, yet their eldest daughter openly violated the prohibition.

Seeing that the Teleportation Array was about to open, someone among her pursuers suddenly exerted force, and a powerful spiritual force, like an invisible whip, violently struck her sword.

Chu Jiawen’s body staggered, and in an instant, she lost her balance, plummeting from mid-air. She crashed heavily onto the bluestone ground less than a zhang from the Teleportation Array, stirring up dust and appearing exceptionally distressed.

“Eldest Daughter, the City Lord has commanded that you must be escorted back today. Please forgive us for the offense.”

Chu Jiawen looked desperately at the Teleportation Array, which was about to close. She saw the runes around the edge writhing like living things, gradually joining together, signaling that the formal opening of the array was imminent. Her heart was filled with unwillingness, and her eyes flickered with tears, which she forcefully held back from falling.

In this critical moment, a blue light suddenly shot out from within the Teleportation Array. Like an invisible whip, it quickly and precisely wrapped around Chu Jiawen’s wrist.

Chu Jiawen felt her body lighten, and the entire person was pulled by an unseen force, flying toward the interior of the Teleportation Array.

All that remained outside the array was a single, lonely shoe, resting quietly on the bluestone ground.

Outside the Dongchang City Teleportation Array.

Chu Jiawen looked gratefully at Lu Xiaoxiao. “It was you. Thank you!”

“It was just a small favor.” When Lu Xiaoxiao saw Chu Jiawen fighting hard to rush toward the Teleportation Array, she suddenly thought that her own and Tantai Jing’s situation was very similar to that of Chu Jiawen and Lin Yizhi, so she decided to lend a hand.

Watching the two adults and one child walk away, Chu Jiawen chased after them. “Where are you going? Can you take me with you, or can you let me enter the city with you?”

Since Lin Yizhi left a few days ago, Chu Jiawen had pleaded with her father day and night to send someone to find Lin Yizhi, but her father firmly refused and intended to lock her up at home.

Under duress, she had no choice but to escape Xuantian City tonight and force her way into the Teleportation Array.

Having always been pampered since childhood, and having been scared by her father for days with constant warnings about the brutality and horror of the Demon Clan, she naturally wanted to rely on the group upon her first arrival in Dongchang City.

Looking at Chu Jiawen’s timid eyes, and remembering her unreasonable demeanor when she saw her on the street that day, Lu Xiaoxiao let out a light laugh. “It’s a small matter. Then follow us; we are also going to find an inn to stay at.”

Lu Xiaoxiao expertly walked toward the inner city. Mo Siliu had never been to a large city before and was very interested in everything along the way. Chu Jiawen was the same, observing the various demon-human figures with animal heads on the sides of the road.

Just as they reached the inner city gate, they saw a large proclamation hanging on the wall. Lu Xiaoxiao looked up and saw that the registration deadline written on it was today.

Chu Jiawen said, “I want to register. Can I?”

“Aren’t you here to bring Lin Yizhi back?” Lu Wanbai asked in confusion.

“I probably understand why she is so insistent on coming here for the competition. The probability of success is always greater with two people than with one.”

“Then let’s go together. Since we’re here, we must let people know how formidable our Xuantian Sword Sect is; otherwise, how will any disciples sign up to join?” Lu Xiaoxiao said.

“You… you are actually from the Xuantian Sword Sect?” Chu Jiawen’s voice was tinged with disbelief. She had thought everyone from the Xuantian Sword Sect was dead.

“That’s right. Let’s register first.”

The registration area was already in chaos, buzzing with people like countless bees humming in the ear. Lu Xiaoxiao struggled to push her way out of the crowd, her clothes wrinkled from the squeezing.

As she took her last step out of the crowd, she was unfortunately bumped by someone. Her body swayed unsteadily, and she almost fell to the ground.

In this moment of crisis, Chu Jiawen quickly reached out a helping hand, steadying her firmly.

Lu Xiaoxiao smiled broadly at her: “Thank you. There are so many people crowding here. It’s as if successfully registering guarantees getting the spirit stones.”

Chu Jiawen was amused by her words. Looking at Lu Wanbai, who had just emerged from the crowd and was straightening her clothes, she also covered her mouth and laughed.

Meanwhile, high up on the towering city wall, Tantai Jing’s deep black gown swayed gently in the breeze, exuding a cold aura.

Her gaze was fixed intently on the chaotic scene at the registration area, especially when her sight fell upon the moment Lu Xiaoxiao was steadied by Chu Jiawen. An involuntary flicker of darkness crossed the depths of her eyes.

Her fingers unconsciously tightened, and the exquisite jade cup she held strained under the pressure, emitting a subtle cracking sound.