Queen of Ten Thousand Demons Insists on Marrying Me - Chapter 66

A flock of birds suddenly took flight from the distant forest, escaping quickly over the two women’s heads with jarring cries. Tiny red lights pulsed in the eyes of Lu Xiaoxiao and Tantai Jing, stirring a strange sense of restlessness in their hearts.

Upon seeing this phenomenon, the two immediately hurried down the cliff. As soon as they reached the camp, they saw a group of people from Yaoxia Palace already gathered in the open space ahead.

“Aunt Wan, what is this all about?” Lu Xiaoxiao asked Wan Xuan’er in confusion.

Wan Xuan’er frowned tightly: “A strange phenomenon has appeared in the distance. Many people will surely gather there, and we still have many disciples from Yaoxia Palace unaccounted for. I must lead our people to rush there immediately.”

Lu Xiaoxiao turned to look at Tantai Jing and Lu Wanbai. Seeing both of them nod, she said: “Aunt Wan, I will go with you. Although my abilities are limited, I am willing to offer what little help I can.”

Just then, Fuzhao walked out of her tent with a yawn. She glanced lazily at Wan Xuan’er, stretched, and said: “A fortuitous encounter of this magnitude appearing in the Lancang Demon Territory surely belongs to the Demon Clan. Why are you humans crowding the scene? It’s dangerous for you to go.”

Unexpectedly, Wan Xuan’er acted as if she hadn’t heard Fuzhao’s voice. Her gaze remained fixed on Lu Xiaoxiao as she replied: “That is fine. Let’s go together then.”

Subsequently, Lu Xiaoxiao gave Bai Shitao a few instructions, then followed Wan Xuan’er and the others, along with Lu Wanbai, toward the light column. As for Tantai Jing, she stayed behind with Luo Mu, accompanying Fuzhao.

Fuzhao watched as Lu Xiaoxiao passed her, even winking at Tantai Jing, who was by her side. A wave of fury rose in her heart, and she glared fiercely back at Lu Xiaoxiao.

Fuzhao always felt that Lu Xiaoxiao became utterly arrogant whenever Wan Xuan’er was around, showing no fear of her at all. Lu Xiaoxiao even ran a few steps forward, held Wan Xuan’er’s arm, and turned back to make a face at her.

Seeing the Yaoxia Palace group gradually move away, Fuzhao rolled her eyes at Tantai Jing and said: “Look at the person you’re interested in. What kind of person is she?”

Tantai Jing merely smiled at Fuzhao’s sarcasm. She watched Lu Xiaoxiao, who occasionally walked backward ahead of them, wave her hand at her and then point to her own ear.

Tantai Jing’s expression suddenly turned surprised when Lu Xiaoxiao’s telepathic message arrived: “I’m going ahead with Aunt Wan to scout the way for you all and will wait for you up front. But I bet your Foster Mother will follow shortly. To ignore such a grand event, and with only one path available, she really is composed, isn’t she?”

“Hahahahaha, see? I told you she followed us.”

Tantai Jing watched Fuzhao follow them with a gloomy expression, biting her lower lip hard to keep herself from laughing out loud.

As the group traveled for several days, the light column in the sky grew smaller, but its brilliance intensified.

They encountered quite a few demons and humans along the way, but the number of demons was clearly much greater than that of the human cultivators. Many of the demons had previously fought with Lu Xiaoxiao during the Sun and Moon Grand Competition. At that time, they were only at the Nascent Soul stage, but now they were only a step away from Tribulation Crossing, and one or two outstanding individuals had already broken through.

If they hadn’t seen a Mahayana-stage human cultivator beside Lu Xiaoxiao, they likely would have been unable to resist confronting her for another round of fighting.

During these few days, the Yaoxia Palace group also met many of their fellow disciples. Some were lucky, having gained significant opportunities. Others were not so fortunate; groups of three or five people who had encountered danger only returned with one survivor, who wept hysterically upon seeing the crowd, a truly sad spectacle.

Due to this, Wan Xuan’er’s expression became even more solemn.

When they were less than a day’s journey from the sky-piercing light column, Wan Xuan’er slowed the group’s pace, seemingly waiting for Fuzhao and the two behind her to catch up.

Just as Fuzhao was catching up and about to overtake the group, Wan Xuan’er suddenly spoke:

“Wait! Fuzhao, there are some things I want to discuss with you.”

This statement was like dropping a stone into a calm pond, sending ripples across the surface. The Yaoxia Palace disciples and Luo Mu instantly grasped their weapons, and the air in the vicinity seemed to freeze.

After all, besides Lu Xiaoxiao and Tantai Jing, everyone else believed the two women were sworn enemies. Although their interactions over the past few days could not be called peaceful co-existence, they had kept out of each other’s way. However, the cultivators from both sides had been quietly watching in the shadows, afraid that the dark undercurrents might suddenly erupt.

Seeing Wan Xuan’er speak to her, Fuzhao’s steps faltered. It felt like the first time Wan Xuan’er had talked to her in hundreds of years, but her heart was filled with an ominous premonition. At a time like this, Wan Xuan’er surely wouldn’t want to discuss love and reminisce.

Yet, Fuzhao, despite herself, stopped and replied coolly: “What is it?”

Lu Xiaoxiao, however, keenly observed that Fuzhao’s fingers were tightly curled as she spoke. From the side, her clenched fist looked slightly pale, indicating that her heart was extremely nervous right now.

Lu Xiaoxiao then turned to observe Aunt Wan, who wore a calm expression, standing there as if she were simply addressing a junior.

She couldn’t help but feel sorry for Fuzhao. After all, she was her future mother-in-law. Fuzhao’s own unhappy love life was likely why she couldn’t stand to see Lu Xiaoxiao and Tantai Jing happy together.

Wan Xuan’er tilted her head, motioning for the Yaoxia Palace members to lower their weapons, then turned and walked toward a tree not far away: “Please, step aside with me.”

Fuzhao’s brows furrowed and then smoothed out. Only after Wan Xuan’er reached the tree did she move her feet and walk over.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk! Completely under her thumb. How pitiful.” Lu Xiaoxiao nudged Tantai Jing’s shoulder and handed her an unknown spirit fruit from the Demon Territory.

“Hard to say,” Tantai Jing replied, smiling faintly, taking a bite. The spirit fruit was succulent and sweet, yet sour. It contained a decent amount of spiritual energy, instantly sweeping away much of the fatigue from days of traveling.

Just as Lu Xiaoxiao was about to ask what exactly was “hard to say,” Wan Qingyi walked up from behind them. As she approached, she subtly used her shoulder to “accidentally” bump Lu Xiaoxiao, causing her to stumble right into Tantai Jing’s arms.

She then took a bite of the spirit fruit in her hand, left a parting shot of “the pot calling the kettle black,” and turned to leave.

Lu Xiaoxiao watched Wan Qingyi’s retreating figure, raising and then reluctantly lowering her fist in frustration.

Apart from the swamps, the scenery in the Lancang Demon Territory was exceptionally beautiful. However, in this clearing spanning several tens of zhang (a unit of measure), only one solitary tree stood tall.

This spirit tree was a captivating azure color, with intricately twisted branches and lush foliage. Each branch was full of vibrant life, resembling a finely woven blue canopy that shaded the area. Among the dense leaves, large, hydrangea-like blue flowers bloomed. These flowers were crystal clear, emitting a faint, intoxicating fragrance.

As a gentle yet slightly cool breeze blew, the branches swayed lightly. The flowers produced a delightful rustling sound, crisp and melodious. Petals of blue, like dancing spirits, fluttered slowly down, spinning and tumbling in the air, finally settling softly in Fuzhao’s smooth, ink-black hair.

Wan Xuan’er gazed into Fuzhao’s eyes, slowly walking closer to her, finally stopping just a step away.

Seeing Wan Xuan’er’s hand reach towards her head, and recalling how Wan Xuan’er used to love stroking her fur when she transformed into a Nine-Tailed Fox, Fuzhao instinctively wanted to close her eyes. But after a moment of hesitation, she shifted her gaze to an ant on the nearby spirit tree instead.

In the end… Wan Xuan’er merely helped her pluck a cerulean petal from her hair, holding it in her palm between the two of them.

Fuzhao’s eyes remained fixed on the ant on the spirit tree, unaware that her flushed earlobe had already betrayed her.

Wan Xuan’er’s lips curled into an extremely gentle smile, making her look exceptionally soft and tranquil. The breeze lifted her beautiful hair, and the brilliant blue petals fluttered down behind her, making her appear like an elegant watercolor painting.

“How have you been lately? Are you well?”

This simplest of greetings, carried on the breeze, gently stirred Fuzhao’s heart, which had already grown calm. Her eyes instantly dimmed: “Are you asking about the last hundred years? Or the last two months?”

Wan Xuan’er still smiled: “Both, perhaps.”

Fuzhao’s gaze moved back to Wan Xuan’er’s face. She replied, word for word: “The last hundred years were terrible! You know that very well, don’t you, Palace Master Wan? As for the last two months, well, I’ve been quite comfortable. There are countless beauties and fine wines in the Demon Realm; I’ve been as happy as an immortal.”

Unexpectedly, after Fuzhao finished speaking, Wan Xuan’er suddenly pushed her forcefully against the tree, pinning her there. She looked as if she was about to collapse into Fuzhao’s embrace, gazing at her with a look of resentment: “Are they as beautiful as me?”

In her panic, Fuzhao quickly cast a barrier. The trunk and branches of the spirit tree, which glowed with a faint blue light, immediately began to grow wildly at an unbelievable speed. The branches rapidly extended downwards until they touched the ground, forming a natural screen that completely enveloped Fuzhao and the other woman, like a cocoon of deep blue. It both protected them and successfully blocked the prying eyes of the crowd outside.

In this absolutely private and silent space, Fuzhao could even feel the warmth of Wan Xuan’er’s body. Her mind became instantly heated, and she nearly blurted something out, but quickly managed to change her response halfway: “N-No… Your Yaoxia Palace’s wine is not as good to drink.”

“Then, what about the people?”

Wan Xuan’er leaned against her shoulder, lightly touching Fuzhao’s chest with her finger. Her dignified eyes now looked intensely alluring, staring straight at Fuzhao’s earlobe, which was turning a deeper, blood-red hue, pressing her relentlessly for an answer.

Feeling the weight on her shoulder and the fiery gaze of Wan Xuan’er, Fuzhao’s breathing involuntarily quickened. A desire for physical intimacy, sought for over a century, was colliding with the last vestiges of rationality in Fuzhao’s mind. She put her hands on Wan Xuan’er’s shoulders, swiftly backed away from under her, and swallowed hard while turning her back to Wan Xuan’er.

“Palace Master Wan, please behave yourself! If you have questions, ask them quickly. Don’t try to use this honey trap on me.”

“Honey trap?”

“Does that mean you think I’m more beautiful than them?”

Wan Xuan’er again leaned close to Fuzhao, gently taking her arm, and rubbed her face against Fuzhao’s neck.

“W-What exactly do you want? From the past until now, I have never been able to understand you.”

Fuzhao herself felt pathetic, being locked up in the Demon-Locking Tower by this woman for a hundred years, yet still falling for her so easily. She couldn’t help but clench her hands even tighter, so tightly that her fingernails dug into her skin, and blood began to ooze from between her fingers.

Seeing her in such extreme pain, Wan Xuan’er grabbed her hands, straightened her fingers, and used spiritual energy to heal her wounds, saying with distress: “Don’t hurt your own body.”

“You don’t need to concern yourself with me!” Fuzhao stubbornly pulled her hand back and clasped them behind her back.

A shadow of disappointment fell over Wan Xuan’er’s eyes: “In the Demon-Locking Tower, I didn’t lock you up with other demons, nor did you have to endure the cold and fire. I even put you in a place that could help speed up your cultivation. Do you hate me that much?”

Fuzhao didn’t know about her unique treatment while she was inside the tower. It was only after she got out and other demons asked her if she had suffered inside the tower that she realized the treatment she received was not the same as everyone else’s.

This was one of the reasons why she did not join forces with Yan Gengshen to lead the demon army to overthrow Yaoxia Palace after returning to Mount Gouwu.

Although she hadn’t endured physical pain, she had lost a century of freedom and had her genuine feelings utterly crushed.

Fuzhao said coldly: “Who knows what your intentions are? Ask your question quickly; I still need to get going.”

Wan Xuan’er suddenly coughed lightly and asked: “What is that column of light? And is the influx of human cultivators into this Lancang Demon Territory related to you?”

Hearing her cough, Fuzhao instinctively turned quickly, grabbed her wrist, and probed with her spiritual energy to check her, saying aloud: “It has nothing to do with me; it was all Yan Gengshen’s doing alone. I suspect that light column is the Hao—”

Halfway through, Wan Xuan’er noticed her hesitation and asked anxiously: “Hao what?”

“You tricked me?”

Her voice stopped abruptly because the spiritual energy probe showed absolutely nothing wrong with Wan Xuan’er’s body. However, Fuzhao was surprised that Wan Xuan’er was completely unguarded against a demon’s spiritual energy probing her body. Did she not know that an outsider’s spiritual energy probing one’s body could instantly take one’s life?

Thinking of this, Fuzhao’s previously cold eyes instantly melted and took on a hint of slyness.

She looked at Wan Xuan’er’s slightly flustered expression and spoke slowly: “Hao… You let me kiss you once and I’ll tell you.”

Hearing this, a trace of anger quickly rose in Wan Xuan’er’s eyes, but a blush appeared on her face: “I don’t want to know anymore. Open the barrier.”

She struggled free from Fuzhao’s wrist and started to walk toward the outside.

But Fuzhao, whose heart was now soaring with joy, became the persistent one.

She pulled Wan Xuan’er’s hand, yanked her back into her arms, and hugged her tightly: “This is a matter of grave importance. Are you going to ignore the safety of so many of your Yaoxia Palace disciples?”

Wan Xuan’er struggled twice in her embrace, still speaking in a cold tone: “If soldiers come, we’ll block them; if water comes, we’ll cover it with earth (We will deal with problems as they arise).”

Fuzhao chuckled: “That’s not like you. You’ve always been one to proceed step-by-step, never stopping until your plan is complete. How about this? You let me kiss you once, and I promise to help you deal with Yan Gengshen. You won’t lose anything by that deal, right?”

As Fuzhao said this, a thought flashed through her mind. She felt like she understood something but couldn’t quite grasp it.

Wan Xuan’er stopped struggling. In this Demon Territory, the human cultivators were at a definite disadvantage. If Fuzhao defected, Tantai Jing, who was also at the Mahayana stage, certainly wouldn’t stand by and watch.

“Really?”

Seeing Wan Xuan’er agree, a layer of shyness surged within Fuzhao’s heart. After all… the most intimate actions between the two of them for hundreds of years had only been holding hands and hugging.

“R-Really. I promised I wouldn’t lie to you again.”

Upon hearing this, the person in her arms stopped struggling and gently closed her eyes.

Watching the person she had longed for over a century yield to her in her embrace, a mix of excitement and nervousness intertwined, causing her heart to beat wildly.

She held Wan Xuan’er’s slender waist close to her, feeling the beautiful woman’s warm breath fanning her face.

Her throat bobbed. Her cherry-red lips parted slightly, and she carefully pressed them against that gentle spot…

A gust of wind rose, and the blue flowers from the branches adorned the hair of the two women.