Stepping in for the Heroine to Crush the Protagonist Group [Transmigration] - Chapter 31

Outside the Demon Palace, the sky was dark and oppressive, with reddish-brown clouds pressing down relentlessly, making it hard to breathe.

Hu Li followed behind the Demon Cultivator leading the way, her head bowed low, but her eyes darted around constantly, searching for an opportunity to escape.

She couldn’t face the Demon Venerable.

When she’d read this part of the original novel, her roommates had regaled her with classic horror stories.

To make matters worse, the author had deliberately written this scene using horror novel techniques.

As a result, the Demon Venerable she imagined could be described in a single sentence: He could devour several children in one bite, making the Demon Venerables in the neighboring realms, who had been conquered by the female lead, weep with envy.

Weep with envy… Hu Li’s heart clenched. She pictured the Demon Venerable’s blood-red maw, pointing at a cauldron and a roasting rack, and saying, “Choose your method of execution.”

No, I can’t just sit here and wait to die! Hu Li thought fiercely, deciding to resort to the most primal method of escape.

She glanced up at the Demon Cultivator ahead, who was whistling nonchalantly as he led the way. Slowly, she twisted her wrist, located the knot of the Immortal-Binding Rope, and bit down hard.

She might lack other skills, but her teeth were still sharp.

With a few jerks of her head, she yanked the rope upward, freeing one end from her mouth and releasing her hands.

********

“Do you think this mere Immortal-Binding Rope can restrain me?” Hu Li spat the rope onto the ground, crossed her arms, and turned to sneer at the Demon Cultivator. She reached above her head, ready to draw the Red Jade Hairpin and eliminate this minor nuisance before making her escape.

But her hand grasped only air.

Damn, I forgot I’d swapped bodies with Gu Sheng.

Her thin lips pressed into a tight line as she lowered her hand. Instead, she formed a hand seal and chanted an incantation, summoning an ordinary Spirit Sword into her grip.

The sword felt unfamiliar, but it wasn’t a major problem.

With a swift wrist flick, Hu Li pointed the sword at the Demon Cultivator and launched a swift attack.

The Demon Cultivator glanced at Hu Li with the disdainful look one reserves for fools. With a casual flick of his wrist, he trapped her Spirit Sword between his fingers and crushed it with a single squeeze.

Another Immortal-Binding Rope shot from his sleeve, binding Hu Li into a tightly wrapped bundle once more.

“Young Sect Master Gu, I advise you to be sensible,” he said coldly, sealing her mouth shut.

*******

[The Fox Spirit actually dared to confront this Demon Cultivator head-on? Doesn’t she know Sheng Sheng is a complete weakling in combat?]

[LOL, she probably doesn’t. After all, he’s got her completely under his thumb.]

[Actually, there’s another possibility: the Fox Spirit herself is incredibly powerful, so she subconsciously assumes everyone else is just as strong.]

********

“We can’t rule out that possibility.”

“Li Li, you really need to be more careful.”

Hu Li: ……

She tilted her head back, ready to die, utterly hopeless.

No, it probably won’t come to that, Hu Li reassured herself, straightening her posture. I’m the female lead, after all. Death wouldn’t dare touch me.

With renewed resolve, Hu Li steeled her nerves and gazed at the Demon Palace looming before her.

The palace soared into the clouds, its architectural style remarkably…

Dreamlike.

Hu Li tilted her head, staring at the rainbow-hued castle. For a moment, she couldn’t help but wonder if the Demon Palace was actually the residence of the Demon Fairy Queen, not the Demon Venerable.

However, her doubts vanished the moment she stepped inside.

She was now absolutely certain: this place belonged to the Demon Fairy Queen.

Hu Li surveyed the pink stone pillars, the piano-key-like floor tiles, and the multicolored crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.

“Ah, another one? Venerable One, didn’t you say it would just be my sister and me serving you today?”

“Yes, Venerable One, you lied to us! How mean~”

Two delicate, coquettish voices drifted down from the high staircase nearby.

The Demon Cultivator leading the way visibly trembled. He hastily retracted the Immortal-Binding Rope, untied Hu Li’s gag, and fled the scene.

********

Hu Li fared no better. The moment she heard the woman’s voice, her scalp tingled, and she mechanically raised her head to look at the figure seated on the high throne.

The person wore a violet-gold crown and a bright yellow robe embroidered with nine lifelike dragons soaring through clouds and mist.

Hu Li’s expression went blank for a moment.

This is Emperor Father?! What happened to the child-eating Demon Venerable we were promised?!

She blinked in confusion, then her attention was drawn to the two alluring beauties nestled on either side of the figure.

They’re dressed so… frugally, Hu Li thought, silently lowering her head and averting her gaze.

At the same moment, the person on the throne snapped out of their reverie. They withdrew their hands from the beauties and coaxed them, “This is the Young Sect Master of the Tianyan Sect. I have serious matters to discuss with her.”

Straightening up, they patted the women’s waists and said, “Be good, you two. Go wait in the chambers. I’ll come find you once I’ve finished my business with her.”

The beauties hesitated, then reluctantly rose under the Demon Venerable’s urging gaze. After each pressing a crimson kiss onto the Demon Venerable’s cheeks, they reluctantly said, “Venerable One, we’ll be waiting for you in the chambers.”

The Demon Venerable nodded in acknowledgment.

The two beauties descended the high steps, their robes swirling as they circled behind the Demon Palace toward the private chambers.

The once-crowded throne room suddenly felt spacious. Min Yaxing spread her legs wide, elbows resting on her knees, fingers interlaced, chin propped on her clasped hands. She casually asked Hu Li, “So, you’re the Young Sect Master of Tianyan Sect?”

“That’s right,” Hu Li replied, lifting her head to meet Min Yaxing’s gaze with newfound composure. The fear that had gripped her moments ago had completely vanished.

This emperor—no, this Demon Venerable, even if she truly eats children, I can’t bring myself to be afraid.

“Why did you capture me?” Hu Li recited, word for word, from the hard-coded script the System had laid out in her Sea of Consciousness.

Min Yaxing’s knees began to ache from the pressure of her elbows. Shifting into a “Thinker” pose, she replied, “To offer you a meal.”

With a clap of her hands, a procession of Demon Cultivators emerged from two small doors behind her, each carrying platters laden with fragrant, colorful dishes. They paraded past Hu Li, their offerings a feast for the eyes and nose.

Hu Li gasped, tears involuntarily sliding down the corners of her mouth.

It smells so good!

As if possessed, she allowed herself to be led to a seat, her eyes glued to the delicacies spread across the table. She swallowed hard, her composure crumbling before the feast.

Min Yaxing chuckled at the sight. “Young Sect Master, there’s no need for formalities with me. Eat.”

Hu Li glanced at Min Yaxing and returned her smile. “Then I won’t stand on ceremony.”

With that, she picked up the jade chopsticks resting to her right, cradled the bowl in her other hand, and began eating with the speed and ferocity of a whirlwind.

Since transmigrating into this novel, she had either been too poor to afford food outside the Tianyan Sect or denied meals within its walls. Now, finally encountering someone who offered food before business, Hu Li’s true nature instantly revealed itself.

Min Yaxing stared at Hu Li, who looked as if she hadn’t eaten in half a lifetime, and found herself speechless.

Does the Tianyan Sect really starve their Young Sect Master? she wondered, feeling a pang of sympathy for the underfed child.

“Someone, bring more dishes!” she called out, thinking to herself, I’ll fleece her after she’s full.

Hearing this, Hu Li didn’t hesitate. She raised her hand and added, “And two more bowls of rice! Large ones!”

Min Yaxing: This child really isn’t holding back.

Hu Li: The child’s afraid of going hungry again.

[Hu Li: Sister, food, hungry.]

[Hu Li: Just an ordinary foodie.]

[LOL, doesn’t Min Yaxing suspect this isn’t the real Gu Sheng? What proper young lady eats like a starving ghost reincarnated?]

[I have to say, a Fox Spirit could make an excellent mukbang streamer in modern times.]

Hu Li thought that if she hadn’t transmigrated into this novel, becoming a food streamer would have been a pretty good career path.

She spent nearly half a day on this meal. By the time she couldn’t eat another bite, it was almost dark.

Throughout the meal, Min Yaxing had been watching Hu Li’s live eating broadcast. Her initial curiosity gradually turned into drowsiness, then dozing off, and finally falling into a deep sleep.

“Lord Demon Venerable?” Hu Li set down her jade chopsticks and glanced at Min Yaxing, who was sound asleep on the dais. She called out softly.

When Min Yaxing didn’t respond, Hu Li quietly rose, intending to slip away.

But just as she took a few steps, Min Yaxing woke up.

“Where does Young Sect Master think she’s going?” Min Yaxing rubbed her temples, suppressing the clamor in her Sea of Consciousness, and looked at Hu Li.

Hu Li turned back, her gaze meeting Min Yaxing’s. She forced an awkward smile and, with a straight face, made up a story: “I ate too much. Just taking a walk to digest.”

Min Yaxing curled her lip and waved her hand, forcing Hu Li back into her seat.

“This venerable one has digestive wine. If Young Sect Master is too full, have a cup to settle your stomach.” As she spoke, she snapped her fingers with a flourish, and an exquisite wine flask appeared before Hu Li.

The aroma of wine wafted faintly from the flask’s spout, lingering in the air and teasing Hu Li’s senses.

*******

Hu Li, having finished her meal, felt a bit parched. The moment the fragrant aroma of wine filled the air, she reached for the wine jug and poured herself a cup.

But just as her lips were about to touch the rim of the cup, the comments reappeared:

[I remember this wine is spiked.]

[Yeah, it’s called Demon Heart Powder. In the original story, Gu Sheng drank this wine and developed a demonic obsession.]

[I bought the physical book. It’s called Demon Heart Powder.]

[Tsk, the Fox Spirit is in danger.]

Hu Li’s hand trembled as she held the cup, and she quietly set it down.

Thank goodness, thank goodness I didn’t drink it. Hu Li breathed a sigh of relief, then regretted not finishing that part of the original story earlier.

Meanwhile, Min Yaxing leaned halfway across the table toward Hu Li, her eyes fixed intently on her, waiting for Hu Li to drink the Demon Heart Powder so she could finally clock out.

To her surprise, Hu Li’s lips touched the rim of the cup, but then she suddenly stopped drinking.

What a letdown.

Min Yaxing rolled her eyes almost imperceptibly, then narrowed her eyes and smiled faintly. “Young Sect Master,” she asked, “this is the finest wine of the Demon Race. Why aren’t you drinking it?”

If I drink it, I’ll die, Hu Li thought. Of course I don’t want to drink it!

But she replied with a straight face, “Because the Tianyan Sect has a rule: we only drink Imperial Jade Nectar Wine, priced at 180 spirit stones per cup.”

Imperial Jade Nectar Wine… Min Yaxing fell silent, her hand trembling slightly as she held the wine cup. Then her eyes lit up, and she flashed over to sit beside Hu Li.

“Gu Sheng,” she said, leaning closer, “I have a question for you.”

Startled by her sudden move, Hu Li quickly scooted away, forcing a professional smile.

 “I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to answer a question from the Lord Demon Venerable.”

She had only transmigrated into this novel a few days ago. Whatever the Demon Venerable wanted to know, she likely wouldn’t have the answer.

Still, when Hu Li met Min Yaxing’s gaze which reminded her of a strict head teacher. She sincerely replied, “Of course. If I know the answer, I’ll tell you everything.”

Hearing this, Min Yaxing’s threatening glare softened into a satisfied nod. She then adopted a broadcaster’s tone and asked, “What is the price of a shirt?”

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