The Demon Lord Is Carrying My Child - Chapter 7

Ji Shutao instinctively grabbed Zhuang Yi, intending to run, but Zhuang Yi remained motionless, her gaze fixed intently on that monstrous face.

Ji Shutao hadn’t seen clearly just a moment ago; it wasn’t just one monstrous face. What was emerging from the wall appeared to be an entire mountain.

After the initial “peak” emerged from the wall, the body of the mountain squeezed out bit by bit. It was densely packed with monstrous faces of the same size as the one from yesterday, and those faces were, in turn, composed of even smaller human-faced stones.

Ji Shutao felt as though her scalp was about to explode. When those numerous monstrous faces laughed in unison, the sound pierced through the very heavens. Ji Shutao’s body stiffened instantly, becoming as rigid as a wooden plank.

At some unknown point, Zhuang Yi had drawn a sword. With a single strike, she pierced directly into the center of the largest monstrous face.

Only today did Ji Shutao realize that laughter could also be shrill and agonizing.

She covered her ears. Seeing Zhuang Yi acting with such effortless composure, she resolved not to drag her down. Furthermore, she was truly terrified of those faces one look made her skin crawl so she found a place to hide.

Once Ji Shutao was gone, Zhuang Yi seemed to lose all inhibitions. She tossed her sword into the air, and it instantly multiplied into countless blades, all pointed at the mountain that had now fully emerged from the wall.

The mountain had its high and low peaks; if one were to ignore those monstrous faces, it would actually be quite a magnificent sight.

“If you do not show yourself now, not a single piece of this world-rare human-faced stone will be left,” Zhuang Yi spoke.

It turned out her goal wasn’t actually to destroy the stones, but to draw out the person behind them.

The human-faced stones seemed to realize that the person before them was formidable. They all froze in place, not daring to move, looking very much like tortoises retracting into their shells.

Recalling how that monstrous face had chased and terrified her yesterday, Ji Shutao was moved to angry laughter. “These things really bully the weak and fear the strong.”

The swords remained suspended. Half an incense stick’s time passed, yet still, no one appeared.

Zhuang Yi was not one to let a threat go unanswered. She galvanized all the swords; she wouldn’t feel a shred of pity for such malevolent things.

Just as the ten thousand swords were about to launch, the normally steady Zhuang Yi suddenly spat out blood. Ji Shutao, watching from a distance, saw it clearly. Her heart tightened with anxiety: “Zhuang Yi!”

Just as she was about to rush toward Zhuang Yi, a formation appeared out of nowhere around her, trapping her inside. If she tried to force her way out, she would likely end up half-dead.

Looking at Zhuang Yi, who was now kneeling on the ground gasping for breath, Ji Shutao suddenly understood something.

All their previous deductions had been wrong.

These human-faced stones, including the mastermind, were all coming for Zhuang Yi.

First, they led Ji Shutao into a labyrinth, then allowed Zhuang Yi to easily rescue her that was the first step.

Zhuang Yi’s eagerness to avenge her and her singular focus on finding the mastermind that was the second step.

Whether or not this mastermind was the same person who had injured Ji Shutao, as long as there was the slightest connection, Zhuang Yi would not let it go.

Step by step, they had walked into a massive trap laid out by someone else.

Ji Shutao remembered Zhuang Yi saying that if the enemy were powerful enough, they would target her weaknesses.

Now Zhuang Yi was injured, and Ji Shutao herself was trapped in a formation.

She was Zhuang Yi’s weakness!

If she weren’t trapped in the formation right now, Zhuang Yi could surely put up a fight she was the famous Demon Venerable, after all; it was impossible for her to be completely without options. But now, with Ji Shutao acting as a tether, Zhuang Yi would be constrained even if she had a way out.

The human-faced stones, which had acted like cowards moments ago, began to snicker again. They moved slowly toward Zhuang Yi. Ji Shutao paced anxiously, but she was utterly powerless.

Am I really just going to sit here and wait for death?

Ji Shutao scratched her head in frustration, turning her hair into a tangled mess. Because of this, the purple sandalwood hairpin that had been neatly tucked in her hair fell out.

Looking at the hairpin, Ji Shutao’s eyes lit up. This was a gift from her Tenth Senior Brother after she had been attacked; he said it could protect her if she ever found herself in danger again.

“Little Junior Sister, this hairpin is made of high-quality purple sandalwood. I carved the auspicious clouds on it myself. It contains a significant amount of magical power. When necessary, it can help you escape danger.”

The words of her Tenth Senior Brother, Jiang Xue, echoed in her ears. Ji Shutao gripped the hairpin and, at the critical moment, activated the spell within. Within moments, she broke through the formation and vanished with Zhuang Yi.

Back at Beichen Mountain, Jiang Xue sensed the activation of the power within the hairpin. His heart skipped a beat as he muttered to himself, “Why is the direction wrong?”

If his Little Junior Sister had used the hairpin, she must be in danger. Jiang Xue punched his palm. His Eldest Senior Brother and the others had gone southeast, but now his Little Junior Sister was in the west. The situation was dire and left no time for hesitation; Jiang Xue immediately sent a letter to Chen Li.

Ji Shutao brought Zhuang Yi to a forest outside the town. Zhuang Yi’s breath was as thin as silk; she seemed to be gravely injured.

Ji Shutao helped Zhuang Yi sit against a large tree. When she saw that Zhuang Yi’s face was a ghostly grey, she was struck with horror. Just who was this mastermind to be able to wound Zhuang Yi to this extent?

Seeing Zhuang Yi reach out a hand, Ji Shutao hurriedly took it in her own.

Zhuang Yi gasped for air, struggling to speak: “It’s… people from the Demon Race… their cultivation is high. Shutao, keep going west… keep going west…”

Her voice grew smaller and smaller until finally, her head slumped down. There was bright red blood on her mouth and clothes.

Without a second thought, and with her heart pounding painfully, Ji Shutao leaned down and pressed her ear to Zhuang Yi’s chest. Hearing a heartbeat, she breathed a sigh of relief. Wiping the tears from her face, she smiled and comforted herself: “Exactly. How could the Demon Venerable Zhuang Yi lose her life just like that?”

But her tears continued to flow, and the palpitations didn’t fully subside. The blood on Zhuang Yi’s body stung her eyes. The last time Zhuang Yi came to see her, she had also been covered in blood.

Even for a Demon Venerable, it was unlikely she could endure two such heavy injuries. Furthermore Ji Shutao’s hand trembled as she placed it on Zhuang Yi’s belly furthermore, there was a little one here.

That person had struck with such lethality; they clearly intended to kill Zhuang Yi outright. Zhuang Yi had only been out for a few days before the Demon Race made their move. Moreover, Ji Shutao thought, that person must know a great deal and hold a high status within the Demon Race to be able to press them so closely and choose the perfect moment to strike.

Ji Shutao took off her outer robe and draped it over Zhuang Yi, then lifted her onto her back and headed straight for the west.

After Chen Li received the message from Jiang Xue, he immediately consulted with Tu Jing and the others. Finally, they decided that Tu Jing and Gan Yang would continue southeast, while he would immediately head west.

If the west was a decoy, they still had people in the southeast. If his Little Junior Sister really was in the west, Chen Li could handle the situation.

“After I leave, you two must be extremely careful. Do not do anything too conspicuous.”

Because of the hot-tempered Gan Yang, Chen Li felt compelled to give a few extra warnings.

Tu Jing understood his meaning. The two exchanged a glance behind Gan Yang’s back, both understanding the unspoken gravity of the situation.

“Rest assured, Eldest Senior Brother,” Tu Jing and Gan Yang cupped their hands.

Worried about Ji Shutao, Chen Li flew at top speed using his sword-riding technique. By evening, he had tracked them down to the inn where Ji Shutao and Zhuang Yi had stayed.

Chen Li placed his sword on the counter an act enough to terrify the shopkeeper. He pulled out portraits of Ji Shutao and Zhuang Yi and asked, “Have you seen these two?”

The shopkeeper glanced at the sword and then at the portraits. This was just an ordinary small town; there were no powerful families or sects nearby to provide protection. Seeing the sword laid out, the shopkeeper naturally answered tremblingly that he had seen them.

“Where are they now?”

“They went out this morning and haven’t returned yet.”

“Can you take me to see their room?”

“This…” The shopkeeper was scared, but he still had some principles. Summoning his courage, he asked, “May I ask who you are? Those two are just young girls; please don’t make things difficult for them.”

Chen Li put on a gentle smile. “It’s like this: those two are my younger sisters. They had a bit of an argument with our father and ran away from home. I’ve been searching everywhere for them. As you know, it’s dangerous for two girls to be out alone.”

The shopkeeper was skeptical. “Is that so?”

“It’s absolutely true. Otherwise, where would I get these portraits? Please, let me have a look. I am truly worried that something has happened to them.” Chen Li’s voice carried a hint of urgency.

Seeing his upright demeanor and apparent sincerity, the shopkeeper nodded. “Very well, please follow me.”

The shopkeeper led Chen Li upstairs.

“The two of them shared one room?” Chen Li asked, looking at the items inside.

“Are they not biological sisters? Shouldn’t they be like that?” The shopkeeper was now the one who was confused.

“Yes, yes, of course. Thank you for your trouble.”

Once the shopkeeper went back downstairs, Chen Li began to scan everything in the room. Zhuang Yi had originally kidnapped Ji Shutao, so it made sense for them to eat and live together. But for some reason, Chen Li felt that things were not that simple.

Everything in the room was of the highest quality. On the table sat some pastries that his Little Junior Sister liked very much.

This didn’t look like a kidnapping at all.

On the contrary, they really did look like two sisters who had run away from home together.

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