The Demon Lord is My Dark Moonlight [Transmigration Novel] - Chapter 40

Shen Chigui had actually killed her one hundred and thirty-six times?

You really don’t know until you do the math. Gu Jinli’s gaze shifted instantly. When she wasn’t counting the lives, she didn’t realize quite how pathetic her situation was. But now, with the system’s tally…

[Gu Jinli, you can make her fall in love with you, then dump her ruthlessly.]

[Don’t you want to see her suffer? Don’t you want to see her on her knees, begging for your forgiveness?]

[You can toy with her emotions. You don’t have to be stronger than her physically.]

See Shen Chigui begging on her knees?

Toy with Shen Chigui’s feelings?

The temptation was too great. It was hard for Gu Jinli not to be swayed. Honestly, it wasn’t like she hadn’t thought about it before, but every time the target was Shen Chigui, she lost her nerve. She had seen firsthand how difficult that person was to handle.

“I don’t think I’ll succeed,” she admitted. “But what you said… I’m definitely interested. I’ve decided to try.”

She was going to die either way. Making Shen Chigui’s life miserable before she went out felt like a fair trade. And if she succeeded, she could go home.

[Command received. Locating target… Planning route for you…]

Before long, the system sent her a location. It showed that Shen Chigui was currently in the Demon Realm, and not far from her own city.

Gu Jinli: “?” Was this all calculated?

[You can use the upcoming Demon Realm Selection to get close to the protagonist.] The system offered its suggestion. The Demon Realm Selection… was it to choose a deputy for the Demon Lord?

“Who is the current Demon Lord?” Gu Jinli suddenly thought of a crucial point. “Does she know I’m here?”

[Detection: There is only a 3% chance that the protagonist, Shen Chigui, is here for you.]

[The current Demon Lord is a demonic cultivator named Ying Lianrong. This person defeated the former lord three years ago to take the throne. However, due to wearing a mask and being mysterious, few in the Demon Realm have seen her true face. Detection: This person has a 91% overlap rate with Shen Chigui.]

A 91% overlap rate? That was basically a confirmation. Gu Jinli’s mouth twitched. “I understand.” She knew what she had to do.

*****

The Demon Realm Selection happened every other year. In this world of “survival of the fittest,” life was the cheapest commodity. Working under the Demon Lord was an extremely high-risk profession; to ensure a steady stream of fresh blood and to monitor regional growth, the biennial selection was established. In the Demon Realm, such events were popular for proving one’s strength and status.

“I’m leaving.”

Once her mind was made up, Gu Jinli acted immediately. This year’s selection had just begun. If she left now, she could still make it.

“Ah Li! Take me with you!”

“I want to accompany Ah Li too~”

“Ah Li, Ah Li~”

The treasures in the courtyard, hearing she was leaving, all rushed forward to volunteer. After years of living together, they couldn’t bear to be apart from their Deity.

“You stay here,” Gu Jinli said as she packed two sets of clothes. “I’m going there to fight; I can’t look after you. But I promise, if there’s a chance, I’ll come back.”

“No, no, no!”

“A ‘chance’ means never! Don’t leave us, Ah Li!”

“Take us! We can take care of ourselves!”

Clinging and acting spoiled was something these treasures were experts at. They knew exactly how soft-hearted Gu Jinli was. Their Deity wouldn’t have the heart to scold them.

“…”

I’m truly defeated by you. She pulled the little bell from her chest, pinching its round body as her heart softened. “It’ll be very stuffy inside a storage bag,” she sighed.

*****

In the end, she took them all. Gu Jinli packed her long-time companions into her storage bag and stopped by Granny Lin’s butcher shop to let her know she was “closing shop” for a while. Upon hearing she was entering the Selection, Granny Lin gave her full support.

“Someone as talented as Ah Li should go out and see the world. Take these; consider it a gift from this old woman.” Under Granny Lin’s proud gaze, Gu Jinli was stuffed with a large supply of meat and set off.

The Selection had been underway for half a month. Since her city was close to the capital, she arrived just as it reached its midpoint. Unlike the human cultivation world, the Demon Realm had few rules. Summed up: might makes right.

“Hey, newcomer! No more matches today. Come back tomorrow!”

The selection was held in the capital city, which was located on the border between the human and demon realms. It was a high-traffic hub; during the Selection, many humans would come, some even disguising themselves to participate. The Demon Realm turned a blind eye to this. In a place where power reigned supreme, origins and motives were secondary.

“Got it.” Gu Jinli took her registration token and pulled up her scarf, silently walking away. Before leaving, she glanced at the nearby “Martial Stage.” It was covered in arrays and barriers, and the flashing lights within hinted at the intensity of the battles.

Since her arrival was a bit late, the inns in the city were fully booked. After finding even the teahouses overflowing with people, Gu Jinli left the city to find a spot to camp outside. This was where having sentient treasures came in handy—she had chairs, blankets, and cushions ready to go. She let them out for some fresh air while she rested, making the night much more bearable.

The next morning, Gu Jinli returned to the city. Holding her token, she entered the barrier with a crowd of other participants. Once inside, she realized the stage was much larger than it looked from the outside. It was structured like a coliseum, with dense spectator stands surrounding a central arena.

The Demon Realm clearly didn’t care about order. They threw participants into the arena like “Gu” insects in a jar; the survivors were the winners. The crude, violent method gave Gu Jinli a flash of déjà vu from her time in Gu City. Are the brain circuits of people in this world all the same?

“Is this your first time too?” A burly cultivator approached her, likely because of her “one-in-a-million” expression. “Human cultivator?”

“Mhm.” Gu Jinli nodded briefly and pulled her scarf higher, hiding half her face. She had no intention of making small talk.

“Why so shy? It’s my first time too. We could cooperate. I’m a Golden Core human cultivator, here for the selection—”

“Step aside.”

The man was cut off by several figures in black robes. They walked straight up to Gu Jinli and said, “Miss Gu, the Elder requests your presence.”

Elder?

“I don’t know any Elder. You have the wrong person.” Gu Jinli frowned and took two steps back, creating distance.

“Miss Gu’s sword is quite unique.”

The man spoke coolly, “Please do not make this difficult for us.” He shifted into a combat-ready stance, the implication clear. “The selection is about to begin.”

Her sword? An Elder?

It had to be Shen Chigui. This method of publicly snatching someone was exactly her style. Gu Jinli bit her lip, but in the end, she relented.

“Lead the way,” she said, pulling up her scarf and following silently.

They left the martial stage and wove through the crowded spectator stands, exiting the barrier. Gu Jinli was led directly to a nearby estate and placed in a secluded, empty room.

“Please wait a moment, Miss Gu.” With that, the men vanished.

Left alone, Gu Jinli surveyed her surroundings. The room was unexpectedly large. Beyond the bed and furniture, there was even a steaming hot spring pool in the inner chamber. The air was thick with luxury, and Gu Jinli’s frown deepened.

After a long wait, she finally heard the door creak. A slender silhouette stepped into the room. She wore a deep red robe, the gold-threaded embroidery lending her an air of supreme nobility. A pitch-black mask covered almost her entire face, leaving only her mouth and jawline visible. Her movements were elegant and mysterious, flowing like water.

But it only took one look for Gu Jinli to recognize her. This was Shen Chigui.

“Look at what I’ve found.”

Shen Chigui walked straight toward Gu Jinli with an easy familiarity, as if the ten years of separation had never happened. “Is this not Big Sister?~”

She seemed almost impatient. Before Gu Jinli could even utter a word, Shen Chigui lazily reached out and pinched her chin. They were close—one standing, one sitting—a distance that seemed dangerously convenient for one of them.

“Shen Chigui.”

Though Gu Jinli had prepared for this meeting, having her right there so suddenly was still a shock. Her gaze locked onto the girl, instinctively scanning her.

She had grown up. While the mask hid her features, her body was far more beautiful than before—a lean, powerful kind of beauty. She was tall now, significantly taller than Gu Jinli, standing as straight and resilient as bamboo.

“What are you looking at?~”

At Shen Chigui’s level of power, how could she miss the other’s gaze? Even a fleeting glance would not go unnoticed.

“Big Sister has become beautiful.” This was Shen Chigui’s verdict. Compared to ten years ago, the youthful fragility was gone, replaced by features that had fully bloomed—soft yet tempered with resilience. She looked like a plum blossom blooming in the deep snow; just looking at her was enough to make one’s heart skip a beat.

So beautiful… I almost want to crush her.

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