The Demon Lord Relied on His Imagination to Get Together with the Protagonist. - Chapter 26

Chapter 26

“You…”

Qing Lin was stunned. The Demon Realm hated white, so how could she see Surong dressed entirely in white?

But then again, she doesn’t look bad in white.

No, that’s not the point. How could she wear white!

When Surong wore black, she was reserved and modest. But in white, she appeared refined and noble, with both handsomeness and softness, luxurious yet clear.

Surong’s face turned pale. She never expected Qing Lin to push the door open at this moment. She thought… the other woman would at least knock.

“Are you going to lure the spy out?” Qing Lin was only briefly stunned for a few seconds before quickly recovering and asking her. “It’s alright, I’ll go with you. It’s not safe for you to go alone.”

Surong stood quietly, unsure whether to answer.

“But these clothes aren’t very good,” Qing Lin sighed softly. “Change into something else. I’ll wait for you.”

Tong Siqing was in a daze when she woke up.

“What do you want to eat? I’ll tell them to prepare it.” Shi Zhihua had finished her toilette and was sitting by the bed in full attire. She smoothed Tong Siqing’s hair near her ear and asked, “Are you still uncomfortable?”

That wasn’t the case.

Tong Siqing: “What to eat?”

She had no mother, so from birth, her father had force-fed her various spiritual elixirs and herbs, forcing her into the state of achieving immortality and abstaining from mortal food. She had never tasted a single bite of earthly food.

In other words…

She didn’t know what she wanted to eat or what she liked to eat.

Tong Siqing explained briefly, looking apologetically at Shi Zhihua: “I’m sorry, I don’t know what I like to eat. Or, to put it another way, I don’t know what ‘like’ is.”

This was true. Not only did she not know what she liked to eat, but she truly didn’t even know what “like” meant.

Her concept of “like” was probably similar to “pretty” or “smells good.”

It was merely appreciation for beautiful things.

Shi Zhihua was stunned by the fact she stated. There was actually someone in the world who had never taken a single bite of food. The Sage-Scribe was too heartless. Not only did he make his daughter cultivate the Path of Heartlessness, but he didn’t even give her a single meal. Was it to save trouble? How could he do that?

“There are thousands of delicious foods in the world. If one achieves immortality without tasting any, wouldn’t that be a great pity?” Shi Zhihua spoke to her softly. “Try it. What if you really like it?”

Tong Siqing nodded.

Shi Zhihua looked at Tong Siqing with a touch of heartache. Tong Siqing hadn’t eaten a bite during the feast at the Palace of Decadence and Lust that day. She had thought the girl was unaccustomed to the Demon Realm’s food or had a poor appetite. Now, looking back, she had been too incompetent, not even realizing that Tong Siqing had long achieved immortality.

“I’ve heard that even after achieving immortality, some immortals in Xianning can’t resist a temptation, while others can no longer eat food at all after achieving it.”

Shi Zhihua ordered a banquet to be set up for her, just as lavish as the one that day. She sat beside Tong Siqing, introducing each dish to her. She said, “I don’t know if you’re still used to the feeling of food in your mouth. Let’s try it slowly.”

Tong Siqing nodded in agreement.

“Pearl White Jade, Osmanthus Jelly, West Lake Lotus Root Delight…” When Shi Zhihua mentioned the third dish, she explained it in detail to Tong Siqing: “This dish is made of osmanthus glutinous rice lotus root with spun sugar.”

Because she saw Tong Siqing’s eyes suddenly light up, as if she had never seen spun sugar before. The spun sugar was crystalline, thinner than spider silk, translucent, and firm. It was elegantly coiled around the dish, complementing the thin sugar coating.

Shi Zhihua lowered her eyes and helped her with some food: “If you like it, try it.”

Tong Siqing did want to try it, but she… rarely used chopsticks.

Before, when her father hosted guests in Xianning, she would only symbolically sit at the banquet. All she did was drink a cup of exquisite jade wine when others toasted her.

She didn’t need to do anything but smile, nod, and accept everyone’s praise and reverence.

Because in Xianning, even if she didn’t use jade chopsticks to eat, no one would say much. After all, most people in the Xianning Sect had achieved immortality, and eating was an optional matter.

Everyone would only praise her for being detached from worldly affairs.

Tong Siqing said: “Venerable Lord, I haven’t used chopsticks before.”

Shi Zhihua felt even more heartbroken. She couldn’t believe that Tong Siqing didn’t even know how to use chopsticks. The Sage-Scribe was too carefree; he didn’t know how to raise a daughter properly.

“It’s alright, I’ll teach you.”

She put her arm around Tong Siqing’s shoulder, covering her knuckles and holding the girl’s soft, boneless hand, guiding her to grip the chopsticks.

After a long effort, with Shi Zhihua’s help, Tong Siqing was finally able to hold the chopsticks steady. The hands that could grip the Azure Spirit Sword now seemed to have shed all their strength, so soft that they offered no resistance.

Truly… no strength at all.

This was the first time Shi Zhihua had ever been so patient in teaching someone. Even though the food was waiting, she couldn’t be bothered with it, focusing only on helping Tong Siqing with the chopsticks.

Tong Siqing was quick to learn and grasped it fast. Before long, she could independently use the chopsticks to pick up the difficult-to-handle purple sweet potato balls.

Shi Zhihua was a little reluctant, feeling that she had learned too quickly and she hadn’t had her fill of teaching.

In her moment of hesitation, when she tried to take her hand again, Tong Siqing no longer allowed her to help.

Shi Zhihua: “…”

Alas, why learn so fast?

“Is it tasty?” Shi Zhihua, bored, could only ask about her feelings. “There’s no discomfort, is there? It’s your first time eating, so it’s normal not to be entirely used to it.”

Tong Siqing had just bitten into a filled rice ball. The softness and light sweetness melted on her tongue. She had never experienced the goodness of food. This first contact was like discovering a new world; her eyes brightened.

Shi Zhihua loved to see that look of admiration on her face.

Tong Siqing would never show such an expression in Xianning, which was boring, where everything was rigid and serious. How could it be as interesting as the Demon Realm?

Outside the hall, Qing Lin and Surong came to report that they wished to see the Demon Lord.

Shi Zhihua waved her hand, allowing them to enter.

“It’s nothing, you continue talking.”

Shi Zhihua saw that Tong Siqing seemed to want to say something and thought she was very polite, even considering the setting. However, Surong and Qing Lin were her confidantes, and Tong Siqing likely had nothing major to say. There was no harm in letting them hear her food commentary.

Qing Lin and Surong saluted.

Tong Siqing: “Can I talk now?”

Shi Zhihua: “Go on.”

Tong Siqing savored the sweet taste: “This rice ball is wonderful. The moment it entered my mouth, it was like…”

“Mhm.”

Shi Zhihua was absentmindedly observing her two subordinates while focusing her attention on Tong Siqing.

Tong Siqing: “…like the Venerable Lord’s soft lips.”

Shi Zhihua: “…”

Surong: “…”

Qing Lin: “…”

Is this something that can be said here? Is this something the two of them should be hearing? Qing Lin wanted to cry without tears.

“But the Venerable Lord’s lips and tongue are slightly cool. The moment it entered my mouth…”

Tong Siqing wanted to continue, but Shi Zhihua hurriedly covered her mouth.

Shi Zhihua: “Eat.”

Tong Siqing: QvQ Okay.

Shi Zhihua continued to listen to her two subordinates’ reports. It turned out that the three-day deadline she had given had passed. Surong hadn’t found the spy, so she brought Qing Lin along to search. Unexpectedly, in their search, the two did discover something unusual.

“This item was found at the residence of the North Sea’s Ninth Prince, Ji Wudu,” Qing Lin handed the object to Shi Zhihua. “Please take a look, Venerable Lord.”

The Emperor’s Resentment Tally?

Shi Zhihua hadn’t expected this item to be in Ji Wudu’s hands.

“How does he have it?” Shi Zhihua asked. “Did he steal it from the North Sea, or did he find it in the Palace of Decadence and Lust and prepare to take it back to the North Sea?”

Tong Siqing silently watched—She knew about this. The Emperor’s Resentment Tally was brought by Ji Wudu from the North Sea. He had planned to betray the North Sea and defect to the Demon Lord, so he brought this item, hoping the Demon Lord would take him under her wing.

In any case, the Ninth Prince would not be highly valued back in the North Sea, so he chose to steal a treasure and fully sever ties with his homeland.

Tong Siqing had glimpsed the heavenly secret and knew the final outcome of this matter—Zhihua accepted Ji Wudu’s defection, but the Emperor’s Resentment Tally, being one of the Five Great Celestial Artifacts, would naturally be coveted by the Xianning Sect, so Zhihua did not keep it.

The so-called “Emperor’s Resentment Tally” was actually the horn of an ancient dragon. This dragon horn was golden all over and very beautiful. It was said that demons loved shiny things. Tong Siqing stared at the Emperor’s Resentment Tally, thinking that Zhihua must like it, or else she wouldn’t have kept Ji Wudu in the original story.

Tong Siqing’s silence finally attracted Shi Zhihua’s attention.

She turned to look at Tong Siqing and found the girl had been staring blankly at the Emperor’s Resentment Tally for a while, even letting the tip of her chopsticks droop slightly.

Can’t hold the chopsticks again…

Shi Zhihua sighed and put her hand over Tong Siqing’s again, helping her grip it steadily: “If you like the Emperor’s Resentment Tally, I will accept Ji Wudu’s defection.”

Tong Siqing didn’t like these celestial artifacts. She thought Zhihua must like it, but she couldn’t say so directly in front of the two subordinates, so she could only use herself as an excuse.

Tong Siqing thought the previous words were just an excuse, and the real reason must be that Zhihua liked it.

However, regardless of whether she accepted Ji Wudu’s defection, the Emperor’s Resentment Tally would not remain in the Demon Realm.

Tong Siqing carefully recalled, it seemed… it seemed it was taken by her senior brother, Ji Siyang, when he came to the Demon Realm.

She needed to be wary. This time, she absolutely couldn’t let him steal what belonged to Zhihua.

Checking the dates, it seemed like it would happen in the next few days.

“Venerable Lord, today is the fifteenth. I would like to go out with Surong for half a day,” Qing Lin said. “I hope the Venerable Lord will grant permission.”

Shi Zhihua had always been lenient about these matters. She was about to agree but was stopped by Tong Siqing grabbing her sleeve.

Shi Zhihua looked at Tong Siqing with confusion.

Tong Siqing managed to swallow a rice ball with some difficulty, slightly choked: “Today is the fifteenth… let’s have Qing Lin and Surong stay.”

According to the predetermined trajectory, the loss of the Emperor’s Resentment Tally was precisely because the Demon Lord’s confidantes were absent, allowing her senior brother to use a feint to steal the item.

As long as Qing Lin and Surong were present, her senior brother wouldn’t be able to steal the item.

Tong Siqing timely prevented them from leaving. She had to help Zhihua protect her treasure.

“Tonight, let’s go to the north side of the Palace of Decadence and Lust to admire the moon,” Tong Siqing suggested. “The third quarter of the Zi Shi hour (around midnight) is the best time for moon viewing.”

Shi Zhihua: “???”

Why?

Meanwhile, Ji Siyang and Bai Xian, accompanied by others, arrived in the Demon Realm.

Their main purpose for this trip was actually to rescue Tong Siqing from her plight, trying not to get involved in other matters.

While waiting, some people gossiped that the North Sea Dragon King had recently lost something, and it seemed very important—the Celestial Artifact, the Emperor’s Resentment Tally. The North Sea was in chaos now.

Above the sea of clouds, it was buzzing with noise and excitement.

Ji Siyang: “What does their loss have to do with us?”

Bai Xian thought for a moment and said: “It is said that the Ninth Prince, who is a hostage, stole the Emperor’s Resentment Tally, and that Ninth Prince is currently located in the Palace of Decadence and Lust, in the northeast direction.”

Bai Xian pointed to the imposing building not far away: “Do you see that towering structure? That is the Ninth Prince’s residence.”

Ji Siyang’s face was stern and solemn: “Our purpose for this trip is to rescue Siqing.”

But the Emperor’s Resentment Tally was a Celestial Artifact after all. If they could get their hands on it, they would surely receive praise from the Celestial Venerable upon returning to the Xianning Sect…

A gentle breeze from the Demon Realm brushed past. The senior martial brother, dressed in flowing robes and jade belt, stood with his hands behind his back. At first glance, he looked imposing, but on closer inspection, his brows were slightly furrowed, unlike before.

A moment later, Ji Siyang changed his mind: “Since we are conveniently passing by… if we have the capacity, let’s lend a hand.”

Bai Xian looked at him with a complex expression—What about the original intention?

Ji Siyang: “At Zi Shi (midnight), we will enter the Palace of Decadence and Lust in our night attire. Some people will go to one side to attract attention, and the rest will follow me to break through the wall at the northeast corner.”

At the same time, Tong Siqing, satisfied after a post-meal stroll, followed the Demon Lord. She reached the northeast corner, pointed to the spot, and said: “Tonight, I want to admire the moon there.”

Shi Zhihua was almost utterly compliant with her requests: “Alright, I’ll have everyone come with you.”

Tong Siqing smiled slightly: “Good.”

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