The Demon Lord Relied on His Imagination to Get Together with the Protagonist. - Chapter 33

Chapter 33

“Be careful not to kill him.”

Although Shi Zhihua found Ye Chouliang irritating, she couldn’t kill him due to a certain restriction. She wasn’t worried about herself suffering heavenly retribution, but she was unsure if Tong Siqing would be affected.

Although Tong Siqing belonged to the Xianning Sect, Shi Zhihua didn’t know the rules there, nor whether they had the ridiculous rule of “not being able to harm the Human Emperor.”

If they didn’t, then fine. But if they did…

Shi Zhihua dared not gamble with Tong Siqing. She was afraid that if it truly attracted heavenly lightning or a rebuke from the Heavenly Dao, it would be detrimental to Tong Siqing’s cultivation path.

This Ye Chouliang was also profoundly strange. Although he was just an idle prince, he carried a strong protective energy. Those subtle and intangible legends seemed to be true; people of the Demon Realm truly couldn’t do anything to him.

Firstly, they couldn’t kill him, and secondly, harming him would attract heavenly lightning.

In the past, Shi Zhihua didn’t believe in such superstitions until she crippled his legs, and moments later, she saw a lightning tribulation striking down at her.

The retribution came so quickly.

As she instinctively retreated half a step, her eyes were filled with disbelief.

After resisting the lightning tribulation, when the stars fell and the clouds dispersed, no one could understand the feeling in her heart.

Exhausted, yet willing…

This was very unfair.

Having lived and thrived in the Demon Realm, she had grown accustomed to believing that everything in the world could be solved with personal strength.

If she encountered a thorn, she would step over it. If she saw someone unpleasant, she would kill them.

In previous years, she had been revered as the Demon Lord for over a hundred years. All major and minor disputes within the jurisdiction of the Demon Realm could be personally quelled. Under this inertia, she developed some lofty ideas, such as unifying the Three Realms or attacking the Xianning Sect.

Until, until… she encountered this Ye Chouliang, who claimed to be the Human Emperor.

It was at that moment that she realized that willingness might not lead to success, and she was even more determined to overcome the Mandate of Heaven, raising her hand to shatter the tangible ceiling of the sky.

But she exerted all her effort and still couldn’t do it.

She wanted to break it, but only got a hand full of fragments.

From then on, she no longer enthusiastically seized territory and attacked cities as she did before. She became lazy and indifferent, even her speech was languid and detached. Listless and content, like a wicked ruler, she stayed in her own territory, coldly observing how the Mandate of Heaven would continue to trouble her.

If a subordinate suggested attacking a certain place, she would lightly dismiss it.

The old her would have gladly accepted the suggestion, ordering all capable subordinates to plan and strategize, and then launch a massive offensive once victory was certain.

After this incident, she sent her most formidable subordinates to other places, ostensibly to guard the borders, but truly to keep them out of sight and out of mind.

Those who remained in the Palace of Decadence and Lust, those who stayed by her side, were all gentle and unambitious people.

Such as Su Rong, and Qing Lin.

Shi Zhihua thought she would continue this way until the inevitable day when things came to a head and she would have to fight to the death.

Truthfully, from her position, many things became clear.

Shi Zhihua knew.

Just as she could understand why the Saint-Scribe became such a detached person, with their status, cultivation reaching the heavens, and endless lifespan, they would eventually encounter the Mandate of Heaven.

Yet, she was still unwilling. Tong Siqing’s arrival made her want to try again. The other person said she could unify the world. Although Shi Zhihua knew it was impossible, she was incredibly delighted.

If anyone else had praised her, she would have thought it was false flattery, but with Tong Siqing saying it, she felt that the other person was truly sincere and wanted to see her achieve greater things.

That’s why she left the Emperor’s Grudge Festival this time.

That’s why, while taking the other person out to play, she also harbored other intentions.

The Scarlet Sky Realm, the Illusion Mirror… could she perhaps try to seize it?

Therefore, she brought people here.

And immediately ran into Ye Chouliang.

Shi Zhihua: “…”

Tong Siqing went downstairs, crouched in front of Ye Chouliang, took a look, and said: “He’s not dead. He still has a breath left.”

Shi Zhihua let out a sigh: “Mm, just consider it a dog barking on the road, give it a kick. That’s enough.”

She didn’t want to, and couldn’t, further engage with the other person.

Tong Siqing looked up: “But what if he misbehaves again later?”

Shi Zhihua hadn’t thought about it. She hadn’t anticipated encountering royalty, let alone her former enemy Ye Chouliang, the moment she arrived at the Scarlet Sky Realm.

Her luck was truly awful.

Shi Zhihua looked down helplessly: “Because we can’t hurt him, we can’t do anything about him.”

“How can we not hurt him?” Tong Siqing genuinely asked, with a touch of innocence. “Can’t we use spells, or can’t we physically touch him? If we use tools, is there a rule? Can’t we use sharp objects? Can we use ordinary items…”

Shi Zhihua: “I don’t know.”

She really didn’t know. When conflicts arose in the past, who would consider so much while fighting? They all used the most vicious and deadly methods.

A normal person wouldn’t personally kick him, sending him tumbling down the stairs, right?

Tong Siqing: “I only kicked his wheelchair just now, not him, so it counts as him falling by himself. It’s not our fault, right?”

Shi Zhihua: “…”

Su Rong, who had just arrived, was utterly bewildered by this “disclaimer.” She stared at the scene in astonishment.

Su Rong thought for a moment: “Should? Perhaps? Probably?”

Tong Siqing was satisfied: “That’s good then.”

Shi Zhihua was about to warn her not to cause trouble, but she realized Tong Siqing had already disappeared.

“Everyone stand back!”

A distant shout came from the upper floor.

Shi Zhihua instinctively pulled her two foolish subordinates aside to take cover. Half a second later, she stood firm and looked up.

Dozens of feet in the air, Tong Siqing stood inside the railing, holding a massive, golden jade carved lion… likely moved from the restaurant entrance.

After confirming that there was no one but the dog below, Tong Siqing closed her eyes, released her grip, and let the golden lion freefall from the height.

However, to protect Zhihua’s eyes, she specifically adjusted the angle of the golden lion, ensuring that the lion would maintain an upright posture as it fell.

The golden lion indeed did so.

With a loud crash, the golden lion broke through the floor, smashing Ye Chouliang several feet into the ground.

It could be considered falling into peace.

The golden lion stood firm, essentially erecting a ready-made tombstone for the other person, and a very impressive, large golden one at that, which could showcase the person’s status and wealth.

The Demon Lord and her retinue stared at the scene, dumbfounded.

The golden lion hadn’t completely sunk into the ground. Tong Siqing had controlled the height and force well, just enough for the lion to expose half of its body.

Qing Lin and the lion made eye contact. Shocked for a moment, she sighed: “Venerable Lord, will this really not attract heavenly retribution?”

Shi Zhihua slightly frowned: “It shouldn’t.”

“Why would it?” Tong Siqing lightly landed and explained: “This only proves that the wind in this restaurant in the Scarlet Sky Realm is very strong, accidentally blowing the golden lion into the sky, and then accidentally letting it fall onto a passing unfortunate soul.”

Su Rong: “…Ah.”

Qing Lin slapped her forehead, unable to watch.

Shi Zhihua nodded: “You are very correct.”

Tong Siqing said this out of fear that Zhihua would worry about being implicated.

She wouldn’t suffer heavenly retribution. Shamefully, in the story, she was the protagonist who could do as she pleased, like entering a self-created illusion or Sea of Consciousness. Everything within obeyed her commands, like the stars revolving around the moon. Even if there were occasional deviations, they wouldn’t cross the bottom line; it was all… for her.

She felt somewhat unworthy of the Creator’s favor.

But this was not the first time she had killed someone completely against the will of Heaven. She had just seen that the aura of death was already emanating from Ye Chouliang. Even if she hadn’t intervened, the other person would have died soon.

In fact…

Tong Siqing realized the reason for her discomfort upon first arriving at the Scarlet Sky Realm. It looked peaceful and prosperous, but it was actually on the road to decay and ruin.

A faded flower would emit a sticky, putrid stench, and she had clearly observed it.

All life in this area had vanished not long ago, which was why she felt a headache and annoyance anyone would feel uncomfortable seeing a pile of corpses and ruins.

In other words, the Scarlet Sky Realm now could not be saved.

When Tong Siqing previously peeked at the heavenly secrets, she hadn’t noticed the situation in the Scarlet Sky Realm, just like when flipping through a map, one wouldn’t notice the obscure corners. When not paying attention, this place was just an indiscernible mass of black, deadly aura.

As she arrived here, the black mist dispersed, revealing the scene of decay within.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “Furthermore, this Ye Chouliang is just an insignificant character. It shouldn’t be this simple here.”

“Naturally,” Shi Zhihua affirmed her statement. “Someone who can make the restaurant owner so intimidated is definitely not just a simple prince. I’m afraid there’s something else behind him. He’s just bait thrown out to test me.”

Qing Lin cautiously watched her surroundings.

Su Rong also tensed up and followed her gaze around.

“No matter, we’ll cross the bridge when we come to it,” Shi Zhihua waved at the fearful restaurant owner not far away. “Come here.”

The owner nervously stepped forward, repeatedly looking into the pit in the ground.

“This, what should I do? My restaurant!”

Shi Zhihua would not be kind enough to pay for his repair costs. She stared coldly at the owner: “What, you want me to pay the bill?”

The owner thought she was agreeing, and repeatedly bowed with a forced smile: “It would be an honor…”

Shi Zhihua could not harm the Imperial Family, could not kill, but that didn’t mean she didn’t want to kill. Her compassion had long been thrown to the dogs. She wouldn’t be like the righteous path people who clean up the mess and pay for a third party.

She placed her spinning blade near the owner’s neck: “I’ll make you a deal.”

The owner was terrified, shrinking his neck while asking: “Please tell me.”

“This pit, maintain the status quo,” Shi Zhihua glanced at the lion and said. “Engrave Ye Chouliang’s name on the lion, so that everyone who comes and goes knows his identity—the next person who provokes me will meet this end.”

Owner: “Ah, this…”

This wouldn’t do! Not paying for the damages was one thing, but how could they not deal with the body!

If this pit remained here, who would dare to eat at his restaurant!

“You don’t need to agree,” Shi Zhihua seemed to lose interest. The spinning blade lightly cut into the owner’s neck, drawing a slight trickle of blood. “I will just have others take over your restaurant.”

“Mercy! Please spare me!” The owner cried in fear. “I’ll follow your request. I agree!”

Shi Zhihua smiled: “Good. This is your voluntary choice.”

Owner: “Yes, yes, yes, voluntary, voluntary, voluntary!”

Qing Lin threatened him: “I’ll come back to check in a few days. Don’t think about deceiving us.”

The owner was tearful: “How could a humble person dare to lie to you? I wouldn’t dare!”

Seeing the owner cry, Tong Siqing felt a little sorry for him and comforted him: “Don’t cry, owner. Think about it, everyone is going to die someday anyway, so dying later is a gain.”

The owner immediately raised his sleeve to wipe away the tears of fear, explaining against his will: “I’m not crying, I’m happy.”

Tong Siqing finally felt relieved. She patted the owner’s shoulder and thought.

Now, everyone is finally satisfied.

This is truly a win-win situation.

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