Transmigrated as the Little Concubine of a Paper-Thin Man - Chapter 37

The immortal carriage circled the Flying Immortal Sect three times, finally landing back at the Jade Bell Palace.

It wasn’t that the Flying Immortal Sect lacked larger or more magnificent palaces than the Jade Bell Palace, but considering Shi Yunjii would be uncomfortable in unfamiliar surroundings, Yan Ling chose to return to the Jade Bell Palace for the final ceremony of the Dao Companion Grand Ceremony.

This palace was built by the two of them together, bearing not only their efforts but also carving many warm memories.

For this reason, although the Flying Immortal Sect was now packed with congratulatory guests, only a small number were allowed into the Jade Bell Palace to attend the ceremony. The rest, whether flying on swords or climbing trees, were all kept outside.

As for those of lower status, they didn’t even have the qualifications to enter the Ling Bell Peak.

The officiant for the Dao Companion Ceremony was reciting the contract vows—in the cultivation world, this Dao Companion contract held greater constraint than modern marriage, where the two, once bound, shared honor and disgrace, life and death, a true vow until the end.

However, Shi Yunjii’s gaze was fixed only on the two cups of clear brew in front of them.

Taking advantage of the officiant and Yan Ling’s interaction, when everyone’s attention wasn’t on her, she secretly leaned forward and dissolved the already prepared Heart Devil antidote, along with the hard-won Li Sheng flower, into the wine in front of her.

When the officiant announced the completion of the rites and requested the pair to drink the nuptial wine, Shi Yunjii proactively picked up the cup in front of her and offered it to Yan Ling.

Yan Ling paused, looking at her with eyes gentle as water.

Shi Yunjii guiltily averted her gaze.

Perhaps due to their intimate moment in the immortal carriage just now, from that moment until now, Yan Ling’s gaze toward her was exceedingly ambiguous, clearly overflowing with love.

How could Shi Yunjii, who was only plotting against her, not feel guilty?

But the benefit of this was that although Yan Ling was puzzled, she didn’t hesitate and directly accepted the wine cup from Shi Yunjii.

Shi Yunjii secretly sighed in relief, then picked up the cup of clear brew originally placed in front of Yan Ling.

The officiant raised his voice in song: “New couple exchanges cups, forever of one heart—”

Shi Yunjii and Yan Ling both raised their hands, linking their arms in the air, then brought the wine cups to their lips.

Before tilting her head back to drink, Shi Yunjii suddenly noticed a fluttering grey-blue butterfly outside the hall and paused her drinking motion.

Was the butterfly Huan Zhu?

She had clearly obtained the “Heart of Dao Box,” and by this time, she must have already sent Jiang Shu to the Wanzhu Courtyard. So why hadn’t Huan Zhu left?

Shouldn’t she be most afraid of being discovered by Yan Ling, always hesitant to approach the Jade Bell Palace?

Or had something unexpected happened with Jiang Shu, and she had some new information to convey?

Yan Ling noticed the stiffness in her body, slightly turned her head, and also saw the butterfly.

She leaned into Shi Yunjii’s ear: “Be good, focus.”

Shi Yunjii remembered the ‘laced’ nuptial wine in Yan Ling’s hand and began to hesitate, even developing the thought of stopping Yan Ling from drinking the medicated wine for now.

But Yan Ling seemed to sense her intention first, and actually pressed the wine cup to her lips.

“It’s fine,” she spoke again, simultaneously using their entwined arms to press Shi Yunjii to drink the wine as well. “Drink the wine.”

Shi Yunjii’s mind was a bit muddled; she could only be pushed by Yan Ling, tilting her head back to drink the sweet, clear brew.

The moment they set down their wine cups, all the guests in the hall stepped forward together, speaking lively words of congratulation, and whether they were willing or not, their faces wore expressions of utter joy.

But for some reason, the more cheerful the people around her were, the more anxious Shi Yunjii felt.

After setting down the cup, her first instinct was to check Yan Ling’s condition, but she saw that the other’s cheeks were only slightly flushed, seeming merely tipsy from the alcohol, with no other anomalies.

When the guests came forward to congratulate her, Yan Ling could handle the situation as usual, greeting each one in return.

Shi Yunjii turned her head again, looking through the crowd of guests toward the hall door, only to see that the grey-blue butterfly that had been hovering at the entrance was gone.

She secretly breathed a sigh of relief, finally relaxing somewhat.

But less than an hour after her relaxation, and before the surrounding guests had completely dispersed, several loud rumbles suddenly echoed from outside the hall.

“Boom—”

“Bang bang—”

“Boom boom boom—”

As the sounds erupted, billowing smoke poured out, and the celebratory noises that filled the entire Flying Immortal Sect were immediately replaced by panicked clamor.

“What’s going on?” an elder among the congratulating guests in the hall frowned and asked.

Another immediately replied: “Who are these arrogant scoundrels, daring to cause trouble at such a crucial time, the Sect Leader’s ascension and the Dao Companion Grand Ceremony? This is truly unbearable.” He looked at Yan Ling: “Sect Leader Yan, though I am untalented, I wish to contribute my strength to quell this matter for you.”

Yan Ling’s face had completely darkened by this point.

Shi Yunjii knew her best, so she understood that Yan Ling was genuinely furious right now.

The Sect Leader smiled in her extreme anger, wrapping an arm around Shi Yunjii’s shoulder: “If that is the case, I ask all of you to help take down that arrogant individual. Today is my Dao Companion Grand Ceremony, and I truly do not wish to lightly resort to arms. Tomorrow, I will personally offer my thanks to everyone.”

Everyone responded in agreement: “It is what we should do, it is what we should do.”

“Sect Leader Yan, please take care of your Dao Companion, the little immortal maiden, first. This small matter is nothing to worry about.”

“I want to see exactly what scum dares to challenge the dignity of the Flying Immortal Sect.”

With these words, they all headed outside the hall.

The guests who could be invited into the Jade Bell Palace for the ceremony were no ordinary people; they held significant weight in the cultivation world and were arguably the most elite power in the cultivation world at present.

With them stepping forward, even if the entire Demon Realm were to be mobilized, it would not be a difficult task to support Yan Ling for a day to allow her to complete the Dao Companion Grand Ceremony in peace, not to mention completely eliminating the Demon Realm.

It was precisely for this reason that Yan Ling was not worried about the situation outside.

But just as she was preparing to lead Shi Yunjii away, a voice suddenly rang out from outside the hall.

“Hahaha—Sect Leader of the Flying Immortal Sect, do you all know that the Sect Leader you worship, Yan Ling, has actually already fallen into the demonic path?”

Shi Yunjii’s vision went white, and she immediately recognized the voice—it was Huan Zhu’s voice.

Huan Zhu truly would not give up easily! She had come prepared this time, and Shi Yunjii had been tricked by her again.

Someone outside the hall sneered: “Impudent demoness, speaking nonsense! Is Sect Leader Yan someone a small demoness like you can recklessly slander?!”

Huan Zhu didn’t back down: “Oh, oh, oh, why are you yelling at me?

“Missy tells you, I didn’t bring people here today to cause trouble. Today is Sect Leader Yan’s ascension ceremony, an auspicious day, I brought troops here precisely to welcome Yan Ling’s return to the Demon Realm, to sweep away the petty villains, and ascend as the Demon Lord.”

As soon as these words were uttered, the discussions outside the hall grew louder, and even Shi Yunjii inside the hall could hear clearly.

“What does that mean? Is she really here to welcome Yan Ling’s return to the Demon Realm?”

“The scale of this gesture is so big, could it be true?”

“Sect Leader Yan has fallen into the demonic path? No wonder I felt a chill down my spine a few days ago when I saw her tidying up her subordinates.”

Shi Yunjii’s heart rate accelerated; she gripped Yan Ling’s arm to check her condition.

If Huan Zhu dared to claim Yan Ling had fallen into the demonic path, it proved that the antidote she gave Shi Yunjii was fake, and possibly even poisonous! Yan Ling had just drunk that nuptial wine in front of so many people, and her body might be in trouble right now.

“What’s wrong?” Yan Ling took her hand and placed it against her own cheek. “Are you worried about me? Do you still… worry about me?”

[That cup of wine… just now in that cup…] Shi Yunjii anxiously wanted to tell her the full truth of the matter, but she was so nervous that her lips trembled.

“Don’t worry,” Yan Ling even had the composure to soothe her. “Are you trying to say that the nuptial wine just now had medicine placed in it by you?”

Shi Yunjii’s eyes widened.

[You… you know?!]

“Sigh,” Yan Ling sighed. “Would it have been better to pretend not to know?”

Shi Yunjii didn’t understand why she could still be so relaxed.

She herself had begun to tremble, filled with fear of the impending disaster: [Yan Ling, Huan Zhu, she had a plan all along, she was plotting to get close to me from the beginning, today’s events are definitely not as simple as you think, first, first let’s leave here…]

If the matter of Yan Ling developing a heart devil became known to everyone, then the powers of the cultivation world who were originally on their side would immediately turn against them, becoming the sharp weapons attacking Yan Ling.

Immortals and demons cannot coexist!

Even Shi Yunjii could grasp the seriousness of the situation, yet Yan Ling, clever as she was, remained hesitant to act at this crucial moment.

Outside the hall, the conflict between the two sides intensified; Huan Zhu had already started shouting provocatively toward the hall.

“Demon Lord Yan Ling, are you still unwilling to come out? Huan Zhu, with three thousand elite demon guards, respectfully invites you to ascend to the throne.”

A guest also peered into the hall: “Sect, Sect Leader Yan, what that demoness said, uh, no, I mean, that demoness’s nonsense cannot, cannot be taken seriously, right?”

While saying “cannot be taken seriously,” most people’s gazes toward Yan Ling were already laced with scrutiny and abnormality.

Yan Ling curved her lips, calmly and collectedly replying: “Of course, it cannot be taken seriously.”

This sentence did not soothe the crowd’s emotions.

Huan Zhu outside the hall seemed to have heard this statement: “Demon Lord Yan, why pretend when things have reached this point? The power you can obtain in the Demon Realm will certainly not be less than what you have now.

“At this moment, are you still unwilling to come out and meet me? Are you perhaps afraid of these hypocrites of the cultivation world?”

This was practically throwing Yan Ling into the fire!

Yet, Yan Ling seemed to fall for her provocation, lifting her feet to head out of the hall.

Shi Yunjii deeply knew Huan Zhu’s cunning; she grabbed Yan Ling’s arm, shaking her head heavily: [No, don’t go…]

Yan Ling turned to soothe her: “Don’t worry.”

She beckoned to the chief steward, Zhao Feng, and the immortal maid, Feng Yu: “Take good care of her.” With that, she withdrew her arm from Shi Yunjii’s embrace and walked step by step toward the outside of the hall.

Shi Yunjii wanted to follow her out, but before she could exit the hall door, she was held back by Feng Yu: “Immortal Maiden, there are so many people outside, and spiritual energy and weapons have no eyes. Let’s watch from inside. You can see everything from here too.”

Zhao Feng quickly echoed: “That’s right, Immortal Maiden, don’t go out, please don’t go out!”

Shi Yunjii’s legs weakened, and she slumped down near the door, but still grasped the door frame, nervously peering outward.

In the square outside the main hall, Yan Ling was already standing at the front of the crowd, facing off against Huan Zhu, who was dressed in black with red sashes.

Huan Zhu was not alone; behind her, a dense formation of three thousand demon soldiers had completely surrounded the Jade Bell Palace, while the low-level cultivators who had originally only been able to gather outside had long since fled.

This was truly a planned attack.

“Long time no see, Yan, Ling, Sect, Leader,” Huan Zhu began the greeting.

Yan Ling showed no emotion on her face; her festive red ceremonial robe fluttered without wind: “Allowing you to leave alive last time was indeed my mistake.”

She raised her right hand, revealing the string of silver bells on her wrist, and said faintly, “This time, it won’t happen.”

“You…” Huan Zhu’s face turned pale under the pressure, but she took a deep breath and quickly composed herself. She forced a small smile: “Trying to silence me already? We are both members of the Demon Realm now, Demon Lord Yan speaks quite impolitely.”

Yan Ling no longer wasted words, simply shaking the silver bells and launching an attack at Huan Zhu.

Huan Zhu’s expression changed, and she quickly pulled the demon guards behind her to block the attack. After sacrificing ten subordinates, she barely managed to withstand the wave of Yan Ling’s fury. By this time, a deep fissure was left where she had originally stood.

A cultivator in the arena laughed aloud: “How dare the demoness be so arrogant? Today, if you dare to slander Sect Leader Yan, you must be prepared to lose your life here!” With that, he also made a move to assist Yan Ling.

Huan Zhu, having finally stabilized, quickly seized the opportunity to speak: “Why the rush! Wait until I finish.”

She caught her breath, narrowing her eyes: “You cultivators, do you have no brains at this moment? Isn’t it a very simple matter to verify whether Sect Leader Yan is controlled by a heart devil or not?

“Where is your Heart Devil Mirror?”

Everyone paused their actions and began whispering amongst themselves again.

Shi Yunjii was anxious, but dared not reveal the slightest true emotion on her face.

She heard the cultivators in the arena discussing, some saying “How can we believe the demoness’s words, to subject Sect Leader Yan to the Heart Devil Mirror for no reason,” but more people felt that Huan Zhu’s words were not unfounded, and besides, “What if we test her? A clear conscience fears no slander. If she passes the test, the demoness will have nothing to say.”

Huan Zhu took advantage of this lull, looking provocatively at Yan Ling: “How about it, Sect Leader Yan? Do you dare to prove your identity?”

Yan Ling remained silent, simply continuing to launch attacks, each move fueled by unconcealed fury, each strike genuinely aiming to kill Huan Zhu.

Huan Zhu dodged awkwardly, quickly sustaining injuries.

Finally, cornered, she could only retreat into the encirclement of the demon guards, temporarily gaining a chance to breathe.

With three thousand demon guards, it would take Yan Ling some effort to break through their encirclement and kill Huan Zhu.

Just then, an elderly man suddenly emerged and stood in front of Yan Ling.

He was of high status, not to be underestimated among the numerous guests, and spoke: “Yan Ling, the demoness is not to be feared. But you have just ascended, and the demoness’s rumor may be detrimental to you.

“While everyone is present, why not use the Heart Devil Mirror to prove your innocence? In the future, if anyone dares to spread rumors falsely accusing you of developing a heart devil, all of us here can bear witness for you.”

As soon as these words were uttered, they were met with immediate agreement from the whole assembly.

“That’s right, let’s just test it.”

“Sect Leader Yan, don’t worry, as long as you pass the Heart Devil Mirror test, we will all be your witnesses.”

“After verifying your identity, we can also feel assured in helping the Sect Leader eliminate the demons!”

Shi Yunjii’s face turned uncontrollably pale.

Her gaze wandered, and at one point, it met that of Huan Zhu, who was surrounded by demon guards. Huan Zhu clutched her chest but sent a smug smile to Shi Yunjii from afar, as if to say:

“Sorry, I won again.”

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