Transmigrated Into The Arms Of The Heroine Of A Sadistic Novel - Chapter 88

“Right now, the lord doesn’t know that the princess has been possessed. If Zhu Wansheng disguises herself even more convincingly, and the real princess isn’t with us, it’ll be difficult to directly capture her and convince the lord,” Qin Changxin said softly. “The princess once mentioned that ‘Blood Leopard’ met her in the capacity of a messenger. Over these past few days of interacting with the princess, have you seen any messenger?”

“You saying that reminds me,” Feng Xianchen said, resting her chin on her hand. “There really was a ‘messenger’ around the princess, wearing a dark robe similar to Yang Hengyu’s. She always covered half her face with a folding fan. She looked… rather refined.”

“Was the messenger female?” Lin Yanyu keenly picked up on the detail Feng Xianchen had inadvertently revealed.

“Yes, the messenger we saw was indeed a woman,” Zhuang Jingwei nodded. “Perhaps this was something we overlooked, since all the rumors and records describe ‘Blood Leopard’ as male.”

“When the princess interacted with us, she only called them ‘messenger’ and didn’t mention gender,” Qin Changxin frowned. “But if ‘Blood Leopard’ could send a female avatar to the princess, and the princess accepted it without hesitation, that should prove something.”

“A sufficiently powerful demon can indeed freely change appearance and gender,” Lin Yanyu said. “All we need to know is that this is ‘Blood Leopard.’”

“But how do we get them to slip up?” Feng Xianchen asked.

“I might have an idea,” Qin Changxin said. “But I’m not familiar with the Yun royal family’s situation. I need to discuss it with you first.”

An hour later, the four arrived outside the princess’s chamber.

Because they were close guests of the princess, the guards didn’t even ask questions and went straight to inform her.

Lin Yanyu felt a hand take hers. She looked down and heard Qin Changxin whisper, “Don’t be afraid.”

Having met many important figures before, Lin Yanyu wasn’t intimidated by such a demon. Besides, they had already planned their strategy and just needed to ask the questions as arranged. Still, she squeezed his hand back and swished her cat tail across Qin Changxin’s wrist.

“Why didn’t you just bring her in directly?”

Before the guards returned, the princess’s laughter came from inside, and soon a young girl in a yellow dress stepped out, followed by her maid.

“Your Highness! You can’t run around the palace like this!”

“This is my chamber, not the main hall for seeing ministers,” the yellow dressed girl said without turning back, beckoning the four to enter. “Come in, come in! I’ve prepared tea and snacks!”

Feng Xianchen and Zhuang Jingwei smiled and followed her inside. Lin Yanyu exchanged a brief glance with Qin Changxin, silently deciding not to touch any food inside.

The princess’s chamber was similar to the young master’s: a front hall for guests and a rear hall for sleeping, separated by screens.

From the moment Lin Yanyu entered, she began observing. She noticed Xiao Xianyi was not present and breathed a slight sigh of relief.

“Let’s continue yesterday’s story!” the princess said, sitting in the main seat, full of excitement.

Feng Xianchen, who was to narrate, smiled. “Your Highness, isn’t experiencing a story in person more fun? We’ve prepared a… simulated demon hunting game. Are you interested?”

The princess’s eyes lit up, and she lifted her teacup. “Sure! How do we play?”

“First, please answer our questions,” Lin Yanyu asked according to their plan. “Why do you enjoy hearing demon-hunting stories so much?”

“Slaying demons, protecting righteousness I enjoy such stories,” the princess smiled. “And I hope that demon hunters will always protect the human realm. Otherwise, if evil spirits run amok, everyone’s life will become difficult, and I wouldn’t be able to drink tea and eat snacks like now.”

“What if an evil spirit was secretly plotting chaos in the human realm? What would Your Highness do?” Lin Yanyu asked.

This question was adapted from the “trolley problem” in later times: in a crisis, do you save the few or the many?

The princess frowned, resting her chin on her hand and nibbling a snack as she thought.

Lin Yanyu worried she might simply say, “Then I won’t be a demon hunter,” which would derail their questioning.

“My choice depends on the value of the civilians and the demon,” after some thought, the princess replied. “If the civilians are more valuable, I’d kill the demon at all costs; but if the demon’s plan is to create a better world, then any sacrifice is worth it.”

Hearing this, the four changed their expressions.

“Your Highness! You can’t say that!” Feng Xianchen quickly interjected. “Evil spirits are called ‘evil’ because they threaten humans’ survival…”

“That’s not necessarily the case,” the princess said, looking at her. “Every prisoner is called a ‘criminal,’ but did they all truly commit a crime?”

She turned to Lin Yanyu with a cryptic smile. “What you call ‘evil spirits’ may not really be the true culprits. Some are just marked as guilty for infringing on others’ interests. It’s the same for demons humans aren’t the only ones who judge good and evil; demons themselves do too.”

“Is this your true opinion?” Lin Yanyu asked softly.

“It’s just a Q&A game; as long as the reasoning is plausible, does it matter if it’s true?” the princess laughed lightly. “Any more questions?”

“Impudent!”

A stern male voice suddenly rang outside. The chamber door opened, and a man in a yellow dragon robe entered, his gaze toward the princess filled with complexity.

“Father!” the princess immediately changed into a radiant smile and ran toward him.

Seeing his daughter approach, the lord’s eyes softened briefly, but in the next second, he acted two sharp chains pierced through the princess’s shoulder blades, leaving blood droplets as they were driven into the screen behind her.

“F-Father…?” The princess’s smile froze.

“I will not tolerate a daughter who speaks such nonsense!” the lord shouted. “Guards! Drag her away and flog her fifty times!”

A dozen armored guards rushed in to seize the princess, but she suddenly laughed, her dark eyes turning into green vertical pupils, glaring at Lin Yanyu: “You should have been destroyed completely back then, making Xuan Qing lose her daughter! Letting things slide has brought disaster!”

Lin Yanyu met her gaze without fear. “I recognize you. You are not the real Lianzhou Princess Yun Quexin, but the Cat Clan Demon King Zhu Wansheng, killed by my mother!”

“Hah! You weren’t even born when Xuan Qing killed me!” The princess didn’t deny it, baring her fangs. “Fine, it’s my oversight to fall into your hands today…”

Before she could finish, she grabbed the chains holding her, and with a clenched fist, broke them all.

“Watch out! She has monstrous strength!” Lin Yanyu shouted as she threw a binding spirit rope at Zhu Wan-sheng.

Zhu Wan-sheng twisted to dodge, kicking nearby armored guards and tearing the bloodstained chains from her back.

Lin Yanyu’s eyes darkened. She remembered the evaluations of Zhu Wansheng by Xuan Qing and Feng Funing.

Compared to “Blood Leopard,” Zhu Wansheng’s threat seemed minor, but she was ruthless and would fight to the death, willing to take massive damage just to injure her enemies.

“Demon, don’t escape!” The lord shouted, drawing his sword and touching it to summon energy, aiming at Zhu Wansheng.

The four quickly moved to corner her away from the window.

Feng Xianchen and Zhuang Jingwei, not skilled in close combat, stayed behind the screen to assist Lin Yanyu, the lord, and the armored guards with spells.

They had thought it would be difficult to involve the lord, but he had already suspected the daughter’s identity. Before their arrival, he tried to test her several times but couldn’t act due to her dislike of demon hunters and the presence of a “messenger” as guard.

While they were playing the Q&A game, the lord had secretly hidden nearby after moving the “messenger” away. Luckily, as a demon hunter himself, he could seamlessly cooperate with their plan.

Seeing no escape, Zhu Wan-sheng sneered. Her long fingers grew claws with a faint green glow.

“Dodge the claws! They’re poisonous!” Lin Yanyu warned.

“I’ll tear your mouth apart!” Zhu Wansheng screeched, kicking off the ground to strike Lin Yanyu.

“Clang!” The claws hit a metal fan, snapping two pieces.

Qin Changxin shielded Lin Yanyu and cast a spell. Peach blossoms blossomed on the fan, releasing a faint fragrance, spreading an illusion throughout the chamber.

But Zhu Wansheng pressed forward.

In the confined space, Qin Changxin was hit by a swipe that tore off part of her robe. Lin Yanyu barely pulled her back, avoiding the poisoned claws.

Restricted by the room, Zhu Wansheng couldn’t use high level magic but deliberately collided with weapons with each strike.

All present were prepared, determined to “kill the princess’s body” to achieve their goal.

Soon, Zhu Wansheng was battered, surrounded by broken jewelry and torn clothes on the floor.

“You truly are willing to do anything to achieve your goal! None of you shall die well!” Zhu Wansheng spat blood, using words to unsettle them. “Father! You won’t even spare your own flesh and blood! Shame on you!”

Lin Yanyu quickly took out the Qing Fang Bell, gifted by the Morning Healing Valley master. The green bell’s sound dispelled the illusions.