Transmigrated into the Early-Deceased Alpha Fiancée of the Female Lead - Chapter 20

After entering the Demon Realm, Hua Yue took the lead. She had been here before.

Han Xuejin did not object. Following her for now was fine.

However, the truth was that Hua Yue no longer remembered where the Demon Lord’s palace was. To make things worse, the Demon Realm seemed to have changed significantly.

Even so, she stubbornly refused to admit it. She would never tell Zhu Changxuan or Han Xuejin the truth and risk losing face.

The two of them followed behind her, flying aimlessly through the skies like lost birds.

Just as Han Xuejin was about to lose patience and call out to stop, Hua Yue suddenly pointed with excitement toward a bustling market in the distance.

Although it was a Demon Realm market, it was as lively as any human town, perhaps even more so. It was filled with exotic items, unique creatures, and all sorts of rare goods that could not be found in the mortal world.

Hua Yue’s eyes sparkled.
“I didn’t expect the Demon Realm to have changed so much over the years. This is way more fun than before. Let’s look around first.”

Han Xuejin kept a stern face.
“We need to find the Demon Lord. This is not the time for—”

Before she could finish, she glanced at Zhu Changxuan. The sparkle in her eyes, so full of curiosity, had dimmed.

Han Xuejin paused, then changed her tone.
“Alright. A short visit is fine.”

As soon as she spoke, Hua Yue dashed forward into the market.

Zhu Changxuan’s eyes lit up again. She grabbed Han Xuejin’s hand and pulled her along excitedly. Han Xuejin let a small smile slip onto her lips.

Zhu Changxuan looked around in wonder. Some of the people had demon horns, while others did not. Perhaps they were hiding them.

But she was more interested in everything else. The strange items, the colorful trinkets, and even the baby spirit beasts up for sale. Everything felt new and exciting.

Suddenly, her eyes landed on a beautiful hairpin. Its petals were red and white, arranged in a unique and elegant design that immediately tugged at her heart.

She pointed at it, eyes shining.
“This one—”

Before she could finish the words “I want it,” Hua Yue leaned over with a teasing smile.
“Wow, that one’s really nice. Are you planning to buy it for my lovely daughter?”

Zhu Changxuan had meant to say she wanted it for herself. But then she saw Han Xuejin’s rare expression. Her eyes were filled with quiet hope.

Zhu Changxuan felt a sharp pang in her chest. She placed a hand over her heart and forced a smile.
“Yes.”

The vendor immediately understood the situation. He smiled brightly and turned to Zhu Changxuan, the only alpha in the group.
“You have a great eye, miss. This is my finest piece. A perfect gift for your wife.”

Hearing herself called a wife, Han Xuejin’s ears turned slightly red. She brushed a strand of hair from her shoulder, pretending not to care.

Zhu Changxuan did not mind the price. She had more spirit stones than she could ever use.

Still, hearing the word “wife” made her feel a little awkward.
“Ahem. How much?”

The vendor grinned.
“Thirty-eight third-grade spirit stones.”

Without hesitation, Zhu Changxuan pulled out her pouch and poured out the exact amount.

The vendor happily wrapped the hairpin and handed it over.

Zhu Changxuan took the box and handed it to Han Xuejin with a soft smile.
“For you.”

Han Xuejin took it gently and nodded.
“Thank you.”

It was the first proper gift she had ever received from Zhu Changxuan. Though all she could manage was a simple thank you, she silently scolded herself for not expressing how much it meant to her.

Still, her heart felt full.

To Zhu Changxuan, even though Han Xuejin said only two words, she could tell how happy it made her. That alone made it worth it.

Elsewhere, the two demon guards had searched for a while but found no sign of the trio. With no other option, they reported to their superior.

The officer scolded them severely, then issued an emergency wanted notice through the jade transmission system and reported it to the regional commander.

The jade transmission stones were standard across the Demon Realm. Every resident carried one. They could receive urgent messages from anywhere within the realm instantly.

It was part of a new communication system recently introduced in the Demon Realm.

In the marketplace, people began to feel their jade devices vibrating. Many stopped what they were doing to check the message.

The vendor who had just made a sale took out his jade receiver as well. When he saw the portraits in the emergency notice, he froze.

The three wanted people looked exactly like the ones standing right in front of him.

He stared at the image, then at the three women in front of him.

“Eh…?”

Zhu Changxuan and the others noticed something was wrong. Their eyes shifted to the glowing projection from the vendor’s jade stone.

The vendor turned pale. With trembling fingers, he quickly activated the report function on the jade device.
“T-targets… spotted… right in front of me…”

Zhu Changxuan blinked, still stunned.
“Eh…?”

Hua Yue quickly caught on.
“Run!”

Han Xuejin grabbed Zhu Changxuan and pulled her into a sprint as they took off through the market.

Inside the Demon Lord’s palace, a woman dressed in elegant robes of black and crimson sat in her study, reading through scrolls and jade slips.

Her face was cold and beautiful, with a noble presence that demanded respect. This was Han Ying, the Demon Lord.

A fat orange tabby cat had been lounging on her desk. Suddenly, it jerked upright, a strange and familiar sensation rippling through its mind.

This feeling… could it be… her old troublemaker of a contract partner? Hua Yue?

The cat’s golden eyes flicked toward Han Ying, who was still focused and expressionless. The cat decided to stay quiet.

It stretched lazily, jumped down from the desk, and strolled out of the study as if going for a walk.

Han Ying paid no attention. She had always allowed the spirit beast left behind by Hua Yue to roam freely.

Still, something in the air felt strange.

She frowned slightly, unable to shake a sense of restlessness that had lingered since earlier.

Normally, no matter what happened outside, unless it reached her directly, Han Ying would not involve herself.

But this time, she could not stay still. She called out to the steward standing outside.
“What is happening outside?”

The steward, Chuanping, quickly knelt down. He was surprised that the Demon Lord was asking about such matters, but the pressure from her displeasure made sweat bead on his forehead.

He answered in a trembling voice.
“Some intruders have entered the Demon Realm. An emergency jade alert has been issued, and patrols have already been sent after them.”

Han Ying listened. It seemed like a minor issue, but it still left her feeling uneasy.
“Handle it quickly.”

“Yes, my lord.”

As Chuanping rushed out, Han Ying paused her work. Her hand clenched into a fist.

Memories surged within her.

Seventeen years ago, she had suffered severe injuries and gone into seclusion to heal. Only half a year ago had she fully recovered.

She had been calling back her guardians to gather the core forces of the Demon Realm.

She was preparing to eliminate those ancient enemies with her own hands.

She would finally avenge her beloved wife and daughter.

She had been sending people to search for them for seventeen years, but there had never been any trace.

Even Juzi, the orange cat, could not sense Hua Yue’s presence. Either her contract master was too far away, or she was already…

There was a way to test it—by attempting to form a spirit contract with Juzi. If the bond failed, it would mean the original contract holder was still alive. But if it succeeded, it would confirm that the previous master no longer existed.

Han Ying did not dare try.

She would rather lie to herself and believe Hua Yue and their daughter were still alive than face the cruel reality.

Zhu Changxuan, Han Xuejin, and Hua Yue had escaped the chaos of the market and arrived at a quiet garden filled with lush vegetation.

Hua Yue looked around in surprise.
“This place is actually really beautiful. I didn’t expect Han Ying to grow these kinds of plants here in the Demon Realm. A place like this is so dry and barren. Keeping these flowers alive must take a lot of spiritual water.”

Zhu Changxuan nodded and offered an honest opinion.
“It’s really lovely, but it feels a little out of place in the Demon Realm.”

Hua Yue laughed in agreement.
“It really doesn’t match the usual style of this place. That makes it even funnier.”

Han Xuejin said nothing.
She thought, maybe her mother made it look this way for her. Maybe this whole garden was built for her.

Suddenly, an orange cat leapt out from a corner of the garden and pounced at Hua Yue, hissing and clawing.

Its high-pitched voice, sharp like that of an angry servant, shouted,
“Hua Yue, prepare to die! Meow!”

Hua Yue turned with agility, sidestepped, and caught the cat by the scruff of its neck, lifting it into the air.

She smiled with delight.
“Oh my, isn’t this my darling Juzi? You must be so excited to see me that you’re speaking nonsense.”

Juzi twisted and squirmed, but it was no use. Furious, it hissed,
“Let go of me!”

Hua Yue completely ignored his temper, rubbing his back affectionately.
“My sweet little treasure, did you miss me?”

Juzi growled,
“I missed the idea of you being dead. Meow.”

Hua Yue cooed,
“Aww, I missed you too!”

Juzi froze in disbelief.

Zhu Changxuan didn’t seem bothered at all by how fierce the cat was acting. In fact, she found it adorable.

Looking at the orange cat with sparkling eyes, she asked in a gentle tone,
“You’re so cute. May I hold you?”

Han Xuejin, watching her with that warm expression, pressed her lips together slightly.

Hearing Zhu Changxuan call him cute, Juzi’s mood improved a little.

“Hmph, at least someone here has good taste. I suppose I’ll allow you to hold me for a bit. Hey, Hua Yue, let go. Let her hold me.”

Hua Yue shrugged and casually passed the cat over to Zhu Changxuan.

She cradled Juzi like a child, holding him gently while one hand stroked his fur.

Juzi narrowed his eyes with satisfaction.
“Mmm… meow…”

Han Xuejin stood with her arms crossed, watching coldly. She clicked her tongue in annoyance.

Once she had finished petting him, Zhu Changxuan asked,
“Why were you so mean to Hua Yue earlier?”

Before Juzi could respond, Hua Yue chimed in with a grin.
“Oh, hitting means love, and yelling means affection. This is how my little treasure shows me he cares.”

Juzi’s fur bristled. He turned to Zhu Changxuan and complained with teary eyes,
“This woman keeps calling me her treasure, but she’s the one who cut off my two actual treasures. I’m not whole anymore. Sob sob sob.”

Hua Yue rolled her eyes.
“I did it for your own good. After that kind of great pain, your spiritual rank increased more easily.”

Juzi snapped,
“Shut up. There were other ways. You did it on purpose!”

Hua Yue turned her head and looked at a nearby flower, pretending not to hear.
“Wow, what a beautiful peony.”

Juzi grumbled,
“That’s a rose.”

Hua Yue corrected herself without shame.
“Then this rose is very pretty.”

Zhu Changxuan said nothing.

Han Xuejin, for some reason, felt a little more at ease inside.

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