Lin Xue entered the main hall.
In the end, she had still decided to come and meet Hong Yanzhi, to see what she had to say.
Eight mouse demons followed behind her, not letting her out of their sight for a single step.
Outside Hong Yanzhi’s cubicle, the long line of demons waiting their turn remained as before.
Seeing Lin Xue arrive, the lesser demons all knew she was already spoken for, reserved by Shu Er.
None dared look at her with those bold, burning eyes as before; instead, each one lowered their head, dropped to their knees, and kowtowed, “Greetings, Future Second Madam.”
When Lin Xue heard the words “Future Second Madam,” her eye twitched uncontrollably.
She ignored the little demons and walked straight into the cubicle.
The eight mouse demons followed close behind.
A Donkey Demon was hard at work with heavy breathing.
Lin Xue cleared her throat and coughed.
The Donkey Demon turned his head, startled, hurriedly stopped his movement, slipped off the bed and kowtowed, opening his mouth to say, “This lowly one greets the Future Second Madam!”
Lin Xue said coldly, “You, get out.”
The Donkey Demon looked extremely reluctant.
He had waited a long time for his turn and had barely begun to enjoy himself.
Now that he was being driven out, who knew how long it would be before he could line up again.
But, seeing the team of guards behind Lin Xue, he didn’t dare say anything, and obediently left the room.
Lin Xue then ordered the mouse demons that had come in with her, “You all, go outside and stand guard.”
The lead mouse demon hesitated.
Shu Er had instructed them to guard Lin Xue closely, never letting her out of their sight, and to supervise her movements at all times—she was not to leave Luoyun Cave.
He was unwilling to let Lin Xue out of his sight.
Lin Xue said coldly, “There’s no other exit in this room. What, do you think I’ll suddenly sprout wings and fly off? What are you so worried about? Go guard outside and don’t let anyone come in!”
The lead mouse demon glanced around—the room did indeed have only one door. Shu Er had only told him to watch Lin Xue’s whereabouts, not to eavesdrop on her conversations with others.
So he led his subordinates out.
Lin Xue closed the door.
Inside, the air was thick with the scent of osmanthus flowers.
Lin Xue waved a hand in front of her nose, then turned to look at Hong Yanzhi, who lay on the bed, weak and haggard.
She couldn’t help but sigh—demons really were resilient.
For Hong Yanzhi to have endured such a miserable ordeal, unable to rest day or night for more than half a month, and still be alive—her vitality was truly astonishing.
If it had been an ordinary human woman, she would have long since died from exhaustion.
But even with Hong Yanzhi’s tenacity, if this continued, she would eventually die here from sheer exhaustion.
Shu Da really was ruthless, using such a method to exact revenge on Hong Yanzhi. It was not only deeply harmful, but also highly humiliating.
Lin Xue silently reminded herself to be careful—not to provoke that petty, vengeful rat.
Hong Yanzhi heard Lin Xue’s voice and opened her eyes to look at her. In an instant, her gaze changed—it was as if a drowning person had caught sight of a lifeline.
Lin Xue found it hard to bear such a look.
After all, she had no intention of saving her, and couldn’t stand Hong Yanzhi looking at her with those pleading eyes.
She looked away, avoiding Hong Yanzhi’s gaze, sighed, and asked, “Demon Princess, is there something you wanted to tell me?”
Hong Yanzhi pleaded urgently, “Xue’er Girl, please save me! Right now in this cave, only you can help me. For the sake of the time I saved you and your brother from that Foundation Establishment Cultivator of the Yang Family, please help me!”
So she really is begging for help.
Lin Xue sighed, “Demon Princess, it’s true you once saved my brother and me, but I also cured your father’s poison. According to our agreement, we’re even now.”
“Besides, I’m nothing more than a prisoner in this cave myself. There’s nothing I can do. If all you want is my help, I’m sorry to disappoint you. You’d best look for someone else.”
If it weren’t for you acting so shameless and refusing to let us go back then, Zhang Zongnian and I would’ve left this cursed place long ago, and none of this mess would’ve happened!
Zhang Zongnian was beaten half to death and still hasn’t woken up. And I’m stuck in this wretched cave, playing the so-called ‘Future Second Madam,’ waiting to be married off to a rat.
Besides, I killed your brother—we’re enemies. I’d have to be crazy to help you!
But Hong Yanzhi wouldn’t give up, pleading, “You can save me, you can! Xue’er Girl, I overheard the guards outside talking. They said Shu Da gave orders that he’s going into seclusion for now. Shu Er is in charge! Shu Er likes you—he’ll listen to you! If you just speak up, he’ll let me go!”
“Xue’er Girl, I’m not lying to you. There’s a big trouble coming soon to Luoyun Cave, one that’s especially bad for you. If you save me, I’ll tell you how to avoid it—you’ll be spared from disaster.”
Lin Xue saw her expression, and it didn’t seem fake, which left her puzzled.
Besides being forced to marry Shu Er, what other trouble could be waiting for me in this cave?
She didn’t know whether Hong Yanzhi was just trying to scare her. That was the reason she’d come—to hear her out and judge if it was true.
Her face turned cold. “What trouble? At least let me hear it, so I can judge if you’re trying to fool me.”
Hong Yanzhi saw Lin Xue was willing to talk and let out a breath of relief.
She said, “Xue’er Girl, do you know that Xixia Mountain is under the rule of Hei Pi Yao Wang from Erlong Mountain?”
She proceeded to tell Lin Xue that Hei Pi Yao Wang’s life was nearing its end. Somehow, he had found a Shuangxiu Huanyang Xuming Zhi Shu, and under the pretext of Demon Consort Selection, was searching all the mountains under his rule for Transformation female demons at the late stage of Body Tempering to serve as Luding and replenish his life force.
She also told Lin Xue that this year, Xixia Mountain had to send up ten late-stage Body Tempering female Transformation demons, but there were far too few that met the requirements.
To please Zong Biao Yao Jiang, who was coming soon to inspect the candidates, her father Hong Lao San had ordered her to detain Lin Xue, whose cultivation was at mid-stage Body Tempering, planning to offer her as a gift to the Zong Biao Yao Jiang, who liked snake demons.
Lin Xue’s heart burned with fury when she heard this.
No wonder that father-daughter pair refused to let her go before—they had planned to use her as a plaything for that damn demon general.
Truly, the kind are bullied, and the docile are ridden like a horse!
If your strength is weak, in others’ eyes you’re nothing but cargo to be given away at their whim, without a thought to your own wishes.
Hong Yanzhi said to Lin Xue, “Xue’er Girl, it was foolish of me at the time. I listened to my father and kept you here. That was my fault, and I sincerely apologize.”
“That Zong Biao Yao Jiang is arriving soon. Shu Da and Shu Er don’t know about the Demon Consort Selection. When he arrives, Zong Biao Yao Jiang will demand that all the female demons of the mountain be gathered, so he can inspect them one by one.”
“Zong Biao Yao Jiang is extremely lecherous, especially fond of snake demons. His methods are perverse—his concubines are often tortured to the point of death.”
“Female demons at the late stage of Body Tempering must be offered to Hei Pi Yao Wang, so he won’t dare touch them. But you, Xue’er Girl, are only at the mid-stage Body Tempering. You’ll definitely be taken by him as a plaything and be subjected to all kinds of torment.”
“Shu Da has just advanced to a greater demon and needs Hei Pi Yao Wang’s favor. Zong Biao Yao Jiang is the Demon King’s most trusted kin—Shu Da wouldn’t dare offend him. Shu Er is just a minor demon and won’t dare stand up for you.”
“So if you fall into Zong Biao Yao Jiang’s hands, you’ll suffer a fate worse than death.”
“I know a way to rapidly advance your cultivation. If you save me, Xue’er Girl, I’ll tell you the method so you can reach the late stage of Body Tempering quickly and avoid Zong Biao Yao Jiang’s abuse.”
“Then, if you quickly marry Shu Er, you’ll avoid being selected as a Luding demon consort.”
“After all, it’s officially a Demon Consort Selection for the Demon King. Zong Biao Yao Jiang wouldn’t go so far as to break up an already married couple.”
After she finished, Hong Yanzhi looked at Lin Xue expectantly.
After half a month of torment, her body and spirit had been gravely wounded, her cultivation falling from Demon Core Condensation to late-stage Body Tempering, so she couldn’t see through Lin Xue’s current level.
She still thought Lin Xue was at the same point as half a month ago, on the verge of mid-stage Body Tempering.
Lin Xue let out a long breath and shattered her hope with one sentence, “I’m already at the late stage of Body Tempering. Demon Princess, your rapid advancement method is useless to me. You’d better keep it for yourself.”
To avoid shocking Hong Yanzhi, she didn’t mention that she’d already reached the peak of Body Tempering.
Hong Yanzhi was stunned.
She couldn’t believe Lin Xue had managed to leap from barely reaching mid-stage to late-stage Body Tempering in such a short time.
Lin Xue steeled her heart and turned to leave.
As for the Demon Consort Selection by Zong Biao Yao Jiang, she didn’t see it as a threat to herself.
In just a few days, the teleportation spell on her ring would be usable again.
At worst, she’d just run away.
They could pick whoever they wanted for the demon consort—it had nothing to do with her.
Since she didn’t need Hong Yanzhi’s rapid advancement method, there was no need to trade her freedom for it.
Lin Xue prepared to end the conversation.
Seeing Lin Xue about to leave, Hong Yanzhi quickly called out, “Xue’er Girl, please wait! I still have something to say!”
Lin Xue paused and turned to look at her.
Hong Yanzhi bit her lip and said, “I know of a place where there’s an opportunity to ascend to Jiedan Demon King! If you save me, I’ll tell you where it is!”
Lin Xue was taken aback.
Ascend to Jiedan Demon King?
Could it be true?