Chapter 65: Conditions

A day passed uneventfully.

It went by in peace.

On the third morning, Hong Yanzhi went to greet her father, Hong Lao San, and was kept behind for a while to talk.

Lin Xue stood at the door with Yuan Ding and Yuan Bao, waiting for her to come out.

Bored out of her mind, Lin Xue gazed at the patterns made by moss on the walls of the cave passage.

She wondered to herself how Zhang Zongnian was doing in the Ku Fang yesterday—whether he had a place to stay, what he was eating, and if he had gotten into any trouble with the other little demons.

She wanted to go visit him, but the thought of Young Master Huzi made her give up on the idea.

It was better to stay close to Hong Yanzhi.

She figured when Yang San Hu came to report to Hong Yanzhi, she could ask that old goat about Zhang Zongnian’s situation.

She was deep in thought when, all of a sudden, a plump figure she least wanted to see appeared in her view.

Tigerzi had come with his followers to greet Hong Lao San.

Lin Xue was startled, a cold chill running down her back.

She wanted to avoid Tigerzi, but the passage was completely open, with nowhere to hide.

She could only stand her ground and force herself to remain calm.

Tigerzi spotted Lin Xue and paused, then licked his lips, an evil grin spreading across his chubby face.

He walked over, eyeing Lin Xue with great interest, drawing near—his catlike eyes boldly roaming her beautiful features.

He was so close he was almost touching her.

Lin Xue got goosebumps all over, cold sweat breaking out on her back as she instinctively tried to edge away.

She took a step back, and Tigerzi moved a step closer.

Lin Xue’s back pressed against the cave wall; she had nowhere left to go.

Tigerzi’s round face was nearly touching hers.

He reached out, pressing both hands on the cave wall, boxing her in, his breath hot against her face.

Lin Xue suppressed the urge to kick him in the groin, casting a pleading glance toward Yuan Ding and Yuan Bao.

Hong Yanzhi had said that with them around, Tigerzi wouldn’t dare go too far.

Yuan Ding and Yuan Bao exchanged a glance, then both bowed and loudly declared in unison, “Greetings, Shao Ye!”

From inside the cave room, Hong Lao San’s voice rang out: “Is that my son, Tigerzi? Come in quickly!”

Tigerzi paused.

Seizing the chance, Lin Xue bent down and slipped deftly under his arm, darting ten paces away in an instant.

She was still rattled, anger flashing across her face as she glared at Tigerzi.

That bastard, she had almost been kissed by that beast.

Disgusting beyond belief.

Tigerzi’s face was filled with a playful look.

He pointed at Lin Xue, licked his lips, then mouthed a silent sentence before turning and heading into Hong Lao San’s cave room.

Lin Xue was seething.

By reading his lips, she recognized what he had said: “So, sooner or later, you’ll be mine.”

She clenched her fists, a surge of killing intent rising within her.

She’d been targeted by this Demon King.

For the next twenty-some days, would she have to be on edge every single day, constantly guarding against him?

It would be best to strike first and get rid of him!

But she was currently Hong Yanzhi’s personal maid, lacking freedom and unable to act as she pleased.

Besides, her current cultivation level wasn’t enough to instantly kill Tigerzi, who was in the late Body Tempering stage.

And Tigerzi was the beloved son of Hong Lao San and younger brother of Hong Yanzhi.

When Tian Shiqi stabbed him, the entire Rat Demon clan lost their heads.

If she were to kill him, Hong Lao San and Hong Yanzhi would surely be enraged.

How could she kill him without leaving a trace?

Lin Xue thought and thought, but couldn’t come up with a solution—her head just hurt.

After Tigerzi went in, Hong Yanzhi came out, looking very upset.

She’d been pressed about marriage again by her father.

Seeing Hong Yanzhi’s puffed cheeks and vexed face, Lin Xue, Yuan Ding, and Yuan Bao dared not touch her sore spot and said nothing about Young Master Huzi’s earlier behavior, quietly following her back to her room.

Days passed by.

In the blink of an eye, Lin Xue had spent seven days as a maid in Luoyun Cave.

These days, life was still relatively stable for Lin Xue.

Though Hong Yanzhi used her as a maid and often scolded her for being clumsy, she didn’t make things too hard for her.

Occasionally, when going out with Hong Yanzhi, Lin Xue would run into Tigerzi a few more times.

Each time, Tigerzi would lick his lips and squint at her, as if looking at prey, his eyes full of naked desire that made Lin Xue feel deeply uncomfortable.

Still, she’d stayed by Hong Yanzhi’s side these past few days and never gave Tigerzi a chance to make a move.

Several nights, she’d had nightmares—dreams of falling into Tigerzi’s clutches.

Every time, she’d wake up in a cold sweat.

Her urge to kill Tigerzi grew stronger and stronger.

Over these days, Lin Xue wanted to check in on Zhang Zongnian, but always held back for fear of running into Tigerzi.

Fortunately, when Ku Fang’s manager Yang San Hu came to report, Hong Yanzhi asked about Zhang Zongnian, and Yang San Hu praised him highly.

From his words, Lin Xue learned that Zhang Zongnian was currently living in a Single Occupancy Quarters in the warehouse, sharing meals and living peacefully with other little demons. Lin Xue was relieved.

On the eighth day, at dawn.

After speaking with her father, Hong Yanzhi looked troubled and, taking Lin Xue, along with Yuan Ding and Yuan Bao, mounted a cloud and flew out of the cave.

She landed on a scenic mountaintop, closed her eyes, and sat down on a stone, as if waiting for someone.

Lin Xue was curious, wondering who she was waiting for.

Before long, two dark clouds arrived one after the other and landed.

Lin Xue looked up and saw it was Lang Buping and Xiong Ba.

“Yanzhi, it’s only been a few days and you’ve gotten even more beautiful,” Lang Buping said, fanning himself with a folding fan, smiling at Hong Yanzhi.

“For me, not seeing you for a day feels like three years. I’ve missed you so much these days I can’t eat or sleep, my belt’s even gotten looser.”

Xiong Ba shoved him aside with one arm, glaring with his bear eyes. “You yellow weasel, what’s with all this sour talk?”

He turned his head, his dark bear face grinning widely as he looked at Hong Yanzhi and said, “Yanzhi, you said you wanted to discuss the Marriage Agreement, so I flew over the moment I heard. Sister, just tell me—when are we getting married? I’ll do whatever you say!”

Lang Buping was furious. “You silly bear, Yanzhi called us both here to talk about the Marriage Agreement. Who said she’s marrying you? If she’s marrying anyone, it’s me, Lang Buping!”

A flicker of disdain and annoyance flashed across Hong Yanzhi’s face. She said coldly, “Both of you, stop fighting. I called you here to tell you the conditions for marrying me. Whoever agrees, I’ll marry.”

Lang Buping and Xiong Ba both beamed, saying in unison, “Sister, please tell us!”

Hong Yanzhi didn’t even look at them. Gazing at the sky, she stated all at once,

“I will not marry out. If you want to marry me, you must join my Xixia Mountain household. The full Betrothal Gift must be given— not a single Spiritual Herb less. Whether or not we have children is up to me. Even if we do, the child will take my surname, Hong.”

“Which of you agrees?”