Another Demon Lord

Another Demon

The sky grew dim as dusk arrived.

The soldiers who had been waiting outside the city for a long time finally reached the phoenix carriage of Princess Hongyu.

With over a dozen carriages lined up in front and behind, guarded by a thousand imperial guards, and a procession stretching for miles, the spectacle was truly grand.

Yet, no one would have guessed that inside the carriage of Princess Hongyu sat a man with delicate, feminine features.

If this were known, rumors would surely spread like wildfire.

However, the maids inside the carriage acted as if they could not see this man; they kept their heads bowed and sat quietly, not even daring to breathe loudly.

Chen Ye likely could not have guessed that the very Young Master Jiang he was planning to scheme against was currently sitting in the same carriage as Princess Hongyu.

Princess Hongyu was sixteen years old, possessing exquisite features and skin as white as snow, set off by her gold-threaded red robes. Yet, her eyes were as calm as stagnant water, and her entire being felt hollow, devoid of any vitality.

Jiang Shiyue did not feel he was being offensive; on the contrary, he looked thoroughly displeased.

"Junior Sister, you've been pulling a long face all day—who are you trying to show that expression to?"

Princess Hongyu's eyes shifted slightly, as if regaining a glimmer of life. Hearing the man speak, she replied in a detached tone, "Senior Brother, if you find it unpleasant, you are free to go complain to Master. Besides, you possess the art of flight; there is no need to demean yourself by sitting in a carriage."

Jiang Shiyue let out a cold snort and said with a mocking, sarcastic tone, "Junior Sister, you've lived in luxury since you were a child and know nothing of the hardships others face. Why exert yourself flying when you can ride in a carriage? Don't put on airs in front of me. Not long ago, you were nothing more than a vessel prepared for possession."

"I've spent over a decade raising you, pouring so much effort into you, only to wait for the day of slaughter. It's no different from raising a pig. Do you really think that just because Master relented and took you as a disciple, you are truly my equal? The Yingling Soul-Washing Array might not even be effective. When the time comes, won't Master just swallow your soul in one gulp, leaving you to vanish into nothingness?"

Princess Hongyu's expression remained unchanged as she listened to these threats.

It was true; she was merely a vessel prepared by a cultivator for possession, a fact she had known since she could remember.

Facing Jiang Shiyue's mockery, Princess Hongyu simply replied faintly, "Is Senior Brother hoping that Master fails his breakthrough so that he might possess me instead?"

Jiang Shiyue's expression changed instantly. How could he dare to answer such a question?

If these words reached the ears of his master, he would surely be flayed alive.

He could only grit his teeth and say, "Don't try to sow discord. Once Master succeeds in his breakthrough, you will be of no use. You handled the collection of young boys and girls with such incompetence that I had to clean up your mess."

"Once this matter is settled, I will ask Master to give you to me. Then, I will show you what it truly means to wish you were dead."

Princess Hongyu did not argue; she simply watched him quietly.

Jiang Shiyue felt as if Princess Hongyu's eyes belonged to a dead person. Being stared at by her always made him uneasy, yet he dared not actually lay a hand on her.

Jiang Shiyue's master needed young boys and girls for a sacrifice to help him break through the Tongxuan Realm and ascend to the Spirit Transmutation Realm. Whether he succeeded or failed was uncertain, but if he failed, he would directly possess Princess Hongyu's body.

In other words, Princess Hongyu's body could not suffer the slightest damage; even if she lost a single hair, Jiang Shiyue could not bear the consequences.

Finally, unable to stand it any longer, Jiang Shiyue shifted his form, turning into a wisp of thin mist and flying out of the carriage.

It was simply too infuriating. Jiang Shiyue just wanted to return to Cui County immediately and kill a few people to vent his hatred.

Princess Hongyu then withdrew her gaze, returning to her state of dead, withered silence.

The wheels rolled on, continuing toward Cui County.

From the bumpy dirt road to the hard bluestone pavement, the silent procession outside the carriage became lively, with gongs and drums sounding to make a grand announcement.

For the first time in over a decade, this prosperous land welcomed its true master.

The magistrate of Cui County had been waiting at the city gate for a long time, but he was turned away without even catching a glimpse of Princess Hongyu.

The princess's phoenix carriage headed straight for the opulent mansion, where she claimed to be exhausted from the journey and refused to see any guests.

Although the powerful figures of Cui County had waited in vain for an entire day, no one dared to utter a single word of complaint. After leaving behind generous gifts, they each offered a wish for the princess to take care of her noble health.

Once the crowd dispersed, Princess Hongyu changed into a light, thin robe and sat on the soft bed.

The moonlight outside the window was beautiful, but Princess Hongyu had no heart to appreciate it, until a black shadow swept past and landed in the room.

The visitor's footsteps were light and silent, but as soon as she entered the room, she said impatiently, "Princess, I'm back!"

Lan Shi was as cheerful as ever, hopping and skipping to Princess Hongyu's side.

The withered-wood-like princess finally revealed a faint smile, reaching out to pull Lan Shi into her arms. She untied the mask from Lan Shi's face and carefully plucked the dead leaves from her hair.

There was no telling how far Lan Shi had run across rooftops and trees, leaving her looking disheveled. Yet, Princess Hongyu did not mind that she was dirtying her new clothes, gently tidying up the sister who was only a few years younger than her.

Not until Lan Shi had washed her face did Princess Hongyu ask, "How did it go?"

Lan Shi quickly replied, "Princess, your foresight is divine. The commotion in Cui County was so great that it finally attracted a cultivator. That 'little immortal' rumored in the county recently isn't a fraud; he has real skills. I was almost caught by him."

Princess Hongyu asked with concern, "Were you hurt?"

Lan Shi boasted, "No, no, I'm quick-witted. But that person is truly formidable. It didn't take long for him to realize I was intentionally leading him to clash with Jiang Shiyue's men..."

Lan Shi recounted her meeting with Chen Ye. Princess Hongyu listened carefully, her brows smoothing and furrowing in turn, until Lan Shi mentioned returning to the Hengdao Inn and seeing the message left by the Qinghe Sword Sect. Only then did Princess Hongyu finally heave a sigh of relief.

"The Qinghe Sword Sect... they have finally arrived."

Hearing the change in Princess Hongyu's tone, Lan Shi asked, "Princess, is this Qinghe Sword Sect really that powerful? That young man didn't look very old. Even if he is a cultivator, I fear his cultivation isn't high. Can he really deal with those demons?"

Princess Hongyu shook her head and said, "I don't know, but we cannot just sit here and wait for death."

Although Jiang Shiyue called her Junior Sister, Princess Hongyu knew very little about cultivation; after all, she had previously been nothing more than a vessel for possession. The Qinghe Sword Sect was a name she had only learned after quietly inquiring for a long time; it was rumored to be a very powerful sect of the immortal path.

But just how powerful they were, Princess Hongyu did not know. Still, this was her only hope.

Ever since she could remember, Princess Hongyu knew she had no control over her own fate; that Old Devil used the imperial harem as his personal cultivation ground, siphoning the dynasty's fortune and resources to fuel his practice.

For years, Princess Hongyu had remained cautious and submissive, winning the Old Devil's favor just enough to barely cling to her life.

Now that the Old Devil's lifespan was nearing its end, he would be forced to possess another body to be reborn if he failed to reach the Spirit Transmutation Realm. Taking advantage of his seclusion, Princess Hongyu ordered Cui County to gather young boys and girls. On the surface, it was to collect blood-food for the devil's cultivation, but in secret, she had the magistrate of Cui County operate under the banner of the Qinghe Sword Sect.

She only hoped to lure in so-called righteous cultivators to slay the demon.

However, Princess Hongyu was not at all certain if the Qinghe Sword Sect was capable of such a feat.

Lan Shi brought up Chen Ye and added, "Princess, he left a message at the Hengdao Inn saying he intends to duel Jiang Shiyue in seven days. What should we do?"

Princess Hongyu asked, "Can you still find him now?"

Lan Shi shook her head; Chen Ye had left long ago without leaving any way to contact him, so how could she possibly find him?

"This isn't right. If he didn't leave a way to contact him, why would he have you steal the county office's documents? And how would you get them to him if you did? Furthermore, why did he choose to set the duel for seven days from now? Is there something special about this date and location?"

Lan Shi shook her head again; how could she possibly guess what Chen Ye was thinking?

Princess Hongyu pondered for a long time before asking, "When you returned to the inn, did you not see those martial artists he had injured? You didn't see their corpses either?"

"None at all. I didn't see a single one. Jiang Shiyue's men and the inn's staff were all gone, and there wasn't even a body to be found. Could he have taken them all prisoner?"

"Even if he were taking hostages, why would he need to drag away over a dozen people? Neither hide nor hair, dead or alive... this cultivator from the Qinghe Sword Sect..." Princess Hongyu couldn't help but clench her fists, her voice trembling as she said, "I fear he is also a devil who kills to refine corpses."