"Couldn't you tell? That fiend is sinister and cunning. He was obviously pretending to be injured to lure someone into murderous intent, then strike them down without mercy."
"A devious trick like that could only fool a silly girl like you. Trying to fool me? Not a chance. After all, this Princess Consort is as sharp as a monkey."
"Do you understand?"
She spoke with righteous conviction, looking impassioned and resolute.
The little maid had no choice but to nod.
But she still asked cautiously.
"Then if the fiend really is injured, will you invite him over again tonight and assassinate him, Princess Consort?"
"Yes! Of course I will! It's just... I really am weak tonight. Give me a few days, and I'll kill him for certain."
"And after you kill him? What do you plan to do then, Princess Consort?"
The little maid spoke softly.
"..."
The Princess Consort froze, instantly falling silent.
The first round of recommendations starts tonight. Dear readers, please keep reading-I have no way left to retreat!!!
Chapter 34: Unleashing His Demonic Claws
"..."
Inside the Parasol Tree Courtyard, the Princess Consort sat there in a daze.
Her expression was blank.
She looked somewhat flustered, bewildered, and at a loss.
Watching her, Ling'er let out a quiet sigh. She had known that her Princess Consort's heart had begun to stir a little.
After hesitating for a long time, she spoke, her eyes full of aching sympathy.
"Princess Consort, we're actually living quite well in the Parasol Tree Courtyard. We were ostracized at the Southern Pacifying King's Residence anyway, and you shed tears every day."
"Our lives have been a little impoverished these past three years, but being able to stay by your side has made me truly happy."
"The fiend hasn't tortured us anyway. Why don't we stop opposing him and pretend the past never happened? Would that be all right?"
"Never happened?"
The Princess Consort's eyes lit up, a brilliant radiance blooming within them.
But that radiance soon dimmed.
Like shattered stars.
In its place came endless bitterness and desolation.
"How could I pretend it never happened?"
"The dignified Princess Consort of the Southern Pacifying King was abducted to the Demon Cult and became the laughingstock of the entire world. Who knows what rumors people outside are spreading about me now? Can I pretend that never happened?"
"What's more, in trying to kill that fiend these past few days, I've all but lost every shred of my chastity, deliberately seducing him and bending myself to please him."
"If I give up now, won't I truly become a wanton woman, a seductive vixen?"
She smiled bitterly and gathered herself. Her breathtakingly beautiful face became cold and distant, and her gaze grew resolute.
"So I will kill him. I certainly will, and I must."
"And after you kill him?"
The little maid asked the same question again.
The Princess Consort smiled.
Already beautiful enough to topple cities and kingdoms, she now wore a smile so radiant and proud.
She simply raised her head, looked out the window, and said firmly.
"I am the Princess Consort of the Southern Pacifying King. Naturally, I will shoulder my responsibilities. I'll live as I did before. At worst... I'll become a fish in stagnant water again, won't I?"
The waning sunlight fell through the window onto the Princess Consort's face.
It lent her exquisite features a faint air of sorrow and loneliness.
Then a hand clasped hers.
The little maid tilted her head up and smiled with reddened eyes.
"No matter when, I'll stay by your side, Princess Consort. Forever and ever..."
Outside the Demon Venerable Pavilion.
Ye Qinghong stood at the entrance, silent for a long time, before finally stepping inside.
The floor of the great hall was paved entirely with polished mountain stone.
It came in a multitude of colors.
He wore cloth shoes with thick, layered soles, his azure robes fluttering.
He deliberately chose the familiar path paved with blue stone slabs. His figure flickered, and before long, he reached the interior of the great hall.
He arrived at the foot of the nine jade steps.
The doors of the Demon Venerable Pavilion had long since closed.
Inside the hall, candlelight flickered.
Upon that enormous, magnificent throne.
A figure sat calmly.
Darkness shrouded the surroundings, emanating currents of an unfathomably mysterious aura.
It was like an abyss that even Ye Qinghong, despite being in the great grandmaster realm, could not see through.
Ordinarily, when facing his master, his glazed sword heart could function normally no matter how afraid he was.
But the instant he saw Fang Yang now, his inner demons surged into his heart.
The shameful scenes from the past few nights flashed wildly through his mind.
They sent ripples through his gaze.
He bit his lip tightly.
Only after a fierce inner struggle did those images gradually fade. His glazed sword heart, which had been on the verge of collapse, finally returned to normal, no longer churning as violently as before.
"Master!"
He spoke in a cool voice and bowed slightly to the figure in greeting.
Seated on the throne, Fang Yang gazed at this disciple brimming with sharpness, his expression solemn.
[The dim hall, the flickering candlelight, and this throne at just the right height make the perfect setting for certain indescribable acts. When the time comes, you must make him call you Master...]
The narrator, silent for several days, spoke up again.
It turned the tense atmosphere awkward.
Fang Yang coughed a few times, his face expressionless.
Then he raised his hand, and an azure sword flew from his palm.
It traced an elegant arc through the air and landed precisely in Ye Qinghong's hand.
This sword was none other than the Azure Shadow Sword.
It was the sword Ye Qinghong had cultivated with his very life and soul.
After more than a decade of tempering, it had long since developed a sword spirit and was exceptionally attuned to his soul.
He would never allow anyone else to defile or taint it.
Ye Qinghong had thought that when he retrieved the Azure Shadow Sword, it would surely feel deeply aggrieved and might even complain to him.
Just as before, whenever it suffered a grievance, it would always seek him out to snuggle and nuzzle against him.
But this time, the instant the Azure Shadow Sword reached his hand, he sensed something was wrong, because it was actually trying to break free.
Moreover, it kept struggling, seemingly resentful and unwilling.
It wanted to return to Fang Yang's hand.
Ye Qinghong froze, somewhat bewildered and incredulous.
Thinking the Azure Shadow Sword had been overwhelmed into a daze, he gently soothed it, only for it to struggle even harder.
Bzz! Bzz! Bzz!
It vibrated incessantly.
It was about to escape his control.
Ye Qinghong's brows knitted tightly, and his gaze gradually turned cold. Without the slightest hesitation, he flicked a finger directly against the blade.
Sword Qi rippled!
Waves of frigid aura radiated from his body, cold enough to pierce the bones. Layers of frost formed across the floor.
It was ample proof of the anger in his heart.
Under the suppression of this terrifying aura.
The Azure Shadow Sword, which had been struggling fiercely, instantly became obedient and stopped thrashing as it had before.
Instead, like a child, it rose from his palm and gently nuzzled his face.
It was all flattery and fawning.
Even so, Ye Qinghong could not be bothered with this lazy scoundrel.
With a flick of his finger, sword light rose. Under the control of his glazed sword heart, the Azure Shadow Sword instantly shot into the sheath on his back.
It let out a series of buzzing hums, seemingly still gazing toward Fang Yang, reluctant to part with him.
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