Chapter 87 The Master of Ziyang Sect (Two Chapters Combined) Their home...

With Shen Zhou's help, Hua Deng quickly mastered the correct way to use the Lie Tian Sword.

This immortal sword, personally forged by Shen Zhou, is not only indestructible and capable of cleaving mountains and splitting seas, but also, through Shen Zhou's many reincarnations, possesses the ability to sever space and time.

As long as she has a place in her mind, she can create a spatial gap with a single swing of her sword, and no one can stop her.

She was in the Nascent Soul stage and couldn't yet achieve the ability to transform her thoughts into spirits and move freely. But with this sword, she could travel freely between heaven and earth, as freely as she wanted.

The lanterns were immediately put on a great show.

Looking at the map of Kyushu, she wanted to go to the snowy northern plains to see the glaciers, so she swung her sword; she wanted to go to the South China Sea to see the sunrise, so she swung her sword again.

Shen Zhou gave her the sword completely, letting her play with it as she pleased.

The bond of souls allows both parties to sense each other's location, making it even easier for Hua Deng to find him. With a wave of her sword, Lie Tian will bring her to his side.

Several times, she would suddenly appear behind Shen Zhou to scare him.

Unfortunately, he was never frightened, as if he had already anticipated her arrival.

Besides cultivating, Hua Deng spends her days shopping with Su Yiqing, while Shen Zhou is usually quite busy. Sometimes when she pops out, she sees Shen Zhou talking to Jin Ze and giving him instructions.

Jinze was initially alarmed, but later became numb to it and was able to ignore her. When Shen Zhou put his arm around her waist and asked her what she wanted to eat, she consciously turned her back.

On several occasions, the streetlights happened to illuminate the scene of a murder during the dead of night.

These days, more people want to kill him, including not only the Immortal Alliance but also some forces she can't distinguish. However, Shen Zhou always maintains a nonchalant demeanor, clearly not taking them seriously.

When she appeared, Shen Zhou would burn all the corpses to ashes. The scene was very quiet. Amid the crackling of the flames, he approached her, his clothes spotless.

Then he took her hand and led her back to Duanyun Palace. They made this place their home, and Shenzhou would say to her, "Let's go home."

Every time Hua Deng sees a corpse engulfed in flames, he can't help but wonder if he was like this all those years ago? Endless killing, ceaseless battle.

No wonder he looked so irritable ten thousand years ago. Besides the side effects of cultivating demonic arts, he probably also had a violent aura from being bathed in blood every day.

In her spare time, she took out the original novel and flipped through it, wondering if she should do a few more missions. If possible, she wanted to stay with him for a few more years.

After all, one person cannot form a family.

However, after waiting and waiting, the system did not issue any new tasks. When Hua Deng asked, it said, "It's not time yet."

Hua Deng was sunbathing on a wicker chair when she heard this. She said "oh," turned over, put on her eye mask, and took a nice afternoon nap.

Su Yiqing couldn't meet up today; apparently, she went to a brothel to look at handsome men and was caught red-handed by Yun Mingyu. Yun Mingyu cried all day, and Su Yiqing had to stay home to write a self-criticism.

As for Pei Jianming, this simpleton was so scared of being beaten by Shen Zhou that he didn't dare go out with her alone, so he gave up on that idea as well.

Hua Deng took a nap, and when she woke up, Chen Zhou hadn't returned yet. Pillow was starving and needed to be fed. She fed it a few pieces of meat, patted Lie Tian, ​​and said, "Come on, take me to find your father."

Lie Tian leaped into the air, cleaving open a crevice, and Hua Deng stepped inside.

She stepped out, and suddenly lost her footing. She froze for a moment, then fell into the water with a splash.

The water was icy cold, and even Hua Deng, with her Nascent Soul stage cultivation, couldn't withstand it. She hugged her arms tightly, her teeth chattering, while Shen Zhou watched leisurely, showing no intention of helping.

He looked as if he had been soaking in the water for a long time; his thin clothes clung tightly to his skin. He leaned against the pool wall, lazily propping himself up on his arms, his wet hair tossed behind him, making his wet eyebrows and eyes appear particularly striking. If the pool water weren't so cold, Hua Deng would have been happy to admire him a little longer.

Of course, she still admired him for a moment, her gaze lingering along his neck to his chest.

Shen Zhou swam over like a water ghost, raised an eyebrow and said, "I taught you how to use a sword, and you use it for this kind of thing?"

Hua Deng retorted confidently, "How would I know you were taking a bath? Don't pull me, let me out, it's too cold in here."

Shen Zhou calmly hooked his little finger around hers: "You've already seen it, do you really think you can just run away like this?"

Hua Deng closed his eyes: "I didn't see anything, don't slander me! ...Why did you take off my clothes? You pervert!"

Soon the streetlights were no longer cold; in fact, they became ridiculously hot.

He transferred his heat to her through kisses and touch; even though the pool water was still so cold, she felt burning hot all over.

Hua Deng swore that from now on, before using the Lie Tian Sword, he would definitely find out what the other person was doing!

When it was over, Hua Deng lay weakly in his arms and pinched him angrily. He was like a big cat that had rolled over, not angry at being pinched, and even rubbed her fingertips in return.

The streetlights dimmed for a moment, as if remembering something, and turned his shoulders to check him from side to side.

"Are you really alright?" she asked, her brows furrowed and her expression serious.

Shen Zhou gave her a deep look, then lifted her by the waist with one hand and said, "I thought you meant you didn't want to stop just now, but since that's the case..."

Hua Deng's serious expression vanished instantly: "That's not what I meant! Let go of me!"

She quickly broke free and carefully looked Shen Zhou up and down to make sure he was unharmed before asking in confusion, "Why are you soaking in the cold pool so late at night if you have nothing to do?"

Shen Zhou remained expressionless: "It's hot."

Hua Deng: "..." I don't believe you for a second!

Shen Zhou said, "This place can increase one's cultivation level; I used to do it too."

Hua Deng: "I don't believe it."

Shen Zhou raised his chin and said with a smile, "Then you can examine it more thoroughly."

That's not necessary.

Seeing that things were about to take a turn for the worse, Hua Deng quickly put on her clothes and went ashore, walking out without looking back: "I'm hungry, I'm going out to eat something."

It was that familiar black iron gate. Hua Deng pushed it, but it wouldn't budge. Then a hand reached out from behind and gently pushed, and the gate opened.

As the streetlights turned back, Chen Zhou was already dressed, his hair dried, and he was holding a hairband in his mouth to tie it up. He said to her, "Let's go. Didn't you say this morning you wanted to eat Yangzhou cuisine?"

Hua Deng nodded, but didn't leave immediately. Instead, she went out of Fuxian Palace, looked at the majestic palace walls around her, and asked him, "What exactly is this place?"

Shen Zhou said, "Didn't I tell you?"

Hua Deng said, "No."

Of course, she forgot to ask.

Shen Zhou said, "It's called Ziyang Palace."

"Ziyang Palace?"

Hua Deng paused for a moment.

"Ziyang Palace?!"

That branch of the Ziyang Sect, the demonic sect to which Feng Chi, one of the male protagonists in the book, belongs!

Shen Zhou glanced at her sideways, not expecting such a strong reaction from her.

Hua Deng grabbed him and asked, "What about Feng Chi? What about the leader of the Demonic Sect?"

Shen Zhou's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly, and he said, "I killed him."

"when?"

Four years ago.

Hua Deng was taken aback, and after a long while asked, "Who is the current leader?"

Shen Zhou grasped her hand in return, feeling the temperature of her hand cool down, and said thoughtfully, "There is no leader."

Hua Deng sighed inwardly.

Oh no, this is terrible! How much of my lifespan will be lost?!

Seeing that she looked unwell, Shen Zhou asked, "Are you bothered by this?"

Still reeling from the shock of the lights, Hua Deng subconsciously replied, "A little."

"Do you need someone to be the leader? Or do you want to be the leader yourself?"

Hua Deng should have said "no," but perhaps because she had just been provoked, she blurted out that classic line: "It doesn't matter who the leader is, I just want to be the leader's wife."

Realizing his mistake after speaking, he forced himself to look up and, sure enough, met Shen Zhou's ambiguous gaze.

"The leader's wife?" he asked clearly.

Hua Deng: "..."

Hua Deng: "Just pretend I didn't say anything!"

Clearly, Shen Zhou couldn't possibly pretend she hadn't said anything.

The next day, Hua Deng woke up without even having time for her daily morning meditation. She was dragged out by Chen Zhou while still clutching her pillow.

She was still half asleep when she saw a huge crowd and realized something was wrong. Then she saw them bowing their heads and knelt down, shouting things like "Master" and "Madam".

Hua Deng put down her hand, which was still rubbing her eyes, and wondered if she was dreaming.

Shen Zhou led her through the crowd and asked with a smile, "Are you satisfied, Madam?"

"You've really become the cult leader?" Hua Deng hugged her pillow tighter. "Didn't you say you didn't want to be one?"

She could understand why he didn't become the leader. In his first life, he became the leader and conquered the entire demonic sect, but eventually became increasingly insane. He never repeated the same mistake.

However, at this moment, Shen Zhou seemed to have completely forgotten what had happened. He picked up a pillow and said casually, "I can't just give you up to someone else to be my wife."

Hua Deng: "...I already said it was a joke!"

To be honest, Hua Deng was a little worried about Shen Zhou becoming the leader.

After all, the cult leader's busy schedule means that they will have less time to spend together.

But she soon realized that this was completely unnecessary worry. Because Shen Zhou's position as the sect leader was practically no different from not being the leader at all.

Internal affairs are handled by Jinze, while external affairs are handled by the Left Protector. Anyone who dares to disobey is killed on the spot, which is swift, ruthless, and precise, and there is no question of wasting time.

Thus began a life of running between Duanyun Palace and Ziyang Palace, illuminated by bright lights.

Presumably because he saw that she quite liked Ziyang Palace, Shen Zhou specially ordered people to renovate Ziyang Palace.

Although the original Ziyang Palace was luxurious, it was somewhat gloomy. After the renovation, it was completely transformed, and everything was done in the style that Hua Deng liked. She gradually spent more time here than in Duanyun Palace.

Besides them, Ziyang Palace also had some demonic cultivators under Shen Zhou's command. However, those people trembled at the sight of Shen Zhou and almost never took the initiative to disturb him.

Hua Deng usually had little contact with them. When she occasionally encountered someone, they would just hurry past with their heads down, at most exchanging a greeting. As a result, she often felt that the entire Ziyang Palace was like a simulation game, surrounded by NPCs.

Only the wife of the Left Protector would occasionally bring her some local specialties to visit her.

The Left Protector's wife is named Mo Xiao, and she has a daughter who is just two years old. Mo Xiao herself is quite old, Hua Deng guesses she is over five hundred years old.

When he couldn't get a chance to meet Su Yiqing, Hua Deng would often visit her residence, usually bringing melon seeds and listening to her tell all sorts of gossip about the Demonic Sect.

Aside from Shen Zhou's matter, which Mo Xiao dared not speak of, she knew everything else perfectly well, and she always reaped a great harvest every time the lanterns were lit.

She even knew about Su Yiqing and Yun Mingyu's affair, and said, "Young people these days really know how to have fun. Why didn't I have this kind of passion back then?"

Hua Deng really wants to say that it's understandable that normal people can't compare to the protagonists in sweet romance novels.

Mentioning Jinze, Mo Xiao said, "That child is pitiful. His mother was a mortal who was forcibly taken to the harem by Feng Chi, and later gave birth to Jinze. But Feng Chi treated them badly. Jinze was only twelve years old when his mother was tortured to death. In a fit of anger, the child picked up a sword and tried to kill his father, but his father imprisoned him in the Thunder Suppression Tower for ten years. Without the sect leader, he would never have been able to get out."

Hua Deng was somewhat surprised, not expecting the whole story to be like this. She had thought Jin Ze was just a simple brat.

Mo Xiao said, "So, whether it's that child or us, we all genuinely respect the Sect Leader and you, Madam."

When the leader first appointed her husband as the Left Protector, she was actually not very at ease. After all, although Fengchi was licentious, there were still traces to follow, but this man was truly unpredictable.

Moreover, his strength far surpassed that of Feng Chi, and he could easily control the entire Ziyang Palace. No one even knew that Feng Chi was dead; everyone thought that Feng Chi was in seclusion recuperating from his injuries.

But soon, Mo Xiao stopped worrying about her husband's safety. She discovered that Shen Zhou wasn't keen on killing, and as long as his subordinates didn't harbor any disloyalty, he could tolerate some of their mistakes.

Rather than cruelty, it's more accurate to say he was weary, not only weary of the conflicts, but also weary of himself.

This boredom ended one day when, for the first time ever, she asked her husband where the best pastries were.

Her husband's face contorted with shock, but he managed to remain calm as he replied, "Li's, right...?"

That day, the cult leader personally bought Li's pastries, carefully preserved them, and took them with him when he left.

Her husband came home and told her about it, and she confidently declared, "That prince must have someone he loves!"

Her husband shook his head vehemently, saying it was impossible; he had never seen Yama, the King of Hell, have worldly desires.

She scoffed and declared, "Just you wait and see. If I'm right, you won't get any allowance for the next three years!"

As it turned out, she was right; she won her husband's allowance for the next three years, even though the money was originally in her hands.

When talking about her husband, Mo Xiao had a lot to say: "Men, you have to treat them like wild horses, you have to be strategic."

Hua Deng perked up: "Oh, oh."

Mo Xiao: "Don't let my past as a troublemaker fool you. I've got him all under my thumb now, haven't I? You ask how I did it? Let me tell you, there's a trick to it. First of all, you can't spoil him. You have to..."

Hua Deng nodded repeatedly, took out his notebook, and carefully wrote it down.

That night, Hua Deng stood in front of the bed, hands on her hips, and said arrogantly, "You're not allowed to sleep in the bed tonight. I'm going to sleep with the pillow!"

Shen Zhou remained remarkably calm, tossing aside the pillow that had been offered to him, and casually asked, "What did you and Mo Xiao talk about?"

Hua Deng was shocked: "You've invaded my privacy?!"

Shen Zhou glanced at her: "Your privacy is all on your face, do you need me to pry into it?"

Hua Deng didn't believe it: "How did you know I met with Mrs. Mo?"

Shen Zhou pulled her arm and sat her down: "Do you think she can get close to you without my permission?"

Hua Deng suddenly stood up again: "Anyway, I have to sleep with my pillow tonight!"

He used to never let the pillow onto the bed, and the pillow would cry in frustration. Tonight is the best chance to win it back.

Shen Zhou sneered and said "You little beast," then got up and flicked her forehead: "Fine, then don't sleep."

Hua Deng: "Huh?"

Before she could react, Shen Zhou grabbed her waist and pulled her outside. With each step they took, the surrounding scenery changed rapidly. In just two or three steps, they arrived outside the Ziyang Palace.

Fengchi prefers tranquility, so Ziyang Palace was built in the desolate wilderness, where there was no one around.

This time, however, Hua Deng opened his eyes wide and saw a bustling town with many food streets.

She was certain that she hadn't seen anything when she was walking around the neighborhood last month.

She suddenly turned to stare at Chen Zhou: "When did you have them build it?"

Shen Zhou casually glanced around, seemingly quite satisfied: "They did a good job a few days ago."

The food street was bustling with activity, filled with the aroma of cooking. The streetlights were completely enveloped in fragrance. At a glance, all kinds of food were available, and even her favorite Li Ji pastries and braised duck had opened branches.

Hua Deng stepped inside, and Chen Zhou's communication talisman lit up briefly, saying, "I'll pick you up in an incense stick's time," before disappearing.

However, Hua Deng had no time to care about him. She ran to the nearest braised duck shop and ordered her favorite duck head and wings.

She took out her purse to pay, but the shopkeeper refused to accept it.

According to him, they were all refugees fleeing the conflict between the Demonic Sect and the Immortal Alliance. They were displaced and homeless. It was Ziyang Palace that provided them with a place to stay and arranged a place for them to do business.

"We are so fortunate to have come from that remote and impoverished place to live and work in peace here. We owe it all to your care, Miss Hua!"

Hua Deng asked, puzzled: "My protection?"

The shop owner said, "Yes, Lord Left Protector said that you sent people to help us build the house and also reduced our rent and taxes. We are very grateful to you!"

He didn't know the identity of this young lady, but the Left Protector instructed him to treat her as an ordinary customer and not to ask too many questions about her background.

Hua Deng felt a little embarrassed and insisted on paying, but the shopkeeper repeatedly refused: "No need, no need. The superiors have instructed that whatever you like, young lady, be put on the tab and someone will settle the bill. We won't take your money!"

Hua Deng had no choice but to agree, thinking he would find someone to look after them later.

Everywhere she went, it was roughly the same situation: everyone recognized her, and no one knew how she did it.

In terms of atmosphere, this place is completely different from Ziyang Palace. If Ziyang Palace is full of NPCs, then the people here are living, breathing ordinary people with joys and sorrows.

I really like the lights.

Passing by an alchemy room, Hua Deng initially paid no attention, but upon glancing at it out of the corner of his eye, he immediately stopped.

The person behind the counter noticed her and waved to her, "Hey, Dengdeng, you're here!"

"Yi Qing?!" Hua Deng rushed inside. "What are you doing here?"

Holding a bottle of pills, Su Yiqing said with emotion, "Your Daoist partner is really resourceful. You hid here and Yun Mingyu couldn't find me. Haha, I'm free now!"

Speaking of which, just a few days ago, Hua Deng and Shen Zhou attended the enthronement ceremony of the new Demon King.

They went very discreetly, and no one knew their identities; everyone assumed they were Su Yiqing's friends.

The new king's ascension to the throne was met with great joy. Although Yun Mingyu was suspected of patricide, since his father had also seized the throne through patricide, everyone accepted it well.

Amidst the bustling atmosphere, Su Yiqing stood out, looking gloomy and out of place.

Hua Deng asked curiously, "Aren't you happy that Yun Mingyu has become the Demon King?"

Su Yiqing clutched her hair, breaking down in tears, "He's become so powerful, doesn't that mean I have even less chance of escaping?!"

Hua Deng patted her shoulder with pity: "Actually, he's quite good to you."

Su Yiqing was overcome with grief: "What's the use of being good? He's a lunatic. Do you know why he killed his father? Just because his father threatened me a few times! My God, are all male leads in sweet romance novels this love-struck?"

At that time, Hua Deng suggested that if she really didn't like staying in the Demon Realm, she could come to Ziyang Palace as a guest anytime, but Su Yiqing just said she would see later.

Unexpectedly, she not only came, but also opened an alchemy room.

Hua Deng looked around and thought the place was quite presentable: "Yun Mingyu didn't know you were here?"

Su Yi said smugly, "So what if he knows? Anyway, he can't break into your Daoist partner's barrier. My dear sister, I'm counting on you for the rest of my life!"

He then stuffed the pills into Hua Deng's hand: "Here, these are the pills I just refined, I'll give you a bottle!"

Hua Deng: "No, no, you can keep it and sell it to someone else."

Su Yiqing insisted, "It's okay, this time it wasn't vomit, it really was something I made."

Hua Deng: "...Thank you."

As she walked out with the pills, she felt a little smug, as if everything that had happened today was too mysterious.

But at that moment, the elixir was silently taken away, and Hua Deng knew who it was without even looking.

A cryptic voice came from above: "Oh?"

The tone was slightly odd, but Hua Deng didn't think much of it and explained, "It was sent by Yi Qing. Let me see, this is..."

Um? ? ?

Aphrodisiac pills?!

Hua Deng's expression was blank.

A playful glint appeared in Shen Zhou's eyes as he chuckled softly, rubbing his forehead. "No wonder you check my body every day, it turns out it's because..."

Hua Deng quickly covered his mouth, her ears turning bright red: "I didn't!"

In short, the aphrodisiac pills were not needed that night, but Hua Deng clearly understood that Shen Zhou's body was indeed fine, completely fine.

Even as dawn approached, the girl's voice could still be heard, biting the blanket and gritting her teeth: "Su Yiqing, you really killed me!!"