Chapter Twenty-Two: Changdong's Olive Branch

In the days following Shiyi Niang's warning, a tense atmosphere of high alert permeated every inch of the Ziguang Palace. The servants inside moved with utmost care and spoke in hushed tones.

Despite his unhealed arrow wound to his shoulder, Li Yue personally oversaw the defenses, patrolling the palace daily. The shadow guards' patrols and sentry posts were so densely packed that it was suffocating; there was a post every five steps and a sentry every ten steps. All food, utensils, and even a scroll of silk sent into the Ziguang Palace had to undergo at least three rounds of rigorous inspection by different shadow guards using different methods, with a focus on preventing anything that might contain illusion traps or curse-inducing agents.

Bai Yu deployed all the informants she could, keeping a close watch on the movements of Shiyi Niang's palace and all her known confidants. Any slight movement of people, allocation of supplies, or even unusual silence would immediately be reported to Shang Jiuya.

However, the anticipated retaliation from Eleventh Sister did not come immediately. Her palace gates were often tightly closed, and it was unusually quiet, as if the hysterical threats during the banquet that night were just a dissipated nightmare.

But Shang Jiuya knew better than anyone that someone of Shiyi Niang's temperament would never swallow such a humiliation. Her current inaction must be a prelude to a more elaborate plan. Under this immense pressure, she devoted almost all her free time, including the quiet of the night when she should have been resting, to the small study she had designated as a forbidden area, frantically cultivating the "Burning Marrow and Corroding Heart Technique" with an almost self-torturing intensity.

The cultivation technique, made of strange materials, described a treacherous and dangerous path for circulating qi, completely defying common sense. When she concentrated and tried to guide the faint yet scorching flow of qi within her dantian along the path of the "Burning Marrow and Eroding Heart Technique," an indescribable, excruciating pain would erupt instantly.

Cold sweat instantly soaked her temples and back, and her body trembled violently uncontrollably, even though it was just physical pain.

Even more terrifying was the ensuing mental erosion. As the technique circulated, bizarre and fantastical illusions flooded her senses: sometimes countless vengeful spirits wailed in her ears, tearing at her consciousness; sometimes her own flesh seemed to rot and peel away inch by inch, revealing stark white bones; sometimes an endless abyss of darkness threatened to swallow her whole. Countless times, she teetered on the brink of collapse amidst the inhuman pain and mental torment, her consciousness fading, desperately wanting only to abandon this self-destructive act.

What sustained her through each ordeal was the venomous gaze of Shiyi Niang that night, the indifference of Ao Li and Guan Shanyue towards her as if she were an ant, and the ever-present deadly danger of this demon realm. She didn't want to die, and she was even more unwilling to die quietly.

As she gritted her teeth and endured the excruciating pain of burning her marrow and corroding her heart, struggling to improve her meager cultivation, she unexpectedly discovered something strange associated with the cultivation technique—the dull, lusterless short blade that had been discovered along with the "Burning Marrow and Corroding Heart Technique" seemed to be undergoing some indescribable change as her cultivation progressed.

At first, it was just a very vague feeling. When she held this cold, heavy short blade in her hand and practiced, the excruciating pain that penetrated her bones and soul seemed to become slightly more tolerable.

Later, the changes became more and more obvious. She noticed that the originally dull blade of the short blade began to faintly reveal a dark red hue from its deepest interior. This color was not constant; rather, when she fully activated the "Burning Marrow and Corroding Heart Technique," and the scorching and stinging energy within her body became unusually active, the temperature of the short blade would also rise slightly.

This bizarre change left Shang Jiuya bewildered and uncertain. What was the origin of this short blade? Its association with such an evil technique was no coincidence. She had tried to find clues about similar short blades or the "Burning Marrow and Corroding Heart Technique" in the limited demonic texts accessible to the Purple Light Palace, but to no avail.

But the immediate crisis was pressing, and she couldn't afford to worry about anything else. She was willing to risk anything that would allow her to gain power faster and increase her chances of survival. She simply controlled the pace and time of her cultivation more carefully, suppressing the urge to immediately explore the secrets of the short blade, fearing that being too hasty would lead to some uncontrollable and terrible consequences.

Under such extreme pressure of facing a formidable external enemy and practicing evil internal arts, an unexpected turning point quietly arrived.

That evening, as usual, Li Yue personally inspected the outer defenses of the Ziguang Palace. While patrolling a secluded outpost near the palace wall, he "coincidentally" encountered a demon general who was also on patrol. The man was tall and rugged, wearing the standard armor of the border legion; he was Lei Sha, a trusted adjutant under the Fifth Elder Chang Dong. Lei Sha was known in the army for his upright character and bravery in battle.

The two nodded to each other as a matter of routine. After glancing around to make sure there was nothing amiss, Li Yue was about to leave when Lei Sha did not immediately turn around and walk away as usual. Instead, she silently took a few steps forward and stood side by side with Li Yue, her gaze fixed on the banners outside the high walls of the Demon Palace, which were faintly visible in the twilight, symbolizing the direction of the border legion's garrison.

A sense of vigilance immediately rose in Li Yue's heart, but he remained calm on the surface, silently gazing into the distance, maintaining the demeanor of a dutiful head guard.

After a brief silence, Lei Sha suddenly spoke, "Recently, this Demon Palace has been quite noisy and chaotic. For a single mineral vein, they've been fighting amongst themselves, siblings vying for power, wasting their energy and resources." He paused, his voice deepening, "But little do they know that on the western wastelands, sandstorms have recently arisen again. Those hyena-like tribes, with their keen and cunning sense of smell, specifically target prey that is embroiled in internal strife and shows signs of weakness, waiting for an opportunity to nibble away at the border and plunder resources."

These words sounded disjointed and incoherent, like the complaints of a general concerned only with border defense, lamenting internal strife and worrying about potential external threats. But the fact that he was addressing Li Yue—the Demon Lord's chief bodyguard—made the implications quite subtle.

Li Yue remained calm, following the other's gaze into the distance, and replied indifferently, "The affairs of the Demon Palace's higher-ups are not matters for us to presume to comment on. My duty is simply to protect the peace of the Purple Light Palace. However, what the general says is absolutely right. Defending the territory and maintaining stability is indeed the primary responsibility of us soldiers, which cannot be neglected or taken lightly."

Lei Sha glanced at Li Yue, seemingly satisfied with Li Yue's answer. He nodded slightly and said in a deep voice, "Stability doesn't come from nothing. It requires unity from top to bottom, cherishing soldiers and caring for troops, and strengthening military preparedness, rather than internal strife that leads to the loss of elite troops and the waste of provisions." He then changed the subject quite naturally, lowering his voice slightly, "Although the palace has been in turmoil and turmoil lately, I have occasionally heard of the actions of a few upright individuals who can consider the overall situation and understand priorities. They are truly rare."

After saying this, Lei Sha said no more, clasped his hands in a salute to Li Yue, and then turned and strode away. The armor plates clanged as he quickly disappeared around the corner of the palace wall.

Li Yue stood rooted to the spot, motionless for a long time, his gaze fixed intently on the direction Lei Sha had departed. He had keenly sensed the hidden tension within that "casual conversation." Without the slightest delay, he immediately returned to the Purple Light Palace and gave Shang Jiuya a detailed report, word for word, of this "chance encounter" and conversation, along with his own observations, to Shang Jiuya, who had just finished a round of arduous cultivation.

Despite the lingering burning pain in her meridians, Shang Jiuya listened intently. Her eyes sharpened instantly as Li Yue narrated, like a weary eagle spotting its prey.

She walked to the desk, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the cool surface, carefully savoring and dissecting every word Lei Sha—or rather, Elder Chang Dong, the man behind Lei Sha—said.

"Wasting energy and effort" – this is a clear expression of dissatisfaction with Ao Li, Guan Shanyue, and even Shiyi Niang, who are constantly fighting amongst themselves for personal gain.

"The western border is once again engulfed in sandstorms," ​​"the hyena tribe" – these are all emphasizing the reality of instability on the border, that external threats are ever-present, and are by no means alarmist.

"Targeting the weak" – this is the most direct warning! Internal strife will weaken the overall strength of the demon realm, thus inviting external enemies to take advantage of the situation.

And the last sentence, "I have occasionally heard of one or two acts of integrity that prioritize the overall situation, which are truly rare" – sounds like…praise? Who is he praising? Recently, who in the Demon Palace has done something that could be described as "prioritizing the overall situation" or "an act of integrity"?

A sudden flash of inspiration struck Shang Jiuya. She recalled the "unintentional words" she had uttered in the Daqing Hall not long ago, in the face of the argument between Ao Li and Guan Shanyue—the words that pointed out that internal strife would only deplete the Demon Realm's vitality and emphasized the need to be wary of external enemies and prioritize the overall interests of the Demon Realm.

Could it be that... Elder Changdong noticed her words, which at the time seemed insignificant and even laughable? And unexpectedly agreed with her point of view?

Lei Sha's seemingly vague but actually pointed words were very likely a probing signal that Chang Dong was sending to the Zi Guang Palace, or rather, to the people who currently represent the Demon Lord, through the words of this trusted adjutant.

This is an excellent opportunity to establish some kind of connection with Elder Changdong, who holds real power and seems indifferent to the infighting that Youchi, Gongliang, and others are so keen on.

“Li Yue,” Shang Jiuya quickly suppressed her excitement, forcing herself to calm down and conduct a more in-depth analysis, “This is most likely Elder Changdong’s test. He commands a large border legion and holds a very high position, but from Lei Sha’s words, it’s clear that he has reservations about the current chaotic situation in the Demon Capital, and is even dissatisfied. He is more concerned about the overall stability of the Demon Realm and the security of the border. This may be the most likely external support we can find and win over at the moment.”

She pondered for a moment, her mind racing, and then clearly issued the instruction: "Since Elder Changdong has used his adjutant to convey information in such a vague and veiled way, we must respond in the same, or even more cautiously. We cannot be hasty, and we cannot show any signs of currying favor or eagerly seeking help. If you have another chance to 'accidentally' meet General Leisha, you can casually, as if in casual conversation, reveal the following points to him..."

She carefully considered every word she chose:

"First, it emphasizes that although the Demon Lord is deep in the palace, recuperating peacefully, he is always concerned about the stability of the borders and knows that the soldiers of the army are the most solid bulwark of the Demon Realm. Their honor, safety, and needs are of paramount importance and cannot be ignored." — This move is intended to show that the Demon Lord's position is consistent with Chang Dong's concerns, expressing respect and agreement.

"Secondly, you can mention with concern that you've recently heard through certain channels (without needing to say it explicitly) that the Sixth Prince Qi Mu's subordinates have been acting rather 'arrogantly and aggressively' in and around the border areas, even having minor clashes with some dutiful border garrisons. If this continues, it may affect the peace and tranquility of the border, breed trouble, and only increase the troubles of the soldiers." This subtly criticizes Qi Mu, which will undoubtedly resonate with Chang Dong's dissatisfaction with Qi Mu's reckless expansion and potential disruption of border order.

"Third, and finally, you can express your respect for Elder Changdong's unwavering commitment to the border frontline and his maintenance of local stability and tranquility, considering him a model soldier."

“Remember,” Shang Jiuya solemnly instructed Li Yue, “Throughout the process, your tone and demeanor are crucial. It must be natural, like the casual sentiments and anxieties shared by fellow soldiers who are also concerned about border affairs. You must not reveal any intention to make friends, probe, or seek help. For now, we only need to let Elder Changdong know of our existence and that we share similar concerns and stances. We need to patiently wait for their response.”

Li Yue understood immediately: "Your subordinate understands. I will keep Your Majesty's instructions in mind, seize the right opportunity and act with discretion, and never act rashly or hastily."

Shang Jiuya let out a soft sigh, walked to the window, and pushed it open a crack.

She reached into her sleeve, where the slightly warm dagger was nestled. As if sensing the fluctuations in her emotions and the lingering energy within her body from her recent cultivation, the dagger trembled very slightly.

At the same time, an ancient syllable flashed through her chaotic thoughts without warning.

The syllables were distorted and strange; she couldn't even be sure if she had really "heard" them clearly.

But the feeling was incredibly real.

Like… “Kun…Wu…”?

She gripped the short blade hidden in her sleeve tightly, her fingertips feeling as if a dormant power was being awakened little by little beneath the strange material that was neither gold nor jade.