Chapter 67 You are defiling her
The sound of weeping could not be heard in the main hall of the princess's residence. In the center of the altar was a memorial tablet inscribed with "The Tablet of the Late Princess Ning of the Great Yan Dynasty," with an ever-burning lamp in front of it.
Inside the hall was a coffin made of Phoebe zhennan wood, with talismans pasted on the inside to ensure that the body would not decompose for three months.
Ning Qi lay quietly on the plain silk, looking no different from being asleep, except that her face was paler than usual.
Zhizhi lay on the coffin, almost crying herself to death.
Qianyu pulled her up and advised, "Go eat something. You won't be able to hold on much longer if you don't eat or drink."
"I'm not going." Zhizhi pushed her away weakly, her eyes burning with anger. "If I had been there, I would never have let the princess leave my side! I would never have let her be killed by the Demon Lord!"
Qianyu took a half step back, her face pale.
Yan Chongyan, dressed in plain linen clothes with a cross-collar and right-fastening, and wearing a linen crown, walked over with a sorrowful expression after seeing off a group of guests who had come to offer their condolences. “Miss Zhizhi, you haven’t left here for a whole month. If this continues, your health will collapse.”
Zhizhi shoved him hard and said fiercely, "You don't need to play the good guy. If you hadn't failed to protect the princess, she wouldn't have died! You good-for-nothing, you even caused Xiao Sui's death!"
Yan Chongyan's expression changed, and he said in a deep voice, "I'm lenient with you because of your grief, but I have a clear conscience about Xiao Sui. He was full of demonic energy, and for the safety of the sect, he had to be eliminated!"
"The princess will never forgive you," Zhizhi glared at him. "You are not worthy to be the princess's fiancé!"
“I am worthy of her,” Yan Chongyan said firmly. “The princess pushed me away in her most critical moment. The person she loves is me. Only I am worthy of being her fiancé.”
"Bullshit! You shameless scoundrel..." Zhizhi started cursing.
Yan Chongyan's expression grew increasingly impatient. He frowned, summoned the servants of the princess's residence, and adopted the demeanor of a master of the house. "Take Miss Zhizhi away. She's agitated and has started talking nonsense."
"Yes." Two servants grabbed Zhizhi from the left and right and dragged her out of the main hall.
Zhizhi buried her head and bit their hands hard. Then she rushed back to the mourning hall, returned to the princess's side, clung tightly to the coffin, and shouted, "I couldn't stay by the princess's side when she was alive, but now I won't leave her side for a moment!"
Seeing her like this, Yan Chongyan sighed and turned around to see Xie Jingyan and Xie Xiyue arriving at the same time.
He cupped his hands in greeting to them.
Xie Jingyan said with disdain, "What kind of behavior is this, making such a racket? Quickly drag her away."
"I think she's very loyal." Xie Xiyue quickly went into the house and went to Zhizhi's side to comfort her.
Xie Jingyan shook his head and called Yan Chongyan out.
"How much longer are you going to observe mourning?" he asked, frowning.
"According to etiquette, one should observe the mourning period for three years," Yan Chongyan replied.
"Three years?" Xie Jingyan exclaimed. "You know she's not a princess at all. She was foolish enough to expose it herself, and the emperor was displeased with it. He's only burying her with the rites of a princess to save face. He won't recognize this fake princess in the future. What you should do is sever ties with her, not act like her husband and handle her funeral arrangements."
"You already knew?" Yan Chongyan asked.
Xie Jingyan hadn't expected him to focus on this point, and after a pause, he said, "Of course, this idea was presented to His Majesty by me."
"Then who is the real princess?" Yan Chongyan asked again.
Xie Jingyan did not hide anything, "It's Xiyue, I've been raising her all along."
Yan Chongyan suddenly realized, "No wonder you always intentionally or unintentionally let me have contact with her."
Xie Jingyan snorted coldly, "With Ning Qi causing such a scene, Xi Yue is now unable to return to the palace, and the Emperor is very angry."
Yan Chongyan was silent for a moment before saying, "You shouldn't have done that back then. It wasn't fair to Ning Qi and Xie Xiyue."
"What's this about fairness? The emperor ordered me to save Xiyue's life, and I've done that. That's enough," Xie Jingyan said.
Disappointment appeared in Yan Chongyan's eyes; this was the first time he had shown such an expression to his respected master.
He took a half step back and said distantly, "I have to go greet my guests now. Please make yourself at home."
Xie Jingyan understood his attitude and angrily cursed at his retreating back, "Stubborn fool!"
With his hands behind his back, he hadn't come to see Ning Qi, but only to persuade Yan Chongyan. Since the other party didn't appreciate it, there was no need for him to stay any longer. He called Xie Xiyue and prepared to return to Huaguang Sect.
As a result, Xie Xiyue refused to leave.
Suddenly the sky darkened, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. This feeling was very similar to the day the demons attacked Huaguang Sect.
But this is Princess Yandu's residence. The demons have just suffered a major blow. How could they possibly make a comeback and choose this place?
He looked up and was horrified to find a large cloud of black mist spreading toward him at an extremely fast speed.
The demons are back?!
Yan Chongyan also noticed the black mist, gripped his sword hilt warily, and stared at the sky.
"Everyone be on guard! The demons may be returning!" Xie Jingyan shouted.
The black mass hovered above the princess's residence, like a dark cloud covering the ground. Within it, a slender human figure could be vaguely seen, almost blending into the demonic energy.
"Who goes there?" Yan Chongyan drew his sword and asked loudly.
The man landed inside the princess's residence and was surrounded by guards. Several Huaguang Sect cultivators who came to offer their condolences also reacted quickly, drawing their weapons and pointing them at him.
The black mist quickly dissipated, revealing a figure with a straight nose, a pale face, and a black cloth covering his eyes.
Yan Chongyan was shocked when he saw it clearly: "Xiao Sui? You're still alive?!"
The black mass clearly showed Xiao Sui's appearance, and he was surrounded by even more demonic energy than that day.
"Young Master Xiao!" Zhizhi ran out and called out.
Xie Xiyue and Qianyu also stared at him blankly.
"He came back to life?" whispers rang out from the surroundings.
Xiao Sui walked straight into the main hall as if no one else existed, only to be stopped by Yan Chongyan.
"I didn't expect you to survive." Yan Chongyan raised his chin slightly, his voice full of hostility. "But coming at this time is clearly not a wise move."
"Get out of here," Xiao Sui said, his voice extremely hoarse, as if he hadn't spoken in a long time.
Yan Chongyan narrowed his eyes, raised his arm and pointed his long sword at him, "Whatever you want to do to the princess, I advise you to stop immediately."
The black aura gradually condensed on Xiao Sui's arm, and black lines appeared on his pale knuckles.
He suddenly raised his hand, and the black mass, like a python, wrapped tightly around Yan Chongyan's neck with lightning speed before Yan Chongyan could react, easily lifting him off the ground.
Yan Chongyan's eyes widened, his face flushed red, and he tried to grasp the black mass with his fingers, but only managed to squeeze air.
At this moment, Xie Jingyan attacked Xiao Sui from behind, thrusting his sword towards his back.
The sword energy sliced through his clothes, revealing a large area of demonic markings, which startled Xie Jingyan.
Xiao Sui didn't move, but a small part of the black ball separated and flew to his sword, tightening like a rope and pointing directly at his throat, making him unable to move for a moment.
Fear spread from Xie Jingyan's heart. In just one month, Xiao Sui had gone from being on the verge of death to becoming so powerful!
"I said, get lost!" Xiao Sui said coldly, the black mass weaving past all the cultivators.
He waved his arm in disgust, and the black mass flung everyone away.
Xie Jingyan crashed into a tree in the courtyard, while Yan Chongyan rolled twice on the ground before barely managing to steady himself.
The others were even more disoriented and staggering.
Xiao Sui walked unimpeded into the main hall and came to Ning Qi's coffin. His cold, white fingers, covered with demonic marks, gently touched her hand. Then he put his arm around her shoulder and lifted her out of the coffin.
Yan Chongyan coughed violently, clutching his neck, and got up from the ground, saying, "Xiao Sui! Didn't you hear her last words to you? She didn't want to see you! What are you doing now? Are you going to go against the princess's wishes?"
Xiao Sui acted as if he hadn't heard, and carried Ning Qi out of the main hall.
Yan Chongyan stood in front of him, "I am the princess's husband, you cannot take her away."
“What are you?” Xiao Sui said, enunciating each word clearly.
The black mist transformed into a hand once more, tightly binding his body.
Yan Chongyan roared hoarsely, "The princess died fighting against the demons for the Huaguang Sect, and now she's going to be taken away by you, a demon! You're defiling her!"
Xiao Sui faced him, his long bangs casting shadows on his eyes, and the indistinct blackness between his brows giving him an air of death.
The surging demonic energy shot into Yan Chongyan's stomach with a whoosh, and blood instantly gushed out.
Yan Chongyan cried out in pain.
Xiao Sui approached him and said like Yama, "Go to hell."
Xie Jingyan suddenly unleashed a powerful burst of spiritual energy, targeting not Xiao Sui, but Ning Qi's body.
Xiao Sui quickly turned around, and the black mass swiftly blocked his way, absorbing most of the spiritual energy and instantly shrinking in size.
Xiao Sui's Adam's apple bobbed, and he tasted blood in his throat.
"A sneak attack! Despicable, shameless, and vile!" came angry shouts from the black group.
"Demon God, you've only just begun learning the secret technique and haven't fully mastered it yet. Don't try to fight them head-on!"
"Idiot, didn't you realize that the Demon God is courting death again!"
"Ah, this is the eighty-second time already!"
Xie Jingyan couldn't hear those voices, but he could sense that Xiao Sui's demonic energy was weakening. He shouted, "He's injured! Everyone, attack together!"
A surge of black energy erupted from Xiao Sui's body, and the demonic seal grew more patterns that almost completely covered his original skin color.
Xie Jingyan spat out a mouthful of blood before he even got close, and black energy suddenly appeared, carrying a strong killing intent.
He had no doubt that Xiao Sui wanted to kill him.
Suddenly, the black mass grabbed Xiao Sui's body and wrapped around him as he left the princess's residence in full view of everyone.
"Young Master Xiao, I want to go with you!"
Zhizhi chased after her, and a bubble rose from the black mass, enveloping her body.
Qianyu cried out anxiously, "Zhizhi! Are you going to betray us and become a demon? Come back now!"
But they quickly disappeared.
Zhizhi floated in the air for an unknown amount of time before finally landing on the ground.
The surrounding area was filled with a strong demonic aura, indicating that they had arrived in the demon realm.
Xiao Sui approached a small cave, with Zhizhi following closely behind. Only after entering did they discover that it was a hidden paradise.
The stone chamber was extremely spacious, about the height of a two-story building. Sunlight streamed in from above, making it far from dark. There were also more than a dozen small caves branching out from the surrounding area. I wonder what the scenery inside was like.
This is clearly the main hall, furnished with simple furniture.
Zhizhi watched as Xiao Sui walked into one of the cave entrances, and after turning several corners along the passage, a translucent blue bed appeared before her, emanating a chill.
The temperature in this stone chamber was significantly lower than in other places.
Zhizhi shivered.
Xiao Sui placed Ning Qi on the bed and leaned down to kiss her forehead.
Zhizhi didn't want to ask him what his current status was or where this place was; she just wanted to stay by the princess's side forever.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, she took out a stack of envelopes and a small package from her storage bag.
“Young Master Xiao, the princess actually asked me to bring these things to you when you didn’t come to Yandu that day.”
Xiao Sui straightened up, his thin fingers, covered in demonic marks, supporting the object in her hand with a devout expression.
Based solely on his attitude, Zhizhi felt that it would be a hundred times better for the princess to stay here than in the princess's residence.
"See for yourself, I'm going out now," Zhizhi said as she walked out of the stone chamber.
The black mass also drifted out; one strand was unwilling to leave and was pulled away by the rest.
Xiao Sui finally couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed beside the icy bed, vomiting a large pool of blood. The demonic mark on his body spread to his neck.
He gripped his neck tightly, his face turning bright red, and the demonic seal gradually receded back into his chest.
Xiao Sui's fingers trembled as he opened the package and felt its shape.
He quickly realized what it was, and recoiled as if burned.
This is the doll he gave to the princess, and she returned the only gift he ever gave her.
A sound-recording stone fell out of Ningqi's doll. He picked it up and channeled his spiritual energy into it.
The princess's clear voice immediately echoed in the cave, "Xiao Sui, congratulations on finding my sound-recording stone!"
She cleared her throat. "I'm getting married to Yan Chongyan soon. Since you like me so much, I've left you a dozen or so letters. You can open them and read them when you miss me. But they're all in writing, and I know you can't read them until your eyes have recovered, hahaha! So if you want to read them, you'd better get your eyes healed first. Remember, you absolutely can't have someone else read them to you, or you'll be the one who embarrasses yourself. And if you don't want to read them, just throw them away."
The cave quickly returned to silence, and even the echoes stopped for a long time. Xiao Sui pressed the sound-recording stone tightly to his chest, his thin body curled up by the bed.
Standing outside the stone chamber, Zhizhi seemed to faintly hear suppressed sobs.
——
"Wake up, we're almost there."
Ning Xi felt someone bump into her with their shoulder. She frowned and opened her eyes, only to find herself with her hands tied behind her back, crammed into a truck bed with five or six people dressed in Huaguang Sect attire.
The surroundings were filled with demonic energy, even the tree trunks were pure black, and the branches trembled wildly in the wind, looking like ghostly figures.
No! Where is this?! Shouldn't she have left this world? Is she hallucinating?
She frantically called out to the system in her mind, but received no response. She had no choice but to calm herself down, pretend to be still half asleep, and ask the cultivator who had woken her up, "Where are we going?"
The man pulling the cart turned around, grinned, and revealed his fangs. "Little girl, where do you think we're going? To the Demon Palace, of course."
"The Demon Palace?" Ning Xi exclaimed in surprise. What exactly is going on?
The monk who pushed her didn't open his mouth, but a voice pierced her ears, "What are you saying? Have you forgotten our mission?"
Ning Qi realized that this was a telepathic communication using spiritual power, which only the two of them could hear. She naturally replied in the same way, "What mission?"
The man scrutinized her sharply. "Are you going to desert your post?"
"No, no." Ning Xi looked at her murderous gaze, "I was still half asleep, and my mind is a bit muddled right now."
The man looked at her with suspicion and uncertainty. "You're going to seduce the Demon God and steal the key to the water prison from him. We'll meet you and rescue Sect Master Yan."
"What Sect Master Yan? Could it be Yan Chongyan?" Ning Qi asked, her lips twitching.
"How dare you address the sect leader by his name!" the man rebuked.
Is it really true?!
Ning Qi's eyes widened.
That...that demon god couldn't be...
Why hasn't she left this little world yet?!
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Author's Note: Xiaoxi: No way! I recognize every single character, but I can't understand how they're put together [fear]
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