The Fifth Princess, Wu Xidi, looked at the people surrounded on the stage with satisfaction. She glanced at Demon Lord Luan Hua, but his attention was not on the stage.
"What is the Demon Lord thinking?"
Demon Lord Luan Hua's thoughts were interrupted. "It's nothing."
He watched as He Banjian was moved to tears on stage, surrounded by layers of people, and then he stood up and left his seat.
"Demon Lord, you're leaving already? Can't wait to meet your beauty!" The Fifth Princess chuckled.
"It's so boring." That was all Demon Lord Luan Hua said.
Li Mingke also wanted to go up and say a few words to He Banjian, but he couldn't squeeze through the thick wall of people.
This is the price of fame!
She gave up.
That evening, Li Mingke and his friends had a few drinks. This was a special drink that the shopkeeper had prepared especially for the Yao people to pray for their well-being. It was only served at this time and was not usually offered to guests.
The room was warm and cozy, filled with the aroma of incense. After a few drinks, Li Mingke was a little tipsy.
"I'm going out to use the restroom." She stood up from the table, stumbling slightly as she lifted her leg.
"Are you alright, cousin? Do you want me to come with you?" Wang Jingyuan asked with some concern.
"It's alright, it's alright, you guys continue." She opened the door unsteadily, and the cold air outside cooled her face considerably.
With the sounds of music filling the air and people chatting and laughing, Li Mingke wandered around outside for quite a while.
She patted her slightly flushed cheeks. "Okay! Let's go back!"
She was so confused that she didn't even notice that she had gone up a floor and ended up in the room above theirs.
"Strange, the pattern on the door just now didn't seem to be this one." She pressed her face against the door and looked hard. After a while, she doubted herself again, "Maybe this is it? Oh well, why think so much? I'll just go in and find out." So, she pushed the door open.
"You've finally arrived." A deep male voice came from behind the screen.
Li Mingke's mind was still a mess: This person's voice sounded a bit unfamiliar, was it Wang Jingyuan or Chen Zifeng? She compared them and it seemed like neither.
"Who are you? What brings you to our room?" She pulled back the screen, revealing a tall man sitting inside.
"Huh? Who are you? Where's Jingyuan? Where's Zifeng? Where's Gege?" She scanned the entire room, but didn't see a single familiar face.
"Tell me, did you kick them out? Let me tell you, we've booked this room, it's all ours for the whole night!" Li Mingke pointed at the man, his breath reeking of alcohol.
Demon Lord Luan Hua looked at the dancing boy in front of him with a somber gaze.
He was clearly waiting for someone other than her. He sensed her presence the moment she stepped into the room. So why didn't he stop her? Instead, he let her in and even brought her to his side.
Li Mingke was talking nonsense, and his feet were also restless. He tripped over his own feet and fell down.
With a thud, she collapsed at the feet of Demon Lord Luan Hua and never got up again.
Just then, a sound came from the doorway.
"My lord, I've come in." It was He Banjian.
He Banjian is completely different from before. Now she is dressed in gold and silver, just like a young lady from a wealthy family.
She took small steps to approach Demon Lord Luan Hua, and then saw Li Mingke lying on the ground.
She was stunned.
What happened? The Demon Lord killed someone, and she unfortunately witnessed the murder scene? Oh no, the person on the ground is doomed. Demon Lord Luan Hua's actions are undeniable! She's never heard of anyone escaping alive from the Demon Lord!
She shuddered.
"My lord..." No matter how scared she was, she had to force a smile.
"Yes, come here." Demon Lord Luan Hua spoke sparingly.
“…Yes.” He Banjian obediently walked over, but there were people blocking her way on the ground. What should she do?
"Did I tell you to step over her? Can't you walk around her?" Demon Lord Luan Hua reprimanded He Banjian when he saw He Banjian had already raised his leg to step over Li Mingke.
"Yes, yes, it's my fault." How could she possibly navigate such a small space! This Demon Lord is so particular; even a dead person has so many rules!
Forget it, let's listen to him. We can't beat him anyway, and besides, she's just putting on an act.
She cautiously approached Demon Lord Luan Hua.
"Speak, what is your identity?" Demon Lord Luan Hua said indifferently.
He Banjian was shocked. What was going on? Did the Demon Lord already know her true identity? Impossible!
She stammered, "What...identity?"
"Your name, your background."
"Oh, oh!" She was terrified! She thought she'd been exposed!
“I am He Banjian, a 17-year-old girl from Qinggeng Village. My parents are my father, a knife sharpener, and my mother is a farmer. We are poor. I only went to school for three years and know a few words. I came to participate in the Yao girl selection because the village chief said that if I am selected, he will give my family a bag of rice.”
After He Banjian finished speaking, he looked at him timidly.
"Is that alright?" She went over it in her mind. "Yes, no problem!"
Demon Lord Luan Hua pondered for a moment after hearing this, "You're seventeen years old this year?"
"Yes, sir." She had calculated the date carefully; this was of utmost importance and could not be wrong!
Demon Lord Luan Hua remained silent.
Because in his eyes, He Banjian couldn't be seventeen years old; he had to be at least much older.
He looked at Li Mingke, who was still lying on the ground. She was also seventeen years old. Although he had only met her a few times, he could feel the vigor of a young person in her. Even though she hadn't said a few words to him, her eyes were filled with the naivety, innocence, and fearlessness of youth.
However, He Banjian saw none of these things. He could see the sorrow in her eyes, the discontent with the status quo, and the inexplicable ambition. These were things that had accumulated over many years and involved many experiences.
If she were truly an ordinary village girl, she should never have eyes like that.
Despite experiencing so much in his past life, Ban Jian never showed the same look in her eyes.
But she has the same appearance as Hanjian.
"How did you learn that dance, and even use that music?" This was also the question he cared about the most. If she wasn't Banjian, how did she know it, and how did she dance so well?
"I...I've loved dancing since I was little, and my movements are all improvised. I composed the music myself; the melody had always been in my head, so I memorized it. Is there a problem, sir?"
Demon Lord Luan Hua tapped the table with his fingers without replying. After a long while, he asked:
"Do you want a bag of rice, or do you want to give it up?" he asked.
He Banjian was somewhat stunned. What did that mean? But she immediately understood. "This humble woman is willing to give up a bag of rice!"
If she says she wants a bag of rice, she will eventually have to go back to that small village. But if she gives up, what she will have in the future will be far more than a bag of rice!
Demon Lord Luan Hua stared intently at her, "...Alright."
"You are now a Yao girl. The blessing ceremony is in ten days. In the next few days, someone will teach you everything you should do. Go and prepare!"
"Yes, thank you, sir!" He Banjian tried his best to suppress his excitement, his hands trembling as he pushed open the door.
After He Banjian left, a woman walked out from the side.
"Demon Lord, it seems to be going very smoothly!" The Fifth Princess clapped her hands. "Congratulations, Your Majesty!"
Demon Lord Luan Hua merely glanced at her without saying a word.
"Hey, there's someone on the ground." The Fifth Princess noticed Li Mingke lying on the ground.
"Ignore her," he said calmly.
"Now that everything is done, my lord, shouldn't you keep your promise? It's getting late, why don't we go to my palace for a chat? I've already ordered some fine tea to be prepared."
"Let's go." The Demon Lord stood up and left with the Fifth Princess.
Just as Demon Lord Luan Hua walked past Li Mingke, someone suddenly grabbed his ankle.
A faint, sorrowful, and poignant voice rang out, tinged with heartbreaking sobs. A pale face was lifted, and the eyes were filled with tears.
"...Even you don't want me anymore?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com