Chapter 58: Poisonous Flames Burning in the Heart, False Compromise
Deep within a deserted altar in the old capital of Nanyin, a chilling wind blew, and tattered banners danced silently in the darkness, like ghostly shadows. The air was filled with stale dust and the strange, sweet scent of incense.
Di Feisheng stood alone among the shattered walls, his dark robes blending seamlessly into the shadows. Only his eyes, shimmering frighteningly bright in the dimness, swelled with suppressed anxiety and icy resolve. His fingertips caressed a peculiarly shaped bone whistle—a token delivered to Jiao Liqiao through the secretive channels of the Wansheng Dao.
It didn't take too long to wait.
A very light sound of footsteps with a certain strange rhythm came from the darkness, accompanied by a silver bell-like, yet poisonously sweet laughter.
"Hehehe... Your Majesty... are you finally... willing to see me?"
Jiao Liqiao slowly emerged from the shadows. She was still dressed in a vibrant purple-red gauze dress, her makeup delicate, but her eyes flickered with a frenzy and obsession bordering on madness. Her gaze greedily traced the cold, hard outline of Di Feisheng, like a traveler who had been waiting for a long drought before a downpour.
Di Feisheng's face was expressionless, his eyes swept across her like ice blades, and he went straight to the point, his voice cold without a trace of warmth: "Rama Ding, give it to me."
Jiao Liqiao giggled, twisting her waist and taking a few steps closer. Only when she felt the chilling chill emanating from Di Feisheng, did she reluctantly stop. "Your Majesty is still so anxious... As soon as we met, you only thought about that dead thing..." Her tone was resentful, but her eyes were even more blazing. "Do you know that without me, that idiot Shan Gudao would have no idea how to use the sacrifice or how to activate the treasure tripod..."
Di Feisheng's jawline tightened, and a flash of hostility flashed in his eyes: "Conditions."
A startling light blazed in Jiao Liqiao's eyes. She took a step forward, her voice trembling with excitement. "Conditions? Your Majesty... you know... all I've ever asked for is you!" She spread her arms, her expression crazed. "With just one nod, Wanshengdao will die for you! Shan Gudao's head... I'll personally offer it to you! This world... you and I will rule together! The Rama Cauldron... will naturally be yours!"
She stared at Di Feisheng, her breathing rapid, her nails painted red digging deep into her palms: "I... only want you... to marry me."
She spoke the last two words very softly, but with a desperate, morbid paranoia.
The air froze instantly.
The aura surrounding Di Feisheng suddenly became terrifying! It was as if a tangible murderous intent swept over like a storm, blowing Jiao Liqiao's clothes wildly! His eyes were bloodshot, and he almost wanted to tear the crazy woman in front of him into pieces!
"Say it again." He squeezed out five words from between his teeth, each word filled with immense anger and disgust.
Jiao Liqiao was forced to take a half step back by his terrifying aura. Her face paled slightly, but a twisted glee and madness flashed in her eyes. "I want you to marry me! Marry me in a formal ceremony! With the whole world as witness! Let me be your lawful wife!" Her voice suddenly rose, tinged with tears and hysteria. "Li Xiangyi is already a useless man! A dying waste! What else can he give you?! Only I! Only I, Jiao Liqiao! Am worthy of you! Can help you achieve hegemony!"
"Shut up!" Di Feisheng suddenly raised his hand, and a fierce palm wind slammed out, blowing a broken stone statue behind Jiao Liqiao into pieces!
Gravel flew everywhere, and Jiao Liqiao screamed in shock. She stumbled away, her hair disheveled, looking rather disheveled. Instead, she began to laugh softly, her laughter maniacal: "Kill me... Kill me... and no one will ever be able to activate the Rama Cauldron again... You'll just have to watch helplessly as the owner of this building, the apple of your eye... rots away bit by bit... dies... and turns into dry bones..."
Every vicious word was like a poison needle, piercing Di Feisheng's heart! He could almost see Li Lianhua's increasingly pale and thin face before his eyes, and the Medicine Demon's words "the oil is exhausted and the lamp is withered" echoed in his mind like a curse!
He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging into his palms, blood dripping from between his fingers. His body trembled slightly with extreme anger and struggle. A destructive rage surged in his chest, but it was forcibly suppressed by another, even stronger, cold despair.
He needs the Ramadan.
He needs Jiao Liqiao to activate it.
He needs... Li Lianhua to survive.
Any price.
He slowly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, the terrifying scarlet and murderous intent in his eyes were miraculously suppressed, leaving only a bottomless, heart-pounding cold silence.
He was silent for a long time, so long that the madness on Jiao Liqiao's face was gradually replaced by a hint of uneasiness.
Finally, he spoke, his voice as hoarse as sandpaper, devoid of any emotion: "...This matter is of no small importance."
Jiao Liqiao's eyes suddenly lit up!
Di Feisheng continued, his tone cold and distant, "I...need to weigh the pros and cons." His gaze swept across Jiao Liqiao's face, which instantly became ecstatic with joy, without a trace of warmth. "Before you prove your worth—take off Shan Gudao's head and bring it to me."
Jiao Liqiao was so excited that she was trembling all over and almost rushed forward: "Your Majesty! You agreed?! You really…"
"I'm just saying I'll consider it." Di Feisheng interrupted her, his voice icy, "Remember, Jiao Liqiao, this is a deal. If you're incompetent, or dare to play tricks..." He didn't finish, but the unfinished threat was more frightening than any words.
Jiao Liqiao seemed to have heard the most beautiful promise. She looked at him infatuatedly, her face flushed, like a girl lost in a dream: "I understand! I will not let you down! Shan Gudao's head... the Rama Ding... are all yours! Soon... you will know who is the most suitable person to stand by your side!"
Di Feisheng stopped looking at her, as if even one more glance would be too dirty. He turned around, his figure blending into the darkness, disappearing without a trace, leaving only a cold word echoing in the ruins:
"Waiting for your 'letter of allegiance'."
Jiao Liqiao stood there alone, stroking her pounding heart, with an extremely happy yet extremely twisted smile on her face.
"Your Majesty... you are finally... mine..."
In the distance, the sound of a flute flying in the night was heard. He suddenly raised his hand and punched the ancient tree trunk beside him hard!
With a loud "crack", the ancient tree cracked!
He leaned over, breathing heavily, his eyes filled with overwhelming pain and humiliation, as well as a hint of...deeply buried, desperate madness.
For that glimmer of hope, he had to... make a deal with the devil.
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