Return to the Demon Palace
Han Jiang walked briskly, and Cang Jingqi followed not far behind her.
"System, target confirmed."
[Target confirmed – Demon Lord]
I need specific names!
[System Prompt: Due to changes in the strategy requirements, the new host must determine the identity of the target and complete the main quest independently.]
Is this object capable of being changed?
The bound object can change under certain conditions.
"View historical bindings".
Han Jiang returned to his room and immediately turned on the light screen. Although he couldn't see who the bound object was, he could see the binding changes.
It was changed twice, once before the Lunar New Year and once after.
Han Jiang clearly remembers that the favorability rating did increase that night, so at that time the bound partner was Cang Jingqi. The change before the New Year was from Cang Jingmo to Cang Jingqi, and after the New Year, it was changed back.
How exactly did Cang Jingmo come back to life? Was it purely due to the male protagonist's halo? That doesn't matter anymore; what matters is that Han Jiang now needs to win him over.
The more she thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed.
"Xiaoman, I'm sorry." Cang Jingqi stood at the door and knocked gently.
"I want to be alone," Han Jiang replied.
"good."
Han Jiang could only console herself that, thankfully, she didn't really like Cang Jingqi that much; it was just ending a relationship that wasn't particularly unforgettable, and then she could go after someone else.
I probably don't really like it. Hanjiang asked himself this question again.
That's great, but I don't really like it yet.
Han Jiang nodded firmly, and this time she didn't even shed a tear, so it seems she wasn't too sad.
"Phew—" Han Jiang let out a long breath. Tomorrow, she would first have Cang Jingqi send her back to the Demon Realm, then break up with him, and then go find Cang Jingmo. She planned tomorrow's arrangements in her mind, and everything seemed so orderly and without any mistakes.
Perhaps he was too tired these past few days, Hanjiang lay down on the bed and fell asleep very quickly.
The next morning, Hanjiang packed his luggage and went out, while Cangjingqi waited at the door.
"Xiaoman, breakfast is ready. You didn't eat last night..."
“Your Highness,” Han Jiang interrupted Cang Jingqi, “I want to return to the Demon Realm as soon as possible.”
"Xiaoman, you...are you still angry?"
Han Jiang tilted her head, not looking at Cang Jingqi: "I know this is part of the plan, so it's okay. Let's go back to the Demon Realm as soon as possible."
Cang Jingqi didn't believe a word she said. He could sense the fluctuations in Han Jiang's spiritual energy, indicating that Han Jiang's emotions weren't as stable as they appeared. She was not only angry, but also lying.
Upon hearing the news, Xia Chan brought a group of people to see the two off. Han Jiang was absent-minded, and only exchanged a few polite words with Xia Chan.
"Lord Xia, I have a question for you," Cang Jingqi said in a low voice, "If Lord Xia's wife is angry, what should you do?"
Xia Chan was taken aback at first, but when she saw Han Jiang turning her face away, she immediately realized what was going on and said, "Between lovers, mutual understanding and tolerance are the most important things. Your wife is angry for a reason. As a man, it is only right to be patient and coax her. She will calm down in a few days."
"Thank you, Lord Xia." Cang Jingqi silently observed Han Jiang's reaction and found that she wasn't even looking this way, probably not having heard what Xia Chan said. Xia Chan's old-fashioned approach might not work on Han Jiang; it seemed he wasn't going to be able to coax her.
As they stepped out of the post station, Chi Jin was also among the farewell party. Apart from Li Fang and Liu Guai, none of the other members of the Vermilion Bird Pavilion had been punished. It seemed that only two high-ranking members of the entire Vermilion Bird Pavilion had betrayed them, and not a single subordinate had followed them. Anyone with a discerning eye could tell that this was a lie.
"Junior sister, let me see you off."
"Lord Chijin, have you recovered from your injuries so quickly?" Cang Jingqi asked.
Ignoring Cang Jingqi's words, Chi Jin continued to say to Han Jiang, "Junior Sister, it was Senior Brother who was wrong before..."
"Lord Crimson Gold, I'm returning to the Demon Realm. Take care of yourself."
"Back to the Demon Realm? Aren't you going back to the Four Continents Sect?"
Han Jiang said, "You must be relieved. Are you worried that I'll go back to the Four Provinces Sect and tell the Second Elder what you did? I don't have time for that right now, Your Highness, let's go."
"Wait, junior sister! What is your relationship with His Highness?"
Han Jiang was feeling irritable and didn't want to answer this question. Lovers? They broke up once they got to the Demon Realm. Friends? Wouldn't that just let Chi Jin have his way?
The oblivious Akane asked again.
Han Jiang could only say, "It's none of your business!"
One trouble after another, the cold season is almost over.
The journey back to the Demon Realm was arduous. Cang Jingqi dismissed the other guards, leaving only the two of them sitting on the folding fan.
As the cold descends, people huddle together, closing their eyes to rest.
Cang Jingqi didn't say anything, but sat next to her, close but not touching.
Han Jiang resisted the urge to break up with him, fearing that Cang Jingqi would throw her off the folding fan.
Upon arriving in the Demon Realm, Han Jiang rushed back to her room, not giving Cang Jingqi a chance to speak. Sitting on her folding fan, Han Jiang's mind was a complete mess; she had no idea how to start the conversation. Now back in her room, she finally had some space to think.
However, I couldn't come up with anything.
How should she bring it up? Should she break up with him because Cang Jing lied to her? Han Jiang always felt that such deception was only worth arguing about to express her displeasure, not worth breaking up with him because of it.
But she couldn't think of any other reason.
They've only been together for a few days, and Hanjiang's first relationship is already coming to an end.
There's no point in running away; it's better to say something sooner so that we can start the new strategy missions sooner.
"Where did the prince go?" Han Jiang knocked on the door, but no one answered, so he turned to ask the guards nearby.
"He should be in the study with the Second Prince."
Are all three princes present?
"The Third Prince went back to the Demon Palace and then left; he shouldn't be here."
Cang Jingye isn't in the Demon Palace? Han Jiang had a feeling that things weren't over yet, because the sorcerer who cooperated with Cang Jingye hadn't shown up at all, which might be related to the upcoming plot.
Han Jiang walked to the door of the study and bumped into the two brothers coming out.
Cang Jingmo disguised himself and returned to his original appearance, no longer showing himself as Amai.
Cang Jingqi could not hide her joy: "Xiaoman, did you come to see me?"
"...Um, I have something to tell you." Han Jiang nervously bit her lip, her hands looking awkward no matter how she positioned them, so she simply crossed them over her chest.
Cang Jingqi glanced back at Cang Jingmo, who said, "Brother, you go ahead and do your thing. I'm going to find A-Ye."
"Looking for the Third Prince?" Han Jiang asked.
“A-Ye is missing. All the men we sent out have lost track of her,” Cang Jingqi replied. “Xiao Man, what do you want to tell me? Let’s go to the study to talk.”
Cang Jingmo tactfully walked away, leaving the two of them alone.
"Let's just stay here, there's no one around." Han lowered his head, not daring to look at Cang Jingqi's expression.
"What's wrong?" Cang Jingqi sensed Han Jiang's distress and, as her tone lowered, he also became cautious.
Han Jiang took a deep breath and encouraged himself: "Your Highness, after careful consideration, I think it's better for us to separate."
"What do you mean by 'separation'?" Cang Jing scoffed. "Xiao Man, you're still angry, aren't you? I... I'm really sorry, I'm so sorry. I..."
"I'm not angry," Han Jiang interrupted. "I just feel it's inappropriate." What am I even saying?! Han Jiang was annoyed. What she was thinking and what she was saying were completely different. She wanted to slap herself and beg herself to stop talking nonsense.
A moment of silence.
Cang Jingqi: "Xiaoman, you said before that you liked me and wanted to be with me."
“I was mistaken. I thought I liked you, but that’s not true. It was like the suspension bridge effect? I had a misconception because of the danger, it wasn’t liking you at all… Your Highness, I’m so sorry.”
"Why are you apologizing... Han Xiaoman, you're not joking, are you?" Cang Jingqi didn't understand the meaning of the words Han Jiang used, but he understood what Han Jiang meant—Han Jiang said he didn't like him anymore.
But the fluctuations in spiritual energy are so obvious, she's lying, why?
"Xiaoman, is it you who's leaving this world, so you lied to me? Because you were afraid I'd be sad?" Cang Jingqi guessed. That was all he could guess. He didn't believe Han Jiang didn't like him; he preferred to believe that Han Jiang wanted to return to her world, so she fabricated the lie.
"No, it's just... I just don't like you anymore... Your Highness, I'm sorry..." Han Jiang hugged her arms tightly, her hands gripping herself tightly, and she didn't let go even though it hurt.
Cang Jingqi tried to get closer, but Han Jiang dodged him.
She avoided Cang Jingqi and walked in the direction Cang Jingmo had just left.
"Xiaoman..."
"Don't follow!" Han Luo fled in panic.
She walked faster and faster, as if what was chasing her was not Cang Jingqi, but some kind of ghost or something, even though Han Jiang was not afraid of ghosts or monsters.
"Second Prince!" Han Jiang saw Cang Jingmo and hurriedly called out to him, "Are you going to find the Third Prince?"
She needs to find something to do now, otherwise she'll fall into sadness again. As the saying goes, the best way to move on from a relationship is to enter a new one; isn't changing your target a new relationship?
"Miss Hanjiang? What brings you here? Where is your brother?"
Han Jiang glanced back guiltily and, seeing that Cang Jingwan hadn't followed, breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Second Prince, let's go find the Third Prince together." She avoided the topic of Cang Jingwan.
Cang Jingmo, not understanding, said, "No need, you can stay in the Demon Palace."
"Let me go with you..." Han Jiang's tone was bitter. She really couldn't face Cang Jingqi anymore. She was on the verge of collapse, no matter what she did.
Cang Jingmo sensed the pleading in Han Jiang's words and agreed. He was curious whether Han Jiang had quarreled with his brother, but Cang Jingmo wasn't one to ask, so he kept quiet.
Han Jiang remained silent on the road, absentmindedly following behind Cang Jingmo.
“Miss Hanjiang, it’s not that my brother deliberately kept it from you that I am Amai.” Cang Jingmo felt it necessary to explain.
"I understand, it's just the two of you who know, right?" Han Jiang was taken aback, wondering why this was suddenly brought up.
“There’s a connection of demonic energy between us brothers and sisters, so I reckon A-Jue and A-Ye can sense it. But Miss Han Jiang, it was my idea not to tell you. Please don’t blame your brother…”
Han Jiang waved her hand: "I don't blame him..." She couldn't explain. If anyone was to blame, it was this damn system, and also herself for not realizing it sooner.
Now that things have come to this, Han Jiang has no interest in figuring out who is right and who is wrong. She just wants to finish the mission quickly and leave this world as soon as possible, leaving behind everything that has made her sad.
Cang Jingye's whereabouts are uncertain. Some say she went to Anzhou, others say she's in the Demon Realm. It's like looking for a needle in a haystack; searching like this is definitely not going to work. We can only return to the Demon Palace and think of another way.
Outside the Demon Palace, Cang Jingqi waited for the two to return in the night.
Han Jiang didn't want to see him, so she hid behind Cang Jingmo, trying to avoid his gaze.
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