4. Chapter Four
◎I've always been this way, what is love?◎
Upon receiving the intelligence, Shangqing immediately dispatched disciples to infiltrate the Demon Realm to investigate, but unfortunately, the chosen ones were too foolish. While disguised as a minor demon asking for directions, they encountered the Right Protector. Seeing their delicate and fair skin, Wu Yan's deep pupils brightened slightly, and he sensibly pointed them to Hu Mei's palace.
Thus, they walked right into Hu Mei's trap and were caught red-handed. She swayed her hips triumphantly, carrying the two bound and gagged men before Lu Yue, asking for a reward.
"Your Majesty, I have captured a petty thief from the Shangqing. What do you think we should do with him?"
The two disciples, bound together, looked up and saw only a misty vapor. A gentle breeze blew past, revealing the figure of Demon Lord Lu Yue. Unlike the ferocious demons and bear-like figures described by their fellow cultivators, she was stunningly beautiful, with captivating, deep, mysterious purple eyes. Her wet hair cascaded down her back, and she languidly and comfortably soaked in the hot spring. Yet, a single glance from her exuded power forced the two disciples to lower their heads, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
The fear of snakes is an innate fear in the hearts of humans.
Lu Yue glanced at it indifferently but ignored it, leisurely washing the cute and obedient little white rabbit in front of her and drying it with a blanket. Then she stroked its flawless white fur with great affection. But being stared at for too long, the little white rabbit couldn't help but feel shy, shrinking behind Lu Yue and revealing its human form, obediently sitting beside her while clutching its belly.
His Highness had been by his side for the past two months, and his belly had shrunk considerably. However, it still showed a hint of roundness. Seeing the astonished looks of the two righteous disciples, Xiao Bai lowered his head shyly.
"Junior brother, his stomach..."
"It's big, it's huge."
The two exchanged bewildered glances. Though they had found the rumors absurd, seeing was believing. If the demon could truly impregnate someone, then poor Senior Brother Xueji would also be...
Lu Yue ignored the two fools, her gaze fixed intently on Hu Mei's swaying, bushy nine-tailed fox. She couldn't help but reminisce about her past relationship with the young master of the fox clan. When she first met him, she was merely a lowly lackey at the beck and call of the former Demon Lord. No one paid her any attention; everyone was scheming to curry favor with the Demon Lord.
She had only met him once, yet the handsome young master had already entangled her, and Lu Yue was also captivated by his snow-white fox fur. Whenever she was troubled, she would lie on his nine tails—or rather, eight. She loved to hide in a dark, damp cave and rest there for a while.
That was when she felt most at ease.
It's only because Lu Yue is in a good mood today, otherwise these two would have been buried as fertilizer.
"What business do you have in my Demon Realm?"
"Naturally, we should look to our Immortal Venerable Xueji."
"You demon, you've gone too far! You've actually made our Shangqing disciples pregnant with your demonic seed."
The two argued back and forth, giving Lu Yue a headache. Xiao Bai obediently held the fruit plate and fed her grapes. Lu Yue couldn't help but rub the pink rabbit ears. Because there were outsiders present, Xiao Bai's body became even more sensitive, and her fair skin turned red with embarrassment.
He knew that his appearance wasn't as flamboyant as the beauties sent by other demon races, but he had the advantage of being pure. However, the Venerable One still took a liking to him at first sight. He was originally worried that Xue Ji from Shangqing would neglect him after entering the Demon Realm, but the Venerable One had been with him all this time.
What use are high cultivation and good looks? In Lu Yue's heart, he is the most important person.
Xiao Bai looked at the arrogant disciple with her round eyes and asked in a low voice, "Your Excellency, what nonsense are they talking about?"
He's clearly the most favored, so how come there are rumors that Xueji is pregnant with the Venerable One's child? Is she trying to compete for his favor?
Lu Yue felt most sorry for Xiao Bai's pitiful appearance, and waved her hand to let Hu Mei take her away.
Hu Meineng was able to become the Left Protector by virtue of his ability to read people's expressions and directly threw the person into Lu Yue's bedchamber.
She couldn't understand why, since the Venerable One had brought back the Xue Ji he so longed for, he would only keep her locked up in a room and not let her stay overnight. If it were her, she would have already used her to enhance her cultivation.
Otherwise, what's the point of keeping it?
Hearing the commotion outside, Xueji thought it was the demon, but when she got up and went outside, she saw two familiar faces.
Upon seeing their senior brother, the two disciples immediately bent over and lunged forward, attempting to rush in, but were bounced back by the formation and thrown back out.
"Senior brother, you have suffered for the sake of Shangqing."
"It's all because of our incompetence."
Hu Mei was displeased by the two people's wailing and howling, so she wrinkled her nose and left, leaving them a place to catch up.
Xue Ji's eyes brightened slightly: "Why are you here?"
"We heard that you are pregnant with that demon's child. Master Erkong, please let us see if you are alright."
Xue Ji's slightly curved lips froze. What was he expecting? His master disliked him from the start, so why would he send a disciple to keep an eye on how he was doing in the Demon Realm?
"Nonsense."
It was clearly that rabbit spirit who was pregnant; the news about the Demon Realm was spreading like wildfire, so how did it become him? Could it be that he deliberately spread rumors to humiliate himself?
"Is my senior sister in good health?"
"No, the yang poison in her body is too strong, and she can only relieve her pain by lying on an ice bed every day."
The eldest sister usually held a very high position in Shangqing, but unfortunately she was injured when she led her disciples down the mountain for training.
Therefore, a few foolish disciples risked their lives to steal medicine from the Demon Realm, where the cold and harsh air made the medicinal herbs growing there more effective in suppressing the Yang poison within her body. Unexpectedly, their discovery attracted the Demon Lord Lu Yue to directly attack Shangqing.
Those disciples, realizing the trouble they had caused, committed suicide to atone for their sins. Unfortunately, the eldest sister was still tormented by the Yang poison, unable to eat or sleep.
Hu Mei's eyes lit up slightly after hearing this, and she finally understood why the Venerable One had sent her here.
“Even the most vicious Yang poison can be easily neutralized by our Venerable One’s blood. We’ll have to see what Immortal Venerable Xueji is willing to give up.” Hu Mei finally understood why the Venerable One had been so cold to Xueji. It turned out that he wanted the other party to take the initiative to bow down and offer herself up, which would make things more interesting.
The thought of the proud and pure-hearted Shangqing Xueji willingly serving the Venerable One made Hu Mei feel comfortable.
Xue Ji's fair and handsome face tightened, but in the end he still obeyed Hu Mei and stiffened his body to come to the hot spring.
Lu Yue had been waiting for him, and through the white mist, she deliberately asked first, "What are you doing here?"
Xue Ji didn't dare to look up, but instead stared at the ground with her eyes lowered. In a low, cold voice, she said, "I want your blood to save my senior sister."
"Because she's your senior sister?" Lu Yue stared at Xue Ji, whose ears were slightly red, with interest. She couldn't help but tease her as soon as she saw her face.
It wasn't because she was his senior sister; he already knew that she was the disciple his master loved the most.
Whether it was the sword or the elixir, everything given to her was the best. Even her birthday was celebrated regularly every year, while others only celebrated it once every ten years, but Xueji's birthday was never cared about by her master.
He envied his senior sister. Every time their master saw him, Xueji could sense the deep disgust in her eyes. Was it because he lacked talent and couldn't wield a sword, or because he was too dull and couldn't please her as much as his senior sister?
But when she was taken to Shangqing, her master gently held her and kept patting her back to comfort her.
She was just like his mother.
Xueji was orphaned at a young age and raised by a poor, elderly farming family. He envied children who could call out "Mother!" loudly.
I thought my master could be like my mother, but in the end, it was just wishful thinking. His personality was never likable.
"It's just a bottle of blood, but what can you give me?" Lu Yue stared at Xue Ji. She didn't like his taciturn nature and wanted to see more of his emotions.
Xueji understood her meaning, and with a cold expression, began to unfasten her waist belt. The silver outer garment with its subtle patterns was pulled open by her slender, jade-like fingers, revealing a section of her jade-like collarbone.
Lu Yue looked puzzled: "Wait, why are you taking off your clothes?"
Xueji's fingers froze. Was she not allowed to take off her clothes? This was going too far.
Lu Yue realized that he had misunderstood her meaning and couldn't help but laugh: "Perhaps you are quite popular among humans, but I prefer the hairy and soft demon race."
Xue Ji was caught in a dilemma: taking her clothes off or not. She raised her cold eyes and questioned, "Then why did you bring me to the Demon Realm?"
"Then why did you come to the Demon Realm? Was it for your sect or for your senior sister?"
"I have both; my sect raised me, and my senior sister taught me."
"The one who stole the medicine was a disciple of Shennong Peak, and the one who is sick is only your senior sister. What does it have to do with you? You Shangqing people are as ridiculous as ever, always sacrificing yourselves for others."
"How could you, with your cold-blooded and ruthless nature, understand?"
"I am who I am, what is emotion?"
In the Demon Realm, everyone is like her—strength reigns supreme, and only those with power submit to it. Emotions are something only the weak possess here.
Lu Yue stood up with a cold expression. Her position was taken from the former Demon Lord, or one could call him her father. He had adopted many sons, but only a few survived.
So she killed him.
But when the long sword pierced his body, Lu Yue expected to see terror, anger, or fear.
But her father remained calm, a satisfied smile on his handsome face, and even praised her with obvious delight, saying, "Lu Yue, you did very well."
She was a snake, and since snakes would eat their own kind, she was naturally extremely ruthless.
Lu Yue cruelly used her snake tail to pull Xue Ji into the water. When Xue Ji noticed, the cold scales were slowly tightening, and he could only accept it. As the water submerged his chest, Xue Ji gradually found it difficult to breathe, but he still gritted his teeth and endured it.
His indifferent face flushed crimson, and he gasped for breath, his teeth clenching his teeth. Perhaps it would be better to die now; he had no ties to begin with.
Looking at the man who remained silent and restrained, Lu Yue found him utterly boring. Suddenly, her snake tail released his body: "You really are stupid. You clearly have something I want, so why don't you know how to back down? I can give you my blood, as long as you do one thing for me."
"What is it?"
"I haven't decided yet."
"I promise you."
Lu Yue deftly filled a medicine bottle with blood and handed it to Xue Ji. It was the first time she had seen this man without his usual stern, cold expression; instead, he wore a gentle smile, and his slightly raised eyebrows made her feel dazed.
"You have a beautiful smile. Soaking in the water here will help your injury. You should say what you want directly instead of always holding it in."
Lu Yue disliked Xue Ji's restrained expression and felt uneasy about it.
When she left, Xueji was still standing there in a daze, his usually lifeless heart suddenly pounding wildly. He took a deep breath; in the end, she just wanted to toy with him, and he wouldn't let her have her way.
Seeing Xue Ji successfully obtain the blood, the two disciples were both shocked and terrified. They were still in a daze even when Hu Mei kicked them out of the Demon Realm.
"Senior brother, we're out."
"Junior brother, we are still alive."
The two women, clutching the medicine bottles, embraced and wept bitterly, then hurriedly went to Shennong Peak to deliver the medicine to their senior sister.
When Wen Ruo heard the news, his expression turned unfriendly. Only then did he realize that Lu Yue's gaze had not been focused on him for a long time.
"Why did Your Majesty give him your blood?"
Looking at the wound, Wen Ruo couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache. She lowered her head and used the tip of her tongue to lick away the remaining bloodstains. The warmth of her pink tongue slowly cleansed her cold wrist, and the tiny wound healed instantly.
Lu Yue rested her cheek on her hand and chuckled softly, "Because he's good-looking."
Wen Ruo paused, then looked at her reflection in the hot spring, which was a hideous and ugly face.
No, Her Majesty is not a shallow lecher; she must have other reasons.
Wen Ruo suppressed the gloom in her eyes, revealed a gentle smile, and said respectfully, "It is his good fortune to win your favor."
"Perhaps, he is quite interesting."
"You haven't had any new people around you for a long time, why don't you pick someone you like to serve?"
"No need, Xiaobai is fine."
Wen Ruo stopped bothering him and turned coldly to go to Young Master Bai's palace. Aside from the previous fox clan young master, this was the one she had spent the longest time with. But why him? His appearance was just average, and his temperament was utterly boring.
He meticulously and patiently made up the bed, ignoring the trembling white rabbit spirit.
Snakes are inherently lustful, and it's common for them to mate in groups. Lu Yue is too abstinent and restrained; he should carefully select new concubines. That weak and powerless white rabbit spirit won't stay by the Venerable One's side for more than a few days.
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