A Little First Love Shock for the Demon Lord - Chapter 19.2
Ying Ning’s small cat head bobbed from side to side under the shaking. After a moment, she finally opened her eyes drowsily. “What is it? The blanket was just too cozy, and I accidentally dozed off.”
“What else?” Minglou gritted his teeth. “I’m going to eat you alive!”
Ying Ning blinked up at him, sensing his frustration. She tilted her head with concern. “Minglou, you don’t look well. Are you sick again?”
Minglou gave a cold, mocking laugh. “I’m fine. But you… you’re going to fall ill very soon.”
Ying Ning was confused, clearly not understanding his meaning.
Seeing her blank expression, Minglou leaned in close and growled, “Ying Ning, I’m not going to help you find a body anymore.”
Her eyes widened, reflecting his fury within their feline depths.
She was quiet for a long time. Just when Minglou expected her to beg or cry, Ying Ming gave him a gentle smile.
“It’s okay. I told you not to push yourself. Go ahead and do what you need to—I’ll find a body on my own.”
Her tone was soft and free of reproach. There wasn’t even a trace of expectation.
Perhaps… she only ever had expectations for Zhuang Wensheng.
Minglou felt a sharp pang in his chest. It hurt more than all the torment Chen Wuxiu had ever inflicted.
The feeling was sickening.
His expression turned cold and distant. “Do you know what I truly want to do?”
Ying Ning frowned and shook her head slowly.
“I want to destroy you,” he said flatly.
Ying Ning was stunned, unable to speak.
Minglou turned to Luo Su and ordered, “We’re returning to the Secret Palace.”
Still reeling from the charged atmosphere, Luo Su quickly nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Minglou gripped Ying Ning’s neck, ready to leave—but a familiar voice interrupted.
“Your Majesty, no need to rush off.”
Minglou frowned and turned toward Zhuzhu, who sat leisurely atop a wooden table, smiling slyly.
“Although we’ve found no trace of the spirit cat, Little Spider did tell me something that might trouble you greatly,” she said.
“Stop being cryptic,” Minglou snapped. “Speak.”
Zhuzhu shrugged and explained, “Apparently, the Venerable Zhengde from the Ninth Heaven lost a magic item called the Nine Nether Mirror. It allows passage into the Underworld, but it requires the combined power of several immortals to activate.”
Luo Su raised a skeptical brow. “Why would such a thing exist in the Heavens? Do they want to enter the Underworld too?”
“I heard it was created at the request of the God of War,” Zhuzhu replied. “But I’m not sure why.”
She hopped off the table and walked toward Minglou. “Your Majesty, I remember you once went to Wangchuan with Luo Su. Tell me—who do you think has the Nine Nether Mirror now?”
Minglou’s gaze darkened. “You’re talking about Yu Qianxun?”
“I can’t say for sure,” Zhuzhu said with a shrug. “It just seems too coincidental. She wants to enter the Underworld to find Chen Wuxiu, and then the Nine Nether Mirror disappears. It needs immense spiritual energy to activate… and recently, people in the mortal world have been disappearing.”
Ying Ning suddenly interjected, “You mean someone bewitched Xiao Li to turn people into cats, and is using those cats to power the Nine Nether Mirror?”
Zhuzhu beamed. “Exactly! Sister Ying Ning, you’re getting smarter by the day.”
She bent down to peer at Ying Ning, but as she moved closer, Minglou instinctively pulled Ying Ning away.
Zhuzhu pouted. “So stingy.”
Minglou ignored her and fell into deep thought. If their theory was true, things could get messy.
He wasn’t afraid of Yu Qianxun entering the Underworld—he’d find nothing there—but the sacrifices required for it could cause chaos.
The Heavens would certainly retaliate. But the demon world, weakened by Chen Wuxiu’s past misrule and a lack of order, was in no state to defend itself.
Even when Minglou had been active, he never caused real destruction. His provocations were always controlled. That restraint was why Heaven hadn’t intervened.
But now, if war broke out, the fragmented demon realm would be annihilated.
And Minglou had only recovered about 30% of his power.
No, he couldn’t let Yu Qianxun have his way.
He closed his eyes in frustration.
Ying Ning noticed his troubled expression and spoke gently, “Minglou, don’t worry. Actually, I…”
“Shut up,” Minglou cut her off coldly. “I don’t want to hear your voice right now.”
His indifference hit like cold water. Ying Ning fell silent, hurt and withdrawn.
Minglou turned to Luo Su. “Continue investigating the civet cat. Report anything unusual immediately.”
Luo Su nodded and disappeared.
Zhuzhu lingered and asked with a teasing smile, “So, should we still help Sister Ying Ning find her body?”
Minglou hesitated briefly, then said cruelly, “Focus on stopping Yu Qianxun. Forget her body.”
Zhuzhu chuckled and looked at Ying Ning. “See, Sister Ying Ning? He and I—neither of us are good people.”
Then she left.
Ying Ning’s eyes stung as tears welled up. She looked down, unable to meet Minglou’s gaze, fearing more cruel words.
She never wanted him to revolve around her. She never insisted he help her.
She only wished he could go back to the way he used to be.
Because she liked that Minglou.
Minglou glanced at her drooping ears and sad little form. Taking a deep breath, he turned away and strode into the house.
Without asking, he carried Ying Ning in and laid her on the bed.
He lay down beside her, closed his eyes as if asleep—but his hand remained resting on her, as if unwilling to let her go.
Ying Ning didn’t move. She curled up, her ears still drooped, and quietly began reflecting on the day.
Where had she gone wrong?
Piece by piece, the answer came to her.
She suddenly opened her eyes—and met Minglou’s gaze.
He was already watching her, expressionless, his deep eyes glowing faintly red in the darkness.
She panicked, not realizing he had been observing her. Her whiskers trembled.
“Why?” Minglou asked softly. “Are you afraid of me?”
She didn’t answer, only lowered her gaze, staring at her paws.
Minglou slowly looked away, focusing instead on sensing the recovery of his magic.
Yes, this was how it should be. Sentiment only led to suffering.
He had bigger things to worry about—none of which involved her.
Just then, Ying Ning spoke timidly, “Minglou… I want to ask you something.”
Silence.
Then Minglou replied, “Ask.”
Rubbing her little paws, Ying Ning hesitated. Finally, summoning her courage, she whispered:
“Are you angry… because I’m engaged?”