A Little First Love Shock for the Demon Lord - Chapter 20.1

As soon as Ying Ning finished speaking, Minglou suddenly sat up, his eyes flickering with anger as he snapped, “How could I possibly care about your engagement?! Don’t flatter yourself!”

For a moment, Ying Ning thought she detected a hint of panic in his tone—though she couldn’t be sure if it was just her imagination.

She softly explained, “I was just thinking… ever since Aunt Li mentioned my engagement to you, you’ve been acting strangely. That’s why I wondered if it was because—”

“It’s not!” Minglou cut her off sharply. “Who do you think you are? I couldn’t care less who you’re engaged to! The only reason I ever protected you was because you were useful to me. Other than that, I have no interest in you whatsoever!”

His words struck her like a blow, heavy and merciless, forcing her head lower and lower.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured quickly. “I just wanted to know why you were angry… that’s why I guessed.”

Lifting her misty eyes, she looked at him earnestly and asked, “Minglou, can you please tell me what exactly you’re angry about?”

The room fell into silence.

Minglou sat before her, his face partially hidden in the shadows. His sharply chiseled features seemed carved from ice, his dark eyes fixed on her with a quiet intensity.

After a long pause, he finally spoke.

“You still don’t understand? I’m not angry. This is just how I am—moody, volatile, and prone to violence.”

He reached out and pinched the back of her neck, tilting his head with a cold indifference. “That spider was right. The ‘good person’ you keep talking about—he was never me. So, stop trying to win me over with kind words.”

Ying Ning met his gaze. He wasn’t gripping her tightly, but she still felt like her breath was caught in his grasp.

After a while, he let go and rested his hand on her back again, then lay down flat on the bed and closed his eyes without another word.

Ying Ning curled up beside him, falling silent, her body a small, sorrowful bundle.

Outside, the night deepened, the Milky Way hung high and vast.

As the hour approached midnight, the world grew even quieter. A faint thread of white mist drifted in through a crack in the window and silently settled over Minglou’s face.

Ying Ning felt the hand on her back grow heavier. She opened her eyes and glanced at Minglou. His expression had softened, as though he were truly asleep.

Just as she looked away, three small spiders appeared before her.

The middle spider waved a front leg at her as if greeting her. Then it jumped on the bed, and in a flash, transformed into a tricolor cat that looked exactly like Ying Ning.

The other two spiders climbed to her side and worked together to lift the heavy hand pinning her down, helping to free her.

Carefully, Ying Ning crawled out from under Minglou’s hand. The cat that looked just like her immediately took her place, nestling beneath his palm.

The two spiders then led her off the bed, onto a chair, and up to the window. With a light leap, she slipped out through the narrow opening.

Zhuzhu stood in the courtyard, arms crossed, watching her jump down from the window. “Looked like you had something to say to Minglou earlier. Don’t tell me you’ve figured out how to find your true body?”

Ying Ning nodded and walked up to her.

Zhuzhu crouched down and said, “Then hurry and go find it. My sleeping spell won’t hold him much longer. Once he wakes up, you won’t be able to leave.”

Ying Ning hesitated for a moment, then said softly, “Zhuzhu, thank you for helping me.”

Zhuzhu smirked. “I’m not helping you. I just want to piss off Minglou. I can’t beat him, so I have to follow his orders. But obeying him all the time really gets under my skin. Helping you escape is my way of getting back at him.”

Her face turned serious. “Once you’re out that door, all kinds of demons and monsters could be waiting. When you’re close to death, don’t come blaming me for letting you go.”

Ying Ning nodded firmly. This was her decision, and she would take full responsibility—life or death.

Zhuzhu looked at Ying Ning’s round little cat face and couldn’t help but pinch her cheek. Her eyes then landed on the bl00d jade ring hanging around Ying Ning’s neck.

“Oh, one more thing. Our dear ‘Master’ is unstable in everything—except for going berserk. When he wakes up and sees you gone, he’ll definitely come after me. To save my own skin, I’ll need to take that ring from you.”

Ying Ning looked down at the ring, a trace of hesitation in her eyes. “Minglou gave this to me. I can’t just hand it over to someone else…”

Zhuzhu teased, “What? Afraid I’ll use it to hurt Minglou?”

Ying Ning didn’t answer, but the worry in her eyes said everything.

Zhuzhu found it amusing. “After the way he treated you today, I thought you’d hate him by now. Why are you still thinking about his well-being?”

“I don’t know what’s wrong with him,” Ying Ning said quietly, “but he protected me so many times. No matter what, I can’t be the reason he gets hurt.”

Zhuzhu waved it off. “Fine, fine. Don’t worry, I won’t harm him. That ring was made from his rib and bl00d essence—important, yes, but only for protection. It can’t hurt him. And don’t worry about losing your only safeguard—my little spider will stay with you and help hide your aura.”

At that, Ying Ning looked down at the bl00d jade ring again.

So the ring… was actually part of Ming Lou’s body.

He had given her something so precious, just to protect her…

When she still didn’t respond, Zhuzhu added, “Still don’t trust me? I may hate Minglou, but not enough to kill him. Without him, Yu Qianxun would get even more arrogant.”

Ying Ning considered for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. But once Minglou wakes up, you have to give him something for me.”

Zhuzhu’s expression turned curious. “What is it?”

Ying Ning didn’t answer…

________________________________________

As the stars faded and the moon dipped westward, Minglou slowly opened his eyes.

Supporting his head, he sat up, frowning.

That heavy, sluggish feeling… it was a sleeping curse.

His expression instantly darkened. He turned to the little cat in his hand.

The small cat was curled obediently in his palm. When it saw he’d woken up, it blinked its big eyes at him.

Ming Lou kicked the creature away and stormed off the bed, scowling.

“Cat? Spider? What the hell is that thing?!”

He threw open the door, roaring, “You damn spider! Get out here!”

Zhuzhu appeared on the rooftop, laughing. “Master, you sure slept long! Seems your powers really aren’t—”

Before she could finish, Minglou flung a hand toward her. A powerful force yanked her from the roof and slammed her to the ground.

She groaned, her organs aching from the fall. Before she could recover, Minglou stepped on her back, voice cold as ice.

“Where is Ying Ning?”

“You bastard!” Zhuzhu cursed.

Minglou ignored her and pressed harder. “Where is she?!”

Wincing in pain, Zhuzhu gasped, feeling her ribs creak. She finally shouted, “Didn’t you say you weren’t going to help her? So, she went off on her own to find her body!”

He didn’t believe her. “You’re hiding her, aren’t you?!”

Frantically, Zhuzhu pulled out a letter and two small flowers. “She left these for you! Look and see if I’m lying!”

Minglou paused, snatched the letter and flowers. Zhuzhu wiped the sweat from her brow, relieved. Good thing Ying Ning had written something, or he’d never believe her.

The letter was scrawled in messy handwriting, clearly done with cat paws. One corner bore a partial paw print.

Ying Ning wrote that she was going to find her body.

And even though Minglou had said those cruel, heartless words, she refused to believe them. She had eyes. She had a heart. She would see and feel for herself.

She had her own judgment, and once she reclaimed her body, she would tell him her answer in person.

The flowers were her gift. She didn’t know what kind of mood he was in, but she hoped they would lift his spirits. She had chosen a different color this time, hoping he would like it.

Minglou stared silently at the letter, then lowered his head and picked up one of the flowers, gently sniffing it. The soft petals brushed his nose.

The scent was like Ying Ning’s—but not quite.

Her fragrance was one of a kind. Irreplaceable.

“Where did she go to find her body?” he asked, voice calm now.

Zhuzhu, still pinned beneath him, rested her chin in her hands and said lazily, “No idea. I didn’t ask.”

Minglou’s gaze grew colder. “Zhuzhu, you can play the fool all you want. But if anything happens to Ying Ning because of you, I have a thousand ways to make you beg for death.”

Zhuzhu turned her head and grinned. “Wow, I’ve never seen you care this much about a woman before. Don’t tell me… you actually like her?”

“It’s not love,” Minglou said coldly. “She’s just… important to me.”

“Please. It’s written all over your face,” Zhuzhu scoffed, then raised her hand to her mouth in mock shock. “Oh no! Is the great and mighty Minglou secretly a coward? Too afraid to admit his feelings in case Ying

Ning laughs at him—or worse, rejects him?”

Her voice was so loud it seemed like she wanted the whole world to hear.

Minglou’s barely subdued rage flared again. “You damn spider! Want me to rip off that human skin of yours?!”

Despite her pain, Zhuzhu burst into laughter.

But seeing the sky grow bright, she sobered. “By the way, I forgot to tell you—although that cat isn’t Ying Ning’s original body, if it dies, her soul will have nowhere to go. She’ll truly die.”

Minglou turned at once, ready to search for her.

Zhuzhu held up the bl00d jade ring and waved it leisurely. “I took it from her. Right now, the only thing she has is my little spider. If you want to find her, you’ll need me.”

Ming Lou narrowed his eyes, deadly intent swirling in the depths. “Take me to her. Now.”

“Sure,” Zhuzhu replied with a grin. “But only if you agree to my condition.”

Another demand.

Already on edge, Minglou raised his hand and gripped her throat, his voice dangerously low. “I’m out of patience.”

Zhuzhu clawed at his hand, her face turning purple as she croaked, “If I die… you’ll never find her…”

“The longer you delay… the more danger Ying Ning is in!”

Minglou clenched his teeth in silent frustration before finally loosening his grip.

Freed at last, Zhuzhu stumbled back a few steps, coughing violently. Minglou spoke coldly, his patience worn thin.

“Name your terms. Now.”

Rubbing her sore neck, Zhuzhu raised her eyes to meet his.

“I want the God of War—Shen Xuanyi.”

“Done.” Minglou agreed without hesitation.

Zhuzhu smiled faintly.

She hadn’t expected Ying Ning to be such a valuable bargaining chip.

“Take me to see Ying Ning—immediately,” Minglou demanded.

Zhuzhu steadied her breath. Knowing Minglou was a man of his word, she had no intention of testing him further.

She smiled.

“Alright, come with me. I’ll take you to meet my sweetheart.”

Minglou frowned at her words but said nothing in return.

________________________________________

The river reflected drifting clouds. Low-flying birds cut across the sky as a sticky, humid wind whispered of impending rain.

Ying Ning, carrying a small cloth bag slung across her body, walked along the riverbank with cautious steps, eyes scanning her surroundings.

She remembered that somewhere nearby was a spot where stray cats liked to gather.

After some time searching, she finally spotted a white cat drinking from the river.

She rushed over.