A Little First Love Shock for the Demon Lord - Chapter 3
After a simple breakfast the next morning, Ying Ning took Xiao Bao and stepped out of the house.
Today, she planned to buy a new stone mill.
She normally made a living by selling tofu, only occasionally helping others rid themselves of troublesome demons when she was short on money. Ever since that scorpion demon smashed her old mill, she hadn’t gone to town to sell tofu for four or five days. Although she still had some silver left, a prudent person always plans ahead. She couldn’t afford to abandon the skill that sustained her livelihood.
They had barely walked a hundred steps out of the village when a richly dressed man blocked their way.
Ying Ning squinted and took a moment to recognize the man.
It was none other than Xue Baolin.
The moment Xue Baolin saw her, a greasy smile spread across his face. With a flourish, he opened his folding fan and spoke in an affected tone, “Miss Ying Ning, we haven’t met in a few days, and you’ve grown even more beautiful!”
Ying Ning frowned. “Young Master Xue? Don’t tell me your family is having demon trouble again?”
“No, no.” Xue Baolin shook his head with a chuckle, then folded his fan and stepped closer to her. “Today I came to deliver good news.”
Ying Ning looked puzzled. “What kind of good news?”
Raising an eyebrow, Xue Baolin tapped her shoulder flirtatiously with his fan. “I was smitten the moment I saw you a few days ago. I’ve come today to formally take you as my concubine.”
As soon as he spoke, he clapped his hands. Several stout men emerged from the roadside, carrying two large trunks.
When they set them down, one of the men opened a lid, revealing silk and silver neatly packed inside.
Xue Baolin had assumed that such wealth would surely bring a smile to Ying Ning’s face—but to his surprise, it was the donkey, Xiao Bao, who brayed loudly with a gaping mouth, as if laughing at him.
Xue Baolin scowled at the donkey, feeling strangely ridiculed.
Ying Ning patted Xiao Bao, signaling it to stop, then turned to Xue Baolin with a serious expression. “Sorry, Young Master Xue, but I’m not interested in being anyone’s concubine. I don’t like you. You’d better head back.”
With that, she tried to walk past him with Xiao Bao.
Xue Baolin quickly stretched out his arm to block her way, baffled and offended. “How could you not like me? I’m handsome and rich!”
Ying Ning gave him a scrutinizing look.
The Xue family did indeed deal in jade and were quite wealthy. But handsome? Where was that coming from?
Xue Baolin was short and chubby, with beady eyes, a wide bull-like nose, and a face riddled with acne. No matter how one looked at it, he was far from handsome.
Ying Ning wasn’t one to judge by appearances, but Xue Baolin’s personality was simply detestable, so she saw no reason to be polite in her judgment.
Taking a breath, she calmly said, “I just don’t like you. Feelings can’t be forced. Please stop pestering me. If this turns into a scene, it’s your reputation that will suffer.”
With that, Ying Ning swung herself onto Xiao Bao’s back.
Xue Baolin’s face turned pale, then flushed red with fury.
Countless women had thrown themselves at him—never had anyone rejected him like this!
Rage twisted his features as he pointed at Ying Ning and began shouting insults.
“I came here in good faith to make you my concubine, and this is how you treat me? Do you even know your place? With your background, no respectable household would even take you as a concubine. You’d be lucky to marry a laborer! The fact that I’m willing to take you in is a blessing—your ancestors ought to be burning incense in their graves—”
Before he could finish, Ying Ning abruptly kicked him square in the chest from atop Xiao Bao.
Staggering back two steps, Xue Baolin clutched his chest, coughing violently.
Ying Ning looked at him coldly. “My ancestors aren’t burning incense, but I imagine yours are rolling in their graves. The Xue family raised a son as disgraceful and vile as you—don’t expect your family name to last long.”
With that, she patted Xiao Bao, who raised its head proudly, cast Xue Baolin a disdainful glance, and trotted off with Ying Ning.
Xue Baolin stood fuming, gritting his teeth. One of his servants rushed to his side and whispered, “Young Master, this girl has quite the temper. Maybe it’s best to let it go.”
Xue Baolin turned and viciously kicked the servant. “Let it go? The woman I want—there’s no such thing as letting go!”
Narrowing his eyes, he stared after Ying Ning’s departing figure and said through clenched teeth, “Tonight, we’ll go to her house. Once I’ve had my way with her, let’s see if she still dares to defy me.”
________________________________________
The setting sun hung in the west like a salted egg yolk, dyeing the clouds a brilliant red and setting the sky ablaze.
Ying Ning returned to the village, stepping through the slanted shadows of the green hills, just as a familiar figure came running toward her.
“Big sister!”
Jia Jia bounded up to Ying Ning and spoke breathlessly, “Sister Ning, my grandmother is feeling much better! I came to thank you!”
Only nine years old, Jia Jia had lost her parents early and lived with her elderly grandmother. She was unusually sensible and well-behaved.
Ying Ning felt a deep ache for children like her. Because she had to care for her grandmother, Jia Jia rarely got to play outside like other kids.
Ying Ning herself had grown up the same way, so she understood all too well.
Moved by the thought, she took out two peaches from Xiao Bao’s saddlebag and handed them to Jia Jia. “Take these. One for you and one for your grandmother.”
Jia Jia tried to decline, but Ying Ning insisted and stuffed the fruit into her arms. The girl reluctantly accepted, then took a small pouch from her clothing.
“Sister, there’s still some silver left from what you gave us for medicine. I want to return it to you,” she said shyly.
But Ying Ning shook her head. “You keep it. You might need it later.”
Jia Jia shook her head firmly. “Grandma says you already paid for the medicine. We shouldn’t take more than what we need.”
Ying Ning smiled and gently ruffled her hair. “When I was little, Grandma Yu looked after me so many times. This is what I should do. Be good and keep it safe.”
Jia Jia looked down at the pouch, hesitated, then finally nodded.
After walking Jia Jia home, Ying Ning returned to her own house with Xiao Bao.
The sun soon disappeared behind the hills. Night fell, and the village grew quiet. Only the rustle of wind and birds passing through willow branches broke the silence.
After flipping through some storybooks, Ying Ning extinguished the lamp and went to sleep.
Outside her courtyard, two shadowy figures drifted silently in the night.
Standing tall, Minglou looked coldly at her modest home.
So, this was where she lived?
By his side, Luo Su beamed with obsequious enthusiasm. “Master, she lives alone.”
Ming Lou responded with a simple “Mm.”
Just as the two prepared to enter the courtyard, a few more figures crept toward Ying Ning’s gate, crouching stealthily.
The pudgy leader looked around, confirmed the coast was clear, and climbed over the tall fence with the help of his underlings.
Minglou’s brows furrowed. “Who is that?”
“No idea. I’ve never seen him before,” Luo Su replied, scratching his head cluelessly.
Minglou’s face darkened.
Seeing his displeasure, Luo Su shut his mouth at once, not daring to speak further.
Inside the yard, Xue Baolin could barely contain his lecherous grin. Just imagining Ying Ning in his arms made him giddy with excitement.
Xiao Bao was asleep in the donkey shed. Not wanting to wake it and make noise, Xue Baolin tiptoed toward the house with great care.
Just as he reached the door, a chilling wind swept through the courtyard, making him shiver uncontrollably.
He felt like someone was behind him…
Stabilizing himself, he slowly turned around—
—and came face-to-face with Minglou, whose towering figure completely enveloped him in shadow. Those dark, bottomless eyes radiated a terrifying murderous intent.
“Leave,” Minglou said, his voice low and chilling.
Xue Baolin froze, his legs trembling uncontrollably.
For a moment, he stood there stunned.
Wait, what was he afraid of? He had brought backup tonight! No matter how tall and intimidating this man was, he couldn’t fight them all.
He wasn’t about to give up now. This night would end with Ying Ning in his bed—he wasn’t going to let some stranger ruin his plans.
Summoning his courage, Xue Baolin snarled, “Who the hell are you? I’m taking Ying Ning tonight whether you like it or not. You’d better not get in my way!”
Minglou’s eyes narrowed further with disgust.
Before Xue Baolin could react, his feet left the ground—Minglou had seized him by the throat and lifted him high into the air.
“You dare lay a finger on my woman?” Minglou said softly. “You must have a death wish.”
Xue Baolin struggled violently in the air, but he couldn’t break free. His voice was completely strangled, leaving him unable to call out for help.
The commotion awoke Xiao Bao, who began braying frantically at the unfamiliar scene.
Just as Minglou was about to snap Xue Baolin’s neck, a soft light flickered from the window behind them.
A graceful silhouette appeared—Ying Ning. She reached up to tuck her loose hair behind her ear, her shadow swaying gently in the candlelight.
Minglou’s heart wavered with the flicker of that light.
As he watched her figure slowly move toward the door, a strange tightness clenched at his chest.
He instinctively pressed his hand against the scar over his heart. Why now? That wound only acted up during full moons—tonight was no full moon. Why was it flaring up again?
Just before Ying Ning opened the door, he quickly tossed Xue Baolin to the ground and vanished into the shadows.
Ying Ning, holding a hatchet defensively, peeked outside.
Moonlight bathed the courtyard, illuminating the scene in a soft, hazy glow.
Xue Baolin sat on the ground, coughing and clutching his neck, while Xiao Bao brayed wildly in the shed as if it had seen a ghost.
Frowning, Ying Ning looked at the scene. “Xue Baolin? You again?”
Catching his breath, Xue Baolin glared at her furiously, then jumped up and roared, “How shameless can you be? Hiding a man in your house before you’re even married?!”
“What are you even talking about?” Ying Ning was both baffled and furious.
Xue Baolin ignored her and screamed like a madman, “Hand over your lover! He nearly killed me just now! I’ll beat him to death tonight!”
Ying Ning had had enough. Clearly, he hadn’t come here with good intentions.
Without another word, she strode over and kicked him to the ground again—
Ying Ning looked slender, and Xue Baolin had never imagined she’d be so strong. With one swift kick, she fractured one of his ribs, sending him collapsing to the ground with a wail. But he had barely cried out before he saw the axe in Yingning’s hand swinging straight at his crotch.
Panicked, Xue Baolin scrambled backward, desperately shifting his body. Luckily, he moved just in time—the axe landed squarely between his legs. A second slower and he’d be a eunuch.
Ying Ning glared at him, voice laced with fury.
“Xue Baolin, listen carefully. If I can exorcise demons from your family home, I can just as easily send them back—and send a few more while I’m at it. You mess with me again, and your whole family will suffer
along with you. Got it?”
Xue Baolin stared at her in disbelief, then nodded frantically.
Ying Ning lowered the axe and jerked her chin toward the courtyard gate.
He got the message and ran for his life.
Once he was gone, Ying Ning let out a breath and walked back into the donkey shed, axe still in hand.
Xiao Bao was braying hoarsely, clearly agitated. Ying Ning smiled and reached out to stroke his head.
“Alright, alright, I chased that bastard away.”
But Xiao Bao wouldn’t calm down. He kept braying toward the fence beside the shed.
Puzzled, Ying Ning followed his gaze—but there was nothing there.
“Still scared? Be good, there’s nothing to be afraid of. The bad guy’s gone. If you keep braying like that, the neighbors will complain,” she coaxed him gently.
But Xiao Bao only rolled his eyes in frustration. Clearly, she didn’t understand what he was warning her about.
Eventually, Xiao Bao quieted down, and Ying Ning returned to the house. She paused by the window for a moment before bending down to blow out the candle.
Silence once again fell over the yard.
Behind the fence, Lou Su crouched beside Minglou, whispering curiously,
“Your Majesty, didn’t we come here to capture her? Why are we hiding?”
Minglou didn’t respond at first.
Why, indeed?
After a long pause, he replied coolly,
“The man just now was vile. I don’t want to be mistaken for someone like him.”
“Vile…” Lou Su murmured. Then, looking at Minglou with confusion, he added,
“But Your Majesty, that man tried to assault her, and you want to take her back to the Demon Realm and… well, force her to—doesn’t that sound kind of similar?”
Minglou’s eyes suddenly sharpened, a cold, murderous light flashing across them. His head snapped around with a ghostly turn, and his gaze bore into Lou Su.
“What did you say?”
A wave of killing intent surged toward him. Terrified, Lou Su slapped himself twice.
“I misspoke! Forgive me!”
Minglou exhaled deeply and looked away, face clouded. After a moment, he muttered,
“I just want to take back what belongs to me. I’m nothing like that man.”
Lou Su nodded rapidly.
“Of course, Your Majesty is absolutely right. Then… shall we go in and tie her up now?”
Minglou hesitated. After a moment, he said,
“You stay here. I’ll go in alone.”
Lou Su agreed with a grin, glad to stay behind.
Minglou stood up, preparing to act—but just then, light reappeared from Ying Ning’s window.
She was seated inside, hairpin in hand, casually twisting her long hair into a loose bun, leaving a single strand to fall gently by her cheek. Then she picked up a book, propped her head on one hand, and began to read.
Soft laughter floated through the open window.
She was clearly trying to keep her voice down, but Minglou heard it distinctly. The sound was light and airy, brushing across his heart like a cat’s paw.
He paused.
Then he squatted back down in place.
Lou Su stared at him, bewildered.
“Your Majesty? What are you doing?”
“The plan’s cancelled,” Minglou said flatly.
Lou Su was stunned.
“Why?”
Minglou muttered, “The donkey gave me a headache. I’m going back to rest.”
And with that, he turned into a wisp of black smoke—and vanished into the night.