A Little First Love Shock for the Demon Lord - Chapter 6.1

Ying Ning had finally managed to sleep peacefully for a few nights in a row. Lately, she had been going to bed early, and as a result, her complexion was gradually improving.

But tonight, even after lying down, she didn’t fall asleep right away.

She lay flat on the bed, occasionally turning her face toward the window.

The window was tightly shut. Pale moonlight filtered through the lattice, casting faint shadows on the floor and quietly bathing the dim interior.

He hadn’t come yet.

She knew that man had been following her. At first, she had been confused and a little frightened, fearing he harbored malicious intentions. But days had passed, and he had never made a single inappropriate move. He always kept his distance, never approaching her. At night, he would linger outside her window, standing guard until dawn.

His deliberate distance slowly eased her wariness. She even began to wonder if he might be the “Earth Deity” her brother had once mentioned—one who protected the land and its people.

And thanks to his presence, the demons and monsters that used to lurk around her had all vanished. A selfish thought grew in her heart—she hoped he would continue staying in the shadows, acting as her personal talisman.

But tonight, as he still hadn’t shown up, unease crept in. If he didn’t come, the monsters might return.

She turned over in bed, her back facing the window, then after a while flipped again to face it, silently counting the panes on the lattice.

When she reached the nineteenth pane, a shadow suddenly appeared outside the window.

The moonlight dimmed, and the figure grew blurred, almost melting into the surrounding darkness.

But Ying Ning knew—it was him.

Like a stubborn guardian, no matter how long the night, he would always keep watch outside her window.

Relieved, Ying Ning closed her eyes.

But before she could fall asleep, the soft patter of rain began outside.

She opened her eyes and looked toward the window.

The rain grew heavier and soon became a torrential downpour. Yet that figure remained motionless outside.

Ying Ning sat up, worry flickering in her eyes.

He wouldn’t really stand out there all night in the rain, would he?

She glanced at the oil-paper umbrella leaning against the wall. After hesitating for a moment, she wrapped herself in a cloak that lay on her quilt, picked up the umbrella, and walked to the window.

Taking a deep breath, Ying Ning summoned her courage and pulled the window open—only to meet his gaze directly.

Shock immediately filled the man’s dark eyes.

Feeling a bit nervous, Ying Ning tightened her grip on the umbrella and, after a pause, extended it to him.

“The rain’s heavy tonight. You should take this umbrella.”

Her voice was soft, nearly drowned out by the roar of the rain.

The man didn’t respond. He glanced at the umbrella, then looked back at Ying Ning’s face.

“You’re not asleep?” His deep voice was filled with disbelief.

Ying Ning didn’t understand why he sounded so surprised, but she answered honestly, “I thought you weren’t coming tonight. I was afraid the demons would come back, so I didn’t sleep.”

His eyes widened slightly—he looked even more astonished.

He didn’t take the umbrella. Ying Ning held it out awkwardly, her arm growing tired and her hands soaked by the cold rain.

She bit her lip lightly, trying to mask the awkwardness with a gentle smile. “I can’t invite you inside to take shelter, so please take the umbrella. Otherwise, you’ll get sick.”

The man frowned at her. After a long pause, he spat out a single word, frustrated: “You!”

Ying Ning met his gaze seriously. “What about me?”

At her question, an odd flush suddenly crept up his face.

“About last time…”

Ying Ning was about to bring up the incident at Sister Hua’s place when the man abruptly turned and ran off.

He moved swiftly. At the courtyard gate, he seemed to remember something and stomped the ground in frustration. Then, in the pouring rain, he turned into a wisp of black smoke and vanished.

Ying Ning remained by the window, completely baffled.

She couldn’t figure out what he wanted—he didn’t even give her a chance to ask questions.

Looking down at the umbrella she hadn’t managed to hand over, she sighed helplessly.

In the end, she left it by the window, thinking if he came back, he might still use it.

She closed the window and returned to her bed, but before she could sit down, a sudden gust of foul wind blew the window open again.

A chilling, venomous presence, like being watched by a serpent, wrapped around her.

Ying Ning immediately reached for the jade talisman in her bosom, standing straight and facing the window.

A bolt of lightning split the sky, illuminating the dim courtyard.

A man dressed in black hemp robes stood in the center. His hollow, dark eyes stared straight at her window, and his mouth twisted in a grotesque grin that reached his ears.

Realizing it was that same strange creature from before, Ying Ning hurriedly pulled out the jade talisman, hoping to scare it away.

The nightmare demon tilted its head stiffly, then slowly floated toward her room, eventually phasing through the wall and stopping by the window.

“Little girl… where did you get that divine token?” the demon asked sluggishly. With each word, foul black mist oozed from his mouth.

Ying Ning kept her gaze locked on him, cautiously edging toward the door.

Seeing her refuse to answer, the demon lazily waved a hand. “No matter… I’m not interested in the token. But last time, you ruined my plans… Tonight, you’ll be my prey.”

Sensing his murderous intent, Ying Ning no longer hesitated. She turned and bolted for the door.

But the demon’s black mist morphed into a rope, whipping toward her.

Sensing danger, her jade talisman immediately released a barrier, repelling the dark rope.

But the demon was prepared. He pulled out a red bell with his left hand and rang it three times.

In an instant, a cloud of yellow sand burst forth, surrounding Ying Ning. She was trapped, unable to move forward, and the talisman in her hand grew scalding hot.

Looking down, she noticed a faint crack appearing on the dragon carved into the jade.

She didn’t know why, but instinct told her—the bell countered her talisman.

The demon’s voice echoed through the storm of sand: “This is the Drought Bell, an artifact of the Drought Demon. It just so happens to suppress your Yinglong talisman.”

Ying Ning’s heart sank.

Her worst fear had come true.

That Yinglong talisman was her only weapon against demons. Now that it had been neutralized, didn’t that mean she was doomed?

Seeing no movement from Ying Ning within the sand, the demon assumed she had given up. Grinning, he opened his mouth and spewed out a soul-binding spell.

As the cursed energy seeped into the sand and neared Ying Ning, a blast of black mist suddenly surged in, shielding her. A palm, full of killing intent, struck out—dispersing both the sand and the spell in an instant.

A great cloud of sand flew up. Ying Ning accidentally got some in her eyes.

She rubbed them forcefully, and when she opened them again, she saw a man standing in front of her, wearing a silver mask that covered the top half of his face.

Her eyes lit up with joy. “Didn’t you leave just now?”

Minglou froze completely.

He was wearing a mask—how did she recognize him?

He coughed awkwardly and didn’t answer.

He had actually been on his way back to his secret palace to think things through when he sensed the nightmare demon’s presence. Realizing the demon might target Ying Ning, he immediately rushed back.

Across from him, the demon glared furiously. “Who are you? Why do you keep ruining my plans?”

Minglou ignored him, calculating silently.

He had nearly exhausted his power dispersing the curse and sand. If he fought the demon now, he’d surely lose. He needed a way to escape.

Escaping alone would be easy. The problem was taking Ying Ning with him. As a mortal, she couldn’t fly or move fast.

But his spiritual energy was tied to her—he couldn’t abandon her.

That energy was like gold to him. Right now, all his precious “gold” was stored in this little “vault” named Ying Ning. If she fell into the demon’s hands, his vault would be plundered clean!

The very thought infuriated him. He’d rather destroy the vault than let the demon steal from it!

He glanced sideways at Ying Ning.

Sensing his gaze, she looked up at him, her clear, innocent eyes full of unease.

Minglou looked away and sighed inwardly.

No. This vault didn’t just hold a few gold bars—it held a mountain of treasure. He couldn’t afford to lose it.