The Crazy Fox Demon Devours My Heart - Chapter 12

Just when everything should have been calm, the once-still water began to bubble. Suddenly, a shadow broke through the surface, and a small head emerged.

She gasped desperately for air, wet hair plastered across her face, but she couldn’t care about that now. Both arms stretched above the water, holding something high.

Upon closer look—it was a puppy.

With all her remaining strength, Qingyu lifted Momo and swam all the way to the shore before collapsing onto the ground.

She lay on her side, her gaze fixed anxiously on Momo. Only when it moved slightly did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Her wounds were severe, each breath came with pain, labored and shallow.

Momo stared at her, its gemstone-like eyes shimmering golden. Looking at the dying girl before him, a rare flicker of agitation flashed within its gaze.

It raised a paw and gently touched her.

Bl00d poured uncontrollably from Qingyu’s mouth, staining Momo’s fur red.

Her eyelids grew heavier, so heavy it felt as though if she closed them, they would never open again.

She looked at Momo one last time. I’m sorry. I couldn’t get you out.

Then her eyes slowly shut. Darkness engulfed her completely.

She was falling endlessly in the abyss—unable to see, unable to hear, unable to speak. Nothing but thick darkness wrapped around her.

Am I dead?

Just as she was about to lose her last shred of consciousness, a blinding white light burst forth, dispelling the darkness. Something poured into her body, immense power rushing into her heart. In an instant, vitality coursed through her limbs and bones, surging with life.

The overwhelming sensation jolted Qingyu awake.

In disbelief, she stared at her hands, wiggled her fingers, moved her arms and legs—no pain.

Though shocked, she quickly calmed down. Where’s Momo? I can’t waste time. I must get him out.

But Momo was nowhere to be found.

She searched for him tirelessly afterward, even suspected that Xilan and the others had taken him away. Yet from that day forward, those who used to bully her would look at her as though they had seen a ghost.

Xilan, upon first seeing her again, had been terrified. Then she hastily denied taking Momo, and fled in panic, never daring to trouble her again for a long time.

Momo seemed to have vanished into thin air. No matter how large the palace was, there was no trace of him.

Qingyu often sat in her courtyard, lost in thought. Her nursemaid and Fuyin would frequently urge her not to keep searching—that perhaps Momo had already left the palace.

In time, Momo became a sore spot in Qingyu’s heart. No one mentioned him again, nor dared to touch upon the subject.

“Princess! Princess!”

Fuyin shouted loudly beside Qingyu’s ear, pulling her back from her daze.

“Fuyin, you’re so noisy,” Qingyu murmured.

“Princess, what were you thinking about? You were so distracted I called you several times and you didn’t hear me.”

Qingyu lowered her gaze. “Nothing.”

Fuyin hesitated, then said, “Princess…”

“What is it?”

Looking at Qingyu’s complexion, Fuyin probed cautiously, “The bridal escort has arrived.”

Today was the day of her betrothal to the demon clan. That day had finally come.

She could have simply run away. But her nursemaid was in their hands. Although Madam Lin had told her that as long as she entered the demon realm they would let her go, Qingyu didn’t believe it. With the Empress’s ruthless nature, her nursemaid would surely be killed the moment Qingyu left.

So she had already sent a message crow to Senior Brother Shan’an, begging for his help.

He had studied under the same master as she, and even when she was confined in the Cold Palace, he often visited her. Only when he was later summoned to the battlefield did they lose contact for years.

She hadn’t wanted to trouble him, but the message crow would find him. If he saw it, he would surely return. With his abilities, rescuing her nursemaid would not be difficult.

For now, she only needed to write a letter for Madam Lin to deliver back to the Empress, to secure greater safety.

Dipping her brush in ink, Qingyu carefully wrote line by line: after entering the demon realm, she would soon return to the palace with the young lord of the demon clan to visit her nursemaid.

It was both reassurance and warning—ensuring her nursemaid’s safety while hinting that the Empress should not act rashly.

The door creaked open. Madam Lin entered with a broad smile, leading a maidservant.

The maidservant carried lavish garments and golden hairpins, waiting silently at the side.

“Princess, the bridal escort has arrived. Please hurry and dress.”

Seeing Qingyu still writing instead of preparing, Madam Lin frowned. “Oh heavens, Princess, hurry, hurry! Don’t miss the auspicious hour.”

Unhurried, Qingyu finished the letter, sealed it, and handed it to Madam Lin.

“Please, Madam, deliver this to Her Majesty the Empress when you return to the palace.”

Though puzzled, Madam Lin dared not delay the timing. She tucked the letter into her sleeve and pulled Qingyu toward the dressing table. “Rest assured, Princess. But first, let’s get you dressed.”

Qingyu wore only a plain white night robe, her long black hair cascading smoothly down her waist. Even without makeup, her beauty was striking.

Layer after layer of splendid garments were draped over her slender figure. A ruby belt fastened around her slim waist, golden-threaded cloud shoes on her feet. The attire had been custom-made for her, every detail perfect, enhancing her cold elegance into breathtaking allure.

Her eyes lowered, expression neither sad nor joyful.

The maid carefully combed her hair, the black strands flowing like water through her fingers. Soon the hair was styled, and though the maid intended to secure it with a golden hairpin, Qingyu insisted on using jade. With the jade pin in place, two golden ornaments were added, dangling jeweled chains swaying gently at her temples.

A light white foundation was brushed on her face, slender brows painted, peach-pink blush dusted across her cheeks, bringing warmth to her pallor. Dark red pigment pressed upon her lips, making them vivid and alluring, tinged with a hint of seduction.

Finally, intricate patterns were painted on her forehead. The look was complete.

Dressed fully, Qingyu stood tall, her gaze deep as an abyss, faintly cold yet devastatingly captivating.

Fuyin’s eyes sparkled. “Princess, you’re so beautiful!”

Even Madam Lin couldn’t help but nod repeatedly. “With such beauty, surely the young lord of the demon clan will be utterly smitten.”

“Princess, let us depart.”

Fuyin placed the red veil over Qingyu’s head and supported her as they descended the stairs. Together, they headed outside the town of Fuguang.

Outside, rows upon rows of people stood in formation for the bridal procession. Strangely, they were all in human form—men handsome, women graceful.

“Princess, the demon clan doesn’t seem so frightening after all,” Fuyin whispered, relieved. She had been bracing herself to face hideous monsters, but upon seeing them, she even rubbed her eyes in disbelief before calming her pounding heart.

Madam Lin led Qingyu forward, scanning the group. As arranged, a representative should be present to receive the bride.

But they had been waiting some time, and no envoy had stepped forward.

Just as Madam Lin grew doubtful, the crowd parted.

From a distance, a man walked slowly toward them. Step by step, ethereal as an immortal, until he finally stopped in front of Qingyu.