The Demon Queen Insists on Marrying Me - Chapter 1

In a deep, dense forest, towering trees soared into the clouds. Their massive trunks and lush canopies intertwined to form a vast green curtain that obscured most of the sky. Sunlight barely pierced through the dense foliage, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow across the forest floor.

Deep within the forest, a young woman was running for her life, clutching her pale green dress as she fled. The fabric billowed behind her, but her face was etched with terror. Each breath came in ragged gasps, her heart pounding against her ribs, and her feet pounded the ground without pause.

Hot on her heels was a colossal creature: the Dragonflame Tiger. Its crimson scales shimmered as it stalked through the undergrowth, its razor-sharp claws tearing deep furrows in the earth. The tiger’s low, guttural roars reverberated through the forest, shaking the very air around it.

Lu Xiaoxiao knew all too well that being caught by the Dragonflame Tiger would have dire consequences. She sprinted forward without hesitation, weaving through the labyrinthine trees. Sweat streamed down her face, dripping onto the ground, but she couldn’t afford to wipe it away. Clenching her jaw, she dragged her exhausted body onward.

Suddenly, her leg buckled as she tripped over a tree branch, sending her sprawling to the ground. The sharp branches tore through her long skirt, and crimson bl00d welled from her fingertips.

Staring at the bl00d on her hand, she couldn’t understand why this dream was so prolonged—long enough for her to experience utter exhaustion for the first time in a dream. Nor could she fathom why it felt so real—so real that she could smell the metallic tang of bl00d from the gash on her palm.

But there was no time for hesitation.

The Dragonflame Tiger, its scarlet scales gleaming, was now less than a meter away. She could even smell the beast’s foul breath. In this critical moment, she grabbed the fallen longsword with both hands, her body coiling like a fully drawn bow. With a sudden, desperate turn, she swung the sword backward with all her might.

Fortunately, her sword struck the Dragonflame Beast behind her. Unfortunately, the beast was naturally agile and reacted with lightning speed, jerking its head aside at the last moment to evade the fatal blow. The longsword failed to sever its throat, leaving only a gruesome gash across its jaw.

The wound was horrifying. Crimson bl00d streamed down the beast’s scales, dripping onto the ground with a hissing sound, as if the very earth were being corroded.

Lu Xiaoxiao forced her exhausted body to stand, gripping the longsword with both hands and facing the Dragonflame Beast. She inwardly cursed her missed opportunity. If only her strike had been a fraction lower, a fraction faster, she might have slain the beast.

The Dragonflame Beast paced back and forth a few meters away, its vertical pupils glowing with fiery light as it fixed its gaze on the longsword in Lu Xiaoxiao’s hands, as if poised to launch another attack at any moment. Lu Xiaoxiao could only pivot with the beast’s movements, keeping the sword’s tip trained on it.

Why won’t this dream end?!

Lu Xiaoxiao’s anxiety surged, but the stinging pain in her palms served as a constant reminder that this was no dream.

The Dragonflame Beast was roused by the scent of Lu Xiaoxiao’s bl00d. Its pupils constricted to pinpricks as it raised its massive claw and swatted a broken log toward her. The log, taller than a person, tumbled through the air with terrifying force, emitting a bone-chilling whistle as it spun.

Caught off guard by the beast’s cunning, Lu Xiaoxiao scrambled to dodge. But her already weakened body reacted sluggishly. In her haste, the log struck her sword, sending it flying to bury itself in the ground several meters behind her.

Before Lu Xiaoxiao could regain her balance or even catch her breath, a wave of murderous intent washed over her. The Dragonflame Beast had lunged forward, its powerful hind legs digging into the ground as it clawed at the earth, sending dirt, sand, and pebbles flying.

Every hair on Lu Xiaoxiao’s body stood on end, her heart clenching as if gripped by an invisible hand. She knew there was nowhere left to retreat. Resigned, she closed her eyes, praying that when the beast tore into her throat, the torment would be brief.

But the expected sensation of tearing flesh never came.

Instead, she heard the thunderous crash of a massive object collapsing.

Lu Xiaoxiao trembled as she opened her eyes, only to see a tall, slender girl with waist-length black hair standing before her, her back turned, a crimson whip in her hand. The mountain-sized Dragonflame Tiger lay collapsed at the girl’s feet, its eyes wide with lingering fear.

Feeling the danger had finally passed, Lu Xiaoxiao’s legs buckled beneath her, as if all her strength had been drained away, and she collapsed to the ground.

“Th-thank you… for saving me,” Lu Xiaoxiao gasped, her breath coming in ragged gulps.

The white-robed girl turned at the sound of her voice, and Lu Xiaoxiao finally saw her face clearly.

At first glance, she resembled a blooming peony—vibrant and flamboyant. Her oval face was framed by fox-like eyes that added a touch of alluring charm. Lu Xiaoxiao instantly felt that this beauty shouldn’t be wearing white; a crimson robe would suit her far better.

As the girl approached, Lu Xiaoxiao rose to her feet, wiped her hands, and reached out to her. But the girl seemed not to notice her, striding past her toward something behind her.

Lu Xiaoxiao followed her gaze and saw the girl stop before the sword she had been flung away from by the Dragonflame Tiger. The girl reached for the hilt, as if to draw the blade, but quickly withdrew her hand the moment she touched it.

“Is this sword yours?” the girl asked.

“Yes,” Lu Xiaoxiao replied. “It was in my hand the moment I arrived here, so I suppose it must be mine. What’s your name? Thank you for saving my life.”

The girl turned her head. “I’m Tantai Jing. What do you mean by ‘the moment you arrived here’?”

“Your name is quite unique,” Lu Xiaoxiao said. “I’m Lu Xiaoxiao. I just meant that the sword was in my hand right when I…” She trailed off, realizing she might have suddenly been transported to another dimension. It was best not to reveal such a thing to others.

“I already know you’re Lu Xiaoxiao, the Young Sect Leader of the Profound Heaven Sword Sect,” Tantai Jing said. “Everyone knows that. Even if they don’t recognize you, they certainly know your sword, the Chaoyuan Sword.”

“Young Sect Leader! We’ve finally found you!” A group of people suddenly burst from the forest and surrounded Lu Xiaoxiao.

“Young Sect Leader, where did you go? You turned around for a moment, and you were gone! It nearly scared me to death!”

“As expected, the Young Sect Leader’s immortal techniques are extraordinary. The Dragonflame Tiger over there must have been slain by you. What are you all standing around for? Hurry and retrieve the demon core for the Young Sect Leader!” A gaunt cultivator with lower three whites eyes shouted at the other cowering figures.

“I didn’t kill it,” Lu Xiaoxiao said, turning in circles but finding no sign of Tantai Jing. “It was my savior who did. Damn, I don’t even know how to contact her!”

A short, plump cultivator beside her stammered, “Young Sect Leader, I know which sect she belongs to.”

All eyes turned to him, the Lower Three Whites Cultivator’s gaze particularly malevolent. The plump cultivator trembled, unable to continue speaking.

The Lower Three Whites Cultivator stepped in front of the plump cultivator, saying, “Young Sect Leader, that female cultivator was Tantai Jing of the Jade Glow Palace. They say she’s only been a disciple for a few years, yet she’s already climbed into the top ten of the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends Ranking. She’s quite beautiful and her cultivation is decent, but she’s still far below your level, Young Sect Leader.”

“Exactly! How could someone who used to be a rogue cultivator compare to our Young Sect Leader? Your future path to immortality is limitless!”

As the group continued to flatter her endlessly, Lu Xiaoxiao grew increasingly confused. Young Sect Leader? Profound Heaven Sword Sect? She only remembered seeing something about the Profound Heaven Sword Sect in the game she’d just opened before falling asleep. Still, being new here, she decided to go along with whatever they said for now.

Lu Xiaoxiao, who considered herself thick-skinned, found her face flushing slightly. “Alright, alright, let’s get out of here and return to the sect.”

The others quickly agreed, leading Lu Xiaoxiao out of the mountains.

The feeling of narrowly escaping death had been too real, nothing like a game.

Well, might as well make the best of it, Lu Xiaoxiao thought. Young Sect Leader of the Profound Heaven Sword Sect? That means I can get whatever I want! Heavens, you finally have eyes! You’re giving a hardworking, overworked wage slave a chance to defy fate and change my destiny!

Lu Xiaoxiao vaguely remembered the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends Ranking they had mentioned earlier. In the game, to encourage players to spend money, the combat power of cultivators was ranked on two lists: the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends Ranking for those in the Foundation Establishment Stage and the Thirty-Six Heavenly Stars Ranking for those in the Golden Core Stage. Those who made it onto these lists were considered the elite of their generation, blessed with extraordinary talent and immense potential. Of course, in the game, “combat power” really meant “RMB (real-world money).”

I definitely need to repay Tantai Jing properly next time I see her, Lu Xiaoxiao thought. But not today. This mountain is too dangerous. I can’t die before I even get a chance to repay her!

After walking for two hours along the mountain path, the group finally reached an inn called Yuelai.

The inn had three stories. By the time Lu Xiaoxiao and the others arrived, it was already noon, and the main hall was packed, with only one table remaining.

Before Lu Xiaoxiao could speak, the Lower Three Whites Cultivator skillfully tossed a silver ingot onto the table. “Waiter, bring your best wine and dishes. Introduce them properly to our Young Sect Leader and serve him well. There’ll be a generous tip for you.”

The waiter, wiping the table with a cloth, briskly cleaned it while rattling off the restaurant’s specialties, his eyes fixed on the silver ingot in the center of the table.

Lu Xiaoxiao, however, paid no attention to the waiter’s spiel, her attention completely drawn to the conversation at the next table.

“The Profound Heaven Sword Sect truly lives up to its reputation as the foremost cultivation sect. Just look at their attire and bearing—even a casual meal is so extravagant. I envy them so much! If I could one day become an outer disciple of the Profound Heaven Sword Sect, that would bring glory to my ancestors!”

Hearing this, Lu Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but feel a secret thrill.

“Brother, you’re way behind on the news. How long have you been holed up in the Demonic Beast Mountain Range? The Profound Heaven Sword Sect was annihilated by the Demonic Sect half a month ago. Their entire mountain gate was drenched in bl00d, a veritable hell on earth. It was a massacre!”

As soon as the words were spoken, everyone in the hall turned to stare at Lu Xiaoxiao’s table.

The Lower Three Whites Cultivator froze, then drew his sword and charged at the two speakers. “You’re talking out of your ass! The Profound Heaven Sword Sect is the foremost sect in the world! How could it be wiped out so easily? Our Young Sect Leader is right here, safe and sound!”

His opponent refused to back down. “The foremost sect is long gone. Your threats don’t scare me! How long have you been in the Demonic Beast Mountain Range? Believe it or not, you’ll find out the truth when you return.”

“Exactly! The Profound Heaven Sword Sect is finished. I advise you to shed that skin quickly, or the Demonic Sect will find you and make you regret it.”

“It’s such a pity. The Profound Heaven Sword Sect Leader was a good person. When she was alive, no demons or monsters dared to cause trouble within a hundred miles of the sect. But now, without the sect to restrain the Demonic Realm, the world has descended into chaos and darkness.”

Lu Xiaoxiao listened to the others’ conversation, her heart sinking. They hadn’t even returned yet, and their sect had already been wiped out…

Even colder than Lu Xiaoxiao was the Lower Three Whites Cultivator. He had spent two hundred spirit stones to secure the opportunity to serve the Young Sect Leader, hoping to curry favor and earn a procurement position back at the Sect. Now, he had lost both his wife and his army.

Before they had even finished ordering, several people excused themselves to use the restroom and fled. The Lower Three Whites Cultivator went outside to investigate, then returned, grabbed the silver ingot from the table, glared fiercely at Lu Xiaoxiao, took two steps away, turned back, spat at her, and finally left.

Well, in less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Lu Xiaoxiao was alone again, completely broke. She patted herself down, but couldn’t find even a single copper coin.

The waiter, who had been watching the entire scene, approached her. “Miss, what would you like to order?”

…What was the point of ordering anything now?