The Demon Queen Insists on Marrying Me - Chapter 3

In the hazy night, the Demonic Beast Mountain Range merged into a dark curtain against the horizon. Under the moonlight, a tidal wave of beasts surged forth, their footsteps drumming across the earth like thunderous war drums, punctuated by the roars of colossal creatures that seemed intent on shattering the world.

Beneath the archway at the western entrance of Jing’an Town, Lu Wanbai stood poised, her blue-glowing longsword held high, her face alight with anticipation.

Beside her, Tantai Jing stood expressionless, gripping a jet-black whip wreathed in crimson flames.

Lu Xiaoxiao huddled between them, clutching the hems of their robes and trembling. “Senior Sister Lu,” she stammered, “I had to pawn my sword. Now it’s all up to you two. My life-saving benefactor, I beg you to save me again. I can never repay this debt, but one day I’ll repay you by working as your slave.”

Lu Wanbai frowned at Lu Xiaoxiao’s words to Tantai Jing. “How could you pawn your precious Chaoyuan? Xiaoxiao, you’re being reckless!”

Tantai Jing raised an eyebrow, her gaze turning probing as she studied Lu Xiaoxiao.

Lu Xiaoxiao stared at the approaching demonic beasts—grotesque, monstrous creatures that sent shivers down her spine. Yet her voice hardened with defiance. “What good is a sword when you can’t even afford to eat?”

Lu Wanbai shook her head and retrieved a sword from her storage ring, handing it to Lu Xiaoxiao. “Use this for now. I’ll help you redeem your own tomorrow.”

Lu Xiaoxiao gripped the sword with both hands, feeling it burn against her skin. For the past twenty-five years, she had focused solely on studying and working, never even killing a chicken. Now she was being asked to wield a sword against beasts taller than a person, her legs nearly buckling beneath her. Heavens, have mercy!

With a miserable expression, Lu Xiaoxiao called out to Lu Wanbai’s retreating figure, “Senior Sister, I was poisoned in the Demonic Beast Mountain Range. I can’t sense my spiritual energy at all.”

Lu Wanbai’s face paled with alarm. “What kind of poison is this? I’ve read tens of thousands of books in the Scripture Repository and never encountered anything like it.” She turned to Tantai Jing, her eyes filled with suspicion.

Tantai Jing met her gaze and shook her head. “Perhaps it’s not poison. What do you think, Lu… Xiaoxiao?”

Lu Xiaoxiao couldn’t think straight. Her vision was a blur of flashing text, like a screen flooded with scrolling comments: HP… Attack Power… Defense… Attack Power… HP…

The only things clear were the figures before her:

Lu Wanbai (Human, Foundation Establishment Stage)

HP: 100

Attack Power: 95

Defense: 59

Tantai Jing (Half-Human, Foundation Establishment Stage)

HP: 100

Attack Power: 90

Defense: 100

The beast tide was now less than twenty meters from the trio. Lu Wanbai soared forward, sweeping her sword in a horizontal arc. A blade of qi slashed through the air, sending the front rank of demonic beasts flying several meters back, creating a gap in the tide. Her strikes were lethal; each swing sent at least seven or eight beasts hurtling away. Almost no demonic beasts managed to break through her defenses to reach the archway below. Before long, a gruesome pile of severed limbs and mangled corpses accumulated before her.

Tantai Jing dragged herself forward a step. “Let go!”

Lu Xiaoxiao knelt, clinging to Tantai Jing’s calf. “No way!”

Tantai Jing dragged herself forward two more steps. “I said, let go!”

Lu Xiaoxiao knelt, now clutching Tantai Jing’s thigh. “I can see Senior Sister is doing just fine. Her combat skills are improving with every battle!” She squeezed out a tear from the corner of her eye. “Without you here, I don’t feel safe.”

Tantai Jing’s earlobes flushed crimson. She had never been embraced so intimately before, especially not around her thigh. With a sharp jerk of her leg, she flung Xiaoxiao off, then kicked her away for good measure. Terrified that the girl would cling to her again like a stubborn plaster, she swiftly flew forward to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Lu Wanbai.

Calf… thigh… where will she grab next?

The whip’s advantage lay in its length and wide attack range. Each fiery lash from Tantai Jing’s whip sent a wave of demonic beasts flying, which in turn crashed into and toppled even more, significantly relieving the pressure on Lu Wanbai.

Lu Wanbai, drenched in sweat from fighting at the front, glanced back several times but saw no reinforcements arriving. She wondered what Lu Xiaoxiao was doing in the rear, clinging to Tantai Jing.

Fortunately, just as her spiritual energy began to wane, Tantai Jing finally arrived, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. With Tantai Jing taking the lead and Lu Wanbai assisting, they eliminated the remaining demonic beasts. After an hour, they had piled the corpses into a wall twice their height.

Perhaps the overwhelming stench of bl00d drove the demonic beasts to flee around the town, bypassing the corpse wall. After guarding for another two incense sticks’ worth of time, the pair finally leaped down from the archway.

Lu Xiaoxiao stood ten meters away, leaning on her sword and vomiting violently. It was hardly her fault—the corpse wall towered over them, its stench so nauseating that even a whiff could induce vomiting. Lu Xiaoxiao wondered if the other two had lost their sense of smell.

Lu Wanbai turned to Tantai Jing, her expression apologetic. “I’ll take my Junior Sister to check if anyone else needs help. Farewell for now, Fellow Daoist Tantai Jing.”

Tantai Jing pinched her nose, her expression radiating disgust, and waved them away. Lu Wanbai helped Lu Xiaoxiao flee as if escaping.

Lu Wanbai couldn’t understand how her Junior Sister had become so weak. How could a few demonic beasts have affected her so badly? Could the shock have been too great? The thought deepened Lu Wanbai’s concern for her Junior Sister. With their Master gone, as the eldest disciple, she vowed to take good care of Xiaoxiao from now on.

Supported by Lu Wanbai, Lu Xiaoxiao found an unoccupied house. After rinsing her mouth and resting for a long time, she finally recovered. The demonic beasts in the town had been mostly cleared, and the beast tide was nearing its end. Lu Wanbai sternly warned Lu Xiaoxiao not to wander off and to wait for her return before leaving to assist at another intersection. Having seen no living demonic beasts along the way, Lu Xiaoxiao felt reassured and sat down on the steps to rest.

Whether it was her imagination or not, the moonlight bathed the courtyard in an eerie pallor. Lu Xiaoxiao thought she smelled a strong, metallic scent again. A dark, glistening stain near the well caught her eye, making her wonder if it could be bl00d…

No, no, I drank water from there earlier. It’s probably just spilled water I didn’t notice. But the more she thought about it, the more frightened she became. Finally, steeling her resolve, she walked toward the mysterious stain…

Thank goodness it wasn’t. Lu Xiaoxiao patted her chest in relief, but the sound of hurried footsteps approaching made her instinctively crouch down and hide in the shadows.

Judging by the footsteps, there were two people entering the courtyard. Uncertain whether they were friend or foe, she prepared to stand up as soon as she heard Lu Wanbai’s voice.

“This subordinate greets the Young Master.”

“The outer regions of the Demonic Beast Mountain Range have been quiet for so long. What’s the cause of this beast tide?” Lu Xiaoxiao recognized the voice as vaguely familiar. She wanted to peek, but feared being discovered, so she suppressed her curiosity.

“Thunderclouds are gathering deep within the Demonic Beast Mountain Range. This subordinate suspects it’s because a Great Demon at Black Wind Cliff has broken through.”

“Besides the Snake Demon, who else is a Great Demon at Black Wind Cliff? I never imagined he’d break through after being stuck at that bottleneck for so many years. Now that the Great King has been gone only a few years, this breakthrough could change everything in the Demonic Beast Mountain Range.” As the female voice spoke its second sentence, a jolt of recognition struck Lu Xiaoxiao like lightning. This… this is my life-saving benefactor, Tantai Jing!

The male voice replied, “Yes, this subordinate will keep a close watch over the disciples and descendants of Gouwu Mountain until you welcome the Great King back, Young Master.”

Tantai Jing: “I will. You may withdraw now. Don’t let anyone see you.”

Another set of footsteps followed, as if the man had already left. Lu Xiaoxiao’s heart pounded with panic. Why didn’t they leave together? She felt like she had stumbled upon a monumental secret: Tantai Jing was from the inner reaches of the Demonic Beast Mountain Range and wanted to keep her identity hidden. Her heart raced uncontrollably; if she had a fitness tracker right now, it would be blaring an alarm.

“Come out,” the woman’s voice teased.

What she had feared had come to pass. These cultivation abilities were truly monstrous. Lu Xiaoxiao remained frozen in her crouch, her legs numb, yet she hadn’t dared to move a muscle. How had she still been discovered? Then she realized the woman was likely just suspicious, testing to see if anyone was in the courtyard. If the enemy doesn’t move, neither will I.

“Your heartbeat is too loud,” Tantai Jing’s voice purred seductively, but echoing in the night courtyard, it sent a chill down Lu Xiaoxiao’s spine. Still, she clung to her defiance, convinced this was just another bluff.

“Did you know? The faster your heart beats, the more bl00d will gush out when you’re wounded.”

Lu Xiaoxiao’s heart pounded so hard it felt like it would leap out of her throat. She slowly brought her hand to her mouth, covering it to muffle her breath. Her breathing felt too loud…

Tantai Jing’s voice was cold as ice: “I’ll count to three, Lu Xiaoxiao.”

“One…”

Lu Xiaoxiao shot to her feet, stretching lazily. “My savior! What a coincidence to find you here too! I was so exhausted, ha ha~ I actually fell asleep. Huh? Senior Sister still hasn’t returned?” If not for her subtly trembling legs, Tantai Jing might have actually believed she had just woken up.

Tantai Jing drew the whip from her waist and cracked it against the ground. “Let’s cut to the chase. Out of respect for our acquaintance, tell me how you want to die. I’ll grant your wish.”

The person who had just stood up clattered back to their knees. “Savior, no! I was really asleep just now. I didn’t hear a word you said. Besides, even if I had heard something, I wouldn’t understand it anyway. You’ve saved me twice already, and I haven’t even repaid you yet. Don’t let your kindness go to waste. My loyalty to you is absolute. If you tell me to go east, I’ll never dare go west. If you tell me to shut up, starting tomorrow—no, starting today—I’ll be mute.”

Whether Tantai Jing was tired of standing or found the power to decide life and death fascinating, she walked over and sat by the well.

Seeing her silence, Lu Xiaoxiao continued, “To be honest, I’ve always loved demons since I was a child. Fox spirits, white snake spirits, rabbit spirits—I love all kinds of demons! I’ve never held any prejudice against them. Humans are born of human mothers, and demons are born of demon mothers. There’s no real difference. We all have two eyes and one mouth—呸! Two eyes and one mouth, that’s it! I despise racial discrimination and look down on prejudiced people. My lifelong goal is to achieve harmony between humans and demons, to build a peaceful world.”

Tantai Jing’s crimson lips curved slightly. “Oh~ Who told you all demons have two eyes and one mouth? There are plenty with eight eyes and eight legs too.”

“The Sect Leader of the Profound Heaven Sword Sect has dedicated his life to slaying demons and exterminating evil. How is it that you, the Young Sect Leader, are so enlightened?”

Lu Xiaoxiao stared at Tantai Jing’s crimson lips, which seemed unnaturally red, as if she had just devoured several children and was about to tear into her next.

She quickly replied, “All living beings and things in this world are equal. Existence itself is justification. My mother and I have completely different beliefs, which is why I ran away from home. Besides, I haven’t bathed in days, so my meat is tough and wouldn’t taste good. I can do many things, so keeping me around would be well worth it. You can always eat me later when you get tired of me. You’re not hungry right now, are you?”

Tantai Jing mocked, “‘All living beings and things in this world are equal. Existence itself is justification.'”

“Then if I kill you right now, would you consider that justified or unjustified?”

Lu Xiaoxiao grimaced. “Justified… but saving a life is more virtuous than building a seven-tiered pagoda. Did you enter the Jade Glow Palace for a reason? Maybe I can help you. If I can’t, there’s Lu Wanbai. Have you heard the saying, ‘Three cobblers make a Zhuge Liang’?”

Tantai Jing: “Why would Lu Wanbai help a demon like me?”

Lu Xiaoxiao sensed she was finally making progress and quickly said, “As long as I’m here, Lu Wanbai will help you. She’s bound by my mother’s dying command to obey my orders. With me around, you don’t have to worry about her refusing to cooperate.”

Tantai Jing seemed to ponder for a moment before crouching down in front of Lu Xiaoxiao. She pinched Lu Xiaoxiao’s chin and forced a red pill into her mouth.

Then, with a lover’s tenderness, she gently stroked Lu Xiaoxiao’s cheek. “You’re quite striking. It would be a pity to let you die.”

“Swallow it!”

Lu Xiaoxiao’s throat tickled, and she reflexively swallowed. “Tantai Jing, what did you just give me?”

Tantai Jing stood up, clapped her hands, and strode toward the door, leaving behind a venomous parting remark.

“Golden Coin Gu. Remember to come to me for the antidote every month. Otherwise, within a day, your chest and abdomen will writhe in agony, swell like a jar, and you’ll bleed from all seven orifices before dying.”

Lu Xiaoxiao felt her entire body go numb, as if ten thousand insects were gnawing at her flesh from within.

The empty courtyard echoed with a chorus of retching sounds.