The Demon Queen Insists on Marrying Me - Chapter 5

The days on the road were uneventful. During this time, Lu Xiaoxiao found a moment to tell Lu Wanbai that her spiritual energy had been restored. Lu Wanbai was so overjoyed she nearly burst into tears. Although they shared the same name and Lu Xiaoxiao knew this was a world within a game, experiencing the kindness of others through the original body still made her feel somewhat uneasy.

Determined not to hold Lu Wanbai back in the future, Lu Xiaoxiao began meditating and practicing the Purple Qi Comes Eastward Manual day and night. This wasn’t an advanced technique; it merely allowed her to circulate her spiritual energy and restore it. Yet, it was precisely what she needed most right now. She also seized opportunities to secretly practice with her sword. Perhaps due to muscle memory, the moment she swung the blade, sword techniques flowed naturally. This discovery thrilled her, driving her to train even harder.

Lu Xiaoxiao’s stats:

HP: 100

Attack: 70

Defense: 60

She had also checked her attribute values. Though they couldn’t compare to those of the other two, they were far stronger than before. Based on her understanding, each cultivation stage had its own attribute interface. The current blue interface likely corresponded to the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Four days later, the carriage finally reached the foot of Jade Glow Palace’s mountain.

Jade Glow Palace occupied the summit of the mountain, its peak appearing as if it had been cleaved flat by a giant sword. The summit was shrouded in swirling mists, resembling a celestial realm, and Lu Xiaoxiao wandered through it as if she had stepped into a divine paradise.

As soon as they reached the summit, a disciple named Shen Xiaonan led Lu Wanbai and Lu Xiaoxiao through a labyrinthine path to a magnificent side hall.

After pouring two cups of tea, Shen Xiaonan said, “Fellow Daoists, please wait here for a moment. The Palace Master will arrive shortly.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the hall. A woman dressed in opulent robes and radiating regal authority entered the hall, a plum blossom-shaped floral mark adorning her forehead. She appeared to be in her late twenties.

Following Lu Wanbai’s example, Lu Xiaoxiao rose and bowed in greeting. “Lu Wanbai pays respects to Palace Master Wan.”

“Lu Xiaoxiao pays respects to Palace Master Wan.”

Wan Xuan’er gently took Lu Xiaoxiao’s arm, her expression filled with sorrow. “There’s no need for such formality. I was once close to your mother. By seniority, you should even call me ‘Auntie.’ Half a month ago, when I heard the news of the Profound Heaven Sword Sect being besieged by the Demonic Race, I immediately led Jade Glow Palace to provide support. Alas…” She sighed heavily.

Lu Xiaoxiao was genuinely surprised by Wan Xuan’er’s youthful appearance. According to Lu Wanbai, she should be over five hundred years old. She was even more astonished to learn that the Palace Master of Jade Glow Palace had been acquainted with her mother. This trip to Jade Glow Palace had proven worthwhile.

Wan Xuan’er pulled Lu Xiaoxiao down to sit beside her, scrutinizing her closely.

“You truly are Lu Mingyu’s daughter,” she remarked. “You look exactly like her when she was young.”

Only then did Lu Xiaoxiao learn that her original body’s mother was named Lu Mingyu. She raised a hand to cover her face, feigning grief as she asked, “Aunt Wan, do you know why the Demonic Race attacked the Profound Heaven Sword Sect? I was training in the Demonic Beast Mountain Range at the time. When I emerged, I heard the sect had fallen, and even my mother’s whereabouts remain unknown.”

Wan Xuan’er’s gaze sharpened. “The Demonic Race, tainted by netherworld energy and harboring treacherous intentions, are an affront to heaven and earth, deserving of annihilation by all. Their recent full-scale assault was swift and fleeting. I suspect they have ulterior motives.”

Lu Wanbai’s eyes widened in realization. “Sect Leader Wan, could the Demonic Race be after the Chaoyuan Sword?”

Wan Xuan’er: “Indeed, the Chaoyuan Sword is an ancient divine blade, revered alongside the Jade Glow Palace’s Demon-Locking Tower as one of the two great artifacts of this era. It houses a Sword Spirit capable of banishing ghosts, slaying demons, and shattering magical barriers. Only those of the Human Race can wield it; any Demon or Demonic Race member who dares to try will suffer either their flesh being burned away by raging flames or their very souls being scattered. The Demonic and Demon Races have long been restrained by its power and have sought to seal or destroy it.”

Lu Wanbai murmured, “No wonder Master had Junior Sister take the Chaoyuan Sword.”

Noticing her peculiar expression, Wan Xuan’er asked, “Have you realized something?”

Lu Wanbai: “Actually, the Chaoyuan Sword had always been sealed in the Forbidden Land. It wasn’t until two days before the Demonic Race attacked the Profound Heaven Sword Sect that Master encountered a cultivation mishap, weakening his condition. He secretly entrusted the sword to Junior Sister Xiaoxiao. Perhaps Master had long sensed the Demonic Race’s intentions, but he didn’t expect their attack to come so swiftly. The Demonic Race, in turn, never anticipated that Junior Sister Xiaoxiao would steal away to train in the wilderness with the Chaoyuan Sword—and then lose it.”

Wan Xuan’er exclaimed angrily, “Lu Mingyu, you fool! If you had sent word to me sooner, none of this would have happened. Now your whereabouts are unknown, and the Chaoyuan Sword is missing. What are we to do?”

At that moment, a young woman in a lotus-pink gauze dress entered the room. Her almond-shaped eyes were strikingly beautiful and captivating. She turned to Wan Xuan’er and asked, “Mother, Qiuye said you needed me for something?”

“Qingyi, come here. This is Lu Xiaoxiao, the daughter of your Aunt Lu, and her disciple, Lu Wanbai. They’ll be staying at Jade Glow Palace from now on, so please take good care of them. Senior Sister Xiaoxiao is nineteen this year, a year older than you. You should learn from her.”

Wan Qingyi clung to Wan Xuan’er’s arm, shaking it playfully. “So what if she’s a year older? Her cultivation might not even be as good as mine! Why can’t she learn from me instead? I have my own strengths too!”

Wan Xuan’er frowned. “Stop being silly. Don’t embarrass yourself in front of Senior Sister Xiaoxiao and Senior Sister Wanbai.”

Just then, a disciple rushed in, looking flustered, and whispered something in Wan Xuan’er’s ear. Wan Xuan’er quickly gave instructions to the others, ordering Wan Qingyi to take good care of Lu Xiaoxiao and her Senior Sister, before hurrying out.

The moment Wan Xuan’er left, Wan Qingyi’s true nature emerged. She skipped playfully over to Lu Xiaoxiao. “You’re a year older, so Mother wants me to call you Senior Sister Xiaoxiao. But if your cultivation isn’t as good as mine, you’ll have to call me ‘Boss’!”

Lu Xiaoxiao felt as if she had lost her parents. “Fine, fine, fine,” she thought. Why don’t you say that to Lu Wanbai? Why does everyone treat me like a pushover?

Wan Qingyi turned to leave. “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go, Lu Xiaoxiao.”

“Wait,” Lu Xiaoxiao protested. “We traveled for days to reach Jade Glow Palace. I’m not in good condition right now. Even if you win, it wouldn’t be a fair victory. As the Eldest Miss of Jade Glow Palace, you wouldn’t take advantage of someone in my weakened state, would you?”

Wan Qingyi frowned. “Lu Xiaoxiao, who said I’d take advantage of you? We’ll arrange a room for you first. You can rest until you’re ready for the match.”

“The Eldest Miss is indeed different from the rumors,” Lu Xiaoxiao remarked. “You have the bearing of a true Palace Master. In that case, you should still call me Senior Sister Xiaoxiao.”

“What do people outside say about me?” Wan Qingyi asked curiously. Wan Xuan’er had always been strict with her daughter, rarely allowing her to leave the palace. This made Wan Qingyi yearn for the outside world all the more.

“They say you’re arrogant, domineering, and capricious, never keeping your word,” Lu Xiaoxiao replied. “For example, you promised your mother to call me Senior Sister Xiaoxiao, but now you’re going back on your word. Of course, that’s just an example. You probably just forgot to call me Senior Sister Xiaoxiao earlier, right?”

Wan Qingyi, furious at being tricked, gritted her teeth and said, “Senior Sister Xiaoxiao, I hope you rest well and conserve your strength. I’ll be back for you later.” She entrusted the arrangements for their accommodations to Shen Xiaonan and turned to leave.

Lu Xiaoxiao and Lu Wanbai collapsed into bed and slept soundly until nearly dinner time, when they were roused for a welcome banquet with Wan Xuan’er and her mother. The meal was inevitably punctuated by another round of verbal sparring with Wan Qingyi. By the time the moon hung high in the sky, they finally excused themselves. Bored and restless, Lu Xiaoxiao asked for directions to Tantai Jing’s residence, intending to gauge her intentions and assess the risks of their mission. If the danger proved too great, she’d rather end things quickly—after all, death was inevitable, so she might as well choose a less painful method.

She learned that Tantai Jing’s residence was only a few dozen steps away. This was a relief; at least she wouldn’t have to stumble miles through the night to fetch medicine when the poison flared up.

From a distance, Lu Xiaoxiao spotted a young man striking a forced pose in front of Tantai Jing’s courtyard gate. As she approached, she saw he was handsome and impeccably dressed. Noticing her, he quickly hid a small box behind his back.

Lu Xiaoxiao glanced at the young man and prepared to push open the gate, but he stepped forward, blocking her path with his arm. His tone was hostile. “Who are you? Junior Sister Jing doesn’t like people entering her courtyard without permission.”

“And you are?” Lu Xiaoxiao asked, thinking, Junior Sister Jing? Such an intimate way to address her. Could he be another demon undercover at Jade Glow Palace, guarding Tantai Jing’s door?

The man puffed out his chest proudly. “I’m Mei Yuanhua, Junior Sister Jing’s senior brother. You’re not a disciple of Jade Glow Palace. Who are you, really?”

Ah, a simp, Lu Xiaoxiao realized. She adopted an innocent, girlish demeanor. “I’m Lu Xiaoxiao. Senior Sister Jing asked me to come see her after dinner. I noticed you’ve been standing outside for quite a while. Why don’t you go in and talk to her?”

Mei Yuanhua blushed slightly. So Junior Sister Jing invited her over? No wonder he hadn’t seen her with any friends before. Still, all sorts of riffraff often come to bother her.

“Then… then you should go in quickly. Please don’t mention I tried to stop you. Thank you.” Mei Yuanhua lowered his posture and turned to leave.

Lu Xiaoxiao quickly called out, “I see you’re holding a box. Is that a gift for Senior Sister Jing? Since I’m going in anyway, I can deliver it for you.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Mei Yuanhua handed the box to Lu Xiaoxiao. He had been sending the jade hairpin and letters for months, but Junior Sister Jing hadn’t even glanced at him once. Perhaps if her friend delivered it this time, she might accept it out of courtesy.

As soon as Mei Yuanhua left, Lu Xiaoxiao eagerly opened the box and read the letter. The contents were so disgustingly sappy that she was glad she’d already eaten dinner; otherwise, it would have ruined her appetite. The jade hairpin, however, looked quite nice—it might even be valuable.

Tucking the hairpin into her robe, Lu Xiaoxiao straightened her clothes, cleared her throat, and knocked on the door. “Senior Sister Jing, it’s Xiaoxiao. I’ve come to see you!”

A cold, clear voice replied, “Enter.”

The room carried a faint scent of sandalwood. Tantai Jing sat at a huanghuali wood desk, reading a book. Lu Xiaoxiao leaned over to glance at the title: River Luo Formation.

Thump. Lu Xiaoxiao sat across from Tantai Jing and tossed the nauseating love letter onto the desk. “Some guy named Mei Yuanhua sent this to you. Aunt Wan asked someone to call you for dinner. Why didn’t you go?”

A whoosh of fire erupted, startling Lu Xiaoxiao, who ducked sideways just in time to avoid having her hair singed.

Tantai Jing’s expression remained impassive. “Next time you bring in any more of this nonsense, I’ll burn your hand instead.”

Lu Xiaoxiao patted her chest, trying to calm her racing heart and soothe her wounded pride. “I came to ask you something important. Do you have any plans for the Demon-Locking Tower?” Why does this woman resort to fire at the slightest provocation? Playing with fire is a surefire way to wet the bed, you know. As compensation for that jade hairpin, I’ll just take care of it for you.

Tantai Jing set down her book and glanced sideways. “Why are you so anxious when the emperor isn’t even worried?”

Lu Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes inwardly. As if I’m not worried about my own life! I’d rather not die from your poison, only to be killed by you later in the Jade Glow Palace. She added, “I had dinner with Aunt Wan earlier. She’s such a kind person—she had a whole table of delicacies prepared for me. Unlike you, who treats me so poorly, yet I still have to help you deceive her.” Wan Xuan’er’s gracious treatment made it impossible to harbor any ill will toward her, let alone contemplate harming her.

Tantai Jing skimmed the tea froth, its fragrant steam swirling upward, obscuring her cold, elegant face.

Seeing her silence, Lu Xiaoxiao continued, “I overheard them chatting at the banquet. Apparently, things haven’t been peaceful near Jade Glow Palace lately. The former Hall Master of the Hall of Law Enforcement is retiring, and the original Deputy Hall Master is taking over. They’re planning to select a new Deputy Hall Master from among you younger generation, and the selection method might be related to the trials.”

Tantai Jing set down her teacup, her eyes gleaming. “The new Deputy Hall Master can only be me.”

Lu Xiaoxiao couldn’t care less who became the Deputy Hall Master. She was far more curious about something else.

“I heard it takes many years for demons to transform. Does that mean you’re already hundreds or even thousands of years old? May I ask, Miss, how old are you this year?”

Tantai Jing: “Get out…”