In the Yaoming Hall, Bujiang sat on the high seat, looking at the people below.

“Little Highness’s demonic yuanli was damaged, but she hasn’t suffered any real injury. The plague demon examined her just now and said there’s nothing serious. She’s currently soaking in the Demon Yuanli Pool for nourishment. I expect she’ll be fine by tomorrow.” Xiao Shuang reported.

Hearing this, Bujiang relaxed slightly.

The Demon Yuanli Pool could only accommodate one person at a time. Once Zanxing entered the pool, they could only wait outside for her to wake up.

“The Xiaoyuan Pearl…” Bujiang was still somewhat worried. The Xiaoyuan Pearl had split in half. Though Zanxing had retrieved one half, the other half was still in Gui Yansheng’s hands. She didn’t know if only having half the Xiaoyuan Pearl would still be useful. Moreover, during this mountain expedition, Gui Yansheng had escaped. Such a good opportunity had been wasted by letting the tiger return to the mountain. Who knew if that madman would make a comeback and go crazy again?

“Your Highness,” Xiao Shuang inquired, “about the people outside… does Your Highness want to see them?”

“If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten.” Bujiang sneered coldly: “That group of Demon Elimination Army on Yugo Mountain was so presumptuous. Just because my daughter is magnanimous and doesn’t want to argue with them doesn’t mean I, as her mother, can pretend I didn’t see anything.” Even before returning to Heishi City, Lady Zhaoling and the bone woman had already used communication talismans to inform Bujiang of everything that had happened on Yugo Mountain. There was naturally much embellishment in their account, including the unclear relationship between Gu Baiying and that Xiangling Sect female disciple named Putao.

“Your Highness,” Xiao Shuang hesitated: “In this subordinate’s opinion, Young Immortal Gu is not without feelings for Little Highness, and Little Highness also harbors old affections for Young Immortal Gu. If we directly separate the two of them…” Though Zanxing appeared gentle and easy to talk to, everyone knew that once this girl set her mind on something, not even nine oxen could pull her back.

“Who said I want to separate the two of them?” Bujiang glanced at him sideways: “You went to Yugo Mountain once and somehow picked up the foolish ways of those sect cultivators. If I tried to separate them, wouldn’t their feelings just grow stronger? That would make me look like an evil mother-in-law breaking up lovebirds.”

“Then what does Your Highness intend…”

“Zanxing was in closed-door cultivation in Heishi City for two years. As soon as she heard he had become the leader of the Demon Elimination Army, she immediately agreed to rush to Yugo Mountain. For these two years, she’s also been asking me to inquire about news from Gufeng Mountain. My daughter has been completely sincere toward him, yet he made her sad. Whether his lost memories have some hidden reason or not, it’s still his fault. Making my daughter Bujiang sad—how can this just be forgotten?” The Demon Queen smiled brilliantly, and this smile made her features incredibly beautiful. She said, “Since he has feelings for Zanxing, that’s perfect. After all, I understand all too well how to break a pure-hearted young man’s heart.”

…

Ming Jing’s group waited outside the hall for a long time before the bone woman finally arrived late. She laughed softly: “Her Highness the Demon Queen is in the Yaoming Hall. Please follow me, immortal masters.”

The Yaoming Hall was right next to the Chaos Hall, but the atmosphere was completely different.

Everything here was filled with red curtains and silk gauze, jade couches and golden embroidery, like an earthly imperial palace. On the high seat reclined a woman in red robes. These robes were in men’s style, her jet-black long hair was bound high and hung to her waist, also in men’s attire, yet she had an incomparably beautiful face with captivating eyes that were both tender and heroic, leaving an unforgettable impression at first sight.

Ming Jing only looked once and seemed to be captivated by this stunning beauty. He averted his gaze, not looking at the woman on the high seat.

Bujiang toyed with the silver lovers’ lock in her hands, giving him a generous smile: “After years of separation, how has Master Ming Jing been?”

Ming Jing lowered his eyes and answered gently: “Thanks to Your Highness’s blessings, all is well.”

“I heard that on Yugo Mountain, Zanxing received much protection from you,” Bujiang smiled and thanked him sincerely: “Thank you.”

“Your Highness and I are old friends. An old friend’s daughter naturally deserves care.”

“Just old friends?” Bujiang’s gaze swept over him suggestively, her tone ambiguous: “I thought you followed us back to Heishi City because you still had lingering feelings for me.”

Ming Jing remained silent, neither denying nor confirming. The hall fell into complete silence with no one responding for a long while.

Bujiang wasn’t annoyed either, seeming to enjoy watching the monk’s discomfort. It wasn’t until Mendong spoke up with a red face: “Um, Your Highness, the Demon Queen, we are Yang Zanxing’s friends. Is she… alright now?”

Bujiang raised her eyebrows and only then turned her gaze to Mendong and the others.

She straightened up slightly, her gaze sweeping over everyone before settling on the white-robed youth at the front, her expression stirring slightly.

After a long while, Bujiang finally spoke lazily: “Don’t worry, she’s fine. She’s nourishing herself in the Demon Yuanli Pool, replenishing her damaged yuanli. You…” she curved her lips: “are her old friends from Gufeng Mountain?”

With Ming Jing’s earlier use of “old friends,” this current use of “old friends” took on a somewhat deeper meaning.

“Yes, yes, yes,” Tian Fangfang laughed heartily: “Previously in the Wulun Pagoda, junior sister was injured fighting that scoundrel Gui Yansheng. We were somewhat worried, so we followed. When will she be completely recovered? Your Highness, could you let us see junior sister?”

“Meeting…” Bujiang showed a slightly troubled expression on her face. She sighed: “That you all remember Zanxing also moves me. However, you are sect cultivators. If you become entangled with the demon race, I’m afraid the cultivation world won’t spare you either. I think it’s better not to meet. You should all return early and not get mixed up with us heretics and corrupt our good reputations.”

These words were quite sarcastic.

Gu Baiying looked up. His pair of beautiful, clear eyes shone bright as twinkling stars in the Yaoming Hall, his tone equally firm: “Zanxing is a disciple of my Taiyan Sect. The Taiyan Sect should naturally protect its disciples’ safety.”

“Is that so?” Bujiang looked down at him from her high position, each word containing pointed confrontation: “If I remember correctly, it was also your Taiyan Sect that deployed the Ten Thousand Kill Formation.”

“But… but my master uncle didn’t harm Zanxing!” Mendong couldn’t help but defend Gu Baiying: “During the Ten Thousand Kill Formation, it was my master uncle who used a fragment of his primordial soul to block the killing move. My master uncle was on Zanxing’s side from beginning to end!”

Bujiang chuckled lightly, though her eyes held no trace of humor: “Then I’ll thank you on her behalf.”

“I want to see her.” Gu Baiying said.

“On what grounds?”

“I am her master uncle.”

“Master uncle? Young Immortal Gu, you know how to joke,” the beauty’s red lips curved slightly, her tone one of casual mockery: “She is now the future master of Heishi City, the next Demon Lord of the demon realm. She’s no longer a small sect disciple from your Gufeng Mountain. You two no longer have any relationship, so there’s no need to use this as an excuse to get close and show concern. Moreover,” she said indifferently, “she is the Demon Lord’s daughter, and you are the son of Qinghua. Speaking of it, there’s the hatred of a father’s murder between you two. Don’t you mind?”

“The Demon Lord is the Demon Lord, she is herself.” Gu Baiying remained unmoved: “I can distinguish very clearly.”

A flash of surprise crossed Bujiang’s eyes.

“What would it take for you to let me see her?” the youth asked coldly.

After a long while, Bujiang looked at him with a half-smile: “You don’t want to sever all ties with her?”

“Perhaps?” She propped up her chin with interest and spoke shockingly: “Do you want to become her eighth favored consort?”