As Jiang Xidai spoke these words, she saw the girl’s eyes widen in a stunned gaze.
The moisture within them swirled, as if something had shattered.
The world’s number one demon lord?
Is Jiang Xidai talking about me?
Yan Huirou mulled over the meaning of the sentence and said in disbelief, “How could that be?”
“You don’t need to use such words to deceive—”
Her breathing grew ragged for once, as if a sore spot had been poked, and she even cut Jiang Xidai off sharply.
Jiang Xidai leaned back languidly, holding her chin and studying her for a long time. Her gaze was drunken, seemingly enjoying the panic on this small face.
“Yan Huirou.”
Jiang Xidai shushed her, her fingertips turning from pinching to caressing, sliding down the almost edgeless curve of her face. “What are you so nervous for? Are you afraid I’ll kill you to prevent future trouble?”
Yan Huirou frowned, shaking her head repeatedly. “No, Sect Master…”
However.
“I really do want to do that.”
The woman smiled at her.
Yan Huirou froze.
Her hand loosened slightly, and a cup of wine on the table fell, the red liquid soaking the edge of the table, dripping down like drops of blood.
Yan Huirou squeezed out a faint question from her throat. “Then… when did you foresee this? Was it…”
Jiang Xidai seemed very drunk. She gave a faint “mm,” shattering her last sliver of hope. “From the very beginning, I wanted to kill you.”
Yan Huirou shrank under the table, the hand that had been secretly clutching her skirt loosening weakly.
“Then you…” Yan Huirou’s throat was dry. Subconsciously, she still didn’t believe her words were true. “Why didn’t you do it?”
“Because—”
Jiang Xidai seemed to have grown tired. She let go of her and her eyes curved. “I’m not telling you.”
“Come on. Drink.” Her voice softened. “How boring, drinking all alone. You were so busy pecking at that beef, you didn’t even leave any for me.”
Yan Huirou desperately wanted to continue the previous topic, but Jiang Xidai had already pulled away. While she was still lost in thought, the clinking of wine cups sounded again, and dark wine stains even splattered onto the table.
“It’s too quiet.”
Jiang Xidai held her wine cup and called out, “Someone.”
When the master of the Shasheng Sect gave an order, no disciple dared to disobey. At the word of a guard standing by the door, the flock of chattering girls was summoned again. Those who played instruments played, those who sang, sang, and the entire Qionghua Hall suddenly became lively.
Jiang Xidai stood up and ordered her subordinates to bring out several more jars of fine wine, generously tossing them to the girls to drink.
The wine Jiang Xidai kept was no ordinary mortal wine, but a genuine ambrosia brewed from grapes nourished by spiritual veins. Even those without cultivation could enhance their beauty and prolong their lives by drinking it.
“Don’t be reserved. I’m in a good mood today.” Jiang Xidai reclined on the highest throne, her voice gentle. “You all just have fun. No matter how wild you get, no one will be punished. Whoever is the happiest, I will reward them with gold, silver, and magic artifacts. Understood?”
Another chorus of joyful “Thank you for the reward, Sect Master” came from below. The lively atmosphere was fueled further, with light songs and graceful dances, and the women’s laughter filled the hall.
Sect Master Jiang was now satisfied. She leaned back against the cushion and glanced at Yan Huirou. Seeing her displeased and joy-killing expression, she opened her mouth with some effort. “…It was just a few words said in drink. Just pretend they were false. Even if they were true, I would have to make them false.”
Jiang Xidai had always struggled to survive. If she didn’t struggle, she would have died long ago. It was something she was used to.
Yan Huirou brought the wine in her hand, which had already warmed, to her lips. Her hand trembled slightly, but she finally gripped it tight.
“Sect Master Jiang, the look on your face when you said that didn’t seem false.”
Jiang Xidai ignored Yan Huirou and continued to drink without stopping. The atmosphere was good today, and with her face flushed from the wine, she became unusually drunk.
In a hazy glow, she gazed out at the brilliantly lit center of Qionghua Hall.
A few women below were drunk, the sound of the pipa growing more sonorous as they played “Ambush from Ten Sides.” On another side, however, the scene was quite different, as two women began kissing each other in the middle of the hall.
Clothing slipped, revealing smooth backs.
Things seemed to be getting a bit out of hand, but Jiang Xidai didn’t mind. She was already the demonic witch reviled by the world; why should she care about her sect’s reputation?
There was a pair among these maids—she seemed to remember they had always been a little different.
Jiang Xidai’s eyes were half-closed, watching with great interest. Just as she was about to take note of what position they were in, her vision was blocked by a pair of hands.
“Move them.”
Yan Huirou said, “Sect Master. It is not good to look at such things in broad daylight.”
Jiang Xidai drunkenly pushed her away. “Stop trying to lecture me.” Then, on second thought, she simply pulled Yan Huirou over, holding up her chin with one hand. “What’s with you being so rigid? Stop being so noble.”
Jiang Xidai turned her face and held it still. “I insist that you watch.”
“This…” Yan Huirou’s cheeks were faintly red. She had nowhere to look, so she could only try to blur her vision to avoid seeing the decadent scene in detail.
But Jiang Xidai was too close, practically leaning on her shoulder. The weight on that spot sent a tingling, itching sensation through her.
And there was the woman’s ever-present dark fragrance, like smelling plum blossoms on a moonlit night. When the wind blew, the flowers on the branches would sway, so the scent would also ebb and flow—both serene and floating.
She didn’t get a clear look at how the women were entwined. Amidst the varying depths of the fragrance, all she could hear was the varying depths of her own heartbeat, and a fine, dense, stifling pain.
After holding her for a long time, Jiang Xidai grew drowsy. She closed her eyes to rest, her grip slowly relaxing.
A soft question came from beside her ear. She wasn’t sure if it was Yan Huirou who spoke; Yan Huirou’s voice sounded strange.
It was as if every word had been carefully considered before being asked in all seriousness. “Sect Master Jiang, I want to ask you, have you always disliked me, from the very first glance? If what you said was true, then did I misunderstand…”
Jiang Xidai thought in her half-asleep state.
Of course I dislike you.
I can’t possibly love you.
That night, amidst the clanging of the pipa, she forgot what she had answered.
But in any case.
After that…
She vaguely remembered that Yan Huirou hadn’t spoken again.
A dreamless sleep, and the sky was bright.
When Jiang Xidai woke up again, a ray of morning light was already climbing the window of Qionghua Hall.
The hall was naturally empty.
She turned over, curled up, and let out a soft, sleepy yawn. But the surroundings were too bright, and she felt dizzy and couldn’t fall back asleep. So Jiang Xidai got out of bed, went around to the bath in the side hall, and took off her clothes.
She had started drinking as soon as she returned yesterday and had forgotten to change out of the torn robe. She had originally intended to step on it with her bare feet and throw it away later, but Yan Huirou’s words unconsciously surfaced in her mind.
She’ll mend it.
Jiang Xidai hesitated for a moment, then picked up the robe from the floor, hung it to the side, and slowly submerged herself in the steamy pool, leaning against the side to rest.
Just as she had put on a new robe and was about to get up, she heard Wen Xianyin’s approach.
“What is it?”
Wen Xianyin said, “Sect Master, I heard some news this morning.”
“What is it about?” Jiang Xidai asked nonchalantly. “What did Yan Huirou do now?”
“It’s not about Miss Yan,” Wen Xianyin said. “It’s about that young man you were concerned about before. This disciple has been keeping an eye on him for you. This time, when he returned to the Immortal Alliance, he caused a great stir. It is said he obtained a world-renowned precious sword.”
Jiang Xidai’s eyes lifted, her gaze suddenly sharpening.
Wen Xianyin lowered her head under her stare. “Sect Master, you are…”
“What precious sword.” Jiang Xidai calmed herself, unable to understand, her mind racing to figure out where things had gone wrong.
She had practically torn that place to shreds.
How could this be?
How could it?
“The sword is named Dragon Spring. This disciple only heard it through rumors, but it is said to be one of the ancient divine artifacts…” Wen Xianyin carefully watched the Sect Master’s expression and offered some comfort. “Sect Master, such claims are just rumors and may not be true. Based on this disciple’s research, it is highly likely an exaggeration.”
Jiang Xidai clearly didn’t think so. After all, that was the male lead. Any great fortune could happen to him.
Being a protagonist too, I wonder how it compares to Yan Huirou’s Golden Tower Jade Palace.
No, there’s no need to even compare—
Yan Huirou’s Golden Tower Jade Palace was a pair with her A Ten-foot Soft Red. She knew its power. Although it was a rare and good sword, it was still a long way from being an “ancient divine artifact.”
Jiang Xidai lowered her lashes. “Go and investigate further. See if he had any other fortunes before this. Wen Xianyin, this matter is important. Investigate it thoroughly before reporting back to me.”
A day of good mood, not even lasting until noon, was suddenly extinguished like a small lamp, even leaving behind an annoying puff of soot.
Jiang Xidai’s expression was dark. She sat quietly in Qionghua Hall, propping her head on her hand for a long while.
She wanted to send Wen Xianyin to find Yan Huirou, but then she remembered that Wen Xianyin had gone to handle matters and she couldn’t find anyone for the time being.
So her already precarious mood worsened.
Jiang Xidai picked out a new chest of jewelry from the storeroom and carefully selected pieces from it, taking out the good ones to hang in her Qionghua Hall.
Just as she was fiddling with a decent-looking Hetian jade ruyi scepter, Wen Xianyin’s message returned.
“Sect Master, from the news outside, I haven’t found any famous new cultivation techniques.”
Wen Xianyin said, “It’s just that a magic artifact called the ‘Universe Pouch’ has reappeared in the world, along with the Dragon Spring sword. It seems both have fallen into that boy’s hands. I haven’t heard of anything special about it. Is this important?”
The priceless jade ruyi scepter was in her palm.
Jiang Xidai’s hand, which had been toying with it, paused slightly, her breath catching.
The next moment, the sound of shattering jade echoed in the hall.
With a flick of her sleeve, Jiang Xidai threw the jade ruyi scepter. She watched the jade fragments scatter and coldly cursed, “Wretched creature!”
And at that very moment.
A female figure was standing at the entrance of Qionghua Hall, clearly just passing by.
Yan Huirou stopped in her tracks, her face pale, looking as if she had no energy.
But hearing the commotion, she couldn’t help but worry.
“Sect Master, what’s wrong?”
