Mu Qiuhan noticed the hint of pity in her expression.
After a slight pause for thought, she revealed some clan matters to Shang Ningye.
“I am having people clear the battlefield in Mount Ping. If we can dig down along the original mountain ridges, we might still find residual spiritual stone mines.”
She stopped there, her gaze softer than before.
“Clan affairs have been too much these past few days, and I haven’t been able to look after you. Do you feel bored staying here alone?”
Shang Ningye shook her head silently.
Seeing that her mood still seemed somewhat low, Mu Qiuhan said softly, “You can rest assured about the guards I arranged for you. If you need to, have them accompany you out for a walk and clear your mind.”
Shang Ningye shook her head again.
Noticing that she seemed unwilling to talk about this, Mu Qiuhan handed Shang Ningye a scroll of cultivation technique she had prepared beforehand.
“You used to follow Perfected Dao You and learn Immortal sect techniques. Why didn’t you ever consider that you are from the Yao Clan? Your body might not be suited for the Immortal sect’s path at all.”
Seeing Shang Ningye looking thoughtfully at the cultivation technique in her hand, Mu Qiuhan explained, “I found this in the Clan Library. I also had Su Hongyu confirm it just now; it should be suitable for you.”
She looked at Shang Ningye with anticipation, originally thinking she would be delighted by this. To her surprise, Shang Ningye didn’t even open the technique and returned it exactly as it was.
“Why?”
Mu Qiuhan held the scroll that seemed much heavier after being passed back and forth, feeling utterly bewildered for a moment.
She thought for a moment and said cautiously, “Are you worried Su Hongyu might harm you? I have read this cultivation technique before myself, and there is nothing inappropriate about it.”
A complicated emotion flashed in Shang Ningye’s eyes.
After a long while, Mu Qiuhan finally heard her say, “It’s not that I don’t trust you. My master gave me such a technique years ago, but I myself was unwilling to learn it.”
Seeing Mu Qiuhan’s deep frown, Shang Ningye sighed in her heart.
She couldn’t possibly tell Mu Qiuhan that her true form was a Night-blooming Cereus tree.
The Silk Flower clan are enchantresses among plants. If she cultivated a Yao Clan technique, later on, she might become no different from the Fox Yao clan.
Perhaps even more skilled at charming and bewitching people.
Mu Qiuhan felt quite frustrated when the item she had prepared with care was returned by Shang Ningye.
She was silent for a while, seeing that the atmosphere was about to become awkward. Fortunately, Shang Ningye spoke again soon.
“There is one thing I truly need your help with. I am used to drinking Nine-Flower Jade Dew, but there are no ingredients here. Could I trouble you to send someone to find some?”
Mu Qiuhan mused that those nine spiritual grasses were not particularly rare, so sending someone to the Immortal sect to exchange for some would be fine.
However, the Demon Realm’s weather is hot, and morning dew is probably not easy to collect.
Right now, there are many more urgent matters in the tribe. Would it be a bit too troublesome to specially have someone go outside the tribe daily to collect morning dew?
A hint of hesitation appeared in her expression, which was rare.
Shang Ningye had lived in the Demon Realm for a few days and already knew that spiritual plants were scarce here.
Seeing the difficult look on Mu Qiuhan’s face at this moment, she figured her request was perhaps too troublesome.
So, she retracted her earlier words.
“If it’s inconvenient, there’s no need to worry about it. It’s just a kind of tea, after all.”
Although she said this, a hint of worry arose in Shang Ningye’s heart.
Although she still had some Nine-Flower Jade Dew in her spatial ring, what about later?
Without this item, she didn’t know how long the instincts in her bloodline could still be suppressed.
A hint of guilt arose in Mu Qiuhan’s heart because of this.
Shang Ningye was a plant who had taken human form. Mu Qiuhan had used threats and coaxing to forcibly bring her to the Demon Realm, and Shang Ningye was likely very unaccustomed to it.
Even the tea she was used to drinking would not be readily available from now on.
She was silent for a moment, then stepped forward and removed the magic artifact fastened to Shang Ningye’s wrist.
“Since you are unwilling to learn Yao Clan techniques, you should have no use for this.”
She paused, then added, “But you must promise me that you will not easily use Immortal sect techniques in front of others unless they provoke you first. The tribe is currently… not very friendly towards Immortal sect people.”
As the magic artifact was removed, Shang Ningye felt the spiritual energy within her body instantly surge back.
She looked up, a little surprised, at Mu Qiuhan.
So this magic artifact was for this purpose?
She had thought Mu Qiuhan was worried she would harm her tribespeople.
It turned out she had misunderstood her.
Shang Ningye stared blankly at Mu Qiuhan for a moment, unsure what to say.
Mu Qiuhan found her distracted look a little amusing.
“Have you been alone so long you’ve become foolish? Do you think I should have someone bring Chuxue over as well?”
Seeing Shang Ningye slightly frown at her words, Mu Qiuhan knew that Shang Ningye was probably still bothered by what happened that day at the Immortal sect.
Knowing she had said the wrong thing, she lightly coughed and turned her head away, no longer looking at Shang Ningye’s eyes.
“Tonight, there will be a celebration feast in this hall. You should come.”
That night, the Demon Palace was filled with clinking cups and deafening music.
Although Mu Qiuhan had ordered everything to be handled simply, the feast was still exceptionally lively.
Demons of all ranks stationed nearby came. Shang Ningye even saw Leng Yi at the feast.
Leng Yi and Hua Ganglie sat on either side of Mu Qiuhan.
Further back was the female demon leader who had previously captured Elder Xuan Kong.
Shang Ningye didn’t recognize the rest of the people.
Thinking of the safety of those elders from her sect and Elder Xuan Kong, Shang Ningye was somewhat distracted throughout the entire feast.
Even Su Hongyu’s occasional barbed provocations from beside her were met with indifference.
When arranging the seating, Mu Qiuhan had specifically placed Shang Ningye next to Su Hongyu.
Shang Ningye understood her intention.
The Immortal and Demonic races were now like fire and water. If people could be made to think she had come from the Yao Realm with Su Hongyu, it would be more beneficial for both her and Mu Qiuhan.
Amidst the sounds of singing and dancing, the demonic generals beside her drank cup after cup.
Some began loudly discussing their achievements from the previous attack on the Great Clarity Immortal Sect.
Shang Ningye was already forcing herself to endure the dislike she felt for Su Hongyu, and hearing this now made her feel even more exhausted, both physically and mentally.
Taking advantage of a troupe of dancers gracefully exiting, she quietly blended in with them.
After leaving the great hall, Shang Ningye slightly relaxed.
The group of guards Mu Qiuhan had arranged for her had quietly followed at some point.
Although they kept some distance, Shang Ningye still disliked this feeling.
Remembering that these guards never appeared within Mu Qiuhan’s sleeping quarters, Shang Ningye silently walked in that direction.
The minor demons guarding outside the sleeping quarters were now quite familiar with her.
Seeing Shang Ningye return, they bowed to her.
When Mu Qiuhan rushed back from the feast, she saw such a scene.
Shang Ningye was sitting alone under the moonlight, holding a jade flute.
The moonlight was like water, spilling over Shang Ningye’s clothes and reflecting her solitary figure.
Mu Qiuhan quietly walked closer, and the lingering flute sounds stopped.
Seeing who had arrived, Shang Ningye seemed a little surprised.
Although she knew the answer in her heart, she still asked, “Has the feast ended?”
Mu Qiuhan sat down before her.
She did not answer Shang Ningye, but gently took her hand.
“Are you unhappy?”
Before Shang Ningye could shake her head, Mu Qiuhan had already sighed.
“It was my lack of consideration; I made things difficult for you.”
She suddenly used force on her hand and pulled Shang Ningye up from the stone stool.
“Let’s go. The city is also very lively today. I’ll take you out to have a look.”
With that, she activated a magic artifact in her hand, and the two of them instantly vanished from the spot.
Before Shang Ningye could react, she felt herself falling into something very soft.
When she could see clearly, she realized that she was leaning against Mu Qiuhan’s embrace.
She and Mu Qiuhan were sitting together in a… hibiscus-patterned bed curtain?
Shang Ningye looked carefully around again and indeed, they were in a bed.
For a moment, she was at a loss.
Fortunately, Mu Qiuhan quickly let go of her.
She found two veils from somewhere. One she tied behind her own head, and one…
Shang Ningye felt Mu Qiuhan draw close again at that moment.
The light veil touched her skin, and Mu Qiuhan’s hands reached around behind her head.
They were extremely close. Even through the two veils, Shang Ningye could still feel Mu Qiuhan’s breath.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Mu Qiuhan quickly fastened the veil securely.
She stood up from the bed, took a few steps forward, and pushed open the room door.
Seeing that Shang Ningye hadn’t followed but was still sitting there blankly, Mu Qiuhan turned back and beckoned to her.
“This way.”
Shang Ningye was still dwelling on that previous moment in her heart. Hearing the call now, she stood up stiffly and followed.
As she stepped out the door, Mu Qiuhan took her hand again.
“There are many people here today; be careful not to get separated.”
After passing through a relatively quiet corridor, Shang Ningye heard the boisterous crowd and women’s laughter downstairs.
She looked down and saw a group of scantily clad demonesses dancing in the center of the room.
The dance was different from what she had seen earlier in the Demon Palace. It was more…
More…
Shang Ningye couldn’t find the word, but she frowned at this moment.
Servants carrying wine and dishes hurried past beside them, their heavy scent of makeup and perfume making Shang Ningye quite uncomfortable.
For some reason, Shang Ningye’s voice suddenly turned colder.
“Do you come here often?”
Mu Qiuhan chuckled lightly.
“This is the largest inn in Jialuo City. I had someone arrange a room here so I can sneak out easily during the day. Otherwise, how could I have fun with a crowd following me?”
She glanced at Shang Ningye with amusement.
Shang Ningye’s expression was strange, and the parts of her ears visible outside the veil were faintly tinged with red.
