The Demon Venerable Is Delicate and Charming (GL) Chapter 4

Qingyun managed the marriages of the mortal world. He was the person personally chosen by Red Thread. If one counted the few people Li Lingjiang did not like, he ranked near the top. He had always been rather biased against demons and had secretly caused Li Lingjiang no small amount of trouble. After many years, his hidden barbs had turned into open sarcasm. Just seeing him was enough to make her displeased.
“Is Demon Lord unwilling to invite me in for a seat?”
Qingyun withdrew his magic. He was dressed as brightly as ever. His features leaned feminine, and he was even a little more alluring than Li Lingjiang. Li Lingjiang’s own appearance was actually extremely delicate and charming, with many traits of the demon clan, but because her presence was so strong, people often ignored her looks. The impression she left was only one of upright dignity.
The emotion in Li Lingjiang’s eyes dimmed. For an instant too faint to notice, her pupils flashed red. She still kept a calm expression and stepped aside to let Qingyun pass. She did not even look at him from the corner of her eye. She only thought that she had arrived at No-Return Mountain barely more than a day ago, yet someone had already come to her door.
Her voice was quiet, but not as gentle as before. “The house is simple. I hope Immortal Lord will be tolerant.”
Qingyun walked in without the slightest politeness. The corner of his lips hooked up. His tone was still fairly mild. “How could it be? How could any place with Demon Lord in it be poor?”
Li Lingjiang did not respond to the hidden meaning in his words. Calm and unruffled, she walked to the main seat at the wooden table. Hot tea still steamed on the surface. Yin Wu had warmed it with immortal power. Little Black crouched behind her. Li Lingjiang’s fingers were slender, and even wrapped in gauze, they did not look clumsy. She poured Qingyun a cup of tea, pushed it over with her fingertip, and said, “May I ask why Immortal Lord has come to find me?”
“Can I not come to see Demon Lord?” Qingyun turned the teacup between his fingers. The disgust in his eyes was not hidden at all. “After all, when I learned Demon Lord had suffered punishment, I was very worried.”
Li Lingjiang lifted her eyelids and swept him a glance, then cleanly withdrew her gaze. Her face still held polite courtesy. “Many thanks.”
She felt more and more tired. Because she was sitting upright, the wound on her lower back ached faintly. How could Li Lingjiang not know what Qingyun was thinking? He only wanted to make her unhappy.
As expected, in the next instant, Qingyun said, “Has Demon Lord ever heard of Hundred-Soul Cord?”
So this was what he wanted.
Hundred-Soul Cord was a special thing of the demon clan. Its form was transparent and thin, yet it was extremely tough. No matter what weapon it was used on, it brought only benefits and no harm. Precisely because of that, its production was especially rare. Even the amount Li Lingjiang had gathered was not large.
“Naturally, I have heard of it. Immortal Lord Qingyun is interested?” Li Lingjiang quietly took a sip of tea. The color of her pupils deepened further toward red.
Qingyun laughed, and the sound chilled the back. He rubbed his fingertips together and looked Li Lingjiang over as if probing. “Naturally. This god of marriage wants to change his thread, so I came specially to ask Demon Lord for some.”
Change?
Li Lingjiang seemed to be touched by his words. She faintly raised the corners of her mouth. Using Hundred-Soul Cord as a red thread probably was not for forming marriages. He had other plans.
“Why come to me, Immortal Lord? I am only a useless person now, fallen to this point. All I own is no more than a few unremarkable things in this house.”
“Demon Lord.” Qingyun called her softly, but his tone did not sound friendly.
He leaned forward half a fraction and said quietly, “You are a king admired by the Six Realms. No matter how strong the new king is, did he not rise by relying on your name? It is always more convenient to ask you. We have known each other for many years. I hope you will help me with this favor.”
Li Lingjiang turned her dark gaze and met his eyes. Her tone gradually chilled. “The demon clan now has only one king, and that is Shuang Zixing. Immortal Lord should be careful, lest disaster come from careless words. I have been exiled to No-Return Mountain and cannot even return to the demon clan. How can I help you?”
She lightly blew on the tea and lowered her eyes to look at the cup, which reflected her blurred face. As expected, Qingyun had already gone to Shuang Zixing. Only after hitting a wall did he lower himself and come to her.
Qingyun laughed loudly. He played with the teacup in his hand as if bringing up something casually. “Did the new king not keep you alive to borrow your name and climb into power? Besides, I have no ill intent.”
Li Lingjiang glanced over with a cold, gloomy look. The blood-red color in her black pupils spread fiercely until she was almost in a half-demon state. The ears on both sides of her head also gradually stood upright. Her whole body gave off an aura different from usual.
“Several days ago, there seemed to be unrest in the human world. Several of my red threads broke for no reason. After that, no matter what I did, I could not connect them again. I am only thinking of preventing any accidents.”
No joy or anger could be heard in Li Lingjiang’s voice. “Is that so?”
Qingyun met her eyes without fear. “Of course. Demon Lord, since Shuang Zixing left your life, he naturally trusts you. Qingyun does not believe you cannot help with such a small matter. If you have other needs, I will certainly assist with all my strength.”
“For example…” His words shifted, and his gaze gradually turned mocking. “Helping you return to the Demon Realm-”
“Qingyun.” Li Lingjiang cut him off sharply. It was rare for her emotions to stir. “It is true that I am not as I was before, but Immortal Lord should not forget this. If I went to a gathering in the Immortal Realm even now, you would still have to bow your head to me. However lacking the new king may be, his status is far higher than yours. He is not someone Immortal Lord may judge as you please. Since you hit a wall, I think our meaning was very clear. Immortal Lord, please return.”
Secretly, she held up her body. At this moment, she felt her breathing grow unsteady. Her organs hurt as if twisted around her heart. She bit her lip and did not reveal even the slightest discomfort.
Qingyun had already put away his smile. He laughed low twice, madness staining his eyes. “Demon Lord, even if I am willing to exchange, you still refuse?”
Li Lingjiang knew clearly that Qingyun did not truly want to take Hundred-Soul Cord from her. He was more likely only trying to humiliate her. Just like now, every word stabbed at her.
If it were only that, she would not have bothered to care. But she could not tolerate his repeated contempt toward the demon clan. He was only a minor immortal. Even with all her demonic power gone, she had never put him in her eyes.
Li Lingjiang enunciated each word clearly. Her eyes were already filled with blood-red, making her face look much more vivid. “Please return, Immortal Lord.”
Qingyun stared at her without blinking, as if somewhat satisfied by her current appearance. His fingertip turned. In an instant, a huge force of immortal power spread out from him in all directions. Many things inside the wooden cabin were shaken out of place, making harsh sounds. A powerful current followed shards of broken glass, but transparent fan ribs lightly flicked them away. With a crack, they broke into powder and scattered through the air.
Li Lingjiang’s finger bones moved nimbly as she opened the Jade-Bone Fan and covered the lower half of her face. Her cold eyes fixed on Qingyun. Demonic power gradually gathered over the fan’s surface, and her voice also became deep and heavy.
“You really are… insolent!”
Before Qingyun could respond, a pained cry came from outside the door.
“Demon Lord!”
Both of them froze. Qingyun unwillingly withdrew his wild immortal power, stood, and smoothed his sleeves.
Li Lingjiang recognized Yin Wu’s voice. She used the table to stand and frowned so faintly it could barely be seen. Silently, she steadied her breath, gathered her collar with an air of calm, and slowly stepped forward to push open the door.
The first thing she saw was blood all over the ground, Yin Wu covered in wounds and clutching her arm, and beside her… a huge demon dragon.
When Yin Wu saw Qingyun come out, she seemed not to know what had happened. She lowered her head in panic and said in a trembling voice, “This little immortal greets Immortal Lord Qingyun.”
Qingyun gave a cold sneer. He did not care at all what Yin Wu was, and he did not respond. He only turned toward Li Lingjiang with a composed posture and gave her a fake, affected bow.
“Demon Lord, I will come see you again next time.”
Li Lingjiang gave a faint nod and watched Qingyun leave her sight.
Her body loosened at once. She stumbled two steps and leaned against the doorframe. Qingyun had not held back at all. If she had not forced herself to endure it, and if Little Black had not blocked part of it for her, she would likely have fainted on the ground long ago. When she looked at Yin Wu now, her vision had already blurred. She could even hear her own messy breathing by her ears. In a weak voice, she said, “Yin Wu, where did you go?”
Yin Wu lowered her hand, as if she had done something wrong. Her eyes lowered, and she did not dare look at Li Lingjiang. In truth, she was wondering whether the wounds she had made looked convincing enough. After all, this demon dragon had died in only a few moves. To make sure nothing went wrong, she had even dug out its dragon core and prepared a foolproof excuse.
“Demon Lord, I went to look for Dragonwhisker Grass and accidentally met a badly injured demon dragon. I thought it would be a great tonic for you, so I fought it, killed it, and brought it back.”
Nothing showed on her face, but in her heart, she had already remembered Qingyun’s name. She had not yet played enough with her toy. How could someone else be allowed to squeeze it in his hands as he pleased? Besides, his immortal power was so low. How did Qingyun dare touch her things?
Li Lingjiang felt the strength in her hands gradually vanish. The red in her eyes faded. Blood actually seeped through the gauze around both ears. She gave a muffled groan from unbearable pain. Before she could answer, a coppery sweetness rose in her throat. Unable to hold back any longer, she spat out a mouthful of blood. She shifted her feet unsteadily. In her line of sight were Little Black flying beside her and Yin Wu looking over.
She could no longer steady herself. Just like that, she fell to the ground.
And watching her in this wretched state was Yin Wu, who remained where she stood in a very good mood.