Chapter 0080

Chapter 80: Guest Minister, Will You Work With Me to Have a Child?

The Devil Marshal fell silent and started a quick brainstorm. After a moment, he reached a firm conclusion, saying: “You make sense. The humans’ misdirection fooled even me.”

As it turns out, stupidity can spread through the air. The proud Devil Marshal got “infected” fast.

Tun Lan’s face darkened as he spoke with anger: “Zhao Wu Tian, that mangy cur, dared to brag in front of us. He is begging for a beating.”

His companion nodded, adding with pride: “You are not wrong. Thanks to the wise Devil Sovereign who planned ahead and sent us to check the truth early.”

He snorted, “If we had listened only to Zhao Wu Tian, we would have invited the Devil King to descend. Then we would have lost all face!”

The two self styled geniuses reached an agreement, put their arms over each other’s shoulders, wrecked the pocket of space around them, and went off to report to the Devil Sovereign.

…

Night had fallen. Moonlight flowed like water, and stars filled the sky. Zhou Tong and the others stood in the void. Below them, ten thousand lights spread to the horizon. All of it belonged to the Ling Xiao Empire, a land so vast it seemed without end.

Zhou Tong sighed from the heart, “What a splendid land of rivers and mountains.”

Qian Miao Yu answered with polite modesty, “Guest minister, you flatter us,” but the pride on her face had already given her away.

Zhou Tong shook his head and said with respect: “Your Majesty need not be modest. To open borders and steady the realm with the strength of a woman at the Heaven Slaying realm is truly extraordinary.”

At those words, a faint bitter smile touched the corner of Qian Miao Yu’s mouth. Who could understand her worry, who could soothe her sorrow?

The realm stood firm only because of the Dragon Vein’s shelter. The sovereigns of the Ling Xiao Empire had fed the Dragon Vein with their own lifeblood, and after ten generations they formed a bond with it and gained the Mandate of Heaven. Under the Mandate, disasters do not cling. Only the blade of time can wear a body down.

Because of this, none of the last ten emperors of Ling Xiao lived past thirty five. This generation would be no exception.

She murmured, “I am twenty six now.”

The little demoness covered her mouth and laughed, “That is the prime of youth.”

Qian Miao Yu lowered her eyes and spoke quietly: “Not so. Father the Emperor had me at seventeen and died at thirty. No younger brothers or sisters were born after me. I am still unmarried. In all the world, the royal line of Ling Xiao has only me.”

Zhou Tong’s eyes widened. This was dangerous for the Imperial House.

He lifted his head and spoke as a guest minister should: “Your Majesty should consider your life’s partner.”

Qian Miao Yu nodded, then sighed, replying: “I know. Yet everyone I see is mediocre. I cannot accept them…” She stopped mid sentence, and her gaze fixed on Zhou Tong. She asked with sudden boldness: “I wonder, guest minister: could you work with me to have a child?”

Silence fell. Even the insects in the night seemed to stop their song.

The little demoness’s smile collapsed at once. [I guarded against this in every way, and still another one jumps out! Are all these women poisoned or what? Senior Sister was bad enough. You are an empress. You can have any man. Why snatch from someone else’s pot!]

She stepped between them and spoke without mercy: “Your Majesty, demons run wild and traitors hold power. Instead of thinking of the people and the state, you talk of romance here. Is that not neglect of duty?”

Qian Miao Yu gave a light laugh and waved it away, saying: “I was only joking. Do not be upset, guest minister. I will take my leave first.” She turned to go, and a dim shadow was all that remained in her eyes.

[Nine years. At most nine years left!] Even if she gave birth right away, her heir would be under ten when she passed. A single misstep then could put the Empire at risk of collapse.

She touched her left ribs with a gentle hand and whispered like a prayer: “Dragon Vein, Dragon Vein, please, can you give me ten more years?”

After the empress left, the little demoness’s mood visibly lifted. She glanced at Holy Heart and spoke briskly: “Girl, go back and report that you are safe. The two of us still have other business.”

Holy Heart asked on instinct: “What business?”

The little demoness flicked her wrist and answered with a huff: “The Lord’s matters. Little brats should not ask.”

Holy Heart, the Devil Sovereign, curled her lip in disdain and muttered, “You are just a rookie and still dare act like a veteran in front of me. Do you even know where you stand?”

Her eyes swept over Zhou Tong and the little demoness, then she smiled in a knowing way, saying: “Do not think I cannot see your plan. You want to hunt. But which of you is the prey is still unknown!”

When the meddler was gone, the vast night sky held only the two of them. They stood shoulder to shoulder. The air was quiet and also sweet.

Zhou Tong could not help it and chuckled, “Pfft.”

The little demoness flushed with anger and shyness at once and snapped, “You little lecher, what are you laughing at?” She slid one hand to press against his chest. A dangerous smile curved her lips, cold and alluring all at once, as she teased: “So many beauties fancy you. You must feel very proud.”

Zhou Tong grinned and leaned closer, saying: “Jealous?”

He thought she would blush and deny it with pride. He was wrong.

Her voice rang clear and deep as she admitted: “Yes. I am jealous.”

In the same breath, her black hair turned snow white. She had entered the Jade Devil Body, and her Joyous Union Heavenly Art broke through on the spot.

Zhou Tong frowned and warned in a low voice: “Be careful not to fall into a demon heart.”

When you long for what you cannot have, greed rises; when you cannot hold it all, obsession rises; when you fear losing what you have, anger rises. In this moment, the little demoness held greed, anger, and obsession all at once, burning strong. That was not normal.

She smiled, eyes wild and bright, and said: “Falling into a demon heart is fine. Then I can give myself to you without any holding back, or make you all mine.”

She lifted her hand and called out the technique, “Seal Sixty Six, Five Element Light Prison!”

Five bands of light snapped closed around Zhou Tong. He froze in midair and could not move.

She stepped in with a conquering aura, slipped one pale arm around his neck, and pressed her cheek to his. Her breath was warm and sweet like orchids. Even Zhou Tong’s heart stirred like a wild monkey.

All at once, the Red Dust Sea unfolded, covering the void and forming its own domain. The two of them fell into a private space.

She leaned even closer and asked in a whisper, “Little lecher, are you scared?”

Her nose almost brushed his. Her face shone with daring charm. Not satisfied, she flicked out the tip of her pink tongue and moved in for more.

There was a sharp crack as the bindings on Zhou Tong’s body shattered. A fierce and overbearing aura burst from him. He caught her cheek with one hand and locked her waist with the other, saying with bright eyes: “I was never afraid of armies, or a mountain of blades and a sea of fire. Why would I fear a gentle land like this?”

He stared at the peerless beauty inches away. She tilted her pretty face, smiling like a flower, just as she had in his past life. Two lifetimes seemed to overlap in that instant. There was nothing to hesitate over; their bond had already been tested by life and death. His gaze turned soft and firm. He lowered his head and pressed a kiss to those tempting red lips.