Chapter 22: Starve to Death, or Court Death?
Nan Xun almost instantly understood what he meant and hurriedly shook her head. “Um… well… could you give me a bit more time?”
If the handsome man she’d been rolling around with suddenly turned into a massive, crimson-red snake covered in flesh wings and four claws, the image would be far too beautiful for her to bear—she’d definitely faint on the spot.
A trace of disappointment flashed through Xue Ming’s blood-red eyes. He let out a low sigh. “Alright. I’ll wait for you.”
Nan Xun cried to Little Eight in her heart. She really couldn’t understand why the Demon King was so obsessed with insisting on doing that only after fully transforming into his beast form. Did her psychological endurance really look that strong?
That sliver of disappointment turned into motivation. Xue Ming became especially energetic at “flipping pancakes,” and in a moment of excitement, Nan Xun raked a claw across his back.
No need to look—she’d definitely drawn blood.
Being scratched like that, Xue Ming’s gaze darkened mid-act, and he suddenly pulled the woman beneath him tightly into his arms.
The next instant, a pair of enormous flesh wings burst from the man’s bare back, and along his spine appeared a row of sharp, inverted spikes, like a line of blood-red daggers.
Nan Xun cried out in shock. The wings of the Four-Clawed Crimson Blood Teng Snake!
Legend had it that the base of the wings was the weakest point—yet the Demon King had exposed his weakness to her?
The huge flesh wings spread and then folded shut, quickly wrapping the two of them inside, concealing the springtime scene within.
The next day, as soon as Nan Xun woke up, she heard the Void Beast say happily, “The malice value has dropped to 40.”
Nan Xun stretched lazily and said, “Last night that horny snake told me he was invited by the Teng Snake clan to be a guest, and that it might be quite a while before he comes back. He told me to stay here and amuse myself. Sigh… I didn’t expect that even a dignified Demon King would go to a Hongmen Banquet. The Teng Snakes already expelled him from their clan—inviting him now definitely means no good.”
The Void Beast was unconcerned. “According to this divine beast’s scans, he’s the strongest existence in this world. Ordinary scheming won’t work on him.”
Nan Xun gave an “oh” and lay back down for another nap.
Suddenly remembering something, she sprang upright. “Oh shit, I’m doomed! Xue Ming warned me again and again not to step out of this sleeping palace even once.”
The Demon King had set up a powerful protective barrier outside the palace. Unless she left on her own initiative, no outsider could get in.
The Void Beast yawned. “Then just don’t go out.”
Nan Xun said flatly, “He didn’t leave me any food at all. If I stay in here the whole time, won’t I just starve to death?”
At the Demon King’s level, he no longer needed to eat ordinary food—but Nan Xun wasn’t like that. If she didn’t eat, she really would starve.
The Void Beast fell silent. After a long while, it said, “As far as this divine beast knows, once you leave the palace, there are plenty of demon beasts outside who want your life.”
If Nan Xun went out, she might be ambushed and killed. But if she didn’t go out, she would definitely starve to death.
So after being hungry for three days, light-headed and weak, Nan Xun finally stepped out of the Demon King’s sleeping palace.
She was completely unfamiliar with the surroundings. Normally, the Demon King would carry her with him and teleport straight in; once inside, she never went back out.
“Madam! Why are you out here?”
Not long after she left the palace, Nan Xun heard an exclamation.
Seeing the person, she was delighted. “Hong Chou? You’re actually here. Where are Lan Shui and the others? Why are you the only one I see?”
Hearing this, Hong Chou stomped her foot angrily. “I was worried about you, so I came over to take a look. But all the demon beasts know that outside the sleeping palace is the Demon King’s forbidden ground—no one is allowed to approach. Lan Shui and the others are too rigid; no matter what, they wouldn’t come with me.”
Nan Xun felt touched and quickly linked arms with her. “Thank you, Hong Chou. Don’t blame Lan Shui and the others though—who in the entire Demon Domain dares to defy the Demon King’s orders?”
Hong Chou said, “Didn’t I defy them? The Demon King hasn’t been around these past few days, so he doesn’t know I came.”
Nan Xun said awkwardly, “Hong Chou, I’m a bit hungry. Could you help me get some food?”
Hong Chou was startled at first, then laughed softly. “His Majesty really is something—he actually forgot that you’re not like us transformed demon beasts and still need to eat regular food.”
With Hong Chou’s help, Nan Xun finally didn’t starve to death in disgrace.
But then she grew worried again. Xue Ming had ordered her not to step out of the sleeping palace—now that she’d come out, could she even get back in?
The answer was obviously no.
“Madam, you should hurry back to the sleeping palace. You’re right on the edge of danger now—those old demons have wanted your life for a long time,” Hong Chou urged.
Nan Xun looked embarrassed. “Now that I’m already out, can I even go back?”
Hong Chou smiled. “Ordinary people can’t, but you’re different. You and the Demon King have been deeply entangled for several years now—your body already carries his aura. With just a trace of mystic power, you can break the barrier and enter.”
Hearing the words “several years,” Nan Xun was shocked. She hurriedly asked the Void Beast, “Little Eight, I’ve been living with the Demon King in this sleeping palace for several years already?”
The Void Beast replied, “Yes. What did you think?”
Nan Xun was suddenly full of mixed emotions. Following Hong Chou’s instructions, she walked straight into the barrier—only to bump her forehead and raise a lump.
She looked at Hong Chou. Hadn’t she said it only required a trace of mystic power?
Hong Chou covered her forehead. “Sorry, Madam. I forgot—you’re only a beginner Grand Mystic.”
Nan Xun felt she’d progressed quite quickly, yet she heard a hint of disdain in Hong Chou’s words.
When she first arrived in the Demon Domain, she’d only been a Mystic Apprentice. Xue Ming fed her all kinds of spirit pills every day, which was how she’d reached beginner Grand Mystic. From Mystic Apprentice to Mystic Warrior to Mystic Master, she thought her progress was pretty rapid.
The Demon Palace stood at the peak of the Demon Domain, where there were almost no natural elements in the air—only dark elements. She could only cultivate using mystic crystals. Besides, she had so little time to cultivate each day—the rest was all spent dealing with that horny snake.
After thinking for a moment, Hong Chou said, “I’ve accidentally glimpsed a bit of the Shadow-Drilling Technique. If you don’t mind, Madam, I can hide inside your shadow and go in with you.”
Nan Xun froze, recalling how the Demon King had once hidden in the long-eared rabbit’s shadow. Wasn’t that a secret art? Hong Chou actually knew it too?
She clapped her hands at once. “Perfect!” Then, shamelessly, she added, “In that case, Hong Chou, why not bring some extra food in as well?”
Hong Chou waved the storage pouch in her hand and smiled. “Here—this is all dried rations.”
The two hit it off immediately. Hong Chou hid herself in Nan Xun’s shadow, and with her assistance, Nan Xun easily broke through the protective barrier and returned to the sleeping palace.
With stored rations this time, Nan Xun no longer had to worry about starving to death.
Once inside, Hong Chou emerged from her shadow and poured the dried food out of the storage pouch.
“Thank you, Hong Chou. When Xue Ming comes back, I’ll definitely put in a good word for you. You should leave quickly—if your scent lingers here, Xue Ming won’t be happy when he returns,” Nan Xun reminded her.
Hong Chou didn’t respond. She stared at Nan Xun in disbelief, her voice rising slightly. “Xue Ming? You actually address His Majesty by name?!”
