Chapter Six: The Demon Realm—Encountering a Rival in Love

“Then I am relieved. Was it your friend who did it for you?”
“How did you know?” Qinglan hadn’t told them anything.
“Yan’er told us. If not, how much longer were you planning to keep it from us?” Lingxi looked at Qinglan, tempted to grab him by the head and make him look at Chi Yan—a perfect gentleman.
“Why do you like to talk so much?” Qinglan frowned at Chi Yan, displeased.
“God Lord Lingxi asked me to look after you. Naturally, some things ought to be shared with them,” Chi Yan replied.
“That won’t be necessary. I can take care of myself, and if not, my master would help me. I have nothing to do with you—my affairs are none of your concern.” Qinglan made her point clear, feeling his intentions were far from pure. Her intuition was rarely wrong. “Mother, you needn’t worry about me. Father is busy; you just take care of him.”
“If I had anything else to do, I surely couldn’t manage you.”
“That’s settled, then. You all go about your own business,” Qianfeng said, watching the mother and daughter converse for ages, unable to get a word in.
“I’ll take my leave,” they said, each excusing themselves.
“If you feel bored, you can look after me, but as for our daughter, she has her own thoughts—there’s no need for you to interfere.”
“You don’t care about Lanlan at all! What kind of father are you?” Lingxi complained.
“Of course I care,” Qianfeng protested, aggrieved.
“But you do nothing to check Lanlan’s mischief.”
“But surely our daughter’s happiness matters most? Lanlan knows her limits. Even if she makes mistakes, she’ll take responsibility. She needs to grow on her own.”
“Very well,” Lingxi was finally reassured. Ascension required not just cultivation, but also the right state of mind and timing.
“So for now, what you need to do is take good care of your husband—me.”
“What is there to take care of? Most of the time, you’re just out patrolling.”
“Look, Lanlan is already grown up,” Qianfeng hinted strongly.
“In any case, I won’t—not for the next few years, at least.”
“Alright, as you wish,” Qianfeng said, disappointed.

—

As the two walked along the road, Chi Yan kept his gaze fixed on Qinglan, who was growing annoyed. She was not someone to be stared at freely.
“Could you stop looking at me?”
“I just can’t help it,” Chi Yan replied.
“Well, you have to. If you keep staring, I’ll tell your father you’re disturbing my cultivation.”
“I watched you grow up. I’ve never disturbed you.”
“You’re disturbing me now.”
“Alright, I won’t bother you again,” Chi Yan said, and vanished on the spot. Instantly, Qinglan felt relieved.

Returning to the Zhu Rong residence, Chi Yan knelt before his father, the Immortal Lord Shengyan. Shengyan struck a bolt of spiritual power at him.
“You can’t even handle a small task. What use are you to me?”
“I am incompetent.”
“You are the most gifted of the Zhu Rong clan, the only one of godly rank. You must make us proud, or our clan will never rise again.”
“Yes, Father. I will do my best.” Chi Yan’s gaze darkened, like a puppet waiting to be manipulated.
He was Zhu Rong’s strongest, and his mission was to make Qinglan—born with a divine body, daughter of the God of War—fall in love with him. Only then would the clan gain respect.

Qinglan, meanwhile, had gone to the Xiao residence, only to find Xiao Cangyi was not there. Had he returned to the Demon Realm?
As she walked down the corridor, she ran into Xiao Cangyi’s parents, Xiao Qiyan and Shen Xuanyi.
“Father, Mother, is Yi not at home?” Qinglan asked anxiously.
“Lanlan, why are you here? Cangyi said you’d gone home. When you hadn’t returned, he went out to look for you—he left this morning,” Shen Xuanyi replied in astonishment.
“Home?”

“Yes.”
“Then I’ll go find him.” Qinglan bowed to them in respect and hurried toward the gate, only to be stopped halfway by Xiao Qingyue.
“Sister-in-law, why are you rushing so?”
“I’m looking for my husband.”
“Didn’t my brother go to find you?” Xiao Qingyue asked.
“He didn’t tell me.”
“My brother, honestly. Going out and not even telling you. When he gets back, I’ll have Father scold him.”
“That’s not necessary. I think I know where he’s gone,” Qinglan replied, protective as always—she wouldn’t let anyone, not even his own parents, scold Cangyi.
“Well, fine then,” Xiao Qingyue pretended to be indifferent, but inside she was elated. This meant her brother wouldn’t be abandoned.
“I’ll be going now. Take good care of Father and Mother.”
“That’s no problem. Go find my brother,” Xiao Qingyue encouraged.
“Yes.” Qinglan left the residence, and in a secluded corner, disappeared.

Just after she left, Xiao Cangyi returned. He nearly bumped into Xiao Qingyue as she was turning back inside.
“Qingyue, has Lanlan returned?”
“Brother, Sister-in-law just left. Why are you only getting back now?” Xiao Qingyue complained about his poor sense of timing.
“I see.” Xiao Cangyi walked in, only to turn and leave again.
He’d rushed back from the Demon Realm as soon as his business was done, but he was still too late.

Qinglan, after only a few breaths soaring through the sky, arrived at the ‘Blazing Demon’ Palace in the Demon Realm. The palace was pitch black, with a blood-red moon hanging high above, especially striking.
Suddenly, she sensed a demonic wind palm strike coming at her. Instantly, an ice sword appeared in her hand to block the attack. The sword shattered—after all, it was conjured by spell, not a true weapon.
“Judging by your aura, you must be from the Divine Realm. Why are you in the Demon Sovereign’s palace?” The newcomer was shrouded in demonic energy and highly cultivated. As she spoke, she summoned her own artifact: the ‘Remnant Demon’ whip.
“And who are you?” Qinglan replied coldly, conjuring another ice sword.
“I am Demon Princess Moyan.” As soon as she finished speaking, the whip transformed into a sword that thrust straight at Qinglan.
Qinglan parried, the two exchanging dozens of blows without a clear winner. Dissatisfied, Moyan quickly turned the ‘Remnant Demon’ back into a whip, barbed and brimming with demonic energy—its power even greater.
Qinglan dodged and blocked with ease. Had she used her own artifact, Moyan would have stood no chance.

Cangyi returned to the ‘Blazing Demon’ Palace to witness the chaos: the two fighting so fiercely the palace seemed on the verge of collapse. In the final round, Cangyi intervened.
“Are you two planning to tear down my palace?” With just one sentence, his authority as a ruler was clear.
“Greetings, Demon Sovereign.” At his arrival, Moyan hurriedly withdrew her whip and bowed.
“At ease,” Cangyi replied, his tone icy.
“Demon Sovereign, this person is from the Divine Realm. She broke into the Demon Realm—she should be killed.” Moyan eyed Qinglan with dislike.
“She’s here at my invitation.” Cangyi’s words left her speechless.
“I hope you haven’t forgotten the matter of the former Demon Sovereign,” Moyan muttered, exasperated.
The sword in Qinglan’s hand dissolved into a flurry of frost, her chilling aura fading as well.
“It’s just a palace. Think I can’t afford to pay for it?” Qinglan crossed her arms, speaking to him with arrogant pride.
“Of course you can,” Cangyi replied indulgently, his tone with her a stark contrast to his coldness with Moyan.
Cangyi sensed Moyan’s cultivation was formidable—second only to himself in the Demon Realm. Yet she was evenly matched with Qinglan. He wondered if Moyan’s power was exaggerated, never considering that Qinglan was simply too strong.
“She’s just the Scarlet Shadow King’s daughter—she has nothing to do with me.”
“I know.”
“Thank you, Lan, for trusting me.”

“As long as you know.”
“But it’s unfair to you, having your identity hidden from the Demon Realm.”
“I don’t feel wronged. I’ve never even known what that means.”
They exchanged a smile. Jinhan, unable to stand the scene, vanished, wondering if the two were joined at the hip.

—

Meanwhile, Moyan returned to the Scarlet Shadow King’s palace, where her father sat in the seat of honor. She poured out her grievances—he was the head of the three Demon Kings, and Moyan his most cherished daughter.
“Father, why doesn’t the Demon Sovereign like me? I’m a princess of the Demon Realm!”
She wanted to tell him about the Demon Sovereign’s involvement with a divine woman, but feared it would affect his position, so she kept silent.
Because of what happened with the former Demon Sovereign, no one would allow the current one to be entangled with someone from the Divine Realm.
“Yaner, he’s the Demon Sovereign. Even I can’t help you. You must win him over yourself. But if you truly can’t, don’t force it—don’t hurt yourself,” the Scarlet Shadow King advised earnestly.
“I won’t!” Moyan refused to listen, storming off.
She returned to her training chamber, sitting alone in sorrow. She had always been at his side; how could he fall for another woman?
“Princess, someone from the Divine Realm seeks audience.”
“No! I refuse to see anyone from the Divine Realm,” she snapped.
“Yes, Princess.”
The maid withdrew and relayed the message.
“The princess will not see you.”
“I understand. I’ll return another time.”

—

Cangyi took Qinglan sightseeing throughout the Demon Realm, but she found the place barren and desolate.
Even though the River of Forgetfulness from the Underworld passed through, it was filled with wandering ghosts—not a place for idle play—so they returned, disappointed, to the ‘Blazing Demon’ Palace.
“Yi, are there any books to read?” Qinglan asked idly. She had intended to cultivate, but this was the Demon Realm—surely she couldn’t practice here.
“Yes, there’s a library below. Would you like to go?”
“Of course!” Qinglan was delighted at the prospect of books and followed him eagerly underground.
“The left side is mortal world fiction and tales; the right side holds demon realm texts,” Cangyi explained. Qinglan went straight for the left, and Cangyi simply watched her, never tiring of the sight.
Qinglan could lose herself in books for hours. Meanwhile, the Divine Realm was in an uproar searching for her. In the Azure Hall, several figures stood: God Lord Lingxi, God Lord Yuzhi, and God Lord Chi Yan.
“Azure God Lord, Lanlan hasn’t visited us in days. Is she here with you?” Lingxi asked anxiously.
“She isn’t. Has something happened?” the Azure God Lord replied.
“Lanlan is always running off. When she was four thousand, she wandered everywhere, nearly vanished, and still hasn’t learned her lesson,” Lingxi fretted.
“Perhaps she’s not running amok—maybe she’s in the mortal world, having so much fun she’s lost track of time,” Yuzhi suggested.
“I agree. Lan especially loves exploring the mortal world,” Chi Yan added.
“But the mortal world is vast, split into two small realms. She won’t be easy to find,” Lingxi sighed.
“Then let’s split up to search,” Yuzhi proposed.
“I’ll stay in the Azure Hall. If Lanlan returns, I’ll know at once,” the Azure God Lord offered.
The others agreed. Lingxi set out for the cultivation realm, Yuzhi searched the human world, and Chi Yan went to the Demon Realm—he suspected the one who saved Qinglan that day was from there.
Everyone in the Divine Realm was frantic, but Qinglan was blissfully unaware, still engrossed in her reading.
As she was about to leave, she accidentally knocked a book off the shelf. Glancing at it, she caught sight of something unexpected.