as he warned, "…Dwelling on fantasies is dangerous, Mu Xia Qiao. Don't test my patience.""I... I was born like this too" I asked, my voice trembling.He chuckled softly: "What do you think Don't you r...If this "alliance" is no use, what then

I stared at him in horrified fascination.

He was lying on his side, propping himself up with one hand against the desk, mumbling softly, “Just be honest… why You’re quite famous around here because of Mu Xia Qiao…”

What

"I've never been to the Demon Realm, why am I so famous in your north" I asked, unable to help myself.

No wonder when I just told the old Taoist priest my family name, only saying that my surname was Mu, he appeared doubtful and said: “….Mu”

I believe I'm well-known in the underworld, after all, Jiang Qiyun once publicly declared our union to the denizens of the Netherworld. So even the smallest gremlin deep in a remote mountain crevice knows that there is a Young Lady in the underworld.

But the north of the Demon Realm—I don't even have a concept of how big the Demon Realm is, let alone what the north even means How could I be famous

"Well... didn't I just say that A while back, someone raised Corpse Demons in the space between dimensions to feast on the flesh of little fairies, demons, and restless spirits. Some leaked into the Demon Realm and absorbed a good deal of its essence." Chong Mo shrugged.

"We have also sent people many times to exterminate that chaotic, hideous monster. But because its main body is not in the demon world, even if we destroy part of it, it will continue to grow, endlessly troublesome."

And within the monster's body, a head roamed about, constantly muttering "Mu Xiaoqiao, Mu Xiaoqiao... ", so many of us believe that demon is called Mu Xiaoqiao.

A shiver ran down my spine. That gigantic chaotic Corpse Demon, was it actually called "Mu Xiaoqiao"

"You're saying that... how long ago was it My fight with the Corpse Demon has already been three years ago..." I asked softly.

"We exist in different realms, and our concepts of time are naturally dissimilar. This happened not long ago. Your Lordship was quite angry about the situation... coupled with other factors—"

Some other reasons I think I heard the main points.

He paused, then started to rant again, his emotions shifting wildly: "Why do you ask so many questions! You wouldn't understand even if I told you!"

I pulled my neck back, you need to say more for me to understand.

I've found that practitioners, regardless of whether they walk the righteous path or the crooked one, seem to disdain falsehoods and white lies.

Chongmo is also a "straight shooter," but he's not stupid. He'll say whatever he wants without hesitation, and things he can't say — like the "other reasons" he mentioned — he just won't bring up at all.

No matter how I tried to probe him, he wouldn't say.

I'm not good at beating around the bush either. When I get tongue-tied, I can only keep my mouth shut and listen to him talking about me and "us" mortals as being both foolish and weak.

"You're quite calm, aren't you" Chong Mo said after a long silence. Seeing that I didn't speak, he got bored and started playing with my jade Ruyi.

"This thing seems to only be able to conjure sword energy in your hand… You don't want to look like you wield a sword, it would be a waste of such a good thing."

"Hey, I'm talking to you, what are you doing hiding in the corner of the bed"

I reached through the carved wooden lattice of the bedpost and felt my small bag, tucked inside my clothes beneath my long coat, which concealed it perfectly. It seemed undiscovered...

Shunmo should have been assigned to watch over me. He was bored out of his mind and kept trying to talk to me. To avoid him noticing that I was moving, I tried my best to follow along with his conversation.

“...."I'm trying my best to conserve my energy so I can live a little longer..."

"Huh" Chong Mo chuckled and shook his jade Ruyi, shaking his head and saying, "Sometimes, I really don't know if you're stupid or smart."

He paused for a moment and said, "I already reported everything about you to the master last time. In fact, whether you tell the truth or remain silent, it's meaningless... I reminded you last time—for a demon stronger than you, obedience is your chance to survive."

"...and thank you for that." I whispered, carefully reaching into my small purse.

Last time, I was guessed by Chong Mo about my marriage and phantom pregnancy. He even took my blood, but this time it's the respected one who personally did it.

"Just now... If you dared to deceive me, you wouldn't be sitting here in your bed right now. You would be stripped naked and hung up, letting those little demons and imps gnaw on your fingers and toes..." Chong Mo deliberately spoke in a threatening tone.

After he finished speaking, he himself found it boring and curled his lips, saying: "You woman, you're not fun at all... Except when you cry, you look lively. At other times, you're wooden and lifeless. I really don't know what the Underworld Deity likes about you... It seems our Lord doesn't like you either, otherwise, why would he leave you in this rundown place and leave himself"

My hand touched something heavy in my bag—something that had been dormant for a long time. It had been ages since I last used it, probably three years ago.

"Your Excellency... left" A glimmer of hope sparked in my heart.

"With your Blood Oath, of course we'll go to Yilou Palace and try to open a larger passage... What You still want Your Excellency to stay here with you!" Chong Mo said with a disdainful expression.

No, no, no... I think it's a blessing in disguise.

I was a bit braver than usual, my hands moving quickly as I carefully opened the thing that had been "buried" at the bottom of my bag for so long.

“Such a wretched place! For His Lordship to even stay here is a detriment to his dignity! You think His Lordship would come to your secluded world! You woman, besides looking slightly dewy and crying fiercely, have nothing else to offer. His Lordship only sees you as a tool, don't get any delusions.”

Yes, yes, yes, you are the best of all, an idol to everyone.

I can't help but laugh and cry at the same time, the demon is truly stubborn and proud.

As the undisputed king of this city and its lake, he was sent to watch over me. I reckon he's seething with resentment, so he keeps putting me down just to pass the time.

It's not really a belittling, I was never a major player anyway.

"Cough... You, why are you here to watch over me" I purposely brought up a sensitive topic.

Chong Mo's eyes seemed about to burst into flames, he stood up and yelled, "Do you think I wanted to come! Your Majesty, seeing that you are obedient and well-behaved, bestowed great mercy and asked me to watch over you!"

"If someone else were here, you'd still be sitting politely talking to me! I'd stomp all over you and torture you—we really don't like the name Mu Xiaoqiao!"

He paced back and forth behind the offering table, without approaching me. Did I become a tool for their lords Did they even give me a shred of "human rights"

I saw that he wasn't charging over, and I grew bolder. My movements became faster—thankfully this carved wooden moon cave bed could conceal my form, or else my movements would have become increasingly obvious...

Inside my small bag, there are some oddly colored talisman papers. There are the red ones that were secretly kept by the Shen family, and a few pink ones that look like they came from a fairy tale, given to me by my father.

These talismans, some have runes and others are blank.

And those few red sheets of the domineering Five Thunder Spell from the Shen family, I secretly pasted them on the inside of the carved wooden bed.

I was fully prepared and deliberately said, "Can you return my jade Ruyi to me... even if you were going to kill and steal, you wouldn't use it..."

"Bah! This broken wishful stick, I'm just waving my fingers around with it! So rare!"

... He's so honest, I'm actually grateful that the Taishang Xuanmen has a rule against false or fabricated words.

Chong Mo hurled the Zi Xiao Ruyi towards me, it hit me straight on the forehead, sending stars dancing before my eyes!

"Hey, you... Even this slow, can't dodge it!" Chong Mo was stunned.

I pressed my forehead, clutching the jade wishful thinking scepter in one hand, and said drowsily: “Chong Mo, your master is right, you really are a compassionate person…”

"Cut the crap...don't even think about suicide. Move a muscle and I'll have Xiao Mo rip your hand to shreds." He beckoned with his finger, and from the darkness where the candlelight couldn't reach, several sharp-toothed, demonic beasts emerged.

I have opened the last "mechanism" in my bag—

Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed. I held the Thunder Seal in both hands, the Five Thunders Talisman blazed with light, instantly scorching the moonlit bed into charred ash. The demonic beasts beside it were reduced to dust.

The whole bed was ablaze, the flames licking at the air. My (river crab, must river crab) ferocious action caught him off guard.

"Mu Xiaoqiao, do you want to turn yourself into ashes" He frowned.

"How is that possible... Suicide is also a grave sin. As the little Lady of the Underworld, I wouldn't do such a thing easily... But..."

But, compassion and kindness are ultimately good things… maybe they could even save someone's life sometimes

As soon as I finished speaking, a force slammed me down.r, who usually lived a carefree life and didn't seem reliable. But he was actually dependable and wouldn't disappear and make the family worry.Lin Yanhuan's phone rang again soon: "Xiao Qiao, the tran...