Li Yueying watched her silently, pondered for a moment, then stood as well. She grabbed Li Jiangying, marched to the palace entrance, and unceremoniously tossed her outside with a thud.
It seemed like retaliation for the time Li Jiangying had thrown her out.
Li Jiangying sat on the ground with a wry laugh, dusted the dirt off her trousers and skirt, and got up. With a sigh, she headed out, turning the corner just in time to run into Cui Yu, who was carrying a bundle of items.
Li Jiangying looked—what Cui Yu held were several colored silk ornaments and small lanterns of various patterns.
“What’s all this for?”
Cui Yu smiled upon seeing her. “I was just about to look for you and Her Highness. The Devil’s New Year celebrations are in half a month. In past years, we never really celebrated, but this year is different. This year, Her Highness’s condition has improved, and Jiangying also broke through to the Innate Stage. We really should celebrate properly. Jiangying, tell me which patterns you like so I can decorate the Devil Palace.”
The Devil’s New Year—the New Year of the Devil Domain. Things here were a bit different from the orthodox sects. It was also the biggest festival in the Devil Domain.
Li Jiangying’s seclusion had actually lasted one year and one and a half months, meaning she’d just missed the last Devil’s New Year. Quite interested, she enthusiastically discussed and finalized the designs with Cui Yu.
“No need for these cloth flowers—too gaudy. Just hanging some exquisite lanterns will do.”
Cui Yu agreed. “Alright. Should I ask Her Highness for her opinion too?” They all knew that since Miss Jiangying’s emergence, Her Highness had been glued to her. Her Highness was currently in her most agreeable state.
“No need. I doubt she wants you disturbing her.” Li Jiangying spread her hands. “She’s… already come to her senses.”
Cui Yu glanced thoughtfully at the dust prints on the back of Li Jiangying’s clothes. “Jiangying has really worked hard.”
“Haha, no trouble at all.”
With that settled for now, Cui Yu went off to decorate the palace. Li Jiangying headed to find the Tao clansmen and treat them as promised. They had brought seven patients and seven sets of cultivation methods. The variety was extensive, the quality excellent, and the value considerable. It was safe to say their attitude toward befriending Li Jiangying was extremely sincere.
Truly worthy of being the wealthiest family in the Devil Domain’s civilized world—such generosity!
Having ascended to the Innate Stage, Li Jiangying’s strength had undergone a qualitative leap. She no longer needed half a month to treat a single person like before. Her control over Devil Qi was now increasingly adept. While tempering her body, she continuously tried to establish a deeper connection with the Demon Core inside her. The core did indeed respond to her. Li Jiangying could finally begin drawing pure Fire Element Devil Qi from it for her own use.
This should have been a joyous thing, but the Phoenix Core was covered in cracks. Whenever Li Jiangying touched it with her senses, she felt like it might shatter at the slightest mishap. Moreover, the Fire Element Devil Qi inside it was exceptionally unique, making Li Jiangying cautious and hesitant to overuse it. For now, she decided to just treat it as a Devil Qi absorber.
Half a month passed. Treating the Tao clansmen; reading the most advanced cultivation methods of recent years—Li Jiangying’s life was fulfilling and utterly joyful. During this time, Shi Yanran secretly sought her out once. Li Jiangying once again refused the request to go examine the relic immediately.
On the day of the Devil’s New Year celebration, the Moon Shadow Devil Palace was adorned everywhere with exquisite little lanterns. These lanterns would only look their best when lit at night.
Devil Cultivators were accustomed to holding all their festivals and celebrations at night, unlike mortals and orthodox cultivators who had countless customs and rituals to follow.
As day faded to dusk and the decorated lanterns were just being lit, everyone decided to celebrate at the newly restored Ascending Immortal Tower. The original tower was so dilapidated it was impossible to even enter; now, it had been restored to its former glory as a towering three-story structure.
Sister Jiang had prepared a full table of delicacies. She was cooking dumplings while Cui Yu stood beside her, scooping out a bowl. Carrying the bowl and chopsticks, Cui Yu walked outside to the railing where Li Jiangying was leaning, gazing at the moon.
“Jiangying, taste it. How’s the flavor?”
Li Jiangying didn’t stand on ceremony. She ate a bite directly and gave a thumbs up. “Delicious!”
“Are you watching the moon?” Cui Yu asked curiously. At that moment, gauze-thin clouds veiled the moon, making it appear and disappear indistinctly.
Li Jiangying shook her head, then suddenly lowered her voice. “I’m watching Yueying. Tell me, why is she so unsociable?”
She’d gone up to the third floor all by herself, drinking alone beneath the moon. And no one else dared disturb her.
Cui Yu smiled. “In past years, during festivals, the palace would occasionally have small celebrations, but Her Highness would always go to some high place and drink alone. She never joined us. Perhaps Her Highness simply dislikes bustling crowds. Don’t worry about it.”
“You’re right. No need for me to worry about her.”
Inside the hall, the others were already calling them in to eat. They headed back. Li Jiangying was ushered to a seat amidst the crowd. Raising a cup of rose wine, she smiled. “I’ve been here for quite some time now, receiving everyone’s care. Today, let me first toast to all of you!”
“Jiangying is too polite. The Moon Shadow Devil Palace owes its current state to Jiangying’s support. We’re all members of this palace; we must continue supporting each other onward.”
They ate and drank in harmony, chatting about trifles from daily life or troubles in cultivation. The lively warmth formed a stark contrast with the cold solitude upstairs.
Li Yueying sat by the window in the dim moonlight. Her pale wrist gently swirled the wine cup in her hand, sending ripples spreading across its surface. Expressionlessly, she raised it and drank.
Downstairs, Li Jiangying suddenly stood, picking up a jug of rose wine, and smiled. “I’ll go upstairs to check on Her Highness. You all continue.”
She walked lightly out of the main hall and toward the staircase. Her unhurried poise prompted Jiang Chunhua to rub her eyes. For some reason, she felt Miss Jiangying’s aura had changed somewhat.
Li Jiangying carried the jug of rose wine, softly humming a tune. Her fingers traced along the clean, smooth wall, drawing a long wavy line as she climbed step by step to the third floor.
She approached the unlit broad hall. There, Li Yueying sat by the wide-open window, drinking alone beneath the moon.
Without lamplight, only faint, hazy moonlight spilled in. Li Yueying’s already pale face appeared white as snow, making her dark-red eyes seem like blood in contrast.
Hearing approaching footsteps, she slowly turned her head. Her expression was as placid as an ancient well as she quietly watched Li Jiangying walk toward her.
Jug in hand, Li Jiangying approached. Suddenly she stumbled, pitching straight into Li Yueying’s arms.
“Sorry, I’m a little drunk.” Li Jiangying’s voice rasped softly like a small brush, its trailing tone hooking subtly at the heartstrings.
Li Yueying remained silent, silently observing what she intended. Then Li Jiangying chuckled lightly, adjusted her position, and suddenly swung her legs over, sitting right in Li Yueying’s lap!
Her lithe body pressed intimately against Li Yueying’s. With bewitching, silken eyes, Li Jiangying raised the rose wine and took a mouthful. She set the jug down, lifted a hand to gently tilt Li Yueying’s chin upward, and leaned in, seemingly intending to feed the wine to Li Yueying mouth-to-mouth!
Li Yueying’s lashes fluttered. With lightning-fast reflexes, she clamped her hand on Li Jiangying’s chin. A muffled “Mm!” escaped Li Jiangying; her throat moved, and she swallowed the mouthful of rose wine herself.
Forced to stop right before Li Yueying’s face, her chin pinched, her red lips glistening pitifully, Li Jiangying heard her say calmly: “Are you trying to seduce This Venerable One?”
“Is that not allowed?” Li Jiangying broke free from Li Yueying’s grasp, looking at her with a hint of reproach. “Yueying, don’t you like it?”
Li Yueying said coldly, “Throwing yourself into my arms the moment you arrive. Wanton.”
Hearing herself described so, Li Jiangying wasn’t angered. She smiled and slumped softly against Li Yueying. Taking her wine cup, she filled it with the crimson rose wine and lifted it to Li Yueying’s lips. “What about this then? Yueying, if you refuse me again, I’ll truly be heartbroken.”
As she spoke, her body, pressed against the Moon Shadow Devil Venerable, subtly but suggestively rubbed against her. Her entire being exuded the tipsy allure of wine fragrance.
Fine, let’s see what else you can pull. Li Yueying lowered her eyes slightly and drank the cup of wine from Li Jiangying’s hand.
Li Jiangying gave a soft chuckle, a quivering laugh that seemed to coil silk-thin around the heart, intoxicating. She licked her lower lip, as if determined to unite with Li Yueying this very night. Her hand stretched out, fingertips delicately raised, slowly slipping into Li Yueying’s robes.
“Yueying.” She breathed fragrance into her ear like a gentle orchid. “My heart belongs to you.”
The most moving words in the world. Li Yueying’s heart trembled, and she involuntarily closed her eyes.
That restless hand crept toward her heart. Then—snap—Li Yueying’s eyes flew open. She stared coldly at the woman in her embrace. “So this is your aim?”
The sultry smile on Li Jiangying’s face froze. She sighed lightly, straightening up. Her hand was still inside Li Yueying’s robes. A tiny, exceptionally delicate jade knife was clutched between her fingertips.
But she could push the knife no further. Because Li Yueying’s hand blocked it. The small jade blade sliced into Li Yueying’s palm, blood streaming down, yet Li Yueying acted as if she felt no pain, gripping the hand in return and slowly pushing it away from her heart.
“What a pity.” Li Jiangying looked toward Li Yueying’s heart, where her Reverse Scale lay. Once one controlled the Reverse Scale, one controlled Li Yueying’s fatal weakness.
Mildly dejected, she asked curiously, “How did you find out? Did I not imitate her well enough?”
Before Li Yueying could answer, violent waves suddenly surged within Li Jiangying’s Sea of Consciousness. A sharp shout thundered: “Like your mother’s ghost, you idiot!”
The Sea of Consciousness—both formless and possessing form. Li Yueying watched coldly as Li Jiangying’s gaze glazed over, falling into the struggle within her own Divine Sense. She didn’t interfere, only maintaining a slight guard in case the true Li Jiangying failed.
Within the Sea of Consciousness, a Grey-White Phantom darted rapidly. But no matter where it fled, great waves blocked its path. Wave after wave formed a cage net that came crashing down, trapping the Grey-White Phantom inside, leaving it no escape, no retreat!
“So you discovered it long ago…” The Grey-White Phantom communicated with Li Jiangying’s Divine Sense, sighing. “I thought I was scheming against you. I never expected to be the one schemed against.”
Li Jiangying’s cold laugh echoed from all directions within the Sea of Consciousness. “Did you think this past year of bitter cultivation was for nothing? Times have changed. I don’t know who you are, but you’ve severely underestimated both myself and the Moon Shadow Devil Venerable.”
During that year, she hadn’t just tempered her body. She’d never given up on training her Divine Sense. Having voraciously absorbed related knowledge, she long suspected what had happened to her. She knew that possession of one’s Divine Sense was one of the most difficult things to handle.
The periods of mental haziness after her seclusion had grown less and less frequent, eventually vanishing. But that didn’t mean the other party had withdrawn from her Sea of Consciousness. The most likely scenario was that they were lying low, awaiting an opportunity to strike back! And a hidden fragment of consciousness was the hardest to root out. Only when it took the initiative to emerge was there a chance to completely annihilate it.
Thus, Li Jiangying and Li Yueying had teamed up to trick this phantom, both to see the true purpose behind its control of Li Jiangying, and to create this chance to utterly destroy it, leaving no future troubles!
And now, it was Li Jiangying’s turn to attack!
