Great Demon - Chapter 90 Part 2

Changying remained silent. Perhaps realizing that she had bitten too hard, she unexpectedly flicked out her tongue and licked over the faint red mark left behind. Her golden eyes were piercingly cold, unmoving, like a primordial beast guarding its prey, determined to claim it for itself and unwilling to let anyone else so much as touch it.

Zhuyou froze, her once calm heart suddenly hammering wildly.

There was no trace of moisture on her wrist, yet when that rough dragon tongue scraped over her skin, its barbs left a tingling, almost itchy sensation—like an invisible mark had been left behind.

At that moment, it felt as though all her senses converged on that single spot. Her once straight posture softened entirely, her fingertips numb with a strange, trembling heat.

She lowered her head slightly, lips parting ever so slightly, her breath warm as it met Changying’s gaze—cold, domineering, and utterly unwavering.

The words Huoshu had spoken earlier at Jianxiang Pavilion still echoed in her ears. Was using one’s tongue truly like this? If not, then how else?

“Your Grace, could it be that the tiger demon is taking orders from that person?” the water demon whispered, lowering her voice. She cautiously scanned every corner of the room, fearful that the tiger demon might be lurking in the shadows.

“It’s hard to say.” Zhuyou snapped back to her senses. The corners of her eyes flushed red, and her slightly parted lips pressed tightly together. She hurriedly pried the dragon off her wrist, grasping it in her hand. With her other hand, she pressed against the corner of her eye. The more flustered she became, the hotter her ears and eyes felt—no doubt they had already turned red.

Changying dangled limply, her neck pinched between Zhuyou’s fingers, straight as a rope.

Zhuyou felt as if she were holding something scalding hot and hurriedly flung the dragon away.

Just as Changying was about to hit the wall, she abruptly shifted into her human form, catching herself with a hand against the dust-covered surface. Her expression remained indifferent, a slight furrow in her brow as she tilted her head in confusion.

Zhuyou suddenly wondered if she had been overthinking things. Perhaps Changying hadn’t been acting in accordance with Huoshu’s earlier words after all.

Changying raised a hand to touch her lips, pressing her tongue lightly against her teeth as if contemplating whether she should be gentler next time. She walked over, looking down at the Vermillion Phoenix who now refused to meet her gaze. “The three hun souls of Guanshang have entered his body? How did he escape?”

“I’ll tell you later,” Zhuyou said, rubbing at the redness around her eyes, her tone unnatural.

Huoshu had seen Zhuyou throw something. She hesitated for a moment, clearly seeing that Her Grace’s hands were now empty, but unsure of what had been discarded. Worried, she asked, “Your Grace, what did you throw just now? Did you catch something?”

“Dust.” Zhuyou parted her tightly pressed lips just enough to utter the single word. She rubbed the inside of her wrist against her silk robe, feigning indifference. “That tiger demon is undoubtedly connected to Guanshang. The situation has changed—who knows if he’ll still return in two days.” With that, she restored the restriction on the window lattice, then turned to leave. As she stepped outside, she added, “This residence is most likely just a decoy. The tiger demon doesn’t seem to have lived here for long.”

Changying, who had just been reduced to “dust,” stood there, her expression dark and stormy. How had she fallen from being a four-legged insect to mere specks of dust? Her status had truly plummeted.

Zhuyou coughed lightly and sent a thought, I didn’t mean that you were dust.

Changying chose to believe her—just barely.

“Your Grace, should we keep watch here?” Huoshu asked.

“Keep a close eye on this place. If the tiger demon appears in two days, come find me.” Only after ensuring that the three demons had left did Zhuyou channel a wisp of spiritual energy through the door crack. The wooden latch on the ground was nudged back into place with a soft click, restoring the door to its original state.

The restriction over the door also resumed, once again enclosed by a cocoon-like barrier.

The residence wasn’t large—just a main hall, two side rooms, and a courtyard with a dried-up pond. Beside the pond was a well, but no water could be drawn from it. It seemed either to have dried up long ago or never been properly dug in the first place, with only a few bricks arranged to make it appear functional.

Zhuyou glanced back and saw that the three demons were still trailing her. She sighed. “You don’t have to follow me. I’ve already told you—if something happens, I won’t protect you.”

She had only wanted to see Changying sulk, perhaps even act a little jealous, but she hadn’t expected the three demons to stick so close.

The demons hesitated mid-step. They couldn’t keep following her, nor could they simply leave. Left with no other choice, they stood idly in the courtyard.

Zhuyou checked the main hall and side rooms but found nothing of note. However, the main hall did contain a bed—one without any bedding or even a simple straw mat.

Standing inside the hall, she turned to Changying and said, “When I was in the Endless Abyss, I did indeed retrieve Guanshang’s body and personally pressed his soul into his sea of consciousness.” She paused, her expression darkening. “I used too much force and shattered the top of his skull. Just as I was about to examine his consciousness, he suddenly slit his palm and lunged toward my face.”

Changying’s expression remained unreadable, but the air around her grew heavy with killing intent. A sharp hum rang out at her side, as if a sword had cut through the air—it seemed the devil sword had sensed her shifting emotions, its battle-hungry nature stirring once again.

“Did he wound you?” Her pale lips parted, her voice icy.

“I dodged, but the moment I closed my eyes, he and the countless devil soldiers vanished without a trace,” Zhuyou said, her brows furrowed. “That’s why I’m searching for his whereabouts in the city.”

“What exactly is inside the Endless Abyss?” Changying’s golden eyes lifted slightly.

“Nothing at all,” Zhuyou replied, recalling carefully. “And I couldn’t find its boundaries. It seemed vast and endless.”

Changying’s expression darkened further. “Then we need only lure him out.”

“That’s precisely my plan,” Zhuyou said.

Leaving the main hall, Zhuyou headed straight for the well, leaning over the edge and peering inside for a long time.

But the well was too dark to see anything clearly. She lifted a hand, and a small flame ignited in her palm. With a flick of her wrist, the fire dropped into the well, instantly illuminating the bottom.

The three demons, though curious, dared not peer in, fearing they might offend the mistress.

The firelight revealed that the well was filled with rubble—there truly wasn’t a drop of water. This wasn’t a well at all. It was a tunnel.

“Your Grace, this well—?” Huoshu asked cautiously from behind.

“Go down and take a look,” Zhuyou said.

Huoshu had yet to recover from the shock when the Vermillion Phoenix’s overwhelming pressure forced her into her true form. In an instant, a firm grip seized the soft flesh of her neck. Her body felt light, and as she looked down, she saw that she was already suspended over the well. Before she could even cry out, the hand gripping her skin suddenly released.

With a loud splash, Huoshu fell into the well, landing dangerously close to the flickering fire, nearly singing her tail.

Hearing the sound, the remaining two demons felt their hearts leap to their throats.

Zhuyou tapped her index finger against the well’s edge and asked, “What do you see?”

Changying lowered her gaze, her long, jet-black hair falling forward. The golden ornament on her forehead swayed slightly.

A distant voice echoed from within the well. “Your Grace, it seems something is buried down here. Let me dig into the soil and check.”

After a while, Huoshu’s voice came again. “Your Grace, there are two skeletons—one large, one small.”

“Is there a hidden passage?” Zhuyou asked.

Huoshu circled around inside before quickly replying, “It doesn’t seem like it.”

“Leave the bones untouched. Come back up,” Zhuyou instructed.

Huoshu clung to the well’s walls as she climbed out, shifting back into human form the moment she landed.

Zhuyou personally sent a strand of divine sense into the ground to investigate. Indeed, two skeletons lay buried beneath the earth—one taller, one smaller. The older one appeared to be a woman, her frame especially petite and delicate.

“The tiger demon’s wife,” Changying said coldly.

Zhuyou let out a soft chuckle and spoke to her through spiritual transmission. So, you actually understand what ‘wife’ means?

Changying turned to glance at her. “I read about it in books before.”

Zhuyou was almost exasperated by how studious she was. She turned back to the three demons and asked, “Did the tiger demon once have a wife and child?”

The three demons looked troubled, unable to answer.

Huoshu’s eyes darted around before she quickly said, “Tomorrow, I’ll ask around myself.”

Zhuyou nodded, then lifted her head to look at the dark sky. Not a single star was visible, leaving her somewhat disappointed. “Don’t linger here too long. Let’s go.”

The three demons immediately followed, not daring to delay even for a moment.

Changying, on the other hand, walked at an unhurried pace, seemingly lost in thought.

After a long moment of contemplation, Huoshu hesitantly suggested, “Your Grace doesn’t have anywhere to go. Why not stay at my place for a few days? If Your Grace still wants to know more about that matter, I could find some… some books for you to read.”

Zhuyou’s expression changed instantly, and her face grew inexplicably hot. “No need.”

She turned and strode away, but after only a few steps, something felt off. Glancing back, she was stunned to see that the black-haired, black-robed dragon was following behind Huoshu.

That dragon!

Zhuyou’s steps came to an abrupt halt, as if her feet had taken root, making it impossible to move forward. She clenched her jaw, squeezed her eyes shut, then whirled around and walked back.

Huoshu blinked in surprise and awkwardly asked, “Y-Your Grace, have you changed your mind?”

“Lead the way,” Zhuyou said, her heart pounding as she stared at the dragon, whose expression remained unreadable. She spoke each word with deliberate weight.