Chapter 99 - The Harem Rescue Project

In the hallway of the Ninth Layer Devil's Palace, a figure cloaked in black was respectfully ushered into a courtyard by the handmaidens. Lin Qianshuang's gaze accidentally passed over Su Qing and landed on the strange black-clad figure. She inquired, "Is this person also a distinguished guest of the Domain Lord? Why are they dressed like that?" "This individual has come to the Demon Domain seeking a remedy. They have a skin condition that makes them avoid the light." Su Qing didn't wish to elaborate further. She offered an apologetic smile and then left with a few guards. Sensing Su Qing's evasiveness, Lin Qianshuang felt a twinge of curiosity about the black-clad person and watched them more intently. The person, seemingly aware of being observed, glanced back in their direction before quickly entering the courtyard. "Senior Sister Lin, does something seem off about that person?" Chen Shangqing, noticing Lin Qianshuang's intrigued expression, also glanced towards the courtyard for a moment. Lin Qianshuang quickly waved it off, saying, "I just think their attire is peculiar, nothing more." Xu Zheng tapped Lin Qianshuang's shoulder with a folding fan, "This is the Demon Domain; I can't help but remind you to keep a low profile and speak less. If something happens, we won't be able to protect you." With a well-behaved smile, Lin Qianshuang agreed outwardly while thinking inwardly that no one would dare touch her—except perhaps Han Shengyao. In the Demon Domain, there truly was no one else she feared. Returning to the Ninth Layer Devil's Palace after half a year and observing the exalted throne of the Devil Emperor evoked a sense of disorientation in Lin Qianshuang. She remembered vividly the first time she had come here; Han Shengyao had been pleading on her behalf in front of the Devil Emperor and Bai Wan. Back then, she was bewildered, alone in an unfamiliar world, and didn't know where to go next, everything looked so bleak. How time has unknowingly slipped by. "Xiao Liu, move your chopsticks; the Domain Lord is watching you." Xu Zheng nudged Lin Qianshuang's arm. Lin Qianshuang looked up and met Han Shengyao's dark purple eyes. Instinctively, a sense of dread filled her. She casually picked up a piece of pastry from the plate in front of her and popped it into her mouth, inadvertently inhaling some powder and sneezing. Han Shengyao toyed with a piece of tourmaline in her hand and couldn't help but chuckle at the startled, bashful, and somewhat silly expression of the little demon cultivator at the table. Seeing the smile on the face of the Domain Lord, those seated at the banquet exchanged looks of surprise. Since the Domain Lord took the throne, she was always seen with furrowed brows and heavy heart, never once showing such a pleasant demeanor or smile. Xu Zheng, captivated by that smile, waved his fan as he marveled, "The Domain Lord of the Demon Domain truly lives up to her reputation as a beauty unparalleled, worthy of once being the most beautiful woman in the Demon Domain." Lin Qianshuang aggressively gnawed on a piece of rib she picked up with her chopsticks as a way to vent her frustration. Du Shuang knew well the intricate entanglements between her and Han Shengyao, yet deliberately sent her to act on behalf of the Magic Domain. What could she possibly be scheming? Chen Shangqing passed a piece of corn over to her with his chopsticks and whispered, "Senior Sister Lin, look, that black-clad person has appeared again." Lin Qianshuang put down her chopsticks and saw the black-clad person she had encountered at Frosty Cold Manor now seated at a remote corner of the banquet. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the black-clad person’s gaze lingered around her, whether it was illusion or reality. Halfway through the banquet, many demon cultivators got up to converse with nearby acquaintances, while the Domain Lord departed early, leaving Su Qing in charge. Feeling stifled and not quite full, Lin Qianshuang took a few pastries and walked into the shadowy bamboo-embellished hallway of the palace. While nibbling, she strategized on how to deal with Han Shengyao. Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the black-clad person sitting quietly not far away. At that moment, time seemed to pause. The long-awaited system notification chimed. [Enemy target #Liang Jingxuan# is nearby. Please remain vigilant, Host!] [Mission target #Xiao Lanle# is hidden near you. Please remain on guard!] [Host, the system has recovered. Please activate the character affinity interface to check on the latest mission progress.] Taking advantage of the frozen time, Lin Qianshuang approached the black-clad person and lifted the black cloak, revealing Liang Jingxuan's familiar face. She was startled. After being expelled from the sect, shouldn't Liang Jingxuan be in seclusion cultivating? How could he appear in the Demon Domain? Restoring Liang Jingxuan's appearance to its original state, Lin Qianshuang used her divine sense to seek out Xiao Lanle's presence, finding her hiding in the bamboo forest behind. However, she couldn't see her with the naked eye. It appeared Xiao Lanle was using a mermaid pearl to become invisible. Lin Qianshuang suddenly had an idea. She originally planned to use the hero's hand to kill the head of the Penglai Sect, Xiao Shen. Why not collaborate with the hero and then turn the tables on him as well? Pondering this plan with some apprehension, Lin Qianshuang realized that if Xiao Lanle overheard their plotting from her hiding spot, she would undoubtedly try to stop them. After all, in her heart, her father was not a man of depravity and hypocrisy who murdered his spouse and clan, but rather a paragon of virtue and a model for human cultivators in the righteous path. Just then, another thought struck her. If she could make Xiao Lanle hate her, maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing. It could sever her lingering feelings and perhaps even use that hatred to her advantage... Lin Qianshuang punched the pillar in frustration. Grabbing her hair in agitation, she was beset by bothersome thoughts. After a long while, she leaned against the pillar, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. Being a villain or a saint had never really been her choice. At least in front of Xiao Lanle, being a villain might prove more beneficial than playing the saint. Staring at the affection interface, Lin Qianshuang regained her cold demeanor. This was merely a survival game; nothing should be taken seriously. She couldn’t afford to forget the lesson from Xuan Luowan’s demise nor the caution from her own near-death experience. The fluttering shadows of bamboo swayed in the wind, and the chimes hanging on the hall’s eaves rang clearly. Time resumed its flow. Lin Qianshuang, preparing her next words, used demonic energy to carve a scratch on her forearm beneath her sleeve. With an unsteady step, she walked past the seated black-clad figure, the jade pendant at her waist swaying conspicuously with a red braided ornament across the black-clad person's line of sight. The black-clad figure swiftly grabbed Lin Qianshuang's hand, saying, "Senior Sister, is that you? I've watched you for so long at the banquet. Did you notice me too?" "Let go. Who are you? I don’t know you." Lin Qianshuang shook off the black-clad person and continued walking. Liang Jingxuan, flustered, stood up, lifting the veil of his cloak to reveal his true face. “Qianshuang, it’s me.” The moment Lin Qianshuang saw Liang Jingxuan, she halted, her face lighting up with a blend of surprise and delight. “Junior Brother, I came to the Demon Domain on city lord's orders with two other juniors. How did you end up here?” Liang Jingxuan swept his bangs aside, exposing a demonic mark on his forehead. “It’s a long story. I’ve fallen to demonhood. I came to the Demon Domain to stabilize my demon body.” Suddenly recalling something, Lin Qianshuang chuckled, “Junior Brother, you wouldn’t happen to be the Black Mountain Old Demon, would you? That name reminds me of the Elder from *A Chinese Ghost Story*.” Liang Jingxuan nodded, not keen to elaborate further. After leaving the sect, he had ingratiated himself with a female demon cultivator. To overcome a bottleneck, he seized her core and took over her lair, thus successfully becoming a demon. It was using the identity bracelet of that female demon that he managed to reach the Demon Domain, in search of a place to transform into a demon. He purposely chose such a distinctive name to hint to Senior Sister Lin; thus, when she came straight out with it, he wasn’t surprised. Lin Qianshuang inwardly cursed; the protagonist truly was a script-breaking anomaly. Even after defecting, opportunities kept arising, enabling him to thrive. He talked about falling into demonhood with an ease that seemed like being a mountain king was just another day’s work. Liang’s attention was caught by Lin...