The mountain wind swept past, causing the formation flags to flutter loudly. Around them, the disciples whispered among themselves. “The black jiao lord wants to marry Li Lanxiu! Did I hear that right?”
“I saw it clearly just now! The black jiao lord was pointing at Li Lanxiu. Is this demon insane? Li Lanxiu is a man!”
“Exactly! Will Li-shidi really be forced into marriage?!”
Li Lanxiu’s grip on his Coldiron Fan tightened for a moment. Marry him? In your dreams. He tilted his chin slightly and spoke. “You think you’re worthy?”
Chu Yue stared at the black jiao lord shrouded in mist. His jaw clenched tightly, the muscles taut with tension. A hand lightly rested on his shoulder.
He turned his head. Li Lanxiu’s fingers were pale and slender, moving slowly as they patted his shoulder in an unhurried rhythm, signaling him to stay calm.
The black jiao lord's gaze brazenly roamed over Li Lanxiu’s figure, his blood-red eyes surging with intensity. Suddenly, he laughed aloud. “You think I’m unworthy of you?”
Li Lanxiu let out a soft, mocking laugh. Though the crowd couldn’t see his face, they could hear the derision in his voice, as if he had just heard the most absurd joke in the world. He drawled lazily. “Yes, unworthy. A toad lusting after a swan.”
Although the black jiao lord was a yao, he reigned as a mighty demon lord who controlled an entire domain. In human form, he was strikingly handsome and widely sought after in the demon realm’s courtship circles. Yet in Li Lanxiu’s words, he became nothing more than a delusional toad.
The black jiao lord’s smile froze briefly before his anger twisted into laughter. “If I am unworthy of you, then who in this world is worthy of you?”
On the floating island of Conundrum Sect, the elders and peak masters looked on with grave expressions.
When the black jiao lord’s brazen words echoed out, Bai Zhenchuan stood abruptly, their face dark and inscrutable as they stared at the image in the mirror.
Li Yanbi exploded in fury. “Shameless scoundrel! How dare he insult my son!”
Master Xue’s heart was filled with shock. He couldn’t fathom where Li Lanxiu had gained such allure that even the black jiao lord would be captivated. His face darkened, and he roared internally. “Rebellious disciple!”
Such a perfect opportunity had presented itself earlier. Why hadn’t Jiang Jiusi taken the chance to kill Li Lanxiu in the chaos? Now that Li Lanxiu stood at the center of everyone’s attention, there would be no further opportunity to act.
Elder Shen observed the scene in the giant mirror and seemed to realize something. He stepped closer to Bai Zhenchuan and asked, “Bai Zhenchuan, could it be that Li Lanxiu triggered the black jiao lord’s mating—”
Bai Zhenchuan ignored him, their focus entirely on the mirror. When the black jiao lord’s question echoed again, Bai Zhenchuan’s expression faltered briefly, their gaze flickering with an unreadable light.
In the mirror, Li Lanxiu tilted his head thoughtfully for a few seconds before replying with a nonchalant smile. “It definitely isn’t you.”
His voice was slow and unhurried, his tone carrying a sticky arrogance that felt like both disdain and a teasing sulkiness. The black jiao lord’s rage dissolved into something far more dangerous—desire. He hadn’t even glimpsed Li Lanxiu’s face yet, but already an unbearable itch clawed at him, filling him with the urge to take him to the bridal chamber. “Oh? Could it be him?”
The black jiao lord’s gaze landed on the youth in black beside him. The youth’s deep, piercing eyes resembled sharp blades, as if they were about to pin him in place.
Chu Yue froze briefly. He then heard Li Lanxiu say, “What if it is him? Do you dare face him in a duel?”
Chu Yue turned to Li Lanxiu. His brow arched, and a glimmer of something unreadable flickered in his eyes.
The black jiao lord burst into laughter, rocking back and forth as black mist churned rapidly around him. He pointed at Chu Yue and sneered. “Him? He’s yours? I could crush him with just one finger!”
Li Lanxiu didn’t respond. His gaze held a smile as he watched the black jiao lord.
When their eyes met, Li Lanxiu’s damp, dark eyes shining like polished onyx, the black jiao lord felt his heart itch unbearably. He asked slyly, “If I win, you’ll marry me without going back on your word?”
“Alright.” Li Lanxiu agreed without hesitation.
Chu Yue couldn’t stop him in time. He asked in a low, serious tone, “If I lose, will you really marry this old demon?”
Li Lanxiu, unbothered, glanced at him calmly. He raised a hand and stroked Chu Yue’s face. “You won’t lose.”
He believed in Chu Yue more than Chu Yue believed in himself.
Earlier, Chu Yue had already witnessed the strength of the black jiao lord. Against such power, he stood no chance of winning.
His expression grew complicated as he stared at Li Lanxiu. He spoke in a deep voice. “Thank you, Young Master, for trusting me so much.”
The black jiao lord’s face lit up with delight as he scrutinized Chu Yue once more. He had devoured countless Daoist cultivators before and could vaguely sense something unusual about Chu Yue, something that set him apart from ordinary cultivators.
However, as a yao with five hundred years of cultivation, he dismissed Chu Yue’s uniqueness as insignificant. “Come on, child. Let me see what you’re capable of!”
Li Lanxiu tilted his head and leaned close to Chu Yue’s ear, whispering something softly.
Chu Yue’s pupils widened slightly. He froze for several seconds before saying, “Alright.”
After speaking, he turned away, his gaze resolute and icy. He drew his blade and leapt through the black mist, charging toward the black jiao lord.
The long blade sliced through the shroud of black mist. Its dark surface glimmered faintly with streaks of vivid crimson.
Through the haze, the black jiao lord saw his stern and deep features, his tightly pressed lips filled with ferocity. Clearly enraged, Chu Yue aimed to take his life with a single strike.
The black jiao lord, eager to complete the ceremonial rites and enter the bridal chamber, had no interest in engaging Chu Yue for long. He manipulated the black mist, transforming it into a giant hand that reached toward Chu Yue.
But this “child” he had underestimated moved through the mist like a ghost, appearing and disappearing unpredictably, and suddenly slashed him from behind.
Although the black jiao lord’s scales provided impenetrable protection against the weapons of most cultivators, Chu Yue’s blade left a bloody gash on his supposedly indestructible body.
After being taunted and injured several times, the black jiao lord quickly lost patience.
He was a great yao demon now gripped by the irritable and bloodthirsty frenzy of his rutting period. The crimson glow in his eyes intensified. The black scales on his cheeks shimmered faintly as his towering figure within the black mist abruptly surged upward.
Everyone tilted their heads back and saw faintly gleaming black scales ripple through the mist. The massive form of his jiao body stood like an enormous tower reaching the heavens.
In front of him, Chu Yue was no larger than the blood-red slit of his vertical pupil, as insignificant as a speck of dust.
It was exactly as the black jiao lord had said earlier — a single finger could crush him to death.
“This…is his true form!”
Someone cried out in alarm.
The disciples looked up, stunned at the sheer enormity of the yao demon. Many shivered uncontrollably, their legs giving out as they collapsed to their knees.
The pitch-black jiao tail swept out violently, shaking the earth and mountains. The entire valley trembled under its overwhelming pressure.
A fierce gale erupted, and stone fragments fell like hail, landing with muffled thuds.
The disciples clutched their heads, screaming as they scattered in all directions.
Who could possibly defeat this?
Everyone thought the same thing. The sect had assigned such a daunting task. Was there really anyone in this world capable of defeating the black jiao lord?
Good luck to you, Li Lanxiu!
"Don't panic! Form the array!" the xianzhang shouted, trying to stabilize the situation, but his voice sounded feeble and insignificant in the storm.
The towering jiao suddenly dove, charging rapidly at Chu Yue. Chu Yue seemed paralyzed with fear, standing frozen in place. He lifted his face and stared at the gaping abyss of a mouth opening wider and wider before him, an endless blackness that obscured the sky.
When the thick crimson tongue lashed out, Chu Yue closed his eyes slightly and took a deep breath.
The black jiao lord coiled its tongue and swallowed Chu directly into its stomach.
"Chu-shidi!"
The disciples cried out in shock. Seeing this, their morale plummeted. They scattered like headless flies, fleeing in all directions.
Amidst the black mist, those crimson eyes locked onto Li Lanxiu. The wicked pupils narrowed, giving him the appearance of an asura from hell.
Li Lanxiu tilted his head slightly, meeting the massive jiao's gaze with composure.
The black jiao streaked through the valley, ignoring the disciples and charging straight at him. Terrified screams erupted from the crowd, but as the jiao approached, its enormous body shrank rapidly.
When it was close to Li Lanxiu, it transformed once again into human form. Clad in a flowing black and gold robe, the figure exuded elegance and charisma. His appearance was incomparably handsome as he walked forward step by step.
A few paces away, the jiao lord stopped and smiled faintly. "My parents are long gone. I have never married nor kept concubines. When shall we hold our wedding ceremony?"
Li Lanxiu glanced at him, his expression thoughtful.
The black jiao lord leaned closer, catching the pleasant scent emanating from him. Unable to resist, he stepped even closer and buried his nose in the pale, delicate curve of Li Lanxiu's neck, inhaling deeply. "Hmm..."
Li Lanxiu glanced at him sideways and turned his face slightly to avoid him. "Do you truly want to marry me?"
"Of course."
The black jiao lord curved his lips into a smile as his gaze lingered on Li Lanshu's slender, jade-like neck, then shifted to the faint red marks there. The more he looked, the more his heart itched. Leaning close to Li Lanshu's pale ear, he murmured, "This lord can hardly wait to consummate our marriage right now."
As soon as the words left his mouth, a crisp "slap" echoed, startling everyone nearby.
A stinging slap landed on the black jiao lord's cheek, snapping his face to the side and leaving a vivid red handprint on half of his face.
After delivering the slap, Li Lanshu calmly wiped his hand with a handkerchief, his movements deliberate, as though cleaning off something filthy.
The black jiao lord had lived for five centuries, enduring countless blades, but he had never suffered a slap. No one had ever dared to strike this powerful yao across the face.
He froze for a moment before focusing on Li Lanshu’s hands. They were stunningly beautiful, with skin as delicate and luminous as white jade. The faintly pink knuckles gleamed like peach blossoms, and the long, slender fingers moved gracefully.
As Li Lanshu wiped his palm, his motions revealed the smooth surface of his hand, white and flawless, with fine lines etched like intricate carvings on exquisite jade. Because of the slap just now, a faint redness tinged the center of his palm.
Staring at that hand, the sting on the black jiao lord’s cheek turned into a peculiar itch, almost pleasant. He couldn’t resist leaning closer to Li Lanshu and teasing with a grin, "You’ve got quite the fiery temper. Just saying we should consummate our marriage earned me a slap. If I mentioned mating with you—"
Before he could finish, another slap landed firmly on his face. This time, he could have dodged it, but after a brief moment of thought, he chose not to and let it hit him squarely.
Li Lanshu glared at him coldly. Seeing his faintly annoyed expression, Li Lanshu chuckled softly and said, "If you dare to show that thing in front of me, I’ll castrate you."
The black jiao lord had known Li Lanshu was fiery, but he hadn’t expected him to be this fierce. To avoid another slap, he stepped back with a playful grin and quipped, "Perfect. This lord has two. If you cut one off, it’ll spare you some suffering."
Li Lanshu swept his gaze over him, his expression an enigmatic mix of scrutiny, curiosity and derision. Then he curled his finger, beckoning lightly.
The black jiao lord wasn’t foolish. He understood that moving closer would earn him another slap, yet inexplicably, he leaned in again. A resounding smack echoed through the air.
This slap landed on his face. It hurt, but it also felt oddly exhilarating.
The disciples hiding in the distance couldn’t hear their conversation. When Li Lanshu had slapped the black jiao lord the first time, everyone was chilled to the bone.
Who would believe that the black jiao lord, a capricious and ruthless yao, genuinely intended to marry Li Lanshu? Publicly slapped in front of so many people—wouldn’t he turn around and have Li Lanshu skinned and roasted alive?
Unexpectedly, nothing happened. The black jiao lord seemed to revel in it, taking the second slap with satisfaction before offering his face for a third.
On the floating island of Conundrum Sect, the elders and peak masters exchanged complicated glances.
Just moments ago at the Dao-Questioning Plaza, the atmosphere had been one of righteous indignation. A disciple of their proud sect, publicly harassed by a yao, subjected to lewd declarations about marriage, and even having their fellow disciples devoured—this was outrageous beyond reason!
Such an audacious and arrogant yao could not be allowed to go unpunished!
The disciples had clamored to sign up for the trial, determined to fight once more and eliminate this menace to avenge the sect’s honor.
Yet now, the mood had taken a peculiar turn. Everyone fell silent, until someone hesitantly remarked, "Uh... why does it seem like the black jiao lord is enjoying being slapped by Li-shidi?"
"Li-shidi’s hands are indeed beautiful. His palms turned red from slapping. This black jiao lord is truly detestable!"
"It’s not just his hands. His eyes are moist and bright, his jawline and lips are stunning..."
Bai Ying faintly curved their lips. Initially, they had worried Li Lanshu might be coerced, but now they felt reassured. But a filthy creature like the black jiao lord found pleasure in being slapped?
Offering up his right cheek after being slapped on the left—what a disgrace to the yao race.
Meanwhile, the sound of lively music came from a distance. Drums and gongs resounded as the black jiao lord’s subordinates approached, carrying a decorated bridal sedan chair.
The bridal sedan chair was entirely black, with red lanterns hanging from its four corners. The flickering candlelight cast a reddish glow.
Four white-furred apes wearing black robes carried the sedan. Their steps were uniform, and their faces were painted with two round red blush marks. Their grins stretched unnaturally to their ears.
A group of yao soldiers followed the sedan. They wore black armor and carried long spears. The blood and flesh of their recent victims still clung to the corners of their mouths, and bits of meat were tangled in their fur.
"So terrifying!" a disciple whispered in shock.
Another gritted his teeth in frustration. "Why does Li-shidi have to marry such a monster?"
Jiang Jiusi stood among the crowd. His face was as pale as paper, and he murmured in a daze, "Li-shidi does it for us."
The crowd fell silent. If their demon-suppressing formation hadn’t failed, how could Li Lanxiu, a disciple of a Daoist sect, have ended up marrying a yao? In the sect, most of the inner disciples had disliked the arrogant Young Master Li. But now, their survival depended on his protection…
The sedan chair stopped in front of the black jiao lord and Li Lanxiu. The black jiao lord leaned down and lifted the sedan curtain, smirking faintly. "Please, my lady, enter the sedan."
"Wait!"
Just as Li Lanxiu bent down to step inside, a familiar voice rang out from behind him.
Chuxuan tightly gripped his sword and smiled as he looked at the black jiao lord. "I’m Lanxiu’s shixiong. On such a joyous occasion, doesn’t the true lord wish to invite me for a cup of celebratory wine?"
"So you’re his shixiong. Please, follow me." The black jiao lord swept his sleeve through the air, gesturing for him to come along.
Li Lanxiu stepped into the sedan, and the curtain fell. Another voice followed. "True lord, I am also his shixiong. May I join for a cup of celebratory wine?"
Outside the sedan, Jiang Jiusi bowed slightly and spoke with a smile.
The black jiao lord glanced at both Chuxuan and Jiang Jiusi before nodding. He turned to the yao soldiers and sedan carriers. "These two are guests, not food. Do not eat them."
…
Li Lanxiu was escorted directly to the black jiao lord’s bedchamber. The inner room was lavishly decorated, with a carpet made of some unknown yao’s pelt and a variety of elegant tables, chairs, and beds arranged throughout.
Small yao scurried in and out, hanging festive red silk in the room and pasting bright red wedding characters on mirrors, creating an official atmosphere.
A yao led him to a side chamber within the bedchamber. Inside, a mist rose from a milky-white hot spring pool.
Another small yao approached him, carrying a tray. Bowing slightly, the yao revealed a bright red silk wedding robe lying neatly on the tray.
"My lady, the true lord had a seamstress make this yesterday. Do you like it?"
After speaking, the yao’s nose twitched. He gazed at him obsessively.
Li Lanxiu pulled open his sash with both hands, glanced briefly at the surroundings and walked toward the edge of the hot spring to undress.
The small yao unfolded the wedding robe. It was made of fine silk, so light and thin it was almost transparent. The red fabric glowed softly under the light.
The robe was tailored to fit closely, with no unnecessary embellishments. The only decoration was a narrow belt made of soft red cowhide, adorned with tiny golden bells. Once tied, it highlighted the curves of the wearer’s waist.
The small yao produced a pair of red embroidered shoes with slightly upturned toes, intricately stitched.
"You may remove your mask. We have prepared this veil for you," another small yao said, lifting a red veil from the tray. The veil was as thin as a cicada’s wing.
After finishing their tasks, the yao placed the wedding robe, shoes and veil on a flower-shaped table and reluctantly exited the room.
Not long after, the black jiao lord returned to the bedchamber. Among the yao, he was considered a gentleman; he refrained from barging in for a glimpse.
Still, curiosity burned within him. He stood outside the bathing chamber and called out loudly, "My lady, may I see you?"
The room remained silent for a moment before Li Lanxiu replied, "All right."
The black jiao lord pushed the door open and entered. At the entrance stood a glass screen adorned with a hundred flowers. Behind the screen, mist swirled, and the sound of flowing spring water filled the air.
Li Lanxiu stood with his back to the pool. His wet, jet-black hair was casually tied up, with a few strands falling loosely over his shoulder. He was tying the sash of the wedding robe with both hands. "What is it?"
The damp silk clung to his slender and well-proportioned figure. The soft cowhide belt cinched his waist perfectly, emphasizing its slender yet toned lines.
The black jiao lord’s gaze was fixed, unable to move away. The red wedding robe contrasted starkly with the luminous white skin at the back of Li Lanxiu’s neck. Lowering his gaze, the lord saw the rounded, taut curve of the man’s hips beneath his narrow waist, a sight that made the yao’s blood stir and his veins burn.
He sniffed the damp fragrance in the air, his throat rolling. A peculiar hunger rose from his abdomen, as if he hadn’t consumed a human in days. "I’ve come to ask, my dear bride, when we will hold the wedding ceremony?"
Li Lanxiu turned his head slightly to look at him. Only then did the black jiao lord realize he wasn’t wearing the ghost mask but a veil instead.
The thin red gauze framed a pale, slender face. The stark contrast was visually striking. The delicate lines of his cheeks exuded a refined, cold elegance. Slightly tilting his head only made him appear as exquisite as frost, like a snowy jade carving brought to life.
The black jiao lord instinctively stepped closer to him, reaching out to lift the veil for a clearer look.
Li Lanxiu stepped back to avoid him and glanced at him. "Three days from now."
Would he be able to see everything clearly on the wedding night? The black jiao lord’s heart skipped a beat. Three days—he could wait that long. Any longer would be unbearable.
Li Lanxiu cast him another glance, brushed past him and walked out of the room.
Outside, his footsteps grew distant. In the bathhouse, the lingering scent of Li Lanxiu gradually faded.
The black jiao lord was still lost in the memory of that fleeting glimpse. Kneeling by the edge of the bath, he reached into the warm spring water Li Lanxiu had bathed in, as if he were brushing against Li Lanxiu’s skin.
Red surged in his eyes. He bent down and buried his face in the hot spring, gulping the water as though he were a parched man quenching an insatiable thirst.
Until a soft chuckle broke the silence.
The black jiao lord raised his head from the water. Li Lanxiu stood behind him, tilting his head with a mocking smile. "Does it taste good?"
The black jiao lord wiped his mouth, his gaze dark and intense. "Your bathwater tastes better than the finest nectar I’ve ever had."
"Oh? Then do you want more?"
Li Lanxiu leaned closer, bending at the waist, his eyes locked onto the black jiao lord’s. His gaze was playful and teasing, like a mischievous child who had just discovered a new toy.
The black jiao lord leaned closer to him instinctively. “I do.”
Li Lanxiu glanced at the flower table beside him, reached out, and took a jade bowl. He scooped a bowl of hot spring water and poured it over the black jiao lord’s face.
Before he could open his mouth, another bowl of water splashed onto his face. Water got into his eyes and nose, causing him to choke and cough repeatedly. Yet he seemed to relish it, laughing as he coughed.
Bowl after bowl of water splashed on him. Li Lanxiu wasn’t feeding him water but tormenting him with a relentless water punishment.
The black jiao lord appeared to find enjoyment in this torment. He stared at Li Lanxiu, whose expression remained indifferent, and grinned uncontrollably.
When Li Lanxiu grew bored of the game, he set down the bowl and stood up. Looking down at the drenched and disheveled man, he asked, “Do you like it?”
“I like it.” The black jiao lord nodded with an unabashed smile, his gaze fixed on him.
Li Lanxiu turned back, intending to retrieve his clothes, only to catch sight of this ridiculous scene. Were all yao so perverse?
***
Three days later.
Several banquet tables were arranged in the grand hall. Gold and silver utensils gleamed with extravagant brilliance, while plates held chunks of bloody, quivering flesh and still-pulsing hearts. The blood wine pouring from jugs filled the air with a pungent, metallic stench.
Chuxuan and Jiang Jiusi sat amid a group of yao and demons. Surrounding them were grotesque, shaggy heads. Clawed hands reached into plates, grabbing pieces of meat and stuffing them into their mouths. As they chewed noisily, their drooling gazes fixed hungrily on the two humans.
The black jiao lord sat in the seat of honor, his eating habits a far cry from his usual elegance. In recent days, a strange hunger had plagued him, as if he hadn’t eaten in ages.
Day and night, he ate continuously, chopsticks never leaving his hands, just to temporarily ease the gnawing hunger.
Jiang Jiusi and Chuxuan kept their heart-protecting mirrors on, while the Conundrum Sect disciples watching through the mirror struggled to hold back their nausea. They murmured in hushed voices about the horrifying scene in the hall.
“Why is the black jiao lord so interested in Li Lanxiu? Why does he insist on marrying him?”
“Because Li Lanxiu is good-looking? Even yao have lechers.”
“Good-looking? Isn’t it said that his face looks just like his mask? Could yao aesthetics really be the same as ours?”
The elders and peak lords exchanged worried glances, their expressions grave.
Li Yanbi’s face darkened like iron as his fingers gripped his sword hilt tightly, as if he were ready to charge into the mirror at any moment.
Master Xue snorted coldly. “If the black jiao lord succeeds today, what face will our Conundrum Sect have left?”
An outer sect elder nodded in agreement. “Exactly. We cannot allow the yao to humiliate our sect’s disciples so easily.”
Li Yanbi rose to his feet in fury, but Elder Shen immediately stood up to stop him, speaking in a low voice. “The xianzhang has already reforged the Demon-Sealing Formation. With Chuxuan and Jiang Jiusi coordinating from within, they are sure to rescue Lanxiu.”
Bai Zhenchuan rested their chin on one hand, gazing thoughtfully at the mirror.
In the grand hall, a tiger yao raised a cup to toast the black jiao lord and laughed. "True Lord, you’ll soon enter the bridal chamber, but we’ve yet to meet your wife..."
"Indeed! For someone to capture the lord’s heart, she must be an unrivaled beauty!"
"Could we have the honor of meeting her?"
The yao and demons echoed the sentiment eagerly.
Jiang Jiusi suddenly sat up straight, his eyes fixed intently on the black jiao lord.
Half-drunk, the black jiao lord grabbed a nearby small yao and instructed, "Invite the lady here."
Chuxuan turned his gaze toward the entrance. After a moment, the hall’s threshold was graced by a red embroidered shoe. The foot within it was pale and delicate, with faint green veins visible across its arch. Following the shoe upward revealed a bright red gown and a slender waist bound only by a sash. As the figure moved, silver bells at the waist jingled softly.
Jiang Jiusi narrowed his eyes, staring at the veil that obscured the figure’s face, making it seem like a flower hidden in mist or the moon reflected in water. He couldn’t help but say, “The black jiao lord actually has a wife?"
The surrounding yao, who had never seen such beauty, gawked in stunned silence. One murmured, "Who is this fox immortal? I’ve never seen her before."
Chuxuan, who had watched Li Lanxiu grow up, recognized him immediately. Yet even he was momentarily entranced. He had always known his shidi was beautiful, but he hadn’t realized that wearing a gown could render him so strikingly alluring.
On Conundrum Sect’s plaza, the vast crowd fell into a hushed silence. Every disciple held their breath, their gazes fixed on the figure in the mirror.
"What kind of yao immortal is this? So beautiful… Even more beautiful than Su-shimei!"
"Is she a yao or a human? If she were to ask for my heart and liver, I’d gladly give them to her!"
"Does it matter if she’s a yao or human? Hurry and use a memory stone to record this and sell it to the Sevenstar Tower disciples! Don’t they love ranking beauties the most?"
"You’re clever, but it’s a shame the veil hides her face too much. We can’t see clearly enough."
The peak lord and the elders had lived for centuries but had never seen such a stunning beauty. Even Elder Shen couldn’t help but remark, “This black jiao lord is truly blessed beyond measure!”
Bai Ying suddenly straightened their body. They recognized this as Li Lanxiu—the waist they had once caressed, the slender neck they had licked. Every detail was all too familiar.
They narrowed their eyes slightly, their gaze deep and intent.
This black jiao lord truly was blessed beyond measure!
Li Lanxiu walked to the black jiao lord, lowered his eyes and cast a cold glance toward him, showing no courtesy whatsoever.
When the black jiao lord saw Li Lanxiu, the yao and demons around him ceased to exist in his heart. He bent down, slipped a hand under Li Lanxiu’s knees and lifted him horizontally. “Enough! Now you’ve all seen him!”
He carried Li Lanxiu in large strides toward the hall’s exit. After a few steps, his knees suddenly buckled, and he nearly collapsed to the ground. A nearby yao hurried to steady him.
The black jiao lord stood upright, furrowing his brows in confusion. With his yao power, a few cups of wine shouldn’t have made him this drunk.
But the sight of the beautiful man in his arms dispelled his doubts. Laughing heartily, he headed toward the bedchamber.
“That’s…Li Lanxiu.”
Jiang Jiusi stared unblinkingly at the figure passing before him and recognized the golden anklet on his foot.
The black jiao lord carried Li Lanxiu into the bridal chamber. The hall was not far from the bedchamber, yet that short walk left him drenched in sweat and gasping for air.
He placed Li Lanxiu onto the bed and immediately leaned in, eager to lift the veil and see his face.
Li Lanxiu slapped his hand away and let his body fall limply backward. Reclining lazily on the bed, his expression exuded languid charm, like a pool of spring water.
The black jiao lord’s throat tightened. He lunged toward him but was stopped when his chest suddenly felt heavy. Li Lanxiu had raised a leg and pressed his embroidered shoe firmly against his chest.
The black jiao lord pressed down without much effort, applying just enough force to leave an impression. He grasped his slender, lean ankle, stroking the soft, smooth skin. A golden anklet slipped down from the ankle to a shapely, rounded calf.
The black jiao lord pressed down without much effort, applying just enough force to leave an impression. He grasped the slender, lean ankle, stroking the soft, smooth skin. A golden anklet slipped from his ankle down to a shapely, rounded calf.
Li Lanxiu kicked him with slightly more force, tilting his eyes upward in a faintly provocative manner.
The black jiao lord removed the man’s shoe and slowly traced his fingers upward along the ankle. The smoothness of his skin was like satin. "You truly are beautiful..."
Li Lanxiu caught him off guard and kicked his chest again. The force sent the black jiao lord stumbling backward several steps before he nearly fell.
Although a flicker of anger crossed his face, it vanished the moment he saw Li Lanxiu lying on the bed, shaking with laughter. He laughed so hard his body trembled. The black jiao lord stepped forward, arms spread wide, ready to pounce and punish this wicked beauty on the spot. Just as he was about to act, his body froze. His knees buckled, and he collapsed heavily onto the carpet. A dizzying wave of vertigo surged over him, and his throat felt as though something furry was clawing its way upward.
He bent his head forward and coughed violently. With a loud "pfft," a swath of blood splattered the pristine white tiger pelt, staining it a vivid red. Alongside the blood, chunks of indistinguishable flesh and fragments of white bone tumbled out.
Li Lanxiu sat up and let his legs dangle over the side of the bed. He looked down at the black jiao lord with an air of indifference.
Agonizing pain wracked the black jiao lord's abdomen as if he were being torn apart by a thousand blades. His body toppled over, rolling back and forth on the ground like a child throwing a tantrum. Sweat streamed down his face as his expression contorted with unbearable pain.
Black scales began to seep from his cheeks, spreading like a tide down to his neck. His writhing body softened, becoming increasingly serpentine.
He suddenly raised his eyes, the blood-red pupils narrowing into slits. Desperately, he crawled toward the bed on all fours, clutching Li Lanxiu's ankle. His throat emitted guttural sounds as he struggled to ask something.
Li Lanxiu gently kicked his hand away. The golden anklet around his ankle struck the underside of the bed with a crisp clang. His voice was soft, lazy and tinged with amusement. “A toad dreaming of swan meat.”
The black jiao lord’s eyes burned with rage. He violently thrashed the tail he had just transformed. His form expanded rapidly, swelling until he turned into a massive jiao. His head nearly shattered the ceiling beams, and his enormous body coiled within the sleeping quarters.
The jiao’s body twisted madly in excruciating pain. Suddenly, a sharp tearing sensation emanated from his abdomen.
The black jiao lord let out a deafening roar. His serpentine body contracted sharply, then expanded again.
With a hiss, a crimson ray of blood erupted from the jiao’s abdomen. From within it, a bloodied arm emerged, clutching a chunk of mangled flesh in its hand.
Moments later, as if a fetus were being born, a head pushed out of the rupture in the black jiao lord's belly. The face was drenched in blood, illuminated eerily by the flickering light of the chamber’s candles. He looked like he had just crawled out from the path of vengeful ghosts.
The face was sharply defined, with a strong and austere profile. Thin red lines stretched from the cheeks to the brow, converging into a sinister, curved sigil at the center of the forehead.
His eyelashes were flecked with blood, and his pitch-black eyes were devoid of spirit, resembling the eyes of a beast. Mechanically, he focused solely on devouring the flesh in his hand.
The black jiao lord was both shocked and furious. He, who had always hunted cultivators, was now the prey. Chanting a spell, he gathered spiritual energy to form two massive black fog-like hands. They wrenched apart the sides of the wound on his abdomen. He intended to pull Chu Yue out and crush him to death.
"Ah!!" However, when the wound was fully exposed, a sharp, guttural roar escaped his throat. His massive body collapsed with a thunderous crash, smashing the tables and furniture in the sleeping quarters. Yet those delicate wooden furnishings miraculously bore the weight of his enormous form without breaking.
The candlelight illuminated the gaping wound in his abdomen. It was an empty, abyss-like void, hollow and endless.
Li Lanxiu glanced at it and turned his head slightly. The sight was genuinely unsettling.
Chu Yue stared at him. Slowly, he turned his stiff neck. One hand held an unidentifiable piece of meat, which he continued to stuff into his mouth. Struggling with his legs, he crawled out from the jiao’s belly, step by step, advancing toward Li Lanxiu.
His blood-soaked clothes clung to his body. Every inch of exposed skin was drenched in red. Drops of blood dripped steadily from his hair onto the floor, creating a chillingly eerie scene.
As he approached within a few steps of Li Lanxiu, he dropped the piece of flesh he had been gnawing on. His Adam's apple bobbed visibly as he gulped down mouthfuls of saliva.
At that moment, the doors to the sleeping quarters suddenly burst open. The black jiao lord's earlier screams had drawn the attention of his subordinate yao. They froze in shock at the scene inside.
One of the bolder yao stepped forward and glanced briefly at the black jiao lord’s corpse, its abdomen empty and hollow. Pointing at Chu Yue in astonishment, he asked, “Did you eat him?”
Li Lanxiu watched as Chu Yue suddenly sprang forward. In a few bounds, he leapt onto the yao’s shoulders from behind, straddling them. Lowering his head, he sank his teeth into the yao’s face.
“Ah!” The yao let out a miserable cry, feeling a sudden chill in its chest. A moment later, a blood-soaked hand burst through its chest, clutching something red and pulpy.
It was still twitching and bouncing.
The yao nearby were so terrified that their legs turned to jelly. They stumbled back a few steps and scrambled to flee in utter panic, but Chu Yue was faster than any of them. In the blink of an eye, like a ghostly shadow, he leaped across to the yao, killing all of them with ease.
Li Lanxiu sat silently on the bed in the bedroom. After a brief pause, Chu Yue returned, holding a fresh heart in his hand. He bit into it, blood splattering across his face.
He showed no sign of discomfort. Tilting his head, he spat out the meat in his mouth and fixed his gaze on Li Lanxiu. Like a wild beast eyeing a more delectable prey, he approached step by step.
Li Lanxiu closed his eyes briefly and took a soft breath. When he reopened them, Chu Yue's dull, lifeless eyes were studying him, seemingly deciding where to start devouring him. His gaze dropped to Li Lanxiu’s bare feet.
One pale, delicate foot rested on the ground, its translucent skin smooth and flawless. A faint brown mole marked the thin, elegant arch of the foot.
Chu Yue slowly knelt down. His blood-stained hands grasped Li Lanxiu’s white ankle and lifted it to his nose. He sniffed the top of the foot and found it intoxicatingly fragrant. His throat bobbed violently, saliva pooling in his mouth. He opened his jaws and suddenly bit toward the jade-like toes—
At the very moment he was about to sink his teeth in, a hand began gently stroking his hair. The touch was light and repetitive, as if calming an enraged pet.
Chu Yue lifted his head. That hand moved to caress his face, feather-light as a butterfly’s wing brushing past. A calm, languid voice spoke. "Chu Yue, calm down."
His ears twitched. In his otherwise empty mind, something seemed to stir. He slowly released what was in his mouth, his tongue flicking over the mole on the arch of the foot.
Li Lanxiu stroked his hair again, like offering a reward. "Good. Very obedient. Now, show me your hand."
Chu Yue froze for a moment. Instinctively, he raised his hand and opened his palm.
Li Lanxiu gently took his hand, lowering his head to look at him. "Very good. You’ve done well. Now, remember who you are."
Chu Yue stared at him unblinkingly. His brows furrowed slightly, a hint of confusion flickering across his face.
Li Lanxiu held his hand, offering reassurance, while his other hand continued to stroke Chu Yue's hair. The emptiness in Chu Yue's eyes gradually gave way to a faint clarity. His breathing grew rapid. In a hoarse voice, he spoke each character slowly. "Chu Yue."
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