She understood some of the etiquette, language, and taboos of the Demon Realm from her previous life—after all, she had spent so much time with Sha Qian Mo. But in this life, she had to approach him as a "stranger" and couldn't reveal any clues.
“Sha Qian Mo, the Demon King, possesses unfathomable cultivation and a tyrannical, unpredictable temperament. Anyone who disturbs him during his cultivation retreat will be killed without mercy.”
Hua Qian Gu read the description in the booklet three times and smiled.
Tyrannical temperament? Unpredictable?
That was how others saw Sha Qian Mo. The Sha Qian Mo she knew would put aside his status as the Demon King for her, would go mad for two hundred years for her, and would even risk his life for her.
“This life, it’s my turn to find you.” She closed the booklet and tucked it into her embrace.
The next morning, Hua Qian Gu prepared to set off.
Dongfang Yuqing stood at the doorway of Yi Xiu Pavilion, watching her with a small bundle on her back, Tang Bao's Egg in her arms, and the same worn-out cloth shoes on her feet.
“You’re going like this?” he frowned.
“What else?” Hua Qian Gu looked down at herself. “I don’t have any other attire.”
Dongfang Yuqing sighed, turned, and went back inside, returning with a money pouch and a cloak.
“There’s silver in the pouch, enough for you to spend for a while. The cloak is made of Demonic Beast hide; it can resist the cold and some low-level attacks.” He stuffed the items into her hands. “Don’t say I’m stingy.”
Hua Qian Gu took the cloak and noticed a small orchid embroidered on it.
“Did you embroider this?” she asked.
Dongfang Yuqing turned his face away. “The steward embroidered it.”
Hua Qian Gu smiled, not exposing him. She knew from her previous life that Dongfang Yuqing was all tough talk and a soft heart; he would pretend not to care even when he was worried about you.
“Thanks.” She tied the cloak; it fit perfectly.
“Don’t thank me too soon.” Dongfang Yuqing leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. “The border between the Demon and Monster Realms is in the far north. It takes seven days to get there from here. You’re a Mortal, with no cultivation, no Magic Treasure—what will you do if you encounter Demonic Beasts on the way?”
“I have this.” Hua Qian Gu took out the Yi Xiu Pavilion guest token from her embrace.
“The token can only mobilize people from Yi Xiu Pavilion; it can’t control Demonic Beasts.” Dongfang Yuqing frowned. “Shall I send two people to escort you?”
“No need.” Hua Qian Gu shook her head. “More people will only attract attention. I’ll travel alone, low-key.”
Dongfang Yuqing looked at her, wanting to say something but stopping himself.
“Is there something else?” Hua Qian Gu asked.
“Yes.” Dongfang Yuqing’s expression turned serious. “I’ll remind you one more time—Sha Qian Mo is the Demon King. His hands are stained with more blood than the number of people you’ve ever met. He is currently in seclusion for Healing, and he detests being disturbed the most. If you go to him rashly, he might really kill you.”
Hua Qian Gu hugged Tang Bao’s Egg tighter, looked up at him, and smiled.
“He won’t hurt me.”
“You’re so sure?”
“Sure.” Hua Qian Gu said, “Because in my previous life, he was willing to give his life to save me. How could someone willing to die for you hurt you?”
Dongfang Yuqing fell silent.
He looked into Hua Qian Gu’s eyes—there was no hesitation, no Fear, only a determined, almost stubborn Trust.
He didn’t know what had happened between her and Sha Qian Mo in her previous life, but he knew this kind of Trust wasn’t fabricated.
“Fine.” Dongfang Yuqing moved aside. “Be careful on your journey. When you reach the Demon Realm, if you encounter trouble, take the token to the local Yi Xiu Pavilion Branch, and someone will help you.”
“Okay.” Hua Qian Gu nodded and stepped out.
After walking more than ten steps, she looked back.
Dongfang Yuqing was still standing at the doorway, the morning light falling on his cyan robes, casting a long Shadow.
“Dongfang Yuqing.” She called out.
“Yes?”
“You also live well. I’ll be back.”
Dongfang Yuqing was stunned for a moment, then he smiled.
“Okay, I’ll wait for you.”
Hua Qian Gu left.
Dongfang Yuqing stood at the doorway, watching her figure disappear at the end of the Mountain Road, remaining still for a long time.
The Steward came out from inside and asked in a low voice, “Pavilion Master, you’re just letting her go? She’s a Mortal, going to the Demon Realm is a near-certain death.”
“She is not an ordinary Mortal.” Dongfang Yuqing turned and went back inside, his voice faint.
“But she doesn’t even have cultivation.”
“Cultivation is not important.” Dongfang Yuqing sat back down at his desk, picked up the Bamboo Slip, but did not open it. “What’s important is that she possesses something that is more terrifying than cultivation.”
“What is it?”
“Life.” Dongfang Yuqing said, “Her life, even the Heavenly Dao cannot suppress. Such a person will either die early or live to become a legend.”
The Steward dared not ask further.
Dongfang Yuqing looked down at the Bamboo Slip, but could not read a single word.
His mind was filled with Hua Qian Gu’s words as she left— “He won’t hurt me.”
That kind of Trust, that certainty, stirred a complex emotion within him that he couldn’t quite define.
Was it admiration? Jealousy? Or something else?
He didn’t know.
He only knew that the young girl held too many secrets, and he wanted to unravel them one by one.
“Someone,” he suddenly said.
“Here.”
“Issue an order to all Branches in the Demon Realm to pay attention to the movements around Sha Qian Mo’s cultivation retreat. If Hua Qian Gu is in danger, save her at all costs.”
The Steward was stunned for a moment. “Pavilion Master, this goes against the rules…”
“Rules are made by people.” Dongfang Yuqing looked up, his amber eyes leaving no room for negotiation. “Do as I say.”
“Yes.”
Seven days.
Hua Qian Gu had been traveling for a full seven days.
She traveled during the day and made a fire by the roadside at night. Blisters on her feet broke and reformed, over and over. Tang Bao’s Egg was always warm against her chest, like a small stove, keeping her warm.
On the evening of the seventh day, she finally stood at the border between the Demon and Monster Realms.
Before her lay a Wasteland, barren and lifeless. The Sky was dark red, and the wind carried a bloody smell. In the distance stood a black mountain cliff, with an opening at its base. Outside the opening stood two rows of Demon Soldiers, holding Halberds, their faces ferocious.
That was where Sha Qian Mo was in seclusion.
Hua Qian Gu took a deep breath, hugged Tang Bao’s Egg tightly, and strode forward.
“Halt!” The Demon Soldiers’ Halberds crossed, blocking her path. “This is the King’s forbidden area for cultivation. Trespassers will die!”
Hua Qian Gu stopped and looked up at the two Demon Soldiers, who were two heads taller than her, and said calmly, “I want to see your King.”
The Demon Soldiers exchanged a look and smiled simultaneously.
“You? See the King?” The Demon Soldier on the left grinned, revealing a mouth full of fangs. “Little girl, do you know where this is?”
“I know.” Hua Qian Gu said. “That’s why I’m here.”
The Demon Soldier on the right dropped his smile and said coldly, “The King is in seclusion and sees no one. Take one more step forward, and don’t blame us for being impolite.”
Hua Qian Gu did not retreat.
She looked at the two Demon Soldiers and recalled the scene of Sha Qian Mo taking her to tour the Demon Emperor Palace in her previous life. At that time, all the Demon Soldiers had treated her with respect, calling her “Queen.”
In this life, she had to start as a stranger.
“Then I will wait here.” Hua Qian Gu sat down on a Stone next to the cave entrance, placed her bundle on her lap, and her tone was as calm as if she were sunbathing in her own Courtyard.
The Demon Soldiers looked at each other, speechless.
“Wait how long?” one asked.
“Until he comes out.” Hua Qian Gu said.
The Demon Soldiers laughed again. This time, it was mockery.
“The King’s seclusion will take at least three months. Can you, a Mortal, wait that long?”
Hua Qian Gu did not answer. She simply held Tang Bao’s Egg, leaned against the Stone, and closed her eyes.
The wind blew from the Wasteland, carrying grit that hit her face. She wrapped her Cloak tighter and remained motionless.
Wait.
In her previous life, Sha Qian Mo had waited for her for two hundred years.
In this life, her waiting for him for seven days, what was that?
【End of Chapter·Comment Section Discussion: Do you think Sha Qian Mo will come out to see Hua Qian Gu?】
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