Hua Qian Gu sat at the cave entrance the entire night.
The Demon Soldiers changed shifts twice, yet she remained seated, holding Tang Bao's Egg, motionless.
When dawn broke, a Demon Soldier couldn't help but walk over and poke the stone in front of her with his halberd: "Hey, little girl, you're really not leaving?"
"I'm not leaving," Hua Qian Gu opened her eyes, her gaze clear.
The Demon Soldier scratched his head, looking troubled. According to the rules, those who trespassed into the Forbidden Area were to be killed without mercy. But this little girl hadn't trespassed; she was just sitting at the doorway, not crossing any line. If they drove her away, she wouldn't move; if they fought her away, beating up a Mortal little girl would be embarrassing if word got out.
"Suit yourself," the Demon Soldier muttered as he returned to his post. "Anyway, the King won't see you."
Hua Qian Gu ignored him.
She took out the small booklet Dongfang Yuqing had given her, flipped to the page on Demon Realm etiquette, and silently reviewed it.
In her Previous Life, although she was very familiar with Sha Qian Mo, it was based on his identity as the Demon God. In This Life, she was a Mortal and couldn't appear to know too much about the Demon Realm, or it would arouse suspicion.
But she couldn't be completely ignorant either—a Mortal who dared to venture alone into the Demon Realm had to have some confidence.
A sense of proportion was very important.
On the third day, things changed.
Hua Qian Gu was gnawing on dried rations when she suddenly heard a commotion in the distance. She looked up and saw a troop of Demon Soldiers escorting several bound little demons from the Wasteland.
The little demons were all injured, limping as they walked, and cursing under their breath.
"Let me go! I'm from Black Wind Stronghold! Our leader won't let you get away with this!"
"Shut up!" The escorting Demon Soldier slapped him.
Hua Qian Gu's gaze fell on the little demons, her brow furrowing slightly.
Black Wind Stronghold. She had heard the name in her Previous Life; they were a band of bandits on the Border of the Demon Realm, specializing in robbing passing travelers. Sha Qian Mo had intended to eliminate them but had never had the chance.
"Halt," the captain of the escorting Demon Soldiers saw Hua Qian Gu and frowned. "Who is this?"
The guarding Demon Soldier quickly stepped forward to Report: "A Mortal, said she wanted to see the King, and has been sitting here for Three days."
"A Mortal? To see the King?" The captain sized Hua Qian Gu up and down, then sneered, "Drive her away."
"We tried, but she wouldn't go."
The captain's expression darkened. He walked up to Hua Qian Gu and looked down at her: "Little girl, the Demon Realm is not a place for you. Be sensible and leave on your own. If you're not sensible, I'll send you away."
Hua Qian Gu looked up at him and said nothing.
She took out the Token Dongfang Yuqing had given her from her Embrace and waved it in front of the captain.
The captain's pupils contracted: "Someone from Yi Xiu Pavilion?"
"Not from Yi Xiu Pavilion, but a Guest of Yi Xiu Pavilion," Hua Qian Gu put the Token away. "I'm here to see your King on urgent business. You can't stop me, so you might as well announce my arrival."
The captain hesitated.
He Dared Not disrespect Yi Xiu Pavilion. But the King had given a strict order before going into Cultivation Retreat—no one was to disturb him.
"The King will not see you," the captain repeated.
"Then have him tell me himself," Hua Qian Gu stood up and brushed the dust off herself. "You announce it; whether he sees me or not is his business. If you don't announce it, it's your dereliction of duty."
The captain was Choked.
He stared at Hua Qian Gu for a few seconds, let out a cold laugh, and turned away.
"Keep an eye on her," he said, leaving the command, and led the troop of little demons into the Cave Dwelling.
Hua Qian Gu sat down again, her Heartbeat a little fast.
She was gambling.
Gambling that Sha Qian Mo wouldn't kill her, gambling that her intuition was correct.
On the fourth day, people from Black Wind Stronghold arrived.
Over twenty little demons, riding Demonic Beasts and armed with sabers and spears, menacingly surrounded the cave entrance.
"Hand over our people!" The leader was a Tiger Head Demon, his voice as loud as thunder.
The captain of the guarding Demon Soldiers drew his Long Saber: "The people from Black Wind Stronghold trespassed into the Forbidden Area and are punishable by death according to the law. If you dare to approach further, we'll capture you all!"
The Tiger Head Demon let out a Cold laugh: "Just with you few?"
The two sides were at each other's throats, on the verge of fighting.
Hua Qian Gu sat on a nearby Stone, watching the scene, her mind racing.
Black Wind Stronghold had superior numbers; the guarding Demon Soldiers were only a dozen or so, and they would surely be at a disadvantage in a fight. If Sha Qian Mo were alerted and saw this scene upon emerging from his retreat, his first reaction wouldn't be "Who is this little girl?" but "Who is causing trouble?"
She couldn't let herself be associated with "causing trouble."
She had to find a way to resolve this.
Hua Qian Gu stood up and walked in front of the Tiger Head Demon.
The Tiger Head Demon looked down and saw a little girl, pausing in surprise: "Who are you?"
"Just passing by," Hua Qian Gu said in the language of the Demon Realm—it was from Dongfang Yuqing's booklet, which she had practiced for several days. Her pronunciation wasn't perfect, but it was sufficient.
The Tiger Head Demon was even more stunned to hear his language spoken by a Mortal little girl: "You can speak our language?"
"I've learned a little," Hua Qian Gu replied. "Are you here to get your people back?"
"What's it to you?"
"It's none of my business. But I'd like to remind you—" Hua Qian Gu pointed inside the Cave Dwelling, "—your King is in Cultivation Retreat inside. If you cause trouble now and disturb him, do you think you'll be able to leave alive?"
The Tiger Head Demon's expression changed.
He knew, of course, that Sha Qian Mo was in Cultivation Retreat inside. But he had thought that by making a fuss, the guarding Demon Soldiers would release the prisoners. He hadn't expected this little girl to directly bring up the King.
"Are you trying to scare me?" the Tiger Head Demon blustered, trying to save face.
"I'm not trying to scare you," Hua Qian Gu's tone was Calm. "I'm calculating for you. Is it worth risking the lives of your entire stronghold for a few little demons?"
The Tiger Head Demon fell silent.
The little demons behind him also started whispering amongst themselves, fear showing on their faces.
"Withdraw," the Tiger Head Demon gritted his teeth, turned around, and left.
The over twenty little demons followed him, disappearing dejectedly into the Wasteland.
The captain of the guarding Demon Soldiers looked at Hua Qian Gu, his gaze changed.
"How do you know our language?" he asked.
"I learned it," Hua Qian Gu sat back down on the Stone, her tone indifferent.
The captain stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly said, "You have a certain aura about you."
Hua Qian Gu's heart tightened.
"What aura?"
"The King's aura," the captain's expression became strange. "It's very faint, but it's there. Have you met the King before?"
Hua Qian Gu was stunned.
The remnant of a wisp of Demonic Power that Sha Qian Mo had left her in her Previous Life was still with her in This Life? She thought she hadn't brought anything back after her Rebirth.
"No," she said. "This is my first time in the Demon Realm."
The captain didn't believe her but didn't press further. He turned and walked to the cave entrance, whispering a few words to the guards inside. The guards nodded and hurried in.
Hua Qian Gu watched the direction the guard had disappeared, her Heartbeat accelerating.
Perhaps she wouldn't have to wait seven days.
【End of Chapter·Comment Section Guess: Will Sha Qian Mo come out early to see Hua Qian Gu?】
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