003 Demon Lord: “I never spoil anyone.”…
Having weathered so many storms over the years, Nan Yao felt she could be described as having a heart of stone—unyielding and indestructible, able to remain composed in the face of any monsters or demons.
But now, she sat on the bed, holding a little squirrel in her arms.
“Your dads are going to die”
The words were clear and crisp, even echoing.
Nan Yao: What. The. Hell.
The little squirrel raised a tiny paw and patted its chest, proudly lifting its head: “To be frank, I am the exclusive system dispatched to save this world.”
System?
Save the world?
“I see.” Nan Yao wasn’t about to take on this terrible task. She grabbed the squirrel by the scruff of its neck and tossed it toward the window. “You go save it then. Have a safe journey.”
The little squirrel clung to Nan Yao’s arm and refused to let go: “Wait, wait, wait! Surely you can tell that your mother isn’t an ordinary person. Decades ago, she transmigrated into this book’s female protagonist and altered the original plot.”
Regarding the possibility that her mother might be a transmigrator, Nan Yao had indeed suspected it long ago.
Otherwise, there was no way to explain pacifier poker, mahjong, and “Love You Till Death.”
“But do you know what would happen if the original plot unfolded?”
“What would happen?”
As soon as she finished speaking, Nan Yao’s vision went black. When she could see again, she found herself in an illusionary realm. In this realm, there were foul rotting corpses everywhere and blood that had long since turned black, seeping into the soil.
These nauseating things seemed to be drawn by a powerful suction force, slowly moving in one direction. The source of the suction was a massive fissure.
The fissure was bottomless, but a faint heartbeat could be heard.
“Look, this is what’s about to kill your three fathers.” The little squirrel jumped onto her shoulder.
“What is this?” Nan Yao asked.
The little squirrel said: “The Evil Seed.”
“In the original book, the three male leads started a chaotic battle to compete for your mother. The dead souls and despair awakened the Evil Seed sealed in the underworld.”
“The Evil Seed hatched into human form, slaughtered the mortal realm, and treated human life as worthless. By then, only one of the three male leads remained after their mutual slaughter, and he was severely injured, completely unable to resist the Evil Seed.”
Nan Yao asked: “And then?”
“The heavenly gods intervened and resealed the Evil Seed.”
That was the original book’s ending.
“But after your mother transmigrated here, she changed the plot. The chaotic battle from the original book never happened. So the Evil Seed that should have hatened long ago in the book only recently appeared in the human world.”
The little squirrel was very serious: “But now, if you don’t stop the Evil Seed, tragedy will repeat itself.”
“I see.” Nan Yao quickly proposed a solution. “Then how should we contact the heavenly realm to have them seal the Evil Seed?”
“…” No cutting corners allowed.
The little squirrel fell silent for a moment: “I mean you have to kill the Evil Seed with your own hands, and you can’t tell a third person about this.”
Nan Yao also fell silent: “Do you think that’s reasonable?”
The little squirrel: “Because it was the heavenly realm that allowed the Evil Seed to be born.”
This was the world’s greatest conspiracy.
Heavenly laws dictate that the celestial realm cannot interfere in mortal affairs. But these high and mighty gods could never truly allow the human world to manage its own affairs.
The gods love humanity, but on the condition that humans forever remain merely human.
However, the three male protagonists from the original novel were clearly thorns in their eyes—three individuals powerful enough to intimidate the Heavenly Court had simultaneously appeared in the mortal realm.
This was absolutely impermissible.
Moreover, the Heavenly Court needed a pretext to interfere in mortal affairs.
Thus, the Heavenly Court released the Evil Seed from the underworld. The murderous intent energy unleashed from the underworld could gradually drive people to lose their sanity, turning them cruel and irritable.
Under the influence of the murderous intent energy, the entire mortal realm was plunged into misery and suffering.
The female protagonist of the original novel was merely the spark that ignited it all—the true manipulators were actually the Heavenly Court.
When the strong fell in battle and the mortal realm declined, the Heavenly Court would extend a helping hand to save all living beings. This way, they could achieve their goals effortlessly while also cultivating a righteous and noble image.
As for how many mortals would be sacrificed in this conspiracy—what did that have to do with the Heavenly Court?
The little squirrel said, “Do you understand now? This matter cannot be revealed to your three uncles. They attract too much attention, and the Heavenly Court has spies around them. So now, you must rely on yourself to kill the Evil Seed and save all living beings in the world.”
If Nan Yao had been given such a mission right after transmigrating, she would have outright refused and fled to a safe, hidden place to lie low.
But she wasn’t that person.
Nan Yao didn’t speak. She walked to the door and quietly opened it a crack—
The nine-headed snake had clearly adapted to the presence of Demon Lord Ye Yin and had returned to the card table to play doudizhu.
Ye Yin was openly peeking at the nine-headed snake’s cards and reporting them to Nan Yao’s mother. The nine-headed snake was furious but dared not speak up, forced to swallow his anger and lose money.
Seventeen years.
To Nan Yao, Nan Yuqing was her biological mother. Though her three uncles bickered and quarreled all day long, in her heart, they were no different from fathers.
“Alright,” Nan Yao closed the door. “I accept this mission.”
The little squirrel happily perked up its tail: “Yay!”
Then, the girl and the squirrel fell into silence once more.
After a long while, Nan Yao asked seriously, “So, how should I go about killing the Evil Seed?”
“…Actually, I don’t know that either.”
“What does the Evil Seed look like?”
“I’ve never seen it, because the original plot was altered by your mother.”
Great.
Nan Yao understood.
Her system was useless.
Without much hope, Nan Yao asked, “You must at least know the Evil Seed’s name, right?”
“This I know!” The little squirrel lifted its head proudly. “When the Evil Seed appeared in the underworld back then, the King of Hell lost thousands of generals trying to suppress its murderous intent energy. When they finally sealed it, they inscribed two words on the stone wall of the seal.”
“What two words?”
“The first word is Xie, in gratitude for the united efforts of the Heavenly Court’s divine generals and the underworld’s ghost soldiers.”
“The second word is Diao, in mourning for the departed souls of all living beings in heaven and earth.”
Thus, the Evil Seed was named Xie Diao.
Even if one day it were to hatch into human form, it would carry this name for life—a constant reminder of its heavy sins and rejection by heavenly principles.
Great.
Now they had obtained crucial information: the Evil Seed’s name.
Nan Yao: “Then where should we go to find Xie Diao?”
The little squirrel said guiltily, “Don’t always rely on me—can’t you be a bit more independent? Besides being cute, I’m utterly useless.”
Nan Yao felt like she had been tricked into signing some bizarre contract like a magical girl, with the little squirrel before her being that utterly useless contract spirit beast who knew nothing when asked and was only fit to be sold as a cute figurine.
Damn it.
After killing the Evil Seed, I’ll have you neutered.
When it came down to it, she still had to rely on herself.
Nan Yao remembered the little squirrel saying earlier that the Evil Seed hatched from a crack in the underworld, so the murderous intent energy from the underworld was also released through that gap.
Murderous intent energy could affect people’s minds, making them bloodthirsty, cruel, and out of control.
The Evil Seed was most likely to appear where the murderous intent energy was most concentrated.
So where in the mortal realm currently had this killing energy?
Nan Yao took out the Book of Wishes from her spiritual pouch.
This book was a gift from the Celestial Venerable of the Immortal Realm on her first birthday, capable of revealing all strange tales and unusual events under heaven.
She held the book in her palm, gathered spiritual power in her left hand, and lightly swept it over the cover. The Book of Wishes, guided by the spiritual power, began flipping pages without wind, as if soaked in ink, showing strange ripples before finally revealing several distinct characters.
[Mortal Realm Bestiary] [Cultivation Secrets] [Strange Tales] [Jianghu Gossip] []
This thing was like a massive cultivation forum with multiple sections.
In the [Jianghu Gossip] section, people from all corners of the world were active, with numerous sub-forums.
Nan Yao clicked through them one by one.
Mortal section [Who Stole My Vegetables]:
“My mother-in-law gives me cold stares, my husband might be cheating—come listen to my revenge plan!”
“Can’t sleep at night, need someone to talk to about the suffering I’ve endured since becoming the crown princess.”
Nothing unusual.
Cultivation section [Have You Ascended Today]:
“Congratulations to Crown Prince Qi Guyuan for joining the Immortal Sect! Peerlessly handsome Qi Guyuan! All-around perfect crown prince Qi Guyuan! Beautiful inside and out Qi Guyuan! Invincible sword cultivator Qi Guyuan!”
“Let me tell you a tragic love story: aloof and indifferent Celestial Venerable Master x clumsy, soft junior disciple”
Nothing unusual.
Demon Realm section [Don’t Pet Random Cats]:
“Those lingering love stories between me and the Demon King, minor demon beasts keep out.”
“How can I make a tiger run faster?”
Nothing unusual, but Nan Yao secretly clicked on the “minor demon beasts keep out” post, only to be bounced back by a powerful barrier.
…Damn it.
Nan Yao memorized this post—she’d check it again in a year.
Demon Realm section [World of Demon Beasts]:
“Has anyone heard the recent rumors about the Demon Realm getting strange? There’s a new creepy rule about entering Demon-Guarding Mountain at the Demon Realm entrance.”
“Missing person notice! My husband disappeared mysteriously, any clues…”
“Missing person notice! Has anyone seen…”
“What’s happening in the Demon Realm lately? Why are so many disciples killing each other?”
It seemed the murderous intent energy was likely affecting the Demon Realm.
The little squirrel suddenly became knowledgeable again: “The current state of the Demon Realm makes it the perfect training ground for Xie Diao. Based on my analysis, this should be our first destination.”
The matter was urgent—Nan Yao needed to set out immediately.
The little squirrel added: “We need a reasonable excuse so your mother and three fathers won’t get suspicious.”
Nan Yao thought it made sense.
Outside the door, several people were engrossed in a heated card game. She pushed the door open, put on a serious and solemn expression, and strode toward them. “Mother, I’ve come to bid you farewell. I’m leaving home now to venture out into the world.”
Madam Nan Yuqing paused for a few seconds while drawing a card, then nodded. “Have a safe journey.”
“Thank you, Mother.” Nan Yao shouldered her pack, scooped up the little squirrel, and placed it on her shoulder before heading out. “I’m off then.”
The little squirrel’s pupils trembled slightly: Huh? That’s it? Aren’t you going to ask a few more questions?
Why is the thought process of you transmigrated protagonists completely different from normal people?
Both mother and daughter were remarkably straightforward, but Ye Yin was the least pleased. For the first time, his usually stern and aloof face showed such an astonished expression. He rushed over in quick strides and pulled Nan Yao back. “Yaoyao, what kind of joke is this? You’re still so young—what if you encounter danger…”
“She’s not that young,” Madam Nan Yuqing said leisurely, tossing out a card. “She’s already seventeen. When I was seventeen, I’d already had four former dao companions.”
For the first time, Ye Yin snapped back at Nan Yuqing. “You are you, and Yaoyao is Yaoyao.”
After saying this, seeing Nan Yao’s stubborn expression that clearly said ‘My mind is made up, don’t stop me, I’m rebellious and in my teenage years,’ he could only sigh and compromise. “Fine, I’ll let you go… Guards!”
As soon as he spoke, seven of Ye Yin’s personal demon generals entered through the door. Clad in immortal-sealing armor and wielding golden war swords, they knelt in unison on one knee. “Your subordinates are here!”
Ye Yin said, “You must take them with you.”
…If she brought this group, she’d be spotted by the Heavenly Realm’s spies before even leaving the mountains, right?
This wasn’t the first time Nan Yao had experienced what people called “a father’s love as solid as a mountain.” She tried to excuse her way out of it. “Uncle Ye Yin, this is too conspicuous. What if we attract the attention of enemies?”
Ye Yin nodded and said to the demon generals, “Turn into birds.”
The seven demon generals instantly transformed into seven little sparrows.
Ye Yin said, “See? Not conspicuous anymore.”
Nan Yao: …Sorry to make you do this.
The little squirrel was astounded: These seven demon generals had followed Ye Yin through countless battles in the north and south, each capable of overthrowing an entire province single-handedly. And now they were obediently turning into seven little sparrows without complaint.
This wasn’t just affection—this was outright doting!
No one could have imagined that the hardest challenge in Nan Yao’s quest to save the world would be overcoming her Uncle Ye Yin’s excessive pampering. It took her a full two hours—from reasoning to coaxing, from sulking to fake crying—before Ye Yin finally relented.
“The world outside is treacherous, and there are many cunning and deceitful men. Yaoyao is innocent, kind, well-behaved, adorable, timid, and doesn’t even dare to kill—what if she gets bullied—” The more Ye Yin spoke, the more anxious he became, pacing back and forth in the room. “Alright, I’ll let you leave home alone, but you must take the things I give you.”
After hearing his long speech, the nine-headed serpent beside him fell into silence.
A father’s love truly came with rose-tinted glasses.
The nine-headed serpent still remembered the day Nan Yao, unable to sleep in because a flaming dire tiger in the deep forest kept howling during its mating season, swiftly neutered it with a single slash.
From that day on, the nine-headed serpent had come to believe that the cuter a girl appeared, the more terrifying she could be.
After futile resistance, Nan Yao had to repeatedly declare: “I’m going to train myself, so Uncle Ye Yin, you can’t give me anything too precious, or I’ll never improve!”
Ye Yin said: “I know all that.”
Three hours later—
“The Demon Emperor’s palanquin for transportation—I’ve already infused it with spiritual power, allowing it to fly through the air using my energy. Besides that, there’s white fox fur, the Feather Sword, heat-resistance pills, cold-dispelling pellets, revival talismans, all-purpose antidote powder…”
Finally, after the spiritual pouch was filled with nearly a warehouse’s worth of treasures, Nan Yao could finally set off.
She took a few steps, then seemed to remember something and turned back: “Uncle Ye Yin, no secretly bribing people in the Demon Realm to give me special treatment! I want to fight on my own!”
Ye Yin: “How could I? I know, I won’t spoil the child.”
…Redefining “not spoiling the child.”
Madam Nan Yuqing had remained silent all along, just watching Ye Yin bustle about the room. Only when Nan Yao was truly about to leave did she call out: “Yao Yao.”
Nan Yao turned around to look at her mother.
Truth be told, over all these years, she had never truly understood this mother of hers, yet she could sense that Nan Yuqing’s love for her was no less than anyone else’s.
Nan Yao didn’t know what her mother had experienced after transmigrating into the book, nor why she never mentioned her biological father.
Her mother seemed happy every day, yet also seemed never truly happy.
But for matters her mother wasn’t willing to discuss, Nan Yao wouldn’t press.
She would wait until the day her mother was willing to tell her personally.
Now, Nan Yuqing walked up to Nan Yao, bent down, and reached out to straighten her collar. Then she said softly: “I also have a gift for you.”
As she spoke, she took out a burlap-wrapped package from her own spiritual pouch and handed it to her: “When you encounter danger you can’t resolve, open this. It’s a treasure I spent decades crafting that can awe heaven and earth. It has helped me through countless troubles—my legacy treasure.”
“May you have a smooth journey.”
Author’s note:
Deleted scene from this chapter:
This thing was like a massive cultivation forum with several sub-sections.
Squirrel was shocked: The rest I can understand, but what? How did you sneak in personal preferences?
Nan Yao explained: “This is a place with only heads and no necks.”
Next chapter will feature that scheming dog man.
This chapter: Giving out 100 nine-headed snake kiss red packets.