GD Ch. 43

Chapter 43: Her Progress?

This is truly quite frustrating, Zhuyou thought to herself. She pulled out the scroll, hooked her index finger, and gestured for Changying to come closer and read.

Changying’s face remained cold, as if she was extremely reluctant. Yet, despite her evident unwillingness, she still lowered her gaze toward the scroll, placing her hands properly on her knees, looking utterly obedient and well-behaved.

Zhuyou found it amusing—this little dragon clearly had no desire to learn, yet she was putting on the pitiful look of a dragon forced to bow under a low eave, as if enduring humiliation for the sake of compromise.

Changying read stiffly for a while, reciting in a rigid, mechanical tone. After some time, she stopped speaking, unwilling to continue.

Zhuyou turned to glance at her, showing the kind of anxiety one might feel about their child being unlearned.

After being stared at for a moment, Changying reluctantly opened her mouth and said, “I don’t want to read anymore.”

“If you wish to stay by my side, this is something you must learn.” Zhuyou figured that since this dragon was so clingy, perhaps if she denied her that closeness, she would finally start taking things seriously.

A proper dragon—if she couldn’t even recognize words at this stage, that would be truly disgraceful.

Changying lowered her gaze, her cold eyes seemingly drilling holes into the scroll. After a moment, her pale lips parted, and from her throat emerged a syllable. She actually began reading again, word by word, stumbling through the text.

How obedient.

Zhuyou couldn’t help but raise her hand to pat the dragon’s head. Even her strands of hair were soft and docile. Though Changying no longer looked like a child, she was still remarkably well-behaved.

That being said, this dragon was growing quickly. In just the blink of an eye, she was already up to Zhuyou’s shoulder. Before long, Zhuyou feared she wouldn’t even remember what this little dragon looked like as a hatchling.

The childish form had been far more endearing—her hair a tangled mess, her small body struggling to keep up. For every step Zhuyou took, the little dragon had to take two or three, always scurrying after her as if afraid of getting lost.

Hanzhu, not wanting to be entangled with this dragon, stepped aside upon hearing her mistress say there was no need to intercept the Third Lord. She considered for a moment, then added some water to the lotus by the hall doors. When she turned back, she saw Zhuyou and the dragon locked in a staring contest, so she quietly retreated outside to stand guard.

Jing Kexin should have long since returned to the devil’s domain, yet she was nowhere to be seen.

Zhuyou listened to Changying reading for a while, then secretly sent a mental transmission to Hanzhu outside the hall.

Unexpectedly, as soon as her message was sent, Changying’s voice faltered. Her cold, sharp eyes lifted in an instant, staring at her without blinking.

Zhuyou remained composed, meeting her gaze calmly while continuing to issue orders to Hanzhu through their mental link.

Go check if Jing Kexin has returned.

Outside, Hanzhu bowed slightly toward the hall doors. She had no idea how, despite staying outside and minding her own business, she had still managed to catch the dragon’s attention. Turning away, she stepped into the golden sands, making her way toward the painted boat docked on the sandbank where Jing Kexin was last seen.

Inside the Grand Hall, Changying slowly retracted her gaze and resumed reading as if nothing had happened.

Seeing her act so normally, Zhuyou didn’t dwell on whether this dragon had started hearing her mental transmissions again.

If Jing Kexin was sharp enough, she might already know about the missing dragon egg from the Dragon Palace. If so, she would surely start suspecting Changying.

But then again, Zhuyou thought, just how clever could Jing Kexin be?

***

Hanzhu had been gone for half a day without returning, presumably still searching for that devil.

In the Grand Hall, phoenix flames blazed brightly, illuminating the space with a dazzling light. Neither wind nor water could extinguish them.

Beyond the devil’s domain, the swirling sandstorms remained unrelenting. The gales howled ceaselessly, as if trying to shift entire dunes.

Another half-day passed. Zhuyou was still watching Changying read when, all of a sudden, the hall doors were pushed open. Hanzhu squeezed inside, her expression tense. She cautiously peered outside before shutting the doors behind her, as if guarding against thieves.

Hanzhu strode into the center of the Grand Hall, her voice anxious. “Mistress, the Third Lord has vanished without a trace.”

“Forget it. There’s no need to concern yourself with her.” Zhuyou waved a hand dismissively.

“There’s something else—there are a few unfamiliar faces on Changming Street. They seem suspicious,” Hanzhu hurriedly added.

Zhuyou’s pale fingers were resting on the scroll. With a slight movement of her fingertip, Changying reluctantly read the next line. Hearing this, Zhuyou lifted her eyelids. “You saw them yourself?”

“I saw them with my own eyes,” Hanzhu confirmed. “At first, I overheard some little devils talking about new faces on Changming Street. When I went to check, I found those people indeed seemed off.” She spoke so hastily she nearly stumbled over her words.

Her nervous expression wasn’t fake, but the devil’s domain often had new faces. Some sought immortality through cultivation, while others turned to the devil’s path instead—it wasn’t particularly unusual.

“Describe what was strange about them,” Zhuyou said, shifting her fingertip again. Her smooth, elegant fingers landed on the next line of text.

Perhaps it was because Hanzhu was present, but the little dragon seemed to have been provoked into focusing. The reluctance in her eyes lessened slightly, and her previously dull and monotone reading voice became a bit clearer.

Hanzhu suddenly recalled the sound of this dragon’s long chanted roars. Even now, before hearing a proper roar, her ears were already buzzing. She quickly steadied herself, reminding herself that the dragon was only reading, not howling.

She hesitated, unsure if she should speak. If she remained silent, she would be disobeying her mistress. But if she spoke, she would have to interrupt the dragon.

Caught in a dilemma, she clenched her eyes shut and forced herself to speak. “Those people browsed a few things but didn’t buy anything. They were acting secretive, as if gathering information.”

“I disguised myself and approached them. They claimed to be from Shangxi City, but their devilish aura was too faint. They don’t seem like devils from Shangxi City.”

That was strange indeed. The devils of Shangxi City were either immensely powerful or, at the very least, carried a substantial devilish presence.

“Mistress, could these people be spies sent by East Sea Monarch again?” Hanzhu hesitated, deeply wary of the Dragon Clan sending more scouts.

The moment she finished speaking, Zhuyou glanced at the dragon beside her, momentarily unsure.

Changying’s reading paused. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly—how could she not know where she came from? Even before hatching, she had been able to hear everything around her.

No matter how she had been taken away, she felt no particular emotion about it. Strangely enough, it didn’t seem to matter where she was. It was as if she was always meant to be without a fixed home.

Zhuyou, noticing her pause, tapped a slender finger against the page, urging her to continue reading.

Changying felt conflicted. Though she claimed it didn’t matter where she went, she still preferred staying by this devil’s side.

Even though…

Even though the thought of subduing this devil was growing stronger by the day.

There were too many people around this devil. It seemed like anyone could take her away.

Subduing the devil… was it truly about subduing the ones at her side?

Changying cast a cold glance at Hanzhu, her face pale as white silk, looking as if reading were a matter of life and death. After a brief silence, she reluctantly resumed reading from the book.

Hanzhu nearly choked under her gaze, nerves tightening. Whether intentionally or not, the dragon’s peripheral vision still seemed to rest on her, making her already flustered mind even more chaotic.

“A spy from the East Sea?” Zhuyou asked. “That’s hard to say.”

Hanzhu pursed her lips, utterly panicked.

“What kind of information are they looking for?” Zhuyou pondered.

Hanzhu’s eyes flickered as she hurried to answer, “They seem to want to know who is currently in charge of the Devil Realm. They also hinted—whether intentionally or not—that the decline of the Devil Realm might be due to a change in leadership. If the previous ruler were still around, it wouldn’t be in its current state.”

That was interesting—praising one while belittling the other.

But those within the Devil Realm all understood that the previous ruler, who had long been dormant in the Heart-Questioning Rock, was an existence that should not be casually mentioned.

Zhuyou withdrew the finger she had pressed against the pages of the book, absentmindedly twirling a strand of her silver-white hair. “Are they still in Changming Street?”

Hanzhu nodded repeatedly. “They should be there now. Even if they’ve left, they couldn’t have gone far. While I was at Changming Street, I saw one of Second Lord’s devils. It seems Luo Qing himself has also taken notice of these suspicious individuals.”

Zhuyou remained silent in thought. She had blown up the Devil-Suppressing Tower in Shenhua Mountain, and Immortal Zhiying would undoubtedly report this to the Heavenly Emperor. After all, the tower was crucial to all Three Realms, and Immortal Zhiying was not the type to conceal such matters.

With such a major disturbance in Shenhua Mountain, Immortal Zhiying would certainly be punished. And once the Heavenly Emperor learned of the tower’s destruction, he would launch an investigation.

Regardless of whether the newcomers were spies from the Dragon Palace or celestial soldiers, this situation was bound to become incredibly troublesome.

“Mistress, could they be from the Heavenly Realm?” Hanzhu asked cautiously.

Zhuyou had not seen them herself, so she couldn’t give a definitive answer. She simply said, “It’s possible. Did they ask about anything else? Did they mention anything unusual?”

Hanzhu racked her brain, her eyes darting about. “They seemed interested in finding out where the Devil Realm restricted area is located.”

The Devil Realm’s restricted area was none other than the Heart-Questioning Rock. Besides the Devil Lord’s physical body and his second soul, there was nothing else there. Those spies couldn’t possibly be after the spirit stones in the rock, could they?

“Interesting. It seems they came for the Devil Lord,” Zhuyou said.

“Then what should we do? Will they split open the Heart-Questioning Rock and erase the Devil Lord’s remaining soul and body completely?” Hanzhu was frantic.

Zhuyou wasn’t worried about the Heart-Questioning Rock. The Devil Lord had been a formidable figure in life; even as he lay dying, he had sealed one of his souls and his primordial spirit within the Crystal of Law. If he had the power to preserve his primordial spirit, securing the Heart-Questioning Rock would be no great feat. He wouldn’t have doomed himself so easily.

What troubled her was the possibility that the Dragon Palace would use this as leverage to demand the dragon from her. Should she give it up or not?

It was such a fine dragon. She had painstakingly hatched it from an egg, nourished it with spiritual energy, and even taught it to read and write. If she really had to hand it over, she would be reluctant.

After all, she might never come across another dragon as obedient as this one.

Hanzhu glanced nervously at her mistress, only to see her gazing at the dragon with an unreadable expression. Swallowing hard, Hanzhu dared not press further.

Zhuyou felt a tinge of regret. She had long anticipated that the Heavenly Realm would send people. The Devil Lord had always been a thorn in their side—one they would not allow to remain. Even if not for the Devil Lord himself, they would surely come for their lost dragon egg. If this dragon was truly extraordinary, the Heavenly Realm wouldn’t just let it be.

Her dilemma now was whether to hand over the dragon or not. Should she return it, or should she keep it?

Changying lifted her eyes, and her pale irises suddenly gleamed gold. “Why do you keep looking at me?”

“You’ve got a temper now, haven’t you? I can’t even look at you?” Zhuyou sighed, full of concern.

Changying meant to glare at her, but having always kept a blank expression, she wasn’t quite sure how to pull off a proper glare. So instead, she simply cast a cold sidelong glance. “You’re disturbing my reading.”

Zhuyou: “…”

What was this dragon even saying?

Changying let out a light cough, turning her pale face slightly away. It was unclear whether she herself felt embarrassed by her own words.

Zhuyou huffed. “Looking at you disturbs you? Since when?”

Changying remained unfazed. “You didn’t point at the words for me earlier. I forgot where I left off, so I was disturbed.”

Zhuyou understood full well—this dragon had already memorized everything yet insisted on having her point at each word, feigning ignorance. How utterly…

How utterly spoiled.

After some thought, she decided against giving up the dragon. If anyone else took her in, they might not tolerate her temper. A dragon like this, if given a beating, might not survive.

“Mistress, what about those people…” Hanzhu was at a loss. After all, it was her mistress who had brought back the Devil Lord’s second soul. If she got implicated…

“Don’t panic. I’ll go take a look myself.” Zhuyou didn’t trust Luo Qing’s devils entirely. It was best for her to see the situation with her own eyes to prevent any mishaps.

Seeing her rise, Changying calmly placed the book down on the cushioned seat and followed closely behind.

Zhuyou, hearing the soft rustling behind her, became even more reluctant to let go of this dragon. Where else could she find such a clingy and well-behaved creature?

She turned her head, just in time to catch a flicker in Changying’s golden eyes.

Changying was usually emotionless, barely tilting her head, let alone shifting her gaze. But now, caught in Zhuyou’s gaze, her golden eyes trembled slightly—as if she’d been caught doing something she shouldn’t.

How amusing. All bravado and no real bite. Zhuyou mused. She raised her hand and tapped her finger against Changying’s forehead. “Stay here. When I return, read the storybook at the bottom of the stack to me—without missing a single word.”

Changying turned to look at the stack of books on the desk, eyes shutting tightly as if refusing to acknowledge its existence. After a moment, though, she reluctantly opened them again and made no move to follow.

Zhuyou stepped out of the hall and headed straight for Changming Street.

***

A cluster of flames sizzled and burned inside the hanging parasols on Changming Street, illuminating the bustling marketplace. Though not packed to the brim, the lively energy of the place was undeniable.

Looking around, the street was filled with devils, each doing as they pleased. Some walked around bare-chested, while others wrapped themselves up tightly like dumplings. Some looked fierce and menacing, while others were charming and full of alluring grace.

The street vendors all fell silent the moment they caught sight of Zhuyou, fearful of incurring her wrath.

After a century in seclusion, this woman was now even more terrifying than before—her beauty even more striking. Her skin was pale as snow, the devilish markings on her body distinct and mesmerizing.

As Zhuyou passed through the hushed crowd, her appearance shifted in an instant, transforming into something utterly plain and unremarkable, blending in seamlessly with the devils around her.

The devils who had been watching her anxiously exchanged glances, searching for her figure but failing to find it. Believing she had cast a spell to slip away, they hastily looked around, but she was nowhere to be seen.

In truth, Zhuyou had not left—only changed her face.

She wove through the crowd, forming a hand seal to split her consciousness, trying to pinpoint the outsiders hidden among the masses.

Her disguise took the form of a young devil girl who had once served in her Grand Hall—a sweet-tongued, delicate-looking girl who, unfortunately, had run away in less than a century.

A street vendor nearby seemed to recognize her as that runaway maid and beckoned her over. “Didn’t you say your mistress wouldn’t let you step outside?”

Zhuyou hadn’t paid any attention at first, but upon turning back, she realized the words were directed at her. She hummed vaguely in response, saying, “I came out to bask in the lantern light.”

There was little sunlight in the devil’s domain—naturally, the only thing to bask in was lanterns.

The vendor’s face lit up with joy. “Ever since you married him, I haven’t seen you in so long. I’ve missed you terribly.”

Zhuyou instinctively stepped back upon hearing this, baffled by how shameless these devils could be.

The vendor, oblivious to her disdain, pressed on, “How is dual cultivation treating you? Does he treat you well?”

Even though Zhuyou had long grown used to such crude talk, it still made her uncomfortable. Keeping a neutral face, she deliberately changed the subject, “Not much to say. I heard some unfamiliar faces arrived today—what do they look like? Any of them handsome?”

The vendor gasped. “You’re not thinking of—”

Zhuyou didn’t respond, nor did she care to know what filthy thoughts were running through the devil’s mind.

“There were a few of them. Looked decent enough, but they didn’t seem all that bright,” the vendor said, lowering their voice before beckoning her closer. When Zhuyou didn’t move, the vendor had to whisper, “They actually asked about the forbidden grounds and even mentioned the Devil Lord. Isn’t that just asking for death?”

Zhuyou nodded slightly. “Not too bright indeed. How many of them were there?”

The vendor looked startled. “Didn’t count exactly, but seemed like six.”

“Six of them, huh…” Zhuyou mused, then added, “Well, if they aren’t very bright, that makes them easier to deceive. And if they’re good-looking, all the better.”

A flicker of unease crossed the vendor’s face as they cautiously asked, “Could it be that your husband hasn’t been treating you well?”

Zhuyou ignored the question and simply asked, “Where did they go? Point me in the right direction.”

The vendor’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. Trembling, they raised a hand and pointed shakily. “Y-you’re really…”

Zhuyou didn’t spare them another glance. She turned in the direction they indicated, slipped into the crowd, and disappeared from sight.

***

The Grand Hall stood alone amidst a sea of yellow sand, its once pristine jade-white tiles now covered in dust. Yet, inside, the hall remained bright and orderly.

Changying pulled the lowest book from the pile on the desk, flipped it open at random, and lowered her golden eyes to read. Her pale lips moved slightly, murmuring the words silently, not making a single sound.

Hanzhu was still in the hall and was astonished to see the dragon actually reading. However, Changying’s expression did not seem particularly pleased. Hanzhu truly didn’t want to be left alone with the dragon. Not long after Zhuyou left, she quickly stepped outside to catch her breath.

And in that brief moment, the very person who had been mentioned earlier—Jing Kexin—suddenly appeared.

Jing Kexin swayed her hips as she slipped through the hall doors just as they were about to close. A wisp of smoke trailed behind her as she sneaked inside, her form shifting in an instant to mimic Zhuyou.

Changying’s gaze snapped up, her icy stare landing squarely on Jing Kexin.

Jing Kexin hesitated for a moment, then smiled. “Reading, are we?”

A devil stepped out from behind a redwood pillar, silver hair cascading like a waterfall. The sheer outer robe draped over her was gray, her silk dress ink-black, but the sash around her waist was a crimson red—deep as blood.

Changying stared at her, unfazed, while her hand leisurely flipped another page. She did not respond.

Jing Kexin took a few steps closer, attempting to drape herself over the chaise in Zhuyou’s usual fashion. But before she could sit, Changying placed a hand on the silk cushion—blocking her from taking the spot.

“You really need to work on that attitude,” Jing Kexin arched a brow and added, “What’s the point of reading these mortal books? Let me see your spiritual sea—see if you’ve made any progress.”