Chapter 403: Subduing the Demonic Cult Requires Blood

Chapter 403: To Subdue the Demon Sect, Blood Must Be Spilled

The journey to Hongnong had come to a satisfactory close. Zhao Changhe, escorted with the rites of an honored guest by the Yang family, returned to his own guest courtyard to rest. Even Chief Tang, who had turned the tide and seen through everything, did not receive such treatment...

But Yang Jingxiu knew that in the eyes of a subject, respecting the prince was far more important than respecting her—that was what truly scratched the itch. Besides, what prince? Yang Jingxiu felt that the guest courtyard next door could almost be opened up; they might as well sleep together...

She had already called her 'Wanzhuang,' and you didn't even refute it.

Yang Jingxiu no longer planned to go to the capital to strike at Wang Daozhong from the shadows; Wang Daozhong's fate would be left to Xia Longyuan's judgment.

He was already arranging clan affairs, preparing to head south to strike at Maitreya. That had always been Zhao Changhe's primary objective in coming here.

He did not know what power lay behind Maitreya—an existence beyond the Chaos Ranking, impossible to gauge. What Zhao Changhe had always wanted was to gather every possible force and achieve victory in one decisive battle. Compared to first securing Jiangnan, the Wang family's affairs were not urgent and could be set aside for now; the next step would be to turn the spearhead toward Langya.

The Wang family might hinder this matter, so the Cui and Yang families were needed to hold the north in check. This was not the time for them to watch and wait; they must choose sides now.

If you don't choose a side, I won't fix your sword—consider that yourself.

The same goes for the Cui family.

"Yangyang." Zhao Changhe sat on a lounge chair in the courtyard, holding Cui Yuanyang on his lap and rocking her gently. "Tell your father what I mean, alright? And about the Qinghe Sword—tell him not to worry. When I find a solution, I'll treat the Qinghe Sword first."

Cui Yuanyang said, "You want to send me home."

"Ahem, we're going to fight Maitreya, and you..."

"Alright." Cui Yuanyang laughed. "I'm not some little fool who insists on doing things beyond her ability."

Zhao Changhe let out a breath and pinched her nose. "A little fool who ran away from home."

Cui Yuanyang leaned in his arms, turned her head to look at him, her eyes sparkling. "But didn't I end up in your pot?"

They both laughed.

"Brother Zhao..." Cui Yuanyang rubbed against him in his arms.

"Hmm?"

"You're on the Human Ranking."

"Mm..."

"You are my rightful fiancé now!"

"Mm..."

"After all the trouble to come see you in Hongnong, there's a bunch of shameless imperial consorts and a scheming chief, and I haven't even had a proper chat with you."

"..."

Cui Yuanyang snorted. "But then I suddenly figured it out. Why should I hide and sneak around like them, climbing walls in the middle of the night? Is that necessary? I'll just burrow into your arms right in front of Uncle Yang. He'll only stroke his beard, nod, and smile. They can only gnash their teeth inwardly and say nothing."

Zhao Changhe instinctively looked left and right. Tang Wanzhuang and Huangfu Qing were not around at the moment. Good...

Otherwise, I feel like you'd be stewed or roasted...

Of course, they couldn't be like Cui Yuanyang, rushing to hide in a man's courtyard as soon as things ended; they had to maintain an appearance of independence. At this moment, Tang Wanzhuang was discussing the southern war strategy with Yang Jingxiu, while Huangfu Qing's whereabouts were unknown.

As for Zhao Changhe, he understood nothing of warfare—he was only responsible for fighting. So he took the opportunity to hold the little bunny and hide in the room, managing his time well.

Though Cui Yuanyang's words were bold, she too looked around. Seeing no one appear, her courage swelled by three parts. "Brother Zhao..."

"Hmm?"

"Everyone has serious matters to attend to. You're about to head south to fight Maitreya, and I need to go back as your envoy to old Cui..."

Zhao Changhe almost burst out laughing. That use of 'envoy' was spot on.

"So... after that kiss in Langya, I've forgotten what it felt like..." Cui Yuanyang murmured with eyes like silk. "I'm an adult now—since the end of last year... I'm even past that..."

The implication was not just asking for a kiss—it was practically a plea for intimacy...

Though she was young, she might not have known what came next before. But once the engagement was set and she had a designated husband, the sexual education in noble families was more thorough than modern times. By now, Yangyang had seen countless instructional diagrams; the maids and matrons at home had probably taught her every detail, more meticulously than Zhao Changhe himself knew.

At this moment, the little bunny's face was as red as a peach, as if water would drip if pinched. Zhao Changhe's appetite was stirred; he just wanted to take a bite.

So he gently took a bite.

Cui Yuanyang rubbed her little face in grievance. "Did I tell you to bite my face..."

"But you're too cute, Yangyang..."

Cui Yuanyang pouted. "Here, here!"

Zhao Changhe followed the flow and kissed her.

No matter how much the young girl knew in her heart, when it came to practice, she was utterly clueless. Nervous and tense, she yielded to his every move, a stark contrast to a fiery rose like Huangfu Qing. It felt as if whatever position he wanted, she would shyly comply, so obedient that it inflated a man's confidence to the fullest.

Her little mouth was pure and sweet, her small hands nervously clutching his sleeves, eyes tightly shut, lashes trembling slightly. That look of being both dazed and nervous, yet eager to taste the forbidden fruit, was utterly adorable.

Zhao Changhe had no desire to mock the only virgin who had voted for Yangyang at the banquet, because he liked her too. What did those people know... Sitting with dogs? I am the dog!

And that skin, as smooth and delicate as milk...

While the two were holed up in the courtyard, Huangfu Qing sat in her own guest courtyard, drinking tea with a face like frost.

The attendants on both sides trembled in fear, not knowing what had gotten into the imperial consort today. When she returned, she had been smiling, her eyes full of anticipation. But after a while, her face turned icy, and the murderous intent in her eyes nearly became tangible. The warm tea in her hand actually began to boil—they had never realized that the consort's internal energy cultivation was so terrifying.

At this moment, Huangfu Qing's heart was in turmoil.

Originally, she had naturally thought that Zhao Changhe would come scampering for a reward afterward. She had been planning how to tease him, giving him some trivial little reward to brush him off, enjoying the cute expression of a young man both wanting and helpless.

But from start to finish, a koala had been clinging to the man, and once they entered the room, they never came out.

She couldn't blame Zhao Changhe for that—he couldn't just throw off the koala and publicly sneak into his imperial consort's courtyard. But once that legitimate engaged couple hid in the room, what would happen next went without saying.

Furious, Huangfu Qing almost wanted to revert to Vermilion Bird, storm into the opposite courtyard, and snatch that little Cui girl away. After all, it was only natural for Vermilion Bird to mess with a Cui family daughter, and that Zhao couldn't defeat her anyway.

But on second thought, according to her earlier reasoning, the Chamber Fire Boar deflowering a noble Cui daughter was a good thing. Shouldn't she be supporting it instead?

Should she not disrupt it, but rather encourage him to break his virginity as soon as possible?

How outrageous...

This dilemma left her torn, and the only victim was the teacup, which had likely never endured such scorching heat even when fired in the imperial kiln.

That Tang woman, what are you doing? When you fight with me, you're so infuriating, but faced with this little girl, you shrink back, don't you?

On second thought, Tang Wanzhuang might be even more conflicted than her. Perhaps in her heart, she believed that his marriage to the Cui girl was the established plan, and she, Tang Wanzhuang, was not here to compete for the position of crown princess. At this moment, discussing war with Yang Jingxiu was probably a deliberate avoidance.

Forget it, unreliable old woman. Let us demon cultists be the villains.

What Chamber Fire Boar deflowering a noble daughter? Apart from when you sweet-talk me, how many times have you actually acted like the Chamber Fire Boar? Go to hell.

Huangfu Qing finally made up her mind and spoke slowly: "Someone, go to Master Zhao and say that I summon him to an audience. If he does not come, the promised reward is forfeit. Let him decide."

Almost at the same time, Yang Jingxiu looked at Tang Wanzhuang across from him, his expression rather peculiar.

This Chief Tang claimed to be discussing war, but in fact, she said little about it. Since she was not in Gusu, she had limited knowledge of the specifics. If such war matters truly needed discussion, it should be with Tang Buqi.

Yet she used the pretext of discussing war to sit here and not leave, her expression dazed, as if both angry and amused.

Yang Jingxiu couldn't help but venture to ask, "Chief Tang, if you are unwell, why not return to rest?"

Tang Wanzhuang held her teacup, as if just coming back to her senses, and said leisurely, "I was thinking about something..."

"What is it?"

"If the court wishes to conquer the Demon Sect's Venerable, is there a way without resorting to arms?"

"Offer amnesty?" Yang Jingxiu said. "Depends on which demon cult. The Blood God Cult still has a chance, but don't count on the Four Symbols Cult... It's impossible without bloodshed."

"...The Grand Commandant is right. Blood must be spilled... I might need to fan the flames, or else it may not succeed."

Yang Jingxiu: "???"

"Your 'blood and fire'—is it the same as what I understand? It feels like we're not having a conversation in the same world..."