Chapter 849: The Sore-Headed Demon Gods

Chapter 849 The Aching Demons

Zhao Changhe returned to the Celestial River. Piaomiao leaned against a tree in meditation; Sanniang lay face down on the water, fast asleep; Huangfu Qing stared at a cluster of green flame in her palm, lost in thought; Yue Hongling scrutinized the severed arm; and Xia Chichi was copying... oh, Xia Chichi was whispering secrets to Cui Yuanyang.

Poor Cui Yuanyang had seldom appeared in the martial world over the years, yet every time she did, she had been at loggerheads with Xia Chichi, so much so that their bickering had blossomed into affection. Zhao Changhe pondered that if he wanted Yuanyang to join the Demon Suppression Bureau in the future, her relationship with the Emperor was already quite favorable...

The moment Zhao Changhe materialized, he was instantly subjected to a thoroughly merciless scrutiny.

"Yo, isn't this our Prince Zhao?" Sanniang leapt out of the water with a splash. Stroking her chin, she paced around Zhao Changhe, eyeing him up and down. "In heaven or on earth, throughout the ages, I could just barely imagine someone pursuing Piaomiao. But to actually pursue Ye Jiuyou... tsk tsk..."

Zhao Changhe took a step back. "I never told you I was pursuing her... How did you know..."

"Does that even need to be said?" Sanniang sneered. "We could tell just from the way you spoke to her... In fact, we had a premonition even earlier. Otherwise, why do you think we instinctively joined forces to help her when the crazed White Tiger launched that sneak attack, without needing so much as a single word of discussion?"

Zhao Changhe was slightly stunned. They had a premonition even earlier? Back then, he had clearly treated her as an enemy, remaining utterly on guard! Ye Jiuyou's nature was far too terrifying. Had she not proactively abandoned her capital layout involving the Azure Dragon corpse puppet this time, no one could have easily believed she could be won over.

"Where did this bizarre premonition of yours come from?"

Huangfu Qing said languidly, "I was the one who proposed your marriage to her. I had the premonition back then. Besides, with her top-tier demon-god allure, didn't you fancy me for the exact same reason before..."

Zhao Changhe was speechless.

"And you have the nerve to bring up the marriage proposal!" Sanniang lunged forward. "You're always making trouble, as if you think we sisters are too few, eh?"

Defeated in argument, Huangfu Qing could only cover her head and endure the beating. Fortunately, Yue Hongling and Cui Yuanyang were not close enough to join the fray, and Xia Chichi, being a miserable little disciple, dared not speak her anger. Sanniang was the only one left to thrash her, so she at least escaped with her life.

Apart from them, Piaomiao stood somewhat aloof, leaning against a nearby tree and watching the thrashing with an equally peculiar look in her eyes.

Previously, Jiuyou had set her up by playing matchmaker with Zhao Changhe, and she had thought of returning the favor. But with her way of thinking, it was hard to devise a similar retaliation; she could only resort to making a mess within the Nether Abyss. Little did she expect that no retaliation would be necessary—Zhao Changhe had thrown himself into it voluntarily...

In truth, if one carefully tallied them up, Zhao Changhe really did not have that many women... Before extending his hands toward her, he had only the Four Symbols here and Cui Yuanyang, along with Tang Wanzhuang who managed affairs in the capital, and Sisi who guarded the Miao territory. That was all. The outsiders combined were fewer than a single brothel of the Four Symbols Sect... To the mind of a god or demon, even one woman was too many, but to Piaomiao, who was well-accustomed to the ways of mortal emperors, having so few was practically an unbelievable scarcity.

Yet, now that she was one of them, her mind was inevitably tangled... Especially considering the imperial harems she had witnessed, where the infighting was unimaginably horrifying. Mind you, before he arrived, everyone seemed to be meditating or chatting quite normally. But the moment the man appeared, the ensuing clash nearly obliterated the Great Dao...

"Hey, hey, stop fighting..." Zhao Changhe attempted to mediate. "This isn't entirely Qing'er's fault. Jiuyou and I share quite a few ill-fated ties..."

"You still dare to speak! I suppose you're rather grateful to your precious Qing'er, aren't you?" This time, everyone who had previously stood by could no longer hold back. They surged forward in unison to thrash the scoundrel, leaving Zhao Changhe to crouch and cover his head in defense.

With her arms crossed, Piaomiao found the sight rather amusing... Not only did Yue Hongling, who usually seemed indifferent to such things, step up to deliver two kicks, but even Yuanyang dared to go over and bite him. Hadn't that little girl just helped him pimp her out earlier...

It seemed the dynamics of his harem were completely different from the traditional emperors and concubines she had envisioned.

Shielding his head, Zhao Changhe shouted, "Jiuyou isn't actually as bad as we originally thought... At least she is currently breaking free from her original labels, and she hasn't had the chance to do anything truly unsightly in this era. Since such a powerful demon-god can be won over, why make an enemy of her?"

"His Highness Prince Zhao sure went to great lengths to elevate his little lustful desires into something so grand and noble," Sanniang sneered. "She opposed us from the previous epoch, and the hatred runs deep. Do you know that?"

"The ones who opposed her in the previous epoch were Ye Wuming and the ancient Four Symbols, among whom the ancient Four Symbols are now opposed to us as well. The ancient White Tiger wanted to kill you even in his madness, and Wubing instinctively pointed his sword at Chichi. If it weren't for their lingering camaraderie holding them back, he would have pierced her long ago. So do not substitute yourselves into the stance of the ancient Four Symbols. To them, we are no different from Papiya draped in a cassock."

After such a long speech, the women caught only one keyword: "Among whom? Do you mean to say you think we aren't opposed to Ye Wuming either?"

"What kind of focus-grabbing ability is this?" Zhao Changhe did not know whether to laugh or cry. "This was just a casual remark. Do you think we're writing a thesis, parsing every word?"

"Is it not the inadvertent words that hold the most truth?" Xia Chichi snorted. "Forget it, let's not speak of the ancient past. Are you certain she can truly have no conflict with us in this epoch? She explicitly stated her desire to capture us to study the Four Symbols. We guess you will offer your own intent of the Four Symbols for her reference, but that is ultimately different from us and hard to replace. What if she deems it insufficient..."

They truly knew their husband well. Zhao Changhe smiled apologetically. "She is no mere apprentice, but a top-tier grandmaster. She only needs to reference the intent; she does not require your specific specialization. Furthermore, she has no need to replicate the Four Symbols. She merely uses it to trace Ye Wuming's path... In fact, tracing Ye Wuming's path is but a single step. What she truly desires is to trace the ultimate source. She has been seeking the truth since the previous epoch, and most likely it is for this very purpose."

Unwittingly, the conversation shifted to serious matters, and the women stopped beating him. Yue Hongling handed Han Wubing's severed arm to Zhao Changhe. "The severed arm from Wubing. Essentially, the vast majority of the White Tiger inheritance can be obtained from it. If there is any deficiency, it is the lack of a divine throne inheritance, which I believe I do not need."

Piaomiao found it increasingly fascinating. This group transitioned seamlessly between tomfoolery and serious business, reflecting an unparalleled mutual understanding. It also proved that while these women were jealous, they did not dwell too much on the addition of another sister—from the looks of it, they did not care much about her joining either. That previous catch-in-the-act incident was merely an instinctive commotion. Could she try to blend in, rather than remaining so aloof?

Yet, given her detached nature, it would likely be difficult. The only one she could converse with a bit more was Yuanyang... Perhaps if Ye Jiuyou joined, they might actually share more topics. No matter how conflicting their attributes were, they were both of the divine-demon path and shared a common enemy in Ye Wuming.

The problem lay in the fact that it was already shocking enough for her, Piaomiao, to be willing to share a husband with others, primarily influenced by that shameless little hussy Yuanyang. But if Ye Jiuyou were also willing, the Heavenly Dao itself would probably drop its jaw upon resurrection. Zhao Changhe's conquest of Ye Jiuyou would surely not be as simple as it had been with her.

Zhao Changhe was saying, "We indeed have no need for something like a divine throne; we should even discard it... In other words, what we seek is basically fulfilled?"

"Yes." Yue Hongling sighed. "I originally thought coming to Kunlun would involve a massive battle... The chaotic fray earlier was expected to be highly perilous, yet it ended in an anticlimax. Had we known, there would have been no need for so many of us to come."

"That wouldn't do... It is precisely because our Four Symbols array was complete, along with Piaomiao and myself, that we became the most formidable faction among all forces, enabling us to hold the ground and resolve the issues." Zhao Changhe gazed at Han Wubing's severed arm, somewhat dazed. "Currently, Jiuyou's attitude remains ambiguous, and the matter regarding Wubing and the Sword Emperor is also unresolved. There are still headaches ahead. Our momentum must not scatter, and Chichi cannot rush back to the capital."

Xia Chichi asked, "Are you still thinking about Wubing's matter?"

Zhao Changhe nodded. "The severed arm is here. I am entirely capable of reattaching it for him. And we have absolutely no need for his divine throne, meaning our conflict with Wubing essentially does not exist. The issue lies in what Wubing thinks. If he insists on viewing us as Papiya..."

"You claim a break on your lips, but in your heart, you still cannot let go. You clearly want to pursue Jiuyou, yet to protect Wubing, you instinctively barred Jiuyou with your blade first..."

"At least at that moment, Jiuyou was not yet my woman..." Zhao Changhe seemed disinclined to dwell on it and quickly changed the subject. "It's pointless for us to discuss this here. Let's wait until we see him next time to discern his attitude. Right, speaking of Papiya, how are things with Papiya and Anmie? Logically, they were blasted apart by the primordial lightning I summoned, but the Chaos Ranking didn't flash inside or outside the secret realm. Has someone gone blind again?"

Huangfu Qing said, "A wisp of their true spirit is still protected by me. I am studying their intent of imperishability."

"No wonder." Zhao Changhe smiled. "We actually have an expert on immortality and imperishability among us now. It's best to destroy that true spirit; there is an existence behind it, so let's not court unnecessary complications."

"An expert?" Everyone froze slightly. Aside from Jiuyou, the Vermilion Bird was already the most specialized in the path of life and death. What other expert could offer guidance to the Vermilion Bird in this regard... After a brief pause, they all turned their heads in unison, looking toward Piaomiao, who was leaning against the tree over there.

This lady was indeed immortal and imperishable. To be killed by someone of Ye Wuming's caliber was no ordinary death, yet she could still reincarnate and return to life. To study Papiya and Anmie, asking her was naturally far more direct.

However, their relationship was rather ordinary. During the catching-in-the-act incident, they had been rebuffed by her. Her aura was powerful, and her strength surpassed theirs... Today, while Zhao Changhe was away, no one had spoken to her except Cui Yuanyang, who would run over to snuggle with her. Even toward Cui Yuanyang, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Piaomiao seemed unable to let loose, her responses rather cold. One got the impression that if she didn't know there was serious business to attend to, Piaomiao might have vanished into thin air on her own.

Yet, hearing Zhao Changhe's words now, Piaomiao actually walked over on her own initiative. Seating herself beside Huangfu Qing, she spoke quite naturally, "Our imperishability stems from a single intent. Just as long as humanity endures, I remain, and my strength is bound to it. The same goes for Papiya; it is merely the conceptual manifestation of the demon in the human heart. If you are to consider this aspect, you might want to think about whether you can become the manifestation of all flames in the world. Then, so long as a single spark remains in the world, you can use it to be reborn... Perhaps your Third Stage of the Breakthrough Realm can also be sought here."

Everyone stared at her blankly, momentarily unsure whether they should offer a word of thanks.

Were she one of their own sisters, there would be no need for thanks. If Sanniang had given such a pointer to Huangfu Qing, Huangfu Qing would have slapped her backside hard as a reward; a formal thank-you would instead make Sanniang anxious. But coming from Piaomiao... would it be rude not to say it?

Yet, Piaomiao smiled slightly and gracefully extended her right hand. "Give their true spirit to me. It will offer some nourishment to me."

Without a second thought, Huangfu Qing handed it over. Receiving it, Piaomiao nodded with a smile. "Then I won't stand on ceremony with you sisters."

Discovering that Piaomiao indeed intended to integrate, everyone unexpectedly felt a sense of relief. In truth, there was no need for her to blend in too deeply. Just as Yue Hongling had spent a long time with them without becoming overly intimate, everyone had a different temperament and there was no need to force it; this attitude alone was enough.

Sanniang immediately beamed with a smile. "Hey, an ancient demon-god of such high standing. How did you get picked up by this pig-head?"

Piaomiao cast a subtle, fleeting glance at Cui Yuanyang. "Some people abandon all shame at such a young age. What choice did I have?"

Cui Yuanyang leapt up. "What does it have to do with me? You two stood shoulder to shoulder, even storming the Night Palace. I was asleep most of the time, yet you blame me?"

Piaomiao huffed and turned her head away, refusing to look at her. No matter how many things had transpired, her initial impression of him had absolutely been influenced by Yuanyang's emotions. It could be said that before he even made a move, half the work was already done, and that final critical step was brought about by Yuanyang posing as her. If this blame didn't belong to her, whose was it?

Yet, she felt her waist tighten as Zhao Changhe drew her into his embrace. "Alright, Yuanyang deserves the credit..."

Piaomiao struggled slightly but failed to break free. Angered, she said, "With so many people around, don't be so handsy."

Everyone found it rather amusing. This older sister's upright yet pure demeanor was quite entertaining... One wondered what kind of sight she would present when pinned down underneath; they rather wanted to see it...

Zhao Changhe did not get handsy. He merely held her honestly and smiled. "The Sword Emperor made an appointment in the Southwest... Autumn is already fast approaching. What are everyone's thoughts?"

Cui Yuanyang spoke first. "As for the Sword Emperor or whatever, I won't participate. I want to go home."

Zhao Changhe was stunned. "There's no need to worry about strength or anything. We don't fear that now, and you aren't weak either."

Cui Yuanyang shook her head. "It's unrelated to that. I miss my parents and want to go back to see them. My departure from home this time wasn't voluntary, and Father was worried sick back then. Now that the dust has settled, the primary task is naturally to return and see them. Nothing else matters."

Zhao Changhe nodded, a slight sigh rising in his heart. Back then, this girl had run away from home just to experience the storms of the martial world. Now, facing even greater storms, she instead missed home. The main change was that she had learned to care for her parents...

Cui Yuanyang smiled again. "You say I'm not weak, yet I haven't even figured out what intent I'm breaking through with. If I'm to take risks, perhaps the matters of the Demon Suppression Bureau are indeed suited for my training. Brother Zhao just needs to send me back, give me a token or something, and I'll find Sister Wanzhuang myself later."

"Alright." Zhao Changhe directly handed his previous Demon Suppression Bureau jade plaque to Cui Yuanyang and rubbed her little head. "I'll send you back."

"Wait a moment." Cui Yuanyang quietly tugged at his hem, stole a glance at the crowd, and said with a flushed face, "Before parting, let's get intimate for a little bit. Hide inside the Celestial River so they can't see."

The group turned their heads away with knowing smiles, all saying, "We have just acquired the intent of the White Tiger and need to realign the Four Symbols array again, as well as deduce and comprehend what Sister Piaomiao just said. Who has the spare time to watch your debauchery? Go play by yourselves."

Piaomiao silently extended her hand slightly, then let it drop again.

This was disastrous. If those two started doing it, and she began to twitch over here, what if they saw her... Should she secretly hide away? But no matter where she hid, in the eyes of others, she would be seen as going to join the fray. Wouldn't she be thought of as just as starved and impatient as that dead girl?

Where would she put her face in the future...

Setting aside how much Piaomiao's head ached at this moment, far away in the Nether Abyss, there was another demon-god whose head ached just as much.

The lotus pond created during Piaomiao's rebirth had not yet merged with the bathing pool, and the life essence born from the fusion of Piaomiao's blood and the essence of the Long River was faint. Ye Jiuyou, lost in thought as she returned to her own bathing pool, noticed nothing amiss for the moment.

She had worn the purple dress straight without washing it, and there was no undergarment beneath; wearing it all the way back felt quite uncomfortable. Too lazy to care whether someone might later trace back to the bath, the first thing she did upon returning was to shed her clothes and plunge into the pool for a delightful soak.

But no sooner had she cupped water to rub her body than she scooped up a handful of sticky, slimy stuff. Smearing it across her snow-white chest felt like wiping a slug, so revolting that Ye Jiuyou nearly threw up.

What the hell is this? Zhao Changhe, Piaomiao, what have you been up to hiding in my place?

Ye Jiuyou, ever tracing matters concerning Ye Wuming, did not realize at that moment that this was the closest she had ever come to Ye Wuming's own experiences.