Chapter 247: Back on Track
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Ruler… of the Northern Realm…
Ye Qinghan stepped over the corpses, her feet growing accustomed to the sticky blood clinging to her soles. With a flick of her wrist, she tossed aside the unremarkable immortal sword, which was automatically retrieved by its scabbard.
"Bring them up here."
Though Ye Qinghan now commanded her own followers, she still relied on Dongfang Jue's personal guards for this task.
Trust aside, Dongfang Jue had assured her that his personal guards would flawlessly execute her commands.
In contrast, she, who had "returned" to the Northern Realm, felt more like a guest.
Armored guards escorted the man and woman—who appeared like a married couple—up before her. Ye Qinghan sat with her legs crossed, gazing down at the accused pair as she spoke slowly.
"They say you intended to flee. Where did you plan to go?"
His soul-stealing fox eyes narrowed slightly. His gaze, as deep and vast as the Milky Way, flashed with terrifying murderous intent. His eyes swept over the two, and all who knelt below the dais dared not utter a sound, merely clinging to each other and weeping.
"She's your woman? Quite beautiful. No wonder you wanted to take her with you when you fled~"
Ye Qinghan glanced at the female demon huddled in the man's embrace with a hint of amusement. If they were fleeing, they must have somewhere to go, right?
The Northern Realm wasn't exactly small, yet it wasn't vast either. Escape? Where could they flee? To whom could they turn?
"Your Highness, it's all my fault! She has nothing to do with this. She knew nothing!"
Ye Qinghan smiled. "Quite principled, aren't you? I like those with principles!"
He then turned his gaze to the trembling female demon beside him: "Do you like him?"
The demoness didn't appear much older than Ye Qinghan, perhaps around twenty? Her features were quite attractive, and her human form was remarkably well-formed—neither half-human, half-tiger like Wenwen, nor bearing the distinct traits of a wolf-kin.
Apart from her tail and the ears atop her head, most of her appeared indistinguishable from a human.
However, the Demon Clan, in general, had more striking figures than humans.
Though not as stunningly beautiful as Ye Qinghan or Li Shiyao, this female demon would still be considered a rare beauty among humans.
She did not respond to Ye Qinghan's question, appearing either stunned into silence or resignedly awaiting her predetermined fate.
Ye Qinghan didn't care, as she had no intention of extracting anything from this demoness. Glancing at her personal guards, she spoke.
"She's yours. Just don't break her."
Ye Qinghan watched the man as he weighed the insignificant pros and cons, guarding the final secret for the person behind him.
Heh…
"Thank you, Immortal!"
The words barely left her lips before four or five guards swarmed forward. Even with the demoness's cultivation and magical prowess, she couldn't escape their grasp!
Her so-called resistance amounted to nothing more than flailing legs—she could do nothing else.
"Your Highness! I beg you! I truly know nothing!"
Ye Qinghan remained as calm as ever, watching the man with that same expression. She listened to the sound of fabric fibers being torn and snapped, to the demoness's screams and curses.
The demoness hurled curses like "beast" and "whore," wishing Ye Qinghan a gruesome death.
Yet the man had already beaten his forehead bloody, desperate for a sliver of mercy.
"Your Highness, this has nothing to do with her! If you must punish someone, punish me!"
"Your Highness, I beg you! This is all my fault. Whatever you demand of me, I will do it. Just spare her!"
Ye Qinghan merely laughed. She found it truly laughable!
Did this man actually think the Ye King of Hell was joking with him?
It seemed she had been too merciful…
With that thought, Ye Qinghan simply declared, "This is too noisy. Take her out to play."
With that, she rose to leave…
The man watched helplessly as his beloved woman was dragged out of the room by several men. His gaze shifted to Ye Qinghan, who had already risen and was about to leave. Finally, tears fell from his eyes.
But Ye Qinghan knew it wasn't that he realized his mistake—he was simply afraid.
Just as Ye Qinghan was about to step through the door, the man finally spoke.
"Your Highness, I was going to say…"
Ye Qinghan pursed her lips, halted, and smiled. "Go fetch the lady back. Get her some fresh clothes~"
Like that "red-robed steward," Ye Qinghan couldn't be called happy—this was merely work.
Rather than a tactic, it was more a way of working and an attitude for her.
Towards her Master, she was naturally obedient and compliant, but beyond her Master and Shiyao, she felt no one else deserved her gentleness.
As time passed, Ye Qinghan gradually uncovered some of her master's secrets. It seemed her master was plotting something of immense scale.
Yet even with her ability to read minds, the information she could glean remained limited.
Combined with what she gleaned from her master's wife, it suggested a terror beyond her comprehension.
If that were the case, merely aspiring to become a sword immortal seemed rather small-minded.
To remain by her master's side, mere immortality would prove woefully inadequate.
Ye Qinghan refused to be merely ornamental. She yearned for her master to think of her first when trouble arose!
She wished to be the fox he trusted most, and loved most~
But this wasn't difficult. With her master's divine treasures, rare herbs, and the blessings of his cultivation techniques and sword manuals, if she devoted herself to cultivation, her cultivation progress would be unmatched by any before or after her.
Within mere days of reaching the Golden Core stage, Ye Qinghan had already touched the threshold of the mid-Golden Core realm. Her Breakthrough was only a matter of time.
Yet Ye Qinghan felt she needed to consolidate her cultivation further. Without a solid Foundation laid now, future progress would only grow harder.
As the direct disciple and First Disciple, she bore the responsibility of upholding Lingxian Hall's prestige. Only then could her master truly depend on her, and only then could she become a pillar of strength for future disciples, earning their respect!
Though she secretly hoped for a male junior disciple… While both Shi Yao and Yu Lan possessed gentle dispositions unlikely to spark rivalry, who wouldn't prefer exclusive attention?
The Spirit Mountain discipleship ceremony occurred every six months, and the next one was fast approaching.
Following the Ling Mountain martial arts competition, the initiation ceremony would commence. Reflecting on the events of her own initiation, it felt as though it had happened only yesterday.
Ye Qinghan had already made plans for this. Once matters in the Northern Realm were settled, the Ling Mountain martial arts competition would draw to a close.
Then she'd effortlessly claim first place, bringing great honor to her master! Wouldn't the prestige of Lingxian Hall spread far and wide?
The paperwork for the immortal mountain where Lingxian Hall resided would be finalized soon. She was finally a fox with a home.
This thought always brought Ye Qinghan joy. A home~
Wherever her master was, that was Ye Qinghan's home~
Now everything was moving in a positive direction. Lingxian Hall's ranks were swelling steadily. Next time she went to claim the sect's subsidies, they'd surely have enough members by then~
Three fragments of Mother's soul had already been gathered! Though still far from complete, at least there was hope, wasn't there?
All of this was thanks to her Master, and it was fortunate she had chosen to follow him steadfastly.
This must be what the Master meant by the things we must protect, right?
"First Lady, I've confirmed it—since the Demon Emperor's reign, they've been committing these beastly acts."
"Make arrangements. Round them all up without exception. Ensure no one slips through the net. Prioritize the children's safety."
"Yes, Madam. Your concern for your subjects will surely move the people of the Northern Realm to tears of gratitude."
"You're not as skilled at flattery as Shiyao. Stop such nonsense. Besides, I don't want their tearful gratitude. What I demand is their obedience—and that they refrain from courting death."
Xu Zhanfeng scratched his head. The First Lady's way of thinking was truly peculiar…
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