THE WHITE MOONLIGHT ONLY HAS A HAPPY ENDING

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CHAPTER 26: The Demon Lord of Propitiation

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Mandarin Duck City had returned to a state of bustling excitement over the recent announcement. While many waited with bated breath, the atmosphere in the premium suite of the local inn was far more strained.

After a series of standoffs, cold wars, staring contests, and even a few minor skirmishes involving teacups, the group finally reached an accord.

Madam Zi was being exceptionally cautious this time. She allowed no wedding processions. Any woman coming for the inspection could bring, at most, a single maidservant.

Thus, Yan Xueyi was to disguise himself as the propitiatory bride, with Chao Jinsui acting as his maid. Hong Niang would also disguise herself as a bride and infiltrate the mansion as a backup. As for the monk Guang Ping, he would wait outside the Su estate to provide support. Should reinforcements arrive, he could hold them off and signal those inside.

The final member of their party, Little Eye, was kicked out of the active roster. After consuming Su Baishan, the poor flood dragon was suffering from severe indigestion. Su Baishan had not been human but a half-demon, and having spent so much time with Madam Zi, Little Eye complained he had a "peculiar aftertaste." The serpent was currently left to coil miserably in the inn.

A problem immediately presented itself. The candidates for the propitiatory bride had already been selected; cutting the line was supposed to be impossible. Long before the group arrived in the city, the Su family had broadcast the event and collected the birth charts of countless women, eventually narrowing the field down to sixteen matches.

This final stage was for the sixteen to be inspected for their appearance and temperament. It was a process that perfectly reflected Madam Zi’s fastidious nature, rivaling the selection of a mortal emperor's concubines.

Fortunately, though the birth charts were matched, the Su family had not yet seen the faces of the candidates. Under the cover of darkness, Hong Niang selected two of the matched households, knocked the occupants unconscious, and took their places. In a way, it was an act of mercy, saving those innocent girls from a grim fate.

The night was calm and silent.

Chao Jinsui had felt no movement from the Love Gu in several days. She took every spare moment to enter her sea of consciousness, opening the "Ancestor’s Small Classroom" to continue her sword training.

Perhaps because she had entered a profound state of enlightenment when killing Su Baishan, her understanding of the second realm, the "Mind Accord Realm," had reached a new peak. After clearing waves of Yin corpses, her movements had shifted from clumsy to fluid. She could now manipulate the Kunlun Sword with a mere thought.

That night, she finally passed the test of the little golden figure and successfully turned to the third page of the Kunlun Sword Manual. Since she was technically a fifth-realm cultivator, this process was more akin to "reviewing" than learning from scratch, making her progress exceptionally swift.

The realm following the Mind Accord Realm was the "Thousand-Jin Realm."

In the world of sword arts, one must value "Power" as much as "Speed." If a sword feels light as a feather, it can rarely wound a true enemy. The Thousand-Jin Realm, true to its name, granted every strike the weight of a thousand jin.

Chao Jinsui already had a foreboding feeling. Entering the manual, she steeled herself.

Sure enough, the Ancestor’s golden figure didn't waste a word. He simply swung his sword downward!

She immediately raised her own blade to parry. The golden figure’s strike looked ordinary, but the moment they connected, it felt like the sky was falling.

She tried to push back, but it was like trying to lift a mountain. Though it was only within her sea of consciousness, she felt her entire being sinking, pressed down toward the dirt by an immense, crushing weight.

Sweat beaded on her forehead. The Sword Spirit stood to the side, jeering at her. "From now on, every time you come in here, you have to hold up this sword. When you can withstand this titan’s force, only then can you leave. As for now..." It sighed performatively. "You’re a long way off!"

She gritted her teeth and held on.

In her past life, her training for the third realm involved trying to split the Cliff of Reflection, a preposterous method in hindsight. She had never imagined that the true way to master this realm wasn't to split a mountain, but to hold one up with her sword.

She endured for a full fifteen minutes, cold sweat pouring from her skin. Just as she felt herself reaching her absolute limit, the crushing weight suddenly vanished.

She snapped her eyes open, gasping for air, her body feeling utterly depleted. Wiping her brow, she saw the horizon beginning to pale with the dawn.

For a sword cultivator, practice was a process of constant self-torture. To be the successor of a Sword Saint was never going to be easy.

Thinking of the task ahead at the Su estate, she didn't try to re-enter her sea of consciousness. After a quick bath, she knocked on the Demon Lord's door.

Hong Niang and Guang Ping had long since fled. They were terrified of seeing something they shouldn't, fearing the Lord might decide to silence them later to preserve his dignity.

Chao Jinsui waited outside for a long time. Seeing no barrier set up, she pushed the door open. She was immediately met by the sight of an exceptionally irritable, red-robed demon.

He was naturally tall, and his demon horns were the length of a palm. Since illusions couldn't hide the horns, he had used an ornate crown to mask them. It was impossible to get him into a traditional wedding dress, so he had settled for a set of crimson robes.

Logic dictated the look should have been absurd. However, the "bride" had violently torn through his knotted hairpins, his cold phoenix eyes sparkling like scorched peach blossoms. A dash of wicked crimson sat at the corners of his eyes, his thin lips pressed tight, and his long black hair flowed like a dark river.

The Great Demon’s gaze was lethal, but the sheer malice within added a layer of decadent, dangerous beauty. Seeing her enter, he shot her a furious glare. He looked like a large, temperamental cat that had tangled itself in yarn and was now lashing out at the world.

Chao Jinsui suddenly felt that their chances of success were high. His height didn't seem like much of an issue anymore.

The Demon Lord looked down at her as she tugged his sleeve. He leaned in, his beautiful face menacingly close. "What? Do you wish to mock me?"

It felt like if she said "yes," she would be finished.

She knew his temper. Holding his sleeve, she pulled him over to the mirror. "Let me fix your hair."

She undid the mess of hairpins and thought for a moment before picking up a box of lip rouge from the table. The demon was stunning, but his aura was all wrong. He looked less like a bride and more like a warlord about to flip a table and slaughter everyone in the room.

"We can't have you going in without at least a little makeup," she said.

The demon’s face darkened instantly. Despite this, her finger already held a smudge of rouge as she reached for his thin lips. He stared at her, his expression shifting between storms of rage and cold calculation.

She applied the rouge, and that single touch of vivid color acted like the final stroke on a masterpiece. The fire-bright beauty became decadent and eerie. One look, and you knew this was a poisonous, venomous beauty.

As she moved to pull her hand away, he suddenly bit down on her finger.

Chao Jinsui: "..."

"Yan Xueyi, were you a dog in a past life?"

He stared at her for a long moment before slowly letting go.

Today, she was disguised as his dowry maid. She had used a simple illusion to alter her features, making herself look much more plain and inconspicuous.

He huffed coldly. "Your original face is better." He thought to himself: If it were her wearing the red wedding robes today, she would be breathtaking.

The saying "The Su Family owns half the city" was no exaggeration. The entrance to the Su estate was built over a lake, featuring magnificent pavilions and an air of extraordinary prestige.

As sedan chairs were carried in one by one, sixteen girls gathered in the garden. A head maid from the Su family spoke. "Ladies, please wait a moment. Our steward will be out shortly. Once your appearance and temperament have been inspected, you will be invited inside. After reaching the inner courtyard, the final selection will be made. Those chosen will be married at an auspicious hour tonight. Those not chosen will be escorted out politely."

The girls looked displeased. The maid quickly added, "Do not worry. Those not selected will still receive a thousand spirit stones for their time."

At such a generous sum, the grumbling ceased. Propitiatory weddings were ill-omened; no major sect or noble family would send their daughters. Despite the heavy reward, most of the girls here were locals with low cultivation and modest backgrounds. Most didn't even expect to be chosen by the powerful Su family; they were just here for the spirit stones.

The sixteen girls had already received a thousand stones upon selection, and hearing there was more to come, they settled down, comforted by the tea and snacks provided by the maids.

Well, everyone except for one increasingly sour-faced Demon Lord.

Chao Jinsui had to constantly remind him:

Don’t take such large strides. You look like you’re going to a massacre, not a wedding.

If someone bumps into you, do not kick them.

When you sit, do not hike up your robes and sprawl like a bandit.

Fan yourself slowly. Do not gulp your tea in one go.

The Demon Lord gripped his teacup so hard the porcelain nearly shattered. This sword cultivator was also a woman yet she was the one who usually kicked people and gulped her tea! Why was she forcing him to be a "lady"?

He glared at her with murderous intent, suspecting she was doing this purely to torment him.

Chao Jinsui whispered, "When you glare, be gentle. Don't use your spiritual pressure."

The Demon Lord: "..."

He swore that even when he was being beaten in the Myriad Demon Abyss as a child, he hadn't felt this humiliated. He slammed his teacup onto the table. Crack. The stone table split.

Chao Jinsui: "..."

The demon guiltily pushed the table back together. It looked fine, save for the spiderweb of cracks on the surface.

Hong Niang: "..."

Noticing the demonic pressure around her Lord was becoming lethal, Hong Niang wisely retreated to a safe distance to eat snacks.

The girls here had all been screened by the Su family. They were young, inexperienced, and shared a common trait: they had very few family members, or were orphans. If something happened to them, the Su family could easily suppress the news.

There was one exception Chao Xiaotu.

She was there with Ling Yun. Looking at the crowd, Chao Xiaotu was filled with anxiety. "What is Madam Zi thinking, finding so many people?"

Ling Yun had no answer. Ever since Madam Zi returned to the mansion a few days ago, Chao Xiaotu hadn't been allowed inside, nor had she seen the woman. She had no idea how Su Liuyun was faring, nor why Madam Zi’s attitude toward her had suddenly turned so cold.

Chao Xiaotu shifted restlessly. Suddenly, her eyes locked onto a certain spot. "Who is that?!"

At that moment, the Su family steward emerged. The inspection was beginning.

However, both Chao Jinsui and the demon beside her felt a piercing gaze fixed on them. Yan Xueyi looked over and recognized Chao Xiaotu.

He frowned. "Did she recognize you?"

Chao Jinsui’s heart sank. Both instinctively moved to reach for their hidden weapons. If their identities were revealed now, they would never get inside, and Madam Zi would be on high alert. There would never be another chance this good.

In the distance, Hong Niang quietly moved behind Chao Xiaotu, ready to drag her away the moment she made a sound.

However, Chao Jinsui realized Chao Xiaotu wasn't looking at her, she was staring at Yan Xueyi. A thought suddenly occurred to her.

No way...

She looked around. All the girls were pretty, but the most striking among them was undoubtedly Yan Xueyi. His height didn't work against him; instead, it made him stand out like a dangerous, beautiful poppy. Even with his sour expression, he simply looked like a cold, elegant beauty.

Chao Xiaotu was desperate to become the Young Mistress of the Su family. She was pretty enough, but she paled in comparison to the disguised Demon Lord. It seemed Chao Xiaotu viewed the demon as her fiercest competition.

Chao Jinsui’s lip twitched. She made a gesture to Hong Niang, who stepped back. Jinsui had to use her tea to hide her expression; if she laughed out loud, the demon would likely lose his temper and commit a mass murder.

Sure enough, Chao Xiaotu marched toward them. She struck up a conversation. "I haven't seen you before. Are you from Mandarin Duck City?"

She was digging for family background, but her eyes were glued to his face.

The Demon Lord: "..."

Chao Jinsui turned her back, terrified he would see her laughing. The demon suppressed his rage and gave a perfunctory reply. His voice was naturally deep, but through his disguise, it didn't sound feminine it simply had a unique, magnetic quality.

Hearing the red-clothed beauty’s voice, Chao Xiaotu’s alarm bells reached a crescendo. However, upon hearing he was just a rogue cultivator, she relaxed slightly. Still, she wouldn't let the bristling Demon Lord go, asking about his age and other details. Her motives were so transparent she might as well have written "Scouting the Enemy" on her forehead.

The demon gradually realized what Chao Xiaotu was thinking, and his face cycled through shades of blue and black.

Chao Xiaotu, sensing she hadn't done enough, leaned in and offered a box of snacks. "Miss Yan, I made these myself. Please, have a taste."

As she reached out, Chao Xiaotu moved in close. In a flash, she gave a violent shove, intending to knock "Miss Yan" into the lake. Chao Xiaotu wasn't stupid it was a simple plan, but the steward was about to make his choice. If this "Miss Yan" was delayed or her beauty was compromised, it would be a win. Even if the steward asked, he wouldn't dare trouble Chao Xiaotu.

She was feeling quite smug until her hand met empty air. In the next second, she was sent flying into the lake by a powerful kick.

The stunning red-clothed beauty had hiked up his skirt, his expression absolutely ferocious. This was with the demon holding back his strength; otherwise, he could have kicked her from the west side of the city to the east. She would have been airborne for half an hour before landing.

The loud splash drew the attention of the steward, who hurried over with the maids.

Chao Jinsui immediately stood up, pretending to hold the demon back. "Miss, don't be impulsive! Miss, calm down!"

The "Miss" gave her a death stare.

Below, Chao Xiaotu was fished out of the lake, a massive lump on her head and stars dancing before her eyes. Drenched like a drowned rat, she couldn't stop coughing.

The steward barked, "What are you standing there for? Take Miss Chao to change her clothes!"

He turned to address the other party, but the moment he saw the face of the irritable beauty in red, his eyes lit up. Stunning. The Madam will love this!

Madam Zi had a penchant for beautiful skins. None of the sixteen girls had satisfied her so far, and the steward shuddered at the memory of her threat to throw him "underground" if he failed again. Seeing this peerless beauty, he was overjoyed.

Far from questioning why the beauty had kicked Chao Xiaotu into the lake, he said eagerly, "Quickly, someone, please invite this lady inside!"

Chao Jinsui: "???"

And so, they infiltrated the mansion with zero trouble in fact, it was almost too smooth. Their pass? The Demon Lord’s gorgeous face.

The demon’s expression was turning darker by the second. Chao Jinsui had to keep a firm grip on his arm, fearing that if she let go, he would immediately start a massacre. She practically dragged "Miss Yan" along.

Maids led them to a courtyard. As one was about to look for the key, the beauty in red raised a foot. The door slammed to the floor.

The maids: "..."

Rude as he was, the maids were so taken by his face that they remained diligent. They ignored the broken door and the way the "bride" hiked up his skirt to sit like a mountain bandit on the small wedding bed. They simply closed the doors in silence.

The moment the doors shut, Yan Xueyi leaned back and propped up a leg. He tapped his finger on his knee and looked at the sword cultivator who was currently opening a window. He said coldly, "Have you seen enough of the joke?"

She looked back, telling her first lie. "No, I really wasn't watching you for the joke. I didn't do it on purpose. If I'd known they were so lenient, I wouldn't have put you through this."

He snorted. She handed him a cup of wine. "Have a drink to soothe your temper."

His gaze suddenly fixed on the table. It was the "Crossing of Cups" wine. There were twin red candles, a "Hundred Children" quilt, and "Double Happiness" characters pasted on the windows.

He took the cup and drank in silence. For a moment, it was very quiet.

She suddenly said to him, "Yan Xueyi, I only realized today that demons can be quite cute."

Her face was altered by illusions, but her eyes were full of smiles. Under the candlelight, they held an indescribable warmth.

His movements paused. He drained the cup in one gulp and shot her a fierce glare.

A moment later, there was a knock on the window. Hong Niang flipped inside. She had followed them in easily; the steward was so focused on the beautiful "Miss Yan" that he had completely ignored everyone else.

Hong Niang’s senses were far superior to other demons. She could see the smallest details and was highly sensitive to auras. She had vanished like a shadow and returned having silently scouted the entire Su estate.

"My Lord, I found no trace of the Gu King, nor any other abnormalities."

The Su mansion was like a labyrinth, sprawling and complex. Everything was orderly, appearing no different from any other cultivation family. It was truly difficult to find anything amiss at a glance.

"However, there is one thing the steward invited a total of eight girls inside. He told everyone else they could take their spirit stones and leave, but I heard him tell each of the eight girls that they were the one chosen. He told them to wait tonight with their red veils on."

They were currently in the outermost section of the estate, where a row of a dozen courtyards sat. The "brides" were each placed in a separate yard, unaware they weren't the only ones chosen.

As Hong Niang finished speaking, there was a knock at the door.

Sure enough, maids arrived to spread peanuts, longans, and spiritual rice on the bed. The steward also entered to eagerly inform "Miss Yan" that "she" was the chosen bride for the night. He refilled the wine cups, but then something strange happened.

The steward blew out the red candles and smiled. "Miss, just wait for someone to lift your red veil tonight."

He then quietly closed the door.

A strange, eerie silence settled over the entire Su estate.

Chao Jinsui repeated his words. "Wait for someone to lift the veil?"

Su Liuyun was already dead. Who else could be coming to lift the veil? Madam Zi, of course.

Except when the time came, she wouldn't be lifting a wedding veil, she would be lifting the bride’s skull.

Perhaps it was luck, or perhaps it was because the fawning steward thought "Miss Yan" was the most beautiful, but their courtyard had been arranged as the first one. When Madam Zi came that night, she would encounter the "surprise" first.

It was just as well; this way, the lives of the other seven girls might be saved.

Madam Zi had hidden her tracks well, and Hong Niang’s search had turned up nothing. It seemed the Gu King was buried deep. They had been worried about how to find her, but now, wasn't Madam Zi coming straight to them?

Night fell quickly. Hong Niang stood up and vanished into the shadows.

Chao Jinsui shrunk the Kunlun Sword and hid it in her sleeve. She patted the demon on the shoulder. He finally abandoned his bandit-like posture. He was extremely displeased with her attempt to put the veil on his head and glared at her several times. Fortunately, it was late and there were no lights, so she didn't force the issue. She sat beside him, holding her breath and listening for any movement outside.

When the last traces of sound vanished, the entire Su estate felt like it was slowly turning into a silent tomb.

Then, the wind howled outside. With a soft creak, the door opened.

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