The Demon Lord leaned back in his chair, his eyes openly displaying admiration. "Jian Musheng, you truly are all an act."
"Most of the time, I'm not acting," Jian Lin felt it necessary to clarify. "Without a Golden Core, my cultivation is low. I'm not a top-tier powerhouse, so more often than not, I have to compromise."
This was Jian Lin's latest realization. The saying "one must be strong to forge iron" applied to her. The pain she faced today, the guilt she couldn't resolve, all stemmed from her lack of strength.
"I believe you," the Demon Lord leaned forward, initiating negotiations. "Therefore, you need to cooperate with me, don't you?"
Jian Lin blinked, surprised by the Demon Lord's sudden statement.
"But I don't have anything to help you with, my Lord Demon," Jian Lin was self-aware. "I'll only cause you trouble."
"Don't be modest," the Demon Lord said, his interest piqued, though it was unclear if he was mocking or sincere. "You're quite capable, and you're willing to share life and death with me. Causing trouble is just a minor inconvenience, one I'm willing to resolve for you."
Jian Lin's brows furrowed slightly. For a moment, she couldn't fathom the Demon Lord's true intentions.
Tao Niang, perched on Jian Lin's shoulder, watched the scene with amusement, swinging her feet. She found the two of them incredibly entertaining, even more so than the stories in novels.
"Alright, let's stop beating around the bush," the Demon Lord's expression turned serious as he asked, "I'll ask you only one thing: are you willing to wait for me to recover from my injuries, and then I'll accompany you to Guanlan Sect?"
Having the Demon Lord accompany her would undoubtedly be far better than going alone. She had no reason to refuse, yet something felt amiss.
"Let me consider it," Jian Lin said solemnly.
Emerging from the study with a heavy heart, Jian Lin strolled along the corridor. Outside, a dense drizzle had been falling all day. She leaned against the railing, lost in thought. Seeing that they were alone, Tao Niang poked her head out to chat.
"Why didn't you agree?" Tao Niang asked. "Being with my Lord Demon must be very enjoyable."
Jian Lin sighed. Logically, being with the Demon Lord would not only ensure her safety but also greatly increase her chances of success. The benefits were clear.
However, a voice in her heart kept whispering, *Don't drag him down. Don't let him get hurt.*
"Because I can't protect him," Jian Lin said dejectedly. "It's all my fault. I'm too weak."
"If that's the reason," Tao Niang said slyly, "refusing the Demon Lord will only make him sad."
"He won't!" Jian Lin retorted, absolutely certain of this. "If he's unhappy, he'll just take it out on me."
"In that case, you should definitely agree to the Demon Lord's proposal," Tao Niang said, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Or are you hoping he'll bully you?"
Jian Lin lowered her head, meeting Tao Niang's gaze. She raised a thumb in admiration. "Tao Niang, you've cut to the heart of the matter in just a few words. I am truly impressed."
"That's what they call 'the bystander sees clearly when the participant is confused'," Tao Niang's laughter was crisp, carrying far into the misty rain.
After being enlightened by Tao Niang, Jian Lin no longer hesitated. She quickly agreed to the Demon Lord's proposal, and they set off for Guanlan Sect together.
Having settled this matter, Jian Lin naturally began to pay attention to the Demon Lord's recovery.
It was then she discovered, to her shock, that the Demon Lord was recovering very slowly. Several days had passed since their return from the Demon Realm, yet his abdominal wound had not scabbed over. Blood would flow every time his dressing was changed.
His external injuries healed slowly, and so did his internal ones.
He was fine during the day, but he often coughed at night. His frail appearance pained Jian Lin deeply.
Unfortunately, she knew nothing about medicine. After much thought, she decided to stew some nourishing soup for the Demon Lord. Ginseng, deer antler, bird's nest – she gave the list to the Grand Steward, who was more than happy to procure them for her and enthusiastically escorted her to the kitchen.
The Demon Palace kitchen was merely decorative. There were no cooks, and it was empty, devoid of any sign of cooking.
Jian Lin shrugged, boldly making it her own. She stewed nourishing soup for the Demon Lord and made some delicious food for herself.
Her cooking skills were decent. During her university years, she had studied abroad as an exchange student for two years. Living in a foreign land, she had no choice but to learn to cook. After returning home, she was busy with her career and hadn't cooked since.
She had thought she would never enter a kitchen again. Who would cook when they had money? Once her company went public and she became wealthy, she would feast on delicacies daily, having Michelin chefs cook for her at home.
Little did she expect to end up in such a situation. Now, not only did she have to cook, but she also had to learn to build a fire using the most primitive method.
Jian Lin poked the flames with a fire poker, sighing helplessly, "I truly owe him."
Tao Niang merely smiled, waiting for Jian Lin to roast some chestnuts for her.
As night fell, Jian Lin, carrying a bowl of ginseng soup, knocked on the door of the Demon Lord's study. A response came from within, and she pushed the door open.
The Demon Lord was sitting cross-legged on a small couch, his eyes closed as he meditated to heal his injuries. Jian Lin placed the bowl of ginseng soup on a small tea table. The clinking of porcelain drew the Demon Lord's attention.
The Demon Lord slightly opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over her. He asked with a hint of confusion, "What is this?"
"Ginseng soup, for nourishing the body," Jian Lin replied.
The Demon Lord let out a scoff and closed his eyes, continuing his meditation. He said lazily, "You don't actually think this sort of thing will help my wounds, do you?"
"It doesn't hurt, at least," Jian Lin said, sitting on a small stool by the table, propping her chin with one hand as she watched the Demon Lord. "My Lord Demon, I've been simmering this for half the day. Please do me the honor of tasting it."
The Demon Lord raised his hand, ending his meditation, and let out a long breath. He opened his eyes and said, "Are you trying to urge me to recover faster by doing this?"
Jian Lin hadn't intended that, but now that the Demon Lord had pointed it out, she saw no need to deny it.
"Something like that," Jian Lin said with a grin. "No one dislikes getting better sooner, my Lord Demon. Don't you agree?"
The Demon Lord glanced at her quietly, reached out, and picked up the porcelain soup bowl. He lifted the lid, and a rich aroma wafted out.
Jian Lin had added many other ingredients to the ginseng soup: black chicken, pig stomach, yam, old ginger, longan, and peanuts. She had added a little salt for seasoning, making it resemble a delicacy.
The Demon Lord lowered his gaze, examining it closely. He couldn't help but recall when he had last eaten such exquisite food.
It seemed to be about a hundred years ago, when he had traveled the mortal realm with someone and eaten many good things. Unfortunately, so much time had passed that he had forgotten the taste of everything.
"My Lord Demon, what are you looking at?" Jian Lin moved her small stool to sit opposite him. "This soup isn't poisoned, drink it with confidence."
The Demon Lord raised his eyes, brought the soup bowl to his lips, and took a sip. The taste was delicious, with a slight bitterness. Overall, it was unexpectedly good.
Jian Lin asked expectantly, "How is it? Not bad, right?"
"Mm, not bad," the Demon Lord took another sip and said seriously, "But you must understand, this truly does nothing for me. My wounds won't heal that quickly."
"I know, it's just ginseng soup. As long as it tastes good, that's enough," Jian Lin didn't mind this detail; she just wanted something to do. She then asked, "Speaking of which, why is the Demon Emperor so powerful? With your profound cultivation, my Lord Demon, I would have thought flesh wounds would heal in two or three days."
The Demon Lord took a couple more sips and replied slowly, "The Demon Emperor's method of extracting the Golden Core was vicious. Do you remember the Crane Clan? It was the same technique. I originally thought it only affected demons, but it seems to have an effect on humans as well. The wound heals slowly, and it might take some time."
Recalling the tragic state of the crane maiden, Jian Lin immediately felt unwell. She said with a worried expression, "Is that so? My Lord Demon, I've seen you cultivating and healing yourself these past few days. Shouldn't you find someone to examine it? As a patient, the worst thing is arrogance. It's always good to listen to others' advice."
Jian Lin remembered what the Grand Steward had said that night about calling Xie Jin back. The Demon Lord had refused, fearing it would affect the Demon Sect. Did that mean he had been enduring it all this time? The thought made her feel sympathetic.
The Demon Lord finished the ginseng soup and placed the bowl back on the small tea table. He said, seemingly troubled, "I understand, but I must consider the overall situation."
Jian Lin blinked, realizing for the first time the Demon Lord's status and the responsibilities he bore.
He was the ruler of the Demon Realm, usually arrogant and unrestrained, acting as he pleased. Yet, there were times when he had to conceal his injuries and illness, making compromises for the sake of responsibility.
Jian Lin felt a pang in her heart. She stood up and took the tray. "Then please rest well, my Lord Demon. I'll be leaving now. I'll continue to stew soup for you tomorrow. Take your time, there's no rush."
With that, she took the tray and left. The Demon Lord watched her retreating figure, lost in thought.
The night deepened, dew settled, and it began to rain again.
Listening to the sound of rain hitting the windowpane, the Demon Lord suddenly stood up, walked slowly to his desk, and began to write a letter to a certain person, instructing him to conceal his whereabouts and secretly return to the Demon Sect.
She was right. No matter what, this injury could not be delayed any longer. He should call Xie Jin back to take a look.
Xie Jin was the Right Protector of the Demon Sect, skilled in both medicine and poison. It was said he killed without drawing blood. His reputation preceded him, his movements were elusive, and he handled secret matters for the Demon Lord, rarely returning to the Demon Sect.
The Demon Lord was reluctant to summon him. Firstly, for the sake of the overall situation, to avoid unnecessary suspicion. Secondly, this person was too annoying; his nagging was enough to drive one to death, and the Demon Lord found him bothersome.
Although they had a history and a good relationship, he wished he never had to see Xie Jin again. Corresponding by letter was fine – concise and effective, without delaying anything.
Now, the thought of him returning, even though it meant his injuries could be treated, already gave the Demon Lord a headache. So annoying.
Xie Jin quickly replied, stating that it would take him four to five days to arrive. In his letter, he also grumbled and complained, asking why the Demon Lord hadn't summoned him earlier if he was injured. The Demon Lord didn't even finish reading it before reaching out and burning the letter.
Jian Lin had persisted in stewing soup for the past few days. Later, she even started making pastries. She genuinely stopped rushing the Demon Lord, only urging him to eat more each day.
One late night, Jian Lin brought supper to the Demon Lord. To show his gratitude, the Demon Lord offered to teach her a sword technique.
The two of them sparred in the study. Jian Lin became excited and poked the Demon Lord with a flower branch, exclaiming, "You lost!"
The Demon Lord let out a cold snort, reached out, caught the flower branch, and flicked it away. Jian Lin lost her balance and stumbled. The Demon Lord turned, grabbed her by the neck, and pulled her into his embrace. "Your flaws are all over the place. Even a three-year-old could beat you."
Jian Lin struggled with a laugh. The Demon Lord remained as unmoving as a mountain.
While the two were engaged in their lively exchange, a sudden roar erupted from the quiet room: "Ah! I didn't see anything!"
Jian Lin was startled. Who was it in the middle of the night!