From the mountaintop, they found a place to rest. The Demon Lord made an excuse to go out and set up protective formations, asking Jian Lin to accompany him.
Tao Niang, with her keen eyes, pulled Hong Qu aside, signaling her not to follow. Hong Qu, wanting to speak but holding back, stomped her foot and sat down sulking.
Tao Niang sat beside her, sighed, and said, "I heard you talk about your past long ago. Now that you're by the Demon Lord's side, your wish is granted. I'm happy for you, but I must remind you, there's a difference between humans and demons. You shouldn't have too many expectations, or it will only bring you more trouble."
"I understand the logic," Hong Qu replied stubbornly, "but I still want to ask why. Why am I not worthy?"
"Relationships between people are very peculiar; there isn't a single standard for judgment. If it were about cultivation, A Pei's level is so low, why doesn't the Demon Lord simply kill her? Why does he go to such great lengths to keep her by his side?" Tao Niang put her arm around Hong Qu's shoulder. "Don't think about it. We monsters aren't suited for deep thought; thinking too much shortens our lifespan."
Meanwhile, deep in the dense forest, the Demon Lord and Jian Lin were also conversing.
"I have a strange hunch. If the Demon Emperor was once human, he must have a connection with the Guanlan Sect," the Demon Lord mused, his eyes lowered in thought, speaking slowly. "There are no coincidences in cooperation. Things are getting more interesting. Zhan San Dao pretended to be from the Demonic Sect and infiltrated Guanlan Sect, while someone lured me to the Demon Realm. It's all too coincidental."
Jian Lin's heart skipped a beat. What did the Demon Lord mean by that?
"My Lord Demon Lord," Jian Lin said powerfully, "it's not a coincidence, and it has nothing to do with me. You can choose not to believe me, but we'll see. I will make you believe me."
The Demon Lord looked up, gazing at her quietly, then suddenly reached out and said, "Give me your hand."
Jian Lin, not understanding, obediently handed him her hand and asked curiously, "What is it?"
The Demon Lord reached out and pushed up her sleeve. On her left wrist, near the pulse, a red dot remained clearly visible. It was from that night in the death row when the Demon Lord had bitten her to conceal the High Priest's mark.
It was strange, as he had bitten her then, but only a red dot remained as a scar. Jian Lin was indeed a little puzzled but hadn't had the chance to ask the Demon Lord.
"Do you see this wound?" the Demon Lord held her wrist, showing her the red dot. "This is the poison I gave you. If you ever betray me, with a snap of my fingers, the poison will spread instantly, flowing through your blood vessels to your heart. In no time, you will die a sudden death."
Jian Lin's eyes widened in disbelief. She wasn't angry, only found it absurd, and finally burst into laughter, "Fine, fine, poison me then. Whatever makes you happy, my Lord Demon Lord."
Who would have thought that on that night in the death row, during such a critical moment, the Demon Lord could multitask and leisurely poison her? She was truly speechless with admiration.
"You're quite open-minded," the Demon Lord said, not releasing her hand. Instead, he pulled her closer, coaxing her, "Of course, if you tell me all your secrets, I will immediately draw out the poison."
Hearing this, Jian Lin knew the Demon Lord didn't mean it that way, but she still wanted an excuse to get out of it. She forced herself to talk about Xiao Li.
"I do have a secret I want to tell you, my Lord Demon Lord," Jian Lin took a deep breath, steadied her nerves, and said slowly. "Actually, in the death row, I rescued a little demon. She's in my Qiankun bag right now. My Lord Demon Lord, you are magnanimous, please don't hold it against me, let me let her out?"
The Demon Lord's eyes narrowed, and he tightened his grip, causing Jian Lin to cry out in pain and beg for mercy.
"It hurts, it hurts!" Jian Lin's face contorted. "My Lord Demon Lord, I was wrong, but please listen to me. She's just a little demon. Her mother was killed by the Demon Emperor and made into fur clothing. She was all alone in the death row, so pitiful. She's never even eaten pine nuts. I really couldn't just leave her there."
"You really like to meddle, time and time again. You never listen to my words," the Demon Lord didn't let go, pushing her back and pinning her against a tree. "I think you really need a good lesson."
"I admit it, I admit it! My Lord Demon Lord, I'll accept any scolding or beating," Jian Lin struggled to turn her head, smiling fawningly at the Demon Lord. "But now that it's happened, I can't send her back. I've already rescued her. Keeping her in my Qiankun bag isn't a solution either. My Lord Demon Lord, please..."
Jian Lin used her ultimate move, acting first and reporting later. She had already rescued her, and there was no other way.
The Demon Lord gritted his teeth in anger but finally had to release Jian Lin, unable to do anything about her.
Jian Lin rubbed her wrist, cautiously turned, and explained, "Her name is Xiao Li. She's a little cat demon, she hasn't even transformed into human form yet. She's well-behaved and sensible. I guarantee she won't cause you any trouble."
Jian Lin silently added, of course, this was assuming the matter of the Dragon Pill was kept secret.
The Demon Lord flicked his sleeve, saying impatiently, "Stop the nonsense. It has nothing to do with me. You must take care of her yourself. I absolutely will not interfere."
"Yes, yes, I will certainly be responsible," Jian Lin promised repeatedly, secretly relieved that she had passed this hurdle with the Demon Lord.
The Demon Lord flicked his hand and turned his back, not looking at her.
Jian Lin seized the opportunity, took out the treasure box from her Qiankun bag, and released Xiao Li. "Xiao Li, you can come out now. Xiao Li?"
Jian Lin called for a long time without a response, which scared her. She reached in to feel around and touched a soft, furry ball. She quickly picked her up.
Xiao Li's eyes were tightly closed, and she showed no signs of life. In the sunlight, her white fur looked dirty and messy. Jian Lin held her in her arms and called out loudly, "Xiao Li, wake up!"
Jian Lin didn't understand what was happening. Her treasure box had air for Hong Qu to breathe for two days, so it was perfectly fine. Why was Xiao Li not okay?
The Demon Lord heard the noise and turned back, his eyes falling on the dirty, messy white ball. He frowned in disgust. "What are you shouting about? Let me see."
Jian Lin immediately brought Xiao Li to the Demon Lord. "Look at her, she's not moving, and she's not injured. How could this happen?"
The Demon Lord reached out and touched Xiao Li's chest, then lifted her eyelid to look. He said faintly, "It's nothing. Little demons who haven't formed a Golden Core are very fragile. Give her some water and have Tao Niang transfer some demonic energy to her. She'll wake up soon."
Hearing the Demon Lord's words, Jian Lin instinctively reacted. Xiao Li was faking being unconscious. This little thing had the Dragon Pill; she wouldn't lack demonic energy for anything!
However, Jian Lin didn't expose her and followed the Demon Lord's instructions, carrying Xiao Li back to find Tao Niang.
Tao Niang happened to be returning from another direction. Seeing Jian Lin, she said happily, "A Pei, I found some edible fruits for you. Come and try them."
"Ah? No, Tao Niang, come here first and take a look. This little demon has fainted." Jian Lin instinctively refused. What fruits? She would never carelessly eat fruits from the dense forest again!
"What? Where did this little demon come from?" Tao Niang put down the fruits and took Xiao Li from Jian Lin's arms, examining her closely.
"She came out with us from the death row," Jian Lin vaguely explained to Tao Niang. "We were busy for the past two days and forgot about her. Finally remembered her and when I let her out, I found her unconscious."
"Hmm?" Tao Niang held Xiao Li, pressing two fingers on her cat head, and asked confusedly, "There were little demons like this in the death row? I heard that only powerful, formidable demons were imprisoned there."
"It's a long story. She was imprisoned with her mother. Her mother died, and no one looked after her..."
As Tao Niang listened to Jian Lin's explanation, she channeled demonic energy to Xiao Li. With a flash of spiritual light, Xiao Li slowly woke up.
Tao Niang now knew Xiao Li's pitiable background. Her maternal instincts surged, and she said gently, "Your name is Xiao Li, right? Don't be afraid. My name is Tao Niang. I'll help you regain your strength."
Xiao Li blinked her big eyes, looking pitifully at Tao Niang, unable to say a word.
Jian Lin leaned over and saw that Xiao Li's pupils had turned green. They had been golden before. Heh, she was quite good at pretending. Xiao Li was indeed not as guileless as she appeared.
After waking up, Xiao Li ate two fruits and then curled up in Jian Lin's arms to sleep, quiet, well-behaved, and unnoticeable.
In the afternoon, the Demon Lord took Hong Qu out to scout. Jian Lin deliberately avoided Tao Niang, carrying Xiao Li behind a tree. She reached out and pinched Xiao Li's nose, threatening, "Wake up, I have something to say to you."
Xiao Li opened her big cat eyes. In the bright light, her pupils narrowed into thin slits. "Sister A Pei, am I good?"
"Good, keep it up," Jian Lin stroked her head and quickly asked what she wanted to know. "Xiao Li, tell me the truth, what's going on? We have important business tonight. Can I put you back in the treasure box?"
"You can put me back," Xiao Li stuck out her tongue to lick her nose and replied softly, "It's just that after coming out, I sealed the Dragon Pill. Now I'm just a little demon. Being confined for too long will make me uncomfortable. Sister A Pei, remember to let me out when you have time. I'll be fine after a rest."
Jian Lin nodded in understanding and said with a troubled expression, "It's still not ideal. I'll see how it goes. I don't know what we'll be doing tonight. If it's not urgent, stay with me outside. Remember not to approach that man in black. He doesn't like you."
Xiao Li tilted her head, her big eyes slowly blinking. "Really? I feel like he likes me very much."
Jian Lin glanced at her with disdain. "Don't be too confident as a demon."
"It's true," Xiao Li said innocently and romantically. "My eyes are always accurate. I can tell at a glance who likes me and who doesn't, just like I can tell at a glance that Sister A Pei likes me very much."
Of course, who wouldn't love a pitiful little kitten?
Jian Lin rubbed her cat face. "You little thing! I feel like you're playing tricks on me!"
However, Xiao Li lifted her chin, allowing Jian Lin to rub her, even squinting her eyes in comfort.
The Demon Lord returned from scouting and found Jian Lin missing. He became suspicious and quietly went to look for her.
He heard Jian Lin and Xiao Li laughing and talking behind the tree, their voices full of merriment.
The Demon Lord concealed his aura and flashed behind the tree. Jian Lin didn't notice anything amiss. Xiao Li, lying on Jian Lin's lap, suddenly met the man's gaze and froze, unsure of what expression to put on.