Chapter 30: The Demon Lord’s Peculiar Tastes

A demonic cultivator at the Golden Core stage was, without question, a pillar of immense power in the Southern Border, their hands stained with tens of thousands of lives, if not more.

It was only because this demon lord had been surprisingly affable that she had overlooked his true nature; now, Bai Jiaojiao no longer dared to regard him with anything less than utmost caution.

Just observing this bound immortaless, Bai Jiaojiao wondered what unspeakable torment she had endured for her face to bear such an expression of utter despair. She looked utterly broken, as if her spirit had shattered.

A faint smile played on Su Qin’s lips as he savored the moment, gently kneading Zhao Shuyun’s soft, slender waist. In truth, he was subtly channeling life energy into her.

Immortal Lingtai, still reeling from the array’s effects, was suddenly overwhelmed by the surge of life energy. She let out a muffled groan before succumbing to unconsciousness.

Bai Jiaojiao’s young mind was profoundly shaken; Su Qin’s voice, a sinister whisper, seemed to echo the devil’s own.

“Once she falls into my grasp,” he murmured, “she will endure a fate worse than death, just like her. This torment will cling to her for the remainder of her existence.”

“Until she is utterly transformed into my plaything,” he continued, “she will bear a mark belonging solely to me.”

Bai Jiaojiao’s small hands trembled faintly. She finally understood why her mother had warned her that the pleasures of men and women could drag one down to the depths of hell.

The immortaless’s shattered expression served as undeniable proof: anyone who fell into this demon lord’s clutches would undoubtedly be utterly ruined!

“You—you shameless, depraved demon lord!”

Though her words were sharp and furious, Bai Jiaojiao’s body, however, wisely retreated a few steps from him.

Su Qin, unhurried and composed, gently rearranged Immortal Lingtai’s disheveled form and smoothed her scattered hair.

“Miss Phantom Thief,” he purred, “did you know that while those voluptuous older sisters are appealing, your petite stature also greatly appeals to me?”

“Get lost, you pervert!”

Bai Jiaojiao retreated several more steps. Yet, her gaze still darted towards him from the corner of her eye, a faint smile playing on the demon lord’s lips.

There was a perverse delight in scaring children; a few simple words were all it took to make them believe.

Unlike Qi Shuyue, if Su Qin were to tease her in such a manner, she would likely grasp his intentions instantly. She would then devise a myriad of cunning methods to flirt back, perhaps even turning the tables on him.

Gu Yuhe, her face flushed, nervously tugged at the corner of Su Qin’s robe. Her voice was timid and hesitant, and her eyes, unable to meet his, darted uncomfortably elsewhere.

“Ma… Master,” she stammered, “you said you prefer the smaller ones, so… what about your disciple?”

Su Qin paused, a hint of surprise in his expression. His large hand gently stroked her head, and the young girl closed her eyes, reveling in the touch with a look of pure contentment. Simultaneously, she nestled into his embrace, gently nuzzling his midsection.

“Speak no more of this,” he said softly. “Yuhe, simply focus on your cultivation.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Yuhe’s expression stiffened, and she lowered her head.

Why? Why did he seem to desire Bai Jiaojiao but not her? Even the woman lying on the ground, Master had taken her without hesitation.

Why was she the only one he seemed to reject…

In such moments, one instinctively seeks out variables. Gu Yuhe’s gaze swept over Immortal Lingtai’s alluring form on the ground, then meticulously observed Bai Jiaojiao.

Though Bai Jiaojiao was even smaller in stature than Gu Yuhe, she was heavier than her, more substantial in all the right places.

She cast a forlorn glance down at her own ‘flat’ chest.

Gu Yuhe’s eyes instantly grew distant, almost hollow. Su Qin inexplicably felt a sudden chill, but he dismissed it, not dwelling on it further.

“Hey, demon lord,” Bai Jiaojiao piped up, “you just mentioned this array has an aphrodisiac effect. Then why weren’t you affected?”

Bai Jiaojiao, sharp-witted and astute, immediately pinpointed the flaw in his logic. Su Qin, with a proud tilt of his head, declared it as an undisputed truth:

“Heh heh, this demon lord is a being who has transcended vulgar desires, utterly devoid of carnal lust, a truly pure individual.”

Bai Jiaojiao nodded, though a flicker of doubt remained in her eyes. In Gu Yuhe’s eyes, the darkness intensified by a shade.

‘Liar,’ Gu Yuhe thought. ‘Master’s gaze, when it fell upon that ‘ding-dong’ (TL Note: A colloquial term, here used to imply an object of desire or a ‘toy’) on the ground and then on Bai Jiaojiao, clearly held a flicker of lust.’

‘Yet, when his eyes met hers, there was nothing.’

Gu Yuhe instantly recalled the past few days, when Su Qin had occasionally cast her presumptuous glances. It was a pity so profound it felt deeply, agonizingly hurtful.

‘Heh heh, Master is truly a picky eater.’

‘I will make my move. I will ensure that Master’s eyes see only me, not those selfish senior sisters. Little Lei is your future…’

“Then you, demon lord, are quite formidable indeed.”

Bai Jiaojiao offered an unconscious compliment. Su Qin, upon hearing this, proudly lifted his chin, for the demon lord adored being praised, being lauded.

Such heartfelt commendation made him instinctively straighten his posture; he was truly a sucker for it.

During their last drinking session, Qi Shuyue’s words had flowed like honey. She had seized the opportunity to lavish him with fervent praise, and it was precisely this that had made him drink with such abandon.

However, Su Qin raised an eyebrow. ‘This spirited girl’s praise,’ he mused, ‘doesn’t quite match Qi Shuyue’s lavishness.’

‘You simply don’t offer the same comfort as she does.’

Unbeknownst to Su Qin, he had already, without realizing it, fallen into the intricate web woven by Qi Shuyue. He was on the verge of becoming her plaything, manipulated with effortless ease.

All he desired now was to conclude the matter at hand, to hasten back and recount his amusing exploits of the night to her, and to bask in a few more of her compliments.

With roughly an hour and a half remaining until sunrise, Su Qin once again donned his mask. The two figures in the valley were still locked in a fierce, inseparable struggle.

***

A flicker of something unusual crossed Su Qin’s eyes. He had to intervene.

“Yuhe,” he commanded, “take this captive back to the dungeon. Remember to strip her of all her magical artifacts.”

Su Qin turned his head, casting a pointed glance at Bai Jiaojiao, who still hadn’t departed.

“Woman,” he stated, his voice firm, “I command you to leave this place within three minutes. There’s a limit to spectating. Do not presume you can forever bask in this lord’s indulgence.”

With his words delivered, Su Qin leaped. The roots of the Innate Companion Spirit Wood had already spread throughout the entire valley.

Rather than employing flight techniques, he deftly stepped onto the protruding spirit wood roots, leaping and maneuvering with surprising agility.

Gao Pei’s bone soldiers now lay scattered across the ground. Qi He’s sword, its light considerably dimmed. Both men were still desperately attempting to ‘sword fight’.

He had to intervene. Regardless of the reason, he could not simply stand by and watch them continue their struggle.

Su Qin’s eyes sharpened. Several spirit wood arrows materialized around him, and vines, drawing power from the Innate Companion Spirit Wood, coiled and then flung them forward in unison.

In this current battle, where spiritual power was largely abandoned for crude, physical ‘sword fighting,’ the Golden Core-infused wooden arrows were more than enough to pierce them like sieves.

However, just as the wooden arrows were on the verge of striking, the figures of the two men suddenly shimmered, becoming somewhat illusory. A chorus of sinister laughter echoed from behind Su Qin.

“Hahaha, as expected, you wouldn’t let us off! Then prepare to die!”

So that was it. Su Qin understood.

The Immortal Slaying Array could indeed be exploited by its personality-amplifying effects. Just as when Su Qin had first rescued Zhao Shuyun, he had remained remarkably calm.

This was because his demonic nature had been amplified, granting him an overwhelming advantage; he had become exceptionally cautious and composed.

Correspondingly, these two Golden Core powerhouses were likely to recover their composure swiftly, experiencing little panic.

Once calm, they would undoubtedly realize something was amiss, discerning that the enigmatic merchant was orchestrating a scheme. Even if they fought to the death, they would most likely perish at the merchant’s hands.

The primal urge for survival overcame their fear, prompting the two to form an alliance.

A chilling, terrifying surge of malevolent energy hurtled directly towards Su Qin’s face. Qi He’s frigid, shimmering precious sword seemed poised to pierce his chest in the very next instant.

Yet, Su Qin remained utterly unfazed, standing like a living, towering demon, calmly looking down upon the two.

Just moments ago, the Immortal Slaying Array seemed to have undergone a subtle change; Su Qin distinctly felt his divine soul leap to a higher level.

Though temporary, his divine soul had now completely merged with this body.