The Demon Lord and I: Frenemies - chapter 48

Chapter 48

Chana’s expression changed abruptly after hearing these words. She twisted to the side, narrowly dodging the attack from the bone staff.

Both Demon Cultivators had once served the former Demon Venerable, but now they were at each other’s throats, locked in fierce combat atop the Bone Dragon.

Blood dripped, sand flew. The curved blade gleamed under the sunlight, her soft curls whipped up by the wild wind. After several exchanges, the outcome became clear.

Chana was struck hard by the bone staff. Her hair was disheveled, her appearance wretched, her face pressed forcefully to the ground. In a stiff voice, she said, “I once served your mother…”

Fei Wanghuai lifted his eyelids, glanced at the kneeling Demon Cultivator, and retorted, “So what?”

Faced with absolute strength, the surrounding Demon Cultivators dared not step forward to plead. All watched in shock and uncertainty, including the subordinates Chana had brought.

Seeing his indifference, Chana sensed the killing intent of Bone Elder behind her. She could only squeeze out the honorific from her throat: “Your Highness… must you go this far…”

“If I let you go, I’d be acting like a nauseating Immortal Cultivator, not doing what a Demon Cultivator should.”

“Your Highness is righteous; they are falsely righteous. It’s because they imitate Your Highness that people find it distasteful…” Chana said in panic. “You are the Commander of Demon Cultivators, destined to reclaim Wangchuan River. You decide who lives or dies-why care so much!”

Fei Wanghuai stared at her for a long moment, then said meaningfully, “Indeed, it’s not a lack of perception-just a matter of whether one chooses to use it.”

Chana felt his gaze like a blade and quickly lowered her head in submission, bowing in surrender.

Fei Wanghuai nodded to Bone Elder.

The heavy bone staff was withdrawn. Chana let out a long breath, knowing she had narrowly escaped death, and hurriedly retreated to a corner.

“Let’s go.”

The sinister Bone Dragon surged forward. Fei Wanghuai stood atop its head, his black-blue robe billowing in the wind. Behind him stood the Demon Cultivators, above them the dazzling blood-red sunset, beneath their feet the barren, lifeless desert.

*

There was no sound in her ears, only a sudden sensation of weightlessness, as if falling into a deep abyss of thick mist.

Chu Zaishuang didn’t know where the pillar had dragged her. Her body felt as light as a feather, suddenly losing all sense of perception, and she inexplicably absorbed a strange power.

[It feels like we’re about to reach the bottom!] Xiao Shi chirped in her Sea of Consciousness, equally unsure of where they were falling.

Smoke and dust billowed. Chu Zaishuang landed abruptly on the ground, quickly dusted herself off, and looked around at the dim surroundings. Mysterious ancient script covered the walls, and the pillar’s mural was still beside her, but the image was bizarrely inverted, as if flipped upside down.

She was still inside the tower, but after a careful look at the tower walls, she was certain this wasn’t the one hundred seventy-fifth floor.

She had long since memorized the ancient script on Tongtian Tower’s walls, but now she realized she had never read the content here, which naturally felt strange.

Of course, the most unusual thing was that both she and Xiao Shi had lost their sense of perception.

There was no wind, yet the air was chillingly cold. It felt as if spirits were wandering in the shadows, sending a shiver down her spine.

“Is there really a place like this inside the tower?” Chu Zaishuang rubbed her arms, glanced around, and saw no Red Star River-no wonder the light was so dim. “I don’t remember ever coming here before.”

Logically, she had explored Tongtian Tower thoroughly; there shouldn’t be any place left undiscovered.

[Something’s off here. I can’t sense anything nearby.]

Xiao Shi had always possessed the keen instincts of a beast, sometimes detecting danger behind Chu Zaishuang without her even turning around. But now, it couldn’t sense anything at all, as if an invisible barrier had cut it off, robbing it of its prized observational ability.

Chu Zaishuang cautiously approached the wall, tilting her head to examine the ancient script. She found it no different from the other floors. The script flowing from the Flower Mirror held mysterious power; it didn’t require deliberate study, only needed to circulate in the Sea of Consciousness to become clear text. Only those capable of cultivation could absorb its power.

The Library Pavilion’s spell manuals were compiled by cultivators after reading Tongtian Tower.

Chu Zaishuang hadn’t read the ancient script before her, so she didn’t know what kind of spell it was. Driven by curiosity, she tried circulating the Golden Lightning Technique and the unfamiliar spell in her mind. Suddenly, she sensed spiritual energy pouring into her body, but it wasn’t the usual feeling of Qi Gathering.

Xiao Shi exclaimed in delight: [I think I can sense a little now!]

“This is…”

Chu Zaishuang stared at her right hand in disbelief. A vague premonition arose in her heart. She activated the spell again, and sure enough, she sensed the usually dormant half of her Dao Heart stirring.
On this wall was actually the method for Qi Gathering used by Demon Cultivators!

“We couldn’t sense it earlier because of the Demon Qi nearby?” She turned around in surprise, studying the wall, and exclaimed, “Everything recorded here is related to Demon Cultivation!”

When Chu Zaishuang was young, she had heard that the Flower Mirror was the source of all beings, and had wondered why there were no ancient Demon Cultivator texts inside the tower. Now it seemed that they weren’t absent, but rather hidden away by someone.

Here, the dense Demon Qi concealed everything, making it impossible to probe the surroundings. The reason was that half of her Dao Heart was too weak, and she couldn’t sense freely as she did when cultivating as an Immortal.

Thinking of this, Chu Zaishuang skimmed the ancient texts on the wall at a glance. If she could master the Demon Cultivator method of Qi Gathering, she would likely be able to manipulate Demon Qi at will and easily investigate her surroundings. The Demon Cultivator texts on this floor weren’t particularly difficult; in fact, they resembled the level found at the base of the Tongtian Tower, and she soon grasped them thoroughly.

She immediately sat down cross-legged, gathering Qi and condensing essence like a novice disciple, and for the first time, drew Demon Qi together.

Immortal cultivation emphasizes purity and harmony, while Demon cultivation values freedom and spontaneity. Only when both energies-one rising, one falling-are balanced can true harmony be achieved. She had always lacked one part, but now, as the technique activated, the Yin-Yang Taiji Sphere began to spin, and her Sea of Consciousness suddenly became clear!

Her Dao Heart, always scattered and unstable, now condensed, like someone with only one leg finally standing firmly on two, no longer teetering to keep balance. Golden light flashed, her divine sense sharpened, and a surge of power roared through her organs, a perpetual vortex churning her entire cultivation, bringing an indescribable sense of comfort!

Four Leaves-early stage!

The moment Chu Zaishuang advanced, she sensed it instantly. She noticed there were more floors below and quickly said, “There’s not just one level here…”

This place was just like a normal Tongtian Tower, except the hidden passage led downward, unlike the Immortal cultivation stairs that went up, and the space at the bottom was even larger.

[And it’s not just us.]

Xiao Shi’s reminder startled her, and then she heard a low male voice.

“What are you doing here?”

She turned to look. In the dimness, a faint silver light flickered-Fei Wanghuai’s face was expressionless, his pitch-black eyes fixed on her. Who knew how long he’d been secretly watching!

The person she’d searched for everywhere was unexpectedly here!

Chu Zaishuang thought she’d been caught cultivating as a Demon Cultivator, and nearly jumped out of her skin, her heart pounding wildly. But when she saw it was him, for some reason, she felt half-relieved. Her clear eyes trembled, but she suddenly calmed down and retorted dryly, “…What are you doing here?”

Fei Wanghuai raised his brow at her bold question. “Can you answer me first, before you ask me?”

She replied bluntly, “No.”

“…”

The two fell silent at the same time, locked in a standoff, staring each other down.

After returning from outside the island, Fei Wanghuai had sensed something unusual as soon as he entered the tower. Unable to use Boundless Reach continuously, he had to proceed cautiously to investigate. Unexpectedly, he found her alone facing the tower wall, seemingly reading the ancient texts. Those were basic Demon Cultivator Qi Gathering methods, which he no longer needed to study, so he’d never paid them any mind.

He hadn’t expected her to stumble in by accident, but since only the two of them could reach the upper levels of the Tongtian Tower, it wasn’t that surprising.

He had to admit, discovering that the intruder was her made his tense nerves relax a little. Especially since her tone was still rebellious and she showed no suspicion toward him, he became more convinced she knew nothing.

At this moment, Chu Zaishuang was also uneasy. After all, he was sharp and suspicious, not easy to fool, and might interrogate her. Rarely, she couldn’t read anything from his face. Suddenly, her nose twitched, catching a faint scent of blood, and she asked, “Are you injured?”

Fei Wanghuai wasn’t injured; it was blood from another Demon Cultivator. He hadn’t expected her to be so perceptive-he’d even changed clothes, yet she still noticed. His heart raced, but he feigned calm and replied stiffly, “I was cultivating in the tower, accidentally broke through an illusion, and got a minor injury when I was pulled in.”

Anyway, she hadn’t seen him break the formation, nor was there anywhere to verify it.

“When you fell, did anything happen?” Fei Wanghuai looked her up and down, his tense features softening. “Your cultivation isn’t high, and with Demon Qi all around, you might be affected.”

Chu Zaishuang saw his face full of concern, surprised that this place was actually quite dangerous. She froze for a moment, then quickly answered, “I wasn’t injured, just couldn’t sense my surroundings, so I had to stay put…”
Of course, she could now sense her surroundings. With a simple introduction to demon cultivation, the situation nearby had become clear to her.

But this was something she couldn’t tell him.

Fei Wanghuai said, “This is Demon Qi suppressed by the Tongtian Tower. Immortal Cultivators naturally can’t probe it. I only fell in by accident. I didn’t expect the pillar would be used for this. It must have been sealed here by a High-Level Cultivator from the sect.”

Chu Zaishuang replied, “Oh-so that’s how it is.”

Hearing her response, Fei Wanghuai suddenly turned to look at her, his fingertips tightening slightly around the Silver Fan.

Chu Zaishuang, stared at by him, silently met his gaze, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Ever since they’d met, their exchanges had always been sharp and combative, back and forth until an argument broke out. This was the first time a few words led to an awkward silence. The air grew tense, palms grew sweaty, and their flickering gazes seemed to search each other for something unknown.

“You’re acting strange today. Suddenly so quiet.” Fei Wanghuai lowered his lashes, leaned in to study her closely, the blue gem at his neck glinting as he spoke casually, “You seem pretty nervous.”

Shouldn’t she be chattering away, spinning around in this place, curiously asking about everything?

Chu Zaishuang’s scalp tingled. She met his deep, water-like eyes, knowing she couldn’t look away now, and replied nonchalantly, “You’re the strange one today. Suddenly so talkative, and you seem even more nervous.”

He never explained his motives, nor did he bother with unnecessary details. Now he was telling her how he’d ended up here-clearly out of character.

Fei Wanghuai’s brows twitched. He stepped forward, declaring, “You’re nervous.”

But she answered calmly, “No, you’re nervous.”

“You’re more nervous.”

“You’re the one who’s more nervous.”

Normally, one of them would have backed down by now. But today, both harbored secrets, their usual judgment lost, tangled thoughts driving them to compete as if only by gaining the upper hand could they clear themselves of suspicion.

They drew closer, staring into each other’s eyes, half interrogating, half debating, a torrent of emotions flickering in their exchanged glances.

Bright eyes, pounding hearts, hands clenched tight-each with their own worries. It felt as if whoever backed down first would be crushed by the looming life-or-death crisis, leaving only the electric panic racing through their veins, their breaths growing slightly hurried.

Face to face, there was no intimacy, yet the ever-shrinking distance made their warm breaths mingle, lightly brushing across their cheeks, making the other’s presence undeniably real.

Chu Zaishuang faced the handsome youth in white, glaring back with reckless abandon, refusing to admit defeat, her acting skills at their peak-calm as a mountain even in the face of disaster.

Fei Wanghuai, stared at so intently, was initially on guard, but the breath tinged with a subtle fragrance swept over him-a faint scent of osmanthus. The icy armor around him seemed to crack, letting in a sudden spring warmth. He realized they were standing too close, close enough to see her eyelashes clearly, and the smudge of dust on her cheek, probably from the fall.

Her eyes blazed with vitality, almost scorching, forcing him to look away.

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he awkwardly said, “We’re too close…”

Seeing him retreat, she was overjoyed, and pressed her advantage by stepping forward, her voice ringing out, “You’re flustered, you’re even more nervous!”

Her demon cultivation hadn’t been exposed-now it was his turn to falter!

Fei Wanghuai hadn’t expected her to be so bold. He was already turning to leave, yet she dared to chase after him, refusing to back down. Embarrassed and annoyed, he denied flatly, “I’m not flustered.”

At least not about the island incident.

But she pressed on, “You lost, you’re nervous, you must have a guilty conscience!”

…

Provoked by her words, Fei Wanghuai grew even more frustrated, so he simply turned around and reached out to her.

His fingertips brushed her cheek, leaving a lingering warmth on her skin, like a pebble dropped into a pond, sending ripples across the surface.

She had been gleefully pressing him, but now her heart skipped, and she fell silent, witnessing the once aloof youth’s eyes shining at the corners, his expression a mix of exasperation and amusement, full of gentle tolerance.

He wiped the dust from her face and scolded with a smile, “Dirty rascal.”