When the Deer Demon finally finished its impassioned grand plan to seize the city...
The Old Scarlet Flood Dragon took a deep breath.
The expression in its vertical pupils was quite complex.
How should it explain this to this deer?
That Your Highness the Demon Emperor you speak of, with Divine Might that shakes the world and lasts for a thousand autumns...
Is not a demon at all.
She is the Grand Princess of Great Tang.
This city...
Is her home.
The Old Scarlet Flood Dragon opened its mouth but ultimately didn't say the words.
It wasn't that it didn't want to speak.
But before Your Highness gave the word, it wasn't right for it to make decisions on her behalf.
If this deer found out the truth and exploded, fled, or went mad on the spot, it would be somewhat difficult to handle.
Thinking of this...
The Old Scarlet Flood Dragon stood up and walked past Jade Dust the Demon Emperor with an expressionless face: "Why investigate so much? Your Highness will naturally tell you in the future. Just stay in this manor peacefully... Don't touch a single person in the city, and don't ask about things regarding Your Highness that you shouldn't ask."
"Otherwise, it's you who will die."
Jade Dust the Demon Emperor froze in place.
How did the conversation suddenly turn to death?
It looked back at the Old Scarlet Flood Dragon's retreating figure, suddenly feeling like it had missed some extremely crucial piece of information.
...
Imperial City.
On the palace paths, the Eunuch Attendants were sweeping the corridors with lowered heads and submissive eyes; everything was just like usual.
Until an attendant hurriedly ran into the hall.
"Your Majesty, the Grand Princess is back!"
The Emperor looked up abruptly and said in surprise: "When did she arrive?"
"Just now... She is currently outside the palace gates."
Before the attendant could finish...
The Emperor had already stood up.
Two memorials fell to the ground, but he didn't care to pick them up.
He strode toward the outside of the hall with large steps.
The accompanying Old Eunuch hurriedly followed.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, please slow down..."
How could the Emperor listen?
He reached the porch of the front hall before his steps finally slowed a bit.
It wasn't that he was tired from walking.
But rather, he saw that figure.
At the end of the palace path.
The young girl was in black robes, her steps composed.
The Emperor stood under the porch, his gaze lingering on her face for a long time.
Then he quickly stepped forward to meet her.
"Why didn't you send word in advance? I could have sent people to receive you."
Jiang Yuechu raised her eyes.
"Receive what... It's not like I can't walk."
The Emperor was choked by her words.
He looked at his sister's expressionless face, and the words of concern at the tip of his tongue were forced back down.
Forget it.
This girl's temper, he didn't know who she took after.
Just like a stubborn donkey.
"Come in."
He waved his hand, dismissed the attendants, and led Jiang Yuechu into the side hall.
Only one cup of tea remained in the hall.
The Emperor personally poured a cup and pushed it in front of Jiang Yuechu.
Jiang Yuechu wasn't polite either.
She picked it up and downed it in one gulp.
As she put down the cup, she flipped her wrist.
A bulging Storage Pouch landed on the table.
The Emperor looked at the Storage Pouch with no expression on his face.
But his fingers under the table tightened slightly.
Like this again.
Every time she came back, it was like this.
Dropping a Storage Pouch filled with Medicinal Pills, spiritual ores, and Magical Artifacts obtained from who knows where.
The Emperor reached out and picked up the Storage Pouch, but didn't open it immediately.
He just looked up at the exceptionally beautiful yet slightly weary face opposite him.
"Nickname."
"Mm."
"This time... was it smooth?"
Jiang Yuechu held her second cup of tea and tilted her head upon hearing this.
"It was alright."
Alright.
The Emperor chewed over these two words in his heart.
Last time was also alright.
The time before that was also alright.
He knew his sister too well.
What was "alright" in her mouth would likely be described as a narrow escape from death by anyone else.
The hall fell silent for a short while.
Jiang Yuechu put down the empty cup and suddenly spoke.
"Imperial Brother, I might have to leave for a while later."
"How long?"
Jiang Yuechu thought for a moment: "Not sure... maybe a few months, maybe longer."
"Where to?"
"..."
Jiang Yuechu did not answer.
After waiting for a few breaths, the Emperor saw she had no intention of speaking, so he didn't press further.
He slowly leaned back in his chair, his gaze falling on the Storage Pouch on the table.
He was silent for a long time.
"Lonely Moon."
"Mm."
"Be careful on the road."
"Got it."
The words were so brief they were almost bland.
But everything that needed to be said was within them.
Jiang Yuechu stood up.
No extra pleasantries, no parting instructions.
She just nodded slightly and turned to walk toward the hall door.
The Emperor sat in his place, watching that Figure in Black walk further and further away, not moving for a long time.
Once upon a time, he always thought of bringing the best things in the world to this sister.
To let her food, clothing, and lifestyle be the best in the world.
To let her never suffer another grievance, never have to look at anyone's face again.
But now...
The Emperor gave a self-deprecating smile.
This vast Dynasty, this beautiful land, actually had to rely on such a slender figure to protect it.
He stood up, walked to the window, and pushed it open.
In the distance, the sound of a bell came, distant and long.
"Great Tang... also needs to work harder..."
...
When she returned to the manor, hot water was already prepared.
Washing away the dust of travel, she casually changed into a loose black robe, her long hair unbundled and draped over her shoulders.
The manor was quiet.
Having nothing to do, she pulled out a few volumes of mountains and rivers gazetteers sent by the Demon Suppression Division from her Storage Pouch and forced herself to read them.
The writing was dull, far less satisfying than killing people.
Just as she felt her eyelids getting heavy, the ancient plaza in her mind began to flicker violently without warning.
This familiar feeling...
Jiang Yuechu immediately tossed the book at her feet, sat cross-legged on the bed, and immersed her mind.
In the Martial Arts Arena, light and shadow intertwined, and the noisy roars of thousands of demon souls fell into dead silence at this moment.
[Deduction Complete]
[Gathering the strengths of all demons, merging the insights of ten thousand methods, removing the dross and keeping the essence, finally obtaining a Great Dao technique]
As the characters slowly dissipated.
Another line of small characters appeared.
[Deduction materials for this session: "Great Derivation Pure Yang Supreme Chess Condensation Record", "Great Dream Spring and Autumn Chess Condensation Art", "Dragon Transformation Scripture", "Seven Whites Body Breaking Method"...]
The next moment.
A large amount of memory flooded into her brain.
"Fuck."
Entering so directly again... leaving no room for a buffer at all.
Immediately following.
A line of brand-new large golden characters unfolded thunderously in the depths of her Spiritual Terrace.
["Suppressing Hell and Subduing Evil Chess Condensation Chapter" (Not yet initiated)]
[Suppressing Hell and Subduing Evil: Using the body as the chessboard, taking ten thousand methods as pieces, deducing the changes of the heavens, and determining the order of the universe.]
Jiang Yuechu let out a long breath of turbid Qi.
Subconsciously opening her collar a bit, she let the night breeze blow in.
She calculated silently in her heart.
The method of Condensing the Chess Piece is already in hand.
The object of dao integration, also present.
Everything is ready.
Jiang Yuechu slowly stood up and walked to the window.
She looked at the ordinary scenery outside the window, and in her pitch-black eyes, a flicker of unprecedented fire ignited.
Today...
I step into the realm of the Chess Player.