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--- Chapter 287 ---
The Demon Imperial City recovered its calmness.
The invaders, Heavenly Kings, and Three Foolish Oxens have fallen on the battlefield, slayed by Huan Caiyi, Yun Canghai, and Chu Yuechan.
For Huan Caiyi's faction, this was such joyous news and development.
On the other hand, the Duka Huai Faction experienced grim events one after another.
Duke Huai Faction's members who didn't die in the Demon Imperial Hall were quickly thrown into prison cells, awaiting the inevitable demise like Duke Huai and Duke Ming.
Surprisingly enough, Duke Huai and Duke Ming were still alive, despite their crippling injuries.
Well, they couldn't die until they paid for their sins.
Although Yun Qinghong and Yun Canghai were more than happy to kill the 'villainous' father-son duo, they knew only Huan Caiyi had the authority to end both Dukes.
Of course, this doesn't stop Yun Canghai (after waking up) from stabbing here and there on Duke Ming's body. After all, it was due to Duke Ming's scheme that he lost his 11 Yun Family's Guardian Elders and the Demon Emperor.
Those eleven Guardian Elders are the Yun Family's pillars of support, and their over a century of absence has pushed the Yun Family to the brink of destruction!
If Yu Long hadn't come to the Heavenly Sword Villa to watch the Blue Wind Tournament and saved Yun Canghai from that god-forsaken sealing array, the Yun Family might have ended this year.
Of course, being tsundere that he was, Yun Canghai won't admit it. He'd rather fight the Scorpion-tailed Demon King again.
...
...
The Next Day.
Demon Imperial Palace, Royal Bedroom.
Huan Caiyi slowly opened her eyes and saw the familiar ceiling entering her blurry sight. She breathed in, clenching and unclenching her slightly strange hand.
She felt remarkably comfortable. Heavy weight lifted off her shoulders, easing her mind and body.
"What happened?"
"After using Berserk Level 2, I passed out..."
"But I did hear Yu Long's voice."
"Did he bring me back here?"
"I did." A voice brushed Huan Caiyi's left ear.
Huan Caiyi hurriedly sprawled on the bed like a shocked cat. She sat on the bed and saw Yu Long on a chair nearby, reading a book and sipping warm wine.
"Good evening, Caiyi." Yu Long closed the book and smiled at the Little Demon-! No, She's a genuine Demon Empress now.
Even then, Huan Caiyi looks charming right now. Her face flushed as she tried to cover her body with the wrinkled quilt.
Huan Caiyi coughed awkwardly, "Yes..."
"What happened to the Heavenly King of Stone and that creature?"
"They died."
"Really?"
"Mm. Yun Canghai defeated the cow, then another monster came, and Yuechan slayed it with her sword."
Huan Caiyi kept asking, "How is Yun Canghai's condition?"
Yu Long put on a playful look because Huan Caiyi really cherished her loyal subordinate. Well, that's how a good leader should be.
"He's fine. That Old Man ruptured nearly all his muscle fibers, cracked his ribs, and suffered many internal injuries, but he was still kicking alive."
"With the medicines I gave, he can heal himself and recover in a few days."
"That's good, that's good." Huan Caiyi mumbled the words twice, finding relief. To her, Yun Canghai is her capable right-hand man, and losing him means crippling herself and the Illusory Demon Realm.
Yu Long chuckled, "Aren't you curious about your own situation, Caiyi?"
"Well, I do feel a bit uneasy..." Huan Caiyi replied. She felt her body lighter and warmer than before.
"That's because your Evergreen Immortal Physique and Impure Golden Crow's bloodline achieved a near-perfect harmony, allowing the former to grow... And the latter to purify itself." Yu Long pointed at Huan Caiyi's forehead.
There is a flame mark on Huan Caiyi's forehead, looking like a mighty golden sun.
Huan Caiyi's eyes widened as she rubbed her forehead. As her finger traced the sun mark, she could also sense her bloodline warming up in delight.
"Unfortunately, you can't achieve the perfect harmony." Yu Long sighed at Huan Caiyi's fate. "If you sleep for a few weeks longer, you might achieve it."
"But then I can't govern the Illusory Demon Realm." Haun Caiyi realized Yu Long's dilemma. As the Demon Empress, she has responsibility over her subjects.
Not to mention, Huan Caiyi just reclaimed her rightful position with the Demon Emperor's Seal. She couldn't possibly stay away from it for nearly a month.
The state of Illusory Demon Realm is far from stable.
Why can't Yu Long take over Huan Caiyi's position while she is hibernating?
Shortly put, Yu Long was busy. And Huan Caiyi knew that.
Let alone the Heavenly Demon Cult, Huan Caiyi already learned that Yu Long has more responsibility over many things than her empire.
Given how messy the possibility of invasion is, Yu Long can't busy himself with other stuff. He also has his own priorities and training to become stronger.
Huan Caiyi gently stared at Yu Long, "It's fine. I understand your decision."
Huan Caiyi wasn't your typical woman. She wasn't unreasonable.
"So, what will happen to me now?" Huan Caiyi asked, putting down her quilt.
Yu Long smiled, "You will be fine. Although you can't achieve perfect harmony, it will eventually happen but slower..."
"It's not entirely flawed, considering you can still get an even more powerful and purer bloodline of the Golden Crow."
"After this, you wanted to visit that place, right?"
Huan Caiyi got what Yu Long meant and nodded, "Ah, yes. I was planning to visit the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley. Well, after stabilizing the situation."
"Give me a few hours." She stood up, but her knees buckled due to the sudden change in physique.
She fell straight onto Yu Long's chest, planting cherry lips on his lips.
Yu Long couldn't believe this. His eyelid lowered as he tasted Huan Caiyi's sweetness.
It was just a fraction of a second, but it felt like forever for them. The world stopped, leaving a rapidly beating heart and calm golden eyes.
Huan Caiyi swiftly took herself from Yu Long's lap and landed on the floor with a blushed face. She hasn't touched a man for over a hundred years now, and this is awakening the maiden in her heart.
She stammered, "I-I... I'm sorry, that was a coincidence."
"I will compensate you in some way."
Yu Long chuckled, "And how would you like to repay me? With another kiss?"
Hearing Yu Long's playful remark, Huan Caiyi was grateful he wasn't mad at her for coincidently pushing that boundary. Even though they were engaged, Huan Caiyi didn't expect Yu Long to open his heart to her.
Huan Caiyi thought she would need a lot of time, possibly years, to grasp what man Yu Long was.
"Y-You're not angry?"
Yu Long shrugged, "I don't lack anything, Caiyi."
"I have countless women on my side, so one more won't make the difference."
"Still, you gave me quite a surprise earlier..."
"I see..." Huan Caiyi mumbled to herself.
She steeled her resolve and said, "Give me a few hours, and we will visit the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley immediately."
"Okay, just don't push yourself too hard." Yu Long waved his hand as he watched Huan Caiyi vanish from the room.
Her once bright red face flashed in Yu Long's mind.
Yu Long laughed a little, tracing his lips with a hint of delight. "Caiyi, Caiyi..."
"What should I do with you?"
...