The Great King Ordered Me to Marry – Chapter 7
by Little PandaSpeaking of the Demon Lord Wanting to Catch Trespassers
Lingkong Mountain was wreathed in guests. Palanquins flew in from every direction, dense as flocks of birds and schools of fish, converging on the summit like stars around the moon.
Demons laughed and chattered in a boisterous din. Those who recognized each other shared a glance, then walked arm in arm toward the main peak, all striding with vigorous steps and radiant spirits.
The palanquins, formed from birds, beasts, clouds, and mist, dissolved into nothing in the blink of an eye, leaving only their demon attendants waiting in place.
Zhuoxue carried the tray of tea and wine, following the crowd of demons inside with bold, unhurried steps. The gate guards caught sight of the Entry-Exit Token on the wooden tray and didn’t give her a second glance, hurrying instead to squeeze out smiles and inspect the invitations presented by distinguished guests.
The main peak was even more bustling. Demons gathered in great numbers, and every seat in the mountain was filled.
Zhuoxue had never seen anything like this. The demons she’d encountered today outnumbered all those she’d seen in her dozen-plus years combined.
She set down the tea and wine wherever was convenient, tucked away the token, and followed the crowd at a leisurely amble, musing that the Demon Lord of Cangqiong Mountain Realm ought to be just ahead.
Everything had its proper order of priority. She couldn’t just show her face and immediately rush over to pat the tiger’s backside.
She’d spent days staring at that portrait. She was simply too curious—how closely could a painting resemble the tiger demon herself?
Some lesser demons were clearing a path for their lords, and with a sweep of the arm, shoved her aside.
The fox was crammed among the crowd—couldn’t even see who had shoved her. But come to think of it, she had no right to be angry.
Other demons’ masters held exalted positions. She was just a little fox from Qiufeng Ridge—what business did she have taking offense?
Demons surrounded her on all sides, which suited her perfectly for concealment. She followed along, stopping and starting, until she’d been standing still so long she simply rose on her toes to peer ahead.
She saw lesser demons lingering outside the hall entrance, while the great demons strode inside with formidable presence and grand authority.
She couldn’t get into the main hall—she could only steal a glance inside.
Demonic aura surged skyward within the hall. All who had come were demons of formidable power. Even approaching one step closer, one could feel an overwhelming pressure.
That pressure formed a barrier of sorts, forcibly keeping the lesser demons out. One demon who was accidentally shoved toward it was struck by the pressure and immediately collapsed to the ground, trembling and crying out in pain.
Zhuoxue stared, dumbfounded. Even when Lan Hui struck her with the Disciplinary Ruler, she’d never hurt like that.
So many—such a great number of powerful great demons gathered here. It seemed the tiger demon’s prestige was undiminished. Even without Wugou Stream, she could still command willing submission.
She mused that in the demon realm, the only ones who might be displeased with the master of this place were the usurping Nightmare Tribe.
So the tiger demon must be inside the hall too, right?
Zhuoxue hadn’t yet found where the white tiger was when a patrol small demon beside her braved the pressure and dashed into the hall.
His expression was panicked, as if something terrible had happened. Once inside, he dropped to his knees trembling, straining with all his might to keep his back somewhat straight.
The clamor in the hall ceased abruptly. The demon lords slightly reined in their demonic aura and looked in unison at the kneeling demon.
With so many demon lords present, it was unclear at first which one the little demon was kneeling before.
One demon lord scoffed. “Friends, do step aside. This is Lingkong Mountain’s Patrol Guard—don’t let others mistake this for a change of ownership in Cangqiong Mountain Realm.”
With those words, the great demons standing in a cluster parted, and the Bone Throne that had been hidden behind them for so long was finally revealed.
The Demon Lord of Cangqiong Mountain Realm leaned against the beast-skin-draped Bone Throne. Her expression was tranquil and remote—not like these towering mountains, not like the vast blue sky, not like three feet of ice in a winter abyss.
Her stillness was that of a hunter concealing murderous intent, certain of her prey.
She truly did look like the portrait. Over her garments she wore a black cloak with a white fur collar, beneath it a silk skirt patterned with ink-wash landscapes, and beneath her eyes were those eerie black markings—beautiful in an almost tyrannical way, like a honed, razor-sharp hook, seizing every eye in the hall.
But this silk skirt was more mystical than in the painting. It shimmered with light, clearly concealing infinite magical power.
And her figure was fuller and more beautiful than in the portrait, as if through this tall human form one could glimpse the agile, powerful true form of the white tiger.
“How is it?” Longming cast a sidelong glance, her gaze like a feint, drifting past in a single sweep—looking at demons, yet seeming not to truly see them.
Her voice was deep but not hoarse, as melodious as a mountain oriole.
Zhuoxue hadn’t experienced much of the world. At most, she could only compare it to the hot tea streaming from a teapot spout in the town’s teahouse—low in tone, yet so pleasing to the ear.
The little demon gasped for breath, stammering, “Reporting to the Demon Lord—it seems, it seems… someone without an invitation has breached the main peak!”
But wasn’t Zhuoxue exactly that—someone without an invitation? For a moment, her whole body went rigid. She immediately thought of the demon who’d given her the token.
They’d had an agreement. How could he turn around and sell her out?
At Qiufeng Ridge, Lishu had sold her out to Lan Hui. Now she’d come to Lingkong Mountain—how could she repeat the same mistake?
No. That wasn’t right. Listen more!
“‘Seems?'” Longming sat up straight. Her silver hair, threaded with a few black strands, fell from her shoulders like mountain spring water. “I only accept definite reports. Don’t come see me before you’ve investigated clearly.”
Zhuoxue’s heart leaped. This tiger demon was quite overbearing—clearly not easy to deal with.
The little demon shivered, bowing his head. “The demon’s power is formidable. They broke through the Maze Array at the foot of the mountain, and we cannot find any trace of them! The Maze Array is destroyed and cannot be restored anytime soon.”
“Where is Chunxi?” Longming tilted her head slightly, her gaze slanting toward an empty space.
On the ground, a shadow slowly condensed into the shape of a leopard, then transformed into a beautiful woman—this was Chunxi, whom the Demon Lord had just named.
“This subordinate receives orders.” Chunxi cupped her hands in salute.
“Capture the trespassers alive. Not a single one escapes.” Longming issued the command.
The newly formed woman instantly turned into black wind, whirling out the door with violent force.
Zhuoxue, lingering by the entrance, had meant to dodge but was startled by a cry of “Hey!” and was a beat too slow. The black wind knocked her flat to the ground.
Inside the hall, the demons parted to both sides, and Longming’s gaze swept out unobstructed, landing squarely on the fox.
The white fox nearly thought she’d been caught red-handed. She sat on the ground in a daze, coming face to face with the demon lord on the Bone Throne.
Fortunately, the black smoke didn’t seize her—it shrieked past, heading down the mountain.
Like a cold, deep pool—this gaze was so arrogant, utterly without warmth.
Zhuoxue looked at the Demon Lord of Cangqiong Mountain Realm in the hall, unable to look away for a long moment. She was pinned by those sharp, fathomless eyes, struck by their authority.
Inside and outside the hall, all was silent. The lesser demons held their breath, certain the fox had affronted the Demon Lord and was about to be put to death.
The fox genuinely couldn’t fathom why Longming was staring at her so unblinkingly. Did this demon look at everyone with such intensity?
How terrifying!
Fortunately, a great demon inside the hall spoke, breaking the silence. “No matter. Let’s not let this spoil our spirits. I only wonder which demon is so brazen as to dare trespass.”
Longming looked away.
The little demon who’d cried “Hey!” stumbled over and pulled Zhuoxue up from the ground.
A lesser demon was still a lesser demon—he dared not linger before the hall. He half-dragged, half-pulled Zhuoxue to the side, then held out his palm. “My token.”
Zhuoxue snapped back to her senses. Recalling the Demon Lord’s expression moments ago, a chill ran through her. She quickly fished the token from her sleeve and smiled. “Thank you, Good Jiejie.”
The little demon looked a bit sheepish, accepting the token with a shy fidget. Then he glanced around. “Did you find your master?”
Zhuoxue pointed vaguely toward the hall entrance. “Inside. I didn’t dare go in.”
“Ah, you can’t go in—all the demon lords from all directions are in there.” The little demon pulled a pear from his robes and pressed it into her hands. “Since your master is busy, go amuse yourself. The pears on Lingkong Mountain are sweet. Try one.”
Zhuoxue didn’t like pears—she wanted meat. But the pear was already thrust into her arms, and how could she refuse? She used the opening to probe indirectly. “You’re so kind, Jiejie. I wonder how long the demon lords will stay in the hall. What’s this All-Demons Banquet for, anyway? It’s my first time.”
The little demon scratched his head. “I figure the demon lords will chat a while and then come out. Our Demon Lord hosts this banquet to make friends, nothing else.”
“So it’s not a marriage alliance.” Zhuoxue muttered, “Or could it be a matchmaking event?”
The little demon quickly clapped a hand over her mouth. “Since the Nightmare Tribe took the throne, you’d have to go back a hundred years to find an inter-clan marriage in the demon realm—how do you not know this!”
Zhuoxue grumbled inwardly. It was because Qiufeng Ridge was so isolated, and Lan Hui never told her anything.
The little demon glanced behind him, then spoke behind a raised hand. “The Nightmare Tribe works to weaken all factions, fearing for their position. Wugou Stream has forbidden inter-clan marriages among demon clans for a long time.”
Zhuoxue hadn’t expected the Nightmare Tribe to be so calculating. By that logic, Lan Hui wasn’t exactly a rule-follower—she’d once tried to form a marriage alliance with Lingkong Mountain.
Then a thought struck her, and she lowered her voice. “Then how does the Nightmare Tribe tolerate Lingkong Mountain hosting a banquet? Shouldn’t they stop it?”
“Our Demon Lord was once the Old Master of Wugou Stream. Her followers are beyond counting. If Cangqiong Mountain Realm wants to host a banquet, the Nightmare Tribe can only turn a blind eye!” The little demon grew animated as he spoke, then coughed softly, face flushed.
Zhuoxue more or less understood. It was simply that this side had too many supporters, and the Nightmare Tribe feared a mass uprising, so they had to pretend to be deaf and blind.
What a convenient blind eye. That worked out well—even if the Demon Lord of Cangqiong Mountain Realm wanted to form a marriage alliance, the Nightmare Tribe likely wouldn’t dare say a word.
The little demon suddenly turned his head and smiled. “The demon lords are coming out. Which one is your master?”
Zhuoxue’s scalp prickled.
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