Chapter 75: A Public Confession Gone Wrong

The oppressive force around them grew heavier and heavier, pressing so hard that every demon nearby seemed moments away from being crushed into the ground. Yun Jiao finally sighed, lifted her hand toward the sky, and called out loudly—

“Master! I’m here!”

The pressure in the air halted immediately. The figure hidden within that pillar of white light flickered, and in the blink of an eye appeared right before her, revealing a face of breathtaking beauty.

He scanned her from head to toe, confirming she wasn’t hurt. Only then did his expression ease slightly—but a heartbeat later, his brow furrowed again, darker and deeper with each passing moment. His eyes were full of anger, hesitation, concern, and a helplessness he couldn’t put into words. For a long time, he just stared straight at her, saying nothing.

“……”

Was he planning to kill her with his eyes?

Ye Yuan truly didn’t know what to do with this troublesome little disciple. The moment he looked away, she somehow managed to get herself abducted. Out of all his disciples over the centuries, none had given him this much grief.

The rest had always been either dull or obedient enough that he could leave them to their own devices. But this one—this one was different.

He had looked away for just one moment, and she’d somehow ended up in the demon realm. Though she appeared unharmed, there was a faint trace of azure demonic energy clinging to her aura—the kind that only appeared after staying among demons for a while.

That was enough to make his temper flare. A sharp, possessive anger burned inside him—like a farmer discovering that his tender cabbage had been eyed by a pig. And worse, he didn’t even know which pig it was yet.

His expression darkened further, a storm brewing across his handsome features.

Yun Jiao, under his gaze, began to feel a little uneasy. Why’s he looking at me like that? What’s with the murder eyes all of a sudden?

“M–Master?” she ventured cautiously. Maybe he’s just hungry? After all, hadn’t the old man once said he lived off incense offerings? Without her around, couldn’t he have just snacked on a few prayers to tide him over?

Ye Yuan continued to stare at her for a long while before finally speaking, his tone deep and cold. “Why didn’t you summon me?”

“Huh?” Yun Jiao blinked, then realized what he meant. She fished in her pocket and pulled out the summoning talisman he’d given her. The last one had been used during the evil god incident, so he’d given her a new one—but after arriving in the demon realm, she’d been so busy treating patients that she’d forgotten about it entirely. “Oh… I was just here to make a house call. Nothing dangerous happened.”

“Nothing dangerous?” Ye Yuan’s tone sharpened. “Look at your right arm, three inches from the wrist.”

Yun Jiao froze, rolled up her sleeve, and found a faint blue mark on her forearm—a coiling sigil pulsing faintly with demonic energy.

“What the—? When did that get there?”

“Binding seal,” Ye Yuan said, his brow furrowing deeper, voice low with anger. “A demon’s life-bond mark.”

Yun Jiao’s eyes widened as the realization hit. Ah. The Demon King.

When he had grabbed her arm earlier to drag her up the mountain—he must’ve done it then. So that’s what he meant by giving her his “most precious” thing? That man had really gone all out just to pay a medical bill!

“Uh… can you remove it?” she asked weakly.

Ye Yuan’s anger eased slightly. Seeing that his disciple clearly wasn’t interested in that “pig” made him feel a little better.

“Give me your hand,” he said, opening his palm.

Without hesitation, Yun Jiao stepped closer and laid her hand in his. Ye Yuan held it gently, then formed a seal with his other hand, channeling a thread of divine energy that brushed softly over her skin.

A faint tickling sensation ran up her arm. Something thin and invisible seemed to be pulled out of her body; there was no pain, only relief. The mark on her arm faded until it vanished completely.

“Thank you, Master,” she said, breathing out.

“Mm.” Ye Yuan nodded, his tone softening slightly before warning, “From now on, stay away from those wretched beasts. Don’t let them deceive you.”

Yun Jiao opened her mouth to explain—but before she could, a furious voice thundered across the air.

“What are you doing to my queen?! Let her go!”

She turned around. The Demon King, who had been flattened into the ground moments ago, had somehow clawed his way out. He was now flying toward them, brandishing a weapon and glaring murderously at Ye Yuan’s back.

Then she realized the problem. She and her master were standing very close—and he was still holding her hand. From behind, it looked like Ye Yuan had pulled her into an embrace.

“Wait! Your Majesty—!” Yun Jiao shouted quickly. Don’t do anything stupid!

But the Demon King didn’t hear her. His eyes were red with rage, his weapon blazing with fire. “You filthy cur! Die where you stand!”

“Master…” Yun Jiao’s heart dropped as she looked up at Ye Yuan’s face. His expression, which had only just relaxed, darkened again—like ink spilling across paper.

Oh no. Too late now. She silently lit a candle for the Demon King in her mind.

The oppressive energy returned, heavier than before. The ground trembled. Ye Yuan’s gaze went cold as winter. The Demon King, about to strike, stumbled midair, nearly sent tumbling down again.

This time, though, he gritted his teeth and steadied himself, roaring defiantly as he slashed his flaming blade down toward them.

Ye Yuan finally turned his head—his expression glacial, his eyes like blades. The moment their gazes met, his entire face seemed to say: So it’s you, you damn pig.

The Demon King’s sword burst into flames, fire filling the sky. “Scoundrel! You—” he began furiously—but as Ye Yuan fully turned to face him, his words caught in his throat.

For a moment, the Demon King froze. His eyes went wide—then wider.

The fire around his sword fizzled out with a hiss. His jaw dropped as he stared at Ye Yuan like a man struck by divine revelation.

“You… you… you…” He stammered for a long moment, then finally blurted, “You—what clan are you from, beautiful one? What’s your name? How old are you? Are you married? How about marrying me instead—Queen position included!”

“……”

What. The. Actual. Hell.

In the span of a second, his expression had done a full 360-degree spin—from fury to infatuation. His eyes sparkled dreamily; his lips curved into a dazed smile. The dignified Demon King looked completely love-struck.

So beautiful… he thought. This must be love at first sight.

Ye Yuan’s face turned pitch-black.

“I am—” he began icily.

But before he could finish, an even stronger wave of pressure slammed down—ten times heavier than before.

CRACK!

The Demon King was driven straight into the ground, headfirst, like a nail into wood.

For the first time ever, the elegant, aloof Ye Yuan—who had maintained his divine composure even when fighting gods—completely lost his temper. Without a hint of his usual grace, he stepped forward and stomped the Demon King’s head deeper into the rock, again and again, each strike echoing like thunder.

The entire mountaintop shook with the rhythm of his furious stomps, accompanied by a voice colder than ice itself:

“Say that again—who were you planning to flirt with?!”

Yun Jiao: “……”

As the only spectator at what could only be described as a public confession gone horrifically wrong, she couldn’t help but feel… oddly sympathetic.

Why did it feel like she was the one getting cheated on here?

(End of Chapter)