Chapter 110: If Your Master Strikes You, You Must Run!

After Wangchuan and I were intimate, I realized that although I hadn't felt much when You Yan struck me, my ribs began to ache afterward. Perhaps it was because You Yan, being a demonic beast, was truly formidable. My earring had protected me from magical harm, but the force of that claw swipe had left a contusion that appeared the next day, marked by a slight bluish-purple bruise.

I didn't tell Wangchuan. Given our conversation yesterday, I knew he was likely feeling conflicted as well. Every spirit beast and demonic beast is precious; if we compare their worth to a human salary, while a human is like an undergraduate employee, a spirit or demonic beast is like a postgraduate. They are rare, and thus, each one is significant.

Wangchuan was also enraged because the rift was constantly being attacked by the Netherworld. Even though he had "usurped" someone else's fiancée, that did not justify such repeated incursions. This was the third time, and Wangchuan felt he could no longer tolerate it. He planned to find someone to go to the Netherworld and discuss the matter with You Luo. A peaceful resolution would be best, but if that proved impossible, he would have no choice but to retaliate.

Wangchuan explained that if he were to strike back, it would surely plunge the Netherworld into chaos and bring about troubles he’d rather avoid. As You Yan had said, every action has a downside; there are always negative repercussions. I understood. Currently, the conflict remained a personal grudge between the Third Nether King and Wangchuan. If it escalated, it would become a feud between the Void Realm and the Netherworld.

I supported his decision to talk to You Luo first; a reconciliation would be a relief for everyone. If the two realms truly went to war, the devastation would be immense, and countless innocent lives would suffer. I loved that Wangchuan was a reasonable man, not the wicked, indiscriminate tyrant the legends described. His consideration for the innocent deeply moved me.

Wangchuan decided to first consult some friends in the Celestial Realm about how to handle the situation before heading to the Netherworld. It would take about two or three days. Only then did I realize that when he told me to have Xiaoyun keep me company, he had already made those plans.

Once Wangchuan left, Xiaoyun arrived. It was her first time inside Chongye Palace. She looked around and touched everything with the curiosity of a cowherd who had stumbled into an ancient tomb.

"I must say, Qianqian, you are truly lucky. How did you manage to end up with the Master? I can't wrap my head around it." She sighed, shaking her head while stroking a golden lamp as if the situation were entirely improper.

"What? Do you have some complaints?" I raised an eyebrow, mimicking Wangchuan, and looked at her with regal authority.

Though Xiaoyun was right—I was indeed lucky—being with Wangchuan was far beyond simple luck. The karma involved must be profound. I suspect there is something unique about me, something different from the thousands of other girls. How else could an ordinary person like me become the fiancée of the Third Nether King? Who arranged this marriage? Who chose me, and why?

Everything in this world is governed by cause and effect. Wangchuan had worn a strange smile the first time he saw me, and Xiaoyun had mentioned that he treated me differently from the very beginning. I don't see any difference between myself and countless others, yet there must be something I cannot perceive.

Since I couldn't figure it out, I stopped thinking about it. I poured two glasses of water for Xiaoyun, smiling to myself. Perhaps I had become so spoiled by Wangchuan that I couldn't remember the last time I’d poured my own water. Besides a glass I’d poured to appease him yesterday, I had never served anyone else. I decided I should be kinder to my "big cat" in the future; since he had married me, I should play the part of a proper wife.

Xiaoyun took the glass and giggled, "How could I have complaints? You are the Lady of the Realm now! The honorable Mistress Wang, who would dare speak out of turn?"

I swatted at her, caught between laughter and annoyance. "Oh, hush! Don't listen to Yu Bao’s nonsense! That was just a slip of the tongue!"

"It wasn't a slip; it's the truth, my Lady of the Realm—" Xiaoyun’s eyes crinkled with amusement as she began to tickle me.

We had just started playing when she poked my rib, causing me to hiss in pain.

"What's wrong? Are you hurt?" Xiaoyun pulled back instantly, instinctively reaching for my buttons to check.

I didn't want her to find out, so I teased, "Aren't you afraid Wangchuan will gouge out your eyes if you see me?"

Xiaoyun didn't buy it. She shook her head. "I'm a female; logically, the Master wouldn't be jealous. But how could you get hurt here? Let me see, is it serious?"

I had been trying to cover it, but Xiaoyun was so insistent that I reluctantly unbuttoned my top to reveal my rib.

"Oh my heavens, it’s bruised... Did... did the Master do this?" She asked, her voice trembling with shock as she touched it. Then she added, "It seems being the Mistress isn't so easy. A ferocious beast is not the same as a human... poor Qianqian..."

I burst into laughter. It was no wonder she thought that—who else could possibly hurt me in Wangchuan's home? She assumed that Wangchuan, the terrifying beast in the eyes of others, had abused me.

"It’s not like that," I said, buttoning my shirt back up. "I just bumped into something."

"Bumped..." Xiaoyun tilted her head, clearly imagining a different story. "How could you bump into something like that? I understand... you don't want others to know. I’ll act like I don't know, but if the Master hits you, you must run."

Her serious tone made me want to laugh again. Wangchuan might look intense and fierce, but he had never actually struck me—well, aside from the occasional spanking. At most, back when I used to curse at him in anger, I’d been zapped by the collar a few times or subjected to those embarrassing, blush-inducing punishments. Given how doting he was now, how could he possibly hit me?

Seeing I was a terrible liar, I shook my head and explained, "I just ran into You Yan, and... she swiped at me. That's all."

"What? Does the Master know?" Xiaoyun looked panicked.

"He... knows... doesn't know..." My mind was a bit muddled. "Just don't ask."

"My god," Xiaoyun covered her mouth in shock, then leaned in close to whisper, "Actually, let me tell you, we talked about this before. You know You Yan is a demonic beast, right?"

I nodded. "Yes, I know."

"That's why... we found it strange that she helped Rebecca last time. She has always been a loner, but lately, she’s been hanging around with Rebecca. Even though Rebecca seems high-ranking, she’s just a steward. A capable cat like You Yan would never work under her. Do you... have some history with her?"

I blinked, then smiled. "The first time I saw her was when she killed Claudia, but you weren't there. The second time was when she was ordered to capture me. Yesterday was the third time. How could I have offended her?"

"That is strange," Xiaoyun said, unable to make sense of it.

I smiled. If I couldn't understand it, I wouldn't worry. Eventually, the truth would come to light.

Xiaoyun suddenly moved. "Oh, I have two souls inside me! Quickly, eat them... you'll feel better."

"No... no... oh." As I resisted, she spat out the souls and shoved them into my mouth.

I swallowed them reluctantly. I didn't like consuming souls; in my mind, it felt like cannibalism. But I was moved that my kindness to Xiaoyun hadn't been in vain. With tears in my eyes, I swallowed the souls.

As for my "big cat," just as he had promised, he returned after two or three days. When I began to watch for him on the second day, he arrived covered in morning dew. When he reached out his hands, waiting for me to rush into them, I felt truly content to have him by my side.

I prayed that the heavens would hear my plea: let me never leave this big cat’s side. Never.