Transmigrated as the Villain’s Sword - Chapter 63

The Demon Realm.

Three days after the theft of the Demon Pearl, Guan Luowei finally rushed back to the Demon Realm with Ling Chenyan. Because the clan had lost the protection of the pearl, many low-level demons had already begun to fall into a state of chaos. To prevent the tragedy of a century ago from repeating, the Old Demon Emperor had already contained some of the out-of-control demons within the clan.

Even so, many demons fell into madness and violence every day. Taking advantage of moments when no one was watching, they would flee the clan to vent their fury elsewhere. The Old Demon Emperor was overwhelmed, busy pacifying the clan while struggling to suppress his own rising sinister impulses.

Theft of the Demon Pearl was, in theory, an impossibility. Even though the clan knew it resided in that forest, actually finding it was one thing; touching it was another. One would likely be seduced by evil thoughts and succumb to internal demons before even laying a finger on it.

Furthermore, during the day, demons entered the forest to cultivate constantly. At night, it was a death zone. The Old Emperor had also placed a restriction around it; if anyone dared to take it, he would be alerted instantly. Yet, the pearl had vanished without a trace.

When Guan Luowei arrived, the Old Emperor was in the middle of a heated debate in the Demon Hall.

“How could it vanish silently? Perhaps it is still within the clan, and we simply haven’t found it.”

“Idiot! If it were still here, why would our people be falling into chaos? In my view, those damn cultivators must have stolen it again.”

“But it is impossible for a cultivator to slip in under our noses and take it away without a sound!”

“Nonsense! Who says it’s impossible? Have you forgotten a hundred years ago—”

“Enough!” the Old Emperor shouted, looking up.

The bickering stopped. The hall doors opened to reveal a freezing, elegant face. The assembly fell silent, avoiding her gaze. The Old Emperor looked at Guan Luowei with a bitter smile. “Weiwei, you’re back? Was the journey smooth?”

Guan Luowei stepped in, blocking the harsh light from the doorway. “When was the Demon Pearl last seen?”

The Old Emperor’s eyes shifted toward the sword in her hand. The last time anyone had “seen” it was when Ling Chenyan got lost in the forest; it hadn’t been seen since.

“Who entered the forest the day it vanished?”

The group looked at one another until an elder spoke: “No one knows exactly when it disappeared. His Majesty only discovered it was gone when he went to the forest a few days ago.”

Guan Luowei turned to the Old Emperor. He sighed, “We’ve searched everywhere—inside, outside, top to bottom. There is no trace. Even tracking spells seem to have lost their effect.”

“This situation is almost identical to a century ago,” he continued. “The pearl vanished as if its very existence had been erased from reality. And there is one more strange thing: on the 15th, every disciple who went to the forest felt their internal chaotic thoughts vanishing twice as fast as usual.”

The assembly chimed in, listing all the strange occurrences that had happened in her absence.

Guan Luowei listened until everyone was finished. “I will go to the Demon Forest. I will handle this.” With that, she strode out. The doors slammed shut, and the hall fell into a heavy silence.

Just as Guan Luowei stepped out, she ran into a youth with a “visual kei” (shamo) hairstyle and a gentle blue-haired man. She paused and nodded. “Shaoyou. Ling Tian.”

Shaoyou bowed slightly. “Highness.”

Ling Tian, the youth with the wild hair, rested a heavy blade on his shoulder and waved his left hand cheerfully. “Hi~ Highness! When did you get back? Why didn’t you tell me? I didn’t even have time to give you a proper welcome.”

Ling Tian clearly liked Guan Luowei; once he started talking, he wouldn’t stop, occasionally blowing at the long bangs that obscured his eyes. Guan Luowei wanted to interrupt, but his speech was so rapid and dense she couldn’t find a gap. It wasn’t until a cold female voice cut him off that she could breathe.

“Highness has things to do. Stop bothering her. If you’re bored, come fight me.”

Ling Tian flared up instantly. He looked back to see Zong Xian standing in the distance with a whip, looking at him with utter impatience. Beside her stood the burly, red-haired Tong Di, who bared his white teeth and laughed. “Ling Tian, you should cut that hair. Otherwise, Highness can’t even see your face—how is she supposed to like you?”

“You’re looking for death!” Ling Tian shouldered his blade to charge, and Tong Di cracked his neck, ready for a fight.

“Are you finished?” Guan Luowei asked flatly. The two settled down immediately. “The four of you, come with me.”

She led the way toward the Demon Forest. Tong Di and Ling Tian grumbled and followed, while Shaoyou rubbed his forehead and trailed behind. Zong Xian froze for a second, seemingly surprised that Guan Luowei had called her too. She bit her lip, her eyes flickering before she followed.

The forest looked normal—lush green trees and towering canopy. The only thing missing was the aura; the pearl that absorbed the clan’s chaotic energy was gone.

“Highness, what are we doing here?” Ling Tian asked.

Shaoyou stepped forward. “Highness, we have searched this place many times. There is nothing unusual.”

Guan Luowei looked back at them, then said, “Yanyan.”

Ling Chenyan closed her eyes to sense her surroundings. With her treasure-seeking talent, if the pearl were still within the clan, it would emit a powerful “scent.” After a moment, she floated toward a specific direction. Guan Luowei followed immediately.

Tong Di and Zong Xian followed without question. Ling Tian scratched his head. “When did Highness’s sword gain a treasure-hunting feature? Can someone teach me that?”

Shaoyou stood still for a moment, his gentle eyes glancing toward a specific spot in the forest before he too followed.

Ling Chenyan followed the enticing scent to the base of a towering tree. She transformed into her human form and pointed at the roots. “Highness, the smell is strongest here. There’s nothing else.”

Before Guan Luowei could speak, Ling Tian stepped up and looked at Ling Chenyan with curiosity. “Highness, how did you hatch this sword spirit? She’s so pretty and can find treasures. Can you teach me?”

Everyone else: “…”

Ling Chenyan shot him an unspeakable look and ignored him. “Highness, should we dig it up?”

Without a word, Guan Luowei flicked her fingers. Boom! Dirt flew everywhere, revealing what was hidden beneath the tree. Ling Tian coughed violently, shaking off the dust that had “accidentally” covered him. He took one look and exclaimed, “Whoa! So much wine! It smells amazing!”

He looked at Ling Chenyan with sparkling eyes and said to Guan Luowei, “Highness, can I borrow this little sword spirit to play with for a couple of days?”

Tong Di and Zong Xian looked at him as if he were a dead man and moved several steps away. Ling Tian, oblivious, reached a hand toward Ling Chenyan with a grin. “Little girl, what’s your name?”

Ling Chenyan retreated behind Guan Luowei, clutching her sleeve. The next second, Ling Tian felt a sharp pain in his wrist. His Highness looked down at him coldly. “Ling Tian…”

He shivered, trying to pull back, but he couldn’t break her grip. Finally sensing danger, he tried to explain, but Guan Luowei said flatly: “Since you are so free, you have two days to find the Demon Pearl. If you fail, you can spend the rest of your life in the Demon Prison Department.”

The Prison Department was for the most heinous criminals. Even without torture, the demons inside were enough to make one’s skin crawl. Ling Tian wailed, “Highness, I was just trying to liven up the mood! My crime doesn’t deserve this!”

Guan Luowei ignored him. She looked at the jars of wine and ruthlessly shattered them, letting the liquid soak into the earth. She turned to the others. “We will use the Ancient Secret Tracking Art.”

Ling Chenyan felt guilty about the wine. She knew exactly who would hide wine here; this was the second time she had destroyed the Old Emperor’s secret stash. But hearing the name of the spell and seeing the others’ faces, she asked, “What kind of spell is that?”

Guan Luowei was about to send her away when Ling Tian blurted out, “Highne—! Are you serious? That’s an ancient forbidden art! It costs—mmph mmph!”

Shaoyou covered Ling Tian’s mouth. This idiot couldn’t see that the relationship between this girl and the Princess was extraordinary. He’d already been punished for flirting; now he was running his mouth about secrets Guan Luowei clearly didn’t want the girl to know.

“Highness, is it a forbidden art?” Ling Chenyan asked, staring at her.

Guan Luowei’s eyes flickered. She nodded. “Yes.”

“What does it cost?” Ling Chenyan pressed. “Life? Fate? Or something else?”

Guan Luowei took a breath. “It only costs a bit of longevity. To me, it is nothing.”

She was at the Great Transcendent stage; a bit of lifespan was insignificant. But the Demon Pearl was the lifeline of the clan and her mother’s avatar. She couldn’t let the clan fall into ruins.

“Alright, Highness,” Ling Chenyan said. “I believe you.”

Guan Luowei patted her head gently. Ling Chenyan barely managed to hold back her tears. With one last “Mm,” she ran out of the forest. She didn’t want to stop Guan Luowei because she knew her character—if there were any other way, she would have used it. If the pearl wasn’t found, Guan Luowei might eventually have to sacrifice herself just like her mother. Ling Chenyan couldn’t stop her, so she ran until the tears fell.

In the forest, Guan Luowei watched the girl run away, her heart aching at the sound of that choked “Mm.” She turned to the others. “When we perform the ritual, transfer all the backlash to me.”

Tong Di swallowed hard. “Highness! No! You alone will take the backlash of all three of us?”

“Yes. It is an order.”

Zong Xian gritted her teeth. “If that’s the case, I won’t participate.” She felt the Princess had already sacrificed too much.

“Then you may leave,” Guan Luowei said simply.

Zong Xian’s face flushed red with internal conflict. She couldn’t leave, but she couldn’t bear to stay and hurt her. Finally, she lowered her head. “Fine. I will stay, Highness.” Shaoyou also nodded after a struggle.

Outside the forest, Ling Chenyan was wiping her tears and asking the system if it could help her find the pearl through a “backdoor.” Suddenly, someone landed head-first in the dirt right in front of her.

She looked up to see a man pulling himself out of the pit—the “visual kei” youth, Ling Tian. He flipped his hair, saw a crying girl looking at him, and immediately smoothed his bangs.

“Hi, beautiful.”

Ling Chenyan: “…”

Author’s Note:

At this moment, the Princess is rushing over with a 40-meter-long blade.