Chapter 37: Shame

The Elder Council members were in a chaotic discussion, and Cheng Shan suddenly slammed Zidian on the table. Indifferently glancing at Huachi, she said, “The face of this bow may not be enough to make some people bow, but it should be sufficient to count heads and express their stance, right?”

The room fell into an eerie silence. After a while, Yang Taizai stood up, took a step back, and bowed. “Princess, please go ahead.”

Yang Taizai’s respectful gesture had a considerable leading effect. The remaining people didn’t leave their seats, but they all sat upright. Only Huachi remained nestled in his stone chair, seemingly indifferent.

Cheng Shan sneered inwardly and calmly said, “It’s not suitable for me to take the lead as soon as I arrive. You should prepare for the all-demon competition as soon as possible. I would like to witness it. If I’m in a good mood, I might even go up and assist.”

Once again, the others exchanged puzzled glances, and Huachi laughed loudly, full of disdain. After laughing, he said, “Little girl, even if you are the reincarnation of a queen, so what? You are just a mortal now. The all-demon competition has rules. Those who are not of our kind cannot interfere.”

“Then you just guard your kind and continue to barely survive.” Cheng Shan leaned slightly towards Huachi, with a mocking smile. “But let me advise you to open your eyes and see if, with the current strength of the demon clans, you have the ability to resist the Palace of Virtue.”

Huachi’s eyes narrowed, full of resentment and unwillingness, but he had no words to retort. Cheng Shan smiled, stood up, and walked out of the stone room, followed immediately by Hong Ying. They returned to the moon-viewing platform.

Cheng Shan’s words completely ruled out the possibility of Ming Yan returning to Tiger Wolf City again. As for how to explain this, it was now Little Dou Ding’s concern. Even if the people present didn’t believe Cheng Shan’s words, they couldn’t help but be uneasy. If Ming Yan were to appear again as Night Owl, they would have to think twice.

Since Cheng Shan decided to intervene, she felt it was necessary to challenge her opponents. Gu Kaishan, in opposition to Huachi, was more likely to give Cheng Shan an opportunity to turn the tide compared to challenging Ming Yan.

Moreover, Cheng Shan learned from Hong Ying that in recent years, the demon clans had been shrinking in a corner of the mortal realm, losing territory, and paying tribute to the Underworld every year.

These contradictions were evident, and if the demons wanted to break out of this decline sooner or later, they would need to raise the banner against the Palace of Virtue. If Cheng Shan could maneuver skillfully in this, the chances of saving her mother would be greatly increased. Perhaps even Han Luo could be pulled out of trouble. Would he still dare to look down on her?

While Cheng Shan was daydreaming about the glorious scenes of her future, she returned to the moon-viewing platform. However, seeing Hong Ying still standing guard outside, Cheng Shan’s enthusiasm cooled down. She laid on the soft couch, contemplating how to cultivate her own influence.

Sunlight filtered through the half-lifted bamboo curtains, casting warmth into the pavilion. Cheng Shan lifted the bamboo curtains and rolled them up along with the felt curtain on one side. A gentle breeze passed through, cooling down the pavilion. The sculpture-like silhouette of Hong Ying standing quietly outside the pavilion entered Cheng Shan’s eyes.

Cheng Shan, lying on the couch, teased, “Did you have an arranged marriage? Are you his wife who has not yet crossed the threshold?” Cheng Shan glanced at Hong Ying outside the bamboo curtain and mumbled, “Poor thing, the wife died before giving birth.”

Cheng Shan, with her mind filled with various thoughts, suddenly fell asleep, tossing and turning. Unconsciously, the sun had set.

Cheng Shan was counting her potential helpers, even in her dreams. In a daze, she opened her eyes, only to find a white shadow floating in front of her. Cheng Shan, still half-awake, raised herself and prepared to continue sleeping. However, as soon as she laid down, a chilling wind pierced the back of her neck, giving her goosebumps. Cheng Shan immediately sat up.

“Who…” Cheng Shan hadn’t spoken yet when she saw the figure in front of her. Surprisingly, it was a female ghost.

Cheng Shan was overjoyed. If it weren’t for the concern about Hong Ying outside, she would probably have jumped up and cheered. By now, the sun had set, and the pavilion had regained its coolness. Cheng Shan closed the bamboo curtains, lit an oil lamp on the table, and discovered that there were writing tools prepared. Cheng Shan couldn’t help but laugh inwardly, wondering who had prepared this set for her. It was quite timely. She immediately took up the pen and wrote, “Don’t blame me. It’s not that I didn’t wait for you, but I was abducted by Yang Taizai and the others.”

female ghost nodded, indicating that he understood. Cheng Shan wrote again, “Do you have any news about my mother?”

After a moment of hesitation, the female ghost shook his head, then nodded again. Cheng Shan didn’t understand the meaning behind his gestures and anxiously urged, “What do nodding and shaking mean?”

female ghost sighed, “I found out that Ming Yan brought back a woman earlier, but…”

female ghost hesitated, shook his head, and then nodded again. Cheng Shan was puzzled about what he meant. Impatiently, she wrote, “Wait a moment.” She put down the pen, lifted a corner of the bamboo curtain, and said, “Hong Ying, it’s a bit troublesome, but can you help me find some food? Take your time and come back. I want to take a bath.”

Hong Ying did not doubt, nodded, and immediately jumped down from the hill, disappearing in an instant. Cheng Shan returned to the pavilion and said, “What do you mean by shaking your head and nodding?”

female ghost sighed, “I found out that Ming Yan brought back a woman earlier, but… she was transferred to the North Hall’s Binding Spirit Bell by the Underworld after the Ghost Emperor came out. This news is no different from having no news.”

 Cheng Shan was stunned and asked, “Why?”

female ghost replied, “Because the Ghost Emperor personally guards it, and the chance of rescuing your mother is extremely slim.”

Cheng Shan’s heart sank like ice, collapsing onto the bed, unable to speak. After a while, Cheng Shan suddenly raised her head, her eyes shining brightly. “Haven’t you always wanted to save my master? I promise you, shall we join forces?”

As gentle as a female ghost, I couldn’t help but give her a sarcastic look. “You still have the nerve to call the adult your master. If I didn’t arrange this, would you completely ignore it and let him fend for himself?”

Cheng Shan felt a bit embarrassed by the interruption, smiled awkwardly, and said, “It’s because Master advised me not to act recklessly. I see that he seems quite content in the Demon Abyss.”

“Full of nonsense. I don’t know who between us is more like a ghost.” A female ghost helplessly smiled. “Just say it; what’s your plan?”

Cheng Shan said, “Do you know about Yin Li?”

female ghost nodded, and Cheng Shan asked again, “What’s the relationship between her and my master?”

female ghost pondered for a moment and said, “Yin Li was originally a demon imprisoned in the Demon Abyss. Two hundred years ago, the Ghost Emperor led his army to attack Lingxiao Mountain, leaving the adult to guard the Netherworld. During that time, there were suddenly rumors that the adult had opened the Demon Abyss, releasing many demons, and Yin Li was one of them. Later, when the Ghost Emperor returned to the Thick Virtue Palace, there was a shocking battle that alarmed the Three Realms. The adult was left with only a wisp of remnant soul, the Ghost Emperor was seriously injured, and he secluded himself for two hundred years.”

“Oh,” Cheng Shan thought for a while, realizing the problem in the story after a moment. “Why was it said to be a rumor? Does that mean Yin Li and the others might not have been released by my master?”

female ghost looked perplexed, and after a while, he said, “I was just a minor character at that time, rarely able to see the adult’s true self. The truth is unknown, but I feel that this doesn’t quite match the adult’s style.”

“Not matching?” Cheng Shan raised an eyebrow. “I think it’s quite fitting. Wasn’t he fond of meddling in others’ affairs at that time?”

“But he had little connection with the demons in the Demon Abyss, and you could say he even had some grievances with them.”

“Oh, I see.” Cheng Shan recalled for a moment. Regardless of whether Han Luo did it or not, it was clear that Yin Li and the others considered him responsible for their freedom. Thinking of this, Cheng Shan immediately called out to Han Luo in her mind, “Master, Master!”

After a while, Han Luo’s slightly disdainful voice sounded like, “Can’t you speak to me more seriously?”

“Hehe,” Cheng Shan ignored his temper, a hint of mischief in her eyes, “I want to borrow something from you.”

Han Luo thought she wanted to borrow True Qi. “Who are you planning to fight again?”

“No, no, I don’t want True Qi. What I want to borrow is your reputation.”