Chapter 708: A Villain’s Tricks

There was a miniature human head in the flower, its eyes closed as if in slumber. But what unsettled her more was the uncanny resemblance to Demon Lord Gu Qingcheng’s face.

Premium-grade spirit stones covered the ground. The luxurious display only added to Ye Wenxin’s discomfort. She suddenly realized Fairy Zhuling wasn’t avoiding the indecent with her. She had been buying time to do other things.

Ye Wenxin examined her surroundings more carefully. On the wall, she saw writing in an Earth language.

A machine constructed of steel and wood stood next to it. The machine was embedded with over ten spirit stones. Its tip hovered over what appeared to be a washbasin, transporting red liquid.

The basin itself held only a small accumulation of the liquid. Ye Wenxin leaned down to sniff it but couldn’t discern what it was. However, the room’s design was a feat of ingenuity far beyond Fairy Zhuling’s wisdom.

Ye Wenxin fell into silence. When she thought she had uncovered the truth, that truth became more misleading. However, she was certain of one thing. This room’s secret was the root of her recent restlessness. Fairy Zhuling lured her here every day as a cover for harvesting something.

The red flower and the human head within it reminded Ye Wenxin of Fairy Zhuling’s dangerous nature. Who knew what catastrophe would unfold if she didn’t act soon?

Suddenly, Ye Wenxin heard movement from the corridor. She instinctively hid herself. A moment later, a couple of Secret Guards entered the room. They began mechanically watering the red flower.

“This thing disgusts me whenever I see it,” one muttered.

“Shh. Even if no one else is around, that’s far too disrespectful.” Another Secret Guard immediately stopped her from making further remarks. Resigned, they continued pouring the liquid from the basin onto the red flower.

The flower seemed to sense the nourishment. Its eyes opened, startling the two Secret Guards. They involuntarily stepped back.

The Secret Guards exhaled in relief when it showed no aggression and resumed watering it.

Their movements were cautious, as if the flower was an unparalleled treasure. Ye Wenxin found the scene more unbearable the longer she observed. She overheard one Secret Guard muttering, “Still, the other group sure has it easy, keeping one person company.”

“Hah! That’s rich. Haven’t you seen Xiao Liu’s face every time? She’s barely clinging to life. I’d never go and end up as fertilizer even if someone begged me.”

“Don’t say such creepy things. We Secret Guards will eventually die for our master.”

“But our master is the Eldest Princess,” another woman retorted sharply, dissatisfied with her colleague’s mindset. “We do not need to die for the younger princess.”

Ye Wenxin listened in silence. She could no longer grasp how all this chaos had unfolded in the first place.

However, she was sure they hadn’t established this place overnight. Long Qing’er’s ambitions were far greater than they seemed. This secret chamber might even be her ultimate weapon against her aunt, Long Qingyue.

After all, Long Qingyue’s greatest weakness was Demon Lord Gu Qingcheng.

Long Qingyue would drop her guard if someone identical to Gu Qingcheng appeared. It would make quick work in eliminating her.

Ye Wenxin watched with a wry smile. She had oversimplified everything. Trapped in this passive situation, everyone had forgotten she was once Demon Lord Gu Qingcheng.

But everything happening now seemed aimed at her. It was almost intolerable. What she couldn’t tolerate wasn’t being used but underestimated.

“Alright, it’s time to feed the flower.”

“You do it!”

“No, you do it!”

The two Secret Guards bickered, pushing a cage toward the red flower. It became painfully clear the flower’s food was humans.

The red flower turned toward the caged woman. She showed no resistance as the Secret Guards released her.

They hesitated for a long time over who would handle the feeding. Finally, they shoved the woman forward. The red flower displayed a grotesque smile. It opened its exaggerated maw. Blood sprayed everywhere, and the flower grew larger, taking on a humanoid shape.

It seemed as if Demon Lord Gu Qingcheng herself was standing there.

“Wow, it looks exactly like her,” one guard muttered in awe.

“Stop staring! If the princess catches us, she’ll gouge our eyes out. Hurry and call her!”

The flower’s transformation alarmed the two Secret Guards. They shut the heavy stone door and bolted away.

Once the room was empty, Ye Wenxin emerged from her hiding spot.

The red flower turned its wary gaze toward her, ready to devour her.

“You do look just like me.”

The red flower made a threatening gesture, though it seemed incapable of speech. Ye Wenxin studied it closely. The imitation captured every detail of her appearance without fail.

So, Fairy Zhuling hadn’t invited her here to distract her. She wanted to use this fake to lure Fairy Fengya away. Moreover, Fairy Zhuling could also deploy it against Long Qingyue.

If Ye Wenxin hadn’t pieced it together, she would never have suspected Fairy Zhuling of employing such a crude method. But its crudeness also made it somewhat effective.

“What should I do?” Ye Wenxin murmured. She stared at that face with a faint smile. “I can’t stand anyone sharing my face.”

She’d have killed this imposter regardless of the consequences if it were up to her.

However, Ye Wenxin didn’t want to thwart Fairy Zhuling’s plan. She wished to see how big a tempest Fairy Zhuling could stir. But doing so would put her in danger as well.

As she mulled over her options, the red flower thrashed violently. It lacked independent thought, driven instead by a primal hunger. Traces of its previous meal still lingered at the corners of its mouth.

Ye Wenxin picked up the bloody basin used to water it. The flower’s gaze immediately locked onto the object.

Ye Wenxin flung the basin far across the room. The red flower struggled against its rooted base. As Ye Wenxin wondered what species it was, the red flower scrambled, pulling out the roots on its feet.

Blood instantly flowed, but it didn’t notice at all. It frantically ran to that basin and licked the blood inside. Ye Wenxin found the sight humiliating. It seemed the red flower’s IQ equaled that of a ten-year-old.

The red flower licked the basin clean but hadn’t had enough. It looked at Ye Wenxin again, then spoke in a halting speech. “Hungry… hungry…”