Chapter 917: I’d Rather Die than Sleep with Her

Ye Wenxin began comparing Han Shanxue to others. She seemed to have human needs yet possessed an aura that reminded others of her unfathomable depth.

As everyone knows, lead characters in novels fall into various archetypes.

The first type suddenly acquires a magic item from a grandpa or grandma and, with their help, rises to the pinnacle of life. Gu Aotian was one example, but he got misled, so Ye Wenxin killed him.

The second type stumbles upon a cultivation technique and gradually becomes the strongest in the world. Zhao Teddy was this but a defective version, so Ye Wenxin killed him, too.

As for lead characters that rise from humble beginnings, have systems, are put into another body, or get reincarnated—Ye Wenxin hadn’t encountered them yet. But after comparing Han Shanxue’s aura, Ye Wenxin thought she must have a clichéd backstory.

For example, maybe she was an Immortal Lord a thousand years ago, but her fiancé or best friend betrayed her, and she died. Then, by some twist of fate, she received a new body and began her wild rise to power and revenge.

Ye Wenxin glanced a few times at Han Shanxue, who seemed to notice. Her eyes drifted over, cold as usual, hiding endless secrets that were impossible to unravel.

Ye Wenxin lowered her head and flipped open [The Demon Lord’s Unofficial History]. Han Shanxue watched her for a while. Ye Wenxin began to worry. Had she killed someone during her time as the Demon Lord, and that person had taken over someone else’s body?

Regardless, she resolved to keep her distance from Han Shanxue once they arrived at the Golden Age Dynasty.

Ye Wenxin’s eyes followed the words on the page to pass the time.

……

The carriage continued speeding along the road, and they arrived at the dynasty’s city gates by early afternoon the next day.

“This is where I leave you,” informed the coachman. “Carriages aren’t allowed on the main roads inside the dynasty.”

Ye Wenxin nodded in understanding. She paid the fare, adding a few extra silver pieces. The coachman was grateful, though his eyes lingered on Ghost Mother.

Unaware she had stirred a man’s heart, Ghost Mother tugged at Ye Wenxin, eager to explore the Golden Age Dynasty. The coachman looked dejected as he turned the carriage around, heading toward a gate that permitted carriages to exchange the vehicle at an inn the dynasty’s central office operated.

Ye Wenxin watched the carriage disappear into the distance before following the storyteller to the city gates.

They saw a large crowd waiting to be checked. Because the dynasty was recruiting new people, evildoers often disguised themselves and tried to slip in. Security was especially tight in recent days to prevent such incidents.

The storyteller spotted an old man in the distance and a child munching on candied haws. “That’s the Golden Age Dynasty’s recruitment drive for you. It draws all sorts of people.”

“Never underestimate anyone, or you’ll get killed before you know it,” said Ye Wenxin, following the storyteller’s gaze.

Though the old man looked frail, his eyes were razor-sharp. He was likely a sword master.

The child, too, picked up an obese man trying to cut in line and flung him far like a ball, all without breaking a sweat.

The storyteller awkwardly raised his fan to cover his face. “Ah, hidden talents. Of course.”

Ye Wenxin looked at Long City, a place both strange yet familiar to her. She remembered the first time she had entered it with Long Qingyue. They barely walked through the gates when everyone kneeled before them.

“Your Highness, please return to the palace!”

“Your Highness, the Golden Age Dynasty cannot exist without you!”

That was when Ye Wenxin discovered Long Qingyue’s identity. And perhaps because of the status difference, they had slowly grown distant. They didn’t have much time together until Ye Wenxin became the Demon Lord.

Ye Wenxin wanted to see Long Qingyue again but couldn’t abandon her new companions. She decided to settle everyone in first and then see Long Qingyue.

Yet, the queue only lengthened regardless of her clear post-arrival plans. Night fell before they reached their turn, and the city gates closed. Having no other choice, the group headed to a nearby inn.

The inn was full of people who had similar bad luck. They look at Ye Wenxin’s group with unfriendly expressions. Even Ghost Mother only earned a few stunned looks.

Ye Wenxin scanned the room and quickly noticed a few that stood out. Their clothing and demeanor told her they were likely the Golden Age Dynasty’s Secret Guards, which meant Long Qingyue took this recruitment event seriously enough to dispatch her agents.

The storyteller’s voice suddenly rose behind Ye Wenxin.

“What? Only two rooms?!”

“Sorry, guests,” the innkeeper replied apologetically, though he sounded unhurried. “There have been too many people these past few days.”

The Secret Guards glanced over as if wary of a disturbance breaking out.

“Then… what should we do, Master?” Fei Chai looked at his master, Han Shanxue. Ye Wenxin and Ghost Mother didn’t mind sharing a room, even if one tossed and turned in their sleep. But Han Shanxue was different. Fei Chai worried the arrangement might upset her.

Han Shanxue glanced at Ye Wenxin and slowly said, “No problem.”

Ye Wenxin found it strange that Han Shanxue looked at her instead of Fei Chai.

She could do as she pleased with the emotionless Fairy Fengya. Han Shanxue, however, made her feel odd. She glanced at Ghost Mother and whispered, “I’ll sleep on the floor tonight. Don’t fight me for it.”

“No! I’d rather sleep in the woodshed than next to her!” Ghost Mother whispered back. She seemed so scared that she clutched Ye Wenxin’s arm in resistance.

“You’re a ghost! Why are you afraid of a human?!”

“That human is colder than me! I don’t want to freeze to death in the night!”

The two pushed and pulled while Fei Chai and the storyteller sympathized with them.

After seeing this, Han Shanxue went upstairs, seemingly uninterested in their bickering.

Ye Wenxin calmed down, thinking her insistence had offended Han Shanxue. She went upstairs to explain that she hadn’t meant anything by it.