"That Deputy General Lu once expressed his feelings for me."
"If Deputy General Lu loses and resorts to dirty tricks, you can choose to hold me hostage to threaten him."
Does Lu Ji like this crane demon? Bai Ran's thoughts raced: "How do you know he's sincere?"
If that Lu Ji deliberately lied, wouldn't she be in extreme danger if she told Xiao Zi?
Lian Shui Yue shook her head and took out a golden brocade box from her embrace.
The brocade box was opened, and Xiao Zi's eyes widened: "The Demon Emperor's Ring!"
The Demon Emperor's Ring, the most precious treasure of the demon tribe, possessed by a demon, represented supreme authority.
The demon army only obeyed the commands of the demon who possessed the Demon Emperor's Ring; they recognized the ring, not the person.
She had thought the ring was in Lu Ji's possession, but who would have thought Lu Ji would use it to coax the woman he loved?
Xiao Zi looked at the ring in her hand with disbelief.
When he left the demon tribe, he left it in the hands of the Jing family head. Perhaps Lu Ji knew his intentions.
He had deliberately ransacked the entire Jing family to find the Demon Emperor's Ring.
"That madman!" Xiao Zi cursed word for word, how could Lu Ji be so brainless!
For a woman, he would use such a precious treasure to show his sincerity!
"If the Demon Emperor's Ring falls into the hands of the wrong person, won't the entire demon tribe fall into chaos!"
Bai Ran pursed her lips, her gaze fixed on the brocade box in Lian Shui Yue's hand.
She hadn't expected Lu Ji to value this crane demon so much...
"Why did you accept this ring?" she asked, looking at Lian Shui Yue.
Ordinary demon women would be so terrified upon seeing the ring that they would lose their souls, for fear of being suspected of rebellion.
Yet, this crane demon had kept the Demon Emperor's Ring hidden, appearing calm, as if it were just an ordinary trinket.
Lian Shui Yue was extremely nervous, rubbing the hem of her clothes: "I just wanted to share the worries of the Demon Emperor..."
When she first saw the Demon Emperor's Ring, she was also startled.
But she quickly realized that if the Demon Emperor were to return to the demon tribe, he would definitely need it to command the army.
So, for years, she had gone along with Lu Ji, accepting the Demon Emperor's Ring with a half-hearted push.
Just to wait for this day...
"What if I don't come back? Would you have had to act for a lifetime then?"
Xiao Zi frowned, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
"It won't happen." Lian Shui Yue smiled, a galaxy seeming to flicker in her eyes.
"The Demon Emperor is not that kind of person."
Xiao Zi sighed deeply: "If I take this ring, will Lu Ji harm you when he finds out?"
"To share the worries of our race's Emperor, I would consider it an honor even in death."
Xiao Zi was their emperor, their supreme faith. To serve him, even death was acceptable.
Looking at her readiness to face death, even Bai Ran felt a sense of awe.
But...
Xiao Zi's hand, reaching for the brocade box, paused. He turned his head and saw Bai Ran blocking his movement.
"It's not too late to take back the ring after the Demon Emperor wins the competition."
Hearing this, Xiao Zi obediently withdrew his hand: "Yes, I'll listen to you."
The ring was in Lian Shui Yue's possession. In the worst-case scenario, she would be killed by Lu Ji, and he would snatch the ring.
But Lu Ji loved her deeply. He would even give her the demon tribe's most precious treasure, so why would he harm her?
"It is safest in your hands."
Bai Ran's lips curved upward, her gaze meeting Lian Shui Yue's directly.
Lian Shui Yue was stunned, but she still put away the brocade box: "I will take good care of it."
"There is one more thing," Xiao Zi said, looking at Hua Yun in the inner room.
"The Lian family has already defected to Lu Ji. As the eldest daughter of the Lian family, what are your thoughts?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Lian Shui Yue's face turned pale, and she knelt down with a thud.
She kowtowed heavily, again and again: "Your humble servant is insignificant..."
"But I still implore the Demon Emperor to punish the Lian family leniently..."
Xiao Zi was taken aback and reached out to help her up, but Bai Ran was one step ahead and helped Lian Shui Yue to her feet.
Bai Ran smiled at her: "The Demon Emperor is merely asking for your thoughts, not intending to punish the Lian family. You need not be so frightened."
Lian Shui Yue's body trembled: "I..."
The Lian family was the first to betray the Demon Emperor and thus became what they were now, ranked first.
She had repeatedly resisted the elders and her father, but to no avail.
They did not listen to Lian Shui Yue's words and sternly sent her to the palace, ordering her to serve Deputy General Lu well.
"I..."
Her thin lips trembled, and she couldn't utter a single word.
She couldn't change her family's minds. If she revealed her parents' stance, it would bring about their death.
But with the Demon Emperor present, if she remained silent, she might be misunderstood as withholding information.
To speak or not to speak was a choice between the Demon Emperor and her family...
"Enough," Xiao Zi rubbed his temples. Even without Lian Shui Yue saying it, he understood her unspoken difficulties.
"No need to say more."
Lian Shui Yue was unable to persuade her family to change their minds like Hua Yun.
The consequence of this would likely be armed conflict.
"If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."
Lian Shui Yue clenched her fists, watching their retreating backs, feeling utterly helpless.
...
"You don't trust her."
In a declarative tone, Xiao Zi glanced at Bai Ran beside him.
Bai Ran smiled faintly: "It's not a matter of distrust, but during this special period, it's always good to be cautious."
Lian Shui Yue's words were flawless, and her expression appeared sincere and moving.
But what if? With just her words, no one could be sure if what she said was true or false.
Xiao Zi understood. Indeed, a woman who was unwilling to get involved in disputes suddenly displayed such great love for her tribe.
It was still necessary to guard against her.
Bai Ran looked up at Xiao Zi beside her: "What are your plans?"
"To go and see the Jing and Fang families."
An unhesitating reply. His heart was always with his people.
No one knew the current state of the two great families, which was the most worrying aspect.
Half the demons had died, so what about the injured demons? To what extent would they be suffering?
Even the Demon Emperor's Ring was searched for. How much persecution had the two families endured...
Xiao Zi's eyes darkened, filled with endless indignation.
"Even my secret guards have disappeared without a trace."
When Xiao Zi was emperor, he had three secret guards who handled all his external affairs. They were powerful and meticulous.
Now, even these three had vanished. Could it be that they were killed by Lu Ji?
"Secret guards?" Bai Ran blinked, looking at the three faint auras following them from a distance behind.
Were they referring to them?
Bai Ran turned her head, and the three immediately hid. They had no idea their presence was already completely revealed by Bai Ran's spiritual power.