Chapter 655: Chapter 577: Betrothal Gifts_3

Ning Feiyan didn’t deny this point at all. With her keen observation, how could she fail to notice that Wen Hanwei’s gaze toward him was exceptionally clear and calm, not at all like the way a woman looks at a man? And as for those last few frowns, she couldn’t decipher their meaning.

“Fine, today my effort was indeed in vain. It seems that in the future, if I want to tease you, I’ll have to do it in front of the girl who likes you to see some blood.”

Baili An gave a big eye roll, too annoyed to speak any further with her.

Riding on rain-driven Sword Control, Baili An quickly returned to Mo City’s Royal City with Ning Feiyan.

As soon as they landed, before they even had a chance to step through the palace doors, they saw a slender, indigo silhouette standing in the dimly lit corridor, her figure extraordinarily elegant and bewitching in the night.

At that moment, she had removed her Crown and had changed into regular clothing, her long hair cascading down her back, and in her hands, she held a brocaded box made of jade. She wore a pure cyan silk robe, with the twilight’s shadows making her facial features more mysteriously deep and profound.

Baili An and Ning Feiyan froze simultaneously, looking at the Demon Lord, who had visited late at night, and were at a loss for words.

The Female Demon Lord’s figure contrasted starkly against the grand palace, and in that moment, a hanging cool moon slowly turned red in the backdrop of the palace’s eaves, just as she laid eyes on Baili An and Ning Feiyan returning hand in hand.

Ning Feiyan’s expression tightened, and she stepped forward to respectfully greet, “I have seen Your Highness.”

Baili An quickly followed suit with the same formality.

The weather remained gloomy and overcast, with the distant eastern sky barely breaking the darkness before being gradually devoured by the long, dark night.

The Female Demon Lord crossed the stone steps under the corridor, looking at Baili An with a smile that emerged soft and gentle like the wind. However, that wind brought with it a chilling, bloodthirsty scent, “You are in high spirits tonight, not resting in your chamber during such a rainy night, but instead wandering the lands of Ming Continent with the Si He River Lord. It seems you weren’t injured lightly in Shu Ci’s hands.”

Judging by her demeanor, Baili An couldn’t be sure whether she had seen his visit to Tian Gan Mountain tonight, so he could only vaguely respond, “I had long heard that a rare beast has appeared on East Mountain in Ming Continent. According to legends, this beast is born with the wind and arrives with the rain. Tonight was an excellent time for observation. Since I do not know many others in the Demon World, I could only ask Ning River Lord to show me the way.”

Hearing this explanation, the Female Demon Lord’s expression eased slightly, and she nodded, “Indeed, the appearance of the rare beast is magnificent and worth observing. However, since the Monarch’s Return Banquet has not yet concluded, leaving the city still goes against the rules.”

Baili An showed an enlightened face, “I will not do it again.”

The Female Demon Lord’s gaze coolly slid over to Ning Feiyan, “I recall the Daoting Palace is where Shouhe resides. May I know if the Si He River Lord has anything else to inquire about?”

Ning Feiyan hastily excused herself and left.

As the blood moon’s color in the sky began to fade, only Baili An and the Demon Lord remained in the vast palace. The surrounding silence was cold and empty. When the Female Demon Lord’s gaze steadily turned to Baili An, he anticipated that she would subject him to a thorough interrogation.

However, she did not question why he was in the Demon World or why he helped Ning Feiyan survive her deadly trial. It wasn’t due to lack of interest but rather a subtle suppression of her nature, as if she deliberately overlooked these matters.

She handed over the brocaded jade box in her hand to Baili An, “Take a look inside.”

Full of curiosity, Baili An accepted the box, opened it, and found inside a cyan jade hairpin for men, elegantly designed and lustrous as if containing fat, clearly of high nobility.

But even more valuable than the hairpin itself was the Divine Power hidden within it.

Baili An couldn’t identify the origin of the hairpin, “This is…”

The Female Demon Lord gazed downward, not at the precious hairpin in his hands but at the hand holding it, “I can guess your purpose in coming to the Demon World. This hairpin is the transformed Immortal Bone of a Heavenly God from Ancient Times, subjected to continual refinement by the Eight Desolate Thunder Fire at the chaotic altar, eventually taking the form of a hairpin. The Divine Power within it can kill those unknown creatures behind the Bronze Gate, including the one in the Ten Directions Sword. Thus, you no longer need to expend effort on Mi Lu; this hairpin I give you can resolve the troubles of the Ten Directions.”

Her tone was so nonchalant, as if what she offered was not an inherited treasure of the Demon Clan. Her deep, dark eyes locked onto Baili An’s as she continued, “So, if you don’t want it.”

In that moment, with the jade hairpin in hand, Baili An had a chaotic and bewildered sensation.

When the woman before him asked ‘if you don’t want it,’ it made him feel as though what she inquired about was not the hairpin itself, but something else entirely.

Even though Baili An knew the matter was far from simple and there was no such thing as a free lunch in the world, since it concerned Fang Geyu, he could not afford the slightest hesitation or deep thought.

With a touch of gratitude, he accepted the hairpin, looking earnestly at the Female Demon Lord, “Yes, I want it!”

The last touch of rouge in the moon dissipated with the passing clouds. With the glow of the moon cascading over her, a faint smile graced her lips, and her complexion carried a hint of morbidly pale flush. She took a step closer, the wind between them lifting her flowing robes and sleeves.

A faintly visible worn red string on her wrist, she narrowed her eyes, speaking with significant meaning, “So, it’s good. Since you have accepted this Long Decision Jade, once the Monarch’s Return Banquet concludes, I will ask the Star Official to select a propitious day to complete the wedding rituals.”

The box clattered to the ground.

Baili An was stunned for a moment, then, maintaining his composure, he bent down to pick up the box, calmly dusted it off, and calmly asked, “Demon Lord, what did you just say? I didn’t catch it clearly.”

The Female Demon Lord looked at him as if he were the most interesting thing in the world, leisurely saying, “I said I want to marry you as my king consort. That jade given just now…”

“Is an engagement gift.”