Ex-Wife is a Big Villainess
Chapter 323 - 186: Subdue the Demon!

Chapter 323: Chapter 186: Subdue the Demon!

At the first light of dawn, a gentle orange hue gradually suffused the sky.

The warm sunshine lightly scattered across the river’s surface, draping the sparkling water with a thin veil of gold.

A meticulous boat made its way slowly through the heart of the river.

The boat was elegantly constructed, with carved beams and painted rafters, colorful pennants fluttering in the wind, and guarded by several black-clad protectors of considerable cultivation—a clear sign of the owner’s high status.

At that moment, a series of clear and piercing cries echoed from the sky.

A robust falcon, swift as an arrow loosed from a bow, cleaved through the air with urgency.

It headed straight for the boat on the river.

By the boat’s railing stood a woman clad in form-fitting martial attire, her face obscured by a black mask. She raised her arm and the swiftly arriving falcon alighted upon it with precision, a startling sight.

The woman removed a bamboo tube tied to the falcon’s leg and took out a strip of paper.

After placing the tube back, the woman turned and entered the cabin.

Inside the cabin, a woman adorned in a luxurious purple gown, tall and imposing, was holding a fine brush, standing earnestly in front of a mottled ancient wooden desk, meticulously painting on rice paper.

The woman was delicately beautiful, her features exuding a graceful and noble air.

"Elder Princess."

The martially-clad woman handed over the paper strip.

The woman before her was none other than the Elder Princess of the Dazhou Dynasty, Zhou Wanyue.

Compared to the truculent nature of the younger princess, Zhou Xi Yue, Elder Princess Zhou Wanyue, who always kept a low profile and conducted herself with extreme modesty, constantly appeared gentle as jade and illustriously virtuous before others.

The only uncharacteristic action she had ever taken in all these years was to go into cultivation for the sake of that "Painting Gentleman" from Wanshou Mountains and Rivers, Shangguan Yunjin.

However, the Emperor, despite high public regard for his daughter, was not very fond of her, showing no favor even when the younger princess fell out of grace.

Aside from Elder Princess Zhou Wanyue, there was another young girl in the cabin.

The girl was dressed in a goose-yellow brocade gown, her features lively and attractive. She was lounging lazily at the edge of the desk, idly cracking melon seeds, seemingly bored to death.

Seeing the female protector hand the strip of paper to Zhou Wanyue, her eyes lit up, and she snatched it over. After reading the content, she clucked her tongue, "Tsk tsk tsk, sure enough, that Master Shangguan has gone to Qingzhou. Wanyue, I was right, wasn’t I? And you didn’t believe me."

The girl was named Zhou Ying Mo, a vassal king’s daughter from the royal family.

Though around the same age as Elder Princess Zhou Wanyue, she was unrestrained and lively by nature, occasionally acting willfully.

She often went out to play.

Elder Princess Zhou Wanyue, who was focused on the painting in front of her, did not seem to hear, her delicate brushstrokes earnestly outlining a landscape. Only after completing her work did she rub her wrist and say with a smile, "Where Master Shangguan goes is none of my concern."

Zhou Ying Mo scraped her cheek, "Wanyue, are you blushing when you say that? If you truly don’t care, why put so much effort into painting?"

Zhou Wanyue smiled slightly, "People today seek to end with no thoughts, yet they cannot do so without them. It’s just that the previous thought does not linger, and the next thought does not advance, naturally entering the state of No Mind. I am cultivating my state of mind, can’t you see that, Ying Mo?"

"I can’t see it."

Zhou Ying Mo shook her head and teased on purpose, "All I see is someone heard that Shangguan Yunjin went to Qingzhou, to meet a Miss Ran, and then someone next to me... couldn’t sit still anymore..."

"You little brat, are you asking for a spanking?"

Zhou Wanyue pretended to hit Zhou Ying Mo, who quickly begged for mercy. The two started frolicking together.

After the frolicking, Zhou Wanyue’s expression turned serious, "On this trip to Qingzhou, my main purpose is to discuss some matters with Ran Qingchen. Once we get to Qingzhou, don’t run around recklessly. It’s not like the Capital—things are mixed up there, and if something happens, no one will help you."

"I know."

Zhou Ying Mo hugged her arm, blinking with a smile, "I will definitely scold that Miss Ran for you, telling her not to seduce other people’s men."

"Don’t be ridiculous!"

Zhou Wanyue’s brows furrowed, her tone displeased, "If you mess around, don’t follow me anymore!"

"Oh, are you angry now?" Zhou Ying Mo said with a grin, "Alright, alright, I’m too lazy to meddle in your rotten affairs. Wanyue, love shouldn’t be so cheap; you’ll understand that later."

Zhou Wanyue laughed in exasperation, "Now you’re a love sage?"

Just then, a protector hastened in, "Elder Princess, there are some people drifting on the river."

"Drifting people?"

Zhou Wanyue was taken aback.

After exchanging a glance with Zhou Ying Mo, the two women stepped out of the cabin.

Upon reaching the deck, they indeed saw several people scattered across the river, some clinging to wooden debris, others facing down, drifting with the current, obviously already dead in the water.

And these people were those from the great hall.

Perhaps the bull demon had broken into the great hall, or perhaps some mechanism was triggered during the fight with Mengniang, causing the survivors who had been trapped inside the hall to be swept up by a whirlpool.

----

Meanwhile, Jiang found himself in trouble.

He was trapped within the Snake Demon’s lair, struggling desperately in a gloomy and narrow cave.

The walls were close, filled with an indescribable sense of oppression.

Invisible majestic divine power seemed to swirl around, forming invisible shackles that tightly bound his body. Every inch of space felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, squeezing every breath within him, causing an unprecedented feeling of suffocation.

Clearly, the Formation laid out by the Snake Demon was trying to stop him.

To tame the cunning and fierce Snake Demon, one had to follow the ancient secret methods, sprinkling the hard-to-find Fountain of Life over the most hidden chamber within the deep mountain lair.

As time passed, the water would absorb nature’s spiritual energy, nurturing a supreme spiritual flower.

When the flower bloomed, its fragrance could intoxicate demons, and its petals could pacify souls.

From then on, the Snake Demon would kneel in submission, no longer causing trouble, and conform to the righteous path of heaven and earth.

At this moment, the yin and yang little golden figures in the "Taoist River Map" seemed to have sniffed out delicious food, crazily absorbing the intertwined aura of both cold yin and fierce yang.

Jiang exerted all his mystical power, gritting his teeth and moving forward step by step.

The oppressive feeling from the cave’s divine power grew stronger.

That suffocating feeling, ever-present like a shadow, felt as if it could engulf him into boundless darkness at any moment.

In a trance, Jiang arrived in front of a barrier.

It appeared to be a pink barrier made of rune seals, as if it had been rooted here since ancient times, blending naturally and mysteriously with the surrounding environment, like a formidable rift, firmly sealing off the path ahead.

As long as this barrier could be broken, subduing the demon would be half successful.

Jiang focused his mind, holding his breath, unifying both heart and spirit.

An indescribable power gradually converged.

In an instant, this power burst forth explosively, Jiang’s form transforming as if into an unstoppable flying sword, sharp and unblockable, tearing through all obstacles with a thunderous noise as easily as if they were made of paper.

This force was the supreme divine power bestowed by the Taoist River Map.

Back then, Mengniang had doubted his ability to subdue demons, yet she overlooked the mysterious intricacies of the Taoist River Map.

The Taoist River Map thrives on the alternation of yin and yang, continuously endowing one with exuberant vitality and boundless strength like a perennial spring.

Perhaps sensing the destruction of the cave’s barrier, the Snake Demon suddenly let out a piercing, miserable scream.

Seizing the moment of the Snake Demon’s unstable spirit, Jiang did not hesitate for a split second, carrying forth a resolute determination to sink or swim and an overwhelming momentum that could topple mountains and pull up trees, he charged forward, vowing to seize this golden opportunity to secure victory.

——

——

While Jiang was exerting all his effort to subdue the demon, at the same time, in Qingzhou, inside an inn:

Jin Ao, having traveled a great distance, knelt on the ground with an attitude of sincere repentance, "Sect Master, that’s what happened. To kill or to scrape, it’s your call, I, Jin Ao, have absolutely no objection!"

Dressed in a flowing red gown, Qu Hongling sat at the table with a light and captivating posture, smiling and saying, "I thought Protector Jin was off living with that woman in Yanrong territory, I was even considering selecting a new protector to replace you."

Jin Ao said solemnly, "For the great kindness and grace you have shown Jin Ao, I dare not forget, even at the cost of my life, I would come back to repay you, Sect Master!"

Having said that, he knocked his head heavily on the ground.

His forehead had turned red from the kowtowing.

In the room, besides Qu Hongling, there was also the second protector, Shen Shengyuan.

Looking at the pretentious Jin Ao, Shen Shengyuan said irritably, "Stop the act, there’s no need to put on a show in front of the Sect Master. Knowing you won’t be punished, are you just playing the martyr?"

Jin Ao chuckled, "I’m here to confess my wrongs after all; I have to show some sincerity, right?"

"You can stand up."

Qu Hongling poured a cup and placed it on the opposite table, smiling as she said, "I have already investigated the course of events. Although Protector Jin acted a bit impulsively, I still support your chivalrous heart,"

Jin Ao sat cautiously on the chair, holding the tea cup with a dry laugh, "I was just a bit too impulsive at the time... But Sect Master."

As if he had remembered something, Jin Ao said in a low voice, "After thinking it over carefully afterward, something feels off. It’s true that I killed the man, but it seems like the whole process was deliberately guided."

"Oh? Are you saying someone was using you?"

Qu Hongling’s fine eyebrows slightly raised, asking with a crisp voice.

Scratching his head, Jin Ao replied, "I’m not sure, just speculating. Maybe I’m just overthinking. In any case, Sect Master, I am deeply grateful for your dispute with the Great Protector on my behalf. Whenever you need me in the future, I will definitely not refuse. Oh, right!"

Jin Ao’s eyes lit up, rubbing his hands together in embarrassment, "On the way here, I saw a gift for you, Sect Master, but unfortunately, I didn’t manage to bring it back."

Qu Hongling burst into laughter, "Don’t worry about the gift, just your thoughtfulness is enough, Protector Jin."

"But this isn’t just any gift,"

Jin Ao hurriedly said, "I saw a young man on the way here, handsome and decent. I think he’s a perfect match for you, Sect Master. I was thinking of abducting him to present to you as a gift. Having a pretty boy wouldn’t be too bad..."

"Cough cough cough!"

Suddenly, Shen Shengyuan began to cough.

Jin Ao was startled, only then realizing that Qu Hongling’s stunningly beautiful face was already covered with dark clouds, frosted over like snow.

Qu Hongling smiled, yet her voice was freezing cold, "Protector Jin, if you really think that young man is good, then it’s easy. Castrate him and send him to the palace. I’m sure the empress and the concubines would love it."

"That... let’s not," Jin Ao replied with an awkward smile.

"You may leave."

Qu Hongling waved her hand.

"Yes."

Jin Ao hesitated, leaving the room with a hint of regret.

He still thought that young man was pretty good; maybe when the Sect Master was in a better mood next time, he would introduce him.

Qu Hongling stood up, gracefully walked to the window, and stood leaning against it.

The breeze brushed by, inadvertently stirring her smooth black hair, the strands of hair dancing like her thoughts, quietly humming the delicate sorrows unique to a young girl.

Jiang, I will be your woman for my whole life, never caring for a second one.

If you are still alive, it would be the same for you, I suppose.

A green leaf slowly drifted over, landing on the young girl’s head...

——

[Author’s Note: Just to clarify, there are no new female leads in Volume Two. Even if new female characters are written, they won’t be the main heroines. This volume mainly focuses on developing the heroines introduced in the first volume. This clarification is to prevent certain readers from mistakenly projecting a new main heroine.

In one sentence, within the Dazhou royal family, the protagonist is involved with only the empress.]

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