Chapter 53: Bitter Cold Lands of the North

When she came back to her senses, Ji Yunhe only had one thought. Her mess of a life was throwing so much at her, yet she was still alive.

In that case, might as well make the most of it. She had a reason to press on now that she knew Changyi did not return to the sea. She could not give up yet. There must be something else she could do to help him from inside this Grand Master's house, for example... Killing Princess Shunde.

The Grand Master was powerful, but he had no interest in Changyi. His interest was in her, the half-human half-demon freak. The only one who was a threat to Changyi was Princess Shunde. If the princess were to die, he would be safe even staying on land.

Ji Yunhe opened her eyes. The familiar cell, the same dark environment, but the black gas that surrounded her was gone. Ji Yunhe stretched out her pale and thin hand.

The skin looked almost translucent with the veins underneath clearly visible. She touched her arm… The cuts had also completely disappeared. Her body seemed to have returned to the state prior to her demonic transformation.

"I was right. The poison from the strange flowers found overseas really did have some effect." The Grand Master's voice came from outside the cell.

He opened the cell door and walked in, then squatted down beside her. He took her hand and placed a finger on her pulse. He looked like a real doctor right now, but his voice did not have the kindness of one.

"Hidden pulse is still there and the spiritual power still exists. Although the demonic power is weak, it is also stable. They have successfully merged into your blood. Ruling did you a favor." Ruling was the birth name of Princess Shunde. No one but the Grand Master could call her by that.

"A favor?" Ji Yunhe looked at him and laughed.

The Grand Master said, "The hidden pulse contains your spiritual power, and the pulse that ordinary people possess, has now been infiltrated by your demonic power. The poison of the strange flower has fused the two inside your body, turning you into a real..."

"Freak." Ji Yunhe interrupted him and gave herself the label.

"That's fine if you prefer calling yourself that. Having the power of both a demon and a demon master is truly unique in this world. You should feel thankful." Ji Yunhe let out a sarcastic laugh.

"Ji Chengyu said you were supposed to further refine this poison."

"Mhm. The refining is not yet complete, I will have to observe you for a few more days to see if anything goes wrong."

"Observe?" Ji Yunhe asked. "You mean having Princess Shunde torture me again." The Grand Master released her wrist.

"It is necessary in order to study you." Then he turned to leave.

Ji Yunhe looked at his back and raised her voice, "Grand Master, I am curious. You and the princess sit so high and mighty, are you all just used to being cruel and malicious? Do you not have the slightest doubt... or guilt about what you guys are doing?"

The Grand Master's footsteps gave a slight pause. He turned his head sideways, and his figure appeared a bit blurry under the light of the candle flame.

"I once asked this question too." Ji Yunhe had intended to provoke him, and did not expect to receive such a response. What did this mean?

Has the Grand Master also been in the same embarrassing and desperate situation that she was in right now? He walked off without further explanation, and Ji Yunhe stopped pondering over it. What was in his head was not for her to explore anyway.

She sat cross-legged in the corner and focused inward, searching for the two types of power inside her body. She had to build up her strength so she could attack Princess Shunde by surprise.

Five days later.

Princess Shunde and Zhu Ling came again. Her mood seemed a lot worse than before, and her face was visibly suppressing a good amount of anger.

Zhu Ling snorted after seeing Ji Yunhe had regained some health. "Lucky you!" Princess Shunde looked even more upset.

"Zhu Ling, where is the replica of the scarlet whip?"

"It should be here, I'll go find it," Zhu Ling said and walked to the storage area. Princess Shunde stared at the meditating Ji Yunhe.

"The jiaoren has partnered up with the monk, Kongming. They are leading a group of renegade demon masters and lowlife demons from the bitter cold lands in the north, and are fighting their way south to the northern Demon Terrace." Ji Yunhe opened her eyes slightly, but she did not look at Princess Shunde. She just stared silently at the ground in front of her.

"Master Warden of the Demon Valley, the jiaoren you set free has caused quite a bit of trouble."

Ji Yunhe looked up at the princess and saw her full of rage and viciously grinding her teeth. Her high and mighty face was finally showing its ugly side. Ji Yunhe gave her a bright smile.

"Princess Shunde, thank you for bringing me such good news." Changyi did not return to the sea, but he seemed to have found his footing on land.

Ji Yunhe's words ignited Princess Shunde's anger even more. "You think this is good news? Neither the court nor I will have mercy on the jiaoren after this. He is doomed! A rabble of pathetic traitors will not take more than a month to quell. And you will be the first to be sacrificed to the imperial flag."

"Princess, you are wrong. You can't sacrifice me to the imperial flag because your master forbids it. Furthermore, they are not rabble. They are desperate people who have been forced to the end of the road, by you. And over the years, under the oppression of the imperial court, do you think they are the only ones wanting to fight back?" Princess Shunde stared at Ji Yunhe and narrowed her eyes. Ji Yunhe kept laughing.

"A month? Two months? I think you will not be able to suppress this rebellion even in two years. There is no certainty who wins in the end."

"What a sharp-tongued girl." Princess Shunde grabbed the whip that Zhu Ling had finally found.

"Even though I can't sacrifice you to the flag, I can still make you suffer a fate worse than death." Ji Yunhe stared back at her.

"Try it." Princess Shunde approached the door to the cell.

Ji Yunhe watched her every step. She was prepared to make her move as soon as the door opened. If Princess Shunde were to die, the conflicts between her and her brother's forces would surface and the dynasty would be in turmoil. They would have no time to deal with the rebellion.

Ji Yunhe might not survive it even if she was the Grand Master's "novelty". But it did not matter, as long as she could help Changyi, even just a little bit. Ji Yunhe watched, and waited.

"Princess! Princess!" Ji Chengyu's urgent call came from the doorway. He rushed in and bowed to Princess Shunde.

"Princess, the emperor is summoning you to the palace. The rebels broke through the Demon Terrace defenses, and demon masters there who remained loyal to the court were chased off. The rebels seem to be settling there." Princess Shunde was stunned. Ji Yunhe laughed.

"Princess, looks like that 'rabble' has established a foothold to fight against the imperial court." Princess Shunde stared at Ji Yunhe with sinister eyes, and threw the whip heavily on the ground.

"Zhu Ling, beat her until she can't talk anymore!" Then she stormed off.