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    A devil’s heart cloaked in an angel’s face—this is the essence of Chu Yu, the Little Devil Princess.

    Chen Nan’s body trembled as he gazed into the wickedly sweet smile of the Little Devil Princess, Chu Yu. Bound by her pressure-point technique, he could neither move nor speak, cold sweat soaking through his clothes. The terror of his predicament consumed him.

    “I’m at their mercy. Just as I set out on my journey, I’m met with this tragic fate. Heaven, surely you’re not mocking me?”

    The threat of castration loomed like a nightmare, a fate worse than death. His heart raced with dread as the princess turned and walked away, her female guards trailing behind, their faces flushed with embarrassment.

    A Cruel Game

    One of the male guards drew a long sword, waving it menacingly before Chen Nan’s eyes. The cold, sharp blade grazed his skin, sending goosebumps racing across his body. The guard’s malicious grin deepened Chen Nan’s terror. As the sword inched toward his groin, the agonizing anticipation overwhelmed him. His body convulsed, and he collapsed, unconscious from fear.

    The Little Devil Princess, expecting screams, turned back in curiosity. Seeing her subordinate mentally torturing Chen Nan, she burst into delighted laughter. Striding back, she nodded approvingly at the guard and snatched the sword, tapping it lightly against Chen Nan’s face. “Amusing. Who’d have thought a lecher like you would fear death so much?”

    The sight of the princess brandishing the sword, waving it between his nose and eyes, drained the color from Chen Nan’s face. A single slip could bring unimaginable pain. When she drew the blade along his ear, slicing off a lock of hair that fell onto his neck, his expression shifted to one of sheer panic.

    The guards exchanged knowing glances, faint smiles playing on their lips. They knew Chu Yu well, though only sixteen, her mischievous nature made her a constant headache. Her clever pranks left even the most seasoned warriors helpless.

    Bored with her game, the princess swung the sword directly at Chen Nan. The guards gasped, shouting, “Your Highness, you mustn’t!”

    Their fear matched Chen Nan’s. If the Emperor learned his youngest daughter had committed an act dishonoring imperial dignity, their lives would be forfeit. The princess’s face darkened. “What are you doing? Do you think you can control me?”

    A female guard stepped forward, trembling. “Your Highness, you are of inestimable worth. You cannot… you must not…”

    “Hmph!” Chu Yu tossed the sword to the ground, her expression cold. “Take him away. I intend to deal with him slowly.”

    Chen Nan exhaled in relief, a glimmer of hope piercing his despair. This girl truly is a little devil!

    The Princess’s Entourage

    The group consisted of twelve guards—six men and six women—and three apprentice mages, all young but formidable. The mages had forced Chen Nan from the water with ease, and a female guard had defeated him in thirty moves, a testament to their skill.

    Though Chu Yu had restored his physical freedom, she kept his speech sealed. Silencing the people is more dangerous than a bursting river, Chen Nan mused bitterly. He noted the group’s black hair and eyes, marking them as Easterners, yet their use of Western magic intrigued him. The merger of the Immortal and Magic Fantasy Continents into Tianyuan had clearly blended cultivation methods, with Easterners mastering Western magic and vice versa.

    Watching Chu Yu leap through the woods with childlike glee, Chen Nan silently cursed her every misstep, hoping she’d twist an ankle or trip. Yet she remained unscathed, occasionally darting back to whack his head or yank his ear, leaving him in silent agony. Though he tried countering her pressure-point technique with his family’s mystical arts, he remained “obediently” silent to avoid further trouble.

    At night, he considered escaping, but a night guard’s piercing glare forced him to abandon the idea. Who would have thought I, Chen Nan, would sink to this? Little Demon, don’t ever fall into my hands…

    The Princess’s Quest

    After five days of travel, Chen Nan learned the group’s purpose. Chu Yu, the youngest daughter of the Emperor of Chu, was the apple of her parents’ eyes. Her guards were elite warriors trained by the Emperor, and the three mages were apprentices, not yet full-fledged. To celebrate her father’s sixtieth birthday, Chu Yu had secretly left the palace to gather the legendary Blazing Immortal Lotus from the western borders of Chu as a gift. Her entourage had been coerced into joining her.

    Chu Yu’s eyes sparkled as she mused, “What will Father look like when I present him with the Blazing Immortal Lotus? He’ll be grinning ear to ear and let me roam the imperial city freely. I could go wherever I want, and no one would stop me! Hehe…”

    The guards’ faces were grim. Though coerced, they knew the Emperor would punish them for her reckless adventure. Chu Yu snapped, “Hmph! Are you all eating bitter melon? I’ve told you, Father won’t punish you!”

    Noticing Chen Nan’s faint smirk, she glared. “You scoundrel, dare you smirk? Come practice martial arts with me.”

    For days, Chu Yu had labeled him a “lecherous rogue” until a female guard whispered something to her. Realizing the term’s implications, she beat Chen Nan senseless in a fit of shame and fury, thereafter calling him a “scoundrel” or “stinking thief.” Each sparring session left him battered, her superior skills overwhelming him.

    “Why do you look so gloomy? Is it really that painful to practice with this princess?” Chu Yu teased, her mischievous grin masking her prowess. “Hehe, you’re improving. Try this move again. See how powerful it is now?” Her triumphant laughter echoed as Chen Nan endured yet another beating.

    The Volcanic Quest

    On the sixth day, the group reached a looming volcano, its crater shrouded in smoke and flames. Chen Nan’s heart sank—Chu Yu intended to pick the Blazing Immortal Lotus from the crater’s edge. The guards and mages were tense, one mage asking, “Your Highness, is the Fire Lotus truly within the crater?”

    Chu Yu snorted, “Of course it is. Are you afraid?”

    “No, certainly not! We swear to risk our lives for Your Highness,” the mage replied hastily.

    Chu Yu continued, “My master said the lotus hasn’t ripened yet. These next few days are the prime time for harvesting.”

    A female guard cautioned, “Your Highness, rare treasures are often guarded by spirit beasts. I wonder if this lotus…”

    “Oh, I almost forgot. My master mentioned a little snake. Surely you can handle a mere snake? Just be careful,” Chu Yu said nonchalantly.

    Chen Nan muttered inwardly, A little snake? This little devil’s nerves are thicker than thick. I’m staying far behind.

    As they ascended, Chu Yu forced Chen Nan to the front. “You scum, walk at the front!”

    He cursed silently, Little devil… but complied, her taunts ringing in his ears. “What does that look like? Dissatisfied? Want to duel me at the volcano’s summit?” she teased excitedly.

    The air grew stifling, the rocks scorching. Chen Nan stayed vigilant for the “little snake.” At the crater’s edge, smoke billowed, and the heat was unbearable. A rich, fragrant aroma cut through the haze, invigorating the group.

    Chu Yu smiled. “There really is a Blazing Immortal Lotus! Master didn’t deceive me!”

    Everyone donned anti-toxic scarves. Chu Yu tossed one to Chen Nan, saying, “Put it on quickly! We need to lure that little snake out now.”

    A demon is always a demon, Chen Nan thought, his fleeting gratitude vanishing.

    The Serpent’s Wrath

    Through the swirling smoke, the Blazing Immortal Lotus glowed fiery red on the crater’s inner cliff, its nine translucent crimson leaves and radiant petals dazzling like jade. As the mist shifted, a sense of danger gripped Chen Nan. Two blood-red points glowed from a pitch-black cavern nearby.

    A thunderous roar shook the crater as a colossal serpent’s head, as large as a house, emerged. Its blood-red eyes, each the size of a washbasin, locked onto Chen Nan. Its iridescent scales, each as large as a fan, shimmered menacingly.

    “Damn it! Is this the ‘little snake’ she mentioned? This is ridiculous!” Chen Nan cursed, trembling.

    The serpent’s massive jaws opened, revealing half-meter-long fangs. A blood-red tongue, over two zhang long, shot toward him with a nauseating stench. Chen Nan screamed and fled, shouting, “You stinking demon princess! Trying to get me killed?”

    Chu Yu, stunned to hear him speak, burned with fury. But seeing the serpent, her face paled before she composed herself. “What a beautiful snake!” she exclaimed, nearly making Chen Nan faint.

    The guards, battle-hardened, gripped their weapons, and the mages chanted spells. The serpent, revealing a portion of its body, froze, glaring coldly. Chu Yu, unfazed, said, “Do not fear. The lotus is about to mature, and the serpent won’t leave its side. Attack from a distance. Scatter the realgar!”

    Sacks of realgar were hurled, sliced open by wind blades. The serpent shuddered, retreating as the pungent odor filled the crater. It collapsed, motionless, and the group cheered.

    Chen Nan, halfway down the mountain, turned back, awestruck. This little devil took down that beast? Truly, the sister of the devil.

    Hiding behind a boulder, he watched Chu Yu scrutinize the serpent. “It’s feigning weakness to lure us in. Stay back—attack from here!” she commanded.

    Arrows and wind blades targeted the serpent’s eyes, but its scales deflected them. Three icy spears struck, drawing blood from beneath its eyelids. Enraged, the serpent reared, its fangs gleaming. It unleashed a torrent of flames, countered by a magical barrier.

    The mages doused the serpent with a wave of light, forcing it back. It retreated to the lotus, glaring maliciously. A female guard urged, “Your Highness, this demonic serpent is too powerful. We should retreat.”

    An apprentice mage stammered, “This… this is a snake spirit!”

    Chu Yu’s glare silenced him. Chen Nan thought, The princess is fiercer than the serpent!

    She ordered, “Use the thirty-six magic arrows!” The arrows detonated, shredding the serpent’s jaw. Enraged, it emerged further, shaking the crater. Chu Yu retrieved a lustrous black longbow from an ancient box—the Houyi Bow.

    Chen Nan’s heart skipped. The Houyi Bow… Father’s bow! Ten thousand years ago, Chen Zhan had used it to slay three masters, cementing its legend. “I never imagined I’d see it again,” Chen Nan whispered.

    An earth-shattering roar erupted as the serpent’s hundred-zhang-long body shot skyward, its full form a terrifying spectacle against the volcanic sky.

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