Chapter 379: The Truth Is

Huang Huang and the others saw the truth.

Those injuries were self-inflicted by Ren Yidao, and the blood was spat out by his own volition; it had nothing to do with them at all.

The others in Demon Emperor City also saw the truth.

After being forcibly taken away by the Demon Emperor, the Crown Prince appeared from the Demon Imperial Palace.

Although he tried his best to conceal it, one could still perceive his weakness, as if he had been punished by Her Majesty the Demon Emperor.

The fresh blood on his cuffs proved that this punishment was not as simple as a verbal reprimand, but rather actual, physical harm.

What exactly did the Crown Prince suffer inside the Demon Imperial Palace?

Why did he not say a single word?

Why did the Demon Emperor not offer even half a sentence of explanation?

Could it be that...

Amidst their surging emotions, some people subconsciously cast their gazes toward the Demon Imperial Palace, attempting to spy out even a shred of a clue.

But they forgot what kind of place that was.

The next moment, a calm voice, yet one containing supreme majesty, rang out in the hearts of those people.

"Scram."

Boom!!!

In an instant, countless people felt their hearts leap; they hurriedly severed their prying gazes and spat out blood in a wretched state.

Some who reacted slowly even fainted directly, and even those who did not were left with their spirits completely withered.

They realized one thing.

The Demon Emperor was enraged!

"Whoa, scary."

Ren Yidao, who was in the middle of his performance, also felt the surging spiritual power storm behind him and shrank his neck in feigned fear.

He was the closest, so he could most personally experience this power.

"But that's perfect. With this outburst of hers, it just so happens to confirm the rumors that she is in a bad mood... As for why she is in a bad mood, I'll leave that for you all to guess!"

Since he had already started acting, he had to see it through to the end. Ren Yidao kept his expression tense and "stumbled" all the way back to the Eastern Palace with great difficulty.

And the moment the gate closed, he let out a long breath from his lungs, straightened his back with some effort, and gave a vigorous stretch.

Crack, crack, crack...

A series of crisp sounds emitted from his body as he carefully adjusted the injuries on his person, resetting all his dislocated joints.

To make the effect realistic and prevent those with ulterior motives from discovering the truth, he had truly paid a heavy price; all the previous injuries were real.

"I really am dedicated to my work!"

He touched his smooth chin, wagged his tail with a grin, and chuckled in a low voice: "I've already paid so much, you all had better not let me down, hehe."

Click.

Just as he was grinning like a villain, he suddenly heard a sound. He turned his head to look to the side and discovered a corner of a tortoise shell peeking out from behind a water vat.

An eavesdropper!

With a casual flick, a burst of Qi slammed into the tortoise shell, emitting a *thud*.

"Hiding your head and showing your tail—come out."

"Yes! Yes..."

Having been struck, Gui Yan dared not continue hiding. He crawled out from behind the water vat at a snail's pace, revealing a fawning smile: "Hehe, he... Your Highness, you've returned?"

"Otherwise? Who do you think is in front of you?"

Ren Yidao shook his head, ignored the long-winded tortoise demon, and walked toward the hall with his hands behind his back.

As he passed Gui Yan, Ren Yidao casually patted its exquisite tortoise shell and praised it with a grin: "Well done, keep it up next time."

"Hmm, staying home by yourself for so long without starving to death—not bad."

You have more tenacious vitality than most of the pets I kept in my previous life.

Not bad at all!

"Ah?"

Having been praised, Gui Yan felt a bit happy.

But being praised for such a reason, Gui Yan really couldn't bring itself to be happy.

Um, Your Highness?

I am a Great Demon, after all, not some wild beast without awakened intelligence.

Even if I didn't eat or drink for a few months, I wouldn't starve to death!

I...

Gui Yan couldn't help but want to speak up to defend itself, but in the end, it still honestly thanked the Crown Prince for his praise.

"... This old servant thanks Your Highness for the praise."

Gui Yan realized that the Crown Prince's words were not as simple as they appeared on the surface.

Clearly, Ren Yidao was referring to something else.

Huang Huang and the others were right; the direction of public opinion in the city was indeed being manipulated by Ren Yidao.

And since he was clearly outside the city at the time, how did he manipulate it?

Naturally, by relying on the mole left inside the city!

Among those in Demon Emperor City who could truly be called the Crown Prince Party, they were few and far between, and Gui Yan was considered one of the most senior employees.

Crown Prince Industries, employee number zero-zero-four!

Incidentally, zero-zero-one is Ren Yidao himself, zero-zero-two was given to Cang Lan, and Yao Yue can barely count as zero-zero-three.

Before leaving, Ren Yidao had handed him some corresponding rumors, telling him to release them on schedule.

Although Gui Yan knew this was a task that could cost him his head, he dared not resist and could only pass the rumors outward every day according to the instructions Ren Yidao left behind.

For the first few days, Gui Yan was on pins and needles all day long, terrified that someone would come looking for him, living in constant fear.

But after a few days, everything remained normal, so his heart slowly settled, and his courage gradually grew.

As time passed, Gui Yan also noticed the impact those rumors had on the entire Demon Emperor City, and as an important Participant in it, he felt a sense of tension and excitement he had never experienced before.

At the same time, Gui Yan also understood that he was merely a chess piece of the Crown Prince, and his admiration for the Crown Prince increased accordingly.

From the initial fear of being forced into it, it had now gradually evolved into irrepressible reverence.

He had successfully completed his "self-domestication."

Regarding the fact that Gui Yan would automatically increase his loyalty, even Ren Yidao was somewhat caught off guard.

However, this pleasant surprise was just a minor interlude and did not make him care much.

He adjusted his injuries, swayed as he walked into the palace, and asked casually: "Has anyone come to the Eastern Palace during this time?"

Gui Yan followed behind Ren Yidao and said respectfully: "Replying to Your Highness, in the first few days, a few of your friends would come sporadically, but once I informed them you were out, they stopped coming."

"Once the rumors started spreading, no one has come to visit on their own for a long time."

"Today... oh, after you returned, Your Highness Cang Lan came by once, and left after discovering you hadn't returned."

Ren Yidao's footsteps paused; he turned his head, raised an eyebrow, and asked curiously: "Hm? Did she say anything?"

"No, she left directly without saying a word."

"I see."

She left without saying anything.

What does that mean?

Didn't I tell her to go home and get some good rest?

Why did she make a special trip here?

Ren Yidao was a bit confused, but after thinking about it simply, he gave up on deep reflection.

Forget it, I won't think about it.

Cang Lan must have her own issues.

This Silver Moon Wolf, who was also close to completing her "self-domestication," often behaved in ways he couldn't understand.

From the initial confrontation, to the later cooperation of false courtesy, and then to the current loyalty... her timing really made Ren Yidao unable to fathom her.

"Where exactly did things go wrong to cause such a psychological shift in her?"

Huhu does not understand.

"Well, whatever."

But Huhu doesn't care either.

"Let her be!"

Throwing his worries to the back of his mind, Ren Yidao was also a bit tired and instructed Gui Yan:

"I am going to rest. During this time, do not let anyone disturb me, no matter who it is. I mean anyone, do you understand?"

"Yes!"

Gui Yan nodded vigorously, then crawled back to his position by the door at Ren Yidao's wave.

Actually, Ren Yidao had prepared a guest room for him and didn't intend for him to be a doorman, but Gui Yan had always positioned himself as a doorman and servant, and had always been very proactive in completing his tasks.

Since he was so insistent, Ren Yidao didn't say anything and let him be.

Click.

The door closed gently, and Ren Yidao tidied up briefly before collapsing heavily onto the bed.

These days, it wasn't just Cang Lan and the others who were tired; he himself couldn't exactly call it easy either.

The breakthrough had consumed most of his energy, and training others while taking the opportunity to modify their memories was also a delicate, labor-intensive technical job.

After returning, he had to act in front of two cunning old foxes and mislead all the smart people in the city...

But actually, none of that counted for much; the time Ren Yidao was most tired was when he faced Huang Huang.

In his confrontation with Huang Huang, he had seemingly gained the upper hand on the surface, leaving her speechless and appearing infinitely glorious, but only he knew the bitterness behind it.

"This isn't right. Why is it like this? It's so strange..."

He had clearly broken through to a higher level and was only one step away from the Heaven Realm; logically, the gap between him and Huang Huang should have narrowed.

But unexpectedly, the pressure he felt when facing Huang Huang had become even greater!

Ren Yidao had an illusion.

He felt as if he wasn't facing Huang Huang, not facing a Demon Emperor who was at the Formless or even Ask Dao Realm, but... facing a piece of Heaven and Earth.

In that palace, he felt as if he were separated from the world, unable to absorb the surrounding Spirit Qi, as if he were in a state of oxygen deprivation.

The more powerful he became, the more he felt his own weakness and helplessness.

Therefore, the stronger one is, the weaker one is.

"Was it because Sect Leader Sikong had been restraining herself before? Is the Ask Dao Realm that powerful? Or is she just more special?"

Fortunately, that piece of Heaven and Earth was not complete, giving Ren Yidao a glimmer of survival, allowing him to absorb stray Spirit Qi from the gaps so he wouldn't lose his composure.

Although his body had reached an unprecedented peak, his spirit had reached the point of exhaustion.

He was too tired.

"Goodnight~"

He slept.

But unfortunately, he woke up very soon.

It wasn't to relieve himself, but because he had sensed an aura other than his own.

He opened his eyes and saw that there was one more person by the side of the bed.

To be more specific.

It was a woman.

To be even more specific, it was a demoness.

To be even more specific than that...

"Cang Lan, you're sitting on my hair."

Cang Lan:?

Do you want to listen to what you're saying?

I didn't even sit on it, how could I be sitting on your hair!

Ren Yidao cracked a joke, then sat halfway up on the bed, leaning against the headboard.

"You broke into my sleeping quarters at this hour; have you finally made up your mind?"

Cang Lan hesitated for a moment, frowned, and asked, "... What decision?"

Ren Yidao looked at Cang Lan, feeling a bit sentimental:

"I didn't expect that in the end, it would be you, with those thick eyebrows and big eyes. I thought the first one to come for a night raid would be Qingteng."

Cang Lan: Huh? Night raid? What?

Ren Yidao didn't care about Cang Lan's confusion; he opened his arms and smiled at her: "Alright, enough nonsense! Come on! Do what you want to do!"

Don't be polite with me!

Ravage me wantonly!

Cang Lan: "..."

The young Silver Moon Wolf girl closed her eyes, took a deep breath, forcefully suppressed the irritation in her heart, and tried hard to keep herself calm.

Don't get angry, don't lose control, don't fall into his trap!

She reminded herself over and over, but she couldn't suppress this anger.

Finally, when she had managed to adjust her state of mind and opened her eyes, she found that Ren Yidao was already standing beside her, draped in a single garment.

???

Ren Yidao stood at a position neither too close nor too far from Cang Lan, a playful smile on the corners of his mouth, arms crossed, tilting his head to look at her.

"Finished your mental preparation? Can we start now?"

As he spoke, he made a move as if to undo the belt at his waist...

!!!

"Stop!"

Cang Lan finally reacted, turned her head to the side, and said through gritted teeth:

"I, I didn't come to..."

"Well, of course I know that; I assume you don't have the guts for it anyway."

?

"You!!?"

Cang Lan wanted to lash out, but her lips were gently pressed by a slender finger, and she heard Ren Yidao's voice, which sounded gentle but was devoid of emotion.

"The night is already deep; don't disturb the others."

Suppressed by his aura, the fire in Cang Lan's heart was doused as if by a splash of water, and she felt a chill all over her body.

"Very good, good child." Ren Yidao raised his hand to stroke the top of the now-quiet Cang Lan's head and asked softly: "Not doing it, not saying anything—what exactly did you come to find me for in the middle of the night?"

After giving Cang Lan a light, firm reprimand, Ren Yidao's sleep-deprived grumpiness from being woken up dissipated; he pulled her to sit on the edge of the bed and asked with a smile: "Could it be that you came to check if I was asleep?"

Huaimin is also not asleep?

Do you want to stroll with me in the courtyard?

Or are you planning to join me in the water weeds?

Having been led by the nose by Ren Yidao for a long time, Cang Lan finally recovered; she took a deep breath, turned to look at him, and spoke with certainty:

"It was you who did it."

Hmm?

Hearing Cang Lan's certain tone, Ren Yidao was a bit surprised, not knowing what she meant by suddenly bringing this up.

He shook his head with a laugh and asked: "What did you say? What did I do?"

Cang Lan did not avoid or retreat; she stared at Ren Yidao and spoke again:

"Those rumors—you were the one who had Gui Yan do it."

Ren Yidao was somewhat surprised, not expecting to hear this from her, and asked in confusion: "Oh? What are you saying?"

"You heard me."

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Ren Yidao narrowed his eyes, looked Cang Lan up and down, and started to laugh: "Have you been possessed?"

Cang Lan remained silent, took another step forward, and stared into Ren Yidao's eyes at close range.

"Why?"

"You just want to ask this?" Ren Yidao tilted his head and smiled: "So, what do you want to say?"

"You think I released the news? I was clearly staying with you."

But Cang Lan was not led astray by him; she didn't think about the details, but firmly latched onto one point and pressed him.

"Why did you do that?"

Cang Lan stepped forward again and demanded: "What benefit does doing this bring you?"

She wanted to obtain the truth from his mouth.