The large expanse of deep purple dress hem spread out, as if gilded with a radiant glow. It flowed gently as she walked, more flamboyant and luxurious than any dress Yaohua had ever worn before.
Zhaowu was quite wealthy.
Just now, the maids had called him "Your Highness." She wondered what his exact identity was.
Yaohua was intent on finding out. However, as soon as these demons saw her, they either bared their teeth, rolled their eyes, or spat. Those who pretended not to see her were already considered friendly.
"Where's the mistress?" Zhaowu's voice gradually drew closer. Yaohua heard a maid reply, "The mistress is dressing up."
Yaohua paced out of the room and met Zhaowu's startled purple eyes.
Zhaowu shifted his gaze uneasily, looking around. Then his eyes returned to Yaohua. After a couple of glances, he looked away again. It took a while for that strange state to fade away.
He reached out his hand towards Yaohua's temple.
Yaohua quickly dodged. She didn't want to be touched by Zhaowu. But then she saw Zhaowu's face turn gloomy, and there seemed to be a storm brewing in his eyes.
"You have to give me some time to adapt!" Yaohua quickly exclaimed, on the verge of tears. "I left my hometown and came here with you. I'm not familiar with this place at all. It's only natural that I'm a bit vigilant. Do you want to act like a bad guy and lay hands on me?"
Zhaowu's expression softened, but he still looked a bit disgruntled. "I just wanted to straighten your hairpin."
Yaohua suddenly realized. "I misunderstood you."
To prevent Zhaowu from reaching out again, she quickly raised her hand and straightened the tilted hairpin on her temple.
"You might be bored since you just arrived here. I'll take you to have some fun." Remembering the methods he had heard from his subordinates on how to please a woman, Zhaowu straightened his face and walked out stiffly.
Yaohua followed him blankly. Did Zhaowu really think of her as his fiancée?
The bond mark she got when she was twelve was like a child's game. It couldn't be taken seriously.
"Up ahead is the arena in our mansion. It's also the most popular place among everyone on weekdays." Zhaowu had no idea what was on Yaohua's mind. He pushed open a door.
The originally quiet environment instantly became lively.
Yaohua heard many demons shouting and cheering wildly, as if there was some kind of competition going on below.
Curiously, she followed Zhaowu. As soon as the demons in front saw Zhaowu coming, they immediately made a narrow path just wide enough for one person to pass through.
When she got to the front, Yaohua finally saw why they were so excited.
A dozen female fairies were running in the arena. Two stocky demons covered their eyes and groped in their direction.
A strong sense of disgust and anger immediately welled up in Yaohua's heart.
How vulgar!
How could they find such amusement!
The corners of her mouth, which had been slightly upturned, drooped down severely, and her gaze gradually turned cold.
Zhaowu seemed quite interested. "These two demons are the most powerful in the arena of our mansion. They are brutal and efficient in killing fairies. Whenever there's a fight with them, the place is always packed."
As he was speaking, one of the demons with a pattern on his back suddenly grabbed a female fairy's foot.
He gave a hard tug, and the female fairy was dragged in front of him. First, he cut a piece of meat from her leg and, amidst the fairy's shrill screams, threw it to the demons outside, letting them fight over it.
Seeing that the demon was about to reach into the fairy's abdomen, Yaohua couldn't bear to watch any longer and averted her eyes.
Noticing Yaohua's expression from the corner of his eye, Zhaowu was taken aback. Only then did he realize. "You don't like this?"
Yaohua glanced at him. "Why would I like to watch such brute behavior?"
She didn't lower her voice, so the demons around seemed to freeze. After a moment, countless pairs of eyes looked over, filled with curiosity, surprise, understanding, and disgust.
"A phoenix dares to spout such nonsense here. Your Highness, throw her down and let A Tuo and Hua Nu teach her a lesson!"
"Yes, Your Highness, throw her down!"
Amidst the echoing voices, Yaohua suddenly smiled. "Your Highness, throw me down."
There had been a smile in Zhaowu's eyes just now. But now, hearing the demons' instigation and Yaohua's cold words, the smile vanished completely like a receding tide.
"Silence!" A thunderous roar filled with a heavy aura resounded through the arena, and the air instantly fell silent.
Zhaowu's gaze swept over the demons who had just spoken. "How dare you show disrespect to the mistress? Do you even take me into account?"
Yaohua remained unmoved. Demons were good at bewitching, and the Heavenly Demons were no exception. Zhaowu speaking up for her was just to achieve his own goals. Moreover, if it weren't for him, she wouldn't have to feign compliance.
The demons, who had been so bold and unrestrained just now, instantly knelt on the ground. Even the two demons in the arena sensed something was wrong. They took off their masks and slowly knelt down.
"Let's go." Zhaowu wanted to hold Yaohua's hand.
Yaohua quickly dodged. "Don't touch me!" Her gaze fell on the arena. "I originally thought that even though you're a Heavenly Demon, you're a heroic one, different from those blood - thirsty and bullying demons. But now I'm really disappointed!"
Zhaowu originally wanted to say that killing a few people didn't matter. But when he met Yaohua's sharp gaze, he suddenly couldn't say it.
"The Heavenly Demons and the Three Realms are naturally opposed..."
Before he could finish, Yaohua coldly interrupted him again. "Kill but don't torture. You're much older than me. Don't you even understand such a simple truth?"
Zhaowu looked at her in surprise. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "This is a tradition of the Heavenly Demon Clan..."
"Then throw me down too. Isn't hating and loathing phoenixes also a tradition of your Heavenly Demon Clan?"
Zhaowu's gaze swept over the demons kneeling on the ground. The eagerness in their eyes made him even more annoyed. "No one will lay a finger on you. Don't act recklessly."
"Fine." Yaohua's chest heaved. "My Phoenix Clan symbolizes auspiciousness. Since the day of our marriage is approaching, would you be willing to release them for me?"
She pointed distantly at the female fairies in the arena.
A cold light flashed in Zhaowu's eyes. "Don't push your luck."
If Yaohua didn't like it, he wouldn't let such a thing happen in front of her. But if Yaohua insisted on him releasing them, how could he appease these demons?
The young girl stood upright on the steps, her eyes sharp. She confronted Zhaowu without showing any sign of weakness. Neither of them was willing to give in.
Zhaowu shifted his gaze and glanced at the two demons in the arena. "I can give them a quick death."
Before his voice faded, the two demons in the arena suddenly attacked. Before Yaohua could say anything, they directly slaughtered those female fairies.
The warm blood flowed on the ground and quickly gathered into a thin stream.
The smell of blood filled the air, almost making Yaohua suffocate.
She stared at Zhaowu with a strange and cold look, then turned around and walked back.
A demon who blocked her way was kicked by her. Just as the demon was about to get angry, he looked up and met Zhaowu's violent eyes. So he suppressed his killing intent and grudgingly moved aside.