Su Rushi’s eyes filled with yearning as she said, "Xiaoleng, let’s run away in a couple of days. I’ll spend the time getting ready and pack lots of rations for us to eat on the road."

’Sigh, what a simple-minded girl. She actually expects a little snake to help her escape. What is she thinking?’

However, it seemed she had hit the nail on the head by accident. Tu Xiao’an had come to the Yaoling Mountain Range precisely to take her away.

"Xiaoleng, I don’t really care if my future husband is human or Demon. There’s only one condition: I have to love him. As long as I love him, I’m willing to grow old with him."

At these words, the Snake Gaze of the little snake in Su Rushi’s arms flashed with a stunning light.

...

After leaving the vicinity of the Purple Bamboo Forest, the White Demon King suddenly spoke to the empty air.

"Come forth!"

SWOOSH!

A powerful Demon Spirit appeared before him and said with utmost respect, "What are your orders, My King?"

"My wedding is imminent. I want no accidents. Have men guard the Purple Bamboo Forest in secret. No one is to enter or leave, and there must not be a single mistake."

"Yes, this subordinate understands. Are you worried someone will come looking for trouble, My King?"

The White Demon King said coldly, "Shi’Er’s grandfather is a powerhouse among humans. He has his methods. He will absolutely not stand by and watch his granddaughter marry me. He will surely send people to take her back."

"Keke, humans have nowhere to hide in the Yaoling Mountain Range, let alone in My King’s Azure Bamboo Forest. Anyone who comes here is just courting death."

"Hmph. That damned old human dares to look down on me, forcing me to play hardball. My Shi’Er will stay here in the Yaoling Mountain Range with me for the rest of her life. No one can take her away."

"Rest assured, My King. As long as this subordinate is here, not a single human will get near the Purple Bamboo Forest. However many come, that’s how many will die."

"I have faith in you," the White Demon King said with a smile. He thought for a moment, then continued, "I heard Shi’Er found a snake. I despise snakes. No matter what kind it is, make it disappear quietly. But don’t let Shi’Er find out."

"Yes." For a Demon Spirit, this task was incredibly simple.

The White Demon King gave a few more light instructions, then his demeanor shifted back to that of a Demon King whose Demon Qi blotted out the sky, one who held power over life and death.

This powerful Demon Spirit’s true form was a species of dog—a bona fide Dog Demon, a Rank Three Demon Spirit.

He was, for all intents and purposes, the White Demon King’s watchdog. Utterly loyal, he had followed the White Demon King since he was just a Spirit Monster. Because of his loyalty, the White Demon King had forcibly raised him to the level of a Rank Three Demon Spirit.

After the White Demon King left, the Dog Demon suddenly threw back his head and let out a long howl. Before long, tens of thousands of wild dogs swarmed out from unknown locations, spreading out in a vast tide to patrol every corner of the Purple Bamboo Forest. No one could approach the forest without a sound; they would likely be detected by countless sensitive canine noses from kilometers away.

This was precisely why the White Demon King had entrusted such an important task to the Dog Demon.

Guarding homes was a dog’s natural specialty. A mere Purple Bamboo Forest was hardly a challenge for a Demon Spirit, to say nothing of one with so many wild dogs at his command.

It was no exaggeration to say this Dog Demon’s sense of smell was practically omniscient. Within a hundred-kilometer radius, no scent could escape his nose.

People spoke of eyes that could see a thousand miles and ears that could hear on the wind; he had a nose that could smell for a thousand miles, catching any scent on the wind.

Suddenly, the Dog Demon’s nose twitched. Someone was approaching the Purple Bamboo Forest from a kilometer away. In an instant, a vicious glint flashed in his eyes and the space around him rippled. The next second, the Dog Demon appeared a kilometer away, blocking the newcomer’s path.

"Take one more step and you die."

The Dog Demon appeared out of thin air and let out a harsh shout, but after he spoke, his face immediately filled with surprise.

The one approaching the Purple Bamboo Forest was an exceptionally bewitching and sexy beauty. She had a devilishly scintillating figure, a mane of wavy, golden-blond hair that shone with a dazzling light, and long, slender legs clad in a canary-yellow miniskirt that showed off her flawless physique.

The woman was dressed like a modern city girl, alluring and provocative, but her makeup was too thick and gaudy, giving her a slightly tawdry air.

This was the Yaoling Mountain Range, the White Demon King’s territory. It was impossible for an ordinary human beauty to appear here. But when the Dog Demon got a clear look at the woman, he immediately said respectfully, "Princess, why is it you?"

The glamorous woman raised an eyebrow and shouted, "You dog slave, you scared me! Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

The term "dog slave" actually refers to a servant or subordinate of humble status. Ancient emperors would often curse certain eunuchs, calling them "dog slaves."

But for this woman to call the Dog Demon before her a "dog slave" was remarkably fitting. The title suited him perfectly, as if it were tailor-made.

The Dog Demon was a Rank Three Demon Spirit, after all, but he didn’t dare show the slightest temper when this glamorous woman cursed him. Her status was noble—she was the White Demon King’s cousin, and her true form was a hedgehog.

It’s said that when one person attains greatness, their entire household rises with them. However, the Hedgehog Race was ultimately too weak. In this world, besides the White Demon King himself, who had become a Demon King, this glamorous woman was the only other hedgehog to have ever become a Rank Three Demon Spirit.

When the White Demon King saw that another member of his race, and a female at that, had become a Demon Spirit, he was overjoyed. Thus, they began addressing each other as cousins, though in reality, they had no blood relation whatsoever.

But the White Demon King truly doted on this hedgehog "cousin" of his, granting her almost any wish. That was how she came to be called "Princess."

In the Azure Bamboo Forest, the White Demon King’s domain, no one dared to disrespect this hedgehog woman. Even other Demon Spirits had to give way to her.

"Princess, the King ordered me to guard the Purple Bamboo Forest and allow no one to approach. This subordinate did not know it was you. Please forgive my offense," the Dog Demon apologized hastily.

Hearing this, the glamorous woman immediately asked, "My cousin just left?"

"That’s right. The King has just left."

"Is my cousin really going to marry that human bitch in seven days?"

"Well..." The Dog Demon hesitated.

Everyone in the Azure Bamboo Forest had previously assumed that the King’s official wife would be his cousin. After all, she was the chosen one of the Hedgehog Race, the only other to reach the Rank Three of Enlightenment, and she was deeply doted upon by the White Demon King.

But unexpectedly, the White Demon King truly only saw her as a cousin and had no other intentions.

The glamorous woman, however, did not think the same way. She wasn’t content with being the White Demon King’s cousin; she wanted to be his queen.

The Dog Demon’s hesitation made the glamorous woman snort coldly. "My cousin must have lost his mind, actually marrying a lowly human woman. What right does she have? What is she?"

"I should be his wife! Only I am truly worthy of my cousin!"

As she spoke, her heavily made-up face twisted until it lost all trace of beauty. "Dog slave, this Princess is going in to kill that human bitch right now. You are not to stop me."

"Princess, you absolutely mustn’t!" The Dog Demon was startled and desperately blocked the spoiled, aggressive woman. "Your Highness, you should know how much the King values the one inside. If you kill her... forget my own worthless life, I’m afraid even you would..."

"Are you saying my cousin would kill me? Hmph! I am the second Rank Three Demon Spirit of the Hedgehog Race. How could he kill one of his own kind for a human woman?"

The Dog Demon hurriedly said, "If the one inside so much as loses a single hair, the King will fly into a rage, let alone if she were killed! Your Highness, you can’t be so foolish!"

In truth, the Dog Demon was being extremely tactful to save her face. In the White Demon King’s eyes, if he found you pleasing, you were his cousin. But if he found you displeasing, you were nothing.

At best, you would just be an ordinary Rank Three Demon Spirit.

"Hmph! Even if my cousin really does kill me for it later, this Princess will kill that bitch first!"

The glamorous woman hated the human woman inside to her very core. Centuries ago, not long after the Purple Bamboo Forest was built, she had demanded to move in and become its mistress.

She had thought the White Demon King would agree in a heartbeat, but instead, he flatly refused, leaving no room for negotiation.

But then, two years ago, as soon as that human woman arrived, the White Demon King immediately arranged for her to live in the Purple Bamboo Forest. Back then, she’d had a bad feeling about it.

Today, she absolutely had to kill that bitch.

The Dog Demon could yield to her on other matters, but not this one. "Then forgive this subordinate for not making way," he said. "The King has given a command: no living creature is to enter or leave the Purple Bamboo Forest. Not even a mosquito."

"Dog slave, how dare you! In that case, this Princess will kill you first, then kill the bitch inside!"

The words had barely left her lips when Demon Qi billowed from the woman’s scintillating frame. A Soft Sword appeared in her hand, and she lunged at the Dog Demon, her posture screaming that she would kill gods and buddhas alike if they stood in her way.

The Dog Demon, wary of her status, didn’t confront her head-on. He simply dodged continuously, countering her moves as they came.

It wasn’t hard to see that although both were Rank Three Demon Spirits, there was a clear gap in their power. The Dog Demon was obviously much stronger than the glamorous woman.

A great battle thus unfolded outside the Purple Bamboo Forest. The fight seemed to have no end in sight; the glamorous woman was relentless, forcing the Dog Demon to remain fully occupied with fending her off.