True Heir of Chaos: From Villainess to Empress

"You all worry too much. Do I look like I'm not doing fine?"

Jian Dan addressed the attendant who had rushed in, flustered and breathless.

Hearing her calm voice, the attendant finally composed himself. After surveying the hall and confirming the situation, he quickly bowed and glanced at the black-robed commander, Gong Yi, standing at the front.

"Speak. What's gotten you so worked up?"

"Reporting to Jūnshàng, a clansman from Tian Mo Peak informed us that the head of the Ma family has proposed a marriage alliance to Peak Lord Mo Lie. He wants his grandson to become your Dao companion."

At that, Jian Dan lazily lifted her eyelids. "So that wrinkled old man was planning this all along."

Gong Yi frowned slightly. It was clear the Ma family had lost ground in the current power struggle between peak lords. Desperate to regain footing, they had come up with this tactic of forging an alliance with the reigning peak lord.

In doing so, they could at least save face. But pairing Mo Yue with the grandson of the Ma family's patriarch? That was a different matter entirely. This Mo Yue Jūnshàng might not agree so easily.

"I understand. Keep in contact with your clansman. Let me know if any new developments arise."

With that, she tossed him a low-grade storage pouch as a reward.

"Yes, Jūnshàng."

Gong Yi, whose expression was usually stern, now wore a completely blank face. He had no place to comment on this matter, and could only wait quietly for further orders.

"You all did well assisting with the purge at Mo Ying Peak. All spirit stones confiscated during the mission are to be delivered to the new steward there. The nine of you may each choose one item from the recovered spiritual materials for personal use."

"Thank you, Jūnshàng."

"These are the items I require. See if any are among the spoils. If not, help me exchange for them through the sect."

She handed Gong Yi a jade slip listing the materials needed to refine a flying sword. The sword embryo had long since been shaped but sat unused in her spatial ring. Now that she was on the Heavenly Demon Palace's turf, it was the perfect chance to gather what she lacked.

"Yes. I will handle it at once."

After leaving the hall, Gong Yi hesitated, then sent a message to Mo Zhang Zūnzhě of the Black Robe Guard. Whether the rumor was true or not, only Palace Master Mo Lie would know.

Having finally dealt with a mess of trifling matters, Jian Dan planned to speak with Mo Su about heading to Mo Lian Palace for cultivation. All these mundane affairs had delayed her progress. Although the Heavenly Demon Art was an ancient demon technique that circulated passively even without deliberate cultivation, it was no substitute for proper meditation or real combat.

"Reporting, Jūnshàng. Peak Lord of Mo Qi Peak requests an audience."

"Let her in."

A gust of red robes swept through the entrance as Mo Qi Jūnshàng breezed inside.

"Junior Sister, you're awfully calm about all this."

"What do you mean, Senior Sister? Calm about what?"

"Hmph. Don't play dumb. The whole palace is saying you chopped off a hand from the Ma family. Now they want to bring you into their clan by force. Who knows what they'll do to you once they have you."

Mo Qi had reaped benefits from Jian Dan's earlier assistance, and swiftly dealt with the pests lingering around her own peak. Mo Qi Peak was still relatively stable. The parasites that remained had taken root mostly in low-level cultivators, and many of them had trickled in from Mo Ying Peak under Ma Feijun's rule. This had already made Mo Qi resentful of the Ma clan.

She had received the news early this morning, and even ran into a group from the Ma family lodging openly on Tian Mo Peak. The way Ma Chengjun sized her up like a piece of merchandise nearly made her attack on the spot. It was only thanks to her attendant holding her back—and mentioning that something had happened on Mo Yue's side—that she held herself in check.

That was why she had come rushing over to consult Jian Dan and figure out what exactly was going on.

"Heh. Thank you for worrying, Senior Sister. But I haven't received any official word. The palace master hasn't summoned me. I suspect this is just a ploy, a rumor designed to make me uneasy. Why would I let them have their way?"

"True enough."

"And even if the palace master agrees, I still have to consent too, don't I?"

"Fair point. But, just hypothetically, if you really were told to become Dao companions with someone from the Ma family, what would you do?"

"Then I'd tell the peak lord I want maximum benefit in return. Joining the Ma clan isn't impossible. It would just mean changing my cultivation location. At the very least, I'd be representing the Heavenly Demon Palace. On the surface, they wouldn't dare touch me. As for behind the scenes, well, that depends on whose methods are stronger."

Jian Dan had a clear grasp of the situation. When the time came, who suppressed whom would depend on skill.

"Ma Chengjun doesn't have the ability to do anything to me."

"I know. What worries me is the ancestor backing him. That one's a Void Refinement Zūnzhǔ."

"Hmm. That does require some thought. I can't bring shame to the Heavenly Demon Palace."

While the two were still chatting, Gong Yi reentered the hall. He bowed to the two peak lords seated above and said,

"Mo Yue Jūnshàng, the palace master requests your presence at Tian Mo Peak."

Mo Qi shot Jian Dan a look that clearly said, "See? Didn't I tell you?"

"Alright. I'll head there shortly. In the meantime, gather those assigned to take over stewardship of Mo Ying Peak. When I return from the main peak, I want to have a little chat with them."

Gong Yi nodded seriously at the first instruction, but twitched slightly at the second. Still, he said nothing, and quietly withdrew.

"Shall I accompany you?"

"No need. It's not a death match in the arena. I won't need your support."

Jian Dan smoothed her black robes with casual ease. After bidding farewell to Mo Qi, she made her way alone to the main hall of Tian Mo Peak.

"Mo Yue pays respects to Palace Master."

"Sit. You probably already know why I called you here. I'd like to hear your thoughts. Of course, the decision is yours. I won't force you."

Palace Master Mo Lie's square face was unusually expressionless. This matter wasn't especially difficult for him, but it would place Jian Dan in an awkward position. That, he didn't want. A smart and capable subordinate was an asset. He had no intention of turning an asset into a liability.

"May I ask, Palace Master, what exactly did the Ma family promise?"

Mo Lie did not hide anything. After all, secrets rarely stayed secret, and it was better to gain favor now than lose trust later.

"They said if you, as the Peak Master of Mo Ying, agree to become Dao companions with Ma Chengjun, they will continue offering their usual tribute to the Heavenly Demon Palace. They also promised not to interfere in Mo Ying Peak's affairs again."

"They calculated this well. As long as they can control me, they no longer need to plant people in the peak. It makes no difference to them. Palace Master, what's your opinion?"

"Given the current chaos in the broader environment, I would prefer not to see further internal strife within the Heavenly Demon Palace."

Mo Lie stopped speaking, waiting for her response.

Jian Dan understood his intentions without needing them spelled out. She replied,

"If that's the case, then let's stabilize the situation first. Palace Master, you may agree to their request. However, I have conditions. They must follow proper cultivation world customs. A formal Dao companion ceremony must be held. I am not going there as some concubine."

"Agreed."