If you enjoy Bloodhound: The Demon Emperor's Bride , please support your author with Power Stones, comments, reviews, Golden Tickets, and gifts. Your encouragement means the world to me!"
Yin Zhi clenched his fists at his sides, his teeth grinding in frustration. If only that wound and poison from three years ago had never happened…
His mind returned to the day that changed everything.
Mo Tian had dared to challenge his own father, the former Supreme Demon Emperor, for the throne. It should have been impossible—his father's cultivation was more than double his own.
But Mo Tian had never fought fair. With the help of a Black Witch, he devised a trap. The old emperor, blinded by lust, was easily ensnared. The witch stole his blood and cast a Sealing Spell that suppressed half of his demonic power. She poisoned him as well.
Even so, that battle had nearly cost Mo Tian his life. The previous emperor fought like a cornered beast, his fury boundless.
His counterattack carved deep wounds into Mo Tian—injuries that even now refused to heal. Worse still, the venom he struck with lingered in Mo Tian's body like a curse, shackling his cultivation and slowing his ascent. Victory had come at a cruel price.
Since then, Mo Tian had been secretly seeking to awaken his spirit beast's power—his only hope of restoring himself before the other demon lords caught wind of his weakness
In the demon realm, mercy was worthless. Only strength, ruthlessness, and cruelty commanded fear… and fear was the only path to survival.
Meanwhile, after leaving Mo Tian's study, Feng Ling was greeted by four maidservants waiting in the corridor. Zhǐlán, the foremost among them, stepped forward with a graceful smile.
"Empress, His Majesty must have informed you—tomorrow, the concubines will come to pay their respects. They were meant to arrive today, but the Emperor ordered them to wait until morning," Zhǐlán explained, walking beside her while the others followed silently.
Earlier that day, after witnessing Feng Ling unleash a spell on Zǐyān, not a single maid dared to show the slightest trace of arrogance. Even those whose cultivation surpassed hers kept their heads lowered, afraid to draw her gaze.
"Empress, will you be meeting with the witch teacher tonight?" Zhǐlán asked softly.
"There's no need. I will meet her tomorrow—it's already late," Feng Ling replied, her gaze drifting toward the window. The sky had darkened; night had quietly descended over the demon palace. She exhaled faintly and turned back. "For now, I need a bath… and a proper meal."
Although Feng Ling despised the idea of being followed by servants—after all, in her eyes, everyone in the demon realm was an enemy—she had no choice. The palace was a maze of corridors and towering halls; losing her way on her first night would only invite humiliation. Better to endure their presence than risk wandering like a fool, she told herself bitterly.
As if sensing her thoughts, Zhǐlán gracefully stepped forward to guide her. "This way, Empress."
They walked in silence until they stopped before an imposing set of doors. The guards straightened at once, bowing deeply. "Greetings, Empress."
But Feng Ling did not step inside. She remained rooted in place, her gaze sweeping over the doors with growing suspicion.
The other servants halted behind her, heads lowered. Only Zhǐlán dared to meet her eyes.
"Why," Feng Ling said coldly, her voice sharp enough to cut through the silence, "did you bring me here… to Mo Tian's chambers?"
"Since I am the Empress, shouldn't I have my own chambers? I'm certain Mo Tian's concubines each have their own quarters," Feng Ling said sharply. She had not seen any of them today, yet the thought of sharing the same space with Mo Tian made her skin crawl.
Zhǐlán bowed her head, torn between duty and exhaustion. As the head maid personally assigned by Mo Tian to serve the Empress, she dared not complain, though her heart felt heavy. One wrong word and her head could easily roll from her shoulders.
"Your Highness," Zhǐlán replied carefully, "the Emperor has given us no such orders. We cannot arrange new quarters for you without his command. Perhaps… if you discuss it with His Majesty tonight, and he approves, I will personally see to the arrangements tomorrow."
Feng Ling's lips pressed into a thin line. She could see there was no point in pressing further. With visible reluctance, she stepped into the Emperor's chambers. The guards outside saluted her, while the four maidservants trailed nervously behind, not daring to lift their eyes.
She sat onto the couch, her expression unreadable as she studied them. But her thoughts were far from calm.
The man she had met earlier—the one who claimed to be Mo Tian's brother—still lingered in her mind. His words had sparked doubt and unease, yet she could not speak of it openly before these servants.
She needed answers, but here in the demon realm, she was blind, cornered, and surrounded by enemies. For now, she would have to bide her time… and find another way to uncover the truth.
Feng Ling's gaze shifted to Zǐyān, who stood stiffly with her head bowed, not daring to meet her eyes. A small, cold smile touched Feng Ling's lips. So fear carries more weight here than respect… it seems the demon realm is no different from any other.
"Zǐyān," she called suddenly.
The maid flinched, her body trembling as she lifted her head ever so slightly. "Y-Yes, Your Highness?"
"I'm hungry. Go to the kitchens and bring me something to eat. Yùyáo, Xiāngxuě—prepare bath water. I want to freshen up after my meal. As for you, Qín'ér, you may rest for tonight. Zhǐlán will handle the rest."
"Yes, Your Highness!" The four maids scattered at once, grateful to escape her presence, leaving only Feng Ling and Zhǐlán in the chamber.
"You may sit," Feng Ling said casually.
Zhǐlán stiffened. "This servant wouldn't dare."
"I mean it," Feng Ling's tone hardened. "Sit. I want to ask you something."
After a long hesitation, Zhǐlán lowered herself onto a chair, keeping her posture as respectful as possible.
"I want to know more about the demon realm," Feng Ling began, her voice cool but probing. "Mo Tian said I would soon take over palace affairs. If that's true, I should at least understand the foundation I'm standing on."
It wasn't the full truth—she had not forgotten her secret agreement with the mysterious man. She needed information to trade with him next week.
Zhǐlán bowed her head slightly. "Your Highness, the demon realm is not so different from other realms. We have our own cultivation ranks, just as the witches and the devils have theirs…"