At that moment, Chef A Yong specially prepared a sweet and sour “love pastry” for Third Young Master Wang.
Wang Sandong returned from the kitchen and presented it like a treasure, sharing it with Zheng Xiao and Emperor Yuan for tasting.
She received a strange look from Zheng Xiao and a somewhat cold smile from Emperor Yuan.
She treasured the remaining pastries, taking them into her room, then closing the door behind her.
The moment the door shut, the “happy smile” on Wang Sandong’s face gradually faded.
She casually tossed the pastries onto the table, then sat down on the edge of the bed, circulating her energy to cultivate.
Wang Sandong was very busy.
Busy plotting against Chef A Yong, busy cultivating, busy analyzing the true purpose of Return to Heaven—whether it was transformation or “Soul Hooking” and “Soul Snatching,” there must be a reason for their existence.
This reason was likely tied to the secret of the Demon Abyss.
Wang Sandong had no interest in the Demon Abyss.
She just didn’t like being used while kept in the dark.
Plotting against A Yong was simple; she just needed to frequently visit the kitchen to “have heart-to-heart talks” with him.
Wang Sandong believed that Emperor Yuan would inevitably grow wary—wary that she and A Yong would form some “emotional bond,” leading her to defect to the Demon Sovereign.
Even without any evidence, as long as this wariness existed, it would eventually become the blade that killed A Yong.
It was only a matter of time.
As for her cultivation progress, it remained slow.
There was still no sign of breaking through to the fourth rank.
However, fortunately, Wang Sandong could sense the Demonic Qi within her body growing more abundant.
Regarding Return to Heaven and the Demon Abyss…
Why must the sacrifice to the Demon Abyss require men transformed into women?
Why did it have the abilities of “Soul Snatching” and “Soul Hooking”?
Wang Sandong couldn’t figure it out.
She guessed it had something to do with the Primordial Spirit—which raised another question: now that she had become a woman, was her Primordial Spirit male or female?
Furthermore, she didn’t know the benefits of sacrificing to the Demon Abyss—A-Gui’s memories didn’t contain that information.
She wondered if A Yong had any knowledge on this matter…
For several consecutive days, Wang Sandong visited the kitchen every day to find A Yong.
Later, before each visit, she would examine herself from left to right in the mirror, even adjusting the position of a single strand of hair several times until she was satisfied.
Wang Sandong believed this behavior would surely keep Emperor Yuan restless with worry.
However, what Wang Sandong hadn’t anticipated was that she wasn’t the only one restless—Third Uncle Wang Zhongxin also couldn’t sleep or eat peacefully.
On the only path from Anzhi Courtyard to the kitchen, Wang Zhongxin stood on the small bridge in the mansion, hands behind his back, admiring the babbling brook.
He called out to Wang Sandong, who was heading to the kitchen.
“You are the Third Young Master of the Wang Family.”
Wang Zhongxin said:
“Running to the kitchen every day—what kind of behavior is that?”
Wang Sandong hadn’t expected him to block her way or question her.
She was momentarily stunned, not knowing how to respond.
“Well… Third Uncle, I… I was just hungry and wanted the kitchen to make me something to eat.”
She improvised an excuse.
Wang Zhongxin snorted, clearly not buying it.
He sighed and said:
“Strictly speaking, with your father around, I shouldn’t be the one meddling. But your father feels he owes you far too much…”
He stopped mid-sentence, leaving his words hanging.
After a brief hesitation, he sighed again and gritted his teeth:
“If everyone about to die could act so recklessly, wouldn’t the world descend into chaos?”
When he said “everyone about to die,” a hint of reluctance appeared on Wang Zhongxin’s face.
Wang Sandong naturally understood what Wang Zhongxin meant by “acting recklessly,” but she feigned ignorance:
“I just wanted the kitchen to make me something I like to eat. That’s not really reckless, is it?”
“Is it just for food?”
Wang Zhongxin stared into Wang Sandong’s eyes.
After a pause, he said:
“Heaven and earth have Yin and Yang; men and women define ethical order. A man with another man defies the order of Yin and Yang, violates the essence of creation. How can this be allowed?”
Wang Sandong found Third Uncle’s words reasonable.
But…
Reason, in many cases, also yields to interest.
When interest clashes with reason, reason might cease to be reason.
For example, now.
Killing A Yong was in Wang Sandong’s interest.
So, she smiled slightly and said to Wang Zhongxin:
“Heaven and earth have Yin and Yang—how can one be confined solely to the physical form? Emotions arise from the heart. Appearance is merely a restriction of the mundane world. Those who cultivate the Great Way—how can they be hindered by mists or stopped by hardships? My heart is fearless, bound by no rule. Wherever my heart desires is a smooth path. Third Uncle is a master of Spiritual Cultivation—why do you only see this mortal flesh?”
Wang Zhongxin was stunned, frozen on the spot.
He opened his mouth, then closed it, furrowed his brow in thought for a moment, and finally said:
“The Great Way is formless, yet without form, there is no vehicle for the Way. If one discards the physical form like a worn-out shoe, it is like water without a source—ultimately returning to emptiness.”
Wang Sandong cupped her hands in salute:
“Regarding the Great Way, I am far inferior to Third Uncle. However…”
She silently thought to herself:
‘Emperor Yuan, when will you make your move on A Yong? If this drags on any longer, the entire Old Capital will know that “Third Young Master Wang has fallen in love with a chef.”‘
Wang Sandong quickly took her leave and crossed the bridge.
Wang Zhongxin stood on the bridge, watching Wang Sandong’s graceful figure for a long time, and suddenly had an epiphany.
“Heh…”
He shook his head, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
He felt he needed to talk with his elder brother, Wang Zhongyi:
How can you indulge someone just because you feel you owe them?
This is definitely not the way to raise a child!
Thinking of “raising a child,” a deep sense of regret welled up in Wang Zhongxin’s heart.
If Yun Teng had the same talent as Jing Hong, with his guidance, at this age, he should have already become famous throughout the world.
It didn’t matter.
Talent didn’t actually determine one’s future in cultivation.
Yun Teng’s future achievements might not be inferior to Jing Hong’s.
He recalled that during Wang Jing Hong’s return to the Old Capital, every time he went out, he was surrounded like a moon surrounded by stars.
Whenever his elder brother mentioned Wang Jing Hong, his face lit up with pride.
Even his father, Wang Fa, wholeheartedly hoped Wang Jing Hong would succeed him as head of the family…
Comparing people made people angry.
Comparing sons made fathers feel like dying.
An ultimate Spiritual Root…
If Yun Teng had an ultimate Spiritual Root and something went wrong, he would also be willing to have another two sons and forcefully extract their Spiritual Roots to save him.
After all, Wang Jing Hong represented almost the entire future of the Wang Family.
To contribute to the Wang Family’s future, that child Sandong could consider it a worthy death.
In the kitchen.
Watching A Yong, who was smiling as he prepared delicious food for her, Wang Sandong sat quietly on a low stool nearby, cupping her cheeks like a happy little woman.
In a trance, A Yong turned into the face of her cousin, Seventh Sister’s husband, from the Liu Family.
Memories of Seventh Sister Liu, who had died at her hands, flooded back.
Along with that warm, happy feeling…
“Third Young Master, would you like it crispier?”
Wang Sandong was lost in memories and didn’t respond in time.
A Yong turned to look at Wang Sandong and noticed she was staring at him dazedly.
“Third Young Master?”
A Yong called again.
“Huh?”
“Would you like it crispier?”
“Whatever.”
Leaving the kitchen, Wang Sandong let out a burp as she walked.
A Yong’s culinary skills were truly excellent.
It would be a shame to kill him.
When time came, enjoying such delicacies would be hard.
Oh well…
No choice.
A Yong was a Demon Disciple.
If she wanted Emperor Yuan and the Demon Sovereign to tear each other apart, A Yong had to die.
In the end, A Yong was going to die.
Even as the Imperial Chef of the Demon Sovereign, he was no match for Emperor Yuan’s methods.
Three days later, at midnight.
Emperor Yuan delivered “midnight snacks.”
Wang Sandong looked at A Yong, who was wrapped up like a zongzi in Demonic Qi, barely suppressing the wild joy in her heart and desperately forcing tears out.
“Yuan Yuan… how could you… why did you do this?”
She needed tears, shock, and anger.
Weave all these emotions together; missing even one would easily arouse Emperor Yuan’s suspicion.
Seeing Wang Sandong’s grief and shock, Emperor Yuan’s pent-up emotions from the past few days instantly melted like snow and ice, like a river bursting its banks—she felt completely relieved.
Emperor Yuan’s expression was cold, a slight smile at the corner of her mouth.
She pressed down on A Yong’s neck, shoving his face in front of Wang Sandong.
“Third Young Master!”
A Yong, still conscious, gazed at Wang Sandong with deep affection and called out with a trembling voice.
Wang Sandong silently cursed Emperor Yuan.
‘Why didn’t she knock A Yong unconscious?’
Was she trying to stage a farewell drama?
Wasn’t she afraid of being disgusted by the cheesiness?
“Emperor Yuan, aren’t you afraid of infuriating the Demon Sovereign?”
A Yong questioned Emperor Yuan.
Emperor Yuan smiled and countered:
“When did you get the mistaken idea that I’m afraid of him?”
Wang Sandong, feigning shock, scooted back on the bed until her back hit the wall.
Her apricot eyes wide, she stared at A Yong and said, her voice trembling:
“You… you’re a Demonic Cultivator?”
She dared not slack off in her performance, but inwardly she was anxious.
‘So much nonsense!’
She really couldn’t be bothered to keep up the act.
A Yong took a deep breath, his eyes burning as he stared at Wang Sandong, and said:
“Third Young Master, Emperor Yuan is at the end of her rope! Kill her, and I’ll take you far away from here!”
Wang Sandong was taken aback.
End of her rope?
Really?
Last time she thought that, look what happened.
She instinctively looked at Emperor Yuan.
Emperor Yuan’s expression was calm, a contemptuous smile on her lips, and her gaze even held a hint of provocation.
Was she faking?
Or…
Logically, after A-Gui was killed, A Yong would have been on high alert, even if the Demon Sovereign and Emperor Yuan had already reached a “peace agreement.”
Emperor Yuan would have been injured after fighting A-Gui.
Now, A Yong was definitely on guard, and his strength slightly surpassed A-Gui’s…
So, Emperor Yuan’s battle with A Yong must have been intense, dangerous, and she was likely injured.
Emperor Yuan’s calm demeanor and good complexion right now—it must be an act!
Even that provocative look was a show of strength.
Wang Sandong felt her chance had come.
She could kill Emperor Yuan first, then kill A Yong.
Or kill A Yong first…
The order didn’t matter.
What mattered was that tonight’s midnight snack came in a double portion!
But…
Given her previous miscalculation…
Wang Sandong decided to be cautious.
Being cautious meant killing A Yong first, then carefully probing Emperor Yuan’s condition.
But…
She had originally been pretending to love A Yong.
If she suddenly attacked now, ignoring A Yong’s promise to “run away together,” Emperor Yuan would definitely become suspicious.
A Yong had to die, but if she couldn’t kill Emperor Yuan afterward, she couldn’t let Emperor Yuan grow suspicious.
Otherwise, Emperor Yuan would doubt her “feelings” for A Yong, then further suspect she had deliberately used Emperor Yuan to kill A Yong, and finally question how she knew A Yong was a Demon Disciple…
She had planned everything, but she never expected Emperor Yuan liked watching “melodramas.”
She had to act cautiously!
“Dong’er…”
A Yong’s address became more intimate.
“Emperor Yuan is not a good person. She wants to sacrifice you to the Demon Abyss! Believe me, she’s completely helpless right now! You can kill her with ‘Soul Snatching.’ This is a golden opportunity—don’t let it slip!”
Emperor Yuan let out a cold laugh, released A Yong’s neck, stepped back two paces, and elegantly sat down on a soft couch.
Facing Wang Sandong, she looked over with a faint, nonchalant smile, raised an eyebrow slightly, as if to say:
‘Go ahead.’