Chapter 1386 - 700: Vassal Clan

Ning Xiaoxian smiled: "Gold, silver, and iron three-colored leaf tokens are only awarded to those who have accomplished great deeds. You don’t seem very old, so achieving such honor is truly not easy."

Xiling looked at her carefully and found that she was sincerely speaking, so her expression softened a little: "You’re too kind."

"However—" Ning Xiaoxian’s tone shifted, "The three-colored leaf tokens are all personally awarded by Changtian at the Forest Palace. Yours must be no exception, right?"

She observed the little girl’s expression subtly change color and continued: "Hmm, I see your iron leaf token is polished to a shine, obviously well cared for. It’s only worn on formal occasions, and kept hidden away most of the time for fear of exposure. This means you either greatly value your military achievements or the person who awarded you the iron leaf token, isn’t that right?"

Xiling abruptly lifted her head, staring straight at her, and said: "I, I..."

Ning Xiaoxian slowly asked: "Do you like Changtian?"

Xiling’s face flushed a deep red, eyes wide and round, indeed resembling a leopard’s, as if she was about to devour someone.

She suddenly bit her silver tooth and exclaimed loudly: "Yes, I admire Lord Divine Monarch! From the moment I first saw him, I liked him immensely! Such a handsome and elegant man, which banshee wouldn’t be infatuated? Even though you’re his bed companion, you don’t...you don’t have the right to interfere with me liking him!"

Demons express love and hate much more directly than humans, and Ning Xiaoxian wasn’t angry. She looked her up and down before saying: "Aren’t you from the Hidden Stream?"

"Of course not!" Xiling raised her chin, "My Jialeng Tribe may assist the Hidden Stream in warfare, but each of us is free..."

"If you are free, then why do you cherish so dearly the iron leaf token Changtian awarded you?" As soon as Ning Xiaoxian said this, Xiling was immediately at a loss for words, and she continued, "Besides, in this army, no one is truly free, not even me. Before you say such things, it’d be best to think clearly first."

Xiling bit her lower lip, feeling indignant but with some regret. If others in the army heard this, they might suspect the Jialeng Tribe of disloyalty, which would only cause trouble for her father.

Seeing her demeanor, Ning Xiaoxian looked both amused and sympathetic. She slowly said: "Silly girl, while I can’t stop you from liking him, I can assure you he’ll never like you. If you wish, you can continue to fantasize." With that, she turned to leave.

Her gaze, her words... Xiling gasped for a couple of breaths, watching her back, suddenly feeling a sourness in her nose, and had to blink hard to keep the tears at bay. At that moment, a voice sounded from behind her: "Are you very upset?"

She turned her head slightly and saw Hei Hao strolling out from behind the tent.

Xiling raised her chin: "Naturally! I thought Lord Divine Monarch’s lover must be a woman of heavenly fragrance and national beauty, one in ten thousand, deserving of him. But now I see she’s nothing remarkable."

Hei Hao looked at her with amusement: "So you feel you deserve Lord Divine Monarch?"

Xiling’s face flushed immediately, stammering: "I, I, I don’t have that fortune, that status?"

Hei Hao’s smile faded: "Then, how do you know she doesn’t have that fortune, that status?"

"Why does it have to be her!" Xiling objected, "Among banshees, there are countless with beauty to rival countries, so why does Ning Xiaoxian get Lord Divine Monarch’s favor?"

Hei Hao spoke slowly: "If you could traverse millions of miles as a mortal and were willing to sacrifice your life to rescue Lord Divine Monarch, he would surely view you differently." His words were steady, hinting at profound meaning.

Xiling immediately fell silent.

She naturally still felt indignant. Heaven never gave her the chance to try; otherwise, the one standing beside the Divine Monarch could very well be her, right?

Hei Hao saw her thoughts and gently said: "Immortals and gods, observe them from afar, don’t think of getting close. Let go sooner."

Xiling widened her eyes, curiously asking: "Why are you telling me this?"

Hei Hao smiled: "I merely don’t want to see you waste your efforts." His smile carried a hint of bitterness, but more so a sense of relief.

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Ning Xiaoxian entered Chi Bihu’s tent once more, where the tiger general was examining a map on the table. Upon seeing her, he quickly stood up, leaning slightly forward, and bowed in greeting.

Regardless, he treated Ning Xiaoxian with proper etiquette. She also noticed two or three demon soldiers standing in the corner of the tent, presumably Chi Bihu’s confidants. Though this tiger demon appeared rough, he was meticulous, fearing that rumors of the two alone together might spread and eventually reach the Divine Monarch’s ears, thus ending his tenure as a tiger general, so he brought individuals to stand by.