Qing Yao Mountain at the Demon Lands...

Xu Fang summoned his adoptive sister Ji Heng to his throne room along with Yan Chiwu.

"Gēgē we are here" Ji Heng & Yan Chiwu curtsied to Xu Fang.

"Ji Heng, I summoned you here to discuss your marriage arrangement to Lord Yan Chiwu. Being my adoptive sister, you have noble status and Lord Yan Chiwu has accepted to make you his wife."

Ji Heng was not happy about the news. "Gēgē this can't be! Please reconsider"

Yan Chiwu just lowered his face in silent.

"Ji Heng mind your manners. You are acting rudely towards your betrothal. The marriage contract has been signed and registered. Technically you are his wife already. The ceremony will take place 10 days from today."

"Why are you condemning me? You know that I love Dong Hua Dijun, he is the one for me."

"Dong Hua Dijun made clear his rejection when I presented this marriage proposal recently. He refused marrying you Ji Heng. It's time that you relinquish your obsession and focus on nurturing your feelings towards your husband Yan Chiwu. You two grew up together and he always have treated you kindly and respectfully. His feelings for you are genuine and his intentions sincere, plus I have named him my successor to the throne."

"Gēgē please hear me out...."

"Enough Ji Heng! I won't tolerate your nonsense any longer. I have tried to reason with you many times and yet you persist on your fixation with Dong Hua Dijun. You are a princess and you need to live by your status. The demon clans are currently divided, this marriage will solidify our internal conflicts not to mention that we recently signed a peace treaty with Qing Qui. We will work together to bring peace and prosperity to our lands. This should be your uppermost motive as well! To help our kingdom move forward not to destroy it!"

Ji Heng knelt in front of Xu Fang and begged him to annul the marriage. "Please Lord Xu Fang for the bonds that we share, I beg that you annul this marriage."

"Because of the bonds that we share is why I'm doing this. You need to take part of your noble responsibilities. My decision is final!" He got up and left the throne room.

Ji Heng was crying on the floor. Yan Chiwu went to help her out, but she pushed him aside. She ran out the room. Yan Chiwu just long sighed, he was hoping for a better turn out of the events.

Outside the throne room hiding between the pillars was Nie Chuyin listening. He saw Ji Heng running out hysterically crying. He decided to use this to his advantage and plot a revenge against Demon Lord Xu Fang to destroy him. He wants the throne. Nothing and nobody will stand on his way to gain power. Wickedly smiling he decided to follow Ji Heng to manipulate her hate against this marriage and use her on his evil scheme.

Ji Heng ran outside the demon palace and sat on a bench near a lake. That was her favorite spot ever since she was little. She stopped crying and wiped her face.

"Princess Ji Heng", Nie Chuyin greeted her. "I believe congratulations are in order for your coming wedding. I wish you a long and prosperous life." He bowed to her. He was toying with her emotions.

"Lord Nie Chuyin, although your wishes are sincere, I'm afraid I can't accept them."

"Her highness should not be crying, ruining her beautiful countenance like this. You should be celebrating and getting pampered for this special event. Here please take my handkerchief."

"Thank you, but I don't see what is so special about it. I don't share your sentiments. This marriage is just a phony, a pretense. I don't love my husband."

"Oh? But you should be doted by your beloved, and not wasting your beauty on someone who can't make you happy. I'm guessing that someone else is in your heart?"

"Is it that obvious?" She snickered.

"I've always known your highness for your determination you have always been a person who has, made a firm decision, and being resolved not to change it. But what I'm seeing in front of me is a defeated woman. Please forgive me for being so bold by saying these things your highness."

"Not offense is taken."

"It takes quite a bit of courage to not stray from a decision. With the opinions of others, exterior influences, and personal insecurities, it's easy to simply give up and pursue something else. While it may seem, easy letting go of a dream, goal or someone, it's actually counterproductive to your self-development. In fact, if you continuously abandon your objective, you may suffer from crippling self-esteem issues that can haunt you for the rest of your immortal life. When you cave into your excuses, you're only setting yourself up for failure. Instead of giving in, do the exact opposite of what your excuses are telling you. Don't let easily manageable factors distract you from reaching your goals."

"You are absolutely right Lord Nie Chuyin. Why will I settle for less of what I deserve?"

"Determined people like yourself your highness aren't easily faltered by other's words or opinions. Even in the face of not being accepted, they continue to pursue what they make them happy. May I ask your highness, who will that person be?"

"Dong Hua Dijun."

"Then let me offer you my assistance to help you obtain your happiness."

"How exactly?"

"Let's say that I have powerful connections that can make it happen only if you are willing. I won't dare force this on your highness." Nie Chuyin was reeling her in.

"What do I need to do?"

"Ah, that's better. This is the determined woman that I have always know you to be. Please follow me your highness I will take you to my benefactor."

They disappeared from the palace grounds and appeared on a remote place on the forbidden lands on the demon territory. The most obscure place in their realm. "Your highness please wait here. I will announce your presence and ask for an audience with my benefactor."

Ji Heng nodded. She was unfamiliar with this place. Although she was afraid, her new gained determination gave her the strength to prevent her not to go back to her pitiful state.

Nie Chuyin appeared in front Miao Lou. "Demon Queen, your esteemed servant is here with an interesting proposal."

"Nie Chuyin raise. I'm all ears."

"Outside there is a hopeless woman desperately seeking her beloved's affection. She is willing to do anything to achieve this."

"Nie Chuyin do you take me as someone who will play matchmaker?"

"Queen please hear me out. I don't mean it that way." Nie Chuyin shrugged.

"Get to the point!!!"

"The hopeless woman is no other that Demon Princess Ji Heng. She is willing to do anything to obtain Dong Hua Dijun's love. She is suffering so much. I found her so pitiful crying over him." He wickedly laughed.

"What do you propose?"

"Until we can find a way to break your seal, you can use her body as host to get near Dong Hua and destroy him, without being tracked. At her current stage right now, she would exchange anything for her pursue of happiness. You can use her obsession to fuel her dark side and use her cultivation to your benefit. She will be your eyes and ears."

"I like the idea. Let me create an illusion first so she can be more at ease around me." Mia Lou created an illusion of a hall room and disguised herself as a noble woman. "Send her in."

"Right away my queen." Nie Chuyin brought Ji Heng to see Miao Lou.

"This is Princess Ji Heng, she willing fully came to meet my benefactor." Nie Chyin left Miao Lou's identity unknown to her.

"My Lady is a pleasure to meet you" Ji Heng curtsied to Miao Lou.

"Dear princess Ji Heng, so beautiful and benevolent. Elegantly poised and well educated. My servant tells me of your current predicament princess and your determination of achieving your objective. I want to know how strong are your motives?"

"Like I mentioned to Lord Nie Chuyin, I will not settle for less that I deserve so I'm willing to do anything to get what I want."

Miao Lou was eyeing Ji Heng attentively. "Your will seems strong. I have helped desperate folks before similar to your situation. Since I'm a generous benefactor, Nie Chuyin can tell you. I want to help you. Your beauty and status deserve it. But before we continue, you need to know that payment is required upfront for my services."

"What kind of payment are you asking?" Ji Heng asked.

"Something so simple that a lady of your status can provide. Just a drop of your blood and a wisp of your spirit princess. I will take care of the rest." Miao Lou eerily stared at Ji Heng.

Ji Heng could feel darkness encroaching her. She was staring at Nie Chuyin hesitant.

"Are you yielding your determination now your highness? Isn't your goal worthy of it?" Nie Chuyin redirected her uncertainty to push her for a final decision. "My benefactor is generous and is willing to help you all the way. You don't need to be afraid. Or maybe you want to stay in your current situation and do nothing about it."

"I am not afraid. Dong Hua will be mine, here!" Ji Heng firmly said and extended her hand to Miao Lou.

Nie Chuyin wickedly smirked at Miao Lou. She unmercifully proceeded to extract a drop of blood and a wisp of Ji Heng's spirit. She fell to the floor unconscious. Miao Lou bonded some of her dark aura into Ji Heng's body.

"Dong Hua, just wait and see!!!" And laughed out loud. "Get her out of here, I need to absorb her energy and cultivate further to use her later."

"Yes my queen." Nie Chuyin took Ji Heng back to the palace.

When they arrived, the palace guards were surprised to see Ji Heng so weak, they alerted Yan Chuwi. "Help me here!" Yan Chuwi took Ji Heng from Nie Chuyin's arms and quickly went inside the palace and placed Ji Heng in her room. "What happened to her? Why is she like this?" Yan Chuwi worriedly asked Nie Chuyin.

"I found her passed out on my way in. I'm unaware of what happened to her." Nie Chuyin said with concern.

"Maybe she needs to rest. She hasn't been herself lately. Let's leave her to it then." And they left Ji Heng's room.

Nie Chuyin was celebrating that his wicked plan is in action.