Amidst the chaos,
Xiao Yuyan watched as Xu Wanci emerged unscathed after cleaving through the dragon’s tail. The concentrated power of the Heavenly Dao at his fingertips slowly dissipated into the void.
He stood motionless, his gaze fixed on the figure below—a woman in fluttering crimson robes, her sword piercing the heavens. Her eyes, though calm as still water, burned with unyielding resolve.
Even as her face paled and her sword-bearing hand trembled, she refused to retreat even a step.
A strength and tenacity that resonated deep within the soul.
Emotions surged like tidal waves in Xiao Yuyan’s eyes, only to be suppressed once more by the laws of the world, returning his expression to its usual indifference.
Yet, in the deepest recesses of his gaze, Xu Wanci’s figure remained, indelible.
Listening to the rhythm of his own heartbeat, he lowered his eyes slightly. The icy aura around him thawed, if only for a fleeting moment.
In that instant, it was as though all things came back to life.
He realized, then, what he desired.
He wanted to see her—just as she was today.
Poised, mighty, and radiant with joy.
To see her… forever achieving her heart’s desires.
This time, under his control, the power of the Heavenly Dao gathered at his fingertips, condensing into a single drop of water that silently fell into Xu Wanci’s dantian, unnoticed by all.
The Celestial Ginseng within her dantian was suddenly infused with a thousand years’ worth of spiritual energy, gently nourishing her depleted core.
In the Demon Realm,
Yan Shuo sensed the fluctuation in Xu Wanci’s spiritual energy the moment she swung her sword.
For someone of her cultivation level, facing the Three-Headed Demon Dragon was nothing short of suicide.
Yet he did not stop her. Nor did he restrain the dragon.
A disobedient child ought to learn her lesson.
No matter how severe her injuries, he could always heal her.
As long as she didn’t die, it was enough.
What he hadn’t anticipated was that breathtaking strike.
A sword technique honed through cold, calculated precision—a single decisive blow.
It reminded him of the first time he had seen Xu Wanci, when she had fought to her last breath, even after exhausting every drop of spiritual energy in her dantian.
Even without her memories, she was unchanged.
Yan Shuo’s eyes narrowed, the crimson patterns within them surging uncontrollably as his heartbeat grew erratic:
A formidable soul. One that made him tremble.
How he longed to hide her away—to keep her from the eyes of others, from their covetous gazes.
In this moment, the woman before him was no longer merely Xiao Yuyan’s beloved.
She was simply… Xu Wanci.
Behind him, the seven Demon Generals wore identical expressions of shock.
As the highest-ranking figures in the Demon Realm, second only to the Demon Sovereign himself, they understood better than anyone the terror of the creatures unleashed by the Abyssal Rift.
The Abyss was a shackle upon their realm, and though its denizens were mindless, their power was unmatched.
The Three-Headed Demon Dragon they faced today was a beast even the seven Generals together could only restrain briefly, barely scratching its hide.
Yet Xu Wanci had not only detected the location of its final core—something even the Demon Sovereign had missed—but had also destroyed it in a single strike.
Such courage and prowess commanded genuine reverence.
The way they looked at her was no longer the superficial respect borne of fear for their sovereign, but true admiration.
For demons, strength was the only creed worth following.
Only Ye Xing noticed the direction Xu Wanci’s gaze had initially lingered.
There, the protective barrier of Moqi City had completely shattered.
One more strike, and all the demon civilians who hadn’t evacuated in time would be severely injured—or worse, killed.
Was it for those demon civilians?
That was why she, despite being in a place of absolute safety, still chose to risk herself.
Ye Xing watched Xu Wanci standing in the wind, her figure slender yet unyielding, and a complicated emotion flickered in his eyes.
In the brief moment the seven demon generals were distracted by Xu Wanci, Yan Shuo’s demonic energy, laced with icy killing intent, surged toward them.
In an instant, their faces paled, and their bodies trembled uncontrollably.
They quickly lowered their heads, not daring to glance at Xu Wanci again.
Feeling the retreating gazes behind him, Yan Shuo’s restless mood finally settled. Suppressing the darkness in his eyes, he walked unhurriedly to Xu Wanci’s side.
Xu Wanci sensed the spiritual energy slowly replenishing in her dantian and instinctively turned her focus inward. There, in a corner so inconspicuous she might have missed it, was a spiritual plant—and beside it, a pill, resting quietly and harmlessly.
Had the plant not emitted a faint spiritual pulse, she might not have noticed it so quickly.
In the demon realm, where no spiritual energy existed, having something in her dantian that could restore her power was incredibly useful.
Lost in thought, she sheathed her Nine Heavens Sword. The question remained—was this spiritual plant connected to Yan Shuo?
Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned, all traces of her musings carefully hidden.
She lifted her head, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Yan Shuo, her lips quirking up slightly before she forcibly suppressed the smile—as if waiting for his praise.
Yan Shuo took in her playful yet utterly trusting demeanor, his gaze lingering on her dazzling eyes.
In them, he was the only one reflected.
His eyes narrowed imperceptibly, his desires momentarily sated as he exhaled a soft, satisfied sigh:
Good.
No Xiao Yuyan.
This Xu Wanci belonged solely to him.
His gaze swept over her still-pale face before he took her left hand, placing a Mingling Jade gently into her palm.
"This time, we owe our success to you, Wanci."
"A token of gratitude."
The moment the Mingling Jade touched her skin, Xu Wanci felt the spiritual energy in her dantian rapidly replenish.
This was a treasure specifically for restoring spiritual energy.
So Yan Shuo likely didn’t know about the spiritual plant in her dantian.
She looked up, her eyes brimming with barely restrained delight, and casually tightened her grip on the jade. Waving her hand, she said,
"It was nothing, really. No need for formalities."
Then, still radiating enthusiasm, she added eagerly,
"Yan Shuo, are there any other demonic rifts in turmoil?"
"I think I can take on two at once!"
Hearing her words, Yan Shuo’s eyes darkened imperceptibly. He ruffled her hair, his voice tinged with helplessness.
"If demonic rifts erupted this often, half the demon realm would already be in ruins."
"You’ve expended too much spiritual energy today. Return to Dark Twilight Tower and rest properly. There will be plenty of demons to hunt later."
Xu Wanci puffed up her cheeks in annoyance at his words, but when she looked up and saw the gentle concern in his eyes, she swallowed her displeasure. Taking two steps back, she twirled in front of him.
Spiritual energy surged around her, the overflowing aura transforming into glimmering starlight against the black-and-red swirl of her skirt. The hem fluttered, radiant energy spilling into the air. Amid the oppressive demonic miasma, she was the only source of light.
She came to a stop, the spiritual energy around her retracting back into her dantian. With a lively smile, she faced the man before her:
"Yan Shuo, look!"
"My spiritual energy has fully recovered!"
"Taking on another Demon Abyss won’t be a problem at all!"
Within the chaos, Xiao Yuyan watched as Xu Wanci, clad in crimson and glowing with ethereal light, felt his heartbeat stutter for a fleeting moment.
Yet...
Seeing her beam so brightly, so playfully, at the man before her, his pulse slowed again—only this time, accompanied by an unfamiliar pang of pain.
If only the name on her lips...
His gaze lingered on Yan Shuo standing before her, and for the first time, he realized that among all things in existence, there could be something so utterly grating to his eyes.
In the Demon Realm.
Yan Shuo stared at Xu Wanci, bathed in flickering spiritual light as she smiled softly at him, momentarily dazed.
A wisp of that light drifted toward him, only to be instantly devoured by the demonic energy surrounding him, leaving no trace behind.
As if foretelling the inevitable end between them.
Yan Shuo’s expression darkened abruptly.
He adored her strength, yet loathed the feeling of her slipping beyond his control.
His voice was tender, yet laced with an unshakable firmness:
"Wanci, it’s time we went home."
As he spoke, the crimson patterns in his eyes swirled faintly, the demonic domain pressing down on Xu Wanci growing heavier.
Unnoticed by anyone, a wisp of heavenly power settled gently upon her.
A strange duality suddenly arose in Xu Wanci’s heart.
One voice screamed at her to yield to Yan Shuo’s every demand, while the other urged calm.
The moment clarity returned, she sensed something was wrong.
And realized Yan Shuo’s... control over her.
Lowering her lashes to veil her emotions, she replied softly:
"Alright."
Within the chaos, the faint light in the deity’s eyes dimmed further.
The heavenly power cloaking Xu Wanci faded silently, yet still shielded her mind from the demonic domain’s influence.
The instant she answered, the fervent devotion she felt for Yan Shuo seemed to wane, as though he had loosened his grip on her.
Feigning ignorance, she took a few steps forward, brushing past Yan Shuo. After seven paces, she halted but didn’t turn back, her voice tinged with reluctant surrender:
"Weren’t we leaving?"
Hearing her irritation—yet still so undeniably reliant on him—Yan Shuo felt the crimson in his eyes recede bit by bit.
He strode toward her, his steps quicker than before.
Standing beside Xu Wanci, his voice carried a lazy satisfaction: "Yes, let’s go home."
Above them, the roiling chaos dimmed.
In the Darkmoon Pavilion.
Xu Wanci lounged lazily on a recliner, now dressed in a fresh, vibrant red gown.
The leaves of the maple tree fell one by one onto her skirt, tracing delicate patterns of crimson. With a slight movement, the scattered leaves drifted gently from her figure, creating a scene of breathtaking beauty.
Yan Shuo sat on an ebony chair nearby, his gaze fixed on Xu Wanci with an intensity that was almost startling.
Since returning to the Dark Twilight Pavilion, she had reclined on the lounge chair, as if venting her displeasure in silence. Yet her eyes occasionally flickered toward him, as though waiting for his comfort.
This coquettish demeanor, reserved only for those closest to her, stirred not a hint of irritation in him—only indulgence.
With a faint sigh, he remarked,
"I really don’t know what’s so appealing about the Demon Abyss that it captivates Wanci so."
Xu Wanci rested the back of her hand against her forehead and let out a light hum. "Who knows? Maybe it wronged me before I lost my memory, and now I’m just here to settle the score."
The smile at Yan Shuo’s lips froze.
He suddenly recalled the time Xu Wanci had thrown herself into the Demon Abyss for the sake of a Three-Leaf Lotus.
She had gambled her life for nothing more than a single flower.
Darkness surged in his eyes, and the air around him grew heavy for an instant.
Just then, Xu Wanci’s gaze flickered toward him—subtly, or so she thought—but he caught it. She promptly averted her eyes, pretending to study the sky instead.
The shadows in Yan Shuo’s gaze dissolved as quickly as they had appeared. He watched her quietly, his focus unwavering:
Yes, the Xu Wanci before him now had room in her heart for only him.
Only him. Just him.
Her joys and sorrows all stemmed from him.
Yan Shuo’s right hand clenched slightly, as if trying to grasp something intangible:
Would she, then, also throw caution to the wind for a gift from him?
Just as she once had for that Three-Leaf Lotus.
His voice was tender, yet laced with restrained longing:
"Wanci, the Demon Abyss is dangerous and dull. Why not visit my treasury instead?"
"Every treasure there is yours to take. Would you like that?"
Hearing his words, Xu Wanci thought of the unfamiliar spiritual plant nestled in her dantian and blinked slowly.
"Then I’ll start with a book."
"One that documents all the rare treasures in the cultivation world."
She sat up and met his gaze earnestly. "Well? Not too difficult to arrange, is it?"
Yan Shuo rose and stepped closer, brushing his fingers lightly over her hair as he asked softly,
"Why the sudden interest, Wanci?"
Xu Wanci leaned back, evading his touch. She brushed the maple leaves from her skirt and huffed.
"Don’t be stingy, Yan Shuo."
"I don’t recognize half the treasures out there. Even if I raid your treasury, I wouldn’t know what’s valuable and what’s not."
She made no attempt to hide her greed—nor did she treat Yan Shuo as an outsider.
"Of course I need to prepare in advance."
With that, she stretched out her hand, her tone unapologetically demanding:
"So, are you giving it to me or not?"
Yan Shuo watched her—lively, spirited, and seemingly placing all her trust in him—and felt his heartbeat quicken.
Was this the real Xu Wanci?
Free from that deathly stillness, free from that indifference to pain and peril—the true her was vibrant, radiant, and unyielding.
And what made her even more intoxicating was the love she offered without reservation, despite her strength.
Even he, who had never believed in love, couldn’t help but be drawn in.
Fortunately, he had already obtained it—
The kind of love everyone would envy.
Yan Shuo reached out and gently placed his hand on Xu Wanci’s palm. "Of course I’ll give it to you."
Even if she wanted all the rare treasures of the cultivation world, he would find them for her, let alone a mere book.
Thinking this, he slowly closed his fingers around her hand, savoring its warmth. With a soft chuckle, he asked,
"What else does Wanci want?"
"I’ll gather everything for you."
Xu Wanci glanced at her restrained hand, then casually surveyed the surroundings of the Dark Twilight Pavilion. Frowning, she remarked,
"Why are all the trees here red?"
"It looks too monotonous."
She withdrew her hand from Yan Shuo’s grip and pointed at a distant red maple tree, lifting her gaze with an expectant expression.
"Let’s plant flowers there instead."
Without waiting for his response, she continued in a dreamy voice,
"Lots and lots of blue flowers!"
The smile on Yan Shuo’s lips vanished the moment she uttered the word "blue."
Suppressing his displeasure, his voice carried a trace of forced persuasion.
"Wouldn’t another color be better?"
Xu Wanci blinked in confusion. "But I like blue."
The demonic energy around Yan Shuo surged violently before he forcibly restrained it.
The crimson patterns in his eyes flared to life in an instant, amplifying the demonic domain enveloping Xu Wanci without restraint.
"Why would Wanci like blue?"
He tenderly brushed his fingers against her cheek, as though stating an irrefutable truth.
"Wanci clearly despises blue the most."
Xu Wanci felt the overwhelming urge to agree with him rise within her, her fingertips twitching faintly.
She had always been aware of her fondness for blue and had cautiously tested the waters with it.
But she hadn’t expected Yan Shuo’s reaction to be so intense.
It was just a color—why did he care so much?
As if… blue was inextricably tied to her past memories.
Now, her attachment to blue began to waver.
Even though a rational part of her still resisted, it was gradually being suppressed without her realizing it.
She had to find a way to break free from this control.
Otherwise, step by step, compromise by compromise, she would become nothing more than a puppet in Yan Shuo’s hands—
A doll dressed according to his whims, stripped of all autonomy.
Xu Wanci recalled the fleeting image of a blue figure and fragmented scenes in her mind, lowering her eyes slowly.
If Yan Shuo’s hatred of blue was tied to that figure…
Right now, under his dominion, she had no means to resist. To preserve her true self, she had only one option.
She had to make him believe his control over her was effective—but had distorted her perception.
To deny him his satisfaction, to force him to stop.
As he wished, she let her eyes close little by little.
Just before they shut completely, she caught sight of something near his hand and abruptly opened them again.
Gently lifting the hand that had touched her cheek, she murmured with faint puzzlement,
"Yan Shuo… why is the red mole on your wrist gone?"
The demonic domain froze.
Outside the Dark Twilight Pavilion, the demonic energy suddenly swept across the entire demon realm.
