In the midst of chaos.
Xiao Yuyan instinctively lowered his gaze to the inner side of his left wrist, where a crimson mole burned brightly against his skin.
Before this moment, this body had merely been a vessel to him—its existence inconsequential. But now, he became acutely aware of his own being, and of the significance this body held for him.
The person Xu Wanci spoke of… was him.
Separate from all things, unique unto himself.
An unfamiliar emotion stirred within him, deepening with every passing second.
A seed had been quietly planted, destined one day to sprout, grow, and eventually bloom.
In the Dark Abyss Tower.
Hearing Xu Wanci’s drowsy, confused voice, the demonic aura surrounding Yan Shuo abruptly stilled. Yet the scarlet in his eyes did not fade—instead, it intensified, glowing so fiercely it could send every demonic cultivator in the demon realm trembling to their knees in terror.
The demonic energy around him, which he had always concealed in Xu Wanci’s presence since her awakening from amnesia, now raged uncontrollably, reducing everything in the Dark Abyss Tower to dust in an instant, leaving no trace behind.
Yan Shuo’s expression turned icy, his body revealing faint demonic markings:
Xu Wanci had mistaken him for Xiao Yuyan.
How dare she?
A torrent of fury surged through him, drowning out all other emotions—even that faint, unwillingly acknowledged sting of bitterness and… envy.
Even within the demonic realm he had meticulously crafted for her, she still could not forget Xiao Yuyan.
Yan Shuo did not pull away the left hand Xu Wanci held, but his right hand mercilessly settled against her throat.
Only one thought remained in his mind:
Kill her.
She was nothing more than a plaything to him. If he destroyed this one, there would be another, and another.
If she died, no one would ever unsettle his emotions again.
Just a mere cultivator.
Yes, just a mere cultivator.
No one noticed the gentle threads of heavenly power shielding Xu Wanci, nor did anyone see the flicker of murderous intent in the gaze of the celestial being watching Yan Shuo from above.
Yan Shuo’s fingers tightened slowly around her throat—but froze the moment his eyes met hers.
Her gaze reflected his scarlet irises with perfect clarity, mirroring the cold killing intent within them. Yet this aura, which would have sent anyone else into trembling fear, did not elicit even a trace of panic from her. Her heartbeat remained steady, unflinching.
She simply looked at him, quiet and earnest, her clear eyes brimming with concern.
Yan Shuo suddenly realized:
Xu Wanci trusted him—trusted him so completely that she did not believe he would ever harm her.
Even when the version of him she saw was nearly beyond control.
She would not resist, despite possessing the strength to slay demonic dragons with a single strike.
She would only worry—worry about him, about his state, about what had happened to him.
All others had ever felt toward him was fear and revulsion. Countless prayed day and night for his demise. No one had ever treated him like this…
At this moment, Yan Shuo’s hand still rested against Xu Wanci’s throat, but the killing intent had vanished.
Such tender concern, such absolute trust, such unreserved closeness…
No one could resist it. No one could refuse it.
Even if it was because of Xiao Yuyan.
Xu Wanci paid no mind to anything else. As if struck by a thought, she cradled his left hand even more carefully.
She lifted her head, her eyes glistening with unshed tears before she blinked them away. Gently, she clasped his wrist, bringing his hand to her lips and softly blowing on it:
"Does it hurt?"
She thought his left hand had once been grievously wounded, that this was why the crimson mole was gone—why he had lost control like this.
Feeling the warm breath against his wrist, Yan Shuo’s demonic energy crumbled under her gaze, retreating helplessly.
How could he let go now?
Xiao Yuyan had only been with her for a few years. He would stay with her for centuries, for millennia.
One day, he would erase every trace of Xiao Yuyan from her. One day, her life would hold only him.
With this thought, his hand slid from her throat to cradle the side of her face.
Suppressing all emotion, he calmly accepted her words:
"It’s been so long, it doesn’t hurt anymore."
Seeing the deepening worry and tenderness in Xu Wanci’s eyes, he softened his voice to reassure her:
"See? There’s not even a scar left, is there?"
Xu Wanci looked up at him. "But—"
Yan Shuo turned his hand to grasp hers, his other hand brushing through her hair as he murmured:
"You’ve had a long day. Rest well."
Hearing the weariness hidden in his tone, Xu Wanci’s gaze lingered on his left hand for a moment longer before she nodded obediently:
"You should rest too."
After Yan Shuo left, Xu Wanci stared at the now-empty Dark Abyss Tower, ravaged by demonic energy. She lowered her head, masking all emotion in her eyes:
She was acutely sensitive to killing intent. She knew with absolute certainty that in that moment, Yan Shuo had truly intended to kill her. Had she not reacted swiftly, she would already be dead.
Even though she had remained vigilant, his feigned tenderness and favor had dulled her wariness.
She had underestimated him.
Yet she truly had no other choice.
Xu Wanci turned and walked into the Dark Abyss Tower, her steps measured and resolute:
She could never become the person Yan Shuo wanted her to be. She would always remain herself.
If he lost control again, would she survive as she had today?
Sitting by the bed, she placed a hand over the three-leaf lotus resting on the bedside table. A soothing warmth flowed into her consciousness.
Fragments of memory flickered in her mind—blurred, but undeniably her own.
As expected, the three-leaf lotus she had kept by her side in the past was no ordinary artifact.
But…
Recalling Yan Shuo’s evident disgust toward it, she dismissed the thought of keeping it close.
Right now, protecting herself was already a struggle. The three-leaf lotus would only be a liability.
She needed to carefully consider her next move.
The next day.
The Dark Abyss Tower had been restored to its former state.
Amid the fluttering crimson leaves of the maple trees, several pearwood trees now stood, their pale blue blossoms serene and elegant against the branches, a refreshing sight.
Xu Wanci sat beneath a pearwood tree, idly brushing her spiritual energy against the blossoms.
The flowers remained unyielding, their petals steadfast despite her playful prodding, not a single one falling.
Then, a figure appeared abruptly outside the tower.
Xu Wanci looked up eagerly, only for the light in her eyes to dim when she saw who stood at the entrance. Pressing her lips together, she asked:
"Where is Yan Shuo?"
Ye Xing trembled inwardly at her casual address of the Demon Sovereign, but his expression remained deferential:
"His Majesty is occupied with pressing matters of the demon realm."
Xu Wanci withdrew her gaze and responded with a muted, "Oh."
Ye Xing merely glanced at her before lowering his head respectfully, not daring to meet her eyes again.
He used his demonic energy to send the book in his hand floating toward her:
"This is the record you requested—a compendium of all the rare treasures and spiritual materials in the cultivation world."
Xu Wanci took the book and flipped it open casually. The illusory image of a spiritual herb materialized on the page, accompanied by a detailed description below.
Her eyes flickered with interest, though her expression remained indifferent as she looked up.
"Understood."
Just then, a blue demon pearl drifted reluctantly toward her.
Curious, she poked at it, her boredom finally giving way to mild amusement.
"What's this?"
Ye Xing recalled the pearl's former arrogance, how it had once flaunted the Demon Lord's authority to act tyrannically. His voice remained calm, betraying no hint of schadenfreude:
"This is the Demon Lord's Nine Revolutions Jade Demon Pearl, gifted to you for leisurely enjoyment."
Once a fierce, blood-red orb brimming with unruly demonic energy, the pearl had now darkened to an inky blue, with occasional flashes of suppressed crimson light twisting grotesquely within.
Whatever Yan Shuo had done to it, the pearl dared not misbehave in Xu Wanci's presence. It lay docile, its demonic energy subdued, as if struck mute:
So what if it's the ugliest, most revolting shade of blue? For this esteemed Demon Pearl, it's nothing but child's play.
Xu Wanci tapped the pearl lightly, listening to the dull thud before letting her hand drop with a look of distaste. Noticing Ye Xing still lingering, she tilted her head.
"Is there something else?"
Ye Xing hastily bowed and retreated respectfully.
Yet, just before leaving the Dark Abyss Pavilion, he hesitated. Turning back, he kept his head lowered, his voice uncertain:
"That day…"
"Why did you risk yourself to save the demon citizens in the city?"
She was a cultivator—sworn enemies of demonic practitioners.
She was nobility—someone who shouldn’t have cared about the lives of lowly demons.
Under the pearlescent jade tree, a single blossom finally loosened by Xu Wanci's spiritual energy drifted into her palm.
She held the flower, her tone casual, as if the question held no weight:
"If I could save them, I did."
"Why must there always be a reason?"
Ye Xing looked up in stunned silence, catching sight of Xu Wanci seated upon an onyx chair, the jade blossom cradled in her hand.
She smiled softly at the pale blue petals, her gaze tender.
For a moment, he thought—perhaps blue suited her far more than red ever had.
After Ye Xing left, Xu Wanci idly prodded the demon pearl before her.
Why save that city?
Perhaps because she saw herself as just another ordinary soul among them.
She had wanted to save herself—to keep from being swallowed by the demon realm’s indifference to life and death.
Bored, she poked the pearl dozens of times, her movements languid.
With each touch, the demonic energy inside thickened, the pearl puffing up in silent fury, on the verge of bursting. Yet it dared not retaliate, shrinking pitifully behind a sapphire maple tree instead.
Watching the Nine Revolutions Jade Demon Pearl hide, Xu Wanci flipped through her book with disinterest, skimming the pages absently.
Even the pearl, still sneaking glances at her, failed to notice how her eyes lingered—just a breath longer—on the entries for Celestial Ginseng and Spirit Revival Elixir.
A long while later, as if weary from reading, she rested her chin on one hand and slowly closed her eyes.
Her mind was clear:
Celestial Ginseng could help me break through to the Divine Transformation stage… but in the demon realm, a cultivator has no chance of surviving the tribulation.
The Spirit Revival Elixir can transfer my soul, letting me revive elsewhere—but there are limits. With Yan Shuo’s power, he’d sense the moment I acted against myself.
Alone, neither the ginseng nor the elixir would suffice.
But together…
So, even back then, I had already paved an escape.
A path that would cost me dearly—but one that could free me from the demon realm.
