Cultivators fall into the demonic path because their dao hearts are easily swayed and their obsessions are hard to erase.
Whether it was Xie Guanxin from ten thousand years ago or Cangshu Bai from ten thousand years later, both gave birth to inner demons due to a momentary lapse in judgment, thereby stepping onto the demonic path.
As early as the battle at Zhenyue Mountain City, when Mu Ran sacrificed herself to save Cangshu Bai, his soul was tainted with hostility. Later, during the five hundred years she spent in a deep slumber, the calmer Cangshu Bai appeared, the more he was actually suppressing it.
Finally, upon seeing the word "divorce" left behind by Mu Ran, the forcefully suppressed hostility broke through the shackles of his soul. Hatred, regret, obsession, and madness all surged forth at once.
And just like that, he fell into the demonic path.
When Mu Ran reunited with him and returned to his side, it seemed to restore his demonized self back to his normal appearance. He was still the same Cangshu Bai; his so-called demonic corruption felt like a mere illusion.
But since ancient times, falling into the demonic path has never been reversible. His calmness was fake; the demonic nature and hostility hidden deep in his bones were real.
However, as long as Mu Ran was always by his side, it did not matter even if there was an irremovable demonic nature in his bones. Even if he was a demon now, for Mu Ran's sake, he would only force himself to do everything in his power to act like a human.
The accident happened with their child.
Both Cangshu Bai and Mu Ran were prepared to welcome the arrival of a child. But what even Cangshu Bai had not anticipated was that this growing little life had inherited his demonic nature.
When Cangshu Bai noticed the faint flow of demonic energy in the aura of the child in Mu Ran's womb, he fell into a state of intense self-blame and guilt.
He once thought he had long severed all roots of disaster, believing that in the years to come, there would only be the warmth of mortal life and the peace of the person beside his pillow.
But this yet-to-be-formed little life was like a mirror, reflecting the past he dared not face the most.
He had to think of a way.
Therefore, when the child grew to a point where it could withstand his power, he had no choice but to wait for a certain night. After Mu Ran fell fast asleep, he quietly took action and absorbed all the demonic energy from the child's flesh and blood into his own body.
Then, the demonic energy suppressed in his body for hundreds of years suddenly fell into chaos. His inner demons finally surged, completely swallowing his soul.
He became lost in this realm of reincarnation, re-enacting his entire life. If he made even a single misstep, he would be lost within it, his soul ceasing to exist, and his body taken over by demonic energy, turning into a demonic cultivator who only knew slaughter.
In the realm of reincarnation, time flowed backward. He once again became that cold-hearted youth whose mind was full of calculations. Compared to the young man hundreds of years later who had a wife and a small family, he had no weaknesses and no attachments. His edges were sharp as a knife, his brilliance fully exposed, and only slaughter and plotting remained in his eyes.
But whether it was the teenage Cangshu Bai or the young adult Cangshu Bai, Mu Ran's appearance was like an irresistible accident to both of them.
Even though time had reversed by nearly a thousand years in the realm of reincarnation, at the first sight of her, his soul felt an intense sense of intimacy a step ahead of his body.
Two hundred years later, when Cangshu Bai opened the door on that rainy night and saw the girl standing in the rain holding an umbrella, he only thought he needed to choose her as his partner in order to break through his cultivation realm.
But when the young and handsome teenager saw this girl in a green dress appear in his gray world, only one crazy thought surged into his mind.
He wanted her.
As time passed, his feelings only grew stronger.
He wanted her, wanting her regardless of all consequences.
Even if she was someone else's wife, even if she was pregnant with someone else's child, he still wanted her.
It could only be her, it had to be her; besides this, there was no other choice.
Cangshu Bai, acting as Shu Qingyi, did not know when he began to realize that he was nothing more than a segment of someone else's past.
Perhaps it was when Mu Ran tolerated every one of his malicious calculations.
Perhaps it was when he realized she was originally his wife.
Or perhaps it was when he discovered her body was gradually becoming unstable, and she had to disappear from his world.
But the youth was just a youth. He had no so-called memories of the future. He only considered himself an independent individual and did not admit that he was the same person as the young man from many years later.
Therefore, even though the other half of the slumbering soul in his body showed faint signs of awakening, he desperately suppressed it.
This was his world.
Mu Ran was his wife.
He was Cangshu Bai, but absolutely not the other Cangshu Bai.
He was just himself.
The youth's recognition of himself was so firm, but ironically, extreme self-doubt grew deep in his bones.
He was afraid he could not compare to the young man who had accompanied her for hundreds of years. He was unwilling to lose his place in her heart, so he could only despicably use tricks on her, altering her memories to make everything start over.
As long as it constantly replayed and looped, she could only stay with him forever.
He had always been such a selfish and terrible person.
The youth originally thought he had hidden it well, but how could a partner who understood him so well fail to see through him or guess his thoughts?
He just did not expect that when his disguise was torn away, she was neither angry nor resentful. Instead, she still looked at him with a gaze that could almost be called indulging, and smiled at him.
Jinzhi, I am so joyful in my heart.
Cangshu Bai's eyes trembled. He slowly leaned down, resting his forehead against hers, and quietly gazed at her pale, smiling face. Only after a long time did he find the courage to ask softly:
Why are you joyful?
Because the present you also likes me. She laughed aloud, light and cheerful.
Whether it was the two-hundred-year-old young man or the seventeen-year-old youth, no matter how time and space were crossed, he would always fall in love with her.
So she was joyful and satisfied.
Cangshu Bai's voice was slightly hoarse. Ranran, aren't you angry?
Mu Ran gently shook her head. You are my husband, the father of our child. I know you like me, protect me, and want to be with me for all eternity... Jinzhi, why didn't you ever think that everything you desire is exactly what I wish for too?
Mu Ran held his large hand that was pressed against her cheek. The warm touch tempted her to greedily nuzzle against it, and she closed her eyes, letting out a comfortable sigh.
Then, she opened her eyes, her dark, moist eyes rippling with a smile.
Jinzhi, I also like you, want to protect you, and be with you for all eternity, but...
The smile in Mu Ran's eyes faded slightly, replaced by disappointment and heartache. Her breath was weak, and as she looked at him, there was a trace of grievance in her expression.
Why are you always like this, Jinzhi? You never tell me any of the problems so we can share the burden together. Why do you always try to shoulder everything all by yourself?
