What would a person who has succumbed to their inner demons do?
Even Mu Ran, who had slumbered for five hundred years, knew that falling to the demonic path meant a shattered dao heart, one's sanity swallowed by hostility, and the rules once strictly followed, the people cherished, and the paths established all burned to ashes.
The once revered teachers and elders could be struck down with a single sword.
Blood-related kin could be cast aside like worn shoes.
And the one formerly held at the very apex of their heart could be killed without batting an eye.
Not to mention, she was merely his old love, not a new flame.
When Mu Ran first recalled the plot of this world, she had thought about how every little detail between her and Cangshu Bai had genuinely happened. So what if there was an original plot?
Neither she nor he were two-dimensional characters existing only in a story; they were living, breathing people with their own thoughts, capable of deciding their own destinies.
Therefore, despite her unease, during the days she spent as a wandering soul, she decided not to part from him.
However, as things progressed step by step toward their predetermined direction, and after hearing him say with her own ears that he wanted to give Luo Qingniao a proper title, her resolve began to waver.
Mu Ran feared she would truly become a character in that ridiculous and laughable love triangle, so she chose to let go and find peace, extricating herself from a future relationship that shouldn't have existed in the first place.
But seeing the most familiar person before her once again, she suddenly felt at a loss.
Cultivators had an instinctive wariness toward demonic energy, let alone his overwhelming demonic aura that seemed ready to devour the world at any moment. Amidst this wariness, an instinctual fear would naturally arise.
Yet, when he looked at her with such masochistic fragility, looking as if he would shatter at the slightest touch, both the wariness and the fear completely vanished.
Reason in Mu Ran's mind reminded her that he no longer belonged solely to her, and she should keep her distance from him.
But surging emotions suppressed her remaining rationality.
She stepped forward uncontrollably, walking step by step into the center of the raging demonic energy.
Cangshu Bai watched her step through the danger, as if stepping over his blood-soaked aura of slaughter. His fingertips trembled several times, but he suppressed the urge completely, not wanting to reach out and frighten her.
At this very moment, he displayed a docility he had never possessed since succumbing to his demons.
The next moment, she gently stepped forward, reached out, and held him firmly.
It was not out of coercion or pity; completely disregarding his aura of slaughter and malice, she pulled his entire being into her embrace.
Her warm body temperature seeped through the fabric, carrying her unique scent, instantly overpowering all the maddening hostility.
In this moment, heaven and earth were silent, and the demonic energy quieted down.
Cangshu Bai was like a restrained child, not daring to hug her back. He merely stood stiffly, his jaw resting slightly on the top of her head. His eyelashes fluttered gently, and the crimson in his eyes faded bit by bit, leaving only a bewildered, burning warmth.
He seemed like someone who had been abandoned for a long time, finally waiting for the only person willing to claim him.
Thus, all the grievances he had endured along the way transformed into a terribly hot mist in his eyes.
Mu Ran buried her face in his chest, smelling his scent and listening to the erratic heartbeat within his chest, slowly tightening her arms.
For some reason, her nose tingled, and her muffled voice carried a sob. Did they treat you badly? How did you let yourself become like this?
The cold heart inside Cangshu Bai suddenly found its rhythm as a human again, rather than beating as a demon.
He didn't dare speak of the five hundred years of slaughter, nor of the agonizing pain and madness when he fell to the demonic path.
His heartbeat was so erratic it felt like it would shatter his ribs. He slowly lowered his head, his cheek gently pressing against her hair, his movements so reverent it was as if he were offering her his life.
There was no they. It was me... I made myself... very dirty.
His voice was so soft it was almost inaudible, carrying a humility that even he despised.
Mu Ran looked up at him, her fingertips gently caressing his gaunt, pale cheek. He closed his eyes softly, nuzzling her palm with a comfortable sigh. When he opened his reddish eyes again, they were clouded with even more mist.
She asked, No they?
Pressing against her palm, he shook his head. No.
Then... what about when you said you were going to give another woman a proper title...
He suddenly grabbed her hand with a force that was almost out of control, yet fearing he might hurt her, he softened his grip in the very next instant. His fingers tightly clutched her fingertips, as if clinging to the last lifeline in the world.
Those mist-covered eyes locked onto her without blinking, even his breathing trembling.
There is no other woman.
His voice was terribly hoarse, every word seemingly carved straight from his heart, burning and devout. There never has been.
Cangshu Bai leaned in slightly, resting his forehead against hers. His eyelashes brushed lightly over her eyes and brows, carrying the trepidation and cherishing of regaining something lost.
From beginning to end, the only one I've ever wanted is you.
I'm sorry, my hand was touched by another woman.
But that was because I briefly exchanged bodies with someone. Only by doing so could I obtain what I wanted.
Please... please don't think I'm dirty.
If it displeases you, I'll cut off this hand as well.
I beg you, don't leave me behind.
He grew more panicked as he spoke, his voice trembling as if it would shatter. Those eyes that had once been filled with murderous intent, slaying all enemies, now held only helplessness and fear. The mist in his eyes finally turned into teardrops rolling down, as if silently hoping to earn a sliver of affection.
Mu Ran stared at him blankly for a long time.
The string in her heart that had been taut for so long snapped inch by inch amidst his scalding tears.
The myriad of hesitations she felt when stepping toward him not long ago had, under his confession, turned into a massive, ridiculous farce.
It turned out he hadn't broken his vows; rather, she had nearly failed him. A tremendous wave of regret and heartache instantly seized her heart.
The last trace of daze in Mu Ran's eyes was swallowed by surging emotions. Without the slightest hesitation, she suddenly stood on her tiptoes and used all her strength to fiercely push this deity, who was so fragile he seemed ready to shatter at a touch, to the ground.
Immediately after, a tearful softness covered his lips without warning.
She leaned down and pressed against him, cupping his face with both hands, forcing him to lift his head and accept this burning passion. Between their lips and teeth was the grievance she had suppressed for too long, the trembling aftereffect of their cleared misunderstanding, and even more so, the madness of declaring her sovereignty.
Cangshu Bai's entire body went stiff. His lips and tongue stung slightly from her bites, but in just an instant, that extreme trepidation was submerged by an even more surging ecstasy.
He finally stopped holding back. With one hand, he fiercely gripped the back of her head and rolled over, enveloping her entire body within his dark silhouette, kissing her back recklessly as their lips and tongues entwined.
Outside, Yue Qingfeng struggled to support his body as he hurried over, Miss Mu!
A small blue fish suddenly appeared, blocking his path.
Yue Qingfeng looked again toward the woodshed not far away. The demonic energy there was inexplicably disappearing. He was bewildered.
Just what was going on?
