A steady, vigorous sound echoed as a man walked toward the group with long, purposeful strides.
The newcomer was tall and well-built, with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long, powerful legs. His thick eyebrows were sharp like swords, angling upward toward his hairline. With high-set brow bones and slightly narrow, elongated eyes, his gaze was cold, sharp, and aloof, making him appear noble, distant, and unapproachable.
More importantly, he bore a striking resemblance to both Bian Menghan and Bian Que.
His identity was immediately obvious.
The murderous aura radiating from Bian Menghan visibly subsided as both brothers spoke in unison: “Big Brother.”
Indeed, it was Bian Mengyu, the eldest son of the Demon Lord and the older brother of Bian Menghan and Bian Que.
This character had a name in his original novel. However, because Shi Changting had stopped updating the story too early, Bian Mengyu had not yet had the chance to truly enter the center stage. Consequently, his screen time in the early chapters was pitifully scarce.
But if he wanted to successfully escape from Bian Menghan, he would certainly need the help of this eldest brother.
Speaking of which, although the Demon Lord was known for his wild ways, being indiscriminate in his appetites and father to many heirs, if one set aside those who died in infancy and those who never claimed their lineage, there were only these three remaining in the public eye.
Bian Mengyu was much older than the other two. Because so much time had passed, it was impossible to verify who his mother was. Simply put, the three brothers were born of different mothers.
Although Bian Mengyu was not born to the Demon Queen, he was steady, self-possessed, and possessed deep political acumen. He was highly favored by the Demon Lord, with strength and power that surpassed both of his younger brothers. Therefore, despite their inner resentment, they still showed Bian Mengyu a level of respect.
“What is the meaning of this commotion?” Bian Mengyu’s expression was calm, devoid of any hint of anger or joy, yet his presence was overwhelmingly oppressive. “Are you not afraid of being laughed at?”
“Laughed at?” Bian Que chuckled coldly, a hint of undetectable mockery flashing in his eyes. “Big Brother, you joke. Who would have the nerve to laugh at us?”
Inwardly, however, he was utterly disdainful. It was already common knowledge throughout the Demon Realm that the three young masters were not of one heart. Inheriting the blood of the Demon Lord, each one was more ruthless, cruel, and bloodthirsty than the last. Who did not know what the others were like? And in this place, who could claim to be righteous? Here, any shred of so-called family affection or concern was merely ridiculous posturing. Only power and strength were ever held in high regard.
Bian Mengyu’s gaze fell upon Shi Changting.
The two stared at each other in silence for a few seconds before Bian Mengyu withdrew his gaze.
“Is this the person you brought back from the Immortal Realm?”
Bian Menghan smiled. “Yes.”
Bian Mengyu said with a double meaning, “Since he is yours, you had better watch him well.”
Bian Menghan frowned.
Watch Shizun well. Was that a warning to protect him from harm, or a warning to protect him from the covetous eyes of others?
Bian Que clearly heard the implication as well. He laughed flippantly, “Big Brother speaks in riddles again. Could it be that someone is blind enough to dare harm the person at our third brother’s heart?”
Bian Menghan’s gaze turned dangerous, piercing toward Bian Que.
Bian Que acted as if he had seen nothing. “Besides, our Immortal Venerable Changting possesses such celestial beauty, like an immortal descended to earth. Who would not feel tempted to draw near, let alone harbor the heart to harm him?”
A faint, mocking smile hung at the corner of Bian Que’s mouth, and his eyes revealed an undisguised, lovestruck longing.
To any bystander, such an expression was blatantly obvious. Anyone with even the slightest bit of observation could immediately understand: the second young master of the Demon Clan had clearly set his sights on Shi Changting. It was not as if the second young master had never coveted someone already claimed, but fighting over a lover with his own biological brother was a first in history.
As time passed, more and more demon cultivators arrived, drawn by the gossip. They surrounded the area, stretching their necks and widening their eyes, afraid to miss this rare spectacle. After all, witnessing brothers at odds with one another, all for the sake of competing over a man, was not something one could see just anywhere!
At this moment, Shi Changting felt incredibly uncomfortable, as if thousands of ants were crawling all over him. He wished he could find a hole in the ground to hide in, if only to escape these prying eyes.
He inwardly lamented: What kind of karma have I accumulated to deserve this? How did I end up in such a situation?
He even thought about whether he should channel a scene from a television drama and cry out, “Oh, please stop fighting! You all need to stop fighting!”
“Bian Que!” Bian Menghan reached his limit. His gaze was ruthless, as if he would have liked to slice the other man into a thousand pieces. “Have you said enough?”
Bian Que laughed wickedly. “I have not.”
“You are courting death!”
A bloodthirsty, frigid aura surged from Bian Menghan in an instant, as if he were at his breaking point, needing only the smallest spark to shatter the other man into pieces, leaving not a trace of bone behind.
Shi Changting’s body trembled, and he warned himself in his heart: Must endure. It is not the right time yet.
“Second brother, say less.”
Facing the conflict between the two, Bian Mengyu remained indifferent, as if he were an outsider. Even his attempt to mediate seemed like nothing more than following a routine.
Shi Changting watched this awkward dynamic between the three brothers and could not help but chuckle inwardly. Back when he created their characters, he designed them to be cold and scheming, cynical and roguish, and yandere-like and perverted—none of them were good people. Now, watching them fight each other while he stood to benefit, he found the show rather entertaining.
Fight! Keep fighting! Only then will I have my chance!
Bian Que, who had always been accustomed to being lawless, shrugged indifferently. “If you do not want me to speak, that is fine. Then I will simply take action. After all, the person this young master has set his eyes on must be obtained. Otherwise, I will neither be able to eat nor sleep.”
“If someone is unwilling to yield, then I have no choice but to take him by force.”
Bian Menghan ignored him, instead scooping Shi Changting up into his arms and turning to leave.
“Shizun, let us go home.”
Shi Changting let out a startled cry, his face turning red instantly. He lowered his voice, “We are in public.”
“It does not matter,” Bian Menghan said, as if trying to prove a point. He spoke loudly, “This disciple is unconstrained, and Shizun is, after all, my person.”
Shi Changting thought: I feel like I have heard that line somewhere before.
However, as the two walked away into the distance, they did not notice that behind them, two pairs of sharp, gleaming eyes were silently watching their departing backs. One pair was profound and complex; the other flickered with the intensity of someone determined to possess what he wanted.
“Immortal Venerable… you cannot escape.”
“Shi Changting… is it? I have remembered you.”
Throughout the journey, Bian Menghan remained gloomy, saying not a word.
Upon returning to the Demon Palace, Bian Menghan threw Shi Changting onto the bed.
He stood like an enraged leopard, his hands trembling at his sides as he fought to suppress the overwhelming fury in his eyes.
Shi Changting was startled, fearing that Bian Menghan had been triggered and was about to unleash his inner beast. He was just about to push him away when he realized that Bian Menghan was merely burying his face quietly into the crook of his neck, making no further move.
Shi Changting breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Bian Que’s words must have deeply agitated him. He did not have the heart to push him away; instead, he gently stroked the back of his head in comfort.
“Menghan, what is wrong?”
Bian Menghan took a deep breath, inhaling the refreshing scent of Shi Changting’s neck, and sighed comfortably, as if he had come back to life. After a long while, he said pitifully, “Shizun, I am in pain.”