With the dagger withdrawn, Shen Zhili’s legs went weak, nearly buckling beneath her.
She had guessed… correctly.
He wouldn’t believe something absurd, but something utterly bizarre naturally piqued his interest.
A madman—truly a madman!
Well, at least her life was spared.
He Chengyuan: “You can also tell fortunes? Then tell me, what will happen next?”
Shen Zhili: “…”
Better to just give an awkward smile.
He Chengyuan raised his tone, curious: “What? Can’t you tell?”
Shen Zhili: “I… can’t tell fortunes when I’m nervous or scared.”
“Is that so?”
“Y-yes.” Shen Zhili swallowed hard. “S-so… my feet…”
He Chengyuan: “It’s just rotten wood.”
“Th-then, there are no dead bodies.”
“There are—skeletons.”
“……”
Shen Zhili realized that staying with He Chengyuan, this Great Demon, meant she’d either be killed by his blade or scared to death by his words.
“Light!”
Ahead, a blinding white light appeared. Not daring to delay for a moment, she immediately shook off He Chengyuan and ran toward the light source.
Just moments ago, she had been terrified, hiding behind him, and now she discarded him after using him.
He wanted to see what scheme this woman was plotting this time.
“Finally out.” Shen Zhili breathed a sigh of relief after escaping danger.
He Chengyuan stopped beside her. “It’s midnight now.”
“Impossible, it’s so… bright outside…”
Had they truly escaped, or had they entered somewhere else?
Before them, enormous white curtains hung, draping to the ground.
Shen Zhili wanted to part them and peek inside but was too afraid, hesitating timidly. Just then, a dagger blocked her view. Without the slightest hesitation, it plunged vertically into the gap between the two white curtains, then turned horizontally, slicing them open.
Before she could even close her eyes, everything inside was revealed.
It was a Red Peach Forest, strangely growing inside a cave. The blood-like peach blossoms bloomed enchantingly, as if disturbing the tranquility. A small bird spread its wings, flying from one tree to another, but when it opened its beak, no sound came out—truly bizarre.
The surroundings were too quiet. He Chengyuan’s Internal Energy had vanished, leaving him unable to sense anything. “What is it?”
“Can’t you see?” She turned her head, only then remembering that the current He Chengyuan was blind.
Why hadn’t he taken the antidote after obtaining it?
“What’s inside?”
Shen Zhili: “A Red Peach Forest.”
He Chengyuan rubbed the white curtain with his fingertips, fell silent for a moment, then chuckled: “Is that so?”
From his dangerous tone, it was clear he didn’t believe her.
He turned his head “toward” her. “A peach forest in a cave? Blooming brightly?”
“You don’t believe me.”
He Chengyuan didn’t hide it. “Mm.”
Shen Zhili grabbed his hand and placed it on her forearm, only for a blade to press against her again.
“……”
Always quick to threaten her with a blade.
“I’ll take you to see for yourself, then you’ll know.”
He Chengyuan: “Interesting.”
Shen Zhili looked at his hand, which he hadn’t withdrawn, feeling deeply puzzled.
He actually didn’t pull away?
This wasn’t right.
He Chengyuan should have pushed her away and walked ahead himself.
She had been counting on him to scout the path, especially since this peach forest was truly peculiar.
“Why aren’t we moving? Didn’t Miss Shen foresee this?” He Chengyuan gave an ambiguous smile.
“……”
Was she his walking stick?
The two stopped at the peach tree closest to the cave entrance. Shen Zhili leaned in for a closer look—the peach blossoms bloomed delicately and vividly, glistening as if adorned with dewdrops.
He Chengyuan asked: “Living forest or dead forest?”
Shen Zhili plucked a flower, twirling it between her fingertips. She glanced at He Chengyuan, whose dark hair cascaded down his back. In her past life, he had loved to tuck flowers into her hair—a debt she intended to repay.
"Bend down. I'll tell you a secret."
How strange—he actually lowered his head.
Shen Zhili brushed his hair aside, tucking it behind his ear, and stealthily slipped the red blossom into place. To cover her action, she said, "I saw a bird."
Now they were even.
The vibrant red flower tucked behind the Great Demon's ear looked rather charming. He Chengyuan's handsome face was well-suited to adornment with bright blossoms.
What a pity the young man couldn't perceive colors—to him, the world appeared dull and gray. If the poison were ever cured, she wondered if his vision might recover.
He Chengyuan's ear twitched slightly as he lifted his head, "scanning" his surroundings. Sensing something, he remarked with amused interest, "So this cave contains not only a forest but birds as well?"
"Amazing, isn't it? Don't you believe me?"
"Then catch it and show me."
Shen Zhili: "…"
Listen to what you're saying.
"What? Were you lying?"
He Chengyuan chuckled softly, casually scraping his blade against the sleeve of his forearm.
Just listen to what he's saying.
Shen Zhili's mouth twitched. "How… how could that be?"
She looked ahead at the vast peach grove stretching beyond sight, every tree nearly identical to the next.
The crimson blossoms grew dizzying after prolonged gazing. Which tree had that bird flown to?
Shen Zhili plunged into the peach forest, searching left and right. Regret washed over her—why had she mentioned such a thing? Any excuse would have been better than bird-catching.
Finding a way out of this peach grove posed another problem. Endless crimson stretched everywhere: fallen petals piled on the ground, branches intertwined overhead, soil invisible beneath the floral carpet, sky hidden above the canopy. Strange… profoundly strange.
The surroundings were too quiet. Unable to see, the young man relied on his other senses. Rather than seeking an exit, he seemed more intrigued by a single bird.
Shen Zhili had no choice but to search.
A red peach blossom branch swayed near He Chengyuan's hair. He removed the flower from his ear, rubbing it thoughtfully between his fingers before leaning lazily against a tree trunk.
Why had she secretly delighted in adorning him with a flower?
He couldn't comprehend it.
Tossing the blossom to the ground, he watched it disappear into the floral carpet, indistinguishable from the rest.
A blue-winged sparrow stood among the blossoms, peering down at the white-clad maiden beneath the tree. It opened its beak in silent chirping. When Shen Zhili looked up and met its gaze, her heart leapt with secret joy. She nearly called He Chengyuan to look, then remembered his warning about keeping quiet while catching birds.
So she crept closer. The sparrow mechanically tilted its head, perched on a branch within her reach. Shen Zhili cautiously raised her hand—but the little blue bird suddenly flapped its wings, darting from the flowering tree and stirring the blossoms.
A cold glint flashed as a blade flew past her, piercing the sparrow mid-air with perfect accuracy.
"He Chengyuan?! You killed the bird!"
The sparrow fell to the ground, fluttering its wings twice before going still. After a moment, a strange force tugged it forward. Sensing something amiss, Shen Zhili immediately threw herself over it.
The bird fell completely motionless. Footsteps halted beside her.
He Chengyuan turned his head toward the bird she cradled in her arms, withdrawing his dagger—clean, without a drop of blood as he scraped his thumb across the blade.
Shen Zhili: "What are you doing?"
He stepped past her, moving forward. "See what you're holding in your arms."
"What?"
She looked down to find a fake bird in her arms, crafted so meticulously it could pass for the real thing—impossible to distinguish unless examined up close. Upon closer inspection, stitching marks were visible on its wings and neck, with two extremely fine threads attached to the tips of the wings.
"What is this??"
A dark shadow flickered in Shen Zhili’s peripheral vision. In a panic, she tossed the fake bird aside, her heart suddenly pounding as she cried out, "He Chengyuan!!! Watch out!!!"
The moment her voice fell, a black-clad figure darted out from the left side of the woods, brandishing a sword aimed straight at He Chengyuan. His martial arts were extraordinary, his steps light and soundless.
"Upper left!"
Shen Zhili lifted her skirt, about to rush forward, when she abruptly remembered something and halted.
She couldn’t move—making any noise would interfere with his judgment.
He Chengyuan flung his blade. The sharp edge grazed the black-clad figure’s shoulder, slicing through his sleeve, then spun through the air, severing several flowering branches.
Shen Zhili’s nerves were stretched to the breaking point, fearing he might fall victim—if he died, wouldn’t she be next on the chopping block!
Fortunately, cutting the branches was his true aim.
Amid a shower of crimson blossoms, the black-clad figure charged through the falling petals, and the two engaged in a fierce clash.
Shreds of torn fabric brushed against the flowers, creating subtle disturbances that allowed He Chengyuan to track his opponent’s position.
Their moves and countermoves were evenly matched! Yet neither could gain an inch.
After several rounds, Shen Zhili noticed He Chengyuan’s steps growing slightly unsteady. An old wound had reopened, staining his clothes with blood that dripped onto the red blossoms. Even so, his opponent still couldn’t press forward.
Seeing the situation turning unfavorable, the black-clad figure reached into his robe.
"He’s resorting to dirty tricks!!"
Shen Zhili couldn’t help but dash toward He Chengyuan.
The black-clad figure scattered a handful of poison from his robe. He Chengyuan detected it just in time, sidestepping to evade. Simultaneously, his blade spun deftly between his fingers! Gripped vertically in his palm, it stabbed straight into the black-clad figure’s shoulder before withdrawing—swift, ruthless, and precise!
He Chengyuan seized the black-clad figure by the throat, pinning him to the ground. As he raised his hand to Erase the assailant, hurried footsteps echoed from beyond the flowering trees. He turned sharply, and the blade meant for the black-clad figure changed course, intercepting a silver sword flying toward him.
"Miss!!! Don’t be afraid!!! I’m here!!!"
Ningxiang burst through the cascading shower of petals, only to freeze in shock upon assessing the scene. The sword she had thrown was now embedded in the ground, and the "miss" she had feared dead was not lying there but standing just two steps away from the Slayer, staring back at her in mutual bewilderment.
It seemed… she had caused a mishap.
Without bothering with the Slayer, she rushed to Shen Zhili’s side, panting heavily and anxiously asking, "Miss, are you hurt? I saw so many Heretical Sect members outside—it terrified me! Please don’t run off like that again. If something happened to you, wouldn’t I have to be buried with you!"
She choked back a sob. "I’m still young, with so much of the world’s beauty left to see and delicacies left to taste. I can’t die an early death."
Shen Zhili: "…"
He Chengyuan: "…"
Once the disruptive interlude passed, the blade in his hand gleamed coldly, the red blossoms reflected in its light appearing like venomous, sinister demons.
"Wait! That’s five hundred thousand taels!" Ningxiang’s temple twitched as she drew a hidden dagger from her sleeve, blocking He Chengyuan’s blade just two finger-widths from the black-clad figure’s neck.
A faint, ambiguous smile curled at the corner of He Chengyuan’s lips as he increased the pressure, advancing another inch.
The two struggled against each other, sweat beading on Ningxiang’s forehead from the strain. She snapped angrily, "You bastard! Do you not want us to get that five hundred thousand taels?"
Shen Zhili: "What’s going on?"
Ningxiang: "Miss! This must be the assassin mentioned in the Yu family’s bounty notice!"
He Chengyuan raised an eyebrow. "Oh? How would you know?"
Ningxiang shouted angrily, "He's not from the Heretical Sect."
"Hmm? How can you be sure?"
"Are you annoying or not! Whether he is or not, let's get the fifty thousand silver first by handing him over to the Yu family!" Ningxiang gritted her teeth and blocked his blade, "Are you stupid?"
Without this fifty thousand silver, they truly couldn't move forward. They couldn’t really stay at Xie Gubai’s place—he was already married, and having a former scandalous childhood friend living in his mansion would definitely invite gossip. It was rare to find a safe haven in this chaotic world; she shouldn’t disturb his peace.
Shen Zhili hesitated for a moment, wanting to persuade He Chengyuan to spare the assassin’s life and hand him over to the Yu family. Before she could speak, He Chengyuan unexpectedly withdrew his blade and chuckled softly, "Suddenly curious, will the Yu family easily hand over fifty thousand silver?"
Ningxiang grabbed the assassin and pushed him ahead as they headed toward the exit.
He Chengyuan suddenly reached out toward Shen Zhili, and she froze, bewildered.
"After using me, you don’t plan to continue being my crutch?"
His words carried a threatening tone.
Shen Zhili swallowed her anger and supported him, forcing herself to put on a fake smile.
Who exactly saved whom from that wretched gambling den?!
She’d repay this anger sooner or later!!
She deliberately increased the pressure on his arm to vent her dissatisfaction.
He Chengyuan seemed oblivious, his expression unchanged as he curled his lips.
He wanted to see how long she could endure before revealing her true intentions.
……
Following Ningxiang’s lead, the two returned to the mansion, while she alone took the assassin to the Yu family to exchange for silver.
As soon as Shen Zhili entered the room, she began packing the bedding.
He Chengyuan sat at the table, studying the antidote they had seized.
A poison master wouldn’t prepare a ready antidote; even an antidote handed over to save one’s life might not be directly usable. These dozen bottles of medicine couldn’t be rashly used.
"Bang!"
The door was kicked open. Shen Zhili stood at the doorway in the darkness, her face obscured by a pile of bedding stacked high in her arms. She jostled the bedding that threatened to slip off and walked straight toward He Chengyuan’s bed, tossing the load onto it. Exhausted, she placed her hands on her hips and sighed deeply.
A blade pressed against her waist from behind. He Chengyuan leaned close to her ear and asked, "Miss Shen, what are you doing?"
Shen Zhili: "I just calculated with my fingers—we have an unbreakable, inextinguishable bond. Follow me, and I’ll take you to roam the world, to become the number one under heaven."
Grand boasts came effortlessly from her mouth.
But she knew that He Chengyuan, living in the mud, always had a proud backbone determined to stand above thousands.
"Number one under heaven?" He Chengyuan remained silent.
In his previous life, he was also considered number one under heaven, with thousands bowing beneath his feet, his name spoken with fear, easily able to take the lives of ants.
He enjoyed the fear and reverence of the hundred immortal sects toward him… their curses toward him…
So boring, increasingly boring. He knew he bore hundreds of evil curses, thousands of forbidden seals; they cursed behind his back that he would die a miserable death, meet a wretched end.
Unfortunately, those worthless curses had no effect on him, so he grew even more rampant in tormenting them, only receiving more and more useless curses, an infinite, endless cycle.
So boring…
He turned and sat back in his previous spot, "Boring."
Shen Zhili froze, turning her head away, thinking she had misheard.
What did he say?
Boring?
"You… have no interest in sitting in a position no one can surpass?"
"You don’t want those who oppressed you to pay the price?"
"Don’t want them to bow and submit to you?"
"Don’t want to become someone who can easily decide their life or death?"
Impossible, she didn’t believe it.
The dim room held no trace of light.
He Chengyuan had long since removed the white gauze. His long eyelashes trembled slightly as he slowly opened his eyes. The lightless environment did not overly sting his eyes. In his vision, the girl in white was the only faintly colored presence in the darkness. She stood before the bed, voicing her perplexing words.
The two gazed calmly at each other for a long while. Shen Zhili could not see him clearly—could not see the figure blending into the darkness, not even able to discern his outline. She could only rely on sound to locate him.
He Chengyuan sneered coldly, "You seem to want it very much."
Shen Zhili clenched her fist. "Yes, I do."
She did not desire to stand above all others; she only wanted to stand above the demon lord! She only wanted to gain freedom! She only wanted to leave this place!
Silence fell once more.
After a while, the faint, crisp clinking of a medicine bottle echoed in the air.
He shifted his gaze away from her, closed his eyes, and let out a low, mocking laugh, his shoulders trembling slightly.
In his previous life, she was someone who later wanted to kill him, yet now she was someone who foolishly wanted to save him. If he did not know who she truly was, he might have been moved by these few words…
He was growing more and more interested in her. He increasingly wanted to know whether the person now speaking such bold words would, like in his previous life, hide sharp blades within all the sweet talk when everyone cursed him!
He was curious—how long could a hypocrite pretend? Compared to standing above all others, this lifetime, he found it more intriguing to discover when she would completely reveal her true face.
"What is your purpose in coming to me?"
Shen Zhili replied, "I was afraid you would run away."
He Chengyuan's laughter did not cease.
Shen Zhili said firmly, "My calculations cannot be wrong."
He Chengyuan stopped laughing. "Is that so?"
"They cannot be wrong."
System: "Conquest Mission officially initiated! 100 Favorability Points can be exchanged for 1 affection point. Target character's current Favorability Points: +10."