For the first time in her life, Ji Youyou laid eyes on a man of such devastating beauty that words could scarcely capture it. Yet for all his comeliness and allure of that face this was the forefather of all demonic cultivators their supreme overlord and very likely the ultimate villain. Run! She scrambled shakily to her feet but terror had drained her and she had gone so long without food that her legs gave out entirely. Thud! She went sprawling flat on level ground.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
At the sight of Ji Youyou’s undignified tumble the breathtakingly handsome man burst into laughter sharp mocking and full of scorn. Yet he was so strikingly beautiful that even as he shook with mirth he looked radiant. Ji Youyou burned with embarrassment and tried to scramble up and flee.
You little thing born with two legs and still can’t walk? What a useless creature. His tone was taunting and glib. Wailing and sniveling first thing in the morning disturbing my rest. I haven’t settled the score with you and here you are falling to your knees all on your own.
Ji Youyou lifted her head and met his gaze eyes as dark as ink-black abyss yet the pupils glinted bright and sharp. She struggled upright with great effort then realized how foolish her instinct to run had been. Imprisoned here where could she possibly go? Locked up together with a great fiend wasn’t that exactly the point to torment and humiliate her? Back in the stronghold that elder Qian An had spoken of this ancestor in glowing terms wise and mighty as the heavens but she did not believe him. She would not judge a soul solely by another’s praise. She could only try might it be possible to coexist peacefully with this stunning yet clearly unhinged man?
Hello. I’m your fellow prisoner. My name is Ji Youyou.
Fellow prisoner? Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
He laughed all the harder unrestrained and uproarious. Then he sobered and mimicked her tone mocking her introduction. Hello. I’m your ancestor and forefather. You may call me Fan Moxi.
Ji Youyou’s suspicion hardened into certainty Fan Moxi was without question mad one could tell from his laughter alone.
Fellow prisoner consider us acquainted then. Her voice carried a faint weary sadness. We have all the time ahead of us. I have no idea how long I’ll be kept here. If there’s nothing else may I go curl up in that corner over there? I promise not to disturb you.
Fan Moxi appeared to deliberate then rumbled in a low resonant tone. How long? I’ve been cooped up here close to a thousand years myself. And yonder lies a little dragon skinned and addled who’s been imprisoned for ten thousand years or more they say.
Ji Youyou’s heart sank. The shortest sentence here was a thousand years. She was merely an ordinary mortal she would likely grow old and die within these walls. Her spirits plummeted. Still Fan Moxi for all his erratic ways had actually answered her. She pressed on while he was speaking.
Is it only you and the little dragon here?
He nodded. Those damned scoundrels of Yuheng they always destroy never redeem. The dragon and I we stood against the very order of Heaven. He broke off realizing he had spoken too freely worn down by endless solitude. He stiffened recovering his bravado. But those curs of Yuheng they dare not kill me.
He scanned her again then broke into fresh peals of laughter casting languid half-teasing glances that seemed to escape his notice. Ji Youyou stared back bewildered. He is truly unwell she thought. She remembered an American film she had seen Joker in which the protagonist suffered a condition that made him laugh uncontrollably. Suddenly she felt a pang of pity.
He was laughing at her and she murmured quietly. What a clown.
What’s that you mumble? Clown? You damned fool am I ugly? He preened with supreme self-assurance. He knew his own face none in all the world could match it. He was the most beautiful man alive and he knew it. Should anyone rival him he would see to it their face was ruined. You plain little thing short as a gourd eyes like steamed buns mouth like a thunder god face as round as a platter you dare call me ugly?
N-no nothing! I said nothing at all fellow prisoner. If there’s nothing else I shall go sit now. I promise I won’t disturb you. She wanted nothing more than to keep her distance this man was volatile unpredictable like a rabid dog.
Hold on. His voice cut her off sharp and displeased. He studied her again narrowed his eyes then leered with exaggerated affectation. You little wretch when your ancestor speaks to you you skulk away like a thief? Were you weeping just now? I saw it. Tell me are you pining after those two unspeakable men who dally together? Are you heartbroken they’ve married and you were not the bride?
Ji Youyou bit back a reply afraid what this madman might do or say next. She answered firmly. No. I was only afraid alone in this place.
Afraid little fool? You carry the scent of our kind demonic cultivators. That makes you kin my disciple. Your ancestor stands before you. And yes this place is a cursed abomination it truly is.
Ji Youyou fell silent then replied earnestly. I am not a demonic cultivator. Truly I am not.
Ah youth so stubborn these days. He heaved a dramatic sigh striking the pose of a weary elder.
If there’s nothing else I’d like to—
Enough! He cut her off. I speak barely twenty words to you and every word is followed by you trying to flee? Am I so dreadful to speak with? His gaze swept over her sharp and unimpressed.
Fellow prisoner I am a woman. I am not a wretch. I know propriety and honor. We have only just met yet you call yourself my ancestor use foul language and heap insults upon me. How ought I to respond?
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
This time his laughter rang longer harsher as if she had said the most ridiculous thing imaginable. The entire Pagoda of Sealed Demons seemed to echo with it magic-fueled powerful enough to bore a hole through the very walls. Ji Youyou felt only endless embarrassment and helplessness. She resolved to say nothing more. The more she engaged the more unhinged he became. Perhaps if she ignored him he would settle. She turned toward the corner. His voice dropped cold and deep cutting through the air behind her.
Do you know why I was locked away? It was for the very things you call propriety and honor. Mark my words one day you will be betrayed and broken by them too. You will see them for what they truly are just as I have.