The revelation that the Law Enforcement Hall’s leadership was actually of mixed demon blood was undoubtedly a profound humiliation for the Tian Zhao Sect.
From that day onward, the stewards of North Peak were divided into groups of eight, with patrol teams scouring the mountains day and night.
Yu Suisui was deeply troubled by this—primarily concerned about whether Xie Rongjing might be caught out.
In truth, she remained skeptical of the villain’s words.
After all, he was no benevolent figure, and his words couldn’t be fully trusted.
Yet two months passed, and Xie Rongjing remained safely within the sect.
As the only other demon in the Tian Zhao Sect, he was undoubtedly a key surveillance target. However, despite repeated investigations by the Law Enforcement Hall, nothing incriminating was ever found.
It was only then that Yu Suisui truly felt at ease.
Either the Law Enforcement Hall was utterly incompetent, or Xie Rongjing hadn’t lied to her.
In any case, she could resume her languid lifestyle.
With a clear conscience, Yu Suisui continued slacking off—and this slackening lasted three months.
Whether her father remained angry or had simply forgotten about his eldest daughter, the two guards outside her door persisted in their daily vigil, from the boundless autumn foliage to the snow-clad winter landscape.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Though Yu Qianqiu had confined her, it didn’t prevent her from disguising herself to visit Xie Rongjing. In fact, she went out even more frequently than before her confinement, almost like a rebellious teenager.
But that wasn’t the real reason.
Just as she let her cannon-fodder sister’s words go in one ear and out the other, her nominal father Yu Qianqiu’s declarations never even registered—like a whirlwind brushing past her ears and vanishing.
Her persistence in visiting Xie Rongjing now stemmed mainly from one fact: she was nearing the end of her role.
The final step awaited her: becoming the only warmth in the villain’s life before dying in his arms.
Simply put, she would first become his white moonlight, then take a fatal blow for him.
Considering the previous -50 favorability, Yu Suisui abandoned any ambition of being a white moonlight. She merely hoped to end her mission with a positive score.
Cramming at the last minute, she spent her final two months trying to care for the villain—though “trying” merely meant increasing her visits from twice to thrice monthly.
Fortunately, Xie Rongjing had been remarkably stable these three months.
When Yu Suisui brought him secret manuals, equipment, or peculiar trinkets, he accepted them all with a faint smile, never refusing.
Though his demeanor remained neither warm nor cold, he showed no further signs of instability.
But today felt different.
A heavy snow had fallen days prior, weighing down even the red plum blossoms on the trees. Flecks of crimson peeked through the snow-laden branches, their subtle cold fragrance drifting in the air.
As usual, Yu Suisui had fetched new array manuals for Xie Rongjing. They sat together—one reading illustrated stories, the other studying secret manuals—with fruits and pastries she’d brought arranged on the stone table, poised to leisurely pass the entire afternoon.
The Scarletglow Flowers had deepened to ink-black, stark against the flawless snowscape. The contrast of black and white formed a strikingly beautiful tableau.
Yu Suisui grew tired and slumped over the table.
She tilted her head to observe Xie Rongjing beside her: jet-black hair and robes, his entire being monochrome except for those faintly crimson lips.
He harmonized perfectly with the scenery.
“The paths are slippery in the snow. You should return early today.” Noticing her gaze, Xie Rongjing offered a polite smile.
Yu Suisui glanced skyward—the sun hung high, barely past noon.
Fine, then.
At least she could still catch an afternoon nap back home.
Yu Suisui packed away the pastries spread across the table. Today, she wore a white butterfly hairpin, its delicate wings fluttering faintly as she leaned forward.
Xie Rongjing stared at it for a while before reaching out to tug at the butterfly’s wings.
Yu Suisui: “…”
“What are you doing?”
Xie Rongjing’s expression remained unchanged as he calmly withdrew his hand. “Young Lady.”
Did he have something to say to her?
Yu Suisui straightened the little butterfly on her head. “Mm!”
After waiting for a long time, all he said was, “Let me escort you back.”
Yu Suisui looked at him curiously.
Over the past two months, the Great Villain’s attitude had been measured and appropriate. But if one were to call it normal—for someone with severe psychological issues—it wasn’t quite normal either. Now, with such politeness, it was as if the sun had risen from the west.
Seeing her lingering, Xie Rongjing showed no impatience. He leisurely closed the secret manual, tucked it into the storage bag Yu Suisui had gifted him earlier, and handed the bag to her. As he moved, a glint of cold light flashed from his sleeve, its sharp, murderous aura nearly slicing through the softly falling snow.
Yu Suisui: !
The Great Villain must have a sharpened dagger hidden in his sleeve!
Combined with today’s signs, she had reason to suspect: Xie Rongjing was planning something big.
In an instant, Yu Suisui understood.
Perhaps… it was time for her to receive her “final meal.”
Her current mood was a mix of tension and anticipation. After all, this was her first mission. If possible, she wanted to see it through to the end. If she couldn’t be the White Moonlight, at least she could take a hit for the villain.
“Can we not leave just yet?”
If they left now, how could she take the hit for him!
Xie Rongjing lifted his gaze to her, slowly parting his lips. “You saw it.”
His tone was a flat statement, not a question.
If he meant the dagger, she had indeed seen it. Yu Suisui hesitated, unsure whether to confess and align herself with the Great Villain or play dumb and act oblivious.
Just then, she caught a strange scent—like strong liquor mixed with the rot of decaying flowers. Before she could identify it clearly, her body went limp and collapsed to the ground.
Before her consciousness faded, she seemed to see the curve of Xie Rongjing’s lips.
His voice was gentle, like the falling snow.
“My apologies, Young Lady.”
Xie Rongjing stood amidst the blooming Scarletglow Flowers.
Just yesterday, they had been dark green stems and leaves, but this morning, they had blossomed into pure black flowers.
These flowers nearly merged with Xie Rongjing’s ink-black robes, as though his cloak had been spread across the hills.
Scarletglow Flowers typically bloomed in spring and summer. For them to bloom in winter was an ominous sign, a harbinger of great misfortune.
Xie Rongjing did indeed know the Ghost Manipulation Technique.
These black flowers, saturated with spiritual qi and human resentment, could render ordinary people unconscious but happened to be perfect fodder for the Ten Thousand Ghosts.
Now, their long, ribbon-like petals writhed like tiny, squirming snakes.
Xie Rongjing waved a hand idly, letting the floral scent drift farther with the wind.
His residence was already remote, and no disciples had been willing to move nearby to be his neighbors, which happened to suit him perfectly.
As the floral scent drifted farther, its potency diminished significantly. Lower-level outer sect disciples who caught a whiff would only feel dizzy and disoriented, not lose consciousness entirely.
But this was not Xie Rongjing’s true intention.
Compared to fragile outer sect disciples, he preferred humans who offered a challenge.
That way, the hunt wouldn’t be so dull and tedious.
…
A few incense sticks later, the first to notice something amiss was the eight-person patrol team from the Law Enforcement Hall.
This team’s average strength wasn’t high, all around the Triple Realm.
They were horrified upon seeing the black Scarletglow Flower field and had just begun to angrily shout a few words before they grew dizzy and collapsed to the ground.
Is that all they’re capable of?
Xie Rong Jing curled his lips mockingly.
The second group drawn in were two Fourth Realm Spirit Cultivator attendants.
Their strength was decent, but unfortunately, under the dual assault of Arrays and Scarletglow Flowers, they didn’t last ten breaths.
Indeed, beneath this flower field lay a massive Array personally arranged by Xie Rong Jing.
Although the Array was merely a simple first-tier formation, when filled with the fragrance of Scarletglow Flowers, the occasional appearance of Evil Spirits, and enchanting melodies that intoxicate the soul… it instantly transformed into an unpredictable killing array.
The third time…
The fourth time…
…
Considering that continuing might attract cultivators from South Peak, Xie Rong Jing smiled and stopped playing.
As the sun set in the west, thick white mist rose above the flower field. The disoriented attendants lay scattered haphazardly among the black blossoms. Some had bled, and the black petals seemed like living creatures, delightedly licking at the crimson bloodstains.
Xie Rong Jing watched this scene coldly and said with disgust, “Disgusting.”
The Scarletglow Flowers: …Feeling wronged.
They were accustomed to this kind of food. Although these humans were alive, they were thrown in by the master—who knew they couldn’t be eaten?
But they understood this master’s temperament very well and obediently retracted their petals and stems.
Xie Rong Jing stepped on a scarred face.
This face was very familiar to Xie Rong Jing—the man who enjoyed twisting the knife handle inside his body when severing his Meridians.
He strolled leisurely through the flower field. Those attendants who had once stood high and mighty on North Peak, commanding wind and clouds, now lay casually on the filthy soil, mingling with corpses and Evil Spirits.
This scene was utterly absurd, and Xie Rong Jing finally felt some interest stirring.
Among these people were High-Level Spiritual Cultivators at the Fourth and a Half Realm, considered the peak of combat strength on North Peak.
And what Xie Rong Jing truly had to show for himself now was just playing musical instruments… the rest were barely at the beginner level.
Yet with this poor hand, he had toyed with the lives of about thirty overconfident attendants.
If Yu Sui Sui were awake at this moment, she would surely sigh: Truly a high-intelligence crime talent.
Xie Rong Jing snapped his fingers. The Scarletglow Flowers entangled the scarred man who had been stepped on earlier and delivered him before his master.
Xie Rong Jing patted the man’s face with a cold dagger, causing him to wake up and stare in terror.
The man looked around, cold sweat streaming down his face, and tried to feign composure to placate the Demon before him.
“…What is Junior Brother doing?”
He had intended to call him by name to seem more familiar, but the words caught in his throat.
Damn it, others referred to him as “little bastard” or “little half-breed”—who knew what his real name was?
Probably surnamed Xie, right? the man thought. The previous Demon Lord was surnamed Xie: “Ah—!”
Before he could figure out how to continue, he let out a pig-slaughtering scream as Xie Rong Jing’s dagger plunged straight into his shoulder.
The pain made veins bulge on his temples, but he didn’t dare provoke the Demon before him. Forcing a smile, he said, “It was all a misunderstanding before. If Junior Brother is upset, Senior Brother will let you stab me to vent your anger—Ah!!”
Xie Rong Jing pushed the dagger deeper, blood splattering onto his face. He maintained a gentle smile, his beautiful pupils gleaming with madness pushed to the extreme.
Seeing that begging was useless, the man began to curse viciously.
“You… you little bastard, I should have stabbed you to death back then—”
Xie Rong Jing’s blade slid from the shoulder to the left hand.
“Bastard! If you kill me, the Tian Zhao Sect will never let you go!”
Xie Rong Jing’s blade traced along his spine.
“I never said I would kill you.”
Xie Rong Jing replied courteously.
Indeed, the scarred man had noticed.
This Devil Seed seemed… to be stripping his Meridians.
With neither begging nor insults working, the man broke down into hysterical sobs: “Just kill me… kill me…”
Meridians, like the Spirit, were the most vital aspects of a cultivator. Having them forcibly stripped away was no less painful than having one’s heart gouged or bones extracted.
Without Meridians, how could he cultivate in the future?
Xie Rong Jing had little patience. His pleasure diminished considerably when the other passed out halfway through the stripping, so he casually tossed him aside like a toy he had grown tired of.
Over thirty stewards had arrived here intermittently. Though not all from the North Peak, there should be some interesting ones to pick from.
To Xie Rong Jing, “interesting” referred to those who reacted most intensely upon seeing him—like the man who had once dug out his Meridians, whose strong reaction had pleased him greatly.
He sorted through the black petals, using his toe to flip over those who had landed face down, as if selecting watermelons.
As he walked, he suddenly found it all dull and meaningless.
These people seemed interesting, but in reality, they weren’t as fascinating as he had imagined.
Instead of a heavy sense of satisfaction, Xie Rong Jing felt a hollow emptiness, as if a hole had been punctured in his heart.
Why?
His smile vanished completely, replaced by weariness.
It was time to leave this place.
The Tian Zhao Sect did not belong to him, or perhaps, the world where people lived did not belong to him at all.
Xie Rong Jing thought he should go where he truly belonged.
But where was that? Who knew.
He picked up a leaf and began to play it again. A Triple Realm steward rose unsteadily, his eyes vacant.
“Light the fire,” Xie Rong Jing commanded calmly.
Flames surged skyward, seemingly intent on incinerating every trace he had left behind.
Including the black Scarletglow Flower field and the lingering Evil Spirits.
As for the stewards lying in the flower field, they were in no real danger—Spirit Cultivators at the Triple Realm and above feared neither water nor fire and could remain unscathed even after a day in flames.
Xie Rong Jing knew this, but he didn’t care.
He cared neither for his own life nor the lives of others.
Like a thrilling performance, once the curtain fell, he was indifferent to whether anyone lived or died.
…No.
Xie Rong Jing turned back, scooping up the young woman from the stone bench into his arms.
Her eyes were tightly shut, her eyelashes trembling slightly, like the butterfly hairpin nestled in her hair.
She had fainted earlier from inhaling the flower’s fragrance and had since fallen into a deep sleep, her breathing even and her heartbeat steady—a stark contrast to Xie Rong Jing, who was drenched in blood.
The fire grew fiercer, spreading across the mountains and fields in an instant.
Xie Rong Jing held Yu Sui Sui as if cradling an unreal dream.
Though this person was clearly not on the same path as him, he had repeatedly allowed her presence without a word.
There was even one time when, as if guided by some ghostly whim, he concealed his true nature in front of her.
What would it matter if he told her?
Gongsun Lan’s misfortune was his doing—intentional, deliberate. He was precisely that kind of despicable, wicked creature, stained with misdeeds.
Xie Rong Jing tugged at the corner of his lips, forming a mocking smile.
Yet he didn’t even know what he was laughing at.
It didn’t matter.
Xie Rong Jing convinced himself that once the black Scarletglow Flower bloomed, he would leave this place.
Until then… let her be.
After all, when that time came, they would go their separate ways—each to their own bridge and road.
He would return to being his mixed-blood Demon self, and she would remain her young lady. From then on, they would have nothing to do with each other.
In the distance, voices gradually grew louder.
The Law Enforcement Hall had finally noticed something amiss. They had requested support from South Peak, and as the high-level Spiritual Cultivators soared overhead, the entire North Peak reverberated with deafening thunder.
Seems like there’s no escaping now.
Xie Rong Jing halted his steps. The mournful wails of Evil Spirits fading away echoed in his ears, while behind him, flames blazed fiercer than the setting sun.
The young lady in his arms slept soundly, her white skirt fluttering gently, unstained by even a speck of blood.
He felt no despair in the face of death, no panic at the dire situation, no frantic desperation to cry out to the heavens.
In his usual calm tone, he spoke softly, his smile unchanged.
“Don’t trust other Demons in the future.”
“Goodnight, young lady.”