Liao Tingyan felt as if she and her dao partner were experiencing the seven-year itch.

Recently, Sima Jiao had been somewhat cold toward her. He no longer pulled her to soak in water together, nor did he dual cultivate with her. Even though he couldn’t sleep at night, with bloodshot eyes, he still wouldn’t ease his condition through dual cultivation with her.

More dramatically, he had locked himself in the hall half a month ago, refusing to see anyone. This “anyone” included Liao Tingyan. Over these years, whenever Liao Tingyan wanted to see Sima Jiao, she could go see him, regardless of what he was doing. But this time it wasn’t possible—Sima Jiao refused to see even her.

“You think this is a relationship problem?” Hong Luo, who practiced a special cultivation technique, had grown considerably in a few years and now looked like a twelve or thirteen-year-old middle school girl—though her tone and demeanor remained that of a crude, experienced old hand. “Men are all like this. Who cares what he’s thinking? Just subdue him in bed. What can’t be solved with dual cultivation between dao partners?”

Liao Tingyan: “If you have the guts, say that in front of Sima Jiao.”

Hong Luo immediately shrank her neck. “No, no, you go yourself. Who dares to see him now? Won’t we get killed?! The old man is increasingly fond of burning people!”

A few days ago, a demon general came from the demon realm, escorting several spies who had attempted to break into the forbidden palace. They intended to hand them over to the Demon Lord, but as they approached the palace where Sima Jiao was in seclusion, the spies suddenly caught fire. The flames were colorless. The burning people didn’t even realize what was happening as they walked forward a few steps, the flesh and blood on their bodies turning to ash and falling off. By the time they reached the steps, the nearly completely burned people collapsed to the ground, instantly turning into white ash. The scene was both eerie and brutal.

Only the black snake and Liao Tingyan could approach those steps, but even the black snake couldn’t go further up. Liao Tingyan was the only one who could still walk to the door.

Liao Tingyan sat on a massive tree branch, gazing at the palace where Sima Jiao was secluded. She gently furrowed her brows, and even Hong Luo’s deliberate jokes couldn’t make her smile.

Hong Luo looked her over twice and clapped her hands. “Keep that expression, preferably even more melancholic. Yes, a melancholic woman filled with sorrow. Then you can go stand by the palace door and strike a pose. I guarantee the Demon Lord will come out to comfort you soon.”

Liao Tingyan: “???” What nonsense?

Hong Luo: “No, that expression won’t do. You need the previous one.”

Liao Tingyan rolled her eyes and lay down. “Forget it, let him do what he wants. With his personality, no one can stop him from doing what he wants, this stubborn tyrant. I’ll just wait for him to finish and tell me himself.”

Today, Yan City was sunny and pleasant. The sky was clean and pure blue. White clouds piled together, settling on the distant mountaintop. The recent green mountains had just shed a large expanse of pink-crimson cherry blossoms, and the new greenery was, especially fresh and tender.

The crimson cherry fruit, originally a specialty of the demon realm, had been transplanted to Yan City a few years ago because she enjoyed eating it. Sima Jiao had ordered people to move those crimson cherry trees to Yan City. Because they weren’t growing well, he had also invited people from Guyu Settlement to help plant the trees. As a result, every spring in recent years, the mountains were covered with large patches of pink cherry blossoms, and by July, the hottest time, the mountains were full of crimson cherry fruits ready to be eaten.

Yan City housed many demon cultivators as well as quite a few immortal cultivators, all of whom had moved there in recent years. Because Liao Tingyan enjoyed eating various foods, the city’s largest specialty was cuisine. More than a dozen streets in all directions were lined with regional specialty food shops, especially outside the temporary palace where Liao Tingyan lived, which had the most famous food street.

In previous years, Sima Jiao often accompanied Liao Tingyan to eat on that street. Liao Tingyan would eat, and he would just sit beside her and watch. Occasionally, they would bring along Hong Luo or the black snake Sisi, more often the black snake, because, in terms of eating, he was like Liao Tingyan’s own child.

One would go “glug glug glug,” and the other would go “chug chug chug.”

The shop owners on the street were both afraid and excited, but after getting used to it, they dared to chat with Liao Tingyan. They discovered that the legendary ruthless Demon Lord wouldn’t casually kill them—if they could make food that Liao Tingyan liked, they could even receive many benefits. If she was particularly satisfied, rare items might drop, like high-level medicinal pills, techniques, or spiritual weapons.

This arrangement attracted not only demon cultivators but also many righteous immortal cultivators who came to open shops. As they say, fortune is found in danger. They opened shops here and sent their best chefs. Liao Tingyan sometimes felt like a boss who dropped rare items, attracting all kinds of people to farm her.

During this period of Sima Jiao’s seclusion, Liao Tingyan went to the food street much less frequently.

Most of the time, she just lay on a tree behind the temporary palace. This giant tree was exceptionally tall, offering an excellent view. From here, she could see the entire temporary palace, the grid-like markets and streets below, and those mountains filled with crimson cherry trees.

This great tree was called Fragrant Sinking Cyan Wood, not an ordinary tree. In the sunlight, it released a faint fragrance that could dispel melancholy and clear the mind, making people feel relaxed.

When they had just moved to the temporary palace in Yan City, there was a period when, perhaps due to frequent dual cultivation, Liao Tingyan was affected by the scorching flames in Sima Jiao’s spirit mansion and often felt a tightness in her chest. So Sima Jiao had people find and plant this tree. From then on, on sunny days, Liao Tingyan loved to lie on this giant tree, finding a branch with a good view to make a nest and sleep.

The black snake Sisi also loved to coil around the branches. Though he could transform into human form, he hadn’t shown any signs of growing in the past few years, still maintaining the appearance of a small child. When Sima Jiao wasn’t watching, he preferred his snake form, and Liao Tingyan let him be.

A line of giant winged birds flew in from the distant horizon. They flew in a V-formation, their wings as white as clouds, gently landing in Yan City. These were a type of spiritual beast that many cultivation sects liked to raise, generally used for deliveries. Liao Tingyan could recognize that these birds were raised by Guyu Settlement because they carried vegetables, fruits, and fresh meat sent by her senior and junior brothers.

Only goods from Guyu Settlement could fly directly into the city without needing to land outside and enter through the city gates.

Over these years, many people from Guyu Settlement had finally learned her identity as the dao partner of the demon realm’s Demon Lord. Surprisingly, everyone got along harmoniously. No one dared to cause trouble, at least not openly, and they had even developed a special exchange market.

…

Sima Jiao had created a comfortable, carefree environment for her. With no need to worry about external matters, her only remaining anxiety was Sima Jiao himself.

Sometimes she felt this man was doing it on purpose, this scheming hook.

Liao Tingyan slept on the tree branch all day and didn’t go down even at night. In the middle of the night, she vaguely sensed something, like a thin thread gently pulling at her heart, naturally waking her from her dreams.

That familiar silhouette stood not far away. He was gazing at the distant mountains and the shimmering lake. With his hands behind his back, his long hair and the hem of his clothes occasionally brushed against the oval leaves of the Fragrant Sinking Cyan Wood.

‘Is he a vampire? Why does he always suddenly appear in the middle of the night?’ This thought suddenly popped into Liao Tingyan’s mind. She moved slightly and abruptly remembered a scene, as if also in the middle of the night, she was awakened from her sleep, seeing a carved lamp gently swaying by the bed. Sima Jiao was at her bedside, half immersed in the night, half bathed in the ambiguous, dim yellow lamplight.

“Please, ancestor, can you not wake me up in the middle of the night? Can’t you just come back and go to sleep? I’ve left space for you,” she said, lying there in distress.

“No.”

So she lay there with a sleep-deprived face, rolling with her blanket to the inner side of the bed.

…

Liao Tingyan was momentarily stunned, not remembering where this incident had occurred… Was it from the memories she had forgotten?

At this moment, Sima Jiao, who was standing there, turned back to look at her. “It’s only been half a month since you’ve seen me, and you can’t recognize me?”

Liao Tingyan sat up cross-legged, watching him walk over from the treetop like a silent black cat in the night.

“Have you finished your seclusion?”

Sima Jiao: “No, I came out to see you.”

Liao Tingyan grabbed his hand. His hand was warm, radiating normal human heat. It was abnormal for him to be normal.

“Don’t you want to soak in water?”

“No,” Sima Jiao said, gripping her wrist. His other hand moved from her cheek to behind her ear, finally stopping at the nape of her neck, pulling her closer to himself. “Not happy? Why?”

Liao Tingyan: “…” You have the nerve to ask why.

Liao Tingyan: “I feel like you’re doing something dangerous.”

Sima Jiao: “So you’re extremely worried about me? Want to throw a tantrum?”

Liao Tingyan: “…” She couldn’t say this out loud, nor could she throw a tantrum.

Sima Jiao smiled, took her hand, and jumped down. The two of them were like two-night cats strolling on the roof of the temporary palace.

At dawn, Sima Jiao prepared to return to his seclusion. Holding Liao Tingyan’s hand, he kissed her finger where she wore a ring, then released her and said: “I’ve had people find a beautiful white spiritual beast for you. It will be delivered to Yan City today. Go play by yourself later, and have fun.”

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure dissipated.

Liao Tingyan stood on the roof, with the first light of dawn emerging behind her.

“Who wants to play with a white furball, you stinky black furball,” she muttered to herself, feeling that life was becoming unbearable.

Yan City was bustling again today. The demon generals had brought an extremely rare Snow Spirit Fox. This creature was nearly extinct due to various reasons, and somehow they had found one. The Demon Lord specifically had it sent to amuse his dao partner.

The palm-sized Snow Spirit Fox had soft, long white fur, eyes as black and moist as grapes, large, soft ears, and a fluffy, cloud-like big tail, along with pink, fleshy paw pads.

The fluffy cutie was practically a healing medicine. Petting the fox brought physical and mental comfort. Even the black snake became addicted to petting the furball, willing to maintain his human form for half a day just to better pet it.

This weak Snow Spirit Fox, after eating and drinking with Liao Tingyan for half a month, grew from palm-sized to basketball-sized, its pointed little face becoming noticeably rounder. Because its call was “ang—”, its name became Ang Ang.

With Hong Luo, the black snake, and now the Snow Spirit Fox Ang Ang around Liao Tingyan, things became even livelier. They say “Chickens fly and dogs jump.” The “dog” role fell to the black snake, so the Snow Spirit Fox could only act as the flying “chicken.” These two had roughly the same level of intelligence and were well-matched opponents, performing chase scenes around Liao Tingyan every day.

Every ten days or half a month, Sima Jiao would emerge from that palace. When he came out, he would find Liao Tingyan, almost always in the middle of the night, forcibly waking her up, accompanying her for one night, and then disappearing in the morning. Liao Tingyan was beginning to suspect that he might have killed himself and now existed as a ghost that couldn’t appear during the day.

“I’ve had people train some amusing birds for you. They’ll be delivered soon. Go see them,” Sima Jiao left this sentence before disappearing like dew.

That day, many white birds flew into Yan City. This was a flock of graceful birds whose most distinctive feature was their ability to briefly transform into human form, wearing feather robes to dance in the sky.

Liao Tingyan: …Isn’t this just a dance troupe?

Somehow, Sima Jiao had arranged this dance troupe for her. By shaking a bell, this flock of illusion birds dwelling nearby would fly from the mountains and forests to dance and sing for her, amusing her.

During his third emergence to see Liao Tingyan, Sima Jiao suddenly asked her: “How about moving to Guyu Settlement near Yan City?”

Liao Tingyan pinched his mouth.

Liao Tingyan: “Do you think my life isn’t lively enough?”

Sima Jiao pulled her hand down and held it. “Isn’t a lively life good? Don’t you quite enjoy it?”

Liao Tingyan looked at him for a while, then reached out to hug his waist. “Can I enter your spirit mansion and take a look?”

Sima Jiao picked her up and pressed against her forehead, tapping it twice. “No, if you enter now, your spiritual soul will be burned.”

How could that be possible? They had entered each other’s spirit mansions so many times; she would never be burned unless the stinky big boss went crazy enough to burn his spiritual soul, which might incidentally burn hers as well.

…No way.

Liao Tingyan pounced up to knock on Sima Jiao’s forehead, gesticulating wildly. “Let me in!”

Sima Jiao caught her hand with one of his, tripped her legs, and then pressed her head into his chest. Liao Tingyan struggled for a while but couldn’t break free, finally collapsing on top of him, hearing Sima Jiao’s chest rumble with laughter, and suddenly felt a wave of sadness.

Truly, this life was becoming unbearable. For some unknown reason, the great boss Sima seemed to be courting death. She suspected she might become a widow.

Sima Jiao, however, was quite happy, laughing for a long time without stopping.

With this attitude, it didn’t seem like anything major was about to happen. Liao Tingyan was confused, not knowing what he was up to.

That winter, during the coldest time of the year, Sima Jiao finally ended his seclusion. He stayed by Liao Tingyan’s side, seemingly no different from before.

Heavy snow fell for three days and four nights, turning Yan City white, somewhat resembling the white Winter City in the demon realm.

Sima Jiao woke Liao Tingyan up in the night.

“What?” Liao Tingyan asked groggily.

Sima Jiao nodded, “Alright.”

Alright, what? Liao Tingyan was bewildered as her clothes were undone.

Liao Tingyan: “???” Wait, what triggered this?

…

Sima Jiao carried her into the jade-colored pool. Blood-condensing flowers had once bloomed here, nurturing a flame, but Liao Tingyan hadn’t seen that flame for a long time. She didn’t understand why they were there. Before she could think further, she instinctively wrapped her arms around Sima Jiao’s neck, trying to press her forehead against his, but was stopped halfway by Sima Jiao’s hand.

“No.” His palm was burning hot, first covering her forehead, then moving down to cover her eyes. Liao Tingyan gasped while grabbing his arm, feeling her lips being sealed, a warm liquid passing into her. It was like some sweet, rich juice. Once this substance entered her body, a warm sensation flooded through her limbs and bones.

Floating up and down, Liao Tingyan felt her cultivation rapidly rising, breaking through stage by stage at a terrifying speed.

Liao Tingyan: “Wait… wait, what… did you… give me to… drink?”

Sima Jiao just laughed by her ear, firmly covering her eyes, not speaking. Liao Tingyan became a bit angry, thinking this guy was up to some strange trick again. She turned her head, not wanting to drink, but Sima Jiao’s hand tightly gripped her head, leaving her unable to move.

If he wanted to control someone, no one could break free, but this was the first time Liao Tingyan had received such treatment. Usually, if she didn’t want something, Sima Jiao never forced her.

She was forced to swallow the liquid passed to her mouth. If not for the absence of a bloody smell, she would have thought it was blood. As these liquids poured down her throat, she felt like her entire being was thrown into a sea of fire, her brain burning into a pulp.

Though they were in a pool, the water didn’t bring her any coolness. On the contrary, it seemed to have transformed into flames, boring into her body.

Thunder sounded outside, incredibly thunder, almost exploding overhead. Liao Tingyan had a moment of confusion, feeling her consciousness breaking free from Sima Jiao’s control and flying up. Outside, fierce winds swept the snow, thunderclouds rolled, and lightning danced wildly. She also heard many chaotic shouts.

Thunderstruck down swiftly and angrily. Liao Tingyan sensed the terrifying power within this thunder, carrying some indescribable meaning. Through her current state, she perceived some of it, involuntarily trembling.

Sima Jiao pressed her into his embrace. He had released her eyes. Liao Tingyan, hugging his neck, opened her eyes to see a large gash in his chest, from which flowed golden blood without a bloody smell, only a slight floral fragrance.

This was what she had been drinking.

Liao Tingyan was momentarily furious enough to want to beat this man, while simultaneously alarmed by the wound on his body. She reached out to cover it.

“No need.” Sima Jiao affectionately kissed her hair. “It’s about to begin.”

“What’s about to begin? Tell me, damn it!” Liao Tingyan couldn’t help but scream. What sky-shattering, earth-splitting thing was this man doing? The aura within that thunder was already extremely terrifying.

She was being driven crazy by this man. Sima Jiao, seeing her angry expression, burst into loud laughter, hooked her chin, and passed more of his altered blood to her. Liao Tingyan bit his tongue, biting whatever she could grab, wanting to kick him ten thousand miles away. Sima Jiao held the back of her neck, not retreating an inch.

“Since birth, I’ve endured all kinds of pain. This little bit you’re giving me doesn’t even itch, you know?” He released Liao Tingyan, wiping her lips with his thumb, speaking in a low voice like intimate whispers between lovers.

Liao Tingyan felt the blood in her body boiling, about to ignite. “What exactly… are you doing?”

Sima Jiao gazed at her, his eyes very gentle, both tender and mad.

He said: “I’ve refined the Mountain Spirit Fire, fusing it into my blood, flesh, and soul. After a while, all of this will belong to you.”

The Mountain Spirit Fire was divine. It had been refined six times in the Sima clan, the last time by Sima E. To purify the spiritual fire so Sima Jiao could merge with it, she had offered her body and soul, consumed by the fire until nothing remained.

Sima Jiao was the only one in this clan who had refined the spiritual fire into his body, and also the only madman who had used his own body to further refine this fire.

“Don’t worry, it won’t hurt. I’m leaving this fire to you. From now on, nothing in this world can harm you. All my enemies have been killed by me. What I’m leaving you are only the things and people you like.”

“Why? You were fine, why do this? I don’t even want it…” Liao Tingyan felt tears streaming down her face, but they evaporated on her cheeks due to the high temperature.

Everything was so hot, how was she not cooked yet? How was the self-righteous pig hoof in front of her not scalded to death?

Sima Jiao covered her face. “I was never meant to last long. People who can’t last long act as crazy as I do. You know best that in my spirit mansion, there’s a fire that never extinguishes. It gave me power beyond everything but will also take away other things from me.”

Back at Gengchen Immortal Mansion, he had devoured a new flame refined by the Shi clan over many years, and had nearly exhausted all his spiritual fire to burn the core of Gengchen Immortal Mansion and most of the cultivators of the Shi clan. Since then, his body had begun to show signs of collapse.

Power comes at a price. The Sima clan was destined to perish. He would die, and with his death, the fire in his body would be extinguished as well.

But he was unwilling and worried.

So after years of attempts, he finally succeeded in refining himself into a “candle.” When his body burned out and his soul was incinerated, he could transform this fire and give it to Liao Tingyan. From now on, she would be a second him, able to possess power surpassing all living beings, but without having to bear the pain brought by the flames. This was a truly newborn fire, no longer the Mountain Spirit Fire.

“Heaven wants me to die, but I don’t want to give my life to it. In this world, I only love you, so naturally, I want to give it to you.”

Liao Tingyan felt extremely uncomfortable all over, her eyes reddened. In her discomfort, she bit Sima Jiao’s hand, wanting to bite off a piece of his flesh.

His spiritual energy frantically poured into her body. Red light flickered in the jade-green pool—a complex formation connecting the two of them.

Thunder fell, landing by the pool but unable to strike them.

In this burning pain, Liao Tingyan suddenly recalled an unfamiliar scene—also filled with thunder and lightning. She looked up at Sima Jiao’s silhouette, watching him stand in front of her, tearing apart the falling thunder like a towering hero, the kind of world-shattering hero that Fairy Caixia spoke of, one who would ride on seven-colored clouds.

Bah, what a world-shattering hero! She cried in anger, clutching Sima Jiao’s hand, trembling incessantly.

“Just wait, after you die, I’ll be a wealthy widow with countless inheritances. Once you’re dead, I’ll keep hundreds of wild men!”

Sima Jiao laughed loudly amid the thunder, pinching the back of her neck, leaning to her ear, and saying: “There won’t be anyone else. You’ll never forget me in this lifetime.”

Indeed, she would never forget Sima Jiao.

But how could there be a man in this world who was both so lovable and so hateful?

“Dream on! Do you think you can have whatever you want? I refuse to let you have your way!”