Liu Shuang never expected to stumble upon Yan Chaosheng’s murder scene.

In Kung Sang, there were immortal rules: disciples must not fight amongst themselves, must not kill each other, and if anyone committed such offenses, they would be dealt with according to Kung Sang’s penal code.

Yan Chaosheng was disregarding Kung Sang’s laws, attempting to kill someone in the Life-Crossing Bamboo Forest. If this matter were discovered, Yan Chaosheng would certainly be expelled from Kung Sang.

Unfortunately, if he were punished and banished from the Immortal Realm, he would surely harbor resentment and hate Kung Sang even more.

So she couldn’t allow him to kill. First, as the Young Lord, Liu Shuang couldn’t possibly permit Yan Chaosheng to act recklessly within the Immortal Realm, regardless of the reason. Second, destroying the Clear Ripple Stone was now more urgent.

Thus, Liu Shuang called out to Yan Chaosheng.

Based on Liu Shuang’s experience, having caught Yan Chaosheng in the act of murder, he might go all the way and turn his murderous intent toward her as well.

Fortunately, he no longer had the Ten Commandment Ring, and her cultivation level was higher than his, so there was no need to worry too much.

The two walked to one side, and Liu Shuang took out the Clear Ripple Stone.

Liu Shuang thought to herself that she couldn’t possibly tell Yan Chaosheng that this stone was harmful to Kung Sang and ask him to take it off her hands.

Yan Chaosheng wasn’t a fool. The murderous intent that had just halfway risen within him might now be filled.

So she said, “I promised to help restore your cultivation. Look, I’ve brought you a gift.”

It was the truth.

The decision to give the Clear Ripple Jade to Yan Chaosheng wasn’t made on impulse. She had been thinking about how to quickly settle accounts with Yan Chaosheng and drive him away. Though the Clear Ripple Stone was a disaster for the immortal clan, as a demon bone stone, its origins were well-studied.

It was said that ancient demon gods were born with demon bones that could destroy heaven and earth.

Later, when the Eight Wildernesses became clear and bright, both gods and demons vanished, and the immortal clan ruled. Rarely did anyone mention the taboo demon bones anymore.

The demon bone stone was said to be formed from the only pure remaining energy after the fall of many great demons.

For the immortal clan, the demon bone stone would corrupt one’s heart and cause demonic energy to erode them, but for the demon clan, it was completely regarded as a tonic.

However, ordinary demons didn’t have such “fortune”—once they consumed this all-nourishing stone, they might be over-nourished to the point of becoming fools.

Yan Chaosheng was different. Liu Shuang had studied his case; according to his biography, he became a Demon King in just a hundred years, which meant he must have been extraordinarily gifted and encountered great opportunities.

The fact that the ancient demon bird Qing Luan had bowed and pleaded before him showed that Yan Chaosheng was a remarkable person even in his youth.

If he could save Qing Luan, he could certainly refine the demon bone.

Yan Chaosheng asked, “You brought this especially for me?”

Indeed, mainly because this object couldn’t be taken to Kun Lun, and you, for the sake of your cultivation, were already stepping onto the path of murder.

Liu Shuang thought for a moment and said, “I saw that you wanted to kill someone.”

As soon as she spoke, the young man’s eyes grew cold.

Yan Chaosheng’s thoughts partly coincided with Liu Shuang’s and partly contrasted sharply. Yan Chaosheng was eager to restore his cultivation, win the competition, and become an official disciple. Liu Shuang wanted to quickly compensate for his cultivation, transform grudges into gratitude, and then drive him away to prevent him from taking revenge on Kung Sang.

Now, the first step aligned—restoring his cultivation—so there was no problem. She couldn’t let Yan Chaosheng absorb someone’s cultivation.

She wanted to destroy the jade, and Yan Chaosheng wanted to recover his powers—a win-win situation.

“If you eat this, your cultivation will return. Don’t kill people, Yan Chaosheng. Killing carries the karmic burden.”

Moonlight shone on Yan Chaosheng, and Liu Shuang saw his cold expression. Unable to frighten him and seeing that he seemed determined to kill, she added, “He’s not worth it. You should take care of yourself.”

Liu Shuang reflected that her tone had been too cold just now, and Yan Chaosheng might think she wanted to harm him. Good, now with this additional sentence, it finally sounded like genuine concern from a sincere ally.

Sure enough, after she said this, the previously cold Yan Chaosheng suddenly raised his eyes. The young man’s eyes held many complex, unfathomable emotions, but ultimately softened a bit.

“I won’t kill him. You can go, and I don’t want your gift either.”

“…” You should take it, you must take it. Liu Shuang earnestly tried to recommend the jade to him. “Yan Chaosheng, it’s called the Clear Ripple Stone, originally a treasure of Kung Sang. It contains countless spiritual energies—not just enough to restore your previous cultivation, but even more.”

She guaranteed that nothing she said was an exaggeration.

Yan Chaosheng frowned. “I believe you.”

Now it was Liu Shuang who was confused. “If you believe me, why won’t you take it?”

Yan Chaosheng looked at her face for a long while, then turned away. “I can become strong on my own, without your help.”

Fine, so he had this male pride, refusing a woman’s help.

“I certainly believe you’ll be very powerful,” Liu Shuang said. “But the competition is only half a month away. If you can’t restore your spiritual power and win, how will you become a disciple? Yan Chaosheng, the next opportunity will be in ten years. Can you wait that long?”

Yan Chaosheng said coldly, “Enough, don’t say anymore. At worst, I’ll wait.”

“You might be able to wait, but I can’t!” When Liu Shuang heard this, she was almost frantic. Did she have to face him for another ten years, worrying daily that he might rebel and destroy Kung Sang?

Yan Chaosheng paused.

“Chi Shui Liu Shuang, you…” Something in her words seemed to touch a sensitive point for Yan Chaosheng. His brief sentence was spoken with near difficulty, and he couldn’t finish it for a long while.

The air was still for a moment. Yan Chaosheng lowered his eyes, his lips curving slightly upward.

Liu Shuang: “…?” She didn’t know what Yan Chaosheng was happy about. Staying in Kung Sang and refusing to leave, wanting to stay for another ten years—was this pleasing to him?

Liu Shuang tilted her head to look at him. Well, at least Yan Chaosheng’s mood seemed quite good. In this lifetime, since meeting Yan Chaosheng, Liu Shuang had rarely seen him in such a good mood.

It was the first time she saw him smile—not hypocritically pretending, nor scornfully sneering. Under the clear night moon, Yan Chaosheng was like a lush green bamboo forest, his whole being radiating the simple, pure, and vibrant smile that only youth possesses.

Even though he lowered his eyes, immediately concealing his emotions, Liu Shuang could still tell he had smiled.

Liu Shuang was truly at a loss. Based on Yan Chaosheng’s personality, she mentally prepared herself and learned from Master Su Lun’s thick skin: “Then take it for now, consider it a debt, and you can repay me slowly, alright?”

Though he refused her forceful gift, when she said Yan Chaosheng could repay her slowly, he hesitated only briefly before accepting.

The young man’s features were elegant and handsome as he said softly, “Alright, I won’t keep you waiting long.”

Liu Shuang looked at him in confusion. Well, at least their intentions seemed somewhat, perhaps, probably aligned.

Seeing that Yan Chaosheng was about to leave, Liu Shuang asked, “Where are you going?”

Yan Chaosheng glanced at her. “To deal with Ding Feng.”

Liu Shuang wasn’t reassured; she needed to personally witness him destroy the Clear Ripple Stone. If something unexpected happened, she could stop it in time.

“I’ll go with you.”

Yan Chaosheng frowned. “I said I wouldn’t kill him, and I absolutely won’t.”

“I’m not worried about him,” the young woman said seriously. She believed Yan Chaosheng wouldn’t stoop to telling such a lie.

Yan Chaosheng suddenly fell silent. In the moonlight, she was already quite beautiful, her eyes lustrous, seemingly containing a gentle watery glow. For some reason, Yan Chaosheng suddenly recalled how the disciples had gossiped earlier that day.

“What does the Young Lord look like? Which rumor is true, and which is false?”

“Not only is her appearance pure and extraordinary, it’s said she surpasses even Da Ji and Bao Si in beauty.”

At that time, Yan Chaosheng had only been calculating how to lure Ding Feng out at night, kill him silently, and dispose of any evidence, so he hadn’t paid much attention.

Now, in the bright, clear moonlight, with occasional faint insect chirps in the forest, every leaf in the Life-Crossing Bamboo Forest seemed to take on an enchanting color. Everything in sight was beautiful.

Yet among countless beautiful scenes, the most beautiful was the person before him.

Yan Chaosheng wanted to refuse, not wanting her to see how he would deal with Ding Feng, but meeting her slightly pleading gaze, he remained silent for a while. When he returned, a small shadow followed behind him.

The young woman asked, “Has Ding Feng bullied you?”

Yan Chaosheng didn’t answer.

Getting closer, Yan Chaosheng finally said, “Stand further away. This person is filthy.”

She obediently nodded and took two steps back.

Yan Chaosheng turned around and added, “Please turn your back, Young Lord.”

She said softly, “I’m not trying to steal your techniques. How stingy.”

Yan Chaosheng insisted on watching her until Liu Shuang turned away. He let out a breath, expressionlessly pinched Ding Feng’s philtrum to wake him up.

As soon as Ding Feng awoke and saw Yan Chaosheng, he was about to scream, but the next moment, he stared directly into a pair of demonic silver eyes.

Ding Feng’s gaze gradually became vacant.

Yan Chaosheng sneered coldly, closed his eyes, and reopened them, his demonic eyes changing to pure black. He looked at Liu Shuang again; she had turned her back, keeping her promise and obediently not looking back.

“Senior Brother Ding, I’ve greatly offended you tonight. You may leave now.”

After hearing Yan Chaosheng’s words, Ding Feng stood up woodenly and nodded. “I understand. It was my fault to begin with. Please forgive me, Junior Brother.”

Having said this, he walked past Liu Shuang toward the depths of the bamboo forest.

Liu Shuang turned around, hardly believing: “He just left like that?”

Yan Chaosheng said, “The misunderstanding has been cleared up, so naturally, everything is fine.”

After walking several steps, Yan Chaosheng noticed she was still following closely behind him. A faint, not unpleasant sense of helplessness rose in his heart. “What is it now, Young Lord? What else do you need?”

“I won’t feel at ease unless you consume the Clear Ripple Jade. This object is very powerful.” She paused. “I should tell you in advance, it might be painful.”

Yan Chaosheng looked at her briefly, not addressing her warning about pain. “I’m going back now.”

Relief showed in her smile as she said, “Then I’ll go back with you.”

Liu Shuang thought to herself that the young Demon Lord’s mental instability was acting up again. Ever since she had said, “I’ll go back with you,” his expression had become very strange, and he finally firmly and decisively said through gritted teeth: “Not possible.”

She looked at him.

Yan Chaosheng said, “It’s very late.”

Yes, Liu Shuang thought, so they needed to hurry. Perhaps by dawn, when the immortal clan discovered the Clear Ripple Stone was missing, they would come after her. By then, if the Clear Ripple Jade was taken back, Yan Chaosheng’s hope of restoring his cultivation would be lost.

After a while, Yan Chaosheng’s expression became somewhat unnatural as he asked, “Do you have to watch me consume it?”

Liu Shuang nodded.

“Fine, then here it is,” Yan Chaosheng said.

Liu Shuang had no objections. As long as the matter could be resolved, it didn’t matter where it happened.

Yan Chaosheng swallowed the Clear Ripple Stone.

Liu Shuang observed him nervously. Gradually, cold sweat broke out on his forehead, his lips turned pale, he clutched his abdomen, and with a rumbling sound, he collapsed to the ground.

Liu Shuang moved closer to him, seeing his obvious suffering. Considering that although he was doing this to restore his cultivation, he was also doing her a huge favor, she focused green spiritual energy at her fingertips and gently touched his forehead.

Her hand was suddenly gripped.

“Yan Chaosheng?” she called out in confusion.

“That… won’t… help,” the young man breathed heavily, his body shaking violently.

“Are you in a lot of pain?” Liu Shuang asked. She hadn’t encountered this situation before. “Should I recite a Heart-Calming Incantation for you?”

The Yan Chaosheng, who became the Demon Lord, would occasionally recite this.

“No need.” He squeezed her hand. “Can you sing?”

“I can’t.”

“Tell stories?”

Liu Shuang honestly shook her head. “I can’t.” They didn’t teach that in the mortal realm.

“…” After a while, he chuckled amid his trembling. “You are…”

He could still laugh, so it didn’t seem too serious. But his grip on her hand grew tighter. Liu Shuang didn’t pull away, sighed, and resignedly allowed him to hold it.

She understood this situation. In the mortal realm, some women in childbirth would like to grip something when in extreme pain, or bite something.

Liu Shuang thoughtfully said, “Let me break off a piece of bamboo for you to bite.”

With a wave of her free hand, a thin section of bamboo appeared in her grasp. She placed it at Yan Chaosheng’s lips, making him laugh despite his pain. “There’s no need. I can endure it.”

“Oh.”

After enduring for who knows how long, Liu Shuang’s hand felt nearly crushed in his grip, but since he could endure, she naturally wouldn’t make a sound. She thought to herself that she couldn’t be worse than him.

He lay on the bamboo forest floor, not asking her to support him, occasionally trembling but not even groaning in pain, as if nothing was happening.

Gradually, the sky began to show the first light of dawn.

Yan Chaosheng suddenly stopped shaking.

He stood up with a deathly pale face, somewhat gloomy and bewitchingly beautiful. As their eyes met, Liu Shuang softly called, “Yan Chaosheng?”

His expression was very strange, his pupils deep, his gaze flitting over Liu Shuang. Liu Shuang felt a chill run down her spine, thinking something had gently caressed the back of her hand. But her hand was numb, so it was probably an illusion.

After a while, Yan Chaosheng withdrew his gaze, released her, and said breathlessly, “I’m fine.”

“Are you alright?”

Yan Chaosheng didn’t speak but flipped his hand, and a small piece of green bamboo instantly turned to dust. He looked strong, but not exceptionally powerful.

Liu Shuang asked, “Has your cultivation returned?”

Yan Chaosheng didn’t look at her. “Mm.”

Liu Shuang let out a breath of relief. “I need to go back now. If you feel anything unusual, you can come find me anytime.”

He nodded, and only then did Liu Shuang leave.

As soon as she left, Yan Chaosheng moved his fingers slightly, and the green bamboo that had turned to dust instantly returned to its original form. His spiritual energy was so abundant that he could split mountains and part seas with a wave of his hand.

But… Yan Chaosheng gritted his teeth. What kind of object was this? His demonic nature had become almost impossible to suppress. When he opened his eyes after refining the Clear Ripple Jade, he thought he had regressed to the lowest class of snake clans and gone into heat.

The moment he saw her, he was so aroused that that part of him stood up immediately.

Fortunately, the outer disciple’s robes were loose. At that moment, his mind could barely function, and he lost control, teasing her and wanting to transform into his original form, to wrap around every inch of her body. He had truly gone mad.

Luckily, he used all his willpower to look away, and she didn’t notice anything unusual.

Yan Chaosheng stiffly walked toward the bamboo house. This stone was not right. It would be best not to see her again anytime soon.