They seemed to have returned to those earliest days when Liu Shuang treated Yan Chaosheng as an ally—her kindest days toward him.

A burning embrace broke all his previous silence.

The evening rain continued without stopping. Liu Shuang lay on the small couch, eyes open in the light of the Ming Pearl. She knew Yan Chaosheng wasn’t sleeping either.

Yan Chaosheng’s kiss on her forehead before his army’s departure, and now this embrace, were like a hedgehog covered in spines suddenly exposing its softest belly to her.

But was all this real?

In her previous life, when he was the Demon Lord, he had been even more passionate, even shielding her from celestial lightning. She had believed him then, only to end up torn to pieces, with a Pale Blue paying for his ruthlessness with its life.

She was thinking of many things, carefully planning each step, including the letters she had written to her father, hoping Chi Shui Chong would trust her this time.

There was also Bai Zhuixu. She was calculating how long it would take to nurture him until he had a chance at revival.

She considered various matters, even thinking of Shao You—how would he manage now without spiritual veins…

Until Yan Chaosheng came to her bedside: “Can’t sleep here? Go to bed.”

She looked up at him and shook her head: “You’re injured.”

Yan Chaosheng bent down and lifted her: “It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t hurt.”

Surprised by his action and afraid of touching his wounds, she didn’t move. When Yan Chaosheng set her down and was about to leave, Liu Shuang gently tugged at his sleeve.

She said, “Why don’t you sleep here too? The bed is so wide.”

After saying this, she moved back, leaving more than half the space for him. The small hand that had grabbed his sleeve didn’t let go.

Yan Chaosheng remained silent for a long time. Reason told him this was too much like a sweet trap, yet he still lay down fully clothed, quietly watching her. He wanted to know what she truly intended to do and how far she would go. If he gave her everything, would she like him a little more?

Yan Chaosheng asked, “Will you leave again?”

“That’s hard to say,” she answered honestly. “My father worries about me. I still need to return to Kung Sang to see him.”

“Then I’ll escort you when the time comes.”

She carefully glanced at him: “After how my father treated you, do you still hate Kung Sang?” Their initial relationship breakdown, starting from the Demon Suppression Tower, which made Liu Shuang abandon any idea of seeking him as an ally, stemmed from Chi Shui Chong’s betrayal and attempt to kill him.

Yan Chaosheng had once said that demons always sought revenge for the slightest grievance.

Yan Chaosheng said, “As long as you remain, I won’t hate.”

This was the first time the two had discussed this topic. She couldn’t help looking at him: “You won’t harm Kung Sang?”

“I won’t.”

Liu Shuang looked into his eyes and was surprised to find he wasn’t lying. Perhaps from the beginning, if someone could have soothed his hatred toward Kung Sang, the outcome might have been different.

At this moment, she strangely didn’t want to look into his pitch-black eyes anymore. She turned away and said softly, “Let’s sleep.”

The Ming Pearl glowed brightly inside the room, and sandalwood incense wafted through the air.

She used her arm as a pillow, and even without turning back, she knew he was watching her.

The spiritual herbs Liu Shuang brought solved the urgent crisis facing the inhabitants of the Demon Palace.

Even Fu Hang, who rarely smiled, couldn’t help but sigh in relief. Most demons had tough skin, but without medicine, their severe injuries would make it difficult to survive the winter.

Because of this, the demons in the Demon Palace improved their attitude toward Liu Shuang.

Previously, they had respected her only out of deference to Yan Chaosheng, but now it was different. When Liu Shuang went out in the early morning, she received a flower from a small demon girl.

“For you,” said the girl, who looked thin, her cheeks almost sunken. Yet she gazed at Liu Shuang with bright, expectant eyes. “Thank you for the medicine that saved my father.”

Her small hands were so thin they were almost just bone, and her fingers bore scars, but the purple flower in her hand still carried glistening dewdrops.

Liu Shuang knew that for demons, purple was the most noble and auspicious color. Meeting the little girl’s eyes, even with all the hatred in her heart, Liu Shuang felt as if something had gently struck her.

Liu Shuang accepted the flower with both hands: “Thank you. I love it.”

The little girl gave her a brilliant smile.

“How did you get these injuries?” asked Liu Shuang.

Following her gaze to her bony arms, the little girl said in a crisp voice: “I was once captured by a disciple from an immortal sect to be made into a magical artifact. I was too young, so he didn’t kill me, only peeled off my nails for medicine. I’m a pangolin. Father says when I grow up, I’ll be able to burrow through the toughest mountain ranges.”

Liu Shuang blew gently on her mottled fingers and smiled: “You’re very brave. You must grow up well and become as powerful as you say.” Her immortal spiritual power silently soothed the little girl’s fingers, taking away her pain.

“With the Mountain Lord here, I definitely will, and so will my little brother,” the girl said with conviction. “We won’t end up like Mother, captured and having our scales peeled off and our elemental bodies used for medicine.”

Liu Shuang lowered her eyes and softly murmured agreement as she watched the little girl run away.

The girl was still young, and her hatred for the immortal clan had not yet penetrated to her bones. Even after being captured and having her nail shells peeled off, flesh and all, she didn’t blame all immortals. She had even gone to great lengths to pick a purple flower for Liu Shuang.

How many demon children were like her? Yan Chaosheng’s kiss hadn’t moved her, but now a trembling little flower from a demon child made Liu Shuang’s resolve waver.

Without Yan Chaosheng, would these demon children eventually end up like her, Pale Blue, burned to ashes?

Nothing had happened in this life yet… but without Yan Chaosheng, would these children be skinned and dismembered? Who would protect them then?

Yan Chaosheng noticed the flower in her hand and asked, “Given to you by someone in the Demon Palace?”

Liu Shuang nodded.

She liked the little flower. Yan Chaosheng could tell, as she held it in her hand and never put it down.

“This flower is called the Ji Ji Flower. Its stem is edible, sweet. Demon children eat it like candy.”

He spoke with such clarity that Liu Shuang asked curiously, “Have you eaten it?”

“When I was young,” Yan Chaosheng said. “Back then, it was hard to find food. When extremely hungry, we’d eat anything. The Ji Ji Flower was the best-tasting food we could find, though it wasn’t filling.”

He rarely spoke candidly about his past. Liu Shuang took the opportunity to ask something she had long been curious about: “What bloodline do you have? Why don’t you have an elemental form?”

She knew Yan Chaosheng had snake clan blood, but there were many types of snake clans. In both her past and present lives, she had never seen Yan Chaosheng transform into his original form.

Yan Chaosheng paused, then looked up: “If you’re curious, you can come see for yourself.”

He originally didn’t want to answer this question, saying this because he was certain Liu Shuang wouldn’t approach him to examine his body.

Although they had been sleeping in the same bed these past few days, she occupied only a small corner and slept properly. Yan Chaosheng hadn’t removed his clothes. As long as they were both broad-minded, this arrangement seemed acceptable.

But Yan Chaosheng hadn’t anticipated that a girl’s curiosity could sometimes be terrifyingly strong. Liu Shuang walked over to him.

She blinked: “Didn’t you say you’d let me see?”

He looked away, his body stiffening as he changed his mind: “It’s not pleasant to look at.”

She said seriously, “That’s all right.”

Having spoken his words, Yan Chaosheng found it difficult to take them back. Under her eager gaze, after much hesitation, he lifted his sleeve.

He stared intently at her, planning to immediately put his sleeve down if Liu Shuang showed the slightest sign of disgust.

Yan Chaosheng vaguely remembered a year ago, when he and she were at the lotus platform in Nine Thoughts Pond. Injured as he was, he refused to let her see the snake scales on his body. Even with his hand broken, he insisted on covering his robe. He had never imagined then that one day he would voluntarily show her his body, which even he had found repulsive.

He had to admit he was somewhat nervous.

Liu Shuang gently held his arm, studying it with an inquisitive attitude. Yan Chaosheng’s hidden bloodline must have a significant origin. She knew that Qing Ying Jade alone couldn’t make him as powerful as he was now. A demon’s strength was largely related to their bloodline.

Her gaze showed no disgust, nor did it show forced comfort. Under her calm scrutiny, Yan Chaosheng gradually relaxed his tense body.

His black snake scales had receded, now a faint grayish-white. Perhaps due to his injuries, this grayish-white appeared quite dim.

It looked much better than before, though still not particularly attractive. Yan Chaosheng knew that someday, when he fully matured and regained his true form, he would have a majestic silver elemental body, dragon-like and resembling a flood dragon. At that time, his true form wouldn’t be ugly, but rather imposing.

She poked the scales. They were ice-cold, hard, and had a sharp offensive capability. Yet because of this coldness and sharpness, he had shed the darkness and sliminess inherent to the snake clan bloodline.

What exactly was Yan Chaosheng?

Seeing her touch him, Yan Chaosheng looked up and asked, “You don’t dislike it?”

She said earnestly, “It looks very powerful, like protective armor.” She knew that for demons, strong and hard armor was their hope for survival.

A faint smile appeared in Yan Chaosheng’s eyes: “Mm.”

He said, “Once I heal my wounds, I’ll be able to conceal the scales. My skin will be no different from a normal person’s.”

So it wouldn’t always look unappealing.

She somehow understood. Perhaps it was the wafting sandalwood incense, but as she stared at his arm, she suddenly felt awkward, despite not feeling embarrassed about sharing a bed. She quickly lowered his sleeve.

After all her looking, she hadn’t seen anything particularly special, let alone identify Yan Chaosheng’s elemental body and bloodline with her naked eye.

He pressed his lips together without saying anything.

The next day, Yan Chaosheng brought a purple fruit from somewhere: “For you. Taste it if you like.”

He used to give her magical treasures and artifacts. Perhaps seeing how she liked the Ji Ji Flower yesterday, today he gave her a small spiritual fruit.

Liu Shuang tasted it. It was very sweet.

Seeing that she was willing to eat it, he showed no particular reaction, treating it as casually as the demon girl’s flower gift. Because of Yan Chaosheng’s calmness, Liu Shuang didn’t think much of it.

Fruits were scarce in the mortal realm during this season, especially on the demon mountain, where everyone was busy renovating the palace. Liu Shuang didn’t know where he had picked the spiritual fruit from, as the Demon Palace had no spiritual fruit trees.

Thereafter, every day, he gave her one small purple fruit. Liu Shuang ate them as spiritual fruits, until one day, Cong Xia came to deliver medicine and saw Liu Shuang holding a half-eaten fruit. Cong Xia’s eyes reddened with jealousy: “The Mountain Lord gave even this to you!”

Her tone suggested Liu Shuang was eating her heart and liver.

Liu Shuang asked, “What is this?”

Cong Xia said angrily, “You don’t even know what it is, yet you ate it! Spit it out right now!”

The more she behaved this way, the more curious Liu Shuang became about the fruit’s origin: “Is it a powerful spiritual fruit?”

“What spiritual fruit? This is a demon oath fruit!” Cong Xia was furious.

The demon oath fruit didn’t increase spiritual power when eaten; it was merely crisp and sweet. However, this item was used by demons to please their partners.

By forming a contract with the fruit tree using one’s heart blood, the resulting fruits, when given to someone to eat, signified loyalty to that person. If one day the giver betrayed the recipient, suffering intestinal rupture would be a mild consequence.

It was equivalent to swearing to remain chaste.

This type of spiritual fruit was typically used by great demons to restrict female demons, preventing them from misbehaving and diminishing their prestige. Yet Yan Chaosheng had produced these and given them to Liu Shuang to eat as if they were ordinary spiritual fruits.

After learning this, Liu Shuang had a piece of fruit stuck in her throat, unsure whether to swallow or spit it out.

How could Yan Chaosheng give this to her to eat? With all that he had sacrificed, what did he truly want from her? Was it her love?

Most demons were uninhibited in their behavior; even immortals didn’t pay much attention to such matters. Yet he had silently given her a promise of loyalty, something she had never expected.

The sweet fruit suddenly didn’t taste delicious at all. Thinking about how she had happily eaten quite a few of these past days and remembering Yan Chaosheng’s gaze at those times, Liu Shuang stared at the fruit in her hand, almost unable to maintain her composure.

Cong Xia was furious: “What… what kind of look is that!”

No wonder Cong Xia looked as if the sky was falling. If Yan Chaosheng had even given oath fruits to Liu Shuang, Cong Xia would never be able to marry him, or even have a romantic encounter with him.

Who would create such a self-binding thing as an oath fruit and give it to someone to eat as if it were an ordinary fruit?

The more oath fruits Liu Shuang ate, the more severe the backlash Yan Chaosheng would suffer if he betrayed her.

Liu Shuang silently counted in her heart. It was too late to spit them out now. One fruit a day, she had eaten them as spiritual fruits for half a month. How could Yan Chaosheng remain so calm while giving her one to eat each day?

She knew that adult demons had mating seasons. Wasn’t Yan Chaosheng afraid of death?