Rong Chun followed him.

This young man had killed the evil cultivator who harmed her entire family and saved Rong Chun. He didn’t speak to Rong Chun, nor did he seem to have any intention of settling her anywhere. His entire body was shrouded in terrifying black mist, and those golden eyes weren’t those of an ordinary mortal. She was a girl who grew up in a small town, timid and weak, and should have fled from danger without hesitation. But for some unknown reason, as if possessed by ghosts and spirits, Rong Chun followed Gui Yansheng.

She had nowhere else to go. Her parents were gone, and a helpless young girl was like duckweed floating on water, with a drifting fate.

Gui Yansheng didn’t drive Rong Chun away.

Rong Chun spoke very little and never inquired about Gui Yansheng’s affairs. Gui Yansheng let her follow, seemingly acquiescing to her behavior. Occasionally, he would even instruct her to do some tasks. The first time Gui Yansheng spoke to Rong Chun, she secretly rejoiced for a long time, feeling that she was needed by this young man.

She had also seen Gui Yansheng kill people – in Duzhou, at sects, in Heishi City. When Gui Yansheng killed, the corners of his mouth always carried an indifferent smile. Those beautiful eyes of his mostly concealed some mad world-weariness. His methods when killing were also extremely cruel – whether good or bad people, he left no survivors.

Rong Chun initially had nightmares, but later, she gradually became accustomed to them.

This young man was moody and killed people casually. Even subordinates who worked for him could be laughing and talking one moment, and he could take their lives without hesitation the next. Everyone feared him and thought he was crazy, but Rong Chun felt that Gui Yansheng wasn’t insane – he was just weary of this world.

The demons following Gui Yansheng didn’t understand why he kept an ordinary human by his side, especially since this human woman wasn’t particularly beautiful. Over the years, everyone around Gui Yansheng had been killed by him, but Rong Chun remained. He had never harmed her. Others thought he might have feelings for Rong Chun.

But Rong Chun knew he was thinking of someone else.

Every time it rained, Gui Yansheng would always sit at the cave entrance with his paper umbrella, watching water droplets fall bit by bit from the sky into the mud on the ground until they vanished without a trace. One day, Rong Chun heard him quietly murmur a name: Xiao Chun.

That’s when Rong Chun understood – the person in his heart was called Xiao Chun.

She suddenly realized.

No wonder, back then in the Asura Ghost Path, when he had almost walked away, he suddenly stopped to ask her name. Because her mother had called her “Xiao Chun.”

A name had allowed her to survive.

Sometimes Rong Chun couldn’t help wondering what kind of person “Xiao Chun”, who occupied Gui Yansheng’s heart, was like. But she had never seen Xiao Chun’s true appearance. Presumably, that woman was no longer in this world.

Rong Chun thought Gui Yansheng was very pitiful.

The cultivation method he practiced was different from orthodox sects, as if he had to endure heart-devouring, body-burning agony, often in unbearable pain. The more people he killed, the stronger his cultivation became, but the heavier the backlash. So whenever he went into seclusion, he never let those demons approach. He trusted no one and feared someone might take his life when he was weak. He cultivated desperately, striving to break through, becoming stronger day by day. He attacked sects and slaughtered at will in the mortal world, as if determined to become a demon lord that would strike terror into the world and leave a stench for ten thousand years.

But Rong Chun often felt this person’s heart was empty. He seemed to be desperately trying to grasp something, but couldn’t hold onto anything. Like an unreasonable child throwing tantrums, doing these things for someone to see, yet the person who could see was no longer there.

Tragic yet ridiculous.

The black mist in the cave grew thicker, large masses of darkness tightly wrapping around the person inside. Suppressed low howls came from within, as if someone was desperately enduring heart-rending pain. Just like countless times before.

Rong Chun lowered her eyes and pulled her clothes tighter around herself.

She didn’t know why she stayed here. She could have left long ago, could have left this place, left Gui Yansheng. She could live the same ordinary and peaceful life as before, instead of being like now, together with the great demon lord that the world feared and despised, facing a difficult future with an uncertain path ahead.

Perhaps Gui Yansheng wasn’t the only one who had gone mad.

She was also insane.

……

The continuous days of rain in Heishi City had finally stopped.

The third day after Gu Baiying and the others came to Heishi City was the Qixi Festival in Duzhou.

When night fell, all of Heishi City became lively.

The demon clan had different habits from humans, not unlike hawks that rest during the day and come out at night. During the day, they either slept in caves or cultivated, but once night came, everyone ran out.

Heishi City’s sky darkened early to begin with, and by evening, the lights in the city began to shine.

Xiao Shuang came to deliver clothes to Zanxing, and on her way back, she happened to encounter Gu Baiying and his group, who had come looking for Zanxing. Mendong stared at Xiao Shuang for a long while, then tugged at Gu Baiying’s sleeve and whispered: “Master Uncle, is he also one of Zanxing’s male consorts?”

It seemed like those demons had vaguely hinted at this when they were at Yuemo Mountain.

Gu Baiying: “Shut up.”

Xiao Shuang looked at their group with a beaming smile, neither confirming nor denying, only saying gently: “Little Highness has finished bathing and dressing and will be out shortly.” After speaking, she nodded to everyone and gracefully departed.

Tian Fangfang stroked his chin: “Looks refined and cultured, doesn’t seem like a demon.” Looking up and catching Gu Baiying’s expression, he quickly added: “Of course, still can’t compare to Master Uncle.”

Gu Baiying snorted and didn’t respond.

While they were talking, Zanxing had already emerged from the hall.

The hairdresser had styled her hair in a swallow-tail bun popular among human women, with hair tips hanging over her shoulders. She had changed into a jade-colored dress embroidered with wisteria, the waist cinched slender, the sleeves thin and narrow. Her entire appearance looked playful yet ethereal, truly resembling those unmarried young ladies of the human race.

As soon as she appeared, everyone was stunned. Previously at Gufeng Mountain, Zanxing had a scar that made it hard to tell much about her appearance. Later, when they met again at Yuemo Mountain, she wore loose, cold robes. Now, dressed in ordinary clothing and standing before the hall with the night wind blowing, she truly appeared graceful and strikingly beautiful.

Tian Fangfang sincerely sighed: “Junior Sister, when you and Senior Sister Meng stand together, our entire Taiyan Sect looks much more distinguished. Isn’t that right, Master Uncle?”

Gu Baiying raised his chin, his expression showing proud satisfaction: “Naturally, just look at who taught her.”

Mu Cengxiao coughed lightly and whispered: “Isn’t that Master’s accomplishment?”

Gu Baiying emphasized: “I taught her illusion techniques.”

Zanxing: “……”

“Alright, alright,” Tian Fangfang stepped in to smooth things over: “Junior Sister looks so good thanks to Her Highness the Demon Empress’s merit. It’s getting late, let’s go.”