Chapter 23

Yan Chaosheng wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, propped himself up, and stood up from the ground.

The red python let out a cold laugh and struck again.

Yan Chaosheng tried to dodge the blow, but the red python’s true form was too large.

The strike landed heavily on Yan Chaosheng’s chest, nearly shattering his internal organs.

“I order you to kneel!”

The red python exhaled a red mist, and an invisible force bound Yan Chaosheng, forcing him to his knees.

Yan Chaosheng’s clothes were disheveled, veins bulged on the back of his hands, and he pressed firmly against the ground, refusing to kneel.

His hands nearly sank into the earth, and his bones were dislocated.

The red python was clearly enraged, tormenting him leisurely.

Perhaps it was in the nature of the demon clan to value pride above all else, demanding submission.

One forced another to kneel, while the other refused to submit even at the cost of death.

Liu Shuang watched anxiously, unsure whether she hoped Yan Chaosheng would kill the red python or the red python would kill Yan Chaosheng.

After all, Yan Chaosheng was protecting Taichuan City for her.

If Yan Chaosheng was tortured to death by the red python, she wouldn’t be able to escape either. Just as she was about to rush forward, Xi Yun’er grabbed her sleeve.

“Immortal, what are you doing?”

“Saving him.”

More importantly, saving herself and the people of Taichuan City.

Right now, a two-against-one fight was far better than facing the red python alone later.

Xi Yun’er said, “Let these two demons fight it out. Once they’re both exhausted, we’ll deal with whoever survives. Bi Xun doesn’t have a core, and every transformation drains his demonic energy. Just wait a bit longer.”

Her tone was surprisingly calm as she glared hatefully at the red python torturing Yan Chaosheng.

Liu Shuang brushed off her hand.

“Miss Xi, you’re overthinking. If Bi Xun wins, I won’t stand a chance.”

Xi Yun’er: “……”

Liu Shuang said, “Stay hidden; don’t come out.”

With that, Liu Shuang leaped forward, tossing out a bright blue jade-bone umbrella.

The jade-bone umbrella opened, blocking the red python’s descending tail.

The jade-bone umbrella landed in Liu Shuang’s hand.

The twenty-four blue jade segments spun, blooming like a radiant blue flower.

Holding the umbrella handle, Liu Shuang felt it heating up slightly.

The jade-bone umbrella seemed to be brimming with excitement, ready for battle.

This was the original Chishui Liushuang’s immortal weapon, the Jiangzhu Umbrella, specially forged by Chishui Chong when she turned one hundred. Perhaps considering his daughter’s weak spiritual energy, Chishui Chong had focused entirely on defense rather than attack when crafting the umbrella.

Before departure, Fuliu had even reminded her how to use it. The Jiangzhu Umbrella was resilient enough to withstand several strikes from the red python.

Bi Xun struck the Jiangzhu Umbrella, and seeing the immortal weapon unharmed, he looked down at Liu Shuang blocking Yan Chaosheng.

“So, there’s even someone from the immortal clan here? Hmph, overestimating yourself. Courting death.”

With that, he attacked mercilessly. His tail struck again, causing the Jiangzhu Umbrella to tremble violently.

Although it still didn’t crack, it was clear it wouldn’t last much longer.

At this point, even without using magic, Bi Xun’s physical strength alone could crush them.

What could they do if they couldn’t win?

Run, of course! Liu Shuang activated the Jiangzhu Umbrella, which shielded them from above.

She quickly went to support Yan Chaosheng.

“We need to leave.”

The young man lifted his eyes, the corners reddened, and staggered to his feet.

His upper clothes were shredded, and under the faint blue light of the umbrella, the black scales on his body gleamed coldly, with blood oozing between the cracks.

He was gravely injured.

When Liu Shuang’s hand touched his arm, Yan Chaosheng froze, his body trembling slightly before he harshly slapped her hand away.

Liu Shuang winced in pain and glared at him.

“What are you doing?!”

Yan Chaosheng said, “Get lost. I don’t need your help.”

Liu Shuang almost laughed in disbelief.

Who was helping who here?

But there was no time to argue.

Seeing the Jiangzhu Umbrella about to give out, she caught the umbrella as it returned to her hand.

Just as she closed it, a massive snake head lunged toward her, and her eyes widened in shock.

Ah! If she had known, she wouldn’t have listened to Yan Chaosheng and come into the city to find an exit.

This wasn’t finding an exit—it was seeking death.

The snake’s mouth opened wide, ready to swallow Liu Shuang whole.

Her reflexes had never been so fast.

She knew no one could save her in this moment.

Her fingers quickly formed a seal, sending a faint blue light into the red python’s eyes.

She spread her arms wide and flung herself backward, barely buying herself a moment.

The giant serpent hissed, its crimson pupils flaring with rage.

Liu Shuang’s attack wasn’t strong, but stabbing someone in the eyes was an obvious insult.

Enraged, Chi Mang momentarily forgot about Yan Chaosheng and chased after Liu Shuang.

Liu Shuang nearly cried as she bolted.

Wherever the serpent passed, stones and mountains collapsed. The once beautiful gardens of the city lord’s manor were destroyed in an instant.

The red python had an unseen artifact serving as an array core.

Liu Shuang’s immortal energy was rapidly fading, and the snake’s tail coiled around her waist, yanking her back from the sky.

Liu Shuang felt like her waist was about to snap, and she could barely breathe.

She struggled to reach her storage pouch, but with the snake’s tail constricting her, she couldn’t move at all.

The snake’s maw was inches away when suddenly, a silver ring descended from the sky, locking tightly around the red python’s weak point.

Liu Shuang saw Yan Chaosheng staggering to his feet behind the red python.

His face was covered in blood, nearly obscuring his handsome features.

Yan Chaosheng spread his fingers and clenched them tightly.

The silver ring constricted, forcing the red python to release Liu Shuang.

She fell to the ground and scrambled over to Yan Chaosheng.

Thank heavens they still had the Ten Commandments Ring given by Father Chishui!

Two against one was indeed better than one-on-one.

However, the Ten Commandments Ring could only restrain the enemy, not kill them.

Liu Shuang grabbed Yan Chaosheng.

“Go, go, go! While he’s trapped, we need to leave and regroup!”

Yan Chaosheng turned his head, his expression dark as he looked at her.

“If the red python doesn’t die, we cannot leave. There’s a formation set here—only by its death can we escape this city. Otherwise, no matter where we go, we’ll be found.”

He spoke while staring at Liu Shuang.

“Young Miss, we must kill it.”

“How do we kill it?”

Liu Shuang looked up at him, hoping Yan Chaosheng would provide a solution.

Seeing him staring at her without speaking, Liu Shuang pushed him lightly.

“Hey, speak! Bi Xun is about to break free.”

As their eyes met, Liu Shuang’s belt was suddenly hooked by a slender finger.

With a slight tug, Yan Chaosheng pulled her closer.

The young man’s face was covered in blood, his injuries so severe he was on the brink of death, yet his tone was light and cold: “I need your help, Young Miss.”

Liu Shuang urged him to speak faster while trying to pry his fingers away.

Though Yan Chaosheng was helping her, did he really need to get so handsy while talking?

Yan Chaosheng’s emotions were complicated.

He had never expected the pampered Young Miss of Chishui would rush out to save him when facing the red python.

When he thought he was about to die under the python’s attack, she flew over, shielding him with the bright blue Jade Bone Umbrella, blooming beautifully like a flower.

But so what?

He had thought it was just an ordinary demon.

With its inner core, he could restore his lost cultivation.

He hadn’t anticipated it would be Bi Xun, an ancient bloodline demon.

Yan Chaosheng lowered his eyes, his vertical pupils glinting with murderous intent in a place she couldn’t see.

His “method” was, of course, to let her die.

In Bi Xun’s territory, if this dragged on, they would both die.

Yan Chaosheng knew very well—this was the best chance.

If he killed the girl before him and drained her life force, he could reclaim the spiritual energy he had painstakingly cultivated.

Even if Chishui Liushuang was mediocre, she was still of ancient immortal blood.

His cultivation had been lost because of her—it was only right for her to repay him!

With her spiritual energy, killing Bi Xun, who had lost his inner core, would be no problem.

For demons, all their cultivation is stored in a single inner core.

Yan Chaosheng had observed carefully earlier and confirmed that Bi Xun no longer had one, leaving him to fight in his true form.

Yan Chaosheng’s eyes darkened, and his thoughts churned: if he killed Chishui Liushuang here in Taichuan City and framed Bi Xun for it, he could regain his spiritual energy and return to Kong Sang to continue his cultivation.

This journey had been too difficult.

If Chishui Liushuang died, it would pave the way for his path to immortality.

The girl in front of him was completely unaware of the danger, instinctively trusting him.

Her eyes were pure, filled with confusion, as if wondering why he wasn’t speaking further—what was the so-called “method” to kill the red python?

Yan Chaosheng thought, fortunately… fortunately, she had been raised so naively by Chishui Chong, without any guard against him.

She shouldn’t have come back to save him.

His eyes grew cold.

Only in such a situation did he have the chance to seize her spiritual energy.

Yan Chaosheng’s fingers began to move, but before he could act, the sound of flesh being pierced rang in their ears.

His movement halted, and both he and Liu Shuang turned to look.

The giant python, originally bound by the Ten Commandments Ring, now had a light sword piercing through its body at its vulnerable spot.

That light sword was held in the hand of a woman.

“Miss Xi…” Liu Shuang hadn’t expected Xi Yun’er to seize this moment to stab Bi Xun.

The python, which had been frantically struggling, suddenly fell silent.

Under everyone’s gaze, he transformed back into a refined-looking man.

The sword was still embedded in his heart.

His crimson eyes and dark hair made him appear gentle as he gazed only at Xi Yun’er.

“You truly wish for my death that much?”

Xi Yun’er seemed terrified, her hands trembling as she let go of the sword and stumbled back.

Bi Xun smiled bitterly, pulling the sword from his chest.

With a gentle voice, he said, “Yun’er, a mortal sword cannot kill me. Perhaps you’ll be disappointed.”

Xi Yun’er couldn’t bear to look at him and instead turned to Liu Shuang.

“Immortal! Quickly kill him! He’s injured, he’s at his limit—I can feel it, he won’t last much longer. Hurry, kill him!”

Bi Xun stood frozen, the smile vanishing from his lips.

The cold wind rustled his wedding robes.

His true form was mighty, but now, in human form, he appeared heartbreakingly fragile.

“Why?” Bi Xun asked.

“Why treat me this way?”

“You’re a demon. You’ve harmed so many people—you deserve to die!” Xi Yun’er’s fear and panic from the past days erupted as she screamed.

“You forced me into this! I never wanted to go this far, but you wouldn’t leave me alone!”

“I’ve cultivated for seven thousand years. I’ve never harmed anyone, Yun’er. Everything I did was to ensure your survival.”

Bi Xun took a step forward, but Xi Yun’er pushed him away.

Liu Shuang noticed that even in his human form, a snake’s tail still trailed behind Bi Xun.

He could barely maintain his human shape.

Xi Yun’er’s face twisted in disgust.

“If I had known your inner core was such a filthy thing, I would never have wanted to know you, even if I were beaten to death!”

Bi Xun’s face went pale, his lips trembling, unable to speak a word.

Xi Yun’er pulled a hairpin from her head and aimed it at her abdomen.

“Die. You must die now. Otherwise, I’ll pierce your inner core, and you won’t survive either. Don’t you love me? You should be happy that I’m alive.”

She made a motion to stab herself, but before she could, a cold hand grabbed hers.

The snake clan’s body temperature was perpetually icy, and Xi Yun’er’s hand trembled at the chill.

She looked up to see his exquisitely handsome yet demonic face.

Bi Xun said, “I’ll grant your wish. Don’t hurt yourself—I’ll grant your wish.”

In Xi Yun’er’s joyful gaze, Bi Xun plunged his hand into his chest and tore out a crimson heart.

“Look.”

A tear rolled from Bi Xun’s eye.

“A demon’s heart is the same as yours. It’s not dirty.”

Xi Yun’er recoiled in disgust, not even glancing at the heart in his hand.

She turned to Liu Shuang and asked anxiously, “Immortal, does this mean he’ll die now?”

Liu Shuang looked at the crimson heart in Bi Xun’s palm and nodded silently.

Without an inner core, survival was already impossible.

Now, with his heart torn out, there was no chance of life.

The once-handsome man in red fell backward, transforming into a red python as he closed his eyes forever.

The descendant of a seven-thousand-year-old Teng Snake—how many heavenly tribulations and agonizing loneliness had he endured to make it this far?

His corpse now sprawled across most of the courtyard.

With the artifact’s master gone, the gray sky began to drizzle.

The barrier enchantment disappeared, and raindrops fell onto their skin with a faint chill.

The people who had been under control regained their senses and hurried to Xi Yun’er.

“Miss, are you alright?”

Xi Yun’er shook her head and smiled.

“I’m fine.”

She glanced at the corpse of the red python and said coldly, “Chop this demon into pieces and feed it to the wild dogs. As for him—” she pointed sharply at Yan Chaosheng—”he’s also a demon. Quickly find the city’s sorcerers and have him killed.”

Nearly all the city’s citizens had gathered at the city lord’s manor.

Now freed from control, they turned their eyes to Yan Chaosheng at Xi Yun’er’s reminder.

In the light rain, the young man’s slender body stood there, his tattered clothes revealing black snake scales.

Blood trickled down his form, pooling beneath him.

His icy gaze met the stares of the gathered people.

The crowd recoiled in fear.

“A demon! There’s another snake demon!”

“Kill him! Kill him now!”

The people picked up shards of stone scattered from earlier destruction and began hurling them at him.

Sharp stones cut across Yan Chaosheng’s face, leaving a thin red line.

He closed his eyes briefly, knowing that in his current weakened state, he couldn’t fight against an entire city of people and soldiers.

Stumbling, he gritted his teeth and turned to leave.

“Don’t let him escape!” Xi Yun’er ordered.

Liu Shuang held up her umbrella, saying nothing.

Miss Xi’s plight of being forced into marriage by a snake demon was pitiable, but she and Yan Chaosheng had come to save people.

Xi Yun’er had forced Bi Xun to his death, and now she was turning on Yan Chaosheng.

The others might not know the truth, but Xi Yun’er certainly did—yet she still acted this way.

The human heart is cold and fickle.

Look at them; even if they had good intentions, they were no different.

Liu Shuang couldn’t be bothered to spare Xi Yun’er another glance and went off in search of someone.

Relying solely on mortals would not kill a demon-blooded Yan Chaosheng.

If mishandled, it could even cause casualties among the people of Taichuan City.

Bi Xun was dead, and Yan Chaosheng was seriously injured—wasn’t this the opportunity she’d been waiting for all along?

With the artifact’s restraints gone, Liu Shuang could finally use her immortal energy again.

She found Yan Chaosheng in an abandoned courtyard.

The young man sat in a corner, his gaze icy.

The courtyard doors were barred, and citizens, having noticed his weakness, were trying to force their way in.

Liu Shuang passed through the walls and crouched in front of him.

“Yan Chaosheng,” she called softly, a bit excited as she examined him.

“Are you alright?”

She knew it was a pointless question.

The young msn’s dark eyes stared at the rain-washed blood stains, his body trembling slightly from the pain.

Blood had pooled beneath him into a small puddle.

His bare torso exposed the mottled black scales across his body.

His gaze remained fixed on his reflection in the blood.

Feeling awkward about his bare state, Liu Shuang finally found an excuse to take off her cumbersome six layers of clothing.

During her battle with Bi Xun earlier, she hadn’t been strangled to death by him but had nearly suffocated under her own clothes.

“Wait a moment,” she said.

She figured the citizens would break in soon, and she couldn’t kill Yan Chaosheng in front of them.

She had time.

She could take him away and kill him slowly, savoring every moment.

Ha! She could kill him however she wanted.

Finally, wearing only one layer, Liu Shuang casually grabbed the last piece of clothing she had removed and handed it to Yan Chaosheng.

“Put it on. Time to send you on your way.”

When Yan Chaosheng took the garment, Liu Shuang lost interest in watching him dress and turned her back.

She held up her umbrella, shielding herself while daydreaming happily about how she would kill Yan Chaosheng once they were out of sight.

Yan Chaosheng hadn’t expected her to come looking for him.

Her soft voice asked, “Are you alright?”

He said nothing, staring at his blurry reflection in the blood.

After a long while, he heard the faint rustling of fabric.

In the midst of the heavy rain, he caught sight of different colors swirling in the blood puddle.

Coldly, he looked up—and saw the girl removing layer after layer of clothing.

Pink, pale purple, white gauze…

Finally, she was left with an ink-blue immortal robe.

She took it off, revealing a golden soft armor underneath.

Turning back to him, she draped the ink-blue robe over his shoulders.

“Don’t worry,” she said softly.

“This color suits men too.”

With a flick of her wrist, the umbrella opened.

She turned her back to him, shielding the two of them from the falling rain.

The ink-blue robe still carried the warmth of the girl’s body, covering the unsightly black scales on him.

Yan Chaosheng looked up coldly.

The umbrella was wide, perfectly sheltering both of them in its small corner of the world.

The girl shielded him from the rain, her back still turned.

Yan Chaosheng had wandered for countless years.

For the first time, someone had held up an umbrella for a demon like him.

His lips pressed into a thin line as he lowered his head in frustration.

She had seen him in this humiliating state, as had the people of this city.

How infuriating!

Blood surged in his chest, and he didn’t know whether to feel hatred, anger, or…

He felt bitter.

Even after all she’d done, he would not forgive her.

He would not forget who had driven him to such a pitiful state.

Yan Chaosheng closed his eyes briefly.

He should have drained her immortal energy earlier!