Chapter 51

Banshee can read minds.

Liu Shuang remembered the first time she met her, the banshee uttered the words “Canglan,” so the banshee also knew about Mi Chu through her.

But this was the first time someone told her that Yan Chaosheng didn’t like Mi Chu.

How could that be?

Liu Shuang hesitantly asked, “If he doesn’t like Mi Chu, then who does he like?”

The banshee chuckled softly, “If I tell you, you might not believe me. Why don’t you ask him yourself? If you think carefully about many things, you might find the answer. Little immortal, don’t go in the wrong direction. You must figure out his feelings, or he won’t appreciate your efforts. Ask him yourself, and he will surely give you the answer.”

Qingluan looked at Liu Shuang, who nodded.

If she had truly misunderstood, it was necessary to correct her path.

The banshee said, “We only made him fall asleep. He is severely injured, with three wounds: one from your Kongsang, another from breaking into the tower to save you, and the last from his attempt to escape the tower on his own.”

Liu Shuang whispered, “The Demon Suppression Tower locks demons in. He can’t escape.”

The Demon Suppression Tower was forged by ancient gods. No demon could escape from it, which is why Night Demon Luo has been trapped here until now.

“He can escape, and you can also find the fifth spiritual vein,” the banshee said confidently.

“As long as you dare to descend into the Weak Water to retrieve it.”

Before Liu Shuang could ask what she meant, the banshee waved her hand.

Another demon controlled the vines and brought Yan Chaosheng to Liu Shuang’s side. He was still unconscious, and Liu Shuang had to support him.

The banshee smiled eerily and suddenly said, “Little immortal, have you ever seen an ancient divine relic collapse?”

“What?” Liu Shuang felt a sense of foreboding.

The demons burst into laughter.

Someone shouted, “After being trapped for tens of thousands of years, I’ve had enough. In all these years, those cultivators haven’t made any progress. There’s not a single person who can destroy me.”

“This damned tower will no longer imprison our demon clan.”

“We’ve been waiting for this day, and now we can finally rest easy!”

The Demon Suppression Tower began to rumble, and chaos erupted. Demons who still had some spiritual energy ran amok.

Liu Shuang had never seen so many powerful demons acting so recklessly.

Even the little demon bird began to feel afraid and curled up in Yan Chaosheng’s arms.

The immortal guards, unaware of what was happening, were alarmed and tried to suppress the demons, but the demons only grew more frenzied.

It was like a final blaze before destruction.

The first demon laughed, “The Praying Wolf Clan, bidding farewell to our Highness!”

With that, he self-destructed his core, turning into a gray beam of light that struck the Demon Suppression Tower. Then the second demon did the same, followed by the third… More and more demons self-destructed, and the tower began to shake violently.

The immortal guards were shocked.

Wu Chen muttered, “Have they gone mad? They’re trying to destroy the tower!”

Yan Chaosheng woke up at some point and steadied himself.

What he saw was a scene of utter chaos.

Colorful streams of light rippled outward.

He saw the alluring woman stand up and bow to him, her lips moving.

He somehow understood her words: “Farewell, my Highness. Take care.”

Then she turned into a red beam of light and merged into the tower.

Yan Chaosheng’s fingers twitched, and his heart sank.

He took two steps forward but didn’t know why he felt such sorrow.

Three days ago, he had come to the 32nd floor to escape the immortal guards and found the woman familiar.

He stayed on the 32nd floor, and all the demons were friendly.

None of them harmed him, and they all came to talk to him, asking about the current state of the world.

Though Yan Chaosheng was reticent, they didn’t mind and treated him with great respect.

This woman had also spoken to him a few times, her voice and gaze gentle, leaving him somewhat dazed.

Yan Chaosheng had never experienced such a friendly atmosphere among demons before. Ironically, it was in the Demon Suppression Tower. The vine demon had woven him a bed, and for the first time in many days, Yan Chaosheng had slept.

His demon eyes had sensed no killing intent.

But when he woke up, all the demons were self-destructing to destroy the tower.

Yan Chaosheng watched as the woman and countless other demons died. Demons self-destructing their cores was the most tragic end. His pupils contracted, and he finally stopped, frowning.

He wasn’t close to these demons.

As each demon died, most would leave behind an enigmatic “Farewell, my Highness.”

The Demon Suppression Tower was on the verge of collapse. The immortal guards finally realized the severity of the situation. All the ancient demons had gone mad, and the tower might not hold. They awakened their senses and fled, until finally, the chains on the 35th floor shattered. Night Demon Luo transformed into a giant silver-eyed serpent, breaking free and laughing maniacally.

The Demon Suppression Tower was on the brink of destruction, and the chains that bound him were gone.

Night Demon Luo, a demon who had lived for tens of thousands of years, appeared before everyone in his magnificent form.

He lowered his head to Yan Chaosheng and Liu Shuang.

He narrowed his eyes, “Little immortal, I’ll give you something. Good luck beneath the Weak Water.”

A visible beam of light shot toward Liu Shuang before anyone could react, entering her sea of consciousness.

Night demon Luo then looked at Yan Chaosheng and said, “The glory of our clan rests on you alone. Remember today’s events and do not disappoint us.”

Night Demon Luo’s voice, for the first time, shed its disguise and became cold and solemn: “Night Demon Luo, general under the ancient Xiangliu, bids farewell to the young emperor.”

Yan Chaosheng frowned.

Liu Shuang covered her forehead and took a step back, momentarily dazed. She didn’t catch what Night Demon Luo said to Yan Chaosheng. She looked up, thinking that the day Bi Xun died would be the most significant demon death she would ever witness.

But the scene before her was equally shocking.

Night Demon Luo, an ancient demon who had lived for who knows how many years, merged into the light. The silver-green light was dazzling, like a thunderous explosion. The Demon Suppression Tower, like a cracked bell, began to collapse from the bottom.

Everything happened too fast for anyone to react.

Inside the Demon Suppression Tower, one couldn’t fly with swords. Liu Shuang stumbled and fell, so she created a barrier to protect herself from the falling debris.

After all, it was an ancient divine relic. A mere barrier couldn’t withstand its collapse.

Few immortal guards managed to escape, and their cries of agony filled the air. When the tower finally collapsed, Liu Shuang didn’t feel any pain.

A drop of blood fell on her cheek. She looked up and saw someone shielding her.

Yan Chaosheng’s lips were tightly pressed, and he gave her a cold glance.

In his arms, a little demon bird timidly poked its head out.

Liu Shuang was stunned. She looked into Yan Chaosheng’s eyes.

The pain in the young man’s eyes was faint, mostly filled with gloom and coldness. A demon’s body wasn’t as resilient as an immortal’s; he could be injured too.

In his dark, cold eyes, she clearly saw her own reflection.

For some reason, at this moment, Liu Shuang suddenly remembered the banshee’s words—

“Who does he truly like? If you think carefully about many things, you might find the answer.”

At this moment, her pupils contracted, and she was utterly shocked.

The pain in Yan Chaosheng’s body lasted only a moment. After the Demon Suppression Tower collapsed, it turned to dust and scattered into the world.

Several immortal guards were severely injured, including Wu Chen, who was also hurt.

Liu Shuang, protected by Yan Chaosheng, saw him turn his face away coldly, not looking at her. He tucked the little demon bird into his arms and prepared to leave.

She grabbed his sleeve.

He sneered disdainfully, “What else do you want? To capture me and bring me back for punishment? Liu Shuang of Chishui, I am no longer a disciple of Kongsang!”

“I know,” Liu Shuang said.

“I’m not here to capture you. You saved me and got hurt. I should thank you.”

She raised her hand, and green light flowed from her fingertips into his body, slowly healing his wounds.

He grabbed her wrist, his voice hoarse and suppressed, “Enough. Don’t touch me.”

He stood up and left without looking back.

After walking several miles, Yan Chaosheng covered his mouth and coughed, his hand covered in blood.

He calmly sat under a tree and released the little demon bird.

“Go find food. Call me if you need anything.”

The little demon bird looked back at him, hesitant.

Yan Chaosheng said, “Go.”

The little demon bird left.

Yan Chaosheng looked up at the dark sky. The day his home, the mountain forest, was destroyed, the weather was like this too. Countless Taoists and mortals had invaded, and the demons who were slow to escape turned to ash.

He had seen countless demons die.

Their corpses could have formed a mountain. He should have felt nothing, but a sense of sorrow for their fate overwhelmed him. The image of the demons self-destructing kept replaying in his mind, refusing to fade. Among those corpses, perhaps one day, his would be there too.

He had always been alone, living in solitude, and one day, he would die alone too.

The little demon bird was too weak and would take a while to find food.

Yan Chaosheng had nowhere to go, so he sat down to heal his wounds.

After some time, light footsteps approached.

Yan Chaosheng paused and opened his eyes to see the girl standing before him.

Her dress, adorned with blooming begonias, swayed as she crouched in front of him, holding a disheveled, round-bellied little demon bird.

She placed the bird in his arms.

“It’s too small. It almost drowned while catching fish. You need to keep an eye on it.”

Yan Chaosheng sneered, “If it’s truly useless, then let it die. No need for your concern, Immortal of Chishui.”

“Yan Chaosheng,” she paused, “you left too quickly earlier. I didn’t have time to ask you something.”

“Ask, and then leave.”

After a long silence, the girl looked into his eyes.

Yan Chaosheng heard her ask, “Do you like me?”

A spring breeze blew past. Behind him was a stream with tender new branches.

Under the gloomy sky, they swayed recklessly, full of life.

His throat tightened, and a wave of heat rushed up, coloring his neck, cheeks, and finally reaching the top of his head.

Such intense feelings were hard to suppress.

He lowered his head and coughed violently, denying, “Since when did Immortal Liu Shuang develop such a delusional habit? Even if I liked a rock on the side of the road, I wouldn’t like you!”

“Oh,” she said softly, “Really not me?”

“No!”

“Look into my eyes and say it.”

Yan Chaosheng gritted his teeth, unwilling to show weakness.

He raised his head, trying to glare at her with hatred and anger.

The girl’s almond-shaped eyes were clear and soft, gazing at him with curiosity as she crouched before him.

“Say it,” she urged.

“I…” Yan Chaosheng struggled, “I don’t…”

The little demon bird in his hands let out a desperate cry.

It hadn’t meant to interrupt at such a moment, but its master’s grip was tightening, almost crushing it.

Yan Chaosheng snapped out of it, and the heat rushing to his head finally dissipated.

He realized belatedly that he, a free demon, had no reason to obey her so obediently.

He sneered, “Immortal Liu Shuang must be truly bored. The Demon Suppression Tower is gone, and yet you have time to bother a demon like me.”

She lowered her eyes and murmured, “So it’s true. How could this be…”

For once, since their first meeting at the lotus platform of Nine Thought Pond, their thoughts aligned perfectly. Yan Chaosheng immediately understood what she meant.

So it’s true. You really do like me.

He was furious, his anger with no outlet. His own unacknowledged feelings had been so casually exposed by her.

What infuriated him most was her reaction… her reaction!

It was filled with shock and disbelief, mixed with regret.

But there was no trace of joy or shyness. His heart ached faintly. He stood up, finding nothing pleasing in the scene before him, least of all the girl still crouched before him.

“Think what you want. If you follow me again, the next time we meet, it will be as enemies!”

He walked away quickly, unwilling to admit that the sadness welling up in his heart was a desperate attempt to preserve his last shred of dignity after being so easily hurt.

Once she stepped out of her misconception, it was all too obvious.

How could it be hidden? From the moment he broke into the Ghost King’s tomb to save her, to later holding her hand and letting her touch his core, kissing her transformed furry form, and today instinctively protecting her in the Demon Suppression Tower…

There were too many clues. Even if he denied it, he could hardly deceive himself anymore.

He felt somewhat embarrassed. It shouldn’t be like this. He was no longer a disciple of Kongsang, while she was still the immortal of the Chishui clan. From today onward, they should have gone their separate ways, never to cross paths again. Even if there were feelings, they should have remained buried forever.

As long as no one brought it up, they could have continued in peace.

But now, even that fragile veil was gone. Yan Chaosheng walked until late and found a cave to rest in. It began to rain outside.

The wind howled, and the little demon bird looked up at him, chirping, “Chirp!”

He snapped, “Which eye of yours sees me sad? If it’s blind, I’ll pluck it out!”

The little demon bird reluctantly conceded, “Chirp.”

Yan Chaosheng closed his eyes and said coldly, “No matter what, there will be no more interactions from now on.”

An overwhelming sense of despair engulfed him.

Liu Shuang stood still for a long time, watching Yan Chaosheng walk away.

She truly hadn’t expected this.

The memory of the mighty demon lord was too vivid in her mind. She remembered how he treated Mi Chu, so well that in the end, he severed their spiritual connection and forbade her from entering the ghost realm.

If someone had told her about Yan Chaosheng’s feelings without her witnessing his reaction, she would have thought it a joke.

How could it be… She had schemed to bring him and Mi Chu together, only to find out that Yan Chaosheng’s feelings were for her. It was too absurd. When she was a little immortal grass, she had liked him but received no affection. Now that she no longer liked him, she discovered his feelings.

This was a disaster! Everything was completely out of control. Liu Shuang was terrified of what might happen next.

Wu Chen approached, “Shuangshuang?”

Liu Shuang quickly stood up, “Uncle.”

Wu Chen nodded, “The Demon Suppression Tower is destroyed. This is a significant event. We must report it to Kongsang immediately. Will you come back with me?”

Liu Shuang nodded.

“Let’s go.”

She glanced into the forest, her heart anxious. Matters of life and death overshadowed the absurdity and shock of Yan Chaosheng’s feelings for her. Yan Chaosheng had been ordered to be killed by her father, leaving him with nothing but humiliation and hatred.

Whatever she said, he might no longer believe her.

What should she do now? The path with Mi Chu was wrong. Was there still time to fix everything?