Thriving after the Moon Falls (I Can’t Possibly Take Pity On A Demon) - Chapter 44

Chapter 44

 

The scene fell into silence for a long time before the ceremonial immortal finally announced, “The Grand Competition has concluded.”

 

Yan Chaosheng stepped down from the Spiritual Testing Platform. Mi Chu hurried over to help Bai Yuxiao up.

 

“Second Young Master, are you alright?”

 

Her gaze subtly swept over Yan Chaosheng, a slight frown forming on her face.

 

A demonic bloodline… what a pity.

 

Bai Yuxiao spat out a mouthful of blood, wiped his lips, and blocked Yan Chaosheng’s path, angrily demanding, “Give it back.”

 

“What?”

 

“You know what I’m talking about.”

 

Yan Chaosheng tightened his grip on the fluffball in his arms and sneered, “Are you talking about your spirit beast? No one brings spirit beasts to the competition. You used your beast to ambush me. I haven’t even settled that score, and now you’re bringing it up?”

 

His grip was so tight that Liu shuang felt like she was about to suffocate. Bai Yuxiao was still alive and kicking, but she was on the verge of being strangled to death by Yan Chaosheng. Was it just because she had stopped him from killing Bai Yuxiao? How deep did this grudge go? Was he so deranged that he would kill Bai Yuxiao’s spirit beast—her—to vent his anger?

 

She had wondered why Yan Chaosheng had taken her with him. Now she realized it was to torture her slowly!

 

This was terrifying. She squirmed in fear, whimpering in discomfort.

 

Bai Yuxiao, save me!

 

Yan Chaosheng loosened his grip slightly, but his expression remained as cold as death.

 

As Yan Chaosheng and Bai Yuxiao were about to clash again off the platform, Lord Chishui began his speech, announcing the rewards for the participants.

 

All the disciples who had participated in the competition had to kneel and listen.

 

Bai Yuxiao had no choice but to temporarily stand down and kneel among the disciples.

 

Although he had lost, his strength was undeniable, and as a prodigy of the Bai clan, when his name was called, Lord Chishui looked at him with approval and appointed him as the Immortal of Punishments, overseeing Kongsang’s disciplinary affairs.

 

Bai Yuxiao solemnly kowtowed to express his gratitude.

 

Liu Shuang, peeking out from Yan Chaosheng’s robes, noticed that Bai Yuxiao looked quite dignified and mature when he was serious.

 

One by one, the rewards were announced, most of which were honors reserved for the noble immortal clans.

 

Finally, after the main clan disciples were rewarded, it was time for the various clans to select their disciples.

 

This was akin to the emperor selecting the top scholars in the mortal world, with the other officials choosing talented students to become their proteges.

 

For many outer disciples, human recruits, and even branch clan members, this was a rare opportunity.

 

Everyone looked on with anticipation and nervousness as the elders and leaders of the various clans made their selections.

 

Even Yan Chaosheng couldn’t help but raise his head, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

 

This year’s competition had been remarkable, with several human youths performing exceptionally well, winning multiple matches.

 

The Xie clan took in two branch clan disciples and two human youths, while even the Lou clan’s elder made an exception to accept a human disciple.

 

Several elders glanced at Yan Chaosheng, their eyes filled with disdain and contempt.

 

Yan Chaosheng’s lips pressed into a thin line, and his fists clenched tightly.

 

Bai Yuxiao, who had already received his reward, was anxiously watching from a distance.

 

He wasn’t sure if Yan Chaosheng had realized that the fluffball was actually Liu shuang, and he was worried that Yan Chaosheng might kill her.

 

He kept his eyes on Yan Chaosheng, about to make a move, when a furious voice shouted, “Bai Yuxiao, get over here now!”

 

Bai Yuxiao turned to see his father standing not far away.

 

He impatiently replied, “I have something important to do right now. I’ll talk to you later.”

 

The Bai clan leader didn’t waste any words.

 

With a wave of his hand, he bound Bai Yuxiao with a magic tool and dragged him away.

 

Bai Yuxiao, tightly bound and silenced by a restriction, could only watch helplessly as he was taken further and further away from Liu shuang.

 

Meanwhile, the elders descended one by one, helping the kneeling human disciples to their feet.

 

The chosen youths were overjoyed, repeatedly thanking their new masters and vowing to serve them faithfully.

 

Yan Chaosheng, as the champion, knelt at the very front, but no one approached him.

 

Gradually, the elders left with their new disciples, and the others, realizing they hadn’t performed well enough, slowly dispersed.

 

Only Yan Chaosheng remained, kneeling alone.

 

As dusk fell over the immortal realm, the sky was painted with red clouds.

 

Liu shuang quietly peeked out from Yan Chaosheng’s robes and caught a glimpse of the young man’s expression.

 

He was staring at the high immortal platform, where all the immortals had departed.

 

Something in his eyes seemed to extinguish, only to be replaced by a different kind of burning intensity.

 

His shadow stretched long in the setting sun.

 

Just moments ago, he had been so proud on the platform.

 

Now, he was being treated as if he were less than nothing.

 

Seven hundred years ago, the demon clan had lived lives worse than spirit beasts.

 

She jumped out of his arms and began to hop away, seizing the opportunity to escape.

 

If she didn’t leave now, Yan Chaosheng, in his bad mood, might take out his frustration on Bai Yuxiao’s spirit beast—her.

 

If she didn’t leave, something terrible would surely happen.

 

Perhaps because Yan Chaosheng was too lost in his own thoughts, he didn’t even glance at her as she hopped away.

 

He remained kneeling, motionless.

 

As if by staying there, someone might notice him, pick him up, and give him a home.

 

Liu shuang knew that wouldn’t happen.

 

No major clan would want a disciple with a demon bloodline, no matter how talented he was. The demon bloodline was an inherent stain, and the great clans valued their reputations too much to accept such a flaw.

 

This was also why she had allowed Yan Chaosheng to participate in the competition.

 

Liu shuang always remembered that Yan Chaosheng couldn’t stay in Kongsang. He had to be driven away before the Demon Lord awakened.

 

Yan Chaosheng’s body was unscathed, and today should have been the most dignified moment of his time in Kongsang. Except for the small bite mark on his fist, which was bleeding slightly—a mark she had left.

 

She hoped he hadn’t noticed.

 

She hopped a few steps away, then paused and looked back at him.

 

Yan Chaosheng would eventually turn to darkness.

 

Why would someone turn to darkness?

 

The young man still knelt alone under the setting sun.

 

Neglect, disdain, indifference, and humiliation—these might all be reasons why Yan Chaosheng would eventually destroy Kongsang.

 

His back view looked so sorrowful.

 

Although Liu shuang didn’t fully understand this kind of sorrow, seeing it affected her nonetheless.

 

Liu shuang looked around, trying to spot Mi Chu.

 

If Mi Chu could come and comfort Yan Chaosheng now, perhaps the young man’s heart could find solace and forget the injustices Kongsang had dealt him.

 

But when she looked, she saw that Mi Chu had already left with the Lou clan, far away.

 

Except for a few extra glances she had cast at Yan Chaosheng when he was shining on the platform, Mi Chu showed no intention of approaching him.

 

Liu shuang thought that Mi Chu was really missing the mark.

 

If she wanted to be the Demon lord’s consort, she should be by the Demon Lord’s side now, comforting him.

 

Seeing Yan Chaosheng’s expression grow darker, Liu shuang felt a chill in her heart, afraid that he would turn to darkness and lay the foundation for destroying Kongsang.

 

She quickly hopped back, looking up at him with her big, watery eyes.

 

Taking advantage of the fact that he didn’t recognize her, she played the part of a fluffy spirit beast.

 

“Hey, don’t be sad. You’re not leaving empty-handed. At least someone noticed your performance today.”

 

He looked down at her, his expression unreadable, and said softly, “Is that so?”

 

She nodded, even though a fluffball had no neck, making her look rather funny.

 

“Yes, didn’t you see how Mi Chu kept looking at you today?”

 

“Try to look on the bright side. There are many good things and people waiting for you in the future. Being someone’s disciple isn’t all that great.”

 

Like the position of Demon Lord, the title of Ghost King, and so much more.

 

There were also loyal ministers like Su Lun and Fu Heng, and  Qingluan and Chiyan birds. And of course, Mi Chu. Once she had everything planned out, she would make sure Yan Chaosheng and Mi Chu ended up together.

 

He studied her for a while, his gaze slightly soften, and said softly, “You’re right.”

 

Seeing that he was no longer as downcast as before, Liu shuang breathed a sigh of relief.

 

He’s teachable.

 

She was about to hop away when a cold hand grabbed her.

 

The young man’s voice, cold and menacing, came from above.

 

“Little spirit beast, shouldn’t the winner of the competition get something?”

 

Liu shuang sensed danger and wisely stayed silent.

 

“Answer me, hmm?”

 

His fingers tightened slightly, sinking into her fluffy fur.

 

Afraid he might crush her, Liu shuang met his dark, cold eyes and stammered, “Y-yes, yes.”

 

He nodded.

 

“I’m not leaving empty-handed. I defeated Bai Yuxiao, and this champion’s prize, I’ll take it.”

 

What? What are you talking about?!

 

Liu shuang finally realized something was wrong. He seemed to have taken her transformed fluffball as his spoils of war.

 

Liu shuang frantically kicked her little legs in the air, her already pink body turning an even deeper shade of pink.

 

Ignoring her struggles, he stopped kneeling, his expression cold as he carried her away.

 

This is bad, this is bad! Where’s Bai Yuxiao? Where did he go?

 

Liu shuang looked around but saw no sign of Bai Yuxiao.

 

Her wide, watery eyes and the way she kept looking back seemed to annoy him. His fingers tightened, and Liu shuang nearly passed out from the pressure, going limp in his hand, her grape-like eyes staring blankly.

 

Yan Chaosheng gave her a cold glance.

 

“I almost forgot, there’s still a score to settle. You bit me for his sake, hmm?”

 

Liu shuang regretted her actions deeply. She really wanted to transform back, but the matter of the Clear Essence Jade hadn’t been resolved yet, and she couldn’t reveal herself in public.

 

She thought, “I’ll endure it for now. There are too many people here. Once we’re back at Yan Chaosheng’s bamboo house and it’s late at night, I’ll transform back!”

 

Yan Chaosheng indeed took her back to his place.

 

It was her first time in his room.

 

Like his room in Kunlun, the semi-suspended bamboo house was spotlessly clean and carried a faint scent of bamboo.

 

The room was sparsely furnished—a bed with dark blue bedding, a table, a chair, and a pot of water on the table, the water in the cup already cold.

 

By now, the sky had darkened. Liu shuang thought, “Once Yan Chaosheng falls asleep, I’ll escape and return to the Nine Thoughts Pond. I’ll leave when no one’s looking.”

 

He tossed her onto the bed, and she rolled several times before finally landing face down.

 

It took her a while to struggle back up, glaring at him indignantly.

 

Yan Chaosheng stood over her, his expression unreadable, coldly observing her.

 

According to Liu shuang’s plan, after the exhausting competition, once Yan Chaosheng washed up or did something else, she would have a chance to escape.

 

People usually set simple restrictions when keeping spiritual-gathering beasts, as even though they could speak like other creatures, they were among the weakest of spirit beasts. She was different now; a simple restriction wouldn’t hold her.

 

Things went mostly as she expected.

 

Although immortals could use cleansing spells, those who valued cleanliness often preferred to wash with water. Yan Chaosheng removed his outer robe and approached, seemingly to set a restriction.

 

Liu shuang waited obediently, but then… a silver ring fell onto the fluffball’s body. The ring, as if sentient, tightened on its own.

 

This familiar feeling…

 

She was shocked to discover it was the Ten Ten Commandments Ring! And now, Yan Chaosheng, who should have returned the ring to her father, was casually playing with several identical silver rings.

 

He looked down and said, “This is the Ten Commandments Ring. I discovered a few days ago that its true usage is ‘one begets two, two begets three, three begets all things.’ So, I have plenty of these. You’d better behave. For now, I won’t kill you or mistreat you.”

 

Liu shuang: “…” So Yan Chaosheng had mastered the true use of the Ten Commandments Ring? He had returned one but kept a bunch?

 

With that, he left to wash up.

 

Even the Red Python couldn’t break free from the Ten Commandments Ring back then, so how could Liu shuang? She struggled for a while, but by the time Yan Chaosheng returned, she hadn’t made any progress.

 

What was worse, being bound by the Ten Commandments Ring meant her spiritual energy was sealed, making it impossible to transform back.

 

The young man lay down on the bed, facing her, and said expressionlessly, “Now, let’s settle the score.”

 

Liu shuang silently retreated to the corner.

 

Only in moments like this did Yan Chaosheng think of her as just a fluffball, not the lofty young miss, allowing him to speak his mind freely.

 

“Today, you bit me to help him. I’m very unhappy.”

 

He reached out his hand.

 

It had been a long time since he could openly express his feelings. As a lowly demon, his emotions were often irrelevant. When others were angry, he had to smile and appease them; when others were happy, he had to pretend to be happy too.

 

But today, he couldn’t deceive himself.

 

Kneeling alone under the setting sun, he hated Kongsang and for a brief moment, he hated Chishui Liushuang too.

 

The girl’s affection was like a fleeting illusion. One moment, she had stolen the Clear Essence Jade for him, coaxing him to the point where he was willing to dig out his own core for her. The next, she stood in front of another man on the Spiritual Testing Platform, willing to hurt him to protect that man.

 

She knew how important this competition was to him, yet she still stood in his way.

 

He had endured three years of humiliation and loneliness, only to find that he had nothing in the end.

 

Kneeling before the immortal realm, he felt ridiculous for the first time.

 

Not being a demon, suppressing his violent and inner coldness, wholeheartedly pursuing the immortal path, only to realize it was all for nothing.

 

“Those who are not of our kind must have different hearts.”

 

No one would accept someone like him.

 

The so-called Grand Competition of Kongsang was just a carrot to lure the donkey, and when he was exhausted from chasing it, he found it was actually poison.

 

She had made that poison even more bitter.

 

He hated her a little. If she cared so much about Bai Yuxiao, why had she bothered with him?

 

Now, she wasn’t that country-toppling beauty-like figure but a little fluffball, bound by him. And she didn’t even understand his anger.

 

She looked up at him with her big, watery eyes and said softly, “Don’t be mad, okay? How about… I blow on it for you?”

 

With that, she puffed up her cheeks and gently blew on his wound.

 

It was warm and gentle.

 

He quickly pulled his hand back, frowning at her, unwilling to be swayed by such a small gesture.

 

Yet, he had to admit, a part of him felt utterly powerless.

 

Even though this wasn’t her true form, the little pink fluffball, curled up on his bed, her fur soft and fluffy, was unbearably cute.

 

Seeing his displeasure, she tried to reason with him.

 

“We spiritual-gathering beasts are loyal to our masters. I didn’t mean to hurt you, but the situation was urgent. You were about to kill Second Young Master Bai. How about this? Let me go, and I’ll use a healing spell to fix your wound.”

 

He sneered inwardly, his expression cold as he looked at her.

 

“No need. We demons have our own rules.”

 

She asked curiously, “What rules?”

 

“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,” he said viciously.

 

“You bit me, so I’ll bite you back, and then we’re even.”

 

She stared at him in shock, then stammered, “That… that makes sense, but are you sure?”

 

Yan Chaosheng: “I’m sure.”

 

She made up her mind and reluctantly said, “Alright, but we spiritual-gathering beasts are small, so just a little bite, okay? Don’t eat me.”

 

He pretended to be impatient and frowned.

 

“Fine.”

 

The little fluffball steeled herself.

 

“Then I’m ready. Come on, but you have to keep your word. Once you’ve taken your revenge, let me go.”

 

Yan Chaosheng leaned down, his expression cold as he opened his mouth.

 

She stiffened, closing her eyes, afraid to witness the terrifying scene.

 

With a cold expression, he pressed a kiss onto her pink, fluffy fur.

 

Liu shuang opened her eyes and was surprised to find, perhaps because spirit beasts had thick fur, she had barely felt anything despite seeing Yan Chaosheng’s sharp, fearsome teeth moments ago.

 

She urged Yan Chaosheng to release her.

 

He had a complicated expression as he removed the Ten Commandments Ring.

 

She became curious about something else.

 

“Can I ask you a question?”

 

Yan Chaosheng: “Go ahead.”

 

“Do demons really believe in ‘an eye for an eye’?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Liu shuang said, “Then what if a dog bites you…”

 

Before she could finish, with a cold face he said, “If you dare finish that sentence, you’re not leaving today—or ever!”