Yu Haiqing couldn’t help but fix his gaze on Xie Shuangxue as he sheathed his sword. His attention was completely drawn to Xie Shuangxue’s every movement.

He watched as the fan-like sword shadow folded up, resembling a nobleman closing a white folding fan, and then the sword transformed back into the shape of a hairpin, which Xie Shuangxue held in his hand.

“Nice,” Yun Ruowei observed from the side, nodding in approval. “Now it really suits you.”

Bai Qiuyan also couldn’t look away for a long time, even wishing he could watch a replay. In that final moment, he felt that something in Xie Shuangxue had fundamentally changed; the expression on his face touched him in a way no ordinary NPC ever had.

Initially, Bai Qiuyan had liked this NPC, but it was more like a fondness for a pretty, cunning, and adorable cat. After all, this was just a game; the other party wasn’t real. But the more he got to know him, the more he discovered layers in Xie Shuangxue that made him even harder to resist.

This might be a virtual game, but the impact he felt was genuine.

Bai Qiuyan casually opened a livestream, and the chat was flooded with fans glued to Xie Shuangxue’s performance. His fluid, flawless moves had stunned everyone, and the fans couldn’t stop gushing over him.

“My Xue-baby looks amazing with a sword, too!”

“That’s because my darling is perfect at everything. Xue-baby can do no wrong!”

“But I have one question… Why is the Xie family’s inherited skill completely unsuited to a sword, yet the family symbol is a sword?”

Seeing the comment, Bai Qiuyan thought it over and agreed it was odd, so he casually asked aloud.

Yun Ruowei, who was about to leave, stopped in her tracks and turned to him, asking, “Yeah, why is that?”

Yu Haiqing paused at this question, knowing the reason.

In the original storyline, this sword was never intended for Xie Shuangxue. It was a mere prop, part of the Book of Floating Dreams, and no one intended for it to be a symbol of the Xie family. Its current significance was purely a result of deviations from the script.

This was an unresolvable question; no answer would satisfy. Yu Haiqing wanted to smooth things over for Xie Shuangxue, but the latter seemed utterly unfazed.

Tilting his head, Xie Shuangxue said naturally, “Do you want to hear it? If the wanderers want to listen, I have no reason not to share.”

Bai Qiuyan eagerly responded, “Of course!”

In Gods and Demons, the character backgrounds were always detailed. Even for a family like the Xie clan, which only appeared briefly, there was a complete backstory, though most players typically weren’t interested enough to dig deep. But when it came to Xie Shuangxue, everything was different.

Everyone wanted to know more about him; they didn’t find the lore dull at all.

“This story of the sword begins long ago,” Xie Shuangxue began. “Before the Xie family joined the Feather Clan, we started out as bandits—so-called ‘robbing the rich to help the poor,’ though our reputation was never good. No matter what we did later, that stigma never fully faded.”

“Our allies, the poison-healer family, were in a similar position. They were highly skilled, but in this world, their standing was only slightly above that of the actual Demon Clan.”

“In a world where status determines survival, just being tied to the Gods Clan can bring respect, even if you do nothing. But if you’re connected to the Demon Clan, innocence itself is a crime.”

Yu Haiqing: …

He knew this was probably another tale Xie Shuangxue was spinning, yet once he started talking, it was impossible not to get swept along.

In the official backstory, the Xie family’s origin was summed up in one sentence: “descended from thieves, later went legit.” But when Xie Shuangxue told it, it no longer sounded like a dry fact; it became an intriguing family saga.

And when you thought about it, he wasn’t lying—just embellishing.

Until now, Xie Shuangxue had barely told any outright lies. Even if he was weaving things, it was all rooted in the original plot. The mix of truth and fiction was so seamless that no player had ever suspected anything was off.

Playing with the elegant hairpin that was once a sword, Xie Shuangxue’s voice took on a distant tone, as if recalling the past. “Many of the herbs the poison-healer family studied were tied to demonic energy. In the end, they were targeted and wiped out. It turns out that no matter how skilled you are, you can’t withstand that kind of persecution. As long as they waved the ‘exorcism’ flag, even those healed by the poison-healers wouldn’t dare speak out.”

“So, the Xie family, mourning their allies, nearly emptied their coffers and spent years making countless efforts. Eventually, they earned the Feather Clan’s favor. And because we were experts in protective arrays, we were given the authority to guard Penglai City and oversee the path to Floating Dreams.”

Despite their tireless efforts, the Xie family’s fate was ultimately inescapable, as everyone knew.

“The ancestors of the Xie family chose this sword because it represented a dignified gentleman; no one wanted to be associated with a lowly bandit. Yet some things don’t change. The Xie family never truly mastered swordsmanship, nor dared to abandon their inherited skills, so they just learned a bit of everything.”

At this, Xie Shuangxue smiled faintly. “Didn’t I say? I know how to wield a sword, just not well. My father was better at it; he worked hard at it, but even then, he couldn’t protect Penglai City. The Xie family met an end worse than the poison-healers. At least they left something behind.”

Hearing this, Yun Ruowei and Bai Qiuyan, both players and an NPC, were at a loss on how to comfort him.

They began to understand this NPC’s situation.

But Xie Shuangxue didn’t need comforting. He waved them off as if he had long accepted it, calmly analyzing the past.

“As a child, I often resented this sword because I couldn’t master it. Even just a few days ago, I hated it for being useless. I thought that if the Xie family had focused on honing our skills as thieves, maybe we could have saved a few more people that night. Even if it was dishonorable, so what? Staying alive would have been enough, and maybe I wouldn’t be the only one left.”

Then, he placed the sword-turned-hairpin back into his hair, securing it against his dark locks. Once again, he was that beautifully poised porcelain doll, but now with a hint of steely resolve beneath his refined demeanor.

“But then I figured it out.”

“There’s no dodging fate. We’re all swept along, and what’s meant to come will always come. What’s the point of worrying about whether something is fitting or not? God or demon, I no longer care. My fate—I’ll hold it in my own hands. I want this chaotic world to change for me.”

“You’re probably curious why I’ve come here willingly, or why I’m indifferent to my own demonization,” he said, glancing intently at Yun Ruowei, then looking at the players. “Now, you know why.”

Not to mention the narrative benefits, the fact was that his powers had grown stronger since demonizing, and any supposed impact on his sanity was minimal. He could still think clearly within the storyline.

In the past, the system, along with most NPCs in the plot, tried to keep him from taking this path. His fans supported him, but no one truly understood what Xie Shuangxue wanted. Some thought he was just acting impulsively, immaturely, or trying to play hero.

He hadn’t originally had such a complete character arc, but now he did. In this storyline, the logic behind Xie Shuangxue’s demonization had solidified, even winning over Yun Ruowei.

She initially had many reservations, but she was increasingly influenced by Xie Shuangxue’s resolve. The more people empathized with his plight, the easier it became for him to rewrite the plot. Eventually, even SEA and the Gods and Demons development team would have to accept it.

Xie Shuangxue knew what he wanted. With a smile that softened his tone as if genuinely appealing to those he cared about, he said, “I’m honestly happy that you’re willing to listen to me, especially you. I made these choices with no regrets, thinking I’d never need to explain them to anyone.”

“But you’re different. I really hope everyone can understand me.”

With those words, any players who had doubts about his demonization would find it impossible not to side with him.

“He said I’m different!”

“My sweet Xue-baby, I understand you!”

“Go for it! Demonize! Whatever makes you happy!”

“He’s just trying to change this world! What’s wrong with that? Let him do it!”

Bai Qiuyan immediately conveyed the barrage of supportive comments to him.

“Good,” Xie Shuangxue smiled in relief. He reached out to Bai Qiuheng. “Don’t worry, no matter what I become, what I’ve promised you will never change.”

But emotional appeals alone weren’t enough. With the main storyline climax approaching, Xie Shuangxue needed more support.

Just as Bai Qiuheng looked at him with maternal fondness, she noticed a new, not-yet-available item on the exchange screen: Life Skill Enhancement – Poison Crafting, Bond Value required: 80.

She hadn’t been streaming but was taken aback and showed it to Bai Qiuyan.

Besides combat skills, players could specialize in various life skills like trading, farming, building, alchemy, poison crafting, and more. Many non-combat players made their living through the game, with some even relying on their earnings in Gods and Demons to sustain their real lives.

When this was noticed on the stream, the players went wild.

“Whoa, a boost for life skills! Poison crafting is finally going to be worth it!”

“My precious Xue-baby, give me a chance at that hidden quest!”

“Why isn’t this live yet? Are we waiting for a storyline trigger?”

“Well, demonization is tied to magic and poison. Once he fully demonizes, it should be available.”

Indeed, in the original plot, Xie Shuangxue’s skills were limited until demonization, but afterward, they were greatly enhanced. Poison and demonic energy were closely related, so his demonization would genuinely benefit players.

How could he not become a demon? He had to!

But not everyone was satisfied.

“Only poison crafting? What about farming and building?”

“As a blacksmith, I object!”

“Hey, even shopkeepers want something tied to Xue Xue!”

“Calm down, everyone! I bet more is coming.”

“Yes! Yun Ruowei is a blacksmith, and Yun Qiang is great at trading…”

Seeing Xie Shuangxue’s flawless plan unfold, SEA’s President, Yu Haiqing, could only sigh as he watched the buzz of activity.

Xie Shuangxue wasn’t merely out to rewrite his own storyline. He knew that going against SEA would grant him more control, and he intended to make the most of it.

Everything was for the players’ enjoyment, and SEA wouldn’t mind.

Shrouded in anticipation, Yun Qiang appeared with a serious expression to inform Xie Shuangxue of developments on Yun Panshan’s end.

“We’ve tested the waters. He seems ready. It’s time to let him meet Yun Ruowei, so he’ll stand firmly with us.”

Hearing this, Xie Shuangxue nodded and motioned for everyone to follow. Bai Qiuyan naturally tagged along.

Yu Haiqing, seeing Xie Shuangxue glance his way, walked closer. It felt like Xie Shuangxue had intentionally lessened the distance between them, drawing him closer.

“Did you understand what I said just now?” he heard Xie Shuangxue whisper. “I still want to ask you alone because, out of everyone here, you’re the most important.”

Yu Haiqing hesitated but eventually replied, “If this is what you want, I won’t stop you.”

Hearing this, Xie Shuangxue’s smile felt truly heartfelt for the first time. This was Yu Haiqing’s promise, and it meant something different from anyone else’s.

“I knew it,” Xie Shuangxue replied. “Thank you, big brother.”

But the way he called him “big brother” stirred something in Yu Haiqing, whose ears turned visibly red despite his composed face.

The gaming helmet’s sensors truly were impressive.

NPCs rarely called players by name, usually sticking to generic titles like “wanderer” unless the bond value was significantly high. Xie Shuangxue was still an NPC, and it wasn’t out of place to address players this way, yet calling him “big brother” clearly made an impact.

Xie Shuangxue, with newfound interest, observed Yu Haiqing, as if he’d stumbled upon a fascinating discovery.

Ah, could this person really be so easily flustered?