Chapter 24: I Believe

Liu shuang gazed at the raindrops falling from the green tiles, her mind preoccupied with a single thought.

Where was the divine artifact of Taichuan City hidden, and what exactly was it? In her previous life, she had died too quickly to uncover who had harmed Canglan. Now, this divine artifact seemed to be the closest answer to the truth.

The Crimson Python was dead. Whoever ended up with the artifact would likely be the one who had wanted to harm Canglan.

Lost in thought, Liu shuang didn’t notice Yan Chaosheng had already dressed behind her.

The immortal robes naturally adjusted to fit the wearer’s body, and the dark blue garment suited Yan Chaosheng perfectly. The wooden door couldn’t withstand the impact of the townsfolk and was knocked to the ground.

“Let’s leave first,” Liu shuang quickly grabbed Yan Chaosheng and pulled him through the wall. The people who had rushed in looked around in confusion, seeing no one inside.

Liu shuang examined Yan Chaosheng. The young man’s face was covered in scratches, his internal organs damaged, and there wasn’t a single uninjured spot on his body.

Yan Chaosheng’s dark eyes were somber. He glanced back at the townsfolk outside the wall, and the coldness in his gaze sent a shiver down Liu shuang’s spine.

Demons were known for their vindictiveness, and their dignity was not to be trampled upon.

Yan Chaosheng had indirectly saved the people of Taichuan, yet they were shouting for his death. That alone was enough to make him look at them with such icy disdain. What about her and Bai Yuxiao?

The original host had falsely accused Yan Chaosheng, and Bai Yuxiao had worsened the situation by destroying the cultivation he had worked so hard to achieve. With such deep-seated hatred, it was likely that Yan Chaosheng had already prepared graves for both her and Bai Yuxiao.

Her decision was indeed correct. She had to eliminate all future threats before Yan Chaosheng became the Demon Lord.

Recalling the look in Yan Chaosheng’s eyes when he had pulled her towards him during the battle with the Crimson Python, Liu shuang felt a wave of fear.

Had he been about to devour her?

Liu shuang’s gaze towards Yan Chaosheng shifted. Well, it seemed everyone here had ulterior motives.

She couldn’t wait any longer. No one would see her here, and she wouldn’t break the original host’s timid character. While Yan Chaosheng wasn’t paying attention, she frantically searched her Qiankun bag for something that could kill him instantly.

Inside the bag was a delicate dagger. Liu shuang quickly hid it in her hand. Yan Chaosheng was coughing, covering his mouth. He was severely injured, and Liu shuang even saw him cough up pieces of shattered organs. It was only thanks to his demonic lineage that he was still alive. An ordinary person would have died long ago.

If he didn’t die, she would be the one to perish. Liu shuang raised the dagger. A stab to the heart should do it, right?

Without hesitation, she swung forward, but the young man happened to slide down just then.

Yan Chaosheng opened his palm, coughing up a handful of blood. He looked up to say something to Liu shuang, only to see the dagger she had nearly missed with.

Their eyes met, and the air grew still for a moment.

Yan Chaosheng glanced at the dagger in Liu shuang’s hand. For the first time, he felt he might have misjudged her. This was still the same Kongsang young mistress who had wronged him, colluding with Bai Yuxiao. Then why had she given him her immortal robe and held an umbrella for him?

Which one was the real her?

He turned to her, his voice cold, “What does the young mistress intend to do?”

Liu shuang: “…”

Liu shuang quickly weighed her options. Could she defeat Yan Chaosheng? The conclusion was clear: take advantage of his weakness to end him.

She was about to turn hostile and strike.

But Yan Chaosheng’s cold gaze bore into her. Whether intentional or not, his sleeve slid down, revealing the silver bracelet on his wrist.

Liu shuang recognized it as the Ten Commandments Ring that her father, Lord Chishui, had given Yan Chaosheng to bind her.

Even Bi Xun had been temporarily restrained by it earlier. Liu shuang took a deep breath.

The young man leaned against the wall, watching her calmly, “Young mistress, hmm?”

His voice was soft, seemingly a question, but Liu shuang felt an inexplicable threat. She averted her gaze. With the Ten Commandments Ring, she might end up being the one killed instead.

No need to panic. There were always more solutions than problems.

She would just throw him back into the crowd and deal with him secretly. No matter how powerful the Ten Commandments Ring was, it couldn’t bind both her and the townsfolk at the same time, right?

Having made up her mind, Liu shuang quickly explained with sincerity, “Though the Crimson Python is dead, there might still be unknown dangers in Taichuan City. The people recognize you, so you’ll need something to protect yourself. Look at this dagger, isn’t it beautiful?”

She guiltily curved her eyes, presenting the dagger to Yan Chaosheng, trying to ingratiate herself, “It’s for you.”

The jewel-encrusted dagger was exquisitely beautiful, its brilliance flowing in the young man’s pale palm.

Yan Chaosheng looked up and saw a pair of smiling eyes. She had somehow reattached her veil, and without the six layers of robes, she now wore only a pretty golden vest.

She seemed eager to make amends for her mistake, eagerly asking, “Can you stand? Do you need me to help you?”

Yan Chaosheng watched her silently, playing with the dagger in his hand.

This small dagger was also a fine spiritual tool. Perhaps it was his imagination, but he had clearly sensed her ill intentions earlier. Now, all those feelings had vanished.

He had thought she wanted to kill him, but upon closer look, the girl was smiling with utmost sincerity, handing the dagger to him.

Yan Chaosheng’s tense body didn’t relax, and a cold feeling arose in his heart, unsure of what trick she was trying to play. He pocketed the dagger and smiled, “Alright, young mistress, help me up.”

Under her veil, Liu shuang’s face twisted in distress. Afraid that Yan Chaosheng would realize she wanted to kill him and use the Ten Commandments Ring to bind her, she had no choice but to help him up.

She had never been so acutely aware that her father, the Lord of the Realm, was the most terrifying ally.

Liu shuang took a deep breath, helping Yan Chaosheng up from the ground and dragging him towards the crowd.

Off you go, there’s a group of sorcerers waiting outside!

Whether the young man was doing it on purpose or not, his full weight pressed down on her, nearly causing Liu shuang’s legs to buckle.

At this time, Yan Chaosheng was still slender, shorter than he would be seven hundred years later. The young man hadn’t fully grown yet, only half a head taller than her. But when Liu shuang tried to help him up, she realized he was much heavier than she had imagined.

Most of Yan Chaosheng’s body leaned on her, and without the six layers of robes as a barrier, her body was almost completely covered by his.

Liu shuang quickly mobilized her spiritual energy, finally not feeling his weight as she dragged him out.

Yan Chaosheng, who had been filled with anger towards the people of Taichuan, now found himself somewhat amused by Liu shuang’s huffing and puffing as she tried to carry him. He leaned on the girl’s shoulder, putting on a mask of indifference as he idly observed her, “Where are you taking me, young mistress? Delivering me to the crowd?”

She forced a dry laugh, “Of course not, I’m just finding a doctor for you since you’re badly injured.”

“Mortal doctors can’t heal me, but perhaps the young mistress can.” Yan Chaosheng deliberately showed her the Ten Commandments Ring on his wrist, “I became like this for the sake of your Taichuan City. Will the young mistress take good care of me?”

She suppressed her frustration and replied, “Of course, of course.”

Yan Chaosheng saw her cheeks puff up in anger under her veil. He looked away, the corner of his mouth unconsciously twitching upwards.

Never mind, since her intentions were still unclear, he’d leave her for next time to devour.

Yan Chaosheng said, “Young mistress, come, this way is clear, let’s go here.”

Liu shuang had never been so eager to see Bai Yuxiao. She used to find Bai Yuxiao annoying, but now she wished he would appear immediately so she could shout, “Bai Yuxiao, come quickly and eliminate this future threat!”

After all, they had both offended him; it shouldn’t be her sole responsibility to deal with him.

As an immortal, Liu shuang found it easy to hide with Yan Chaosheng in the city.

She tried several times to make small moves that would expose Yan Chaosheng to the sorcerers, but it was as if Yan Chaosheng had eyes on the back of his head, turning her face towards him, “Young mistress, focus on finding the way.”

The destruction brought by Bi Xun was immense, and the city was in ruins. Under the threat of Yan Chaosheng’s Ten Commandments Ring, Liu shuang found an empty inn and tossed Yan Chaosheng inside.

Yan Chaosheng’s face was pale, but he didn’t make a sound.

Liu shuang, itching to act, said, “I’ll go out and set up a spirit-gathering array for your recovery.” Once she left him here, she could turn around and run, bringing the sorcerers to besiege him.

Yan Chaosheng opened his eyes, staring at Liu shuang, “Will the young mistress abandon me?”

Liu shuang shook her head, full of righteousness, “No, as the young mistress of Kongsang, I naturally must take good care of my disciples. I was wrong before, causing you to end up like this. Rest assured, after all these events, I’ve realized my mistakes and will never abandon you.”

Yan Chaosheng said woodenly, “I’m deeply moved.”

Liu shuang didn’t see any trace of his supposed gratitude. She walked to the door, only to feel a coolness on her wrist. The silver ring in Yan Chaosheng’s hand had split into two, turning into silver bracelets that clasped her wrists.

From the bed, Yan Chaosheng’s hand moved, as if pulling invisible strings, and Liu shuang’s hand was tugged along.

Liu shuang held onto the door, looking up.

Yan Chaosheng curved his lips, “Young mistress, go ahead, come back soon.”

Liu shuang gritted her teeth and smiled, “Of course.”

Despite all her calculations, Liu shuang hadn’t expected that even now, he still didn’t trust her, keeping the Ten Commandments Ring on her.

When Liu shuang returned after finishing her tasks, she really wanted to smother the meditating Yan Chaosheng with a pillow—if that would work.

He was sitting with his eyes closed, meditating. Liu shuang had half-heartedly set up the spirit-gathering array. When she was still a little immortal grass, she was most skilled in healing arts, but today she didn’t want him to recover, so she just went through the motions.

On her way back, she had plucked a willow branch, turning all its leaves into paper cranes and sending them to find Bai Zhuixu and Bai Yuxiao.

A swarm of green paper cranes fluttered around her, chanting in unison, “Master, master, what are your orders?”

Liu shuang formed hand seals, pouring immortal energy into the paper cranes and sending them all away.

Without the suppression of the divine artifact, the benefits of her recent cultivation became apparent. Previously, these spells would have been strenuous for her, but now she handled them with ease.

Liu shuang didn’t consider seeking out the divine artifact.

To find the one who had harmed Canglan, she could only wait and see who ended up with the artifact.

After sending out the immortal paper cranes, there was nothing left to do, so Liu shuang went to the next room to cultivate. Yan Chaosheng didn’t bother her, and the two coexisted peacefully.

About three days later, Yan Chaosheng’s injuries had healed significantly. When he opened the door, his expression was unchanged.

Liu shuang couldn’t help but marvel at the demonic race’s incredible recovery ability. No matter how severe the injury, as long as they could breathe, they could survive.

Liu shuang tried to see any lingering pain on his face, but he calmly said, “Young mistress, it’s time to leave.”

“Where to? Aren’t we waiting here for Bai Zhuixu and the others?”

Yan Chaosheng walked ahead without turning, “To kill Xi Yun’er.”

“You hate her for inciting the people to kill you, so you want to kill her?”

“In the young mistress’s eyes, am I that petty?”

Liu shuang thought, aren’t you? But she couldn’t say it outright, so she conveyed her disdain with her eyes.

Yan Chaosheng’s face darkened. Unhappy, he said, “Hasn’t the young mistress heard? People have been dying in Taichuan City these past few days.”

Liu shuang frowned, “What do you mean?” She had been tied to him by the Ten Commandments Ring, so she hadn’t had the chance to go out.

“The inner core of a seven-thousand-year-old flying serpent is too much for Xi Yun’er, a mortal, to bear. If she wants to survive, she must continuously kill people, absorbing their life force to suppress the malevolent energy of her core.” Yan Chaosheng said, “Just like during the wedding procession.”

Hearing this, Liu shuang immediately recalled the red threads that had killed people from Xi Yun’er’s body a few days ago.

At the time, they had thought it was Bi Xun’s doing, but it turned out the red threads were controlled by Xi Yun’er.

Liu shuang quickly made up her mind, fearing that Xi Yun’er might truly kill again, “Let’s go, back to the city lord’s residence to see.”

Sure enough, as Yan Chaosheng had said, the city lord’s residence was enveloped in a faint demonic aura, with a strong ghostly presence.

Liu shuang thought, this is bad. She and Yan Chaosheng went near Xi Yun’er’s chambers, where they witnessed this scene: five mortals had been drained into withered corpses and collapsed.

Xi Yun’er, her face glowing, caressed her cheek and smiled, “Take them away and bury them, don’t let anyone find out.”

The guards in the residence, following her orders, lowered their heads, their expressions grim.

Liu shuang and Yan Chaosheng were invisible, so Xi Yun’er couldn’t see them. She slapped one of the guards behind her, “Are you deaf to my orders, or do you also want to die? Let me tell you, don’t betray me. Even that serpent demon died by my hand, what are you?”

The guards hurriedly carried away the corpses.

When Xi Yun’er was alone, she played with the red threads that sprouted from her palm, murmuring softly, “This core is so useful. In time, I’ll surely become an immortal, free from illness and death.”

Her beautiful face was filled with joy, completely unlike the disgust and rejection she had shown towards the demon core when she had forced Bi Xun to his death.

Yan Chaosheng coldly asked Liu shuang, “Young mistress, according to immortal law, shouldn’t Xi Yun’er also die?”

Liu shuang silently nodded.

The next moment, Xi Yun’er felt a gust of wind by her ear. Her powerful core warned her of danger, but she panicked, not knowing how to control the immense power she now possessed.

In her panic, she let the red threads fly everywhere, trying to find the hidden assailant.

A sharp pain in her abdomen made her look down in shock. A hand had pierced through, grasping her crimson core. Xi Yun’er’s face twisted in horror as she desperately reached for the core, blood spilling from her lips, “Give… give it back… it’s… mine…”

Yan Chaosheng coldly watched her fall.

As she lay dying, Xi Yun’er’s vacant eyes stared into the distance, as if she finally remembered something, her lips moving feebly, “Bi Xun, save… save me… save me… one more time.”

Large tears rolled from her eyes. A breeze swept through the courtyard, but the powerful yet foolish demon who would have panicked and given everything for her was no longer there.

Her pupils gradually dilated, finally remembering what the Taoist had told her: a demon without its core was useless. Fearing he would take the core back, she had already forced Bi Xun to his death.

In Yan Chaosheng’s palm, the red light glowed brightly. He lowered his gaze to the flying serpent’s core, his emotions hidden.

Liu shuang tensed, instinctively thinking he would swallow the core. With such a core, he could regain much of his lost spiritual power.

But instead, he walked over, seemingly disgusted, and shoved the core into her hand before turning to leave.

The core in her palm was scorching, still wet with Xi Yun’er’s blood. Liu shuang quickly cast a cleansing spell and stored it in her Qiankun bag.

She caught up to him, unable to believe it, “You’re really giving it to me?”

Yan Chaosheng’s eyes were cold as he spat venomously, “A fool’s core is worthless.”

“Then you came specifically to kill Xi Yun’er?”

A hint of mockery flashed in Yan Chaosheng’s eyes, “When I was young, I heard of Bi Xun. He was the lord of a demon mountain, hiding away for thousands of years, never venturing out or provoking mortals. The demons under his rule never caused trouble.”

Bi Xun had fallen in love with the city lord’s daughter, Xi Yun’er. When Xi Yun’er was gravely ill and nearing death, Bi Xun couldn’t bear to see her die and had given her his core. It had always been Xi Yun’er who killed people, including during the wedding procession. But Xi Yun’er refused to admit it, blaming it on Bi Xun.

Bi Xun had silently accepted it and was eventually forced to his death by Xi Yun’er.

It was laughable—such a naive and foolish serpent demon existed in this world.

Liu shuang vaguely understood something. Seeing Yan Chaosheng’s expression, she asked knowingly, “Did you admire him when you were young?”

Yan Chaosheng sneered, “Who would admire a fool? In the eyes of that woman and people like you, demons are inherently evil and deserve to die.”

That wasn’t right, Liu shuang thought.

“I believe you,” Liu shuang said, “I believe Bi Xun was a good demon.”

Yan Chaosheng paused, pursing his lips as he turned to look at her. She stood in the sunlight of Taichuan City and said, “I know, not all demons are bad.” Her Qingluan was a good demon, after all.

Was she talking about him? Yan Chaosheng felt an inexplicable dryness in his throat. He suppressed the upward curve of his lips, avoiding her gaze, “Whether you believe it or not, it’s none of my concern.”