Yue Lin put down the bowl, “Not eating food sent by the Demon Clan, to show that you’re drawing a clear line?”

He paused, his voice teasing, “Then, what am I to you?”

Chu Hanjin was trying to ease the tension but didn’t expect him to speak this way. He widened his eyes slightly.

“So, in your eyes, I’m different from them?” Yue Lin laughed, “I thought there was no difference. You hate the Demon Clan, and you hate me just as much.”

His words reminded Chu Hanjin of something.

The person standing in front of him, who had been by his side for so long, was indeed part of the Demon Clan, no different from them.

Chu Hanjin raised his head again. Yue Lin was looking down at him with hopeful eyes, his voice close, low and a bit seductive, “In your heart, I’m not the same as them, am I?”

Suddenly, Chu Hanjin felt a bit flustered.

What would happen if he answered “yes”?

What if he answered “no”?

Their identities were already clear now, opposing sides of good and evil, destined to become strangers. If things continued like this, they’d only sink deeper. Rationality gradually returned to his mind, and Chu Hanjin turned his face away, saying, “Whether you’re the same or not no longer matters.”

Yue Lin let out a mocking laugh, as if he had expected this, “It may not matter to you, but it matters a lot to me.”

He spoke slowly, each word as heavy as a mountain, “Because without you, I don’t know how to keep living.”

Such a heavy, weighty statement left Chu Hanjin unable to respond. He just stared at him.

Yue Lin walked out of the kitchen.

Outside the courtyard stood Bai Gu, who clasped his hands respectfully, “If you’ve made up your mind, we can set off for the Demon Realm immediately.”

Yue Lin turned his face slightly, lost in thought.

Chu Hanjin understood what he was worried about. After his death, his grave had been heavily cursed, as if someone feared he would return for revenge, wishing him a terrible end, never to reincarnate. It was obvious he had enemies all over the Demon Realm.

Perhaps they were strangers.

Perhaps they were family or friends.

If he were to return to the Demon Realm, he’d first have to overcome this mental hurdle, and secondly, he’d have to deal with the scheming people waiting for him.

This Bai Gu in front of him might have even been among those who attacked him all those years ago. Although he seemed meek and accommodating, eager to please, Yue Lin had never let him into the courtyard, clearly not trusting him nor reconciling with him.

Chu Hanjin, having been abducted, watched coldly from the sidelines, curious to see what choice Yue Lin would make.

After some thought, Yue Lin’s dark golden eyes fixed on him, “If I return to the Demon Realm, will you hate me even more?”

Chu Hanjin remained silent for a moment before replying, “It’s your choice.”

Yue Lin’s voice dropped lower, raspy and heavy, “It has nothing to do with you, does it?”

“…” Chu Hanjin found himself at a loss for words.

“If I go back to the Demon Realm, the child in your belly will be a demon. Before, we could still fool others, but now, the child’s blood relative is the Demon Lord. It won’t be easy to hide anymore. For the sake of your reputation, maybe it’s better not to go back?”

Yue Lin emphasized “reputation” with each word. Chu Hanjin couldn’t tell if he was mocking him, manipulating him, or tempting him. He shook his head, “Your decision has nothing to do with me.”

“Nothing to do with you? Won’t you be disappointed in me? Maybe we could go back to how things were, maybe…” Yue Lin stared intently into his eyes, his body tense, as if trying to confirm something.

He wanted to hear any sign of concern.

Perhaps, if Chu Hanjin said he was disappointed, Yue Lin wouldn’t leave.

But Chu Hanjin’s eyes were calm, revealing no emotion.

It was a silent game of chess.

Chu Hanjin knew what Yue Lin wanted.

Yue Lin wanted him—his love, his entire being. If Chu Hanjin said he was disappointed, or better yet, that he cared, Yue Lin would abandon everything and stay with him here until the end of time.

But Yue Lin was part of the Demon Clan.

Not just any demon, but the Demon Lord, whose every word and action represented his people. In other words, he was a demon, the enemy of the righteous path, and the embodiment of evil.

Although people are complicated, when it comes to right and wrong, there’s no room for compromise.

Chu Hanjin shook his head, “I will be disappointed, for you and for the memories we’ve shared these past days.”

Yue Lin’s voice was hoarse, almost pleading, “Then say it. Tell me not to go, and I won’t.”

But Chu Hanjin could no longer take responsibility for him. He looked into Yue Lin’s eyes and said, “But I can’t say that.”

Yue Lin was Yue Lin, and the Demon Lord was the Demon Lord.

If the two were to overlap, Yue Lin would be consumed by his identity as the Demon Lord, just as Chu Hanjin was overshadowed by his role in the Far Mountain Sect under Lord Yue Zhao.

In this deadly battle, they were no longer themselves but the roles they represented.

Silence continued to spread.

Yue Lin understood Chu Hanjin’s choice. A complex emotion flashed through his eyes, “Alright, you can’t say it. I still can’t overcome the mountain of prejudice in your eyes.”

Faced with a choice between righteousness and Yue Lin, Chu Hanjin chose righteousness.

Yue Lin took a step back, speaking to himself, making his decision, “Then I’ll choose my own path.”

His voice grew clear, spanning from the past to the present, from being cursed and scorned to being reborn.

Yue Lin stood in the courtyard, his tall, dark figure outlined in the sudden burst of light, his gaze lowered, and his pitch-black eyes cold as frost.

He lifted his chin, signaling to Bai Gu, who stood by the fence, “Set off immediately. Prepare the carriage. We’re heading back to the palace.”

Bai Gu looked slightly surprised.

The Demon soldiers behind him let out a thunderous cheer.

“Hail to the Lord!”

“Hail to the Lord!”

Sounds of conversation drifted from outside the carriage.

Chu Hanjin didn’t know where they were now. They had crossed the boundary without stopping, traveling day and night for a long time.

The Demon Realm was nothing but desolate and barren lands. Ever since conflicts arose, the righteous path had driven them away, marking the border. The lands they inhabited were full of harsh mountains and rivers, with none of the rich spiritual energy of the Central Plains, and their customs were rough and unrefined.

Two people were talking.

“Who’s in the carriage?”

“I heard it’s someone from the outside, but I don’t know who. I took a peek when they lifted the curtain, and they sure are handsome!”

“You don’t know, huh? That’s the Demon Lord’s bride!”

“The Demon Lord? You mean Lord Bai Gu? Isn’t he impotent?”

“Shut up! Don’t talk nonsense. Times have changed, and you know nothing. No wonder you’ve spent three years without refining a single pill!”

“…”

They must be approaching the main city of the Demon Realm.

Chu Hanjin lifted the curtain slightly to take a look. There were people everywhere, bustling with trade and activity, the town as prosperous as any of the cities in the Six Sects. The evening market showed no sign of closing, and even more vendors were setting up stalls by the roadside, selling strange things like spiritual pills, magical artifacts, cursed paper charms, and skulls.

“Here it comes,” someone said outside the window.

A tall black horse approached, and the curtain was lifted to offer a water flask, “Drink.”

Yue Lin’s voice.

Chu Hanjin took the flask, drank two sips, and heard Yue Lin ask, “Now that I’ve brought you to the Demon Realm, what do you think?”

Chu Hanjin returned the flask, his lips free of any water stains, calm and indifferent, “Since you’ve abducted me, it makes sense that you’d bring me to the Demon Realm. You might even use me to threaten my senior brother.”

Yue Lin chuckled, “Smart, really painting me as the villain.”

Chu Hanjin turned his head away.

“Aren’t you afraid?” Yue Lin tugged on the reins, “I might hurt you.”

“If you wanted to harm me, there’s no use being afraid.”

Yue Lin clicked his tongue, “Getting you to say anything soft is harder than climbing the heavens.”

Chu Hanjin was quiet for a moment before saying, “You should worry about yourself.”

“Why?”

He tilted his head slightly, only to see Chu Hanjin being watched by others. He found it pointless, letting the curtain fall, revealing only a glimpse of his pale chin in the breeze.

His voice came from inside the curtain, “There are probably just as many people in the Demon Realm who want to kill you as there are people who want to kill me.”

Yue Lin’s throat caught for a moment. He wanted to ask, “Are you worried about me?”

But he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

He spurred his horse forward.

Ahead, the capital was illuminated for the annual Lantern Festival. The streets were lined with lanterns of various shapes, casting orange-yellow light down the market road, only to be reflected in the river as boats drifted along, lighting up the entire river with their glow.

Chu Hanjin glanced around.

The customs of the Demon Realm were more unrestrained and free-spirited. The people dressed in all sorts of colorful, peculiar styles, but it lent an odd charm to the night market.

As they turned a corner, there was a shout outside.

“How dare you!”

The speaker seemed to be a servant, holding a whip in one hand, “This is the royal road! Who dares to cross without looking? How dare you disturb the Lady’s carriage? Can you afford the punishment?”

Someone charged straight toward them, “Such arrogance! When you see the Lady, you should get out of the carriage!”

The servant was overbearing and arrogant. Having just returned, Yue Lin had sent Bai Gu ahead to arrange the estate, leaving only Yue Lin and his horse, along with Chu Hanjin’s carriage, heading toward his old mansion.

Chu Hanjin had no desire to move, but the servant pulled aside the curtain.

The servant was quite handsome, dressed well too.

Nearby, a large, ornate carriage carried by eighteen men appeared, draped in silk veils. Inside, a woman’s silhouette could be seen lying on her side, while a few similarly dressed men massaged her legs and back.

The scene was frivolous and debauched. Chu Hanjin took one glance and immediately looked away.

But the servant was stunned, “What a handsome face.”

The silk curtain inside the carriage was pulled aside, letting out a waft of heavy perfume, followed by the lazy voice of a woman, “Indeed, what a handsome face.”

Her voice grew more interested, “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a fine young man. Let’s take him with us to play. We’ll send a formal invitation later.”

Chu Hanjin frowned, feeling a headache coming on. Before he could react, a white silk ribbon flew out from the carriage. It looked soft and boneless but carried a fierce strength, aimed to hook Chu Hanjin inside.

Unexpectedly, with a clang, a flash of sword light cut the silk into several pieces.

A slight commotion broke out around them.

“Who?”

“How dare they!”

“Who dares to cut the Lady’s silk?”

Yue Lin stepped out from behind the carriage, his expression not pleasant, but his lips curved slightly, “Sister.”

Inside the cloud carriage, the woman suddenly sat up.

Yue Lin said, “We haven’t seen each other in over twenty years, and you didn’t recognize your ninth brother at first sight. And you even tried to take my new bride. Isn’t that a bit inappropriate?”

Yue Lin’s tone was always easygoing and unrestrained, but now, with his sudden politeness, it was clear he was being sarcastic, suppressing his anger.

The entire veil of the cloud carriage was lifted, revealing a woman with white hair and seductive features, though she appeared to be approaching middle age, with signs of aging on her face.

She stared straight at Yue Lin, her expression showing shock, “Ninth brother?”

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone around knelt down. Some called him “Ninth Prince,” others “Lord,” and the scene quickly turned chaotic.

Yue Lin stood calmly in the middle of the kneeling crowd, his face serene and composed, as if playing the part of a living King of Hell. He casually kicked aside the male servant who had hooked the carriage curtain with his whip and pointed at the road, “I remember this road was repaired for me. I was the only one allowed to use it. How come now any royal can walk on it? Looks like a lot has changed since I died, huh?”

The woman’s face went blank. She finally understood his implication, and she knelt halfway down, still in disbelief, “Ninth, Lord, you… you… didn’t you die?”

Yue Lin smiled, “I didn’t die. Are you not happy to see me back, Sister?”

The woman’s expression changed, “Of course, Sister is happy.”

“That’s good.”

Yue Lin walked back and forth, picking up the remnants of the white silk ribbon. With a flick of his fingers, the pieces crumbled to dust. He raised his head, his voice no longer as warm as before, now cold enough to chill everyone around him.

“The person in the carriage is mine. Sister, you were a bit rude earlier. Don’t you think an apology is in order?”