Qiao Xuan was on the verge of a breakdown. Was this what they meant by “the demon is always one step ahead of the Tao”? And what the heck, Demon Queen?! Who wants to be your Demon Queen? Could you not mess around and at least act a little more like the Demon Lord you’re supposed to be?

This move was too ruthless.

Bai Cang looked at the shock on the boy’s face, the corners of his lips lifting slightly in a fond smile. Since the little one didn’t believe him, he would ease his heart. That way, Qiao Xuan would understand that Bai Cang was serious—there was no trace of mockery in his intentions.

Bai Cang was, indeed, very serious.

But unfortunately, Qiao Xuan wasn’t buying it.

After all, he had lived through seven lifetimes of emotional tribulations. Take the one with Jiang Weiqing, for instance—they were splendidly married as Dao companions, blissfully in love for ten years. And yet, how did it turn out? Jiang Weiqing talked about killing his wife to ascend the Dao, and he did it without so much as a blink. Jiang Weiqing was a sword cultivator who followed the Heavenly Dao, and even he did that… So, what about this demon cultivator who had no morals or sense of shame? Could he possibly be more trustworthy than Jiang Weiqing?

Qiao Xuan scoffed at the offer. Even if Bai Cang’s feelings were genuine right now, he had no interest in rekindling any past relationships with him.

He looked at Bai Cang and coldly said, “But I don’t like you, and I don’t want to be your Demon Queen.”

Those words were harsh, with no room for softness.

He didn’t even bother to pretend to be pitiful anymore.

Bai Cang didn’t seem surprised. His expression remained gentle, though there was a disturbing persistence in his violet eyes. He slowly said, “You’d better learn to like me.”

Because from now on, you will only ever be by my side.

I won’t give you to anyone else.

Bai Cang lowered his head and gently kissed Qiao Xuan’s forehead, chuckling softly in a hoarse voice, “If you don’t want it now, I won’t touch you for the time being. But get used to it… In a month, I’ll hold a grand ceremony to let everyone in the Western Wasteland know you are my Demon Queen.”

Qiao Xuan: “…”

What the hell is this?! Talking to a brick wall?

Bai Cang ruffled Qiao Xuan’s hair and then left.

Qiao Xuan frowned.

Though things hadn’t developed quite as he expected, Bai Cang was acting true to his nature—if he wanted something, he would stop at nothing to get it, regardless of the other person’s wishes. That was why Qiao Xuan had been so afraid of Bai Cang discovering his identity…

But things had still turned out in the worst possible way.

Why was it that every ex he ran into was more difficult to deal with than the last? He was starting to suspect the heavens were playing a cruel joke on him. The Three Realms were so vast, yet every time he left, he’d bump into an ex—and this time, he had run into three!

Was this just a coincidence, or was his luck truly that bad?

Qiao Xuan sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes.

……

In the small wooden house in Xuanhe Valley, a white-robed youth opened his eyes.

He pushed open the door and looked outside. It was nighttime in Xuanhe Valley, the stars twinkling, the bright moon hanging high, and the atmosphere was serene and peaceful.

When he had first returned from his tribulations, he had been restless and decided to sneak out to have some fun. Who would’ve thought the outside world would be so dangerous…

This place was boring, but at least it was safe.

There was no perfect solution in the world, after all.

After thinking for a moment, Qiao Xuan finally made up his mind.

He walked along the small path of Xuanhe Valley and arrived at a floating staircase. Taking a deep breath, he started climbing, step by step.

After about a quarter of an hour, Qiao Xuan reached a platform.

His master was seated on a stone platform, and as if sensing his approach, the silver lashes of his eyes trembled slightly before they opened. His light-colored eyes gazed at Qiao Xuan, calm and composed.

Though his master didn’t say a word, Qiao Xuan inexplicably felt at peace, as though he had finally come home. After a while, he spoke softly, like a child admitting his mistake, “Master…”

Seeing him in this state, Yun Tingshu’s eyes revealed a hint of helplessness, his expression softening as he sighed lightly, “Finally decided to come back?”

Qiao Xuan had been hesitating, unsure how to explain himself. But upon hearing those words, he froze in disbelief, staring at his master. Could it be that his master already knew?!

Of course, his little tricks had never fooled his master…

Feeling a sense of guilt, Qiao Xuan lowered his head, embarrassed. He had snuck out for some fun, and even though his master had clearly noticed, he hadn’t said anything. Now, he was in trouble and had come crawling back for help…

Qiao Xuan lowered his head even more, nervously saying, “I… I’m trapped in the Western Wasteland…”

Yun Tingshu glanced at him briefly, his tone indifferent, “Alright, got it.”

Although it was just four simple words, Qiao Xuan’s eyes instantly welled up. It felt like a child, who after causing trouble, had finally returned home, only for their parent not to ask what they had done, not uttering a single word of reproach. Facing the problem, the parent simply said, “Got it.” Simple words, but they provided more reassurance than any lecture could.

Qiao Xuan knew his master would never abandon him…

Come to think of it, the golden light that had shattered the Tian Xin Pearl and protected his soul during the critical moment had likely been left by his master as well…

Although Qiao Xuan had absolute faith in his master’s power, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy… He hadn’t expected to encounter such a powerful ex during his tribulation, and now things had spiraled to this point.

Bai Cang was extremely strong now—what if his master wasn’t a match for him? Qiao Xuan really didn’t want to drag his master into this mess…

That had been the reason Qiao Xuan had hesitated to ask for help.

He blinked up at his master, carefully suggesting, “Bai Cang is the Demon Lord now. He’s really strong, and the Western Wasteland is his turf. Maybe we should strategize a bit first? Like a diversion, or luring the tiger away from the mountain…”

He was desperately brainstorming ideas, not wanting his master to suffer any losses. Perhaps it was better to use wisdom rather than brute force. Let’s avoid a head-on clash with Bai Cang!

As he pondered, his eyes brightened with an idea. Blushing slightly, he added, “Or… maybe you could meet with Hua Lan, the emperor? If you say it’s to rescue me, he’d definitely be willing to help…”

If one-on-one wouldn’t work, then two against one would definitely take Bai Cang down!

He wasn’t doubting his master’s abilities, but with someone like Bai Cang, there was no need to fight fair. Achieving the goal was what mattered!

Qiao Xuan looked earnestly at his master. “What do you think?”

Yun Tingshu glanced at him calmly, and Qiao Xuan grew increasingly uneasy under his master’s gaze, unsure if he had said something wrong. Just then, Yun Tingshu’s soft laughter reached him from above, “Go ahead, wait for me to come get you.”

With that, Yun Tingshu waved his hand, and the boy’s body transformed into a golden feather, drifting gently into his palm.

……

Qiao Xuan opened his eyes and let out a breath.

He had said everything he needed to say, and his master was reliable, so surely there’d be a plan! All he needed to do now was stay put and wait for his master to come rescue him. But how would his master approach this? Would he ask Hua Lan for help?

Though Qiao Xuan couldn’t leave the demon palace, he had free reign to wander around it. For the next couple of days, he casually strolled about, scouting for possible escape routes, preparing for when his master arrived so they could coordinate from the inside and make a quick getaway…

Meanwhile, Bai Cang was busily preparing for the grand ceremony to officially marry Qiao Xuan as his Demon Queen.

He ordered Ji Xiao to begin making arrangements for the ceremony and had him notify the various demon clans to come and pay their respects.

When Ji Xiao heard this, he was utterly shocked. Though he knew of Bai Cang’s obsession with Qing Xun, this sudden decision to crown Qiao Xuan as the Demon Queen was baffling. Qiao Xuan himself was already an enigma, possibly hiding more than he let on, but simply the fact that he was from the Heavenly Realm would cause unrest among the demon cultivators. Even if Bai Cang could force them to submit, it could lead to resentment and disunity, which could undermine his control over the Western Wasteland.

From every angle, making Qiao Xuan the Demon Queen was a bad idea. If Bai Cang truly liked him, he could just keep him by his side—why go to such lengths?

Ji Xiao bowed and said respectfully, “Please reconsider, Demon Lord.”

Bai Cang glanced at Ji Xiao. Of course, he had already thought of everything Ji Xiao had, but why should he care what the other demon cultivators thought? They were mere insects to him. If they dared to object, he would kill them all—he’d keep killing until no one dared speak against him. Qing Xun was his, and he would never let him suffer even the slightest grievance.

What he had been unable to give in the past, he would now deliver a thousandfold.

Bai Cang’s voice turned cold, “You’re overstepping.”

Ji Xiao anxiously replied, “But—”

Bai Cang’s gaze deepened, his tone turning dark and cryptic, “I know what you’re after. Ambition is a good thing… But remember, never interfere with my decisions. Or the first one I kill will be you.”

Ji Xiao froze.

Bai Cang walked past him, his hoarse, icy voice echoing behind him, “Follow my orders. One month from now, I will marry my Demon Queen.”

Leaving the grand hall, Bai Cang headed straight back to his quarters.

From a distance, he caught the scent of food in the air. It seemed the little one was eating…

As he entered, he saw the boy’s eyes glowing with delight as he enjoyed a table full of delicacies. Bai Cang couldn’t help but smile.

Though the Western Wasteland was a harsh place, life in the demon palace was one of extreme luxury. Ever since Bai Cang had promised Qiao Xuan the title of Demon Queen, Qiao Xuan had been living a life of near-unmatched comfort, with lavish meals and clothes every day, rivaling even the Cloud Sea Heavenly Palace.

When well-fed and content, things didn’t seem as bad.

When Qiao Xuan noticed Bai Cang had entered, he didn’t even bother to get up.

After all, Bai Cang wouldn’t kill him, and he’d soon be making his escape anyway, so there was no need to continue pretending to be pitiful for sympathy.

Bai Cang watched the boy’s lazy and casual demeanor, his beautiful eyes shining, though they were focused on the food rather than on him. He didn’t even look up when Bai Cang arrived… Over the past few days, it seemed he had realized Bai Cang’s attitude toward him and had become more and more brazen in his behavior.

But Bai Cang was willing to spoil him.

Back when Qing Xun was alive, he had been far too humble, always on edge. Even though Bai Cang had doted on him for a while, Qing Xun had lived in constant fear of falling from grace.

Qing Xun had been terrified of losing everything.

But Qiao Xuan was different—he was like a child who had grown up in comfort, capable of adapting to circumstances but also bold and cunning. Even if he was pretending, there was a carefree air about him…

This was probably his true self.

It was clear that Qiao Xuan had lived a good life this time around, and Bai Cang wanted him to continue living like that.

Bai Cang chuckled softly, walking over to sit beside the boy. He reached out and wiped some sweet herb juice from the corner of Qiao Xuan’s lips… Bai Cang then brought his fingers to his own lips, tasting the faint sweetness that lingered from the boy’s lips. The flavor was surprisingly tempting…

Bai Cang had never been fond of sweet things, but today, this sweetness tasted like the finest delicacy in the world.

Qiao Xuan had no choice but to glance at Bai Cang. Did that count as an indirect kiss?! Seriously, enough is enough!

Since he had finished eating anyway, Qiao Xuan stood up, intending to leave. He didn’t want to stay around Bai Cang. But as soon as he got up, Bai Cang grabbed his wrist.

The man’s sharp and cold face softened with a smile, and his hoarse voice sounded, “Do you really dislike seeing me that much?”

Qiao Xuan kept a stern expression.

Bai Cang pulled him into his arms, rubbing his chin against the top of his head and laughing softly near his ear, “In a month, we’ll be married. If you keep acting so cold, you’re going to break my heart…”

Qiao Xuan felt like an unwilling pet being forced into affection, his face wooden. He didn’t want to say anything anymore. He was exhausted. Over these past few days, he had realized that no matter how much he resisted, Bai Cang was indifferent. He didn’t care whether Qiao Xuan had his memories, whether he loathed him, or how coldly he treated him. He didn’t care what harsh words Qiao Xuan threw at him…

He had simply decided, on his own, that Qiao Xuan couldn’t escape.

Was this the way of demon cultivators?

They sure were skilled at forcefully taking what they wanted.

It was like trying to punch a pillow—no matter how hard you hit, it just absorbed the blow!

What was he supposed to do?

To be honest, back when he lived on Earth, Qiao Xuan hated clingy exes the most. He liked relationships where people could walk away cleanly when things didn’t work out—no need to drag it out and make things ugly for both sides.

As a man, have some pride. Why cling to someone who doesn’t love you? If someone wants to leave, just let them go…

He never clung to anyone, nor did he want anyone to cling to him.

But ever since he started experiencing these ridiculous emotional tribulations, every ex he encountered was someone who couldn’t let go—and each one was more obsessive than the last.

And the worst part? He couldn’t beat any of them.

This was a nightmare!

Bai Cang held the boy in his arms, but seeing his dazed, distracted look, his voice suddenly turned cold. He said icily, “Aren’t you afraid of angering me by acting like this?”

Qiao Xuan finally lifted his gaze and replied coolly, “Oh, is the Demon Lord angry?”

Bai Cang stared into his eyes for a long moment before sighing helplessly. This little guy had him figured out, knowing he wouldn’t do anything to him. It seemed scaring him wasn’t going to work anymore…

But that was alright—he didn’t want to scare him anyway.

Bai Cang’s gaze was dark and bottomless. No matter what Qiao Xuan was like now, as long as he stayed by his side, Bai Cang would never lose him again…

As he was about to leave, Bai Cang’s expression suddenly sharpened, and he looked up!

A streak of silver light suddenly tore through the dim sky of the Western Wasteland, effortlessly breaking through the barrier above the demon palace!

Bai Cang narrowed his eyes, stepping protectively in front of Qiao Xuan, staring intently at the figure that appeared.

A man with silver hair loosely tied behind him, his cold and ethereal face framed by flowing white robes, his light-colored eyes gazing calmly ahead. He seemed like a frozen river, untouched for a thousand years.

Though the man stood there without exuding any threatening aura, Bai Cang instinctively sensed danger. In all his years as the Demon Lord, he had never encountered anyone who made him so wary—not even Hua Lan had provoked this level of caution in him…

This man was from the Heavenly Realm.

Qiao Xuan peeked out from behind Bai Cang, his eyes lighting up with joy when he saw his master. Master had finally come!

But… why was he alone? And why was he facing Bai Cang head-on like this? This was the most dangerous approach possible! None of the plans I suggested were used…

Qiao Xuan couldn’t help but feel anxious.

Bai Cang’s eyes were sharp as an eagle’s as he coldly asked, “And you are?”

Yun Tingshu’s expression remained calm, his pale lips curving into a slight smile as he replied, “I’ve come to retrieve my spirit pet.”

Both Bai Cang and Qiao Xuan were taken aback by his words.

Bai Cang couldn’t recall ever taking such a powerful man’s spirit pet, furrowing his brow in confusion.

Qiao Xuan was also surprised for a moment, but he quickly understood. Master, you genius! Why didn’t I think of that?

Spirit pets were bound by contracts with their masters, sharing life and death. Once bonded, they couldn’t be forcibly taken away unless the master willingly released them. No one would dare steal another person’s spirit beast or pet—there was simply no point. The thief would gain nothing and risk angering the master, ending up with nothing but trouble in the end.

Now, Bai Cang wouldn’t dare touch him. With Master’s clever move, he could reclaim Qiao Xuan without clashing directly with Bai Cang.

Brilliant!

What’s the harm in pretending to be a spirit pet if it means survival? Qiao Xuan’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

This was the ultimate strategy: to win without fighting!

Yun Tingshu gazed down at Qiao Xuan, his eyes softening as he said gently, “Well? Aren’t you coming back?”

Without hesitation, Qiao Xuan transformed into a small, palm-sized white bird with a single pale golden feather on his head. He flew past Bai Cang and landed in his master’s hand, looking back at Bai Cang’s now icy expression with a smug puff of his chest.

Go ahead, try to take me now!