Chapter 11

He Lan Ling awoke still within the Frost Ice Forest.  

His collar was wide open, the once-bleeding wounds now clotted, bearing traces of a faint Healing Spirit Art. Seeing him stir, Lin Sa Sa tossed aside the rabbit she’d been holding and leaned in close, helping him sit up against a tree. “You’re awake?”  

She beamed with pride. “You really scared me earlier! I thought I’d never see you again. Luckily, I’ve been learning healing techniques these past few days—who knew my first try would be so successful? Am I amazing or what?”  

“Truly impressive,” He Lan Ling replied, steadying his breath as the corner of his lips curled slightly. “If not for you, I wouldn’t have ended up in this state.”  

Since sealing Ye Sha within his body, this was the first time he had lost control over the demon, nearly bringing about catastrophe.  

Lin Sa Sa huffed. “You’re so ungrateful! I’ve already let it go, yet you insist on bringing it up. If you hadn’t tried to kill me first, why would I ever hurt you?”  

He Lan Ling chuckled weakly, his voice softened by injury, sounding almost gentle. “If you hadn’t followed me into the forest, I wouldn’t have tried to kill you either.”  

This was going in circles.  

“Fine,” Lin Sa Sa conceded. “It was wrong of me to stalk you. But didn’t you almost kill me too? I only fought back in self-defense. You were the one too weak to stop Ye Sha from taking over your body. And then it was me who bought you time to regain control. Doesn’t that make us even?”  

“How is that even?” He Lan Ling pressed, unrelenting. Not only did his chest ache, but his side and cheek also throbbed faintly—as if he’d been kicked a few times and slapped while unconscious.  

Noticing the footprints on his robes, He Lan Ling understood everything. Propping himself up with an arm, he slowly straightened, his tone deceptively calm yet laced with danger. “Should I thank you for not killing me while I was unconscious?”  

Lin Sa Sa had indeed saved him, but not out of pure goodwill. Even as she healed him, she’d vented her anger—kicking and hitting him as if she loathed him to the core.  

Lin Sa Sa now regretted being too heavy-handed. Guiltily averting her gaze, she was abruptly forced to meet his eyes again as He Lan Ling gripped her chin.  

Their gazes locked—his dark, cold eyes beautiful yet chilling. His thin lips parted as he reminded her, “Have you forgotten? You’ve just glimpsed my greatest secret.”  

“Saved me?” He leaned closer, long lashes veiling his expression as his voice dipped low, half-teasing, half-serious. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll silence you for good?”  

He looked every bit the deranged killer, as if he might snap at any moment. Lin Sa Sa shuddered, fear flickering in her widened eyes.  

“Ling-gege…”  

Struggling to suppress her trembling, she bit her lip, her glistening eyes pitifully pleading as she placed a hand over his in a show of submission. “Would you really kill me?”  

Before He Lan Ling could respond, he felt her small hand slide down mischievously, slipping into his sleeve. His eyelids twitched—the next moment, his sleeve was yanked open. Lin Sa Sa burst into laughter, blinking playfully. “Did you really think I was stupid?”  

“Ling-gege, look—what’s this?”  

He Lan Ling glanced down to find a translucent chain coiled around his wrist. The links blended seamlessly into the air, invisible unless touched. At a glance, his wrist appeared bare, as if nothing adorned it.  

“This is a Demon Binding Chain,” Lin Sa Sa chimed, shaking her own right wrist. The koi totem on her skin shimmered faintly before revealing an identical transparent chain.

She explained, “I have the King Chain, and you have the Slave Chain. If you dare harm me, the Slave Chain will tighten and release the Heavenly Thunder Power. Losing an arm would be the least of your worries—it could even cost you your life.”

He Lan Ling’s eyes darkened. “You want to control me?”

“Don’t put it so harshly,” she said. “I just want to protect myself.”

Lin Sa Sa fawned over him, smoothing his collar as she reassured, “Don’t worry, Brother Ling. As long as you don’t hurt me, I’ll never use the Demon Binding Chain to threaten you. Besides, this chain can also transmit voices over distances. As long as you wear it, we can talk even if we’re thousands of miles apart. That way, you won’t lose sleep pining for Sa Sa.”

He Lan Ling scoffed. “How thoughtful of you.”

Lin Sa Sa pretended not to catch his sarcasm, adjusting his sleeve to conceal the chain as she sweetly added, “No need to thank me. Sa Sa loves you the most.”

This Demon Binding Chain wasn’t a Magical Artifact from the immortal sects. If its origins were to be traced, it belonged to the demonic realm—meant to bind, not kill. It was a tool used by powerful devil cultivators to keep their subordinates obedient, and Lin Sa Sa had stumbled upon it by chance.

Originally, she had intended to use it on Feng Qi. Never had she imagined it would end up controlling He Lan Ling instead. But even if she could control him, she wouldn’t resort to it unless absolutely necessary. After all, this man was ruthless even to himself, and Lin Sa Sa feared he might sever his own arm in a fit of madness.

The night grew deeper, and silence settled between them.

Glancing at the Demon Binding Chain on his wrist, He Lan Ling idly traced it with his fingers, a fleeting smirk escaping Lin Sa Sa’s notice. She crouched nearby, staring up at the sky with a furrowed brow as if wrestling with a dilemma. After a moment, she tugged at his sleeve. “Brother Ling, when Ye Sha took over your body… did you still have consciousness?”

She hesitated. “Earlier… I think I heard Ye Sha summoning Gou Xiang.”

And he had even used the term “My Slave.” “Did I mishear?”

Even though Ye Sha was the supreme demon lord, Gou Xiang was an ancient ferocious beast and the current ruler of the demonic realm. There was no way he could be Ye Sha’s slave, right?

He Lan Ling, feigning rest with closed eyes, had regained some color now that Ye Sha’s interference was gone. His voice was faint as he replied, “Gou Xiang is Ye Sha’s mount.”

“What?!” Lin Sa Sa was stunned.

Before she could ask more, ripples appeared in the Barrier above the Cloud Hermit Sect, and the Demon-Seeking Wind Chimes rang out in unison, filling the entire sect with a cacophony of chimes.

“Boom—boom—” A elder struck the alarm bell atop the high tower.

Lin Sa Sa shuddered in fright. The scene before her aligned with the events in the book, except in the story, she had been startled awake by the wind chimes. Here, she was witnessing it firsthand while accompanying He Lan Ling in the Frost Ice Forest.

Suddenly, a spirit talisman flew into the forest, intercepted by He Lan Ling. Lin Sa Sa heard Luo Shui Wei’s sobbing voice from the talisman: “Brother Ling, save me—!”

Luo Shui Wei was in trouble.

Lin Sa Sa’s eyelids twitched as she and He Lan Ling stood up simultaneously.

By the time they rushed to Feng Qi’s courtyard, Feng Qi was injured, demonic energy swirling chaotically around the area. Luo Shui Wei knelt beside him, weeping. Spotting He Lan Ling, she released Feng Qi and rushed forward with a sob, attempting to embrace him—only to be blocked by Lin Sa Sa.

“Senior Brother,” Luo Shui Wei sobbed, her eyes blurred with tears as Lin Sa Sa held her back. She could only gaze at He Lan Ling, choking out her grievances, “You finally came.”

He Lan Ling had already changed into clean robes. At this moment, he appeared calm and composed, showing no trace of having just endured possession, severe injuries, or Lin Sa Sa’s beating. It was as if he had just emerged from seclusion, oblivious to the events outside. He asked gently, “What happened?”

Luo Shui Wei glanced fearfully at the sky and trembled, “It—it’s the Demon Lord.”

It was the Demon Lord Gou Xiang who had infiltrated the Cloud Hermit Sect under cover of night. For some reason, he had entered Feng Qi’s courtyard, triggering the Sect’s Magic Defense Array and causing the wind chimes to chime in unison.

Luo Shui Wei was the first to arrive. Initially thinking it was just ordinary demonic activity, she never expected the intruder to be the Demon Lord. Her meager cultivation was no match for him. Had Feng Qi not shielded her from a strike, she would have been the one lying on the ground now.

Subsequently, He Lan Ling summoned his sword and joined the disciples in resisting the demonic energy. But he was already severely injured and couldn’t hold out for long under such circumstances. Soon, he was struck by the demonic energy, the barely healed wound on his chest tearing open and bleeding anew—though no one noticed anything amiss.

Another surge of demonic energy rushed toward them. Without hesitation, Luo Shui Wei, who was closest to He Lan Ling, threw herself in front of him. “Senior Brother, watch out!”

Ding-ding—

The sound of chimes echoed in Lin Sa Sa’s ears once more.

Everything happened too quickly, leaving no time to react. She watched as the demonic energy surged toward Luo Shui Wei, only to be dispersed by a spiritual sword descending from the heavens. A brilliant golden light flared, and Lin Sa Sa saw Lin Fu Feng descend from the sky, shielding Luo Shui Wei behind him as he wielded his sword to annihilate all traces of demonic energy.

“Master!”

“Sect Leader!” Luo Shui Wei and the disciples exclaimed in unison.

Lin Fu Feng stepped onto the void, hands clasped behind his back as he ascended mid-air. His voice was cold, commanding authority without anger. “Demon Lord Gou Xiang, what brings you here?”

Since Qingji Daojun took charge of the Cultivation World, minor conflicts between the cultivation and demonic realms had persisted, but peace had largely prevailed on the surface. This was the first time Gou Xiang had appeared so brazenly within Sect territory. His intentions were unclear, and caution was warranted.

Above, thick black mist swirled, gradually forming the colossal face of a beast.

Gou Xiang’s true form was ghastly, with fangs and enormous lantern-like vertical pupils. He sneered coldly, “I sense my master’s presence here—”

Lin Fu Feng’s expression darkened. “I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

Without giving Gou Xiang another chance to speak, Lin Fu Feng swung his sword and attacked. Despite facing the massive beast, he showed no hesitation. Bolstered by the combined efforts of the elders and disciples’ arrays, the tide of battle quickly turned in their favor.

Gou Xiang was no weakling. As the Demon Lord of the demonic realm, he possessed the strength to rival Lin Fu Feng. But today, he had come for his master, Ye Sha, not to wreak havoc on the Cloud Hermit Sect. With Ye Sha’s presence now completely dissipated and untraceable, lingering here would only alert their enemies. If cultivators from other sects were drawn in, the situation would grow even more troublesome.

“I’ll spare you today,” Gou Xiang spat, his eyes filled with venomous resentment.

The beast was warlike by nature. Were it not for the risk of jeopardizing their greater plans, he would have slaughtered the entire Cloud Hermit Sect without hesitation. Now, he had no choice but to retreat in disgrace. As he departed, his gaze lingered on a certain spot below. With a flick of his tail, he let out a cold laugh, sending a barbed stinger hurtling downward.

Feng Qi, realizing Gou Xiang’s intent, paled and shouted urgently at Luo Shui Wei, “Wei’er, move!”

Whoosh—

Everything before her eyes merged perfectly with the written records. In the book, Lin Sa Sa rubbed her eyes as she stepped into Feng Qi’s courtyard, witnessing Lin Fu Feng’s sleeves fluttering as he dashed toward Luo Shui Wei at incredible speed to shield her from Gou Xiang’s Poisonous Barb—only for the barb to pierce straight through his shoulder blade.

Outside the book, Lin Sa Sa still saw Lin Fu Feng charging toward Luo Shui Wei. She tried to stop him but couldn’t match his speed.

He pushed Luo Shui Wei aside, allowing the Poisonous Barb to pass through his body. Black blood spilled from his lips. Lin Fu Feng caught sight of the stiff, motionless girl standing not far away, her wide eyes brimming with mist as she glared at him, her face full of desolation and sorrow.

“Sa Sa…” Lin Fu Feng hadn’t even realized when she had arrived or how long she had been watching.

He wanted to call out to her, to pull his daughter into his arms and ask if she was frightened. But his weak voice was drowned out by Luo Shui Wei’s sobbing. The toxin spread rapidly through his organs, and under the excruciating pain, his body swayed, his legs gradually giving way.

Luo Shui Wei hurriedly steadied him, her face streaked with tears. “Master, please don’t scare me like this…”

“I’m so scared.”

Lin Sa Sa was terrified too.

She had thought that by glimpsing the workings of fate, she could easily manipulate and alter it. But when the plot truly unfolded, changing destiny was far from simple.

Unbeknownst to her, her attempts to alter fate had unraveled hidden truths not written in the book. Originally, Gou Xiang hadn’t come for Feng Qi but had been summoned by Ye Sha. Did this also mean that in the book, without Lin Sa Sa’s intervention, He Lan Ling had emerged from seclusion early and entered the Frost Ice Forest, where he failed to suppress Ye Sha, allowing him to summon Gou Xiang?

“How terrifying.” Lin Sa Sa shivered uncontrollably and instinctively glanced at He Lan Ling.

Her fingers brushed the Demon Binding Chain on her wrist as she watched He Lan Ling sheathe his sword and wipe the blood from his lips, his gaze turning toward the weeping Luo Shui Wei. A chill settled in Lin Sa Sa’s heart, leaving her lost. She questioned herself silently—if the plot truly couldn’t be changed, did that mean He Lan Ling was destined to fall for Luo Shui Wei?

Given his temperament, if he truly loved someone, Lin Sa Sa’s attempts to interfere would likely end badly. What should she do then?

Lost in silence, a movement at the edge of her vision caught her attention—someone had stepped beside her.

Feng Qi stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Lin Sa Sa, his eyes fixed on Luo Shui Wei. His mind replayed the scene of her throwing herself in front of He Lan Ling without hesitation. A cold, inexplicable laugh escaped him.

“Does our previous agreement still stand?” Feng Qi asked icily.

He thought Lin Sa Sa had been right—just as she had told him that day: He Lan Ling was hers; Luo Shui Wei was his.

He had loved her so deeply, willing to give everything for her. How could she turn around and treat someone else so tenderly?

She should belong to him.

Author’s Note:

33: It’s getting harder—another one’s gone twisted.

Thanks to the little angels who threw landmines: melo麦麦, Ran Ran’s Potato (1 each);

Thanks to the little angels who irrigated with nutrient solutions: Green Bamboo (20 bottles), Loves Dog Blood and Angst (10 bottles), 40985462 (2 bottles), Yi Zhi Hu Yan (1 bottle);