The exquisitely beautiful man’s face turned ashen, his bloodthirsty eyes blazing with unconcealed rage. A ferocious, obstinate madness twisted his features, like a volcanic eruption, utterly uncontrollable.
The figure in white seemed to sense the man’s gaze, terrifying and demonic, and his steps faltered slightly.
Bi Lian felt a surge of intense hope. He truly wished for Shen Yue to stay.
If only Shen Yue would return to his side, coax him, and speak a few soft words, they could return to their former harmonious closeness, their passionate entanglement.
But Shen Yue did not.
She merely paused for a brief moment.
Not even three seconds.
Then she left, without the slightest hesitation, not even bothering to look back.
Shen Yue had always been like this. She was cold and heartless, as if nothing could ever catch her eye. She was like a glacier that would never melt, unthawed even by lava.
Utterly devoid of feeling and loyalty.
Yet he still harbored this laughable hope, foolishly believing she would turn back.
In the end, he had simply overestimated his place in Shen Yue’s heart.
From a shadowy corner, a black figure merged with the darkness. The man in black moved silently and knelt on the ground.
His voice was flat, devoid of any inflection, like that of a puppet.
"Your subordinate investigated the maid who has been by the Immortal Lord's side recently. She has been acting suspiciously, repeatedly going to the back mountain of the Soul Severing Hall alone. Lately, her visits have become even more frequent. Your subordinate suspects that this audacious maid intends to trick the Immortal Lord into leaving."
Trick?
That was hardly certain.
Bi Lian covered his face, his hair falling between his fingers, his voice raspy as if cut by a knife. "How have I treated her?"
The man in black had been with Bi Lian for a long time. His usually indifferent face showed a flicker of surprise, disbelieving that such a question could come from the perpetually enraged Demon Lord.
However, he was never one to gossip, so he replied stiffly, "Your Majesty has naturally treated the Immortal Lord exceptionally well."
There was no falsehood in that statement.
In the man in black's view, Bi Lian’s treatment of Shen Yue was beyond reproach. He had never seen Bi Lian treat anyone else with such kindness, invest so much effort, especially considering the complex enmity between them. By all rights, Bi Lian had no reason to cherish Shen Yue so dearly.
Yet Bi Lian did. His kindness, his unique affection, was evident to anyone.
Bi Lian’s mind conjured an image of Shen Yue looking at him with soft eyes, devoid of her usual coldness, filled instead with shattered tenderness.
"Have I fallen in love?"
Perhaps he had fallen long ago, but simply refused to admit it.
The man in black kept his head bowed low. He, too, had noticed. After a moment of silence, he said, "... In my subordinate's opinion, that is indeed the case."
Shen Yue had once promised to treat him well, to never hurt him again.
He had believed her. He was gambling with his own life.
But it seemed he had lost.
...
Shen Yue had never held him in her heart.
"She lied to me."
Bi Lian recalled Shen Yue's increasingly indifferent gaze in recent days, and her eyes, as still and detached as a lake, were like dead water. His voice held a strange calmness, but his eyes were bloodshot, revealing profound hatred.
"She wants to leave. She never intended to stay with me."
The man in black struggled to breathe under the oppressive aura emanating from Bi Lian. He clamped his mouth shut, daring not to utter a sound.
"Heh." Bi Lian managed a mocking smile, veins bulging on his temple. "I thought... I truly thought she had fallen for me... Who knew..."
Who knew she had no heart at all.
She wouldn't even bother with pretense.
He had believed they were of one heart, that Shen Yue was willing, until that lowly maid appeared. Only then did he realize how ridiculous his previous thoughts were.
"Does she think she can just leave?"
All expression slowly vanished from Bi Lian’s face, replaced by an icy coldness. He remembered Shen Yue’s constant protection of that lowly maid. "No need to alarm anyone."
Since she wished to leave, he would let her try. After all, only by experiencing pain would she learn what was permissible and what was not.
The man in black hadn't expected Bi Lian to remain so composed, but he still bowed his head to receive the order. "Yes."
"My Yue Yue." He tugged at the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with madness and despair. His slightly reddened eyes held an extremely obsessive love. A low, sinister voice escaped the man's thin lips, carrying a playful tone, both sexy and clear. His narrow eyes were filled with gloom.
"Those who break their promises have their hearts dug out."
But he couldn't bear to dig out Shen Yue's heart. After all, he loved her so dearly. However... she had to taste a little bitterness.
—
Shen Yue knew this escape plan was doomed to fail.
It was a joke. This was the main villain's territory; how could she possibly get away unscathed?
Shen Yue sat on the soft couch, chatting with the system.
[Do you think the main villain will get angry and slap me to death when he finds out I'm trying to escape?]
The system analyzed rationally: [That's not impossible, but I think the probability is quite low. However, I do think you might die in another way.]
Shen Yue was curious: [What way?]
The system: [In bed.]
Shen Yue was stunned. Her mind uncontrollably conjured all sorts of scenarios. The thought alone made her feel unwell, and she almost leaped off the couch.
[No! No! Absolutely not! I can't afford to lose face like that!]
The system: [Mm... there is another way.]
Shen Yue eagerly asked: [Quick, tell me!]
The system: [If you can complete the mission before then, you can leave without any worries.]
Shen Yue fell silent. The system was stating the obvious. If she had any confidence in completing the mission in such a short time, none of this would have happened.
She had originally thought she could wait until Bi Lian grew tired of her before he killed her, but she hadn't expected that after so long, Bi Lian showed no intention of killing her. Instead, he seemed to become even more infatuated.
This was not good news.
Xiao Die walked in, her steps no longer as steady as before, but rather light and cheerful as she approached Shen Yue.
Shen Yue sensed the happy and lively aura emanating from the girl. It was the first time she had seen Xiao Die express her emotions so openly.
She couldn't help but curve her lips, her eyes still clear and pure. "Is there something happy today?"
Xiao Die smiled and said, "Tomorrow, I can take the Immortal Lord away."
So, it was because of this that she was happy.
What an easily satisfied girl.
Shen Yue's expression softened when she faced Xiao Die, losing its distant coldness. At this moment, she was gentle and serene, like ethereal and pure clouds in a dream.
Her vacant, hollow eyes gazed at Xiao Die, and she slowly revealed a smile. The smile on her face was faint, and the gentle, ethereal smiles were all in her eyes.
It was a pure and clean smile.
"Will you leave with me?"
Her eyes gazed at Xiao Die, clear and unwavering.
Though she knew Shen Yue couldn't see, Xiao Die felt as if those eyes reflected her current state.
In reality, she hadn't thought of leaving with the Immortal Lord. After all, she was still a member of the demon race. Since ancient times, righteousness and evil had been irreconcilable. She didn't deserve to follow in the Immortal Lord's footsteps.
But looking into those clear eyes, Xiao Die agreed.
"Yes, this servant will follow you."
The Immortal Lord remembered nothing now, and her powers were sealed. Xiao Die thought that if she could escort the Immortal Lord to Qingyun Sect, she could then leave with peace of mind.
Shen Yue didn't realize that Xiao Die meant she would follow her around.
—
The night sky of the demon realm was actually quite beautiful. Every night, countless stars adorned the sky, like luminous pearls set in the celestial canopy, twinkling brightly.
But tonight, the night was exceptionally sinister and eerie, as if foreboding something ill.
The night was deep, the sky oppressive and powerless, moonless and starless, completely dark.
Only the rustling night wind carried the scent of death.
Shen Yue waited in the palace. The sleeping quarters were pitch black. At night, no attendants roamed outside the Soul Severing Hall. It was quiet, save for the sound of the wind.
Shen Yue stood quietly by the window, waiting. From the beginning, she had been calm and composed, but as this moment approached, for some reason, she felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.
She paced restlessly. It was finally midnight, but no one had appeared.
Shen Yue quietly reassured herself, perhaps Xiao Die was delayed by something. Wait a bit longer, just a bit longer.
She waited for another half hour.
This time, she could no longer console herself. Shen Yue knew something had gone wrong.
She pushed open the tightly closed door and hurried out.
Ever since Shen Yue lost her memory, the barrier outside the Soul Severing Hall had been removed. Shen Yue could roam anywhere within the demon realm.
The sky was dim, covered in dark clouds. The bright moonlight was hidden behind thick layers of clouds, only managing to cast a faint glow upon the ground.
But the great hall was brightly lit, with rows of attendants standing at the entrance.
Servants bustled back and forth on the pathways, their steps hurried and anxious.
Shen Yue stumbled as she walked. She couldn't see and had to feel her way along. Fortunately, she had been there a few times before. Although she wasn't very familiar with the place, she managed to find her way.
Finally, a servant escorted her to the great hall.
Her hair was unbound, flowing down her back. Her thin robe was lightly tied with a single sash, revealing a small section of her slender wrist, which could be easily held in one hand.
The cross-collared neckline revealed no excess skin, except for the section of her neck, slender and white as frosted snow.
Her frosty white eyelashes and pale red eyes exuded an innate allure, captivating the heart.
She had rushed over, her expression still calm and reserved. Her elegant eyebrows were like a lake on a spring night; though devoid of any overt emotion, they were impossible to look away from.
She appeared aloof and noble, yet pure and clean.
As she arrived, the great hall was filled with kneeling figures, all of them maids.
Shen Yue's heart skipped a beat.
Her steps faltered slightly.
The man standing on the high platform was dressed in luxurious black robes. His face was exquisitely beautiful, his build tall and strong. A smile played on his lips, but his eyes held no mirth.
Shen Yue couldn't see. She saw nothing. She didn't even know if Xiao Die was in the hall. Her heart was filled with panic, but she dared not show any of it on the surface.
Xiao Die knelt at the very front, her face pale and bewildered. When she saw Shen Yue suddenly appear in the hall, her pupils constricted sharply, her fingertips turning white.
Shen Yue heard someone say that a maid had stolen something. That item was the jade pendant bestowed upon her by the Demon Lord. It was certainly no ordinary jade pendant, but it had been stolen by a maid with sticky fingers.
And now it had been found.
The maid kneeling at the front had messy hair. She trembled like a sieve, unable to even complete her sentences. "It wasn't this servant who stole it. This... this servant found it. Your Majesty, spare me!"
She must have been kneeling for a long time. Her clothes still showed stains of blood, indicating she had been punished earlier. Tears streamed down her delicate face, mingling with snot. "This servant truly did not steal it..."
Her words were stammering and fragmented, as she kept repeating that she hadn't stolen it, hadn't stolen it.
But the jade pendant had been found in her room, with so many eyes watching.
The moment Shen Yue heard the word "jade pendant," her entire body froze. Her fingertips trembled slightly, and she felt somewhat dazed.
"Yue Yue."
Someone was calling her.
The voice was incredibly gentle.
Shen Yue blankly followed the sound. Her mind was a complete blank. It took several seconds before she realized who was calling her.
It was Bi Lian.
Bi Lian's exquisite and beautiful face appeared somewhat grim and cold in the shadows. His voice was deep and hoarse, like a demon's whisper.
"This lowly maid stole your belongings. How do you think she should be punished?"
All eyes in the hall converged on the figure in white. For a moment, no one dared to speak. They didn't even dare to breathe.
The maid who had stolen the item was still crying, terrified and pathetic, snot and tears streaming down her face.
But when she came to her senses, she immediately looked back at Shen Yue. As if seeing a savior, she scrambled to Shen Yue's feet. She didn't even dare to touch Shen Yue's clothes. She kept kowtowing, her voice clear and muffled, struck with great force.
"Immortal Lord, Immortal Lord, it truly wasn't this servant who stole it! It truly wasn't this servant who stole it, I am wrongly accused!"
Shen Yue knew, of course, that the item wasn't stolen by her. She knew it, better than anyone.
For a moment, Shen Yue didn't know what to say, simply standing there blankly, unable to hear anything.
The pleading cries were sharp and piercing, as if they would pierce her eardrums before ceasing.
Shen Yue forced herself to calm down. On the surface, she remained composed.
"It's just a jade pendant. Why make such a big fuss?"
Bi Lian seemed to smile, a profoundly mocking smile. His voice was low, as if he were laughing at himself.
"Such a big fuss?"