"Master! Master! Master!..."
Ever since Xiao Fan had moved into the Leng household, his days were filled with the heartfelt and enthusiastic calls of "Master" from Leng Ruoxue.
Each day, watching the innocent and lively Leng Ruoxue surround him with her enthusiasm, Xiao Fan's heart, once frozen by hatred, began to thaw bit by bit.
Time flew by, and Xiao Fan had already spent nearly half a year at the Leng residence. His bond with Leng Ruoxue had grown increasingly close.
In Xiao Fan's heart, he truly regarded Leng Ruoxue as his disciple, and he treated her like a beloved younger sister.
However, the closer he became to Leng Ruoxue, the more he suffered.
Leng Ruoxue was the daughter of his sworn enemy, Cold Feng. Every time she called him "Master" with a bright smile, he felt a deep sense of guilt towards his deceased parents.
Outside the Haotian Mirror, it was clear to everyone watching that Xiao Fan was in agony and struggling during this period.
People couldn't help but sigh, surprised to see the notorious and ruthless Netherworld Demon Emperor in such a conflicted state.
"Master..." the Empress of the North Sea, Leng Ruoxue, whispered, a tear rolling down her flawless cheek. Seeing Xiao Fan's tortured expression in the Haotian Mirror, her emotions were stirred.
To think, her happiness back then was built on her master's pain...
The Empress lowered her gaze, unable to continue watching. No matter how kind Xiao Fan had been to her, the moment he killed her parents, it all turned to dust.
She owed him nothing.
Every warmth and happiness had its end.
Inside the Haotian Mirror.
During his stay at the Leng residence, Xiao Fan had used his qi daily to nourish Leng Ruoxue's body. This was to enhance her physical strength and resilience, preparing her for the Body Refining stage.
He had made his choice—he couldn't forsake the vengeance for his father. But he didn't want Leng Ruoxue to live a life filled with hatred or to know the truth about her father.
Leng Ruoxue had lived a happy life, and learning that her father was a vile scoundrel would be too cruel.
Xiao Fan decided he would take on all the pain and guilt.
After killing Cold Feng to avenge his parents, he planned for Leng Ruoxue to avenge her father by killing him, ending all the hatred with him.
But before he took action, he needed to fulfill his duty as her master, teaching her everything to ensure she could protect herself in the future.
Xiao Fan was torn about whether to use the ancient Body Refining elixir on Leng Ruoxue. Though it would make her body ten times stronger than those at the same stage, it caused immense pain, and failure to endure it could be fatal.
He had endured it only because of his burning hatred.
Concluding that Leng Ruoxue wouldn't survive the process, he decided against it. But even using a standard elixir would be painful, so he planned to wait a bit longer, continuing to nourish her body with his qi.
However, Xiao Fan could wait; others could not.
Cold Feng had been eager to obtain the Qi Refining techniques from Xiao Fan since he moved in, but after half a year, Xiao Fan hadn't taught Leng Ruoxue anything substantial. Instead, they seemed to play around every day.
Cold Feng began to suspect that Xiao Fan had no intention of teaching real skills and was merely enjoying a comfortable life.
Deciding to act, Cold Feng planned to force the Qi Refining techniques out of Xiao Fan and then kill him. After all, Xiao Fan was just a wandering cultivator with no one to avenge him.
Cold Feng prepared a powerful paralytic, Soft Muscle Powder, capable of incapacitating even cultivators. He enlisted his wife, Xia Jing, to administer it, knowing Xiao Fan wouldn't suspect her.
Xia Jing often brought snacks and treats for Leng Ruoxue and Xiao Fan, making her the perfect person to deliver the drug.
When Cold Feng told Xia Jing about his plan, she frowned, scrutinizing him.
"Do you think you haven't done enough heinous deeds? Now you dare to target Xue'er's master?"
As Cold Feng's wife, Xia Jing knew his true nature. To outsiders, Cold Feng appeared kind and virtuous, but she knew him to be a hypocritical scoundrel.
Over the years, using her father's position as governor, Cold Feng had committed numerous atrocities. Xia Jing regretted marrying him, but she was now trapped, needing to protect their young daughter and her father's reputation.
It was time to end this, to stop Cold Feng from harming others.
Cold Feng tried to manipulate her with promises of a blissful future, but Xia Jing, while pretending to be persuaded, had her own plans.
That afternoon, after using his qi to nourish Leng Ruoxue's body, Xiao Fan agreed to play hide-and-seek, as was their daily routine.
Leng Ruoxue, determined not to be found this time, hid in a wardrobe in Cold Feng and Xia Jing's bedroom, thinking Xiao Fan wouldn't look there.
Satisfied with her clever hiding spot, she fell asleep as the warm afternoon wore on.