Chereads / Memoirs of the Demon Emperor / Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: What Must Be Said in Private?

Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: What Must Be Said in Private?

"Shameless!"

Outside the Haotian Mirror, the Northern Nether Empress, Leng Ruoxue, ground her teeth in anger.

To her, Wen Yaxian's behavior was pure pretense, deliberately acting weak to get close to her master and take advantage of him.

The Taiyin Empress, Wen Yaxian, felt a bit embarrassed. She admitted there was some acting involved back then. Being exposed in front of everyone now made her feel a mix of shame and nostalgia.

Fortunately, her awakening of the Taiyin Physique made her glow with a brilliant blue light, hiding her body from view and sparing her further embarrassment.

Inside the Haotian Mirror.

Xiao Fan stiffened upon accidentally touching Wen Yaxian's smooth, wet skin. Quickly, he took off his outer robe and draped it over her.

"Master, I'm so scared," Wen Yaxian said in a soft, weak voice, leaning into Xiao Fan's embrace.

If Xiao Fan hadn't been blind, he would have seen that Wen Yaxian was actually smiling, not at all scared.

Trusting her words completely, Xiao Fan didn't doubt her. Though he couldn't see the blue glow Wen Yaxian mentioned, he could sense a strange energy emanating from her.

This energy made his body feel inexplicably comfortable, even soothing his blind eyes for a brief moment before disappearing.

The commotion naturally attracted Wen Yaxian's parents.

Rushing in and seeing Wen Yaxian draped in Xiao Fan's robe, nestled in his arms, her father was flabbergasted.

"Xiao Fan, I've always treated you like a brother! How could you do this?" he exclaimed, feeling betrayed. 

"You've let me down!" he accused, eyes filled with hurt.

Xiao Fan was exasperated, giving a bitter smile. "Uncle Wen, it's not what it looks like."

"Not what it looks like? Yesterday, you called me 'big brother,' but now you're back to 'uncle'?" Wen Yaxian's father retorted, feeling more betrayed than ever.

"I..." Xiao Fan felt at a loss for words.

In fact, he had always addressed Wen Yaxian's father as "uncle," but the previous night, Wen Yaxian's father had insisted he call him "big brother" after having a bit too much to drink.

Unable to get away without complying, Xiao Fan had relented and called him "big brother."

Unable to bear the drama any longer, Wen Yaxian's mother intervened. "Enough! Everyone inside, don't make a scene."

Once inside, Wen Yaxian was sent to change while her mother questioned Xiao Fan.

She trusted Xiao Fan's character, knowing he wouldn't do anything inappropriate after promising to maintain a respectful distance from Wen Yaxian.

The issue likely stemmed from her daughter's actions.

Upon hearing Xiao Fan's account, Wen Yaxian's father couldn't sit still. "Xiao Fan, are you making this up? How could my daughter's body emit a blue glow?"

He didn't understand the specifics of cultivation but knew enough to find it hard to believe someone could glow from bathing.

"Quiet!" Wen Yaxian's mother snapped, silencing her husband.

Listening intently, her brow furrowed in thought. She clearly had some idea about Wen Yaxian's condition.

When Wen Yaxian returned, dressed, her mother questioned her again, getting more detailed information.

After hearing the complete account, Wen Yaxian's mother gravely told her, "Take your father outside. I need to speak with your master alone."

"Again?" Wen Yaxian protested, recalling the last private conversation that led to her becoming Xiao Fan's disciple. She worried about what might happen this time.

"What must be said in private?" her father echoed her sentiments.

"Hmm?" Wen Yaxian's mother glared, silencing him.

"Fine, let's go, Dad," Wen Yaxian said, leaving the room reluctantly with her father.

Once alone, Xiao Fan asked, "Auntie, do you know why Yaxian had such a reaction?"

"To be honest, before my family was wiped out, I read some records in the family library as a child," Wen Yaxian's mother began. "Our family's greatest period was due to an ancestor who awakened the Taiyin Physique. This physique is incredibly powerful, and its Taiyin energy is the most precious for healing and cultivation enhancement."

"This ancestor not only became immensely powerful, reaching the Saint realm at a young age, but also nurtured many strong cultivators within the family."

"A Saint!" Xiao Fan exclaimed, understanding how extraordinary the Taiyin Physique was.

Realizing the connection between the Taiyin Physique and Wen Yaxian's blue glow, Xiao Fan noticed Wen Yaxian's mother's tone was far from joyous, filled with worry instead.

"Auntie, isn't this a good thing? Why are you so worried?"

Sighing, Wen Yaxian's mother explained, "Although our ancestor brought great glory to the family, it also led to our downfall. Pursuing greater power, the ancestor turned to dark methods and fell into demonic ways after losing to another genius."

"The strong cultivators who benefited from the Taiyin energy also became corrupted, causing our family to fall from grace and eventually be annihilated."

Xiao Fan fell silent, understanding the perils of unbridled ambition leading to ruin.

Reflecting on the tale, Xiao Fan couldn't help but feel a deep sense of regret.