These prodigies of the demon clan didn't wish for Xiao Fan, the human, to die. But that didn't mean there weren't demons who did.
When Gongsun Yajiu walked out of the Council of Elders with Xiao Fan in her arms, Gongsun Bo, her father, couldn't contain his anger any longer and stormed toward her. Behind him were the elite members of their tribe, all glaring with anger and reproach.
"Gongsun Yajiu, do you realize what you've done?" Gongsun Bo's face was livid, his eyes blazing with fury. He even called her by her full name.
"Kill this human at once, and come with me to the demon leader to beg for forgiveness!"
"I know what I am doing," Gongsun Yajiu responded calmly, instinctively shielding Xiao Fan.
Looking at her enraged father, Gongsun Yajiu remained serene.
In the demon clan, scheming and betrayal were rampant. Her father and the entire tribe had always seen her as a tool to restore their tribe's honor. Even in front of her closest kin, she had to disguise her true self, like a puppet without emotions.
But with Xiao Fan, she didn't need to pretend. No matter how she tried to manipulate him, Xiao Fan always responded with a helpless smile. She had grown to love seeing that expression on his face. Apart from the annoying Long Xiaoxiao, being with Xiao Fan was genuinely joyful.
The few months she spent with him, though short, allowed her to be her true self.
Now, she no longer wanted to disguise herself. She had enough of everything.
Facing her furious father, Gongsun Yajiu spoke solemnly, "Father, if you think I am a disgrace to our tribe, I will leave the tribe."
"From now on, I have no ties with the Gongsun clan!"
"You..." Gongsun Bo was speechless with anger.
The elite members behind him began to hurl insults at her, but Gongsun Yajiu paid them no mind. She simply walked away with Xiao Fan.
"If you leave the tribe, don't ever come back!" Gongsun Bo shouted, heartbroken.
He never imagined that the pride of their tribe, Gongsun Yajiu, would commit such a rebellious act for a human.
A great misfortune for the tribe indeed!
Outside the Haotian Mirror.
No one expected that the seemingly flippant demon empress, Gongsun Yajiu, would be so deeply affectionate.
Long Xiaoxiao, who had been waiting to see Gongsun Yajiu make a fool of herself, fell silent.
Fool? What right did she have to mock Gongsun Yajiu?
She had caused her master, Xiao Fan, so much pain!
Not only had she crippled him, shattering his meridians and qi sea, but she had also damaged his mind, leaving him in a dazed state.
Gongsun Yajiu, however, had sacrificed everything for Xiao Fan—her Holy Maiden status, and even faced the scorn of her kin.
In truth, Gongsun Yajiu had given far more for Xiao Fan than she ever had. How could she, Long Xiaoxiao, show any disdain towards her?
Ashamed, she couldn't even look at Gongsun Yajiu.
Meanwhile, the demon empress Gongsun Yajiu felt desolate as she watched the scenes unfold in the Haotian Mirror.
No matter how much she sacrificed for Xiao Fan, he never acknowledged her.
From the moment they met, Xiao Fan had likely branded her as a demoness in his heart. No matter what she did, he always remained indifferent.
She was unwilling to accept this.
Among Long Xiaoxiao, Leng Ruoxue, Wen Yajian, and Huo Ling'er, who had given more to Xiao Fan than she had?
Why could Xiao Fan be so devoted to them, even willing to die for them, but remain so cold to her?
Seeing the scenes of Xiao Fan with Leng Ruoxue, Wen Yajian, and Huo Ling'er, she could no longer deceive herself. It wasn't just Long Xiaoxiao whom Xiao Fan treated specially—it was everyone but her.
Xiao Fan had treated everyone else with kindness, but he was uniquely cold to her. This was something she couldn't accept!
Filled with endless resentment and anger, she vowed to make Xiao Fan and everyone he cared about pay. She would skin Xiao Fan alive, tear his tendons, break his bones, and consume his heart and lungs.
All this, she would take back for herself.
The North Sea Empress trio fell silent upon seeing how much Gongsun Yajiu had sacrificed for Xiao Fan. They realized they paled in comparison.
Yet, seeing the hatred in Gongsun Yajiu's eyes directed at them and their master puzzled them.
It seemed that Gongsun Yajiu's sacrifices were voluntary, so where did her hatred come from?
Remembering Long Xiaoxiao's earlier claim that Gongsun Yajiu was jealous of her, they wondered if Xiao Fan had never appreciated Gongsun Yajiu's efforts, leading her to hate out of unrequited love.
Thinking this, Leng Ruoxue felt a bit of sympathy for Gongsun Yajiu but also a strange satisfaction. At least she wasn't at the bottom of Xiao Fan's regard.
Wen Yajian sighed, understanding Gongsun Yajiu's feelings but feeling powerless to help. Affection couldn't be forced, and despite Gongsun Yajiu's sacrifices, Xiao Fan simply did not reciprocate.
Huo Ling'er met Gongsun Yajiu's gaze defiantly. Though silent, her eyes conveyed her thoughts clearly.
'No matter your grievances and hatred, if you dare harm Xiao Fan, I won't hold back.'
'Remember, including that troublesome dragon, we have four people here.'
'Think carefully before you act!'
High above, the Jade Pool Empress smirked coldly at Gongsun Yajiu's sacrifices for Xiao Fan.
"Pathetic!" she muttered.