Meng Qingshan woke with a start, his amber eyes scanning the dim room, adjusting to the quiet surroundings. His gaze fell on his new sword, Hei Xin, displayed proudly on the wall. The sword's black blade glistened faintly in the dull light, while the handle—gold and red—stood out, reminding him of the power it held. This was the weapon that would summon his demon, the one he needed to form a bond with to move forward. If he survived the ritual.The door to his room creaked open, and Sua Quan peeked her head inside, her eyes full of concern. "Hey, you ready?" she asked, stepping in cautiously. Her usually carefree demeanor was subdued today, weighed down by the gravity of the moment. "You don't have to do this, you know."Meng, already dressed in his ceremonial robes, glanced at her as he stood. His mind was clear, but his heart felt heavy. "I know," he replied as they walked outside, heading towards the grand summoning hall. "But if I don't do this, I'll be stuck in the past forever."As they made their way through the courtyard, Meng's thoughts drifted once more to his past—visions of his old life replaying in his mind. He could see Prince Cheng and Prince Feng, laughing together in the palace gardens. His memories of the palace, the way they had trained together, ate together, lived together, all of it haunted him. Even now, as Meng Qingshan, he couldn't entirely rid himself of those memories.Every time he thought of General Liu, though, his demonic power spiked uncontrollably, overwhelming him with destructive energy. He could still recall the last time he lost control, shattering the walls of the training hall, leaving everyone terrified.He sighed, glancing around. People tried to avoid his gaze, their fear of him palpable. It wasn't long ago that they had started calling him "the Blood Demon" after the incident at the hall, a name that had spread throughout the sect. Meng pretended not to care, but deep down, it troubled him more than he'd admit."Yoooo!" A familiar voice boomed through the courtyard. Jiang Tian waved from across the way, causing the crowd of disciples to part in reverence and fear. Tian was a legend among the sect—a master of demonic techniques and a natural leader, though his boisterous personality often masked his sheer skill."Are you sure you're ready for this?" Tian asked with a grin as he clapped Meng on the back.Meng met his gaze with determination. "I'm sure."They reached the steps of the summoning hall, a towering structure of black stone etched with ancient runes. Meng took a deep breath, steadying his resolve. His mind was made up—he would summon him. The red-haired demon who had appeared during his duel with General Liu back when he was still Chen Ning. There were so many questions he wanted to ask the demon, questions about his brother, about his past. He had decided this was the only way to truly let go—he needed answers, closure."Meng Qingshan, are you ready for the summoning ritual?", asked the impatient summoning lord, Qing Shu.Meng nodded, stepping forward. "I am."He could feel her eyes judging him, taking in his calm but intense demeanor. His long brown hair cascaded loosely down his back, with a few strands framing his masked face. His appearance had earned him attention, but it was his power and reputation that made people fear him. He caught a glimpse of the female disciples in the crowd, some still swooning over his mysterious appearance, but their admiration was drowned out by the whispers of fear.The ritual hall was ominously quiet as Meng walked to the center, where a glowing summoning circle lay etched into the ground. His sword, Hei Xin, rested in his hand. He placed it in the middle of the circle and took a deep breath, feeling the weight of what was about to happen.From the corner of his eye, he saw Sua and Tian standing near the entrance, their expressions a mix of concern and support. He focused his energy, channeling it into the sword, and then pricked his finger, letting a drop of blood fall onto the blade. As soon as his blood touched the sword, a violent surge of demonic energy erupted from the circle.A whirlwind of red smoke began to swirl around him. Meng's body tensed as excruciating pain shot through him, every muscle burning with the intensity of the demonic power. His vision blurred, his eyes watering as they turned bloodshot from the strain. He fought to maintain control, but the power was overwhelming.The red smoke twisted and morphed until it took the shape of a figure—the demon with long red hair, piercing black eyes, and an aura of pure malice."You called?" The demon's voice was smooth, with a dangerous edge to it. His black eyes glinted with amusement. "I take it you've decided to form a bond with me."Meng nodded, barely able to find his voice through the pain. "Yes... will you form a bond with me, um..." He hesitated, realizing he didn't know the demon's name.The demon smirked. "You may call me Zhuan Xinyi."Meng blinked, trying to stay focused as Xinyi's words rang in his ears. He glanced at the crowd; Sua and Tian were staring at him with wide eyes, their faces pale. The other disciples whispered furiously among themselves, sneaking glances at the demon."Look, it's him!""Isn't that the demon lord's son?""Are you sure?""Yeah, I saw his picture—he's the son of the demon king!"Meng looked back at Xinyi, he had known that Xinyi was the son of the demon lord due to their past confrontation, but had already thought that everyone already had known.Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through Meng's wrist. He gasped, clutching his arm as a glowing circle appeared for just a moment, then disappeared, leaving only a burning sensation. It was the mark of their contract.Xinyi grinned, his expression both playful and menacing. "Looks like the contract has been sealed. You can summon me whenever you like now."Before Meng could respond, Xinyi began to fade into the portal he had summoned. But just before disappearing completely, he turned, flashing a malicious grin and silently mouthing Chen Ning.I'm not him... I'm not that person anymore!The memories threatened to consume him, but it was Xinyi's taunt that pushed him over the edge. The flames of his demonic energy roared to life, spiraling out of his body, enveloping the summoning circle and rapidly spreading to the rest of the temple. The walls crackled as the fire danced, feeding off the potent power he couldn't control.Screams erupted around him.Meng's vision blurred as he looked up in horror. The entire hall was now consumed by flames. Stone pillars crumbled, unable to withstand the heat. Disciples tried to flee, but the fire was too fast, too wild. The inferno spread like a living creature, devouring everything in its path."Meng!" Jiang Tian's voice cut through the chaos, but Meng couldn't make out where it came from. The fire roared louder, drowning out all sound.He stumbled forward, his body trembling from the weight of the demonic energy. The temple collapsed around him, beams crashing down, throwing sparks into the air. Meng's heart pounded. The disciples... they were dying. Everyone was dying."I... I didn't mean..." he muttered, his voice barely audible as the flames swallowed the world. The faces of the disciples flashed before him—the fear in their eyes as they had called him the Blood Demon. Now, they were burning. They were all burning because of him.He tried to pull back the energy, to stop the fire, but it was too late. It had already consumed too much.Tears stung his eyes, mixing with the ash that filled the air. I'm sorry... Meng whispered to himself as he struggled to escape the burning temple, barely able to keep his legs moving. He could smell the smoke, the searing flesh of those caught in the blaze.When Meng finally staggered out of the wreckage, his legs gave out beneath him. His body felt numb, his mind fractured from the overwhelming guilt and confusion. The sky above him was black, filled with the thick smoke of the fire that still raged behind him.He collapsed onto the ground, his mask half-shattered from the debris that had struck him. His vision flickered, darkness closing in as he gasped for air. I'm sorry...His breathing was shallow, his body drenched in sweat and blood. I didn't mean for this to happen...Meng's consciousness started to fade, his vision dimming.