The moon hung high in the pitch-black sky, casting its cold, silvery glow across the world below. Inside a dimly lit room, Chen Jiu lay motionless on the bed, his pale skin ghostly against the shadows that danced along the walls. His eyes remained shut, his chest rising and falling in shallow breaths, a picture of quiet vulnerability.
The stillness was broken by the faint creak of the door. A dark figure slipped into the room, its form barely distinguishable from the shadows it seemed to command. Long, elegant fingers brushed against the edge of the bed as the figure approached. It stopped beside Chen Jiu, its voice a silken whisper in the oppressive silence.
"A'Jiu, I've waited for so long. When will you finally be mine?" The figure's fingers, cold and unnaturally smooth, traced the contours of Chen Jiu's cheek, lingering on the curve of his jaw.
The figure's voice, once soft, shifted, laced with venom. Leaning closer, it rested its head on Chen Jiu's chest, listening to the faint rhythm of his heart. "That wretched thief… she dared to take you from me," it hissed, a bitter laugh escaping its lips. "But no matter. Once your brilliance fades, once you become as ordinary as the rest, you'll have no choice but to be mine. Forever."
The figure straightened, its reluctance palpable in the way it lingered, its gaze fixed on Chen Jiu's face. It leaned down, pressing a soft, chilling kiss to his pale cheek, its breath cold as winter frost. Just as it began to retreat toward the window, the figure froze, its form rigid.
Something stirred in the distance—a faint, unmistakable presence. Someone was coming. The figure's head snapped toward the door, its eyes narrowing as a dark, unspoken tension filled the room.
Reluctantly, the shadow retreated, melting into the darkness as it leaped soundlessly through the window, leaving behind only a faint trace of its bitter longing. In the oppressive silence that followed, a faint sound echoed—a footstep just outside the door.
Chen Yuxuan stepped into the quiet room, the faint chill of the night air brushing against his face. His eyes landed on the open window, and he walked over to close it, shutting out the cold and the darkness. Turning back, he approached the bed where his father lay motionless, his pale face illuminated by the faint glow of the moonlight.
Reaching into his robe, Chen Yuxuan pulled out a small vial filled with blood—a dark, crimson liquid he had taken from Ling Xiao during their battle. He didn't care for his father. The bond between them meant little to him. Yet, for his mother's sake, he had to act.
With steady hands, he carefully fed the blood to his father, watching as it disappeared down his throat. When he was done, he tossed the knife he had used earlier onto the table with a soft clang. He stood for a moment, looking down at his father with a mix of detachment and obligation, before turning and walking toward the door.
Just as his hand reached the handle, a voice broke the silence.
"Why did you do it so secretly?"
Chen Yuxuan froze, his body stiffening. The voice was calm yet unsettling, laced with an unnatural familiarity. His heart raced as he turned to scan the room, his eyes darting to every shadow.
"Who's there?" he demanded, his voice sharp but tinged with unease.
A chuckle echoed softly, as if coming from everywhere and nowhere at once. "You could've just said that Ling Xiao was the mixed blood. Why hesitate?"
Chen Yuxuan's eyes widened in realization, and his hands clenched into fists. He knew what this was.
"My heart demon…" he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible.
Heart demons were the bane of every cultivator who advanced past the Nascent Soul stage. They weren't physical beings but manifestations of one's deepest fears, desires, and regrets. They took on a form that was familiar, even beloved, but their purpose was to trap their host in endless torment. If left unchecked, a heart demon could drive even the strongest cultivator to madness, hindering their growth—or worse, destroying them.
"You're avoiding the question," the voice said again, this time closer, more insistent. "Why didn't you just expose Ling Xiao? Was it doubt? Or something else entirely?"
Chen Yuxuan's expression tightened. "I wasn't sure," he replied through gritted teeth, his voice low and strained.
"Oh? And are you sure now?" the heart demon pressed, its tone mocking yet strangely knowing.
"We'll find out tomorrow," Chen Yuxuan snapped, his frustration bleeding into his words. His spiritual energy surged within him as he focused, channeling it to suppress the growing presence of the heart demon.
The demon's voice softened into a whisper, almost amused. "You can try to push me away now, but I'll always be here. You can't run from the truth forever."
Chen Yuxuan closed his eyes, his body trembling slightly as he poured more spiritual energy into subduing the demon's voice. The air around him grew heavy, the strain evident on his face. After a moment, the pressure eased, and the room returned to its eerie silence.
Breathing heavily, Chen Yuxuan straightened and pushed open the door. His expression was cold and unreadable as he left the room, but deep inside, he knew this was only the beginning of the battle he would face. The heart demon wasn't gone. It was waiting, lurking, and it would strike again.
Chen Yuxuan reached his residence, his footsteps slowing as he noticed the light inside was on. His brows furrowed slightly with concern. Carefully, he pushed the door open and stepped inside, keeping silent. His gaze immediately fell on Ling Xiao, who was rummaging furiously through his belongings.
Ling Xiao knelt by the bed, muttering under his breath as he searched beneath it. Then, dissatisfied, he moved to the cabinet, flinging its doors open and digging through its contents. Finally, he stormed over to the wardrobe, practically tearing it apart in his frustration.
"Damn it, Chen Yuxuan! Where the hell are you hiding?" Ling Xiao growled, his teeth gritted in irritation. "That bastard dared to take my blood! Just wait until I get my hands on him—I'll kill him!"
Chen Yuxuan leaned casually against the doorframe, a sly grin spreading across his face as he watched the chaos. "Well, aren't you sweet," he said, his tone dripping with amusement. "I didn't know you'd miss me this much."
Startled, Ling Xiao turned to face him, his expression twisting into one of pure rage. "You!" he snarled, his eyes blazing. "You annoying little—! I'll break every single one of your teeth!"
Instead of charging at him, Ling Xiao crossed his arms and huffed. "Shizun said you could take a day off since your father's sick."
Chen Yuxuan raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. "How considerate. But nah, I'll come tomorrow."
That was the last straw for Ling Xiao. He stomped over, grabbing Chen Yuxuan by the collar and pulling him close. "You stupid peacock!" Ling Xiao yelled, his face just inches away. "Always trying to act better than everyone else! You think you're so perfect, huh? I might be in the Nascent stage now, but one day, one day, I'll beat you so hard you won't even recognize yourself!"
Chen Yuxuan didn't react the way Ling Xiao expected. Instead of being angry or defensive, he just stood there, his smirk gone, replaced with a curious expression. Something about the closeness made his chest tighten. As Ling Xiao ranted, all Chen Yuxuan could focus on was the heat of his breath and the fiery determination in his eyes.
Was this… warmth?
The realization hit Chen Yuxuan like a bolt of lightning. His face flushed a deep red, and he quickly turned his head to the side, avoiding Ling Xiao's gaze.
Ling Xiao, oblivious to the sudden shift, let go of Chen Yuxuan's collar with an annoyed grunt. "You're impossible," he muttered, stomping toward the door.
Just as he reached the threshold, Chen Yuxuan's voice rang out, light and teasing. "I'm looking forward to that day, you overgrown rooster."
Ling Xiao froze for a moment, his shoulders stiffening, before he let out a loud, irritated groan. "You're insufferable!" he shouted without looking back, slamming the door behind him.
Left alone, Chen Yuxuan touched his flushed cheek and chuckled softly. "Overgrown rooster, huh?" He shook his head, a faint smile lingering on his lips as he stared at the now-closed door. "What an idiot."