The night had fallen silent after the battle, the air heavy with the weight of what had just transpired. Chen Ming sat still, trying to process everything—the serpent, the Demon King's power, and the unspoken bond that seemed to have grown between them in such a short time. His thoughts were interrupted by a faint noise. A rustling. A sudden commotion outside.
At first, he thought it was his mind playing tricks on him, but then it grew louder. A violent crash. The unmistakable sound of metal scraping against stone. Chen Ming's heart skipped a beat.
Without thinking, he jumped to his feet and rushed to the door, throwing it open. The cold night air rushed at him, the faint scent of burning wood lingering in the breeze. His eyes darted around, searching for the source of the noise.
And then, he saw it.
At the far end of the courtyard, in the shadows of the towering trees, stood the Demon King. But something was terribly wrong. A figure cloaked in dark robes stood before him, the moonlight reflecting off a long, jagged blade that was buried deep into the Demon King's chest. Blood dripped from the wound, pooling onto the stone ground beneath them.
Chen Ming's breath caught in his throat as he stared at the scene before him, unable to move. The figure with the blade twisted it, causing the Demon King to let out a sharp hiss of pain, but he didn't retaliate. His crimson eyes flashed with fury, though his strength seemed to wane.
But it wasn't the figure's strength that froze Chen Ming where he stood. It was the face. The face of the attacker was the same as the Demon King's. A mirror image.
The red-haired demon's eyes were a blazing gold, filled with a malicious intent that sent chills down Chen Ming's spine. The demon's expression was one of cold satisfaction, as if he reveled in the act of inflicting pain on his own father.
"Father," the red-haired demon spat, his voice dripping with contempt. "Did you think I would let you keep your power forever? That I would kneel at your feet while you rule as king?"
The Demon King grunted, his hand gripping the blade that had pierced his chest, but he didn't move to pull it out. His body trembled with the effort, but there was no sign of fear in his eyes. Only a deep, unyielding anger.
"You were always too weak," the red-haired demon continued, twisting the blade deeper. "I waited for this moment for so long, hoping you would change. But now, it's too late. You will die, and I will take your throne."
Chen Ming snapped out of his stupor and rushed forward without thinking. He had no plan, no weapon, but the sight of the Demon King in pain—of someone attacking him—was enough to spur him into action. His heart raced as he shouted, "Stop!"
The red-haired demon's eyes flicked toward him, a cruel smirk playing on his lips. "Another one who thinks he can save him?" He turned the blade in his hand, taunting the Demon King with it. "How amusing."
Chen Ming's hands trembled, but he took another step forward. The Demon King was still standing, but barely. He was losing strength, and his grip on the blade faltered. Blood seeped through his fingers.
"Get away from him!" Chen Ming shouted, his voice hoarse with urgency.
The red-haired demon chuckled again, lowering the blade and turning toward him fully. "You think you can stop me? You, who don't even know what you're involved in?"
"I don't care who you are. I won't let you hurt him."
The red-haired demon paused, eyes flashing with amusement. "You really think you can protect him? You, who don't understand the darkness that binds us?"
"I don't care about your darkness," Chen Ming retorted, shaking his head. "I won't let you harm the one who has protected me."
The red-haired demon sneered at the exchange between them, his grin widening. "How touching," he mocked, before lifting his blade once again. "But it won't change anything."
Before he could strike again, the air around the Demon King seemed to shimmer, and suddenly, a surge of dark energy erupted from his body. The red-haired demon was thrown back by the force, landing on the ground with a crash. The blade fell from his hand, spinning into the air and embedding itself in the earth.
The Demon King staggered, his chest still bleeding, but his crimson eyes were alight with renewed fire. With a roar, he summoned a wave of shadowy tendrils that whipped out, ensnaring the red-haired demon and lifting him off the ground. The power was overwhelming, but the Demon King was still weakened from the earlier attack.
The red-haired demon snarled, struggling against the dark tendrils. "You think this will stop me? You can't keep me locked away forever, Father."
The Demon King's face twisted with a fury that Chen Ming had never seen before. "You were my son... and now you are nothing. You have chosen your fate."
With a final burst of energy, the Demon King's tendrils wrapped tighter around the red-haired demon, crushing the life out of him, but before the demon could be fully subdued, he let out a final scream. "I'll be back… and when I return, you will fall."
The red-haired demon's body crumbled into dust as the shadows devoured him, his last words lingering in the air like a warning.
For a long moment, silence reigned.
Chen Ming rushed to the Demon King's side, his heart pounding in his chest. The Demon King was barely standing, his body shaking from the effort.
"Stay with me," Chen Ming whispered, reaching out to support him.
The Demon King's eyes softened as he looked at Chen Ming. His voice was a mere whisper, barely audible. "You... should have run."
But Chen Ming just shook his head, his grip tightening around him. "No. I won't leave you."
The Demon King's lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "Then we are truly bound… by fate."
Chen Ming cried out, "I don't even know your name…."
The Demon King replied softly, "It's Xie Rang…." As he spoke, his eyes dimmed and his hands grew cold.
Chen Ming's heart raced as he looked at his own hands, noticing they were turning purple. Weakness overtook him. "Ah, poison... at least I get to die with you, Xie Rang…."