Chapter 13

Chapter 13

He was referring to the first time we met, when I had tried to use my transformation to escape, only to end up as a beautiful half-human, half-tree creature.

It turned out he had already set his sights on me back then.

He looked over my upper body, which was obscured by my long hair, and seemed somewhat dissatisfied. Bit by bit, he brushed aside the tresses covering me. He pulled out his Pangu Wood Hairpin and used it to bind my hair up.

“You are so beautiful, Sister. It would be a pity to hide it.”

I was both ashamed and angry. He merely studied me closely, his eyes gradually clouding with a mist that was dangerously wicked.

“Hey, let go of me.”

When I feigned anger, he let go of me with an innocent look.

“Go ahead and run, Sister.”

How hateful. He had clearly placed a restriction on me so that I couldn’t escape.

Seeing that I was trapped, he put on a smug expression again.

“Sister, the fact that you aren’t running shows that you like this very much too.”

He was still like a younger brother; he had intended to tease me, but often ended up getting himself caught in the moment instead.

Sometimes, when he kissed me deeply, I would try to push him away, but I would accidentally lick his canine tooth. This would only cause him to tighten his arms around me. His voice would go hoarse as he asked, “Does Sister like this?”

I had only admitted to liking it once.

After that, he became even more emboldened. When he pushed me to the point of irritation, he would act dejected. “Sister said she liked it. Was she lying to me?”

Sometimes, when I struggled too hard, he would kindly let me go. Seeing my face flushed and my eyes misty with tears, he would pull away and put on an innocent act. “Sister, do you not want me?”

“I don’t,” I snapped, turning my head away in embarrassment.

He wasn’t angry, though. He just stroked my lips. “Sister, you have to tell the truth.”

The truth was that he repeatedly stimulated my cultivation, forcing me to shed my old form for a more alluring appearance.

Xuanya was clingy and prone to jealousy. Often, after he had his fill, he would pester me with questions.

“Between me, Cangyu, and Sihun, who is more powerful?”

“Sihun and I are perfectly innocent. We never…”

“I was asking about cultivation. Where did your mind wander, Sister?”

My face turned bright red instantly.

Xuanya let out a meaningful grin.

Speaking of Sihun, perhaps our relationship had always been a mere performance; he never came looking for me.

I also repeatedly urged Xuanya to go back.

I feared he would be punished for leaving the Ninth Heaven.

I knew what happened to the Celestial Maidens guarding Cangyu when they were caught after descending to the mortal realm.

Their celestial bones were extracted, and they were cast out of the Ninth Heaven to suffer the pains of Reincarnation in the Three Realms.

I didn’t want to see Xuanya end up like that, nor did I want… Cangyu to end up like that.

They were born as noble Golden Crows, high above, looked up to by the world.

Unlike me, who was born a Little Demon and could only reach the threshold of immortality through such means.

“You need to return to the Ninth Heaven.”

As we sat on the edge of the cliff, watching the stars together just as we did when we first met, I brought it up to Xuanya once more.

He talked around the subject, refusing to give me a serious answer.

Xuanya was clingy, yet he rarely teased me at night, which allowed me to notice a slight clue.

He was a Golden Crow. At night, without the sun, his power was weakened.

He was afraid he wouldn’t be able to suppress Cangyu inside him, so he restrained himself, quietly holding me and watching the stars at night.

The night wind gently blew my hair. I felt as though we were a pair of eloping lovers, yet we shared the same bed while dreaming different dreams.

He was full of deep affection and solemn vows.

But I was calculating how to leave.

Our paths were destined to be different.

He had never suffered and didn’t know any better, but I couldn’t afford to be ignorant.

Now that I could activate the Monster King’s Inner Core, I would strike at night, knock him unconscious, and throw him back to the Ninth Heaven.

Perhaps because I had fallen silent, Xuanya grabbed my hand somewhat uneasily. His usually mischievous eyes actually held a trace of worry.
“…We won’t be separated, right?”

His eyes reflected a guilty version of me against a backdrop of endless stars.

He was desperately waiting for me to promise him.

Seeing my silence, Xuanya’s eyes dimmed, but he quickly masked it with his usual nonchalant expression.

“Anyway, don’t even think about leaving me behind!”

“I’m not going anywhere!”

“Don’t you dare try to drive me away!”

He was hiding his inner panic. I knew him well-the more afraid he was, the more he talked.

My heart ached as I gently leaned my head against Xuanya’s shoulder.

Only then did he let out a satisfied hum, turning his head away with a smug look.

“Fine, I know you’re just shy.”

Xuanya claimed not to care, but the corners of his mouth were secretly curving upward.

Seeing how easily he was fooled only made me feel worse.

“Xuanya,” I called his name softly.

“What…” He turned back, his tone full of feigned arrogance.

I tilted my head up and kissed him.

His first instinct was to push me away, but I pulled him into a firm embrace.

He tried to turn his head to recite a spell to trap me, but that simple, rhythmic Binding Incantation dissolved into broken syllables between our lips.

I brushed my tongue against his canine teeth, sending a shiver through him.

I couldn’t help but think wickedly: *So, I’m not the only one who likes this.*

He wanted to say more, but I didn’t want to hear it. I was afraid I would lose my resolve.

“…Don’t reject me,” I said.

He never could reject me; he surrendered himself to me without a fight.

The night breeze was slightly cool; it must have been early summer in the Mortal Realm.

I tried my best to focus on the chirping of the cicadas and the whispers of the fireflies in the air, trying not to listen to his sweet words.

The starlight seemed to favor Xuanya, illuminating his peerlessly handsome face and his eyes full of absolute trust as he caught my fingertips and kissed them over and over.

Yet, I couldn’t bring myself not to look at him.

I couldn’t forget. I had to suppress him.

As I began to recite the Incantation for sleep and restraint, he gradually realized my intentions. A look of incredible helplessness appeared on his face.

“Are you… trying to send me away?”

He gripped my arms tightly, wanting nothing but an answer.

This was the first time he had ever hurt me.

My heart was in agony. Holding back tears, I refused to look at him as I channeled my demon core to suppress him, forcing myself to finish the Slumber Spell.

I watched as the strength was drained from him bit by bit.

Soon, there would be no one chattering in my ear, demanding that I admit I liked him.

My tears fell thick and fast, pattering against his face.

*Sister, please don’t drive me away, okay?* he said.

*Sister, please call my name,* he pleaded.

I watched his gaze shift from trust to disappointment to desperation, but I gave him no response.

The coldness and loss in his eyes pierced my heart.

Finally, he let go of my hand.

“Sister,” he whispered, “your heart is so cold.”

Xuanya fell into a deep sleep.

Greedily, I lay against his chest for a long while.

Then, taking a deep breath, I wiped away my tears. I had to take him back to the Ninth Heaven.

I crept along stealthily the whole way, terrified of alerting the Ninth Heaven Gate Gods.

However, more than the gate gods, I was afraid of running into Sihun.

I was somewhat familiar with the gate gods; after all, back when I still had my Cangyu cultivation, I was considered a demi-god. Even though my cultivation had regressed, I still held a celestial title, so I wasn’t exactly an outsider.

I couldn’t quite explain why, but I was afraid of seeing an angry or furious Sihun-and even more afraid of seeing an indifferent one.

Even if he didn’t love me.

He had placed so much importance on this engagement-even if I was just a shield-that I had undoubtedly made him lose face.

He probably never wanted to see me again.