Chapter 71: The Only Daughter of a Reclusive Family

The face of "Master" twisted in cultivation, and the space surrounding the bridal chamber gradually collapsed. A woman whose appearance was identical to that in the ancient painting emerged, except for the conspicuous blood mark on her forehead, formed by a red aura of malice.

"Lian, oh Lian, you wander the world, while I am but a fragment of your evil thoughts. It seems even the lofty gods, once fallen among mortals, are not immune to the desires of the heart—"

The heart demon circled around Lian, as if seeking to read her expression.

It is said that demons arise from the heart; thus, the heart demon is the embodiment of inner evil. Whether love, hate, anger, or obsession—it all breeds heart demons.

"You painstakingly weave an illusion just to trap me? Isn’t that making a mountain out of a molehill?"

The heart demon’s smile was wicked. "But do you realize that I am you, and you are me? Everything in this illusion is either something you’ve seen or something you’ve imagined."

With that, the heart demon laughed to herself. "Lian, you’ve fallen for your master, haven’t you..."

Lian’s expression remained calm. "And if I have, so what? Am I supposed to tie him up and devour him?"

The heart demon responded with another sinister laugh. "Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking right now. Your little trick of changing the subject doesn’t work on me."

Lian found it refreshing to speak with another version of herself. She simply sat in midair, closed her eyes, and rested.

"Hey! I’m talking to you! Isn’t this a bit too disrespectful?"

"A demon that constantly pries into my thoughts still expects respect from its original self?"

The heart demon wanted to retort but found itself at a loss. "Hmph! I can’t be bothered to explain. Let me tell you, this body belongs to me now! Get out!"

Lian had never encountered such a shameless villain, especially one born from her own heart demon.

The incessant buzzing in her ear was like a living fly.

For the first time, Lian realized she could be so nagging, and this nagging was directed at herself.

To overcome the heart demon, one must achieve inner peace.

"Demons are born from the heart; to break them, one must first understand their own heart..."

Chong Li!

The jade pendant at her ear glowed faintly for a moment, then vanished.

Chong Li, what should I do? Must I recognize my true heart?

Lian’s inner struggle began. In the endless years, those long-forgotten feelings of admiration had been buried deep within her heart.

Elsewhere in the palace, Jun Mulin’s expression suddenly became cold in the council hall, and he turned to leave.

The Empress grew anxious. "Has Lin’s body been taken over again?"

The Red Moon Emperor’s face was grave. "Most likely. That one must have important matters—let it be."

Jun Mulin’s departure cast a chill over the council hall.

But now it was Chong Li.

Chong Li hurried to a secluded spot, closed his eyes, and sensed Lian’s situation with clarity. "Don’t be afraid. I am always here."

These words crossed a thousand miles, reaching Lian’s heart through the jade pendant.

"Master, is that you?"

The heart demon asked warily, "Who are you speaking to?" Hearing no reply, she entered meditation, intent on searching the depths of Lian’s heart!

Lian waited long for a response, and just as she calmed herself, a single word came through her ear: "Yes."

That single word stirred countless waves in Lian’s heart.

Chong Li is Master. Chong Li has accompanied me for over two hundred years. The one I love… is Chong Li. It has always been so, never changed...

Suddenly, pain swept over Chong Li in the palace; Jun Mulin’s soul unexpectedly rebelled within. If the body’s owner regained consciousness before Chong Li could speak to Lian, his own awareness would be forced out.

Chong Li could only silently pray, hoping Lian could safely weather this tribulation.

Jun Mulin, upon regaining consciousness, immediately sought the Red Moon Emperor.

Since childhood, he had shared a spiritual bond with Jun Muxuan. Sensing Jun Muxuan was in danger, he awakened regardless of all else.

In the withered forest, dark clouds shrouded the world. Everyone had been drawn to this strange place. Ning Xue’er and Jun Muxuan continued to channel spiritual power, trying to break the black barrier before them.

More and more people gathered, but uncertain of the situation, they decided to conserve their strength.

Ning Xue’er wiped sweat from her brow and frowned. "Xuan, I feel something sinister behind me."

Jun Muxuan glanced back, cold sweat breaking out. "No matter what happens, don’t look back. Leave everything to me."

Ning Xue’er was worried but did not look back.

To turn back would be to witness a scene that would haunt Ning Xue’er for life.

The newcomers seemed bewitched, turning on each other. Some had broken arms but felt no pain, their faces vacant; others’ necks twisted one hundred eighty degrees, their backs facing Jun Muxuan, yet their heads stared straight at him.

The air was filled with constant wails and howls. Jun Muxuan suddenly recalled this land was where their ancestors, martyrs of old, had fallen. Perhaps, unable to reincarnate for some reason, their grievances had gathered here, confusing minds.

As he transmitted spiritual power, he called out, "Honored ancestors of the Red Moon Dynasty, if you harbor resentment, I will do everything to help you reincarnate. Please spare the innocent!"

Ning Xue’er shivered, chills running down her spine. "If we spare them, who will spare us?"

The sharp voice made Ning Xue’er’s legs buckle, and she collapsed to the ground.

"We conquered this land for him, yet he treats us thus! We cannot reincarnate! We can only weep on this mountain every day! Do you understand?"

"Woo, our deaths were tragic—"

"Ah, it hurts—"

"My head… I can’t find my head…"

…

Piercing screams and countless sobs echoed, as if they had entered a haunted house.

Jun Muxuan knew words were futile now, so he focused solely on breaking the barrier. Once it was gone, he would get Ning Xue’er out.

"You want to leave? It won’t be so easy!"

Jun Muxuan sneered, "Let’s see if I can leave or not!"

Within the barrier, the ancient painting succeeded in overcoming her heart demon. It turned out that breaking the heart demon required her to admit her love for Chong Li, which was hardly a great sacrifice.

[Master! You’re finally out! The vengeful spirits have sealed the withered forest; now the whole place is filled with wailing ghosts, and they’ve bewitched people’s minds. Most outside are killing each other now!]

Little Mischief said all this in one breath, then collapsed in exhaustion.

The ancient painting had no time to worry about it. She addressed the spirits in the space, "I was trapped by my heart demon just now. Now, I will help you reincarnate."

"Heh heh heh, reincarnate? We’ve waited over a hundred years, suffering daily. You think you can just send us off? If we go, we’ll drag those outside with us! Heh heh!"

"Hmph, unruly!"