The couple thanked him profusely and left. Qixue watched their retreating figures, catching words like “fairy” and “immortal arts.” A sweet smile bloomed on his face, his heart filled with satisfaction at having done a great deed.
Xuan Yang watched quietly from the side. Seeing Qixue’s smile, he let out a soft sigh but said nothing.
Qixue’s sharp ears caught it. He turned immediately. “What’s wrong, Yuan Qing? Why the sigh? Did I do something wrong?”
Anxious that he had erred, he bit his lip and gazed at Xuan Yang with a pitiful look.
Xuan Yang’s heart softened. He stepped forward, wrapping an arm around his waist, and said warmly, “No, A Xue. You did wonderfully. That spell was executed beautifully—your magic is growing ever more refined.”
But Qixue knew he would not sigh without reason. He tugged gently at his sleeve. “Tell me, please. It’s fine—I’ll listen to you.”
Xuan Yang fell silent for a long moment before murmuring lowly, “I’m just afraid you’ll get hurt.”
He paused. “I’m not worried about that Man-Eating Demon—you could handle it easily. I’m worried your heart is too soft, that you don’t grasp how treacherous people can be. Sooner or later, human malice will wound you.”
Qixue had already heard similar words more than once. A long time ago, Sang Chi had said something like that to him, calling him a foolish little rabbit who only knew how to cultivate but was ignorant of the wickedness in human hearts.
Xie Shu had said almost the exact same thing, and even the circumstances had been similar.
After they had fallen into the Ancient Mirror, Xie Shu had saved a merchant caravan that was under attack from Man-Eating Demons. But before rescuing them, Xie Shu had deliberately concealed his Demon Clan form and transformed into the appearance of a Daoist priest before rushing over.
At the time, Qixue hadn’t understood why Xie Shu did that. Xie Shu had given him a similar answer: human hearts were unfathomable. If he revealed his Demon Clan appearance, the people he saved might not react gratefully. They might fear him, harm him, or treat him as one of the Man-Eating Demons.
In truth, Qixue understood their reasoning, but he didn’t like to speculate maliciously about strangers. He preferred to believe that most people were kind.
Qixue didn’t refute Xuan Yang’s words. He merely gazed at the fading backs of the elderly couple and hesitated. “I understand what you mean, but… they don’t seem like bad people, do they?”
Xuan Yang asked, “Shall we test them?”
Qixue was taken aback. “How?”
Xuan Yang smiled faintly and raised his hand, casting a spell that created an Illusion Realm for the elderly couple.
In the Illusion Realm, they saw “Qixue” collapse to the ground after slaying the demon, his magical power exhausted as he reverted to his original form.
However, the “Qixue” in the Illusion Realm didn’t transform into Rabbit Tuan’s appearance but into a hideous and terrifying Man-Eating Demon.
Only then did the elderly couple realize that the “immortal” who had saved them was actually a demon. After a moment’s hesitation, the husband’s expression turned ferocious. He swung his hoe high and smashed the demon’s head into a pulp. Confirming it was dead, he grabbed his wife and fled in panic.
Even the grace of having their lives saved couldn’t erase their fear of demons and death.
“…”
Qixue was speechless and could only watch silently.
Xuan Yang said indifferently, “See, A Xue? This is humanity. This is their true nature.”
“You love them, yet they hate you. You treat them well, yet they repay kindness with enmity. All the killing intent and malice stem from one reason: you are a demon. You are not one of their kind.”
He leaned down, cupping Qixue’s cheeks and gazing into his eyes. “Don’t be soft-hearted toward humans, A Xue. Your affection and sympathy for them are meaningless.”
“If it were a weak little demon facing mortal peril today, how many humans do you think would sympathize with the Demon Clan? They wouldn’t pity it. If it died, these people would only applaud.”
Qixue felt a heaviness in his heart and wanted to refute Xuan Yang. It wasn’t like that. Humans had good and bad alike. Back then, His Majesty had saved him when he was gravely injured—His Majesty was a kind human.
But he had to admit that seeing the elderly couple’s choice in the Illusion Realm hurt him deeply.
Even if it happened again, he would still choose to save them. Yet he couldn’t help imagining: if he had saved them in Rabbit Tuan’s form, how would they react? Would they be afraid, disgusted, or try to kill him like in the Illusion Realm?
Xuan Yang saw through his thoughts. “You must admit that people like Helan Ji are the exception. They don’t represent the masses, let alone the evils of human nature.”
“A Xue, you should remember that you are a god of the Demon Clan. Your duty is to protect the Demon Clan, not humans. I hope you save your kindness for your own kind instead. Will you do that?”
Under Qixue’s bewildered gaze, Xuan Yang embraced him. A faint smile played on his lips, but he didn’t hide the malice seeping from his eyes—like snake venom, cold, viscous, and slippery.
Ever since Wei Huai had killed him once, he had grown increasingly unable to control his swelling malicious thoughts. Every moment, he yearned to slaughter every human in the world—even every demon.
They all deserved death. They all had to die.
…Except for A Xue.
His whispers and embrace were like drifting mist enveloping Qixue, or like a python coiling around him—inescapable, suffocating him bit by bit, pulling him into depravity.
“I think you’re right, Yuan Qing…”
Qixue wavered. After a long moment, he softly replied to Xuan Yang, “I’ll try to do as you say.”
“Good boy.”
Xuan Yang kissed his cheek and pressed their foreheads together in an intimate gesture, his eyes brimming with tenderness. “I’m doing this for your own good. I can control the Demon Clan, but not humans. I don’t want you hurt by them.”
He continued, “Let me teach you an incantation to control the Man-Eating Demons. It’s simple but effective. Even these mindless low-level demons will obey you.”
With that, Xuan Yang imparted the incantation to Qixue. It was indeed very simple and required little Demon Power to command hordes of Man-Eating Demons.
After learning it, Qixue cheered up considerably. He thought it was practical, and even weak little demons could use it. He wanted to teach it to the little demons on the mountain.
Man-Eating Demons didn’t just eat humans; they devoured weak demons too. With this incantation, the little demons could roam the mountains freely without fear of nearby Man-Eating Demons.
But Xuan Yang stopped him and instructed him not to share it with anyone.
Qixue hesitated and asked cautiously, “If it needs to be kept secret, can I teach it to Luxiangqiu? Just her alone.”
Xuan Yang still shook his head. “It’s enough that only you and I know.”
His tone was profound. “Do you know why the Demon Clan worships us? If the world were at peace, everyone happy, and no suffering existed, do you think they would still have faith?”
Qixue suddenly felt a chill run through him.
What did the Holy Monarch mean by that?
Facing his stunned gaze, Xuan Yang merely smiled and ruffled his hair. “Since we’re husband and wife, I won’t hide some things from you.”
“The Man-Eating Demons come from the malicious thoughts of the Cave Abyss. It’s not that I can’t control them—I’ve simply never done so. Why do you think that is?”
…
That night, Qixue had another nightmare.
It was the same one as before. He dreamed that Wei Huai was dead, his corpse mangled and bearing bite marks. The one who had eaten him was Xuan Yang, standing in a pool of blood with a cold, icy smile.
He jolted awake in Xuan Yang’s arms, his heart racing uncontrollably. Xuan Yang rose and gently comforted him, but it was no use—he kept trembling.
Because the root of his fear was Xuan Yang himself. He couldn’t accept Xuan Yang’s actions.
The thought that Xuan Yang had allowed Man-Eating Demons to slaughter humans and demons alike for centuries just to harvest Divine Power terrified him. He shook all over and wanted nothing more than to flee from Xuan Yang’s side.
Xuan Yang took in Qixue’s reaction and fell silent for a moment. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you’d be this scared. But I really won’t hurt you, A Xue. Please don’t fear me, alright?”
“I…”
Qixue’s face was pale. He didn’t respond but softly asked, “My chest feels stuffy. I want to go out for some air and visit my old home. Can I go?”
“…Alright.” Xuan Yang lowered his eyes. “I’ll escort you.”
He reached out and gently supported Qixue’s arm. Qixue’s fingers flinched and trembled slightly, but he didn’t pull away.
Even knowing Xuan Yang’s deeds, he had no other choice. He had to marry Xuan Yang.
In fact, learning of Xuan Yang’s ruthlessness made escape even more impossible. He dreaded to think what would happen to Helan Ji and his friends otherwise.
Xuan Yang escorted Qixue to the Shrine and then left.
Under the hazy night sky, the snow-white Rabbit Tuan darted swiftly through the grass like a streak of silver lightning.
He ran until he was exhausted, too tired to think. Only then did Rabbit Tuan slow down. His white fur was soaked with dew from the grass blades as he reached his old burrow.
He pushed aside the obstructing grass and found his burrow unchanged. The dry grass bedding had lost its fragrance, but surprisingly, there was little dust—as if someone had cleaned it recently.
Had Luxiangqiu done it?
Rabbit Tuan didn’t know, and with his low spirits, he didn’t want to dwell on it.
As he prepared to curl up on the dry grass, a fluffy fox muzzle suddenly poked into the entrance, sniffing around with twitching nostrils.
“A Xue…?” The fox struggled to open its mouth, producing a tiny voice. “You’re back?”
The muzzle withdrew, replaced by a fox face.
The fiery Red Fox peered inside and sighed in relief upon seeing the fluffy Rabbit Tuan. “You’re finally back! I’ve been guarding nearby for days, waiting for you. I even…” cleaned the dusty burrow…
It was Sang Chi.
Rabbit Tuan stared blankly at him. Sang Chi quickly suppressed his joy at seeing him and said seriously, “I have something very important to tell you! Come out with me—I—”
Before he finished, his eyes widened in shock.
The snow-white furball “whooshed” forward and pounced into his embrace, sobbing loudly and soaking the thick fox fur with tears.
The Red Fox was flustered by the tears, his front paws numb with panic, unsure how to comfort him. “Why are you crying? What’s wrong? There, there, don’t cry. The sky isn’t falling—what’s there to cry about…”
Rabbit Tuan lifted his teary little head. “It’s almost as bad as the sky falling…”
Sang Chi had never seen him so despondent—it broke his heart. He immediately shifted to human form and cradled Rabbit Tuan in his palm.
Lacking a handkerchief, he tore a strip from his inner robe and gently wiped away Rabbit Tuan’s tears and dew with the soft fabric.
“What’s there to panic about? If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. It’s not your turn to worry, little rabbit.”
Sang Chi lightly pinched his pink nose, his voice full of pity and helplessness. “Even if the sky is about to collapse right now, a tall one like me is here. What do you have to fear? Tell me, what’s troubling you so much that you’re wandering around in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?”
