Legend had it that the Boundary River cleaved a once-chaotic world into three realms: the Human Realm, the Immortal Realm, and Demon Mountain. With time, the convergence of those realms drew in people, immortals, and demons alike—many of them choosing to settle here to escape the strictures of their original homes. Over centuries, the intersection itself became an independent domain.
The Extending Land, by virtue of its peculiar position, was centered on the Human Realm. To the north rose the ancient Mo Zhi Mountain. To the northwest lay Vast Glass Valley and Wuming Demon Mountain, where demon tribes had lived for generations. At the center sat the Extending Land itself, with Jiuling standing as the marker of the Three Realms. To the east stretched the Liao Yin Immortal Realm and the Peach Blossom Forest, while to the northeast lay the Ice Bamboo Forest.
By the rules of the Three Realms, anyone who set foot on the Extending Land gained freedom from the constraints of the Human, Immortal, and Demon Realms—regardless of who they were or why they came. And so, for hundreds of years, the Extending Land had become a mingling ground of races: a place where monsters and evils flourished, where shadowy trades thrived in plain sight.
But it was precisely because of this lawless mixture that rare treasures—things difficult to find anywhere else—often surfaced here.
Hua Ruoying, having departed from Vast Glass Valley, wanted to reach the Ice Bamboo Forest as quickly as possible. The shortest route ran through the Extending Land. And while she was there, she could search the black market for a few herbs she needed.
In the black market of the Extending Land, all kinds of people gathered—humans, demons, and immortals—draped in strange clothing, faces set in eerie expressions. Hua Ruoying's attention stayed on the roadside stalls as she scanned for the few herbs on her list, absently twirling the black flower hairpin she had just bought between her fingers.
A boy behind her had been following her for some time.
When he saw her attention drift, he suddenly darted forward, snatched the hairpin from her hand, and bolted.
"Hey—!" Hua Ruoying's eyes widened. "You are little monkey! Robbing right in front of your auntie? I just bought that—I haven't even warmed it up yet!"
She chased after him at once.
The boy clearly hadn't expected the petite-looking girl behind him to be so fast. Perhaps it was his first time stealing. In panic, he barreled into someone ahead.
The thin figure didn't move an inch.
Instead, something in the person's hand fell to the ground with a soft clatter.
The person wore a dark purple robe patterned with smoky, scattered blossoms. A silver mask covered their face. They turned slowly, looking down at the boy with open disdain, then glanced at the scattered items on the ground and flicked at their sleeve as if brushing off filth.
Hua Ruoying caught up just in time to see the boy sprawled on the ground, staring up in terror at the masked figure.
"Lord Nanzhe…" the boy stammered, voice trembling. He clearly knew him.
The commotion drew attention. Humans and demons alike gathered, eager for spectacle. In the Extending Land, bullying, brawling, looting—none of it was rare. There were no laws here, and violence was entertainment.
Not wanting to draw notice to herself, Hua Ruoying didn't immediately push through. She stayed at the edge of the crowd, watching the scene.
She whispered to someone beside her, keeping her voice low. "Who is that?"
"You don't know him?" the onlooker said, eyes bright with excitement. "That kid bumped into Lord Nanzhe. He's dead."
"Lord Nanzhe?" Hua Ruoying repeated. She had heard of many things in the Extending Land, but the name was unfamiliar.
A woman nearby—middle-aged, with the look of a demon—leaned in eagerly. "You really haven't heard? Lord Nanzhe is infamous here. Brutal. If anyone offends him—human or demon—they end up in a miserable state. No one knows where he came from, and no one's seen his face under that mask."
She spoke faster, as if savoring the story. "He shows up now and then. Has his own mansion. But apparently he doesn't stay long. That boy's done for."
Hua Ruoying's gaze returned to the masked man.
So this is what the Extending Land is like, she thought. Treating slaughter like it's a festival.
Before her eyes, Lord Nanzhe extended one gloved hand. The dark purple glove shimmered faintly with a cold sheen. Power surged—and his fingers closed around the boy's throat.
He lifted him off the ground as easily as lifting a lantern.
The boy's face contorted in pain. He kicked and clawed in the air, struggling wildly. Lord Nanzhe's eyes held no emotion at all—only a faint, almost leisurely enjoyment in the slow tightening of his fingers.
As the boy's struggle weakened, the surrounding crowd grew even more excited. Someone even began counting under their breath, like a game.
"How long do you think he can last?"
"Ten counts at most."
"Look how scrawny he is—he won't even make ten. Remember that black bear demon? Lord Nanzhe had him out in five."
Hua Ruoying couldn't bear it anymore. She stepped forward.
"Stop!"
Her voice cut through the air.
The crowd, previously buzzing, fell into sudden silence. Faces turned toward her—human and demon alike—surprised by the audacity.
Lord Nanzhe paused. Behind his mask, the cold of his expression felt almost tangible. His brows lifted slightly as he followed the voice, landing on the girl who had stepped out of the crowd.
In all his time in the Extending Land, he rarely met someone who dared speak to him like this.
He found himself… patient.
"Isn't it just an accident?" Hua Ruoying said sharply when she saw he still hadn't released the boy. "He bumped into you and broke your things. There's no need to be so ruthless."
Lord Nanzhe's lips curved faintly beneath the mask. Interesting. Fearless.
His gaze slid over Hua Ruoying—then paused at her wrist.
"A resident of Wuming Demon Mountain," he said, voice low and cold. "And you dare meddle in other people's affairs?"
Hua Ruoying didn't bother hiding it now. "I am from Wuming Demon Mountain. What about it? Are you scared?"
The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them. Revealing one's origin in the Extending Land could be dangerous. But at this point, she couldn't bring herself to retreat.
"A demon with compassion," Lord Nanzhe mocked softly.
Seeing the boy's life slipping away, Hua Ruoying didn't waste more breath. She flicked her wrist—
Several poisoned needles shot toward him.
Lord Nanzhe released the boy, catching the needles without effort. He lifted them toward his mask, inhaling as if savoring their scent.
His eyes gleamed with eerie enjoyment.
"Stone bile," he said, accurately naming the toxin.
Hua Ruoying ignored him and hurried to the boy, pulling him upright. "Are you okay?"
The boy shook his head, then shrank behind her like a frightened animal, staring at Lord Nanzhe with pure terror.
Lord Nanzhe tossed the needles aside. He crossed one arm over his chest, the other supporting it, fingers tracing his chin as he leaned closer, curiosity sharpening his gaze.
"Do you know what he broke?" he asked, voice threaded with cold threat. "My Zixuan Yingqing. Even if I kill him a hundred times, it won't be enough."
"Zi… Zixuan Yingqing?" Hua Ruoying sucked in a breath despite herself.
Zixuan Yingqing was a renowned treasure of the Three Realms—something people would spill blood for. For Lord Nanzhe to possess it meant his background and strength were anything but ordinary.
Hua Ruoying said quickly, forcing steadiness into her voice. "It's just a zither. There's no need to trade lives for it. Name your price. I'll compensate you."
The moment she said it, she wanted to bite her own tongue.
A thousand-year tree from Mo Zhi Mountain—rumored origins, priceless craftsmanship. What could she possibly offer?
I've dug myself into a hole.
Not only did I fail to save him cleanly—I dragged myself in too.
Her reaction only seemed to amuse Lord Nanzhe further. Even with fear flickering in her eyes, she still stood her ground for someone unrelated to her.
"Oh?" he murmured, mask drawing closer until Hua Ruoying could feel the heat of his breath. "You want to make a deal with me?"
"What do you have?"
The pressure radiating from him made Hua Ruoying's eyelids flutter. She closed her eyes, deciding it was worth gambling. She couldn't afford to pay him anyway—so she might as well take the only card she had.
"I… I have this."
She yanked the crystal-clear pearl bracelet from her wrist and thrust it forward.
Lord Nanzhe took it.
In his hand, the bracelet was indeed fine—a top-quality lotus agate. Some beads even seemed to contain sealed objects, which explained why his gaze had paused on it before.
But compared to Zixuan Yingqing, it was nothing.
"Do you truly believe such a cheap bracelet compares to my broken Zixuan Yingqing?" he said, disdain threading his tone as he turned it slowly.
"It's rare lotus agate," Hua Ruoying insisted, gripping her courage tightly. "How can it be inferior to your broken zither?"
Lord Nanzhe studied her for a long moment, then—unexpectedly—let the matter tilt into something like a game.
"Consider the bracelet interest," he said lightly. "If you can find the zither string within a month and repair it, I won't pursue this further."
"A month?" Hua Ruoying latched onto the opening at once. "Alright. It's a deal. One month." Then, realizing how quickly she'd agreed, she added, half under her breath, "A month might even be too much."
Lord Nanzhe turned to leave without another word.
"Wait!" Hua Ruoying called. "Where do I find you in a month?"
Without looking back, he replied coldly, "You'll know when the time comes."
With no more spectacle, the onlookers dispersed, disappointed.
Hua Ruoying watched Lord Nanzhe's figure vanish into the crowd before she finally exhaled, her shoulders loosening as if she'd been holding her breath the entire time.
Then she turned back to the boy.
"Are you alright?" she asked, scanning him carefully. He looked younger than her by several years, still trembling.
The boy shook his head silently, fear lingering in his eyes—but then his gaze flicked to Hua Ruoying with cautious curiosity.
In his hand, he still clutched the hairpin he had stolen.
"Don't be nervous." Hua Ruoying softened her voice. "I won't hurt you. Are you injured?"
The boy shook his head again.
Hua Ruoying smiled at him, friendly despite everything. "Since you're fine, I'll be on my way."
She turned—
And felt a tug at her sleeve.
"Sister…" the boy blurted, eyes suddenly brightening as if he'd finally understood she meant him no harm. He held onto her sleeve with both hands, gratitude spilling out awkwardly. "Thank you… for earlier."
"It's nothing." Hua Ruoying brushed dirt from his clothes with brisk, practiced motions.
"What's your name?"