Xu Bing burst into laughter, his mocking tone echoing in the hall.
"What madness is this?!" he sneered.
Before Shen Min could even blink, Xu Aing raised his hand. A swirl of icy blue light shot out, freezing her in place. Her body stiffened, unable to move an inch.
Then, Xu Lang stepped forward. His eyes were cold, sharper than the blade in his hand.
"Kill her," he ordered flatly.
Shen Min's heart pounded. Fear clutched her throat as she screamed,
"No! Don't do this!"
Xu Lang's fingers twitched in a subtle command. Xu Bing prepared to strike, but Xu Aing suddenly raised a hand to stop him. His piercing gaze fell on her.
"If you want to live," he said slowly, "then tell us who you are. And how you fell from the sky. Are you… a demon?"
Shen Min's mind raced. Her legs wobbled as she stumbled backward. With teary eyes and trembling lips, she clasped her hands dramatically.
"Prince, please! You're far too handsome to doubt me. I'm not a demon! I'm just… just an ordinary girl who wanted to die. But now my scar is gone, and I don't want to die anymore. Please… spare me!"
Xu Bing narrowed his eyes, lips curving into a cruel smirk.
"Do you take us for fools? No immortal would ever wear such strange clothes—or sneak into the bathroom of men!"
Shen Min's face flushed crimson as the memory of earlier flickered in her mind. She quickly covered her mouth, then peeked up at them with a mischievous grin.
"B-But you all looked so handsome when you were bathing… uff, what was I supposed to do?" she teased, trying to lighten the moment.
Xu Aing's eyes widened in disbelief. His ears turned red as he hastily adjusted his robe.
"You shameless girl! Instead of apologizing, you dare confess you spied on us?"
Xu Bing's fury boiled over. He unsheathed his sword with a metallic hiss.
"I thought you were innocent, but you're filthier than a demon!"
Shen Min clasped her hands together, putting on her most pitiful expression.
"Look at me! Could such a cute, innocent face belong to a cruel demon? Tell me, could it?"
For a moment, Xu Aing hesitated. His brows knitted, but doubt clouded his eyes.
"If she truly were a demon," he muttered, "she would have attacked us by now."
Shen Min immediately lit up, pointing at him as if he were her savior.
"Exactly! Finally, someone smart among you!" She quickly dusted off her clothes and tried to walk away. "Now, let me go. My stepmother must be waiting for me. If I'm late, she'll kill me again!"
But Xu Lang's eyes darkened.
"She refuses to speak the truth. Kill her."
Her heart stopped. Shen Min raised her voice desperately.
"Wait, you idiots! I said I'm not a demon!"
Inside, she groaned: *Why do I always end up in messes like this?!*
Shock flickered across the princes' faces. Even Xu Aing allowed himself a faint smirk.
*Interesting… no one dares talk back to Xu Lang. Yet this girl…*
Xu Lang's patience snapped. With a flick of his hand, his blade materialized, humming with ancient energy. His voice dripped with menace.
"You dare raise your voice against me? Then let this sword taste blood again."
Before he could strike, a radiant glow filled the chamber. A deep, commanding voice resonated.
"Enough."
The atmosphere shifted instantly. A man in white robes entered—Master Han Jio. His aura was calm yet suffocating.
Xu Bing and Xu Aing immediately knelt. "Master… you are here."
Xu Lang lowered his blade but his eyes still burned with restrained fury.
"Why have you come, Master Han Jio?"
Han Jio's gaze swept over them. "Did you not complain that I never entrusted you with missions like the other immortals? The time has come."
Shen Min blinked, her mouth falling open. She slapped her palm against her lips and muttered under her breath.
"Oh my God… What even is happening? Who's this old man, and why are these scary princes kneeling to him?"
Han Jio's calm eyes shifted to her. A smile tugged at his lips.
"You… you never believed in God, did you?"
Shen Min's eyes widened in disbelief. "H-how do you know that?"
Xu Aing and Xu Bing exchanged shocked glances. Xu Lang raised a brow, intrigued.
Han Jio continued softly, "You cursed Him. You said if you ever met God, you would kill Him."
Xu Bing's jaw dropped. "She dared… to curse the Heavens?"
Xu Lang smirked faintly. "At last, someone bold enough to say what others fear."
Shen Min's fists clenched as tears welled in her eyes. Rage poured out of her heart.
"Don't talk to me about God! If He exists, why did He steal everything from me? My beauty. My mother. My father. Even the friend I loved most betrayed me. And my boyfriend…!" Her voice broke as she sobbed. "If He truly cared, He would've saved me!"
Han Jio watched silently before replying, "God never abandons His beloved. Sometimes, He simply tests how much they remember Him."
Shen Min let out a bitter laugh. "Spare me your nonsense. You immortals will never understand what it feels like to lose everything, one piece at a time."
Xu Lang's eyes narrowed. His sword gleamed dangerously as he lifted it again.
"Enough chatter. This blade has not tasted blood in days. Let me feed it now."
Shen Min threw her hands in the air dramatically.
"Fine! Kill me then. I was ready to die before. I only survived to see my scar vanish. What's the point now? Just kill me!"
But then her voice cracked, softer this time.
"…I didn't want to die. Not anymore."
Han Jio raised his hand.
"Stop, Xu Lang. She is not to be slain."
Shen Min blinked. "W-what? Really? You'll let me go?"
Han Jio shook his head, conjuring a glowing parchment into his hand. His tone turned solemn.
"You may return to your world, girl… but only on one condition."
Her heart thumped. "W-what condition?"
Han Jio's expression hardened. "A contract of death. Upon your passing, your soul will return here. You will become the savior of our clan… and fight against the demons who threaten both worlds."
Shen Min's face paled. "D-death contract? You mean… I'll die?"
Han Jio's voice was final. "You have two months left in the human world. After that, your life ends. But your true journey begins here."
Before Shen Min could reply, the scene shifted. Far away, in a dark abyss, shadows writhed. A masked figure stood surrounded by wriggling black serpents. One snake slithered to his ear and whispered.
"Master… we have found her."
The man's lips curved into a wicked smile as he conjured a glowing black pearl.
"So… I've finally found you, Xiao Zi."....