Shen Min's voice trembled as she asked,
"So… Master Han Jio, you mean I only have two months left in the human world? That I'll die… and then be dragged here, forced to make some deal? And after death, I'll become some savior in the Immortal Realm, bound to fight demons and protect humans?"
Her chest tightened. The words sounded more like a curse than destiny.
---
Meanwhile, in the depths of a shadowed realm, the atmosphere reeked of death.
A masked figure bowed low before a tall throne carved from obsidian. A massive black snake slithered across the floor, hissing as it reached the throne. Its forked tongue flickered nervously.
"Master," the snake whispered in a hoarse voice. "We… we've found her."
A cold smirk twisted across the face of **Demon Master Du Feng**. His pale fingers curled, summoning forth a dark pearl that glowed with ominous energy. His crimson eyes flared with malice.
"At last," he murmured. "I've found you… Xiao Zi."
The black snake's body shuddered. "M-Master, is she truly the girl you once foresaw? The one tied to your fate—"
Before it could finish, Du Feng's hand shot out. Dark magic coiled around the snake's neck like burning chains, lifting it off the ground.
"You dare question me?" Du Feng's voice thundered, venom dripping from every word. "It seems your life isn't as precious to you as I thought." The grip tightened, and the snake's hiss broke into strangled gasps.
"I—I beg you, Master!" it croaked. "Please… forgive me! I won't fail you again!"
Flames burned inside Du Feng's eyes, hot enough to turn the entire hall to ash. But then, suddenly, blood spilled from his mouth. His grip faltered, dropping the snake to the floor with a heavy thud.
"Go," he rasped. "Prepare the Black Water."
The snake wasted no time. It slithered away as fast as it could, not daring to look back.
Outside, it muttered to itself, sorrow etched into every word.
"Master saved my life when I was just a child… When the world called me a monster, he took me in. But because of him, I'm cursed to remain in this wretched form. Will I ever return to being human again?"
Its voice cracked, but before grief could swallow it whole, a deafening boom shook the Black Clan's fortress. The very stones trembled. The snake froze. He knew this was the signal.
Master was ready.
Inside the forbidden black hall, a cold mist coiled like storm clouds. Shadows swallowed every corner, pierced only by a faint silver light from an unknown source. The snake opened its mouth, chanting. A basin of water materialized, rippling unnaturally. It slid into the basin and released streams of venom, turning the water pitch black until it pulsed like a living void.
---
Back in the Immortal Realm, Shen Min was still in shock. To test her reality, she pinched her arm hard.
"Ouch!"
Her eyes darted to the contract parchment floating before her.
"This… this feels like some marriage contract, not a life-or-death deal," she muttered, rubbing her palms together as a mischievous grin spread across her lips.
She dared a glance at the First Prince, Xu Aing. Her gaze lingered too long, playful and strange.
Xu Aing stiffened, clearly uncomfortable. "W-Why are you looking at me like that?"
Even Third Prince Xu Bing frowned. "What's wrong with you, Shen Min? Why are you staring at him that way?"
Inside, Shen Min groaned. *Ugh! How am I supposed to act normal when a man this handsome is standing right in front of me?* She forced a nervous laugh, waving her hands. "No, no! You've misunderstood—nothing like that!"
But Fourth Prince Xu Lang's patience snapped. His sword glimmered in his hand as he stepped forward, fury blazing.
"Master Han Jio, this demon won't agree to anything. Let me end her right here."
Han Jio's eyes hardened. "Shen Min. What is your decision? Will you sign… or not?"
"No!" Shen Min cried out. "You people are all terrible! You dragged me here without permission, scared me half to death, then called me a demon monster. And now—now you want to force me into some strange contract just to steal my soul? Never! I won't sign!"
Her words dripped with rage as she jabbed a trembling finger toward Xu Lang. "And you—you tried to kill me the moment you saw me!"
Xu Lang's sword blazed brighter, his killing intent suffocating the room.
"Master Han Jio, there's no point in wasting more time. This girl refuses. She's a demon. Let me kill her now."
With one fluid motion, he slashed, his blade aimed straight for Shen Min.
She froze, eyes wide, her heart hammering. Just before the sword could pierce her—
"Fine! I'll sign!" she screamed, squeezing her eyes shut.
Silence engulfed the hall. Even the air stilled. No one dared breathe.
When Xu Bing dared peek through his fingers, his jaw dropped.
"T-This… this is impossible."
Even Xu Aing's eyes widened in disbelief.
---
Far away, in the Demon World, Du Feng staggered as fresh blood dripped from his lips and nose. He clutched the black pearl, dark energy spiraling around him.
"Everything will change now," he hissed. "I will rewrite destiny itself."
His mind raced back twenty years, to the day he had stolen this pearl and glimpsed a future where a faceless girl would end his life. Rage burned through him.
"I searched endlessly to find you. Now that I have… I'll destroy fate itself!"
The pearl vanished into the void as his magic surged.
---
The heavy doors to the black hall creaked open. A girl cloaked in shadows entered, her face hidden behind black cloth. She kneeled, bowing deeply, both hands pressed to the ground.
"Master, as you commanded, everything is prepared. And… there are visitors requesting your audience."
Du Feng smirked. "Come closer, Vengi."
She obeyed, trembling. She knew she had made mistakes. Falling to her knees again, she pressed her forehead against the cold floor.
"Master, if I have erred, forgive me! Please, I beg you!" Sweat dripped down her temples as her hands shook.
Du Feng's eyes narrowed, but then he let out a cold laugh. "Vengi… you've been a loyal demon. Perhaps you even deserve a reward." His hand lifted, power sparking—only to hurl her to the ground in disdain.
Another demon rushed inside, bowing.
"Master! The Immortals attacked us again. Many of our brothers have fallen."
Another stepped forward, fists clenched. "We beg you for vengeance, Master! Let us slaughter them as they did us!"
Du Feng's lips curled into a wicked smile. "Very well. But kill only those who raised their blades against you." He conjured a token from shadows and tossed it to them. "If danger overwhelms you, crush this, and you'll return here instantly."
The demons bowed low, smirking behind their masks, before vanishing into the mist.
Soon, the black snake returned. "Master… the Black Water is ready."
Du Feng stepped into the basin. Agony ripped through his body as black vines carved across his skin. His blood tainted the water while he screamed, the entire hall trembling from his torment.
---
Back in the Immortal Realm—
Shen Min collapsed to the ground, blood trickling from her lips. Everyone froze, stunned.
Xu Bing gasped. "This can't be! For the first time ever… Fourth Prince Xu Lang's strike missed its target."
Xu Lang's own hands bled from the backlash of his magic. Xu Aing rushed forward, concern flashing across his face, but Xu Lang stopped him with a glare.
"No need. She will sign."
Shen Min's panic soared. "M-Master Han Jio, quickly! Give me the contract!"
"But—"
"I trust you! Just give it to me!"
With trembling hands, she scrawled her name. The parchment burned with golden light before vanishing into thin air.
Xu Lang's eyes hardened. "Never appear before me again." He stormed out, leaving an icy silence in his wake.
Han Jio sighed. "We'll discuss the rest tomorrow." With a flick of his hand, he disappeared as well.
Xu Bing, still dazed, gave her a strange thumbs-up before leaving.
Xu Aing paused at the door. "Take care of yourself," he murmured before following the others.
Shen Min puffed out her cheeks, patting her face. "Ahh… looks like my beauty has already impressed a prince or two."
But the image of Xu Lang's blade haunted her. She remembered clearly—it should have killed her. The sword had reached her throat. But in the final second, Xu Lang had looked into her eyes and diverted the strike… onto himself.
She shook her head furiously. "No, no! That pig would never protect me. He just missed. That's all!" She smacked her cheeks again, collapsing on her bed.
---
Elsewhere, beneath a blossoming tree surrounded by endless blue oceans, Xu Lang unleashed his full power. His magic surged like a storm, blossoms scattering in the wind.
From afar, Xu Aing and Xu Bing watched, unease clouding their faces.
"I've never seen him this furious," Xu Bing muttered.
But Xu Lang's fury faltered as flashes tore through his mind—a girl's lips brushing his in a kiss, the two of them in wedding robes… and then Shen Min's face, her eyes burning into his soul.
His chest clenched. Blood spilled from his mouth.
"C-Could it be… is she the one? Xi… is it you?".....