Hua Che froze, feeling his entire body's blood and qi surging wildly, ultimately gathering in his mind, causing everything before his eyes to spin.

He barely managed to steady himself, grabbing Chu Binghuan's wrist bone with one hand and raising the other high, decisively giving Chu Binghuan a slap. "What nonsense are you talking about!"

Chu Binghuan's head tilted from the slap, but he seemed to feel nothing at all. He grimaced and tears mixed with blood welled up in his eyes. "I have seen it all."

Hua Che certainly knew what Chu Binghuan was talking about, after all, he had just come out from the Water Jade Purple Mist.

"Why did they treat you like this?"

"Why were you forced to bear all this blame when you had done nothing wrong?"

"Why was I not by your side when you were most lonely and helpless?"

Chu Binghuan tightly gripped Hua Che's wrists, his blood-red pupils reflecting Hua Che's figure. "I have seen it all..."

Hua Che's soul trembled.

Chu Binghuan lowered his blood-stained eyes and chuckled softly.

Once someone he had always wanted to get closer to, now he took a step back on his own initiative.

He exhausted all his strength to shift his gaze away from Hua Che, then gently turned to Mei Cailian, a faint smirk crossing his lips. "If someone else were to fall into the demonic path today, if it were me instead, do you think those who accuse Hua Che of betrayal and deviation from the right path would look at me in the same way?"

Mei Cailian didn't understand.

But Hua Che recognized it. In his previous life, Chu Binghuan had said similar things.

A cultivator finally snapped out of his shock and shouted, "Young Master Chu, why did you, why did you fall into the demonic path!"

"Someone as pure as you, how could you develop inner demons?"

"This is impossible, absolutely impossible!"

"Are you, like that scoundrel Lu Mingfeng, just a hypocritical pseudo-gentleman?"

"Quick, tie him up first!"

" Binding Immortal lock, quickly release the Binding Immortal lock!"

The voices overlapped like thunder striking Hua Che's heart one after another. Unable to bear it any longer, he waved his hand violently, unleashing an immortal barrier. "Let's see who dares!"

Despite this, Chu Binghuan paid no attention. He closed his eyes, looked up at the sky, and smiled ironically. "This is the Dao that I once sacrificed everything to protect! This is the Hundred Schools of Immortal Sects that I abandoned everything for!"

Hua Che!"Ice cube!"

"Well said!"

The sudden voice shocked everyone, and instinctively they looked towards the western sky filled with red clouds—Yin Wuhui!

Chu Binghuan looked over upon hearing the voice and immediately recognized that it was not Yin Wuhui's true self, just his projected primordial spirit.

"I didn't expect that there would be a day when my son-in-law shares similar insights with you. Truly worthy of being my son-in-law!" Yin Wuhui laughed wildly and arrogantly. Feeling something amiss, he narrowed his eyes and looked closely, laughing even more wildly. "The future head of the Yuntian Shuijing sect has actually fallen into the demonic path!? Hahaha, what hypocrisy! You all criticize the Fen Qing Palace as nothing but dirty rats and cockroaches, then may I ask your sect?"

Yin Wuhui's sharp gaze pierced Chu Changfeng and Mei Cailian. "Your nephew, your son, aren't they also rats and cockroaches?"

Mei Cailian's face turned pale, and she shouted in despair, "Tianyu, restrain the horse from the precipice! Don't bring about endless calamities!"

Chu Binghuan paid no attention. He just chuckled bitterly, turned his back to face Yin Wuhui, and without looking back at anyone, he transformed into a streak of dazzling light, closely following Yin Wuhui away.

Mei Cailian: "Chu Binghuan!"

Suddenly, shouts from all directions echoed incessantly, like collapsing mountains, like surging waves, each crashing fiercely in Hua Che's mind.

"Hua ge?" After an unknown duration, Hua Che faintly heard Mu Rongsa's voice.

"Hua ge, please don't scare me! Old Seventh has already... been taken away by Yin Wuhui, please don't collapse!"

—Why did they treat you like this?

—Why, when you had done nothing wrong, were you forced to endure this?

—Why, at your most lonely and helpless moment, was I not by your side?

—I have seen it all...

Hua Che's fist landed heavily on the crooked willow beside him, from the stump upward—it was ashes!

Mu Rongsa shuddered in fright. "Hua, Hua ge?"

"What did you see?" Hua Che's voice was low and stern, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Whatever you saw belongs to the past! To punish oneself in this life for the deeds of the past, you truly have some nerve!"

Mu Rongsa was stunned. "What?"

It’s over, the husband of the Eighth Senior Brother and his father-in-law have eloped; he's gone mad.

Hua Che turned and walked away.

Mu Rongsa hurried to catch up. "Where are you going? Don't be impulsive, Hua ge, please don't lose heart, don't do anything reckless!"

"Reckless my foot!" Hua Che waved his hand and pushed Mu Rongsa aside, soaring into the sky with his qi—

"I'm going to the Fen Qing Palace to give him a good beating!"

*

"There are two ways to fall into demonic path: actively cultivating the demonic path, or allowing inner demons to enter the path. You are obviously the latter."

Yin Wuhui was delighted with his newly acquired talented general. Whether it was because Chu Binghuan's strength made the Fen Qing Palace as powerful as a tiger, or because Chu Binghuan's identity as the son of Yuntian Shuijing gave Yin Wuhui a sense of satisfaction in defying the various immortal sects.

In any case, Yin Wuhui was elated and couldn't wait to cultivate Chu Binghuan into his right-hand man, then take him to slaughter the immortal path, showing off in front of Chu Changfeng, Mei Cailian, Zhuang Tian, Xie Wanting, and others.

The looks on those fools' faces would surely be priceless!

"Allow the growth of inner demons; do not obstruct their development." Yin Wuhui patiently lectured, "If you want quick progress, you can go to the Water Dungeon to absorb blood essence."

Chu Binghuan did not respond.

He walked out of the main hall, gazing at the vivid red maple forest in front of him, finding it difficult to come back to his senses for a long time.

He didn't go to the Water Dungeon, instead walking, contemplating the scenery around the main hall. He recalled his past life, trying to merge the Fen Qing Palace three hundred years later with the current scenery. He imagined himself as Hua Che, imagined how Hua Che, as a demonic cultivator, entered the Fen Qing Palace, stepped on this land, unified the demonic realm, and became a terrifying Demon Venerable who made people tremble at the mere mention of his name.

With his thoughts, the inner demons grew bit by bit, spreading and flourishing.

Chu Binghuan felt many discomforts in his body, but he didn't mind. Whether he would sink further into this path or restrain himself, he didn't care.

The demonic path was unfamiliar to him, but he didn't dislike it.

The Immortal Dao, he didn't want to possess it, nor did he want to go back.

The Immortal Dao was faultless; it was only those self-righteous folks who were in the wrong.

Chu Binghuan halted, and an inexplicable fierce wind lifted his flowing ink-black hair, revealing beneath it his eyes as cold as ice.

With a wave of his hand, the burning Soul surged high, a "crack" breaking through the approaching demonic mist.

Chu Binghuan glanced aside, his gaze devoid of any warmth.

"I truly didn't expect that someone like Chu Binghuan would fall to the demonic path." Walking towards him with measured steps was Left Guardian Shang Chimei.

Chu Binghuan's tone was cold and menacing: "I also didn't expect that the Fen Qing Palace would persist until now."

"Ridiculous. His Majesty's divine power is boundless. How could we be defeated by a few insignificant ants?" Shang Chimei sneered darkly. "Moreover, now we have Young Master Chu with us, don't we?"

Chu Binghuan remained silent.

"That scoundrel Shang Wangling has disappeared who knows where. The position of Right Guardian remains vacant. If you perform well, His Majesty will appoint you immediately." The Left Guardian extended a friendly hand.

Chu Binghuan paid no heed. He replied indifferently, "The Immortal Dao's forces press in, and Yin Wuhui and you are nothing more than struggling in the throes of death. Join you? Haha, joining a sect on the brink of dissolution, what benefit is there for me?"

"Are you underestimating me?" There was a sharp glint in the Left Protector's eyes. "If you are deliberately trying to provoke me, then congratulations."

Suddenly, the Left Guardian drew the soft sword from his waist. "You've succeeded!"

A private duel among demonic cultivators was not a big deal. Originally, the demonic realm was a dog-eat-dog world. Even if they were from the same sect, if one was killed in a fight, it was their own fault for not being as skilled.

Chu Binghuan calmly responded, summoning Listening Spring to confront Shang Chimei's attack. In an instant, the flashing of blades and swords dazzled the eyes. The clear sword radiance sliced through the sky, and gusts of wind swirled as countless red maple leaves danced in the air.

"Do you know the cultivation methods of demonic cultivators?" The Left Guardian agilely leapt back. "Apart from seizing others' golden cores and absorbing the malevolent aura on the battlefield to aid cultivation, fighting with others also enhances cultivation!"

"However, this is limited to those who have let their inner demons take over, like you!"

Chu Binghuan's figure trembled as he barely blocked the Left Protector's fierce onslaught.

"The more you kill and fight, the stronger the growth of your inner demons!" The Left Guardian descended from above, his soft sword like a nimble white snake, aiming specifically at the opponent's blind spot, "This is the experience of our predecessors. You're welcome!"

A sword pierced through his chest, blood splattering everywhere!

Excited, the Left Guardian widened his eyes. Seeing Chu Binghuan covered in blood and fallen to the ground, he threw his head back and burst into laughter, "After all, he's just a little brat who hasn't come of age yet, so easily provoked, hahaha!"

Suddenly, the "corpse" lying on the ground disappeared from his sight, replaced instead by a bloody hole in the chest.

The left Guardian was stunned.

In the distance, a demonic cultivator inexplicably collapsed.

"Miraculous Healing?" The left Guardian turned back in disbelief. Chu Binghuan was shrouded in black aura, wielding the peerless sword Listening Spring, its blade stained with the Left Guardian's blood.

Blood belonging to a demonic cultivator.

If a normal person killed a demonic cultivator, nothing special would happen. But if the cultivator was possessed by a demonic entity, the intrusion of this bit of demonic blood was undoubtedly the most exhilarating stimulant.

Listening Spring was visibly restless and uneasy. Connected through the bond of master and artifact, the demonic blood naturally flowed into Chu Binghuan's spiritual veins.

Chu Binghuan felt a panic rising in his heart and hurriedly sealed his meridians with his fingers.

"What are you afraid of?" The left Guardian turned around, disregarding the blood wound on his body, and grabbed Chu Binghuan's shoulder. "Are you afraid of falling into demonic path?"

Chu Binghuan was stunned.

"Killing me won't matter. If my blood can destroy a person, that would be quite interesting," The left Guardian chuckled foolishly. "Falling into demonic ways, Young Master Chu. I see, you don't actually dislike demonic cultivators, do you?"

Chu Binghuan's heart tightened instinctively. He immediately activated the divine power of his sword, slaying the soul of the eft Guardian and crushing his golden core.

Chu Binghuan's breathing became rapid, his heart pounding, and his body trembling with the invasion of demonic energy. He could barely hold onto his sword, collapsing straight to the ground.

"Do you also not dislike demonic cultivators, hm?"

Chu Binghuan's heart skipped a beat. Who was speaking?!

"Cherished son, in your previous life, you were a demonic cultivator. Why not continue as one in this life?"

A blood-red mark blossomed on Chu Binghuan's forehead.

"Chu Binghuan, you are worthy of the heavens above and the earth below. The only person you have disappointed is Hua Che."

A strange force pressed heavily on his heart, and everything Chu Binghuan touched felt icy cold. He lifted his head in confusion, vaguely seeing another version of himself—entirely black, with a monstrous face.

"Tell me," he said, "if the you from your previous life knew everything Hua Che had experienced, what would you do?"

Chu Binghuan opened his mouth.

"What would you do?"

Chu Binghuan gasped for air, feeling suffocated.

"Speak! What would you do?"

Chu Binghuan clutched his throbbing heart, shouting hoarsely, "I would join him and annihilate all the sects of the Immortal Dao!!!"

"Very good!" His ferocious self burst into a maniacal laughter. "Then what are you hesitating for? Follow your true heart. You must empathize with Hua Che's pain. If he fell into demonic ways in his previous life, you must do the same in this life. He led the demonic realm in his previous life, and you must do so in this life. You will become the supreme Demon Emperor, standing at the pinnacle of the entire cultivation world, tearing to pieces anyone who harmed Hua Che!"

The red mark on his forehead seemed to drip blood, and Chu Binghuan's demonic aura suddenly surged twofold!

"But..." Chu Binghuan clenched his teeth tightly, "would he accept me? Would he like me this way?"

"He definitely would," that person laughed. "Hua Che has a clear mind and a broad view. He has always treated everyone equally. He wouldn't look down on demonic cultivators, nor would he flatter immortal cultivators."

"Is that so..." Chu Binghuan closed his eyes.

A trickle of blood spilled from his lips, a tear of blood dripped from the corner of his eye.

"I just want a Hua Che, why is it so difficult."

"Chu Binghuan!"

"You say, if I dominate the Demon Realm, I'll build a small house behind the Fen Qing Pavilion..."

"Chu Binghuan!!"

"I'll go to the Immortal Dao and bring him back, then lock him up in the little house. Do you think he'll agree? Will he be happy?"

"Happy my uncle!"

A slap came down hard, Chu Binghuan's head tilted, completely bewildered on the spot.

The monstrous face in front of him disappeared, replaced by a warm sunshine - a heart-pounding warm red.

"Hua... Che?" Chu Binghuan called out with hollow eyes.

"What are you looking at?" Hua Che glared fiercely, "Recite the Pure Heart Scripture silently, don't stop, keep reciting until your inner demon subsides!"

Chu Binghuan couldn't react at all, still in a daze. "Is it really you?"

"If it's not me, is it the old king next door?"

"Hua Che..."

"Shut up!"

"How did you get here?"

"This crappy place, I could get in here blindfolded." Hua Che took out some pills from who knows where and stuffed them into Chu Binghuan's mouth without hesitation. And Chu Binghuan didn't resist or doubt at all, obediently swallowing them.

Hua Che stared at him, feeling a bit sorry seeing his pitiful appearance. Just a moment ago he wasn't watching, and this guy ended up in such a sorry state.

Hua Che cast a purification spell on him, sighed helplessly, "We were sworn enemies in our past lives, and now I'm cultivating the Dao, and you're following the demonic path. What, are we still going to be enemies, refusing to collaborate?"

Chu Binghuan: "!"

Hua Che continued earnestly, "I'm different. In my previous life, when I fell into the demonic path, I was alone without relatives or friends, didn't need to be responsible to anyone. I could fend for myself. What about you? What about Yuntian Shuijing? What about your mother, if you're in the demonic path, staying at the Fen Qing Palace playing cards with Yin Wuhui?"

Chu Binghuan: "!!"

Finally, Hua Che said coldly and mercilessly, "Things are different this lifetime. Since I am Xie Wanting's son, Yeyou Mansion is my home. Every step I take carries the responsibility of thinking about Yeyou Mansion. So, sorry Ice Cube, if you tread the path of the demonic, then I can only face you with swords drawn, and we will be enemies."

Chu Binghuan: "!!!"

With such a pitiful, obedient, and ruthless demeanour, who could resist!

Under the use of both soft and hard tactics, Chu Binghuan was defeated and surrendered, even scaring away his inner demon.

In his past life, he wholeheartedly pursued the Dao of cultivation, thinking that was the right path.

Actually, it didn’t matter what path you cultivated; what matters was where your heart lies.

Hua Che cultivated the Dao of immortality, while he cultivated the Dao named "Hua Che."

 

--

The author has something to say:

Originally, my idea was for Chu Binghuan to become the Demon Lord and Hua Che to become the Immortal Lord, mirroring the previous life completely upside down. Then they would continue their love-hate relationship...

But that would be endless and not righteous enough, so, there you have it~

 

Translator: DarNan