Be a Good Person

After returning from that night of blood sacrifice, Aqi had already faked everything. All the survivors had seen with their own eyes that it was Ye Jingfeng who made the first move against Ye Shu. In the main hall of the Demon Sect, under the pressure of the Demon Sect Leader, the disciples of the Grand Elder's lineage dared not lie. They could only report the truth. The Demon Sect Leader even personally performed a soul search, but all he could see in the memory fragments was the scene from that night: Ye Jingfeng's fist piercing right through Ye Shu's body.

Aqi was only going through the motions, delivering the finishing blow to Ye Jingfeng for his act of betrayal.

Everything was reasonable, perfectly watertight.

And so, the Demon Sect Leader flew into a rage!

After all the trouble of picking an outstanding seedling who could ascend to immortality in one step, a Saint Son who could lead the demonic path to glory—and he was destroyed by that idiot Ye Jingfeng out of sheer jealousy!

The Grand Elder's lineage was instantly subjected to a bloody purge.

But none of that concerned Aqi anymore.

Because there was still one woman—a woman who had been newly married not long ago and had just lost her husband. There was no doubt she was furious.

"Are you telling me..."

In the festive underground chamber, red lanterns hung high, yet they could not conceal the bone-chilling cold that filled the air. Liu Ruyi sat on a bamboo chair, one leg crossed over the other, toying in her right hand with a golden core that faintly radiated light. Her face was as dark as water. "That the corpse in the Demon Sect's main hall... is my husband?"

Aqi knelt on both knees, his face full of terror. Cold sweat slid down his cheeks unceasingly, dripping to the floor with a steady patter.

"I'm asking you a question!"

Liu Ruyi's voice suddenly rose a few notes, and the temperature around them dropped sharply.

She swung her hand abruptly.

Slap—

A pale, crack-riddled corpse hit the floor, rolled a few times, and collapsed in front of Aqi. It was wearing a bright red wedding robe, and its face was barely recognizable, dried and shriveled beyond recognition.

"Are you telling me that my husband—the ruler of all under heaven, the unparalleled demigod—was killed right under your nose by that useless waste Ye Jingfeng?" Liu Ruyi pointed at the unidentifiable object on the ground, her tone icy.

She then lifted her foot.

Bang!

The head of that unidentifiable thing burst like a watermelon, scattering red and white matter across the floor.

Aqi glanced at the decapitated corpse, shuddered, and stammered, "Y-yes, it was my negligence. I failed to detect Ye Jingfeng's..."

Before he could finish, he was sent flying.

Boom!

The wall of the underground chamber was smashed into a huge hole. Debris flew, and dust filled the air.

"Urgh... cough..."

Aqi collapsed weakly on the ground, feeling as if his internal organs had been ground to pieces, blood gushing from the corners of his mouth.

Liu Ruyi withdrew her foot indifferently and said coldly, "Do you really think I'm that easy to fool? Or have I given that man too many smiles, making you think I'm a gullible fool?"

"Hmm?"

"M-my lady, I wouldn't dare," Aqi said, struggling to his knees and kneeling on one leg, head bowed, not daring to look at her.

"Wouldn't dare?"

Liu Ruyi let out a cold laugh.

"I think you're plenty daring!"

"I traveled to the alien tribes, slaughtered ten of their clans just to force them to hand over their ancestral Seven-Turn Return Pill so he could restart his cultivation—and the moment I get back, what do I hear? Such a stunningly good piece of news."

"You're all just wonderful, aren't you!"

Liu Ruyi stared coldly at Aqi, who was kneeling and bearing the pain, the golden core in her right hand creaking under her grip. Finally, it crumbled into golden powder, spilling through her fingers.

She let out a sudden sigh and said icily, "Tell me—was I not good to him?"

Aqi immediately suppressed his pain and replied with utmost respect, "The Saintess has, naturally, done no wrong toward the Saint Son. You traveled for years, covering tens of thousands of miles—no one, no matter who, could say a single word against you!"

This was the truth. That was why Aqi was grateful to Liu Ruyi.

In Aqi's eyes, Liu Ruyi was his benefactor and his mistress.

"Then tell me—why did he have to leave me?" Liu Ruyi looked down at Aqi from her height, then suddenly stomped on his hand, grinding hard with her foot. "From start to finish, I never forced him. I groveled, I begged him—he didn't want to kill, he didn't want to walk the demonic path, and I agreed to all of it. Whatever he wanted, I gave him."

"And then he just leaves, without even a word."

Liu Ruyi gave a bitter laugh, her tone carrying an unspoken desolation. But the pressure from her foot didn't ease one bit.

The clear sound of cracking bones echoed through the room.

"Ugh..."

Aqi's forehead instantly poured with cold sweat, his face twisted in agony. But he didn't utter a single cry.

"I... I wouldn't know..."

"When?"

Seeing Aqi in such pain, Liu Ruyi suddenly spoke, her voice cold.

"What?"

Aqi gasped for air, confused.

"When did the two of you conspire together?" Liu Ruyi lifted her foot again and stomped it hard onto his other hand.

"The... the very first time Your Ladyship summoned me to the main hall to see the Sect Leader—that's when I made contact with the Saint Son." Aqi didn't hide anything. He confessed everything in full.

Since Ye Shu was already gone, there was no point in hiding it.

"Ha. That early."

A bitter smile curled at the corner of Liu Ruyi's mouth. She had even sworn back then that Aqi would never betray him—only to be sold out completely in the blink of an eye.

Now that she thought about it, that bastard must have been laughing at her the whole time!

The thought made Liu Ruyi's gaze turn vicious as she looked down at Aqi beneath her foot. She kicked him again without warning.

Bang!

Caught off guard, Aqi was sent flying sideways once more. He slammed heavily into the wall, half his body mangled, flesh and blood a mess, barely recognizable as human.

"Cough..."

Aqi let out another breath, barely clinging to life.

"What exactly did he give you, to make you throw yourself so completely into his service, even daring to betray me?" Liu Ruyi snorted coldly, a trace of confusion and anger in her eyes.

"T-ten... ten copper coins..."

Aqi's eyes could only barely crack open. His breath was faint, yet he still struggled to answer Liu Ruyi's question.

"Ten copper coins?"

Liu Ruyi froze for a moment, then laughed in rage. "Ten copper coins? Ten copper coins! For just ten copper coins, you dared to betray me? Do you realize it was I who led you onto the path of cultivation, who gave you countless resources so that you—a mere beggar—could have everything you once never dared to dream of?"

"That's... different..."

Aqi's gaze dimmed. "I know that the Saintess's kindness to me is as heavy as a mountain. But among all things, there is always a first come, first served."

"Cough..."

"I have failed Your Ladyship's nurturing, and for that, no matter the punishment, Aqi will have no complaints..."

Upon hearing this, Liu Ruyi was nearly amused.

"So you're playing the 'first love before all' card with me?" She stared at him with a mocking smile. "You think I'll kill you?"

"You people, you think yourselves so loyal and devoted."

"If I kill you, how would that heartless man see me? On the other hand, if I don't kill you and instead keep you by my side, you would owe him a debt of gratitude. How could he ever abandon you then?"

"Am I right?"

Liu Ruyi looked at Aqi, a sinister smile curling at the corner of her mouth.

Yet Aqi's expression showed no surprise.

Instead, he gave a bitter laugh.

"Unexpectedly, this is exactly what the Saint Son considered."

With that, he tremblingly pulled a bloodstained note from his chest and handed it over.

"What is this?"

Liu Ruyi took the note and glanced at it, her brow slightly furrowing. On it was a single line of hastily scrawled words:

"Be a good person, and I shall ferry you across one day."

"Ferry me?"

Liu Ruyi stared at the note, then burst into laughter, tearing it into shreds within moments. "What right does a faithless man who abandoned his wife and child have to ferry me?"

"Ye, you'd better not let me catch you!"

Despite her words, she spun around abruptly, flicking her sleeve lightly. A gentle surge of energy flowed into Aqi's body, healing most of his injuries.

Her face cold, she strode out of the dark chamber, leaving only scattered scraps of paper behind.

"Piece this paper back together. Don't eat until it's done."