Fear

Donggua.

A demon who had abandoned base desires, one who single-mindedly sought to live and really didn't want to die.

If one set aside the things she had done as a demon, her recent encounters naturally earned her the title of "Tragic Melon."

But if one factored in what Donggua had done for her missions as a demon, saying it was the cycle of karma and well-deserved retribution wouldn't be an exaggeration.

Bad deeds wouldn't automatically be canceled out just because one suffered bad luck.

Moreover, it was obvious that Donggua hadn't hit rock bottom with her bad luck yet. The evidence was clear—she wasn't dead.

Or rather, Donggua possessed a different kind of good luck.

At the very least, surviving the massive extermination campaign by the Buddhist sect in the Western Niuhe Continent without dying required an immense amount of luck.

The Bright Buddha himself had admitted that there were at least three times when even he thought Donggua wouldn't make it.

However, it seemed that luck also had a limit.

Donggua, having survived three certain-death situations, naturally couldn't expect the rest of her demonic life to go much better.

"Great fortune follows surviving a great disaster"—this was merely a comforting saying, not to be taken seriously.

After all, one couldn't exactly say—"You didn't die from this, so it's fine, there are plenty of days of suffering waiting for you ahead."

Of course, days of suffering also came in different tiers.

Living in the Tianyan Sect as a demon was the absolute highest tier of suffering.

The Tianyan Sect, which had nearly faced annihilation in the past due to demonic turmoil, naturally wouldn't treat Donggua kindly.

Donggua's treatment in the Tianyan Sect these days could be simply summarized as—it was less comfortable than being beside Wukong and being chanted at like morning scripture every day.

The Tianyan Sect obviously had a standard set of interrogation procedures, but when Donggua experienced them, she naturally received extra enthusiastic hospitality—the procedures and standards were naturally doubled.

Naturally, besides interrogations, there were extracurricular activities. After all, Donggua's value couldn't be so superficial—she also had to help out with some simple little research projects.

The target and subject of this research were, without a doubt, Donggua herself.

From spiritual energy endurance to illusion resistance, from injury recovery to spiritual energy flushing.

Donggua could hold on at first solely because of the flower Xu Linglong had left in her spiritual sea.

The cultivators of the Tianyan Sect naturally discovered the flower in Donggua's spiritual consciousness as well. Noting its unusual nature, they naturally conducted some research on it too.

It was just that Donggua had no willingness to cooperate. Many attempts had to stop at a surface level, otherwise, Donggua would highly likely turn into a fool.

Time naturally wouldn't stop just for Donggua. Out of the twelve double-hours in a day, there were naturally times when she was left alone.

When Donggua was alone, the only parts of her body she could move were her fingers, which could barely bend.

Under such circumstances, the only way Donggua could get through the long nights was by constantly replaying everything from her past.

Even if she wanted to fool herself again and rid herself of negative thoughts.

Donggua already understood that to Xu Linglong, she was most likely just a disposable pawn, casually picked up and placed on the chessboard. If she proved useful, it was a gain; if not, there was no loss.

When the situation was unclear, she could be used to probe Chu Xingchen's motives and next moves.

The flower planted in her spiritual sea wasn't meant for contacting Xu Linglong—it was most likely to confirm Donggua's own status and location.

Donggua naturally noticed something was wrong at the very beginning, but at that time, she could only fool herself.

Perhaps when breaking down, one would subconsciously do something they knew was meaningless, with the clear purpose of just numbing themselves.

As long as one was doing something, the brain would temporarily set aside the breakdown.

Whenever Donggua thought about how her time in the Tianyan Sect would be measured in thousands of years, this breakdown would naturally come surging forth.

Despair would spread, multiply, and agitate every inch of nerve in her body.

Even if Donggua turned into a real fool, she wouldn't believe that Xu Linglong would turn the Tianyan Sect upside down just for her and take her away from this damned place.

Now, the only choice placed before Donggua, and the only thing she could choose to do, was—sell out her teammates.

Since Xu Linglong, as a Heavenly Demon, had sold her out, why couldn't Donggua sell out Xu Linglong?

After all, Xu Linglong wouldn't turn the Tianyan Sect upside down just to kill Donggua because she wanted to be a traitor.

Although Donggua didn't know what insider information she even had, given the current situation, to hell with it.

Days without a sliver of hope, where she couldn't even die, were truly...

"Yo, you're still quite lively."

A voice that made Donggua physically repulsed rang out. Through the strands of hair partially blocking her vision, she saw the person standing at the door, looking exceptionally carefree—Cui Hao.

Behind "Cui Hao" stood Li Yingling and Li Xingtian.

Donggua's entire cultivation base was completely suppressed, and her spiritual consciousness was compressed entirely into her body by the formation.

The real Cui Hao naturally didn't come to see Donggua. After all, seeing hatred that pierced deep into the soul would make even Cui Hao a bit apprehensive. Moreover, he didn't have the time to actually come and have a heart-to-heart with Donggua.

The Xuanqing Heaven Sect still had a Third Senior Sister, and Cui Hao had to prepare to return to Chen Baiqing's side to be a good, obedient junior brother.

Chu Xingchen gazed at Donggua, who looked pale and had eyes filled with a mix of despair and madness.

At this moment, several iron chains radiating a profound aura hoisted Donggua's limbs up. Several more chains wrapped tightly from her waist to her throat, pulled extremely taut.

Donggua's voice was so hoarse it was almost silent:

"Heh... The Tianyan Sect truly takes the act of disgusting people to the absolute extreme."

"People?" Chu Xingchen's tone was strange. "How come I don't see any person in front of me? Could it be my eyesight is bad?"

"Do you see one? You... demon?"

Donggua's eyes were somewhat bloodshot:

"There's no need to play these word games. I've already confessed everything you wanted to ask. I haven't held back anything I know, so why bother coming here to see me again?"

Chu Xingchen took out a spirit stone from his spatial ring, lightly pinched it between his fingertips, and aimed at Donggua's head, which couldn't even move:

"Naturally, I came to mock your stupidity and self-righteous loyalty. What else, to come and apologize to you?"

Hearing this, Donggua closed her eyes and then gritted her teeth:

"Right, everything you say is right."

At this moment, Donggua finally realized that perhaps Xigua was truly the smartest one.

Xigua had understood long ago that sometimes living was worse than dying, and sometimes dying early might be easier.

At least she wouldn't have to face Cui Hao's smug, triumphant expression anymore.

Donggua kept her eyes closed, waiting for Chu Xingchen to flick the spirit stone at her head again.

Holding the spirit stone in his hand, Chu Xingchen said slowly:

"I've read all the intelligence you submitted. It's very detailed. You were also honest about what you didn't know and didn't spout nonsense. This young master is very pleased."

"It's just that looking at your current state, it seems your stay at the Tianyan Sect hasn't been very comfortable."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk..."

"You also know that this young master is very kind-hearted and can't bear to see others suffer... As for demons, probably the same?"

"Seeing as you've forsaken the darkness for the light, this young master plans to reward you. State your wish."

Donggua opened her eyes:

"Kill me!"

Hearing this, Chu Xingchen shook his head slightly and sighed:

"Didn't I just say it? This young master is kind-hearted. Killing is far too cruel."

"You also know that besides being kind-hearted, this young master also has the merit of being generous."

Chu Xingchen paused, looking at Donggua with a light smile on his lips:

"How about... this young master lets you go?"

Donggua's face showed not a single trace of joy, and its already pale complexion turned even more ghastly.

The iron chains coiled around its body began to rattle.

Fear can control the body.

These words were even more terrifying than fear itself.