A Demon’s Burden

“I’m too tired,” Su Xiaoxiao murmured.

“I’m truly exhausted.”

Shayue watched as Su Xiaoxiao pressed the shard against her pale throat. A mere exertion of force would send blood spraying.

Shayue softened her voice, endeavoring to soothe Su Xiaoxiao. She even retreated a few steps, granting Su Xiaoxiao a psychological sense of safe distance.

“If you’re tired, then sleep for a while,” Shayue said calmly, as if oblivious to Su Xiaoxiao’s dangerous actions. “If you don’t want to eat, then don’t.”

“You always force me, and it’s so bad for me…”

Tears streamed down Su Xiaoxiao’s face, her voice trembling. “It’s also very bad for the little fish cub…”

“It was wrong from the very beginning,” Su Xiaoxiao sobbed, her voice broken and pitiful. She spoke as if awakening to a truth. “It should have ended long ago.”

She closed her eyes, attempting with all her might to plunge the shard into her throat. However, Shayue had already cast a spell when she retreated moments earlier.

Su Xiaoxiao’s wrist became entangled by the bed curtains, immobilizing her.

Shayue swiftly stepped forward, prying the shard from Su Xiaoxiao’s death grip.

Her fingers were cut, and half of her palm was stained with fresh, crimson blood. Yet, Shayue found herself unable to utter a single word of reproach. Instead, she simply furrowed her brow and began to heal Su Xiaoxiao’s wounds.

Su Xiaoxiao stared blankly at her, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Despite this, a hint of mocking relief flickered across her face.

‘So delicate, so afraid of pain, yet her hand was wounded so grievously, shedding so much blood, without her even seeming to register the agony. She didn’t even flinch.’

Shayue’s heart, however, clenched abruptly.

Su Xiaoxiao gazed at the ceiling beams, her voice calm. “It’s no use.”

“What?”

Su Xiaoxiao’s silent demeanor inexplicably agitated Shayue. She admitted that witnessing Su Xiaoxiao press the sharp shard against her throat moments ago had sent a chill of fear down her spine.

‘This shouldn’t be happening, it truly shouldn’t!’

Shayue couldn’t comprehend why she feared Su Xiaoxiao’s death so profoundly.

When she had first abducted Su Xiaoxiao from the Upper Huatian, there had been no intention of letting her live. The original purpose was to use her as a hostage, a bargaining chip to threaten the Mermaid clan.

Shayue had even considered using her to uncover the secret dealings between the Mermaids and their kin. Yet, whether it was due to lust, or simply millennia of loneliness making her accustomed to asceticism, she suddenly found Su Xiaoxiao intriguing. She had then taken Su Xiaoxiao into her fold, sleeping with her repeatedly.

The palm strike that had landed on Su Xiaoxiao’s chest, injuring her spirit channels and vital organs, had not concerned Shayue at the time. She had only thought it sufficient to keep Su Xiaoxiao alive, ensuring she wouldn’t die anytime soon.

Later, she discovered that this little fish was truly foolish and naive, likely oblivious to any secrets.

Xiyue had not uprooted her like a weed; instead, she had kept her. As time passed, witnessing Su Xiaoxiao’s frequent suffering from her damaged spirit channels, Xiyue had more than once felt pangs of regret.

The medicines used were all of the highest quality, and Xiyue had also transferred a considerable amount of spiritual energy to her, alleviating Su Xiaoxiao’s discomfort.

Such treatment was certainly not fitting for a mere captive.

Yet, Xiyue was the one who had subdued the weak and powerless Flower Clan, granting them protection on the sole condition of a monthly tribute of nectar. Even the spiritual energy she acquired from other clans was buried beneath the small courtyard where Su Xiaoxiao resided.

In the Demon Realm, a land where not a blade of grass could grow and the climate was harsh, Xiyue had created a miniature fairyland for Su Xiaoxiao, akin to what one might find in the Upper Huatian.

Unfading begonia trees bloomed perpetually, their flowers vibrant as they were a decade ago.

The resources in the pond, meant for Su Xiaoxiao to play and bathe in, were even superior to the spiritual cold springs Xiyue used for her secluded cultivation in the back mountains.

Every flower, every tree, every blade of grass, and every piece of wood had been meticulously chosen.

Just as a phoenix would only perch on a parasol tree, Mermaids cherished water. However, the water sources in the Demon Realm were truly subpar.

Su Xiaoxiao had never mentioned it, but Xiyue herself had dispatched servants to fetch sweet spring water from the territories of other clans.

The water Su Xiaoxiao drank alone had cost considerable effort.

Xiyue never dwelled on these efforts, nor did she ever condescend to mention them to Su Xiaoxiao.

After Su Xiaoxiao became pregnant, Xiyue made even more compromises. She herself could feel her patience growing steadily with each interaction she had with Su Xiaoxiao.

Su Xiaoxiao had attempted to escape countless times, yet Xiyue had never sought her life, nor had she allowed her to lose a limb.

Despite her profound aversion to offspring, she had still endured.

Given all these circumstances, Su Xiaoxiao actually desired to willingly relinquish her life.

Xiyue was stunned. “Are you truly abandoning the little fish cub?” she asked, her voice dry.

The Mermaid clan cherished their young, and the unborn little fish cub in Su Xiaoxiao’s womb was exceptionally precious to her.

Xiyue uttered these words, hoping Su Xiaoxiao would abandon the thought of self-immolation. Alas, it was too late.

“Hahahahaha—”

Upon hearing this, Su Xiaoxiao burst into uncontrollable laughter, tears streaming down her face as she looked up at the sky, as if Xiyue had just uttered the most preposterous joke.

‘The little fish cub is innocent, but if born to a mother like Xiyue, could it truly live a peaceful, happy life?’

‘Xiyue, with such annoyance, would surely send it away.’

‘So tiny, its very survival would be uncertain.’

“I don’t want it,” Su Xiaoxiao sobbed, tears flowing freely. She choked out, “I will die with her. She will understand me; she won’t blame me…”

Xiyue had not anticipated such thoughts from Su Xiaoxiao. It was only then that Xiyue gradually realized she might indeed have pushed her too far, thus leading Su Xiaoxiao to entertain such notions.

Each word from Su Xiaoxiao was like a drop of blood. “I hate you. The little fish cub knows everything you’ve done, and she will hate you too.”

Xiyue couldn’t describe the sensation of hearing those words.

To prevent Su Xiaoxiao from further acts of self-harm, Xiyue ordered all sharp objects capable of inflicting injury to be removed from the room. Still uneasy, she cast a spell, using the soft bed curtains to entwine around Su Xiaoxiao’s calves, restricting her movements.

Su Xiaoxiao was still weeping then, tears seemingly endless. Xiyue watched, feeling an inexplicable vexation and unease, as if a colossal boulder pressed down upon her heart.

She fled the small courtyard where Su Xiaoxiao lived as if escaping death itself, arriving disheveled at the cold springs in the back mountains.

****

The shimmering spring water reflected Xiyue’s grim expression. Though perplexed, the thoughts in her heart were undeniably true.

Xiyue simply could not bear to see Su Xiaoxiao so utterly devoid of the will to live.

“What is this…” Xiyue murmured, lowering her gaze to the clear spring water. Suddenly, an agonizing pain erupted within her organs. Blood gushed from her mouth, staining the spring crimson. Xiyue furrowed her brows, exhaled a plume of dragon’s breath, then closed her eyes. She transformed into her true form and submerged herself in the cold spring to regulate her breathing.

Although Xiyue was a demon, she had overcome immense difficulties to cultivate into a flood dragon. From that form, she had diligently trained, now on the verge of transforming into a true dragon. For a demonic creature to reach such a state…

Some claimed Xiyue was merely fortunate, possessing exceptional talent, or perhaps, unlike other demons, had been touched by a sliver of destiny.

In reality, this was untrue. Xiyue had cultivated for thousands of years, diligently, day after day. Though she held the position of Demon Venerable, she cared little for power, otherwise, she would not have allowed the Immortal Clan to live in peace until now.

Xiyue was generally adept in her cultivation. However, after meeting Su Xiaoxiao, she had inexplicably developed an inner demon, which consistently manifested whenever Xiyue made progress in her training.

****

A prominent scar marred the black scales of the flood dragon, and as it lay submerged, blood diffused from it into the water.

Xiyue concentrated on regulating her breath. Within her consciousness, a once-clear expanse was suddenly engulfed by darkness. Blood continued to flow from her wound, and her body seemed to abruptly lose all strength.

Then, from within that darkness, Su Xiaoxiao’s clear, crisp voice suddenly emerged.

“Xiyue.”