My Head…

Under the cold moonlight, Xiao Yu’s heart turned icy—like the Heavenly Dao had just smacked him with a five-thunder curse. His entire body went numb.

Without thinking, he pressed the Qiankun Earth-Dodging Talisman in his palm, ready to pour spiritual energy and flee. Good thing he’d prepared—always kept an escape route.

He couldn’t stay. Absolutely not. The protagonist was killed by Li Yunshang? And judging by her expression, she’d turned into a yandere. Staying meant suicide.

Why did nothing go smoothly since he retired?

Was this Heaven’s revenge?! Had to be.

In a flash, Xiao Yu’s mind raced—through cosmic explosions, the origin of life. He was certain: even when he woke a Nascent Soul境 zombie by accident and it chased him, biting at his backside, the pressure wasn’t half as terrifying as what Li Yunshang radiated now.

A thousand thoughts flashed through his head—but in reality, only an instant passed.

Before his spiritual energy reached the talisman, a shadow leapt from the darkness. A hand-chop struck the back of Xiao Yu’s neck.

A whooshing sound, mixed with a faint floral scent. Instantly, Xiao Yu felt like a giant whose neck had been sliced by a hyperactive dwarf. Darkness swallowed his vision. Consciousness flickered.

As he collapsed, he sensed the aura behind him.

Damn it—Nascent Soul?! Are you serious?! A grand cultivator attacking a mere Mud Embryo shrimp like him? And with poison?! This is…

He didn’t finish. His mind went blank. His knees buckled. He fell forward.

Li Yunshang stepped forward, catching him, pulling him tightly into her arms.

“Thank you, Senior Sister Ye!” She first checked Xiao Yu, confirming he was fully unconscious. Only then did she lift her head, thanking the ghostly figure before her.

The figure nodded, then stepped back—vanishing into the shadows, silent and gone, as if she’d never existed. Only Li Yunshang and Xiao Yu remained.

This assassin, famed for stealth and assassination, was her mother’s close friend. While visiting, her mother had asked her to protect her young niece temporarily. The Nascent Soul cultivator agreed—considered it overtime. Perfectly within her expertise.

A Nascent Soul cultivator was treated like royalty anywhere. Serving as a bodyguard for a mere Foundation Establishment kid? Massive overqualification. Unthinkable outside. Xiao Yu had insane luck—this was the second time he’d stumbled into such absurd fortune.

Li Yunshang retrieved the talisman from Xiao Yu’s hand and the strange one on his chest—preventing any more surprises.

Only then did she nervously peel off the fake face on Xiao Yu’s face.

When she saw that familiar face, her heart clenched. The emotions she’d suppressed surged like a dam breaking—almost bursting out. She wanted to claim him right here, right now. But… not yet.

Tracing that familiar-yet-alien face, she squeezed her thighs together. She was certain—this was her Senior Brother. Her knight. The one who never gave up, who walked beside her through chaos, took her to lantern festivals, forgave her tantrums, found her when lost, saved her from danger time and again.

Not the fake in the coffin—empty shell, same appearance, but entirely different person.

“Hehe… Senior Brother, you can’t escape now. I’ll… treat you so well~♡”

Her cherry lips parted, warm breath escaping. Her whisper, filled with excitement and longing, drifted into the night sky.

****

Heaven Beyond Heaven.

Dao Treasury Palace.

Once glorious, the palace was now in disarray.

Crumpled paper balls littered the floor—covering every inch. Neatly arranged books lay toppled in heaps, untouched. Each crumpled drawing bore a portrait, violently marked with a red “×”.

“This one’s too fat.”

“This one’s too thin.”

“Ugh, why isn’t there a single good match? Damn it!”

At the desk, a small figure—black hair, green eyes, wearing a loose indigo Daoist robe like a child—flipped through stacks of portraits. Suddenly, she yanked her hair, swept everything off the table, and slammed her fist down.

Not a single portrait resembled Ye Feng—not even 50%. Finding a replacement was impossible.

“No good. Even if I find someone similar, they won’t be a Heavenly Devil like Xiao Yu—immune to divination. They’d be exposed in no time. Damn it…”

She slammed the table again. The dull thud echoed in the vast hall—matching Dao’s mood: utterly miserable. She was on the verge of madness.

Since Ye Feng’s death, her peaceful life had collapsed.

Before, she just strolled through the Dao Treasury, casually observing the mortal realm—checking for demon activity, monitoring the Chosen One’s progress.

There’d been a minor issue earlier, but Xiao Yu had selflessly resolved it.

After that, Ye Feng just needed to follow the Hongtian Chessboard’s path—grow stronger, reach Transcendence or higher, achieve Legend Realm, defeat the stirring demons, and she’d be free.

Then, Ye Feng would become humanity’s most just swordsman—eradicating all threats to human prosperity, ensuring humanity’s rise, building a golden age.

Only then could she retire. Her soul would leave the Hongtian Chessboard, reincarnate as a wealthy young lady, enjoy the golden age, marry a handsome man, and go at it for three days and nights—finally satisfying her long-suppressed desires. She was human, after all. A mortal. One who’d been celibate for thousands of years.

Sure, she was now a vessel spirit, but she still had emotions. Unlike the cold, emotionless *Heaven*—a literal ice block. Surviving thousands of years with Heaven without going insane? Proof of her mental strength.

The plan was perfect.

But you never know which comes first—tomorrow or disaster.

Ye Feng died—killed by a woman.

Damn it! Was he useless? Couldn’t even beat a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator—a beginner.

Why so many problems? When Xiao Yu was the protagonist, everything ran smoothly. No stress. If possible, Dao would’ve kept Xiao Yu as the protagonist.

But no.

Ye Feng was chosen after millennia of planning. His existence was uniquely crafted. Xiao Yu, though a Heavenly Devil and a partial replacement, couldn’t pass the final trial.

It had to be Ye Feng.

But now—Ye Feng was dead. Utterly. If only his body died, fine. She had endless treasures—resurrection was easy. As long as the soul remained.

But Ye Feng’s soul was gone—erased. As if someone knew she’d try to revive him and made sure it couldn’t happen.

Li Yunshang alone couldn’t do this. Her missing father’s artifact couldn’t erase souls either.

“So… it was the Xiantian Sect behind this?”

Dao stroked her chin, thoughtful, brows slightly furrowed.

The Xiantian Sect—traitors who preached “obey Heaven, embrace indifference”—exactly the type to do this.

“Damn it, these bastards who betray humanity’s cause. Last time I punished them, but not enough. Now they’re back. Grr—ouch! Ouch! Ouch!”

She slammed the table again—then instantly clutched her hand, face twisted in pain.

Hit the pen holder.

She forgot—after Heaven fell asleep, she created a flesh body so she could enjoy earthly pleasures in this prison-like Dao Treasury. It was one of her few joys. After all, with Heaven asleep, she was utterly alone.

Damn it. If Xiao Yu were still here…

In pain, Dao missed Xiao Yu. If he were still around, she could’ve kept using him—no chaos like now.

But… she’d killed Xiao Yu. To prevent more risks. Heavenly Devils weren’t from this world—too unstable. If the Xiantian Sect discovered him, they could turn it against the plan—irreversible damage.

Now, Dao had no backup. Couldn’t contact Heaven—still in its mortal tribulation. And she? Too deeply corrupted by Heavenly Will. Already cold, emotionless—close to the “indifferent Dao” herself. Would she succeed? Or be absorbed into a mini-Heaven? Then she’d be truly finished. Should’ve never sealed Xiao Yu’s fate.

Lang Yu, I miss you.

Dao wailed in her heart. She really wanted to cry—no one could see her in the Dao Treasury.

Suddenly, the Dao, rolling on the floor in pain, froze.

She sensed a familiar aura—suddenly appearing.

He… he’s not dead?!

Dao lifted her head in excitement—then *BAM!* Her soft forehead slammed into the table’s corner.

“My head! Aaaah… I should’ve never made a flesh body! Grrr…”

Tears welled in her eyes. Joy and pain clashed—like a washing machine on spin cycle. She clutched her head, rolling on the floor.