Secrets on the Edge

Jinjiang Exclusive First Release 11.

At dusk, the sky was painted with red clouds.

Yan Yi held a half-eaten candied hawthorn stick in her hand as she returned to the residence with the great villain.

At the study entrance, Wen Xiaoran handed her a paper-wrapped bundle. “Take it.”

Yan Yi took it and hugged the extra candied hawthorn sticks. Before she could speak, she caught sight of a familiar figure peeking out from behind the wall.

“Meow—”

She turned her head. The little fox had just stuck its head out, but as if sensing danger, it quickly withdrew.

“Meow—!” A sharp cry followed. Yan Yi immediately threw the candied hawthorn back into Wen Xiaoran’s arms and ran after it.

“Why are you running?” She rubbed its fluffy head and carried it back.

Only when she stood before Wen Xiaoran again did she notice the small message tube in its mouth.

“Your cousin’s reply?” Wen Xiaoran’s gaze fell on it.

“It should be,” Yan Yi answered casually, though she was panicking inside.

The fox had tried to help her avoid this, yet she foolishly brought it back herself.

Seeing her hesitate, Wen Xiaoran lifted his chin slightly. “Aren’t you going to open it?”

Yan Yi felt like crying. “Your Excellency… I’ll read it in my room.”

He stared at her meaningfully. “You don’t want me to know the contents?”

Yan Yi: “…” When did he become so perceptive?

“No, it’s not that.” She denied quickly. “I’m just tired after walking all day. I want to sit down first.”

He nodded, but didn’t leave.

Yan Yi had no choice but to turn and head inside, with him following right behind her.

She sat at the desk, heart pounding, and carefully unfolded the letter, reading it word by word.

Gradually, her tense expression relaxed.

Suppressing her excitement, she said calmly, “Your Excellency, my cousin says the heirloom is just an ordinary red crystal. Aside from bringing peace, it has no special properties.”

She hadn’t expected her earlier lie to match the original setting perfectly.

Wen Xiaoran asked, “And what did he say about vital essence?”

Yan Yi glanced at the letter. “The same as Ying Yue said. If a mortal loses their vital essence, their soul dissipates and they die.”

Wen Xiaoran sat down across from her. “What else?”

Yan Yi pouted slightly. Was he really this curious?

Reluctantly, she turned to the next page.

The more she read, the more uneasy she became.

“My cousin says…” She suddenly looked up, face pale. “Your Excellency—he says his sect elders value him highly. He may visit soon.”

Wen Xiaoran frowned. “Why insist on coming?”

Yan Yi’s vision darkened. “Probably because he’s worried about me…”

Her words sounded particularly unpleasant to him.

“If he insists, then let him come.”

“What?!” Yan Yi nearly shouted. “No! If he comes, everything will be exposed!”

“I am the Demon Lord. Why should I fear him?”

Yan Yi was speechless.

“That’s not the issue,” she explained nervously. “What if he tries to take me back and force me into marriage?”

Wen Xiaoran sneered. “A mere mortal dares to take someone from my domain?”

Yan Yi immediately seized the opportunity. “Then… you’ll protect me, right?”

He didn’t answer directly. “From now on, stop contacting him.”

“Why?” she asked, blinking.

“I don’t like you communicating frequently with others.”

Yan Yi widened her eyes. Was this… possessiveness?

But since it worked in her favor, she agreed quickly. “Alright, I’ll listen to you.”

Wen Xiaoran seemed pleased.

“Take off your pendant. I’ll place a protective spell on it.”

Yan Yi immediately grew alert. “N-no need!”

If something went wrong, her cheat item would be ruined.

He looked at her suspiciously. “Why not?”

She scrambled for an excuse. “It’s blessed… if it comes into contact with demonic energy, it might lose its effect!”

Wen Xiaoran’s gaze deepened.

Yan Yi nodded repeatedly. “People in the mortal world believe in such things…”

Seeing her explanation, he didn’t insist.

Even now, he couldn’t tell which of her words were true.

Yan Yi waited nervously, but he simply stared at the letter in thought.

She waved her hand in front of him. “Your Excellency?”

He snapped out of it. “Are you hiding something?”

Her heart jumped. “Why would you say that?”

“You know the pendant is vital essence—and how to use it.”

Cold sweat filled her palms. “You’re mistaken. I didn’t know.”

That part was true—she had only just learned it herself.

Wen Xiaoran stood up slowly, hesitating before speaking gently, “If you encounter any difficulties, tell me. We should be honest with each other.”

Yan Yi sat frozen, unsure how to respond.

Was he already suspicious?

“Thank you for your concern,” she said softly, though her unease only grew.

He nodded and left.

Yan Yi leaned back weakly in the chair, staring blankly ahead.

The fox jumped into her arms, meowing softly.

Suddenly, she looked down at it seriously.

“Did you secretly use your power on the letter?”

The fox shook its head and ran off.

Yan Yi frowned, confused.

Was it really just coincidence?

Lost in thought, she didn’t notice the door being knocked again.

Wen Xiaoran had returned.

She stiffened. “Your Excellency… is there something else?”

He didn’t answer, simply handing her the half-eaten candied hawthorn. “Yours.”

“I forgot to give it back earlier.”

Yan Yi sighed in relief. “Thank you!” She bit into it.

Wen Xiaoran said, “If you don’t want to talk about the vital essence, I won’t force you. When you’re ready, I’ll help you.”

Yan Yi paused.

A sudden thought crossed her mind.

“Your Excellency… I may not know about the pendant, but I do know a secret.”

His interest was piqued. “What secret?”

She beckoned him closer.

He hesitated, then stepped forward.

“We’re actually living inside a novel,” she whispered.

He straightened. “Absurd.”

Yan Yi laughed. “It’s true!”

“Nonsense.” He turned to leave.

She quickly grabbed his sleeve. “Don’t you believe me? I have proof!”

He stopped. “You dare toy with me?”

Yan Yi smiled lightly. “Then I’m honored.”

She tried again. “What if it were true?”

“Ridiculous.”

She grew anxious.

If he didn’t react, she couldn’t confirm her theory—that the system erased dangerous knowledge.

After thinking, she asked carefully, “What if I said I’m not from this world?”

“You’re a mortal, not from the demon realm. Why wouldn’t I believe that?”

Yan Yi: “…”

That logic… was annoyingly valid.

Changing tactics, she asked, “Your Excellency, if you consumed my pendant… would your vital essence recover?”

As she spoke, she realized how similar this sounded to the rogue cultivators.

“Why bring this up?”

“I don’t need it… you could use it.”

Wen Xiaoran looked slightly disappointed. “Just for that?”

She quickly added, “Then… about dual cultivation—those rogue cultivators… is that what they seek?”

“Why ask?”

“I want to learn.”

“Learn what?”

Yan Yi took a deep breath. “The techniques of dual cultivation.”

His gaze sharpened. “Who do you intend to use it on?”

Suddenly, Wen Xiaoran pressed his temples, his expression changing drastically.

Pain surged through him.

Darkness swallowed everything.

Fragments of memories flooded his mind—his mother’s tears, his brothers’ lifeless bodies, blood…

“Your Excellency—!”

A familiar voice broke through the darkness.

“Your Excellency, what’s wrong?”

He suddenly opened his eyes.

Seeing her, he pulled her tightly into his arms—like grasping the only thing keeping him grounded.