A Subtle Shift in the Demon King’s Heart

The Demon Realm’s sky seemed to have torn open, incessantly showering snow for days on end.

The clothes Su Xiaoxiao wore, of an unknown material, were remarkably soft and comfortable, warding off the chill entirely. She preferred to venture out alone; a retinue of attendants always deterred her.

Being constantly watched felt no different from being confined indoors.

Xiyue seemed to understand the little fish’s thoughts more and more clearly.

Her subordinates kept watch, but only from a distance. Xiyue only needed to appear at opportune moments, reminding Su Xiaoxiao when it was time for meals and medicine.

Despite her overwhelming duties, Xiyue never neglected her little fish.

Each day, Xiyue would inquire about Su Xiaoxiao’s whereabouts, what she did upon her return, and what she had eaten.

Su Xiaoxiao didn’t always respond. However, Xiyue no longer grew as infuriated as before when her questions went unanswered, nor did she resort to harsh words.

Xiyue couldn’t ignore the fact that Su Xiaoxiao was over six months pregnant, and her mental state was deteriorating significantly. She struggled to fall asleep, and when she did, nightmares plagued her.

How had Xiyue discovered this?

Late one night, with Su Xiaoxiao cradled in her arms, her large belly made movement difficult, yet she tossed and turned restlessly.

Initially, Xiyue assumed the little fish was simply being troublesome, preventing her from sleeping soundly.

Discreetly, Xiyue helped Su Xiaoxiao turn twice. After a while, Xiyue, who had been feigning sleep, opened her eyes to find the little fish staring wide-eyed into space.

“What’s wrong?” Xiyue whispered, her voice low.

It would have been better had she not asked. The moment she did, Su Xiaoxiao’s body stiffened, and her previously vacant expression suddenly tightened with a hint of nervousness.

“N-nothing…”

“Can’t sleep?”

Su Xiaoxiao nodded, then, seemingly afraid of displeasing Xiyue, quickly added, “I’ll sleep now.”

Xiyue gazed at her profoundly, offering no reply. Even with Su Xiaoxiao’s eyes closed, Xiyue could discern the tremor in her eyelids.

‘Is she truly so afraid of me? Yet I haven’t said a word.’

Alas, after half an hour, Su Xiaoxiao still found sleep elusive. She opened her eyes again, telling Xiyue with a sigh of defeat, “I truly can’t sleep.”

The words ‘begging for mercy’ might as well have been etched across her face.

Xiyue, who had never truly harmed her, suppressed the questions bubbling within her. Instead, she sat up and asked Su Xiaoxiao, “Would you like something to eat?”

Recalling that Su Xiaoxiao had only consumed a little soup during her evening meal, Xiyue posed the question, hoping to divert her attention.

Su Xiaoxiao shook her head. “Would you like some water?” Xiyue asked again.

Mermaids loved water, and this time, Su Xiaoxiao did not refuse, giving a small nod.

Xiyue rose, poured a cup of water, and brought it to Su Xiaoxiao’s lips, seemingly oblivious to the unusual nature of her actions.

She had completely forgotten her status as the Demon King, subconsciously lowering herself to attend to this little fish on multiple occasions. Xiyue herself remained unaware of this transformation.

Su Xiaoxiao finally drifted off to sleep just as dawn approached. Xiyue, who had no need for sleep, merely leaned against the headboard, silently observing Su Xiaoxiao’s peaceful sleeping face, lost in thought.

****

In the following days, Su Xiaoxiao didn’t go out daily. Xiyue didn’t restrict her much, merely summoning her and presenting a small jade token engraved with the Demon King’s seal.

“What is this?” Su Xiaoxiao wondered. A red jade bracelet adorned her wrist, a cinnabar talisman marked her ankle, and now something else was to be hung around her neck.

‘Su Xiaoxiao felt she already bore too many of Xiyue’s marks.’ Xiyue didn’t answer her question. Towering over Su Xiaoxiao, she stood before her and hung the token around her neck. “Go wherever you wish. It’s a rare sunny day today.”

Su Xiaoxiao lowered her head, fiddling with the jade token. Upon hearing Xiyue’s words, she looked up, only for Xiyue to add, “Leaving the Demon Realm is forbidden.”

Su Xiaoxiao lowered her head once more. “Don’t forget your promise to me,” Xiyue stated sternly.

“You know the consequences of last time.”

Su Xiaoxiao’s face paled slightly. “I-I understand…”

Xiyue held her hand, insisting Su Xiaoxiao repeat, “I won’t leave the Demon Realm.”

Only then was Xiyue satisfied. She straightened Su Xiaoxiao’s slightly disheveled collar before turning to leave.

Compared to her previous days of resistance and sluggishness, Su Xiaoxiao seemed to have more vitality now. She was no longer listless, which was a positive change. Gu Yan encouraged her to take walks, assuring her that if she grew tired, someone could fetch her at any time.

Xiyue didn’t object. The small jade token around Su Xiaoxiao’s neck bore the Demon King’s seal, allowing her to move freely anywhere within the Demon Realm. Any demon who saw it would fear Su Xiaoxiao just as they feared Xiyue. By a careful reckoning, Su Xiaoxiao had been in the Demon Realm for over a year and a half, nearing two years.

Even before her pregnancy, she had often wandered aimlessly. Yet, all she ever felt was an overwhelming sense of oppression.

Since Xiyue had given her word, Su Xiaoxiao was free to do as she pleased, as long as she remained within the Demon Realm.

Thus, Su Xiaoxiao seized every opportunity to go out.

Upon learning this, Xiyue didn’t object. Instead, she dispatched a carriage and Demon Soldiers, primarily to watch over Su Xiaoxiao, but also out of concern that her little fish might grow weary.

“Your Highness, this shift in your attitude is truly remarkable.” Gu Yan couldn’t help but murmur. “If you had been like this sooner, I fear…”

Before Gu Yan could finish, Xiyue interjected with a warning. “I simply don’t want to return to my chambers and see her looking as if the sky has fallen and life has lost all meaning.”

Gu Yan responded with a noncommittal ‘Oh,’ thinking to herself, ‘If you don’t want to see her, couldn’t you just avoid Su Xiaoxiao’s courtyard and return to your own main hall?’

However, the Demon King’s heart was truly unfathomable. Gu Yan refrained from further comment and followed her back to the chambers.

“The Immortal and Demonic Realms remain in chaos. The demon race has its own rules, and those immortals, I hear, are already poised for action.”

It was often said that the Demon Realm operated on the principle of the strong preying on the weak, devoid of love or compassion, and driven by selfishness. Yet, Gu Yan and Xiyue had known each other for several years.

While she knew Xiyue was no benevolent soul, their long acquaintance made them, at a stretch, half-friends. Thus, Gu Yan couldn’t help but feel a pang of concern for Xiyue.

“Where did the immortal race obtain news of your upcoming tribulation? Why are they all holding back, perhaps waiting for you to undergo it?”

Xiyue offered no denial, confirming Gu Yan’s suspicions.

“Who leaked the information?” No sooner had Gu Yan spoken than she answered herself.

“It couldn’t be Su Xiaoxiao! She understands nothing!”

“I know,” Xiyue replied, her tone utterly devoid of emotion, terrifyingly calm. “It won’t be her. And even if it were, would I ever consider those hypocritical immortals a threat…”

“…worth my attention?”

For a moment, Gu Yan was taken aback.

Xiyue’s words offered no proof of Su Xiaoxiao’s innocence. She simply believed, just as Gu Yan herself did.

Gu Yan knew that if she were ever betrayed, even if it were only a possibility, she would never let the perpetrator off lightly.

Xiyue was even more ruthless than herself. Fickle and inherently suspicious, she was the type to kill a thousand innocents rather than let a single culprit escape.

Yet now, it seemed Xiyue didn’t care whether Su Xiaoxiao had leaked the information or not. She kept Su Xiaoxiao by her side, ensuring she ate well and drank well, never depriving her of anything material.

Previously, Gu Yan had believed Xiyue kept Su Xiaoxiao because she was captivated by her delicate physique and beauty. It was like raising a challenging plaything, fueled by possessiveness and arrogance, eager to keep Su Xiaoxiao caged in her palm.

Now, Gu Yan no longer held that belief. In fact, she realized her previous assumptions were utterly mistaken.

If Xiyue had only been driven by a desire for amusement and carnal pleasure, the first time Su Xiaoxiao betrayed her, the first time she attempted to escape, Xiyue’s old nature would have dictated a swift and brutal response.

She would have chopped Su Xiaoxiao into pieces, sending one half of her corpse to Huatianwei and the other to the South Sea Mermaid Clan as a stark provocation.

Yet, upon closer reflection, Su Xiaoxiao had been in the Demon Realm for more than just a day or two. The number of times she had escaped or argued with Xiyue likely couldn’t be counted on one hand.

Despite this, Xiyue had never truly harmed Su Xiaoxiao. She hadn’t taken her life, nor had she left her missing any limbs. Even Su Xiaoxiao’s living quarters were filled with precious, high-quality items, luxuries that an ordinary demon might never experience in their entire lifetime.

Xiyue was incredibly generous toward her. Even when truly punishing Su Xiaoxiao, she would imprison her in the military dungeons, but not without sending a large luminous pearl and thick bedding. Soon after, she would bring her back.

Xiyue’s aversion to offspring was far more profound than Gu Yan had ever realized. She had approached Gu Yan more than once, asking how to discreetly eliminate the ‘little bastard’ in Su Xiaoxiao’s womb.

Gu Yan had replied, “There is no way. Abortion is like tearing flesh from bone; how could it be done without anyone knowing?”

Xiyue had been extremely vexed at the time. She had even clashed with Su Xiaoxiao several times over the child, but what was the outcome?

The outcome was that Xiyue had actually compromised. If all went according to plan, in just over three months, Su Xiaoxiao’s child would be born, and Xiyue would truly experience the feelings of motherhood.

It was as if Gu Yan had suddenly been struck awake. She gazed at Xiyue, who stood there with such an arrogant demeanor, her cold pride evident, completely disregarding the immortal race, and murmured, “Xiyue, you should be kinder to Su Xiaoxiao. You clearly like her.”

Xiyue cast a ‘Are you insane?’ look at Gu Yan. Then, she replied airily, “Yes, I like her. I merely like her. Don’t speak such nonsensical words.”