Chapter 94

Bai Zihao clutched the dagger, his heart in turmoil.

He had left Golden Phoenix Manor and lived among ordinary people for ten years. Recalling his past actions, he was overwhelmed with shame. He simply couldn't comprehend how he had been so utterly bewitched back then, losing all discernment, believing those absurd, twisted doctrines. At Jin Feiren’s behest, he had served him wholeheartedly, abiding by the Manor’s rules, indulging all his depraved whims, learning to abandon all inhibition, eagerly seeking carnal pleasure, and even performing many debased acts to please him—all while deluding himself that he was sacrificing for their love.

Bai Zihao wanted to cry at the sheer idiocy of his past self.

He never wanted to see Jin Feiren again, never wanted to relive that humiliating life. Yet, Jin Feiren would rather see him dead than remove the Rhombus Dao Companion Mark and grant him freedom.

Jin Feiren’s public facade was impeccable. The vast majority of the cultivation world saw only the handsome, wealthy Nascent Soul cultivator showering Bai Zihao with affection, oblivious to the private humiliation and torment he endured. Jin Feiren would lavish spirit stones, buying him anything he desired, and would slaughter anyone who dared harm or bully him. He had even shielded Bai Zihao from a Fire Wolf’s attack. At their Dao Companion ceremony, gifts arrived by the boatload—countless rare treasures that made the entire realm green with envy. Everyone called him lucky...

None knew the true cost of such "luck."

If Jin Feiren had died, it would have been one thing. But he was still alive, imprisoned, his fate wretched.

Bai Zihao could imagine the reputation he would earn if he abandoned his Dao Companion—ungrateful, heartless... And he also knew that despite Jin Feiren’s twisted nature and unacceptable ways of expressing affection, his feelings had been genuine. Back when Bai Zihao was injured and near death, Jin Feiren had stayed by his side like a madman, refusing to sleep or rest...

He couldn’t quite bring himself to kill.

Bai Zihao paused, realizing his mind had drifted to a third option. He was secretly hoping Jin Feiren would die, but he feared gossip, feared being labeled heartless, feared becoming a murderer...

He desperately tried to rein in his thoughts with morality, forcing himself to consider the second option. But one after another, hidden and terrible reasons surfaced in his heart, like whispering demons tempting him:

"I’m not a bad person. I’d merely be compelled to act—it wouldn’t truly be murder..."

"He won’t live long anyway. I’d just be helping him escape the pain..."

"If he dies, I could vanish and begin a new, happy life..."

"There are still so many paintings I want to finish..."

"..."

His grip tightened around the dagger.

Bai Zihao hesitated, then looked up at the Divine Lord and pleaded, "I’ve never killed anyone. I... I don’t know how..."

The Divine Lord had the Blood King Vine retrieve a prepared ledger and handed it to him, saying with a faint smile, "You’ll understand."

Bai Zihao took the ledger in confusion and realized it belonged to Xie Que.

Back then, when he learned Xie Que had lured bandits to kill his own mother, Bai Zihao had been furious, consumed by thoughts of revenge.

Jin Feiren, seeing him sullen and withdrawn, comforted him for a long time and even sent someone to retrieve Xie Que’s head to cheer him up. Though they later discovered Xie Que had already been killed by the Medicine King Immortal, Bai Zihao had been moved by the gesture...

Jin Feiren always said it was proof of his love.

And every time Bai Zihao heard those words, he would cast aside his scruples and yield utterly.

But why was Xie Que’s ledger in the Divine Lord’s hands?

Bai Zihao looked at the writhing Blood King Vine beside him, then at the Divine Lord’s phoenix-like eyes—and understanding struck him like lightning.

When the Divine Lord first appeared, everyone had speculated about his origins. Though Yue Wuhuan and the Divine Lord both wielded Blood King Vines, their power and status were as different as heaven and earth. No one could connect them, and many assumed the Divine Lord was an ancient deity who had emerged from seclusion...

Now, knowing the Medicine King Immortal had killed Xie Que and taken the ledger—which then ended up in the Divine Lord’s hands—Bai Zihao couldn’t help but see the connection between the two...

Yue Wuhuan harbored deep hatred for Golden Phoenix Manor. And the first sects the Divine Lord destroyed—regardless of their alignment—had all sent guests to the manor at some point, partaking of its lavish hospitality. Many had likely participated in Yue Wuhuan’s torment...

Bai Zihao also recalled the Divine Lord sparing Cultivator Ma. Ma wasn’t a good person, but he had once done something everyone mocked—while drunk, he had raged at those who had abused Yue Wuhuan, branding them shameless curs. For ruining the guests’ mood, he had been whipped.

Yue Wuhuan remembered everything—every person, every deed.

Kindness repaid, vengeance delivered. No wronged souls remained at the Indestructible Peak.

How wonderful...

Bai Zihao was overflowing with joy. He had once dreamed many beautiful dreams—in them, he was a white bird, trying to open the cage door, beating his wings, bravely charging into the storm, clumsily chasing after a proud red shadow.

When news of Yue Wuhuan’s death and tragedy reached him, he had been devastated, feeling as though his brightest ideal had shattered. For a time, he had even fallen into despair, believing resistance was meaningless—that he should just accept his fate.

But Yue Wuhuan wasn’t dead. He had returned.

The beautiful red bird now flew higher and freer than ever...

Bai Zihao found his anchor once more.

He could be strong. He mustn’t despair!

Dashing away his weak tears, Bai Zihao opened the ledger and began reading carefully, line by line.

Xie Que had recorded everything in detail—each child’s name, physical traits, the price they were sold for...

There were also bespoke orders from major clients, custom requests for slaves with specific appearances, personalities, spiritual roots, cultivation levels...

Among them was a special order from Golden Phoenix Manor. The client requested a Water Single Spiritual Root youth—beautiful, unblemished, pristine, with a gentle, obedient, and fragile personality. Preferably orphaned, with no attachments, because the client wanted to personally mold a perfect slave, one who belonged to him in both body and mind.

Bai Zihao stared in disbelief at the name listed in the goods column. Suddenly, he understood things that had once confused him—why Xie Que hadn’t simply abducted and sold him, but instead orchestrated his mother’s death and appeared before him as a savior.

The ledger held the answer.

Bai Zihao read for a long time, then suddenly burst into hysterical, gasping laughter. He was laughing at the world’s stupidest man, at his own kindness and cowardice, at his naivety and gentleness, at love and loyalty... What use were such things in the face of demons? They were useless dregs!

He understood the Divine Lord’s meaning completely.

Slowly, Bai Zihao rose from the ground, tidied his hair, and reined in the darkness in his eyes, replacing it with his gentlest smile. Grateful, he bowed to the Divine Lord, concealed the dagger in his sleeve, and without hesitation followed the demon cultivator guide to the dungeons of the Indestructible Peak.

...

In the dark dungeon, two everlasting lamps fueled by spiritual oil shed a feeble light.

Heavy chains pierced Jin Feiren’s collarbones and leg bones, pinning him cruelly to the wall. His once-handsome face had been tortured into something grotesque, his powerful form wasted to a skeleton. His hair had turned gray, his body covered in horrific wounds, many festering—yet precious immortal medicines kept him alive, denying him death.

Though cultivators possessed greater endurance than mortals, this torment had long surpassed human limits. Jin Feiren had grown numb to pain, wavering between wakefulness and oblivion each day, yearning for death.

Delicate fingers grazed his cheek, smoothing his disheveled hair. Someone carefully wetted his cracked lips with a dampened cloth, rousing him slightly.

Jin Feiren struggled to open his eyes and found the object of his longing standing before him. He couldn’t help but smile. "Am I dreaming again?"

"No," Bai Zihao’s voice was soft, laced with pity as he fed him more water. "I missed you, so I begged the Divine Lord’s mercy to visit..."

"How did you beg? Never mind, don’t tell me..." Jin Feiren didn’t want to dwell on it. He knew Bai Zihao was tender-hearted and feeble, still only at Foundation Establishment after so many years of cultivation. Without protection, the only way to satisfy those vile demon cultivators would be with his body.

Though it rankled him somewhat, Jin Feiren had played with enough slaves to think little of being cuckolded. Now that he had nothing left—not even his masculinity—Bai Zihao still went through such trouble to care for him. Clearly, he had held Jin Feiren in his heart all these years. This devotion touched him profoundly.

Bai Zihao looked at him, wavering.

Jin Feiren softened his expression. "Is there something you want to ask me?"

Bai Zihao smiled. "In all these years... have you ever missed me?"

Jin Feiren said, "I've thought of you every day."

Bai Zihao asked cautiously, "Really? I always felt like... I wasn't important to you."

"You were," Jin Feiren gazed greedily at his body, at his beauty, aching to touch him but shackled by chains. Now imprisoned, he had lost all his former arrogance. Knowing he wouldn't live much longer and fearing they might never meet again, he spilled the emotions he'd buried, hoping to brand his memory into Bai Zihao's soul. "At first, I only saw you as a beautiful slave. But you were... too perfect. The more time we spent together, the more I grew to love you. Later, when you shielded me from a sword with your fragile body, nearly dying, I realized just how much you meant to me. That's why I married you, no matter the cost."

Bai Zihao touched the lozenge-shaped Dao Companion Mark on his collarbone and said plaintively, "You always bullied me. I thought you didn't like me..."

Jin Feiren hurriedly defended himself, "If I didn't like you, why would I have shielded you from the Fire Wolf?"

"That's true," Bai Zihao pondered, then smiled. "I finally understand. You're a real villain. You knew how good I was, how lovable, so you deliberately bullied me, spoke ill of me, made me afraid to leave you, so I'd stay obediently by your side, fall in love with you, and belong to you alone. Right?"

Jin Feiren found his tone coquettish and laughed. "You've figured me out."

Bai Zihao gently cradled his head against his neck, blocking his view, and asked earnestly once more, "Feiren... do you still love me now?"

Jin Feiren answered sincerely, "I do. You're the only person I've ever truly loved in this world."

"Feiren," Bai Zihao's eyes darkened gradually, his frame quivering with pent-up emotion. "I'm so happy."

The sharp dagger finally slid from his sleeve and plunged into Jin Feiren's gut. Jin Feiren's eyes widened in shock, unable to speak. He couldn't believe that his sworn Dao Companion—the beautiful boy who'd hung on his every word, the kind-hearted fool who wouldn't even harm a rabbit—would kill him with his own hands.

Bai Zihao withdrew the dagger and pushed Jin Feiren away in disgust, letting the blood spurt freely, staining his clothes. Yet his heart remained calm.

Killing came surprisingly easy.

Though he had never killed before and knew nothing of how to do it, instinct guided his hands as he hacked and stabbed blindly. Just as Jin Feiren had known exactly what words would wound his heart, Bai Zihao now knew what would inflict the deepest pain:

"I never liked you, you scum. I've met someone I truly love."

"I adore him—a thousand times more than I ever cared for you. I want to cling to him every day, marry him."

"What kind of man are you? A worthless half-man, you freak!"

"He's handsomer, funnier, cuter than you—and knows how to please me!"

"He showed me what real happiness is."

"How pathetic that you still pined for me, to love me."

"You don't even deserve death. Stay trapped in the Soul Lamp and watch me live happily with someone else."

"I ride him every night. Want to hear the details?"

"..."

Physical torture had never broken Jin Feiren completely. But Bai Zihao's words shattered every defense in his heart. The songbird he'd caged in his fist had flown away; the love he had given was trampled underfoot; his Dao Companion now found joy in another's arms...

He was a man of immense pride, and so this betrayal cut deeper than any blade.

As the light of life faded from his eyes, the hidden talisman array flickered to life, imprisoning his soul.

In his final moments, he saw Bai Zihao take the Eternal Flame lamp from the wall and sear the mark from his flesh with its flame ruthlessly against the lozenge-shaped mark on his own shoulder blade. The stench of charred meat rose as the last trace of Jin Feiren's claim was erased. Then, without a backward glance, Bai Zihao left the dungeon.

Jin Feiren would remain in the Soul Lamp, forever tasting the bitterness of disgrace.

...

Bai Zihao emerged from the dungeon, soaked in gore. He squinted against the startling blue sky; the sun so fierce it burned his eyes.

The Divine Lord waited paces away, watching him silently.

Bai Zihao knelt once more in gratitude and finally voiced the question buried in his heart for years: "How can I become as brave as you? How can I fear nothing?"

The Divine Lord turned away. "Learn to stand alone."

Bai Zihao froze for a moment, then rose and quickly followed.

He no longer needed the charity of love, nor did he rely on others for salvation. With everything in him, he would wrench open his caged heart, harden his wings, and chase closely after that scarlet figure.

The bird would know no cage again.