Chapter 192: Xianxia Extra: Si Yin

"Damn it, have you heard? Among the new batch of disciples recruited by the Saint Lord, there's a troublemaker!"

"Is it the one called Si Yin?"

"Exactly, that kid! Who knows what the Saint Lord was thinking, actually teaching him the Ten Thousand Ghosts Step Technique." Si Yin was indeed a genius—just five days after learning the Ten Thousand Ghosts Step Technique, he was already bouncing off the walls of the demon palace, stirring up trouble everywhere.

With the Ten Thousand Ghosts Step Technique enhancing him, Si Yin's agility was unmatched. Every time he caused trouble, he slipped through their fingers like an eel, and even if the demon palace's people set up nets, they couldn't catch him.

"Si Yin, the people below just told me you took all the fish from the pond..." Standing opposite the Demon Realm's Saint Lord was a little rascal, fair and doll-like in appearance, especially those eyes that kept darting around, as if scheming something mischievous.

"Saint Lord, those fish told me themselves—they don't like that pond!"

"Oh? How did you know?"

The little rascal's answer was laughable. "I dreamed about it!"

"The little fish in the pond visited me in a dream, telling me they wanted to move somewhere else."

The Saint Lord said with a sigh, "So you put all the fish into the alchemy cauldron?"

"The alchemy elder told me you ruined his batch of Celestial Azure Pills (Tianqing Dan)..."

"Do you know how much this cauldron of Celestial Azure Pills is worth?"

From the Saint Lord's tone, the kid seemed to realize he had truly done something wrong, reluctantly lowering his head and muttering, "Saint Lord, I really dreamed it."

"I truly don’t know when this wild streak of yours will ever be reined in."

Even until the previous Saint Lord's demise, Si Yin never changed his ways.

Once he truly became the Demon Realm's Saint Lord, Si Yin grew even more unhinged, stirring the pot.

After mastering the Great Five Elements True Art, Si Yin took particular pleasure in targeting the Taoist Soldier of the Cloud Ripple Sect.

"What kind of 'Top disciple of the Heartless Way' is this? How dare he compare himself to me!"

"I’ll see for myself who’s truly the top among the younger generation—me or this poser..." With this hidden agenda, Si Yin frequently harassed Bai Mufeng.

On Yang Mountain, while Bai Mufeng was busy fighting the Scorpion King, Si Yin sneaked up using his movement technique and poisoned him.

"Hehehe, let’s see how you keep up your cool act after this..."

Just as he smirked, Bai Mufeng had already sensed Si Yin's presence!

The Army Breaker Sword suddenly lashed out, its chilling sword aura slicing past Si Yin's cheek!

Busted!

"It’s you again!" Bai Mufeng's voice was as cold as ever, his expression unchanging. "Army Breaker Sword, Arctic Ice Strike..."

Without another word, the Army Breaker Sword streaked toward Si Yin as usual!

"Hahaha, Bai Mufeng, you couldn’t catch me before, and today’s no exception!" With a burst of movement, Si Yin swiftly put distance between them. "I’ve already poisoned you!"

"Bai Mufeng, I’ll just wait for the poison to take effect and watch you come crawling to me!"

The poisoning was successful, and Si Yin was now smug with success.

The mere thought of soon witnessing Bai Mufeng writhing from the poison, begging for his life, filled Si Yin with delight. He was completely unaware of the figure that had suddenly appeared behind him!

"Who's there?"

By the time he realized, it was already too late—a dagger had slammed deep into his shoulder.

At the same time, the Army Breaker Sword, which he should have been able to dodge, came slashing in!

The sword's energy swept through the air, sending Si Yin flying a good ten feet back.

Damn it! Why had his own personal assassin suddenly turned against him?

"You—"

"Sorry 'bout this, boss. I act under Elder Bi Xiu's orders." So it was him! Si Yin had always suspected that seemingly benevolent old man was no good!

"Elder Bi Xiu says it's your time... you gotta die today!"

With two consecutive heavy blows, Si Yin could feel his magic leaking out fast. As the personal assassin charged again, Si Yin hesitated only for a moment.

He immediately activated the Great Five Elements True Art, burning all his juice to flee to a place no one would ever expect—

The Young Master of the Demon Realm had actually fled to the first Immortal Sect, the Cloud Ripple Sect!

It was during this desperate escape that Si Yin encountered Tang Qing.

Truthfully, the moment he saw Tang Qing, Si Yin had the chance to kill her...

But the woman who had suddenly appeared had eyes that shone too brightly.

The first time Tang Qing saw him, it was as if she'd discovered some rare treasure... Si Yin had never been looked at like that before. Such eyes clear as springwater—he had never seen their like in the Demon Realm.

In that brief moment of hesitation, Tang Qing moved first. The so-called Demon Prince had actually been captured by some nobody outer disciple!

For a long time afterward, Si Yin observed this woman who seemed off in every way.

She didn’t appear particularly clever, yet she could cook up crazy potion recipes from the simplest beginner techniques. Though her speech was slow and her reactions delayed, she could craft the most intricate clockwork minions.

Every part of her was an odd contradiction, yet all these contradictions coexisted within one person...

And then there was her infatuation with Bai Mufeng.

Si Yin knew posers all too well—Tang Qing stood no chance. Bai Mufeng practiced the Heartless Way; he was the coldest, most unfeeling of them all. How could he possibly accept Tang Qing’s puppy love?

But it was that very purity of her love...

Something Si Yin later got jealous over and over.

So much so that he often wanted to kill Bai Mufeng!

Why...

Bai Mufeng didn’t have to lift a finger to earn Tang Qing’s adoration. That white-hot devotion—he could snatch it up easy with just a reach of his hand.

While Si Yin, even if he slapped on those hated white threads, would always find Tang Qing seeing right through him... at someone else.

For the first time, he'd always lived wild and free, but now he got his first bitter taste of love.

Unable to bear Tang Qing's tears, he wanted to take her far away from the Cloud Ripple Sect; yet because of her longing, he wished to grant her heart's wish...

Caught between these choices, he was utterly despondent.

"Saint Lord, your subordinate has already informed them. The team to rescue the Saint Lord's wife is ready to depart at any moment!"

Deep in contemplation, An Yi came forward to report.

In the dungeon, Tang Qing had already drawn her line in the sand. Si Yin wrestled with it through the night.

In the end, he couldn't bear it—couldn't bear to see Tang Qing's eyes dim completely, nor could he bring himself to let the one he loved walk to her doom...

He wanted to grant her wish, but...

It hurt too much.

The mere thought of Tang Qing's choice sent stabbing pains coursing through Si Yin's entire body. He found himself utterly incapable.

Why should the Heartless Way demand that the woman he loved be sacrificed!

"Saint Lord, this journey may be..." Staring at his lord's crimson robes today, An Yi clearly grasped Si Yin's intent—this was the bridal red.

The Saint Lord had long prepared, but Tang Qing had denied him the opportunity to wear it.

"An Yi, I know."

Fingertips tracing the intricate embroidery on his sleeves, Si Yin studied with painful intensity. "This outfit... is quite beautiful."

What a waste, perhaps it would only be worn this once...

Before turning away, Si Yin instructed, "An Yi, remember—you must help me..."

"Ensure Tang Qing's safety."

"If neither Tang Qing nor I return this time..." As if envisioning the outcome, the little devil who had never backed down from anything closed his eyes and spoke resolutely: "Then... from this moment onward, the Cloud Ripple Immortal Sect shall be our sworn enemy for all eternity! A feud unto death!"

"Si Yin's happy ending side story will be added after the next world~"

~~~

"This world ends here! I agonized over the ending—something conventional felt flat, while something unconventional defied narrative logic.

While writing, I debated for a while over who to 'kill off.' Sacrificing Tang Qing would have been easiest, fulfilling Senior Brother's Grand Path, but I couldn't accept it—it felt like letting Bai Mufeng off too lightly. Killing the senior brother seemed even more illogical. In the end, I chose to 'kill' Si Yin, to honor a love that was pure.

So the final outcome is: they didn't end up together, and the so-called 'First Immortal Sect' fell...

I know writing protagonist deaths is taboo on Tomato, but be rational! Our main focus is the mission—and it's complete!

This was also my first time writing such a xianxia world. Not sure if it felt immersive to you all, but it'll have to do.

The next world is already planned—a hopelessly devoted girl in an agricultural survival show. Here's a Tang Qing quote:

'Hah, the fate of a simp? Simping till the end leaves you with nothing...'

'I... will make them simp for me.'

Does that sound fun?

Let’s move on to a lighter world next time! *evil laugh*"