Chapter 28: Oh My, Not Bad Acting There
Xue Ming had originally intended to burn the entire Zui Li clan estate to the ground, but upon seeing that the middle-aged man bore some resemblance to the woman in his arms, he showed mercy. With a sweep of his large hand, a mass of black mist surged toward the leading group of elders.
Once the black mist enveloped them, the elders spontaneously combusted, bursting into piercing screams.
Everyone hurried to put out the flames. When they looked up again, the Demon King—his entire body soaked in blood—had already departed with the woman whose life or death was unknown.
“Clan Head! Several elders have already—already…” someone cried out in grief.
The crowd stared in utter rage and despair at the piles of black ash before them. Several elders had been burned to ashes outright by the Demon King’s Scarlet Blood Black Mist!
Zui Li Xuan’s father, Zui Li Qing Shi, clenched his fists tightly and enunciated each word, “The Demon King murdered my precious daughter and burned five elders of my Zui Li clan alive. If this vengeance is not repaid, I will have failed my ancestors and all members of the Beast-Taming Clan! From this day forth, the Demon King is the sworn enemy of every Beast-Tamer. I, Zui Li Qing Shi, will stop at nothing to eradicate this vile beast!”
—
When Nan Xun awoke, she was lying in the Demon King’s arms.
Those blood-red eyes stared at her without blinking. The bone-deep hatred from before—the kind that had wanted to tear her apart and swallow her whole—was gone, replaced by scorching, magma-like love and deep regret.
Nan Xun slowly raised her hand and touched the torn, bloody wound on his face, saying softly with some heartache, “It’s only been a few days since I last saw you, and you’ve turned into this ghostly state. But it’s all right—in my eyes, you’re still just as handsome as when I first met you.”
Her voice was very light, as if she might fall asleep at any moment. The slight curve of her lips added a hint of vitality to her pale face.
Xue Ming curved his lips as well. “I forgot—Xunxun likes this face of mine the most. I shouldn’t have come to scare you looking like this.”
As he spoke, black mist gathered in his palm and swept across his face. When the mist dispersed, the scarred visage had once again become exquisitely handsome, like a demon god.
Nan Xun chuckled softly and poked his face with a finger. “You… I don’t mind how you look. You should deal with your injuries first.”
“All right. I’ll listen to you,” Xue Ming replied, his voice uncharacteristically gentle and calm.
He healed all the wounds on his body, though the injury on his chest seemed particularly severe and took longer to recover.
Sensing something amiss, Nan Xun suddenly pulled open his robe and saw a shocking, bloody hole in his chest.
“Xue Ming, this is your dantian—did they… did they take your beast core?” Nan Xun’s tears streamed down as she gently touched the bloody cavity. “How could they… how could they…”
Xue Ming stroked her head, then lightly kissed the tip of her nose and her pale lips. In a low voice, he said, “Don’t worry, Xunxun. Even poisoned with witchcraft, they couldn’t seriously injure me. My beast core wasn’t lost—it was only placed somewhere else for the time being.”
After a brief pause, he stared at Nan Xun with a deep gaze. “Xunxun, do you know that you’ve been afflicted with witchcraft—and for quite some time now?”
Nan Xun’s eyes widened in shock. “Xue Ming, what did you say? I’m poisoned with witchcraft? When was I poisoned?”
Xue Ming gently caressed her slender neck. This fragile spot—he could snap it with just a little force—yet the woman in his arms felt no danger at all, exposing all her fatal weaknesses to him without reservation.
This woman… why did she have to provoke him? He would never let her go. Never. She would not escape him in this lifetime.
“Xue Ming, say something—what exactly is going on?” Nan Xun shook his arm.
Xue Ming looked at her and tenderly tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I’ve been thinking about when you poisoned me with witchcraft. I couldn’t recall it, but since you were the one who did it, I believed you wanted me dead. I was furious then—so angry I wanted to swallow you whole, so you could never deceive me again. But after discovering that you, too, were afflicted with witchcraft, I finally understood… Xunxun, before you ever came to the Demon Realm, a powerful witchcraft had already been placed on you. As I slept with you day and night, the witchcraft on your body was transferred to me as well.”
As he spoke, murderous bloodlust filled his crimson eyes, and a gloomy, violent aura coiled around him.
Hearing this, Nan Xun cursed inwardly. Holy shit. “Little Eight, what good are you? I was poisoned with some damned witchcraft and you didn’t even know!”
The Void Beast let out an awkward laugh. “This divine beast may be immensely powerful, but I’m not omniscient. Even physicians can’t detect the Zui Li clan’s witchcraft.”
“You’re actually talking now?” Nan Xun exclaimed.
The Void Beast snorted. “The Demon King is injured like a dog and even fed you that indestructible beast core. In his current state, even if he had four eyes and four ears, he wouldn’t notice me.”
Nan Xun froze.
Xue Ming had given her his beast core?
Little Eight—who had always been terrified of the Demon King—was no longer afraid of him at all. Just how severe must his injuries be?
Looking at the man before her, Nan Xun suddenly asked, “Xue Ming… what about the witchcraft on you?”
Xue Ming smiled faintly. “Don’t worry, Xunxun. It’s already been dispelled.”
Nan Xun finally relaxed, but then her expression changed as she remembered something. She immediately pressed, “What about your beast core? Where exactly is it?”
Xue Ming pressed his lips together and said calmly, “That’s not something you need to worry about. I’m fine.”
Nan Xun’s eyes suddenly reddened. “It’s inside me, isn’t it? Say it!”
Xue Ming fell silent.
“Take it back. I don’t want it! I don’t want your beast core—if you give it to me, what will you do? You’re already so badly injured… I don’t want it, take it back, take it back right now…” Nan Xun repeated over and over, her attitude resolute, her gaze filled with heartache.
The Void Beast muttered softly, “Oh my, your acting’s improved a lot. I’ll award you Best New Actress later.”
Nan Xun’s heartbroken expression almost cracked—but she managed to hold it together.
Xue Ming took in the pain in her eyes. The arm holding her suddenly tightened, and he lowered his head to fiercely suck on her lips, greedily demanding more without restraint.
“Mmm… mmph…” Nan Xun pushed him with all her strength. After finally catching her breath, she hurriedly snapped, “If you don’t take your beast core back, then don’t even think about getting into my bed again!”
For some reason, that line delighted the Demon King. He let out a low, pleased laugh, the deep sound vibrating through his chest and into Nan Xun through their pressed bodies, lifting her mood along with it.
“What are you laughing at? I’m serious!” Nan Xun said, half embarrassed and half annoyed.
Still laughing, Xue Ming shattered her clothes without another word, scooped her up, and tossed her onto the bed before pressing down over her.
