Chapter 55

Su Ling felt deeply ashamed.
She still maintained the sleep habits of a mortal, resting at night and working during the day, so when she practiced cultivation at night while lying down, she often couldn't resist dozing off.
Even though she no longer needed sleep, she couldn't help feeling drowsy, and then she would fall asleep.
Yi Heng had scolded her many times for this. After all, it was all in her mind, she wanted to sleep, so she kept feeling sleepy and ended up falling asleep during cultivation.
She only woke up because she suddenly caught a faint, familiar scent, reminiscent of Yi Heng's.
In her dream, Su Ling recalled how Yi Heng would gently tap her head. It didn’t hurt, but it made her feel guilty.
Being criticized in front of someone so good-looking made her too embarrassed to even lift her head.
Especially since Yi Heng perfectly matched her aesthetic preferences.
Her heart began to flutter nervously, and in that fluster, she realized she had fallen asleep again and quickly opened her eyes.
As soon as she did, she spotted a familiar figure in front of her and instinctively called out.
Yi Heng had intended to leave, but Su Ling grabbed his sleeve. She gave an awkward smile and whispered, "Master, is something wrong?"
Yi Heng stopped moving, reluctant to pull away. Of course, he could have left, but with her holding onto him, the sudden thoughts that had surfaced earlier vanished, leaving only a heart that felt as if it were soaking in warm water, softened and tender.
Still, in response to his little disciple's question, Yi Heng shook his head. "It's nothing."
Even if something was wrong, he couldn't say it.
But as soon as he spoke, Su Ling’s nose twitched, and she seemed to realize something. She quickly sniffed the air, then decisively got out of bed and ran barefoot to face Yi Heng directly. There, she noticed the traces of blood at the corner of his lips that he hadn’t wiped away. Her heart tightened. "Did something happen? Did your enemies catch up?"
That strange feeling returned, but Yi Heng was too dazed by Su Ling’s concern to dwell on it. He shook his head. "No."
Su Ling frowned deeply and tentatively reached for Yi Heng’s hand.
Startled, Yi Heng’s ears began to heat up. Her soft, small hand pressed against his palm, and then a warm current flowed from their point of contact into his meridians, leaving a lingering warmth wherever it passed.
Allowing someone else’s spiritual energy to enter his body so freely, if it were anyone else, he would have rejected it without a second thought, as it was far too dangerous.
But at this moment, Yi Heng could only remain rigid and still.
Su Ling said, "I don’t know if it’ll work, but let’s give it a try."
She didn’t understand the rules of the cultivation world, nor had anyone taught her. She simply felt that spiritual energy, representing abundant vitality, had a wide range of uses and should be beneficial to someone who was injured.
"Mmm," Yi Heng responded softly.
Biting her lip, Su Ling clumsily channeled her spiritual energy into him until her dantian was depleted. Wiping the sweat from her forehead, she asked, "Master, how did this happen?"
Yi Heng shook his head, his eyes closed. His long, slender hand accurately ruffled her hair, his voice low and gentle. "It’s nothing. Go to sleep early."
Su Ling’s cheeks flushed, and she coughed lightly, forgetting to press further. She could only watch as his slender figure walked away.
Waking up from her sleep, Su Ling rubbed her eyes and recalled the events of the previous night. Seeing the bright daylight outside the window, she covered her face in shame, she had once again slept through the entire night.
As she covered her face, memories of last night flooded back.
Su Ling began to wonder if it had all been a dream.
She quickly tidied herself up with a spell and hurried out to knock on the door.
"Come in."
Su Ling pushed the door open, peeking her head in first. Her eyes scanned the room and landed on the man sitting by the bed. She curved her lips into a smile. "Good morning, Master."
"Morning," Yi Heng replied with a gentle nod.
Su Ling studied him carefully. His complexion was noticeably paler than usual, confirming that last night’s events might not have been a dream. Her brows furrowed. "Master, are you feeling better?"
"I’m fine now," Yi Heng said.
Su Ling felt a little relieved, but not entirely.
Noticing her concern, Yi Heng raised an eyebrow slightly and smiled. "Did you memorize the formation I asked you to learn yesterday?"
"Let me go review it again!" Su Ling promptly retreated.
But instead of reviewing, she headed straight to the kitchen.
Meng Jin was usually the one making breakfast.
It was said that he woke at the crow of the rooster every morning, reciting poetry, songs, or essays before starting breakfast when the time was right.
Granny Li followed a similar schedule, though her mornings were busier, she had to chop firewood and handle other chores.
Today, however, the kitchen was empty.
Granny Li spotted her and said, "Young Master Meng seems to have overslept today."
A strange feeling crept into Su Ling’s heart. She went to knock on Meng Jin’s door.
After a moment, the door opened, revealing a pale face. Meng Jin coughed twice, his complexion growing even paler. He was dressed in his inner robe with an outer coat draped over it, his hair disheveled as if he had just woken up.
"What’s wrong with you?" Su Ling asked hesitantly, her unease growing.
A flicker of confusion crossed Meng Jin’s handsome face. "I’m not sure. I woke up suddenly last night with a sharp pain in my chest, as if someone had punched me."
Su Ling studied his expression and believed he wasn’t lying.
But it was truly strange.
Naturally, her loyalty lay with Yi Heng. After a moment’s thought, she said nothing more and closed the door for him. "I’ll make breakfast today."
She then hurried back to Yi Heng’s room. This time, she didn’t knock, after all, Yi Heng never slept and wouldn’t be undressed, so there was no need for formality.
Sure enough, when she opened the door, he was exactly as she had left him, seemingly unmoving. Seeing her return, he raised a questioning eyebrow and tilted his head slightly.
Su Ling walked up to him, her moist eyes fixed on his gaunt face. In a soft, worried voice, she whispered, "Was it Meng Jin?"
If it were only Meng Jin who had encountered trouble, she wouldn’t have given it much thought. But by coincidence, Yi Heng had also fallen ill, he even coughed up blood last night. For both of them to suddenly face misfortune on the same day
There must be something wrong with these two, or perhaps there was a third person involved.
Yi Heng’s eyelashes fluttered slightly as he slowly lowered his head, offering no response.
Su Ling crouched down, her small mouth pouting. “Master, what’s really going on?”
She felt a growing sense of irritation, annoyed that he was keeping silent, yet also wondering if she was overstepping. After all, Yi Heng was the Demon Lord. He was only in a weakened state now because of his injuries. If it came to a real fight, no matter how powerful Meng Jin was, he couldn’t truly harm him.
Still, she couldn’t help feeling upset, unable to bear seeing him mistreated.
After a long silence, just as Su Ling grew thoroughly frustrated and was about to stand up and leave, Yi Heng finally spoke. “It’s him.”
Su Ling stared intently at him. “What exactly happened? Isn’t he just a mortal?”
“He’s not,” Yi Heng shook his head.
But he refused to say anything more.
Su Ling stifled her frustration, then angrily stormed out.
Yi Heng watched her retreating figure, his chest tightening, yet he remained motionless.
Just wait a little longer.
What if she turned out to be as he hoped?
Then all the darkness wouldn’t have to descend.
But things didn’t unfold as Yi Heng had imagined.
Breakfast arrived as scheduled.
For the first time, Yi Heng refused to eat.
Su Ling glanced at him twice but said nothing more before turning and leaving.
The moment the door closed, a flicker of panic crossed Yi Heng’s tightly shut eyes. He wanted to go after her, to explain and comfort his little disciple, but the shadows tearing at his heart held him back. He could only wait
Wait until evening.
By tomorrow morning when she woke, everything would be different.
The irrelevant people in her world would be gone forever.
Yi Heng gazed at the brown bamboo, his eyes softening with tenderness yet shadowed by darkness, tinged with a faint anticipation.
On his slender finger, a black ring emitted a faint, eerie glow.
Hidden demons and cultivators in the mortal realm were being summoned, hastening toward this small bamboo hut.

Su Ling had no idea what Yi Heng was thinking.
She was a simple person who preferred to simplify everything.
If she liked something, she liked it; if she didn’t, she didn’t. Life was already hard enough, why bother with pretense and deceit?
So when she encountered people who kept everything bottled up, unwilling to speak even when someone was willing to stand up for them, it infuriated her.
Even though she knew Yi Heng was the Demon Lord, where was even a trace of that imposing demeanor?
In other stories, demon lords sat high on their thrones, domineering and ruthless, striking down anyone in their path. But Yi Heng? He sat on a bamboo bed, dressed in plain white robes, looking delicate and handsome, his voice gentle and soft.
If the system hadn’t confirmed it was him, Su Ling would have suspected she’d picked up the wrong person.
Still, he had been quite kind to her, and
Su Ling pressed a hand to her chest, tilting her head as she looked at the food before her, thinking, she didn’t want to see Yi Heng looking so pitiful either.
“What’s wrong? Is the congee you made not tasty?” The pale-faced youth teased her lightly when he noticed she had suddenly stopped eating.
Su Ling blinked and shook her head. “No, what I made is delicious.”
Meng Jin smiled and continued eating unhurriedly.
Inside the room, Yi Heng’s dark eyes watched the scene outside, his expression growing increasingly gloomy.
Su Ling also smiled slightly and began eating in small bites. When she was almost finished, she noticed Meng Jin had also put down his bowl and chopsticks and was about to wash the dishes. She said, "Wait a moment, there's something I need to tell you."
Meng Jin asked in confusion, "What is it?"
Su Ling looked at him apologetically, clasping her hands together, and said, "I'm sorry, but you can't stay here for now. I can ripen some extra vegetables for you to take with you, but I'm really sorry, you'll have to move out today."
Meng Jin was completely bewildered: "What?"
Inside the room, Yi Heng's overwhelming murderous intent suddenly froze.
He stared wide-eyed in astonishment.
How, how had things come to this?
Wasn't she still upset?
Yet she was willing to drive this person away?