’Speaking of which, the one who should be laughing in his sleep is this little mouse in front of me.’
"By the way, do you remember the Striped Tiger?"
"I remember. Why?"
He had seen the Striped Tiger during their reunion at Yellow Wasp Mountain. But in the correspondence that followed, Xu Chang’an hadn’t had much contact with him.
"He’s dead!"
"Dead?! How did he die!"
"He died during a trial for the Mountain Gate! I heard it was a gruesome death; they couldn’t even find all the pieces of his body."
Xu Chang’an fell silent.
In his memory, he was still that same impossibly proud Tiger Demon.
The thing he remembered most vividly was the "王" character on the tiger’s forehead, shining with a brilliant light.
They hadn’t been in contact for years, and the next time he heard news of him, it was of his death.
’Little mouse, judging by your physique and fur, you must have Inferior aptitude. Being able to achieve Becoming a Demon is already a great blessing. You shouldn’t let your mind wander to things beyond your reach.’
’With my aptitude, it truly is a great blessing to have succeeded in Becoming a Demon.’
’Thirty years...’
Xu Chang’an closed his eyes and let out a long sigh, his head tilted toward the heavens.
He wasn’t sighing for the Striped Tiger, but for the long and arduous Demon Path, where one never knew when death would come and extinguish their very existence.
Some Demons walk the path, only to become fleeting memories.
The Demon Path is fraught with hardship, the future uncertain.
Who could guarantee they could continue on?
And who could guarantee they would ever reach the end!
’Can I?’
"What’s wrong, little mouse?"
Yu Ruyan sensed a change in Xu Chang’an’s mood.
"It’s nothing. I was just suddenly struck by a thought.
The Demon Path is so difficult... Who can truly make it to the very end?"
Xu Chang’an said, a hint of melancholy in his voice.
’In my past life, I relied on that interface, my ambition was unmatched. I thought I could reach the very Peak, but it all ended with my death and the dissipation of my Dao.’
’In this life, I’ve learned my lesson. I’ve stabilized my mindset and kept an ace up my sleeve.’
’Not fighting for short-term gains, only seeking to comprehend the Dao!’
’But the experience from my past life is ultimately limited. What if one day I reach the Nascent Soul Realm, or even Divinity Transformation...’
’Will the lessons from the ups and downs of my past life still be of any use then?!’
’Whether I can make it to the end in this life is still a complete unknown!’
Yu Ruyan leaned in close to Xu Chang’an. A few fine strands of her hair drifted down, brushing against his cheek.
A delicate fragrance reached Xu Chang’an, and his cheek tingled where her hair had touched.
Just as he was about to react, Yu Ruyan’s melodious voice sounded before him.
"What does it matter if we can reach the end? As long as we keep moving forward. Every step we take allows us to witness a new vista. And each new vista is something we’ve never seen before. On the Demon Path, it’s enough to have something to look forward to, to have hope!
That way, we can live up to the fate that led us to Become Demons in this life!"
"Don’t seek to reach the end, seek only for the Demon Path to be everlasting!"
Xu Chang’an’s expression faltered.
"Don’t seek to reach the end, seek only for the Demon Path to be everlasting!"
he muttered to himself.
’In my past life, what I revered and pursued was the ideal: to hear the Dao in the morning and be content to die that evening!’
’Until now, I had been clinging to the principle of not fighting for short-term gains, only seeking to comprehend the Dao!’
’But now, Yu Ruyan was telling me.’
’Don’t seek to comprehend the Dao, but seek for the Demon Path to be everlasting!’
’Every step reveals a new, unseen vista!’
’So that’s how it is...’
Xu Chang’an couldn’t help but close his eyes again to carefully ponder this new insight.
He remained that way until he felt a caress against his cheek.
Opening his eyes, he was met with a pair of bright, water-clear eyes staring at him without blinking.
"Little mouse, you seem different now."
Yu Ruyan’s face was so close they were almost touching.
Xu Chang’an said nothing.
Yu Ruyan said nothing either.
The two Demons just looked at each other, each lost in their own thoughts.
Just when Xu Chang’an thought this moment would last forever...
...Yu Ruyan suddenly took a few steps back, putting some distance between them.
"Hee hee, you really aren’t that kind of Demon. I misunderstood you before!"
Her smile was dazzling and her words were playful; her entire demeanor had changed.
She was referring to the time at the Red Cloud Mountain gathering when Xu Chang’an had asked about her tail.
"But of course.
As for this little mouse, my word is my bond, solid and true. An honest and reliable gentleman, through and through!"
Xu Chang’an replied with a jest of his own.
The atmosphere between the two Demons became cheerful and relaxed once more.
After they had been talking for a long time, Yu Ruyan suddenly said,
"This reunion has put my mind at ease about something. After I get back, I’m going to prepare my breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm!"
Xu Chang’an could see it clearly. Yu Ruyan’s Cultivation had already reached the Peak of the Ninth Level of Qi Cultivation; she could attempt her breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm at any time.
With her Demon King Bloodline, Yu Ruyan didn’t need a Foundation Establishment Pill to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, giving her even greater potential.
"The next time we meet, I’ll have to address you as ’Senior’!"
Xu Chang’an said with a straight face, cupping one fist in his other hand.
Yu Ruyan brushed a strand of hair from her face and rolled her eyes at him.
That night, the two Demons stayed up, talking until dawn.
Finally, Yu Ruyan stood up to leave.
Xu Chang’an, of course, saw her off.
As they were parting, Yu Ruyan handed Xu Chang’an a Storage Bag.
"Little mouse, we haven’t seen each other in so many years. This is just a small token of my affection."
Xu Chang’an didn’t take the Storage Bag. Instead, he bowed with his hands clasped and spoke formally.
"Thank you, Miss Yu. I will be sure to treasure this gesture of friendship."
’This little mouse certainly is a character.’
Yu Ruyan couldn’t help but laugh.
But his antics also served to lighten the sorrow of their parting.
"You said the same thing back on Yellow Wasp Mountain when I gave you those Qi Condensing Pills. So many years have passed, and I’ve yet to see you repay me!
You don’t need to use those sweet words on me. Just take it!"
Yu Ruyan grabbed Xu Chang’an’s hand (his little mouse paw) and stuffed the Storage Bag into it.
"Don’t worry, Miss Yu! Including the Qi Condensing Pills from before, I, this little mouse, will definitely repay you in the future!"
"Just make sure you don’t go back on your word when the time comes!