Running out of ideas and with time ticking mercilessly against him, Xue Laohu decided to unleash the ultimate romance catalyst—a horde of demons.
In nearly every film he had ever watched, the formula was simple: monsters attack, the hero rescues the damsel, love blossoms in the heat of danger. It was foolproof. Classic. Unbeatable.
He crossed his arms, a smirk tugging at his lips as he issued the command.
"Pursue the Shou protagonist."
The ground rumbled. Dark energy twisted and crackled through the air as grotesque figures burst forth from the earth, their snarling faces twisted in hunger, eyes glowing with malevolence. They lunged toward Xue Tuzi with inhuman speed, claws reaching, teeth snapping—
CRACK!
A sharp snap echoed through the air as Xue Tuzi whipped his ribbon from his hair, sending it lashing across the first demon's chest. The creature howled in pain, deep welts forming where the silk had struck.
With quick, precise movements, Xue Tuzi dodged and countered, his ribbon slashing through the air like a blade. His eyes darted around, analyzing their surroundings even as he fought.
"Where did these demons come from?!" he demanded, his voice sharp with alarm. His grip on Jiao Jiao tightened, holding the child protectively against his chest. "We're nowhere near the west!"
Xue Laohu's smirk faltered.
His gaze shifted to Shudu, who—rather than leaping into action to protect his destined lover—was casually picking at his teeth with one of his long, clawed nails.
What. The. Fuck.
Even Xiao Zongzi had joined the battle, weaving intricate webs and trapping demons effortlessly, her little body moving with eerie agility.
Xue Laohu's brow twitched. Fine. You want motivation? I'll give you motivation.
"Attack the Gong!" he ordered.
The demons shifted targets.
Beneath Shudu's feet, the ground cracked open, and several shadowy hands shot up, clawing at his ankles, trying to drag him underground.
Shudu finally moved. With a single powerful kick, he sent a demon flying, then slashed down with his venomous nails, cutting deep into the creatures that clung to him. But even as he struck them, the demons barely flinched.
His crimson eye narrowed. "There's something different about these demons."
"I know," Xue Tuzi responded, his tone clipped as he lashed his ribbon out again, creating distance between them and the monsters. His back pressed against Shudu's as he cradled Jiao Jiao closer. "They won't die."
Jiao Jiao's small hands clenched the fabric of Xue Tuzi's robes, but then—his grip loosened.
His wide, frightened eyes darted toward the ground.
His beloved worm plushie lay abandoned a few feet away, half-buried in the dirt.
Before he could stop himself, Jiao Jiao reached out—
The demons charged.
"XIAO JIAO!"
Xue Tuzi barely had time to react before Jiao Jiao slipped from his arms.
A massive demon loomed over them, raising a hammer high above its head, preparing to strike.
Time seemed to slow—
BOOM!
The impact never came.
Instead, Shudu's clawed hand caught the hammer mid-swing.
The sheer force of the blow sent dust and debris flying, but Shudu stood firm, his muscles flexing beneath his soaked clothes as he held the weapon back with a single hand.
With a sharp twist, he ripped the hammer from the demon's grasp and, in one fluid motion, swung it with terrifying force, sending a dozen demons hurtling backward.
Then, moving faster than the eye could see, he twisted the demon's arm and slashed its throat open with his claws, black blood spraying into the air.
Xue Laohu's breath hitched.
This is it! This is the moment! The valiant hero, the delicate damsel, the life-saving rescue—
He grinned in anticipation, his entire body vibrating with excitement.
Xue Tuzi, still on his knees, his breathing uneven, quickly cupped Jiao Jiao's small face in his hands, scanning him for injuries. His fingers trembled slightly as he brushed the child's soft bangs aside—
A scrape.
A deep, red scrape marred Jiao Jiao's forehead.
Xue Tuzi's heart clenched. His brows furrowed in concern.
"Xiao Jiao," he murmured, his voice softer now, soothing. Carefully, he pulled the child into a tight embrace and—without thinking—pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead.
Jiao Jiao blinked, confused, tilting his head slightly as if unsure what had just happened. But then, as if suddenly remembering something, his wide eyes flickered back to the ground—
To his worm plushie, still lying in the dirt.
Before he could even reach for it—
"Your incompetence almost got him killed."
Shudu's bitter words sliced through the air.
Xue Laohu's grin shattered.
His head snapped toward Shudu, who stood over them, his crimson eye burning with unfiltered disdain.
Xue Laohu wanted to scream.
SHUDU! You're supposed to say 'Are you alright?' and then hold Xue Tuzi into your strong, muscular arms! NOT—THIS!!
He grabbed at his hair in frustration, groaning into his hands.
Meanwhile, Shudu crouched down, gaze sharp and unreadable as he examined Jiao Jiao's face.
"Hmph. It's just a scratch," he muttered.
Then, without hesitation, he licked his thumb and reached forward—
"You'll give him an infection!"
Xue Tuzi immediately slapped Shudu's hand away, eyes flashing with contempt. "What is wrong with you?!"
Shudu only scoffed. "Hmph. Xiao Jiao is flesh from my flesh. He has the same healing abilities I do."
Xue Tuzi blinked, momentarily thrown off. He turned back to Jiao Jiao, gently brushing back the boy's wispy bangs—
The wound was gone.
Not even the faintest trace of a scratch remained.
A long, relieved sigh escaped Xue Tuzi's lips as he pulled Jiao Jiao close again the boy finally able to grasp back his worm plushie.
The scene Xue Laohu had envisioned was falling apart before his eyes.
There was zero chemistry between Xue Tuzi and Shudu. Not a spark, not a flicker—just cold indifference and sheer stubbornness.
It was infuriating.
How the hell did these two overcome all odds for their 'unyielding love' in the novel?
Shudu undeniably had lingering feelings for Xue Tuzi—that much was obvious. His pride, however, was an impenetrable wall. After the sharp rejection Xue Tuzi had once delivered, it was understandable that Shudu wouldn't grovel at his feet.
And Xue Tuzi had become a master of concealment—each day spent cleansing his skin in icy waters, each night wrestling his traitorous body into submission, until not even a tremor betrayed his hunger. The demon's phantom touch still lingered but daylight found him marble-smooth, untouched by want. His desire to be ravaged by the demon had subsided.
Xue Laohu floated in the sky, pacing mid-air, hands gripping his hair.
For fuck's sake, you're raising his kid! Don't you see that you belong together?!
He screamed into the void, his frustration echoing into nothingness. It would all be so much simpler if you two just—just—!
He mashed his hands together, mimicking a kissing motion.
Below him, the scene took a bizarre turn.
"How strange…" Shudu murmured, his crimson eye narrowing as he observed the demons.
They had stopped moving.
Shudu slashed at them again, slicing through their limbs with deadly precision, but the wounds healed almost instantly, grotesque limbs reforming as if nothing had happened.
More unsettling, they were no longer attacking.
Xiao Zongzi skittered up the leg of a particularly large demon, waving her tiny legs in its face, waiting for a reaction. Nothing.
Xue Tuzi, still holding Jiao Jiao securely in his arms, surveyed the eerie stillness of the battlefield. His eyes flickered with suspicion.
"…It's almost as if someone is controlling them," he said, voice low.
Xue Laohu, floating absently above, realized he had completely forgotten to continue issuing commands. He had been too busy sulking.
"Ugh, fine!" He groaned, shaking himself out of his frustration. If subtlety wasn't working, then brute force it was.
His eyes gleamed with a sudden idea.
Raising a hand, he clenched his fist.
"Capture the Shou."
The ground beneath Xue Tuzi and Jiao Jiao shuddered violently. Thick, gnarled roots exploded from the earth, wrapping tight around Xue Tuzi's arms, torso, and legs. Jiao Jiao let out a startled shriek as he, too, was ensnared, his small frame bound against Xue Tuzi's chest.
Xue Tuzi twisted and struggled, his ribbon lashing out to slice through the bindings, but the roots only coiled tighter, digging into his skin.
"Shit," Xue Laohu hissed through his teeth. Maybe too tight.
But it was too late to back out now.
He had to force a reaction. If this were any decent romance drama, the hero would now fight against overwhelming odds to save his beloved, igniting a deep, heart-wrenching realization in the beauty's soul.
Shudu's muscles tensed. His relaxed, aloof demeanor finally cracked as his eyes snapped toward the trapped figures.
Then—
The demons attacked.
Shudu barreled through them without hesitation, each strike brutal, efficient, and merciless. His long, poisonous nails ripped through monstrous flesh, sending black blood splattering across the battlefield. Xiao Zongzi spun rapid webs, ensnaring multiple demons at once before Shudu tore them apart with a single swipe.
Meanwhile, Xue Tuzi fought against the roots, his face dark with frustration as he twisted to shield Jiao Jiao as best as he could.
Xue Laohu watched intently, his fingers twitching with excitement.
This—this was it.
A desperate struggle. A valiant warrior sacrificing himself to protect the one he loves. This was the perfect moment.
But something was missing.
Xue Laohu tilted his head, analyzing the scene.
No… no, it wasn't quite right. It needed… something more.
He snapped his fingers.
"Tear his shirt off."
A particularly large demon lunged at Shudu, its claws raking across his chest—ripping his shirt open.
Xue Laohu grinned. Yes. Yes. That's perfect.
Shudu's broad, sculpted torso was fully revealed, streaked with sweat and demon's blood, his muscles flexing as he twisted and cut down another beast. His braid whipped through the air, dark strands catching the light as he moved like a storm incarnate.
Xue Laohu lounged in midair, watching the scene unfold with a satisfied smirk.
"Sunlight." He waved his hand lazily. The dark clouds above parted just enough to allow golden light to spill onto Shudu's sweat-dampened skin.
"Make the sweat roll down his jawline—drip down his chest."
The beads of moisture glistened as they slid from his strong jaw, trailing down his collarbone, slipping over the firm ridges of his torso.
"Wind. Make his braid flutter in the wind."
The strands swayed with every powerful motion, loose wisps framing the striking contrast of his crimson and gold eyes.
Now. Now it was perfect.
This was the image of a warrior—a hero—a savior.
Shudu exuded the aura of a man who would fight heaven itself to protect the ones he loved.
Surely Xue Tuzi's heart would cave in now.
Xue Laohu turned his gaze to the trapped beauty, ready to bask in the emotional revelation.
Only to be met with—
Cold. Unwavering. Indifference.
Xue Laohu froze.
His smile faltered.
Xue Tuzi's expression was completely unreadable. Not flustered, not impressed—just mildly inconvenienced as he continued struggling against the roots.
Xue Laohu felt something crack inside him.
His fingers twitched.
"…Are you kidding me?"
This was peak romance. This was a perfectly staged heroic rescue. And yet—
Nothing.
Not a single flutter of the heart.
Xue Laohu clenched his fists, groaning in sheer agony.
"What kind of unshakable ice block are you?!" he howled, ripping at his own hair.
The frustration burned in his chest like wildfire.
How was it possible for someone to be this oblivious to romance?!
He had perfectly choreographed every single element of this scene, and Xue Tuzi had given him nothing in return.
Xue Laohu let out a long, weary sigh, rubbing his temples as if warding off an oncoming headache.
"Stop," he muttered, flicking his wrist.
Immediately, the demons collapsed like puppets with their strings cut, their bodies hitting the ground in a chaotic heap.
Shudu strode among them, his crimson eye narrowed, nudging a few corpses with the tip of his boot to ensure they were truly lifeless. Beside him, Xiao Zongzi wiped the sweat from her tiny brow, shaking her head before scuttling after her master.
Meanwhile, Xue Tuzi remained trapped, still entangled in the tree's relentless grip.
He twisted and writhed, trying to loosen the thick roots wrapped around him. The more he struggled, the more frustration seeped into his usually composed features. He cast a quick glance at Shudu, watching as the man nonchalantly kicked over a corpse, his braid swinging lazily with the motion.
Not once had Shudu even looked in his direction, let alone attempted to help.
Xue Tuzi bit his bottom lip, chest rising and falling in exasperation.
Damn him.
Still, his pride could only take him so far.
With a small exhale, he finally muttered, "A little help here."
Shudu's ears twitched.
His head turned, his expression unreadable as he slowly approached. His long braid swayed behind him, the strands catching glimmers of sunlight. As he came to a stop in front of Xue Tuzi, he crossed his strong arms over his chest, looking down at the trapped beauty with a deliberate air of indifference.
"Why should I?"
His voice was cool, edged with petty vengeance.
Xue Tuzi hesitated. He parted his lips, struggling to say what needed to be said.
Finally, in a soft voice, he murmured, "Please."
Shudu's expression shifted.
He leaned in, placing one palm flat over the tree, his breath warm against Xue Tuzi's ear as he whispered,
"Huh?" A teasing lilt in his voice. "I didn't quite hear that."
His lips curled into a wicked grin, sharp canines glinting under the bright sunlight.
Xue Tuzi's brows twitched in annoyance. He drew in a slow breath, eyes lifting to meet Shudu's directly. His dark, round eyes glistened with an almost dangerous softness, framed by the wisps of his unbound hair.
"Please, set me free."
His voice was silken, a quiet plea laced with something deeper. His full lips parted just slightly, the tiny mole at the corner of his mouth quivering ever so faintly.
Shudu stilled.
A familiar sensation coiled in his gut—a burning heat rising from somewhere buried too deep to name.
That look.
Those deceitfully sweet eyes had undone him once before, whispering silent promises only to cut him down the moment he softened.
He had fallen for it then, had complied, only to be kicked away like a stray dog.
But not this time.
His lips curled into something cruel. Without breaking eye contact, he lifted his hand—
—and freed only Jiao Jiao.
Xiao Zongzi jerked her head up in disbelief.
"Bastard!" Xue Tuzi seethed, his body twisting against the restraints.
Jiao Jiao, newly freed, blinked in confusion before immediately turning back to Xue Tuzi. His tiny hands began to glow faintly, his demonic power flaring to life. With sharp little teeth, he bit into the roots, gnawing through them with surprising efficiency.
Within moments, Xue Tuzi was free.
He straightened, dusting himself off with sharp, clipped movements, shooting a glare at Shudu that could have melted steel.
Xue Laohu had held his breath the entire time, his hands clenched in anticipation.
Surely—surely, after all that build-up, after the closeness, after the teasing, there would be something. A flicker of romance. A moment.
But—
Nothing.
Xue Tuzi barely acknowledged Shudu as he scooped Jiao Jiao up, smoothing back his wispy bangs with quiet affection. The trio carried on, not even a trace of lingering tension in the air.
Xue Laohu felt something inside him shatter.
His fingers dug into his scalp.
Why is this so hard?!
He had tried everything. He had crafted the perfect battle rescue scenario, orchestrated the dramatic tension, even thrown in some teasing and forced proximity.
And yet—
Nothing.
His mind raced. He needed something bigger. Something more extreme.
Then—
An idea struck him.
A dark, twisted idea.
His lips parted slightly as he thought back to a film—a psychological thriller he had once watched.
In it, a girl had been hunted through empty streets, pursued relentlessly by the man who had once taken advantage of her. She had been cornered in an alley, trembling, petrified, too scared to even scream.
And just when all hope seemed lost—
The hero had appeared.
He had struck down the attacker without hesitation, his voice steady as he whispered, I will never allow harm to come to you.
The girl had collapsed into his arms, clutching onto him as if he were the only thing in the world that could keep her safe.
It was perfect.
If he could recreate that scene…
Xue Laohu tilted his head down, watching as Xue Tuzi walked ahead, Jiao Jiao's tiny hand clasped securely in his own. The child had again retrieved his worm plushie, clutching it happily against his chest.
Xue Laohu's lips curved in a small, almost regretful smile.
"A-Tuzi, forgive me."
Then, his voice rang out.
"Create the thing Xue Tuzi fears most."
The earth shook.
The ground beneath them split open, cracks spiderwebbing across the dirt as something began to claw its way out.
A monstrous hand burst forth, jagged claws gleaming under the sunlight.
Xue Tuzi barely had time to react before—
Slash.
A searing pain shot through his ankle.
His breath hitched.
His eyes widened.
And then—
The screams began.