The last attack completely depleted his Profound Energy.
As a result, after holding the Little Demon Empress in his arms, Ren Zu was forced to rely solely on his normal physical speed.
He advanced at a terrifying pace toward Great Zhou Mountain, so fast that the snowflakes gently falling to the ground evaporated in his wake. Yet, his movements were gentle and careful, as if he feared harming the fragile body he carried in his arms.
The Little Demon Empress, unconscious, rested against his chest, cradled in his arms like a sleeping princess.
Ren Zu crossed plains, leaped over chasms, and left a red blur in the air until, finally, the terrain began to change.
The dense mist of Great Zhou Mountain started to dissipate as he ventured deeper.
A hidden valley came into view.
At its center, a small island of emerald grass floated atop a lake of crystal-clear water, so pure it reflected the sky like a mirror. Waterfalls cascaded gently down the surrounding mountain slopes. Colorful fish swam in schools, leaping across the water's surface as if greeting the visitor's arrival.
In the heart of the island stood a simple cabin, built from polished dark wood. It was clearly handmade. Wildflowers bloomed around the house, and a small stone path led to the door.
When Ren Zu softly landed on the island, the moonlight, previously hidden by the dense winter clouds of the mountain, pierced through the veil of mist, bathing the valley in a silvery glow.
The moon's rays reflected off the waterfall droplets, forming faint rainbows that floated around the cabin.
Upon entering, the atmosphere of the place revealed a stark contrast to the outside world. The interior was warm, with dark wooden furniture, shelves filled with scrolls, and herbs carefully hung on the walls. At the center, a wide bed covered with simple but impeccably clean white linen sheets.
Ren Zu approached, knelt beside the bed, and laid the Little Demon Empress down with utmost care. His fingers gently brushed aside some wet strands of hair clinging to her forehead, and with a precise touch, he pressed two acupuncture points below her neck.
Then, he stood and walked to a small table where a ceramic teapot rested. With a casual wave of his hand, he made the pure lake water rise like a liquid serpent into the pot, while his other hand performed precise gestures, adding dried herbs in a meticulous dance.
In a matter of seconds, the medicinal tea was ready, exuding a sweet aroma with soft, slightly spicy notes. Ren Zu sat in silence, calmly sipping the tea, his gaze resting on the still-unconscious Little Demon Empress.
... That battle had been far too risky. Facing Monarchs was clearly at the limit of his current capabilities; he had to give everything to emerge victorious. This only reinforced how urgent it was to cultivate and reach the Profound Sky Realm, or even the Profound Emperor Realm, if he wanted to confidently claim he was truly invincible in this lower-tier world.
Moreover, he needed to start unlocking the 'Eight Inner Gates' within his body. Only then could he continue strengthening his physique to even more terrifying levels.
But despite these reflections, his thoughts soon dissipated before the sight in front of him.
The truth was, as he looked at that woman whose stunning beauty seemed to defy all logic, he couldn't help but feel a subtle discomfort. A strange, indefinable feeling took hold of his heart. Even he couldn't clearly explain it... but something made him feel he had made a mistake in approaching her this way.
A silent, bitter sensation gripped his heart.
It wasn't shame about nudity. Nor was it about the battle.
It was something deeper.
Perhaps the way he had approached her. Perhaps the fact that, to make this encounter possible, he had chosen a path manipulated by himself...
She deserved more than an encounter disguised as chance.
But that was the only way he could think of to get close to her.
Although he could have tried in another place or occasion, Ren Zu didn't know of any other location the Little Demon Empress frequented regularly. Approaching her directly within the Demon Imperial City would be a colossal risk; such an attempt would immediately draw the attention of her subordinates, plunging him into a situation he wanted to avoid at all costs.
That's why he chose the lake.
By being there before her arrival, he created a convenient ambiguity: technically, he wasn't following her, just enjoying the place by coincidence. This made the approach less suspicious. In practical terms, it established a context where the encounter could be interpreted as a twist of fate, and sometimes, coincidence is more powerful than any plan.
When dealing with figures of authority, especially those with unpredictable temperaments like hers, any direct approach could be seen as a threat or manipulation. In this scenario, it was she who "invaded" the space. This subtle inversion offered the illusion of control, reducing the perception of risk and allowing the interaction to unfold more naturally.
Psychologically, unexpected encounters in neutral places, especially in moments of mutual vulnerability—like when both were unclothed—tend to create instinctive tension and curiosity. When handled well, this tension can transform into openness, connection, and, over time, trust.
It was like trying to approach someone unattainable. Imagine a young man trying to talk to a wealthy, famous influencer surrounded by bodyguards in a crowded mall. The approach would seem forced, invasive, disposable. But if, by chance, the two met alone on an isolated trail, tired, breathing the same air, resting by the same stream... there would be no audience, no pressure. Just the moment, and the conversation would then have room to blossom.
And that's what he sought.
The fact that he was already at the lake before her made everything seem like a coincidence. And the human brain loves coincidences, tending to interpret them as signs, destiny, purpose. This psychological phenomenon, known as the spontaneity heuristic, makes people more receptive to what seems to have happened naturally, without deliberate intent.
By not taking the direct initiative, Ren Zu gave her the feeling that control was in her hands. It was she who entered the lake. It was she who saw him. And, consciously or not, it was she who chose to stay. This subtle transfer of agency reinforced her autonomy, and the more someone feels in control, the easier it is to accept the other's presence.
And there was one more crucial detail... both were naked.
In that fraction of a moment, there was no empress or cultivator, just two human beings leveled by vulnerability. And it's precisely in that raw, unexpected equality that true closeness has a chance to emerge.
But all this was just the first impression; the rest would depend on their interactions in the coming days.
He let out a soft sigh, his fingers still warmed by the now-empty teacup.
Ren Zu shook his head slightly, as if trying to dispel the thoughts piling up within him.
"In the end... they're just excuses..." he murmured to himself, his voice almost inaudible, laced with something between frustration and resignation.
After all... no one asks how many wounds a sculptor suffered to carve a masterpiece. All that matters is the beauty of the statue in the end. On the battlefield of life, the prize doesn't go to the one who took the most just path, but to the one who reached the top with steady hands, even if stained with mud, blood, or lies.
He placed the teacup on the table with a small clink, then stared at his own hand for a moment.
Since being reborn in this world, he knew he couldn't follow the path of a hero. There was no straight road paved with noble intentions and clean victories. Those who tried to live that way, blindly following principles, died early in a world like this. Or worse: they lived to see their virtues crushed by the cruel pragmatism of reality.
No... he had chosen another path.
A winding path, where the line between right and wrong was blurred by necessity, survival, ambition. Since he decided to defy his own fate, he was willing to bear the burden of the villain if it meant achieving what he desired.
That's why he chose to stay in the Ashura Field with such determination back then. Deep down, he wanted to change. And it was in that moment, facing his own limitations and weaknesses, that he took the first step, that he began to become who he wanted to be in this world...
But even so, his heart hadn't turned to stone.
The world wasn't black and white.
It never was.
It was made of infinite shades of gray, imperfect decisions, unfair circumstances, choices made with the weapons one has, not the ones one would like. The same gesture could be seen as salvation or offense, depending on whose side you were on. An act of compassion could seem like manipulation. A sacrifice, cowardice. A step forward, betrayal.
In the end, morality was just a lens... a lens shaped by context, culture, and above all, convenience.
He understood this better than anyone. And that's why the bitter taste of doubt still lingered in his mouth. After all, he had manipulated every step of that situation to get close to the Little Demon Empress, driven by desires he preferred not to admit. At first, it was just the thrill of stealing one of Yun Che's future wives, a game of conquest and rivalry. Then came ambition: marrying her would mean an elevated position in the Illusory Demon Realm and easier access to the Golden Crow's lineage. But over time, as he saw her up close eight months ago, that ambition gave way to a simpler, rawer desire—the desire to possess a woman so breathtaking...
In any case, the means didn't matter, only the results.
There was no reason to regret something already done...
If it meant he had to be the villain in someone's story... so be it.
If the Little Demon Empress came to love or hate him... he wouldn't force anything. He would only try, in the best way he could, to win her over. He never considered her an object in any way; all he wanted was to have her as his woman.
And if it didn't work out...
He wouldn't waste time on it.
The important thing was to try, right?
Ren Zu stood from the chair, walked to the window, and opened the bamboo curtain.
The moon shone serenely over the valley, painting the water with silvery reflections.
"Villain…" he murmured mentally, with a faint trace of a joyless smile. The word sounded like a condemnation, but to him, it was merely the raw face of freedom.
Being a villain wasn't about malice. It was about accepting the choices that the "good" refused to make, about staining one's own hands to avoid living on one's knees.
The hero is the one who asks: "What is the right path?"
The villain asks: "What is the path that will take me where I want to go?"
It's not about taking pleasure in manipulation or harm. It's about refusing to be chained by an ideal that only serves to keep the weak in their place.
He knew his approach to that woman wasn't the most noble. The plan, the forced coincidence, it was all calculation, strategy, pragmatism. But he didn't come here to write a beautiful story. He came to change his destiny. For that, no matter how winding the path... what matters is reaching the end with one's own hands, without relying on anyone's mercy.
He would rather be called a villain for forging his own path than be remembered as a defeated hero who died with a clean conscience but empty hands.
In the real world, no one builds statues for defeated heroes.
In the end, being a villain was just the choice to accept the price of freedom. Even if that price was being hated, misunderstood, or even hating oneself in silence.
Ren Zu let out a soft sigh.
He knew this was the truth. But he also knew it didn't make the bitter taste of doubt any easier to swallow...
The faint fragrance of the tea still lingered in the air when a slight tremor from the bed broke the valley's silence.
Ren Zu turned his gaze from the moon just in time to see the Little Demon Empress's eyelashes flutter.
Slowly, as if awakening from a deep trance, she opened her eyes.
The unfamiliar ceiling, the soft lighting, the distant sound of running water—all of it was foreign to her.
As she recalled the last thing before losing consciousness, her black eyes immediately gleamed with a cold, sinister light, as if they belonged to a God of Death.
The same terrifying gaze as before.
She tried to move... and that's when she realized.
Her Profound Energy was gone.
It was as if all her profound entrances had been sealed by an invisible force. The vortex of energy within her Profound Veins didn't respond, and not even the smallest spark of her strength could be summoned.
A shiver ran down her spine.
In a single instant, all the majesty of an Empress gave way to the purest instinct for survival, and her body reacted before her mind could command it.
In a sudden movement, she rose from the bed, the sheets sliding off her damp skin, her eyes wide and wild, like those of a cornered beast.
"Where am I?" Her voice came out low, hoarse, but laden with authority. Even weakened, there was a brutal intensity in her words.
Her gaze swept the surroundings with speed, decoding everything around her: the simple walls, the scent of herbs, the worn wood, the bed she lay on, and finally, Ren Zu, standing by the window.
He didn't move.
He only turned his face slowly toward her.
That was enough to ignite her rage even further.
"You!" She spat the word like a blade: "What did you do to me? Where is my Profound Energy? What is this place?!"
Her voice grew, regaining strength with each syllable, her regal aura exploding even without the support of Profound Energy. Despite the evident weakness in her muscles, her murderous intent filled the cabin like a storm about to break.
_______________________
(A/N And so, we conclude the final chapter of the Mega Release commissioned by GigaChad! It's been an insane marathon of chapters that, I admit, pushed my writer's soul to the brink of turning into stardust. But if you've made it this far with me, it's because you too got caught up in this avalanche of hype and plot twists.
Starting from the next chapter, we'll return to our normal release schedule.
Thank you for following along on this crazy journey so far. A special thanks to GigaChad for the impossible mission. Now… take a deep breath, because the next phase is just around the corner.
Now, regarding what I wanted to convey with Ren Zu in this chapter, here's a better explanation of his personality, which is being slowly shaped:
Ren Zu is not a villain in the classic sense of being evil or cruel for pleasure. He sees himself as a villain because he chose to walk a path where "good intentions" are a luxury he cannot afford. The world he lives in is governed by strength, manipulation, and the survival of the fittest.
He realizes that:
Following a rigid moral code, acting like a "pure hero," would only lead him to defeat or an early death.
Living in a world where right and wrong are fluid concepts, defined by context and by the victor, demands pragmatism.
For Ren Zu:
He is called a villain because he is willing to do what others don't have the courage to do.
He manipulates situations, anticipates moves, and uses others' weaknesses to his advantage. Not out of cruelty, but because it's the only effective way to change his fate.
He accepts being the villain in someone else's story if that is the price to achieve what he desires.
But — and this is the most important point — he has not lost his humanity:
He feels the weight of his choices.
He understands there is a fine line between acting with cold pragmatism and losing himself completely.
He tries to preserve small fragments of his true self, even as he walks a path where virtues are crushed.
Ren Zu does not delude himself into thinking he is a misunderstood hero. He knows his actions may be seen as wrong by others. But to him, the true villain is the one who allows himself to be crushed by the chains of fate without fighting back.
To him, being a villain means:
Being the architect of his own destiny, even if that requires manipulating the pieces.
Accepting the burden of cruel decisions to achieve goals that, in the end, justify the cost.
Fighting for freedom, even if the world calls him a villain for not playing by the rules of the "pure."
__________________
(A/N: Author's Note
Hi everyone!
I want to share something important with you: after a long time, I was finally able to see a specialist, and my current goal is to reach $1,000, the first step to buying my hearing aid!I'm very close to reaching this goal, and any support makes a huge difference!
As a thank you, once this goal is reached, I'll be doing a mega release on Patreon: around ten chapters of each of my stories. In addition, I'll be posting two chapters per day on Webnovel for you to follow along.
If you'd like to support me, please check out my Patreon.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who follows me and gives me the strength to keep writing!
📚 For $2.99, you can read up to 5 chapters ahead, perfect for avoiding spoilers or just bingeing.
📚 For $5.99, you get full access to ALL content, no holding back.
My Patreon: patreon.com/Adam_Kadmon)