Three days had passed since that conversation.
The sun hung high above the mountains, its light slowly dissolving the mist that enveloped the valley. Between the slopes, a lake of such clear waters revealed itself, reflecting the clouds like a perfect mirror. At its center, a small island covered in a lush carpet of green grass supported a simple cabin, surrounded by wildflowers. Waterfalls cascaded in silvery threads down the surrounding mountains, spreading a fine mist into the air that danced with the breeze. Pale rainbows appeared and vanished as the light struck the suspended droplets.
On the edge of the island, the Little Demon Empress sat on a fallen log, her relaxed posture contrasting with the coldness in her gaze. Her legs were crossed, her black cloak elegantly draping down to touch the grass. Her eyes, dark as a moonless night, stared at Ren Zu from a distance. They were so impassive they evoked the silent judgment of a god of death.
But behind that unyielding mask, a complex emotional storm glimmered in her pupils.
In the three days that followed, life in the valley remained surprisingly peaceful. She, accustomed to the constant intrigues and obligations of the Illusory Demon Realm, found herself immersed in a simple, almost mundane routine. There were no political disputes, no subjects awaiting orders, no watchful eyes measuring her every word. Only the sound of the waterfalls, the rustle of the wind through the trees, and… Ren Zu.
It was ironic.
She had spent so much time being the ruthless empress she knew she had to be to honor her royal family… And yet, here, far from everything she knew, she experienced something she hadn't felt in a long time: peace. Without realizing it, her gaze began to seek him out more often than she cared to admit. She watched him as he trained by the lake, gathered herbs, or prepared tea. There was something in his movements, in his calm and indifferent posture, that chipped away at the carefully constructed walls around her heart.
With each day, the ice that surrounded her seemed to melt a little. Not enough for her to openly acknowledge what was happening—she would never admit it, not even to herself—but enough to notice a different kind of restlessness.
A subtle warmth, uncomfortable yet somehow pleasant.
It was a dangerous feeling. And yet, over the last three days, she made no effort to push it away.
And now, watching Ren Zu practice simple martial arts movements shirtless, her cheeks bore a faint blush, almost imperceptible, and her heart pounded so fiercely it seemed to echo in her ears. It wasn't her fault! It was… because of that shameless man who liked to show off… that perfect body…
Ren Zu's movements reflected in her dark pupils. He advanced calmly, as if every inch of ground beneath his feet had been measured beforehand. The first strike came with a straight, swift punch, the air before him splitting with a muffled sound. His fist didn't extend too far, retracting instantly to give way to a fluid sequence of short kicks.
Suddenly, the rhythm changed. His body spun, his weight shifting from heels to toes. A brief but explosive leap propelled him forward, his raised knee transforming into a descending kick that struck the air with precision. The moment he touched the ground, Ren Zu was already crouched, his hand brushing the grass before launching him sideways in a low, swift movement, as if dodging an invisible attack.
He didn't stop.
His upright posture dissolved into circular motions, his arms tracing unpredictable paths, serving to parry or strike. At one moment, he was firm and solid as stone; at another, flexible and slippery as water.
The contrast was so natural it seemed part of his breathing.
The sun, reflecting off the lake, outlined every contour of his body, the glint of sweat running down his tense muscles.
The Little Demon Empress felt the world around her fade, leaving only that constant motion… and him.
On the other hand, noticing the emotional turmoil in the Little Demon Empress with a sidelong glance, Ren Zu let a faint curve of his lips slip. Over the last three days, he hadn't done anything extraordinary—just treated her as he would any ordinary person, not as an empress.
He had tried to approach her gradually, even calling her by her name: Huan Caiyi, or simply Caiyi for short…
At first, this earned him glares cold enough to send shivers down his spine, but over time, they softened.
She also stopped calling him "shameless," "irritating," or other usual insults, referring to him simply as Ren Zu, which, for him, was the greatest progress achieved in these past days.
Well, it was time to start the second part of his plan. He was already moving the pieces for it, in fact…
Ren Zu finished the final sequence with a swift spin, his right foot landing firmly on the grass. He took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling slowly. Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he let a thin layer of blood-red flames envelop his body. They spread like a rippling veil, consuming and evaporating every drop of sweat until his skin was completely dry.
Unhurried, he took a few steps toward the lake.
The water, which would resist anyone else, seemed to treat him as part of it. His feet sank just enough to create gentle ripples, never wetting him above the ankles. The sunlight reflected off the liquid mirror, painting his walk with golden and crimson glimmers.
When he was a few meters from the island, he raised his gaze to her and asked in his usual calm tone:
"Sorry for making you wait again. I have to keep up the routine to stay sharp. You must be hungry, right, Caiyi?"
The Little Demon Empress immediately averted her gaze, the blush on her cheeks almost imperceptible. She straightened her posture on the fallen log and responded in a cold tone, with a slight stumble in her voice:
"Hmph… Me? Don't be ridiculous. Why would I be hungry?"
Her reply was as sharp as ever, but the truth was her stomach was starting to protest.
She still remembered the first time, driven only by curiosity and the irresistible aroma that filled the air, she tried something Ren Zu had prepared. One spoonful was enough to realize he could easily be revered as a god of cooking.
The spices, the balance of flavors, the perfect texture… even the colors of the dish seemed more vibrant. It was so good that, for a moment, she seriously considered the possibility of, if she ever brought him to the Illusory Demon Realm's palace, appointing him her personal chef.
But admit that out loud? Never.
Ren Zu tilted his head slightly to the side, letting a barely perceptible smile appear before quickly replacing it with a regretful expression, as if genuinely embarrassed.
"Ah… of course. My mistake…" he said in an almost sorrowful tone, letting out a dramatic sigh. "For an empress who rules an entire continent, eating with me must surely be… beneath you. And my food, of course, must not come close to the refined palate of Your Majesty. I feel guilty for making you eat such rubbish these past three days…"
He paused, maintaining a look of feigned resignation, then clasped his hands together, bowing slightly in a respectful gesture.
"In that case… if Your Majesty doesn't wish to eat, I fear I'll have to offend you. I'll prepare something for myself…"
"…"
Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heels and began walking calmly toward the cabin. The sound of his footsteps on the grass mingled with the distant murmur of the waterfalls, as if the entire valley accompanied his movement.
He was a few meters from entering when her calmly cold voice cut through the air.
"Wait…"
Ren Zu stopped, turning only his face to look at her. The Little Demon Empress gazed at him with her usual impassive expression, hard to decipher.
"As you are… my loyal subject," she began calmly, without the slightest trace of emotion, "and as the benevolent empress that I am, I obviously wouldn't let you… eat alone…"
There was no warmth in her words, nor any visible trace of embarrassment. It was as if she were simply stating a logical and inevitable fact.
Ren Zu didn't comment, merely nodded and spoke calmly:
"In that case, I'll have to prepare something worthy of Your Majesty…"
He headed to the cabin, and she followed a few steps behind, maintaining her cold demeanor but with her gaze fixed on the way he opened the door and began organizing everything. The interior of the so-called "kitchen" was simple: a low wooden table, a few well-maintained wooden utensils, ceramic jars containing spices and grains.
The faint aroma of dried herbs lingered in the air.
Ren Zu began working unhurriedly, choosing ingredients like an artist selecting paints for a masterpiece. He chopped herbs with quick, even strokes, washed vegetables in the crystal-clear water brought from the lake, and placed a small iron pot he had made over the fire.
In truth, this entire "cabin" was something he had built over the past months of isolation to distract his procrastinating mind. Carving things from wood and refining items was quite easy to do…
The soft sound of heating oil spread through the space, followed by a rhythmic sizzling as the ingredients touched the hot surface. A rich, enveloping fragrance began to fill the cabin, escaping through the cracks and reaching the open air.
The Little Demon Empress kept her arms crossed, seated at one of the table's chairs, her chin slightly raised, as if the aroma had no effect on her. Inwardly, however, every second was a battle. The scent was so good it brought back memories of the first dish he had prepared for her days ago…
Ren Zu stirred the pot with calm movements, adding liquids and spices that released new layers of fragrance. He didn't need to look at her to know that, despite her impassive expression, her eyes followed his every move, as if trying to decipher what he was doing to create something so appetizing.
The secret? Nothing mystical or divine, just knowledge of every herb in existence, combined with culinary experience from the modern world. Added to that, eight months of isolation, during which he cooked for himself three times a day, like any single man living alone and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. That simple but consistent routine had refined his culinary skills to the point where he considered himself unmatched in this world.
When he finally turned off the fire, he placed the dish in front of her first, without saying a word. He merely maintained a faint smile and served himself afterward.
She looked at the meal, then at him, and said in a cold tone, as if it were a magnanimous gesture:
"Very well… as an empress, I must taste it to ensure it's not… unworthy."
But the moment she took the first bite, the tips of her fingers relaxed, and a subtle glint crossed her eyes before it was extinguished by her mask of indifference.
Ren Zu observed her out of the corner of his eye.
"So? Is it… acceptable for someone of Your Majesty's level?"
Huan Caiyi set down her utensils calmly and responded without emotion:
"Hmph… It's not bad. It's… tolerable."
He raised an eyebrow, holding back a laugh. "Ah, I see… So, if I try harder, maybe I can reach the standard of 'edible' for the empress?"
"Don't delude yourself. I'm only preventing you from dying of disappointment with your own cooking…"
"How benevolent…" he murmured, shaking his head with feigned gratitude. "It's comforting to know Your Majesty cares so much for me…"
She averted her gaze, her chin raised, but a slight twitch at the corner of her lips betrayed her urge to say something more.
The sound of utensils and the warm aroma of the meal filled the space.
Between bites, Ren Zu let slip:
"You know… if you keep eating like this every day, you might have to admit you enjoy it."
One thing he had noticed over these three days was that he needed to take the initiative to talk to the Little Demon Empress to get closer to her. She wasn't the type to speak much…
"Don't be presumptuous. I just don't waste food…"
"Of course…" he replied, serving her more before she could refuse. "Just… don't waste it, then…"
The rest of the meal passed in silence, interrupted only by the clinking of utensils and the distant rustle of the wind passing through the valley's trees. The sunlight filtered through the cabin's cracks, painting golden stripes across the wooden floor and table.
After collecting the dishes and washing everything with his usual methodical calm, Ren Zu stepped out through the side door, heading toward the lake to cool off. The Little Demon Empress, pretending not to pay attention, followed his every movement with the corner of her eye.
Time passed slowly until, as the sun began to sink toward the horizon, the cabin door opened again. Ren Zu entered… no longer shirtless but wearing a complete set of pristine white Taoist robes, impeccably clean, with long sleeves and a simple belt tied at the waist.
The Little Demon Empress raised an eyebrow, a shadow of irony crossing her emotionless face.
"Oh… so the shameless one finally decided to dress?" Her voice was cutting, but there was an almost imperceptible note of relief hidden within. "I was beginning to think you didn't even own a decent change of clothes…"
Ren Zu stopped in the middle of the room, looking at her with genuine confusion, as if he didn't understand the jab.
"Hm?" He tilted his head slightly. "You mean earlier… when I was training?"
She narrowed her eyes, the corner of her lips threatening an ironic smile.
"Training, walking around the island, talking… practically the entire day shirtless. A complete lack of decency, to say the least."
Ren Zu blinked once, then responded with the calm of someone stating the obvious:
"I just don't see a reason to feel ashamed of something so natural. Between friends, there's no need to hide the body…"
The words, spoken so simply and unpretentiously, seemed to ricochet in her mind.
The Little Demon Empress was momentarily speechless, surprised by the naturalness and innocence of the statement. He didn't seem to be teasing or insinuating anything. He was just… sincere. As if that kind of closeness was the most normal thing in the world for him. She quickly averted her gaze, adjusting her posture to mask the brief moment of hesitation.
"Hmph… Friends, huh? Idiot…" she murmured, almost to herself, as if testing the word in her own mouth.
Ren Zu, however, was already adjusting the sash at his waist, completely oblivious to the weight his words had carried for her. Yes. Friendship is rare, especially for someone surrounded by enemies. It's nice when we don't have to wear masks all the time.
For a moment, she found no response. The orange light of the sunset streamed through the window, illuminating the pure white of his robes and the calm gaze that met hers.
And, for the first time since they arrived in that valley, the Little Demon Empress averted her eyes not out of disdain or pride… but because she didn't know how to face what she was feeling.
After preparing dinner as he had done the past few days while the Little Demon Empress watched and occasionally commented, they ate and spent some time in silence.
Night fell gently over the roof, painting the sky a deep blue speckled with stars. The glow of the night bathed the cabin…
Ren Zu served tea with calm movements, the steam rising slowly from the cups.
"You're doing perfectly fine…" he said, his voice neutral but with a hint of satisfaction. "Must be thanks to the teas you've been drinking…"
The Little Demon Empress stared at him, unblinking, with no apparent emotion.
"…" was all she replied.
The silence stretched between them. Only the soft sound of the wind and the occasional clink of porcelain as he set the teapot on the makeshift table.
Ren Zu raised his eyes to the sky, took a deep breath, and spoke, almost as if thinking aloud: "These three days have been really good…"
There was no pretense in his voice. He genuinely felt it. Despite her arrogant, ruthless, and cold personality, something in him noticed small cracks in that mask. Living alongside her, even in such an unusual setting, had been… peaceful.
The Little Demon Empress averted her eyes for a moment but couldn't ignore the warmth rising to her face. Her heart, which always seemed indifferent, beat a little faster. His words… and that face, softly illuminated by the faint moonlight… ah, it was so unfair.
Ren Zu then turned his gaze to her, his lips curving into a faint smile: "Can I ask you some things?"
"What kind of things?" She slightly furrowed her brow, as if already sensing his intention.
"Things about you…" he replied without hesitation. "After three days living together in this cabin, I realized I know nothing about the Little Demon Empress…"
"And why do you want to know?" she shot back, trying to hide her slight discomfort.
"Because I want to know you…" he said simply. No irony, no provocation, just sincerity. "Not the imposing figure everyone fears… but the woman sitting here now, having tea with me…"
He propped his chin on his hand, watching her closely. "So… what was your favorite place as a child? Do you prefer cold or warm days? What's the first flavor you remember loving?"
With each question, she seemed to falter, as if an inner wall was being carefully touched.
She leaned back slightly, crossing her arms.
"Hmph… pointless questions. I see no sense in this."
Ren Zu merely took a sip of tea and waited, as if her lack of response wasn't an obstacle. The silence grew uncomfortable for her, and she averted her gaze to the starry sky visible through the cabin's window.
"…The plum blossom garden at the palace…" she murmured suddenly, as if it were unimportant. "When they bloomed, the wind carried white petals."
Ren Zu smiled faintly.
"So, you prefer cold days?"
She hesitated for a second.
"No… I like spring. It's not too hot… nor too cold," she replied, almost without realizing she was giving another answer.
"And the first flavor you loved?" he pressed, still in that calm, almost casual tone.
She frowned, but her lips moved before she could stop them.
"Flaming lotus tea. My father used to make it when I was little…" She paused briefly, realizing she had revealed more than she intended. "Not that it matters to you…"
Ren Zu merely watched her for a few seconds, a soft glint in his eyes.
"It matters to me. Every piece of your story matters if I want to truly know you…"
She turned her face away, as if wanting to end the conversation, but her breathing was slightly uneven. Something about that calm persistence, without pressure but full of genuine interest, disarmed defenses she had always believed unshakeable.
Ren Zu set his cup on the table and added:
"Three days together… and I've already noticed that, behind that coldness, there's someone who feels more than they want to admit. We may have started off on the wrong foot, but that doesn't define our whole story. We started on the wrong foot, and here we are, aren't we?"
She shot him a sharp look but found no words to retort. As much as she wanted to deny it… her racing heart betrayed her.
Ren Zu kept his tone calm, almost carefree.
"Is there any music you like?" he asked, lightly stirring the tea in his cup.
She raised an eyebrow.
"Music is irrelevant…" she replied quickly, but after a few seconds, added in a lower voice, "There was a song I heard as a child. It's my favorite…"
He gave a brief nod, as if mentally storing the information.
"Though I'm curious to hear such music, I know you're not ready to share it with me… So, what was your childhood dream?"
She straightened, as if the question were intrusive.
"To become the strongest person who ever lived…" she said without hesitation, but then, as if against her own will, added, "So no one could… take anything from me. Even now, that dream remains the same… but for different reasons."
Ren Zu sensed the weight in those last words but didn't press. He merely nodded seriously and shifted to a lighter tone: "What's your favorite food?"
She closed her eyes for a moment, seeming unwilling to answer, but the memory came anyway.
"Sweet baked bread. Filled with cream…"
And she immediately averted her gaze, as if regretting having revealed it.
He gave an almost imperceptible smile.
"So, flaming lotus tea and sweet bread… I think I know what to make for you one day."
"No need…" she retorted quickly, though the subtle blush on her cheeks betrayed her.
The hours continued like this—simple questions, reluctant answers, and small cracks opening in the wall she had built her entire life. They talked about favorite colors, places they'd like to visit, scents that brought back good memories. She realized, between one sip and another, that she was sharing things she hadn't even told those close to her in the past.
Ren Zu, for his part, didn't take advantage of it; he simply listened with genuine attention, reacting naturally, as if each detail were a small treasure he wanted to keep.
When she noticed, the moon was already high, and the breeze cooler. More than three hours had passed since he started asking questions.
The Little Demon Empress, now without the deep energy from before, felt the weight of fatigue settling in.
Her sealed cultivation had made her as mortal as anyone else; so, that night, sleep came unexpectedly, silently, almost gently… and, for the first time in a long time, she didn't consider it an enemy.
Not that she had fully considered him an enemy before, but somehow it felt different…
It was a comforting warmth that embraced her…
The steam from the tea had already dissipated, and the cool breeze caressed her skin, carrying the distant scent of nocturnal flowers. The Little Demon Empress blinked more slowly, as if each blink was harder to reopen her eyes.
The moonlight partially illuminated her face, softening her cold features. Gradually, her breathing slowed, her long lashes trembling one last time before stilling. She fell asleep with her arms crossed on the table.
Ren Zu remained still for a moment, just watching. Was the sight before him something only he had witnessed? The empress feared by all, now asleep… There was no arrogance, no coldness, no shadow of the absolute authority that surrounded her. Just a girl, with simple fatigue and a serene expression.
It was ironic. On the first night they spent together in the cabin, he slept on the floor, and she on the bed, obviously, though she hadn't slept fully and kept one eye on him, fearing he might do something…
After three days, he had earned her trust.
Careful not to wake her, he moved the teapot and cups aside. He pulled a light cloak that was folded nearby and placed it over her shoulders. The edges of the fabric fell to her lap, and she instinctively curled slightly under its warmth.
Ren Zu leaned back, gazing at the starry sky for a few moments before turning his eyes back to her. An almost imperceptible smile curved his lips as he used his fire manipulation to warm the cabin, as he had done the past few days. Though snow didn't reach this valley, it was strangely cold, and he didn't want her to get sick…
"Good night…" he murmured, knowing she wouldn't hear.
_________________
(A/N: It was incredibly enjoyable to write the development between Ren Zu and the Little Demon Empress. I believe I managed to capture both of their personalities quite well.
I hope you felt that connection as much as I did while writing it. 💭
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