Darkness.
Li Xian's body lay broken in the sect's infirmary, spiritual suppressing seals burning against his skin. His chest rose and fell shallowly, but his mind was sharper than ever.
The Heavenly Decree still echoed in his bones:
"The Heavens have taken notice of your fate, Li Xian."
Every time he recalled that voice, his soul quivered.
But the system purred inside him, dark and confident:
> [Host's body stabilized. Demonic seed rooting successfully.]
[Warning: Host lifespan limited to 7 days unless first conquest is achieved.]
[Target priority: Su Yao, Affection 0%.]
Li Xian clenched his fists. Seven days?
A cripple yesterday, a sinner today, and now heaven itself wanted him erased. Yet strangely… he felt alive.
In his old world, every day had been predictable. Empty. Deadlines, bills, loneliness. But now? Every breath was war. Every step, survival. And for the first time, his heart pounded with exhilaration.
The wooden door creaked open.
A figure entered, silent as drifting snow. White robes shimmered in the dim light, the faint fragrance of orchids trailing behind.
Su Yao.
Her gaze swept the room like a blade. Cold. Detached. Beautiful.
She stopped at his bedside, looking down at him as though he were an insect pinned beneath glass.
"You should be dead." Her voice was calm, yet each word carried judgment. "Even with sheer luck, surviving Zhao Feng's strike was impossible."
Li Xian forced a smile despite the blood on his lips. "Disappointed to see me alive?"
Her brows furrowed slightly, a rare crack in her icy composure. "You humiliated Senior Brother Zhao before the entire sect. The elders are furious. Staying alive will only make your suffering worse."
He chuckled, low and hoarse. "I thought you'd be pleased. Isn't your new fiancé grateful I proved I'm not so easy to kill?"
Her eyes sharpened. "You dare speak to me like that?"
The system chimed:
> [Target reaction: Irritated, intrigued.]
[Affection +1%.]
Li Xian's eyes narrowed. Intrigued, was she? Even if buried under disdain, curiosity flickered within her.
He leaned closer, his breath shallow, deliberately brushing her hand as if in weakness. "Or maybe… you came here because part of you still remembers. Once, you called me yours."
Her body stiffened. Just for a heartbeat.
Then, like a mask sliding back into place, her expression turned colder than ever. She pulled her hand away, tucking it into her sleeve.
"Don't delude yourself. Whatever bond existed was severed long ago. You're nothing to me now."
The system whispered:
> [Affection +3%. Hidden emotion detected: Conflict.]
Li Xian's pulse quickened. So beneath that ice, there's a crack.
He tilted his head back against the pillow, eyes half-lidded, smirking despite the pain. "Then why are you here, Saintess? Surely not to waste words on trash."
For the first time, Su Yao hesitated. Her fingers tightened slightly on her sleeve.
"I… came to see if the rumors were true." Her voice dropped, softer. "That you stood again. That you defied heaven itself."
Silence hung between them.
Li Xian's smile widened. So she watched. She saw everything.
Before he could speak, the door slammed open.
A furious voice boomed: "Su Yao!"
Zhao Feng staggered in, chest still bandaged, hatred blazing in his eyes. He pointed a trembling finger at Li Xian.
"You dare humiliate me and steal her gaze? I'll kill you right here!"
Su Yao's expression hardened. "Senior Brother Zhao, control yourself."
But Zhao Feng's jealousy had consumed him. Spiritual qi flared violently, shaking the walls.
The system hissed in Li Xian's ear:
> [Crisis detected. Survival odds: 12%.]
[Emergency Option Unlocked: Seduction Gambit.]
[Requirement: Force target Su Yao into protective stance.]
Li Xian's heart thudded. The system demanded he provoke her—right here, in front of Zhao Feng.
He grinned through bloodied lips, voice laced with deliberate wickedness.
"Su Yao… will you let your new fiancé kill me, when just now, your hand trembled in mine?"
Her eyes widened in shock. Zhao Feng froze, face twisting from confusion to rage.
"Y-you…" Zhao Feng's roar shook the rafters.
And Su Yao—her jade-like composure cracked entirely, a storm of emotions flashing in her eyes.
The room seemed ready to explode.