These words left Yue Ming bewildered.
Why is this so different from what I imagined? And... why did Ye Qian say he gained a new life?
Is there something I don't know about?
At such a close distance, Yue Ming suddenly realized that Ye Qian's eyes were truly beautiful.
After obtaining the Supreme Demon Eyes, Ye Qian's gaze was far from ordinary. Though they appeared unchanged on the surface, anyone who stared into them for too long would feel as if gazing into an endless abyss, vast and unfathomable.
The fusion with the Supreme Demon Eyes had transformed Ye Qian entirely. He now radiated a quiet charm, an inexplicable allure that seemed to draw others in without effort.
Seemingly aware that her gaze lingered too long, Yue Ming quickly turned her head away. Her face flushed faintly, and her heart beat faster than it should.
Impossible.
The last time I saw Ye Qian, I didn't feel this way at all. Why is it different now?
Yue Ming could say with certainty that the last time she saw Ye Qian, she had felt nothing but disgust. Rumors of his terrible temper and cruel deeds had reached her ears, painting him as a spoiled, heartless villain.
How could she have ever imagined accepting his demands back then?
As for Ye Qian, he was in an unusually cheerful mood. The reason? A recent System notification had just informed him of a fresh influx of Villain Points.
[Ding! Successfully changed the life trajectory of the Daughter of Heaven, Yue Ming, weakening her Luck Value by 1,000. Congratulations to the Host for obtaining 1,000 Villain Points.]
Indeed, ever since Ye Qian had awakened from Qi Deviation, Ye Changkong had chosen not to retaliate directly against the Yue Family. Instead, he had forced Yue Bo to send his daughter, Yue Ming, to Ye Qian—thereby irrevocably altering her fate.
If he had not transmigrated and set off the butterfly effect, she would have ascended to become the Supreme Sovereign and Hall Master of Bloodfiend Hall, one of the Immortal Realm's most formidable powers—rivals sworn to oppose the Ye Family.
Now, because he had awakened from the coma, Yue Ming was sent to him instead. This shift had nearly rewritten every possible future for her.
Even if she regained her past life memories at twenty-two, her fate no longer entwined with bitter enmity against the Ye Family. Without being hunted and driven to desperation, she would never have sought refuge in Bloodfiend Hall.
The path that once led to conflict and bloodshed now opened toward a life of servitude.
With a thousand Villain Points instantly credited, Ye Qian's mood soared to new heights, a faint, satisfied smile curling at the corner of his lips.
Looking down at Yue Ming from above, Ye Qian spoke in a deep, commanding voice.
"From this moment forward, you belong to me. Do you understand?"
She didn't know why, but the Ye Qian before her no longer seemed as detestable as he once was. The usual resistance in her heart had dulled, replaced by a strange sense of resignation.
Kneeling blankly on the spot, Yue Ming's thoughts churned with conflicting emotions. She had inexplicably become Ye Qian's, and it was her own family who had delivered her into his hands.
Noticing that Yue Ming's cultivation had been sealed, Ye Qian withdrew the Void-Slaughtering Sword. A black longsword materialized in his grasp, its blade shimmering with a faint, ominous red glow.
"Break!" Ye Qian commanded, and with a single, effortless wave of the sword, the seal binding her cultivation shattered like brittle glass.
Crack!
Yue Ming, who had only moments ago felt like a powerless woman, suddenly sensed the restraints on her body shatter like brittle chains. Her original cultivation surged back, rushing through her meridians like a long-dormant river finally set free.
I've recovered my power?!
Yue Ming felt the familiar strength flooding her limbs, and her gaze snapped to Ye Qian, filled with a whirl of emotions. She couldn't fathom why he would unseal the restraints binding her.
If she remained weak, wouldn't it be easier for him to control her? Yet he said nothing—no conditions, no warnings—just released her as if it were nothing.
Doesn't he fear I might harm him?
The thought flickered through her mind, but it was fleeting. Yue Ming knew better. She couldn't—not because she lacked the will, but because she lacked the freedom. Her family still hung in the balance.
One reckless move, and they would pay the price.
A bitter smile tugged at her lips, bittersweet and resigned.
Sure enough, all of this had already been calculated by the man before her. He wasn't the least bit concerned that she would resist.
Ye Qian pulled Yue Ming up from the ground. His strength, effortless and controlled, sent her stumbling forward, her body instinctively falling into his arms before she could react.
Having lived a sheltered life, this was Yue Ming's first close contact with a man. Her face flushed crimson, and though her instincts urged her to pull away, she dared not resist.
Instead, she turned her head to the side, heart pounding.
Ye Qian chuckled softly at her shyness, his fingers gently tilting her chin back toward him. His gaze lingered on her delicate lips, and without hesitation, he closed the distance, pressing his mouth against hers.
The suddenness of it left Yue Ming stunned. She had never imagined being kissed so forcefully, and for a moment, her mind went blank.
When she finally reacted, her hands—soft and trembling—pushed weakly against his chest, but her strength was no match for his.
After a brief, futile struggle, Yue Ming surrendered, her resistance melting away as she gently closed her eyes.
As the saying went, if you couldn't resist, you might as well enjoy it.
A few minutes later, Ye Qian seemed thoroughly satisfied with Yue Ming's performance and finally released her red lips.
The inexplicable sensation faded, and Yue Ming slowly opened her eyes. A subtle allure shimmered within them as her gaze shifted, lingering on Ye Qian. To her surprise, she realized she didn't dislike that feeling at all.
At first, there had been a flicker of resistance, but soon she found herself completely captivated—drawn in by an intensity she hadn't expected.
Perhaps it was the lingering warmth, or the way her lips tingled with a faint numbness, but as she gently touched them, a hint of disbelief flickered across her eyes.
Why didn't I pull away? Shouldn't I despise Ye Qian with every fiber of my being?
Noticing Yue Ming's expression, Ye Qian gently pinched her fair and smooth cheek, his voice laced with playful teasing.
"What? Still reluctant to let go?"
Under the weight of Ye Qian's direct gaze, Yue Ming faltered. Her head dipped slightly, fingers twisting together in restless motion, betraying the storm of emotions beneath her calm exterior.
"No... I am not!"
She lifted her chin with stubborn pride, hesitating for a breath before denying it once more. There was no way she would admit that she had, for a fleeting moment, savored that closeness.
I should hate Ye Qian. It was because of him that my father sent me here, and I had no choice but to obey.
"Oh? Is that so?" Ye Qian murmured, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "It's alright. There's plenty of time ahead of us. We can take things slowly—let your heart come around at its own pace."
With that, he reached out and gently ruffled Yue Ming's beautiful hair, his touch lingering with affection.
This tender gesture left Yue Ming flustered, her heart skipping a beat.
The Ye Qian before her now was unlike any version she had known—so different, so unexpectedly gentle, that he seemed almost unrecognizable.