The Demon World was quiet that morning.
A cold mist drifted across the black mountains, wrapping the Demon Palace in silence. Inside the vast training grounds, two young figures stood facing each other.
Mo Yanluo crossed his arms.
"You're too slow."
Xu Tianming frowned.
"I'm not slow. You're just cheating."
Mo Yanluo smirked. "Strength isn't cheating."
Without warning—
He vanished.
Xu Tianming's eyes widened.
Too fast—
A hand appeared behind him—
Xu Tianming reacted instantly, twisting his body and releasing a burst of spiritual energy.
BOOM!
The ground cracked beneath them.
Mo Yanluo stepped back, surprised.
Xu Tianming stood there, breathing slightly heavier.
"…You improved," Mo Yanluo admitted.
Xu Tianming didn't answer.
He was still adjusting.
Still learning.
Still becoming something new.
Demon energy flowed differently than spiritual energy. It was darker. Heavier. More alive.
And yet—
It listened to him.
Li Feng watched from the shadows, his black robes unmoving.
Mo Zhu stood beside him.
"He adapts fast," Mo Zhu said.
Li Feng nodded slightly.
"He was always meant to."
Later that day—
Xu Tianming walked alone through one of the palace corridors.
He still wasn't fully used to this place.
The Demon Clan members didn't treat him badly.
But they watched him.
Carefully.
Cautiously.
He understood why.
He had been their enemy once.
Or at least—
He was supposed to be.
Lost in thought, he didn't notice the loose stone beneath his foot—
CRACK—
The floor collapsed.
Xu Tianming's eyes widened as his body dropped into darkness.
A trap?!
He tried to grab onto the edge—
But missed.
Then—
A hand grabbed his wrist.
Strong.
Steady.
Mo Yanluo.
"I got you."
Xu Tianming looked up, surprised.
Mo Yanluo pulled him up effortlessly.
They stood there for a moment.
Xu Tianming looked at the broken floor.
"…Thanks."
Mo Yanluo shrugged.
"Don't die so easily. It would be embarrassing."
Xu Tianming almost smiled.
Almost.
Days passed.
They trained together.
Ate together.
Walked together.
At first, it was awkward.
Neither of them knew what to say.
But slowly—
That changed.
One evening—
They sat on the edge of a cliff overlooking the endless Demon World.
The sky was dark red.
Silent.
Peaceful.
Xu Tianming spoke first.
"…Why did you trust me?"
Mo Yanluo didn't look at him.
"I didn't."
Xu Tianming blinked.
Mo Yanluo continued,
"But my father did. And my uncle did."
He glanced at Xu Tianming.
"So I decided to see for myself."
Xu Tianming looked down at his hands.
"…And now?"
Mo Yanluo answered without hesitation.
"You're not my enemy."
Xu Tianming felt something strange in his chest.
Warm.
Unfamiliar.
"…I don't remember having someone my age before," Xu Tianming admitted quietly.
Mo Yanluo smirked slightly.
"That's because you were weak."
Xu Tianming scoffed.
"I can beat you."
Mo Yanluo stood up immediately.
"Try."
Xu Tianming stood too.
They stared at each other—
Then both laughed.
For the first time—
Xu Tianming laughed freely.
No fear.
No lies.
No master watching him.
Just—
Freedom.
That night—
Xu Tianming had a nightmare.
He saw his master.
Saw his cold eyes.
He heard his voice—
"You belong to me."
Xu Tianming woke suddenly.
Breathing hard.
Sweat covered his body.
The room was dark.
But not empty.
Mo Yanluo sat nearby.
"…Bad dream?" he asked.
Xu Tianming hesitated.
Then nodded.
Mo Yanluo didn't ask more.
He simply said,
"You're safe here."
Simple words.
But powerful.
Xu Tianming believed him.
Far away—
In the Human World—
A figure stood on a mountain peak.
Xu Tianming's former master.
His expression was dark.
Cold.
Angry.
"Where are you…"
Days.
Weeks.
He had searched everywhere.
The cave.
The forest.
The mountains.
Nothing.
No trace.
But he knew.
Xu Tianming was alive.
He could feel it.
The supreme bone still existed.
And he would find it.
No matter what.
"I will find you," he whispered coldly.
"And when I do…"
His killing intent spread into the air.
Back in the Demon World—
Xu Tianming and Mo Yanluo trained again.
This time—
Against real opponents.
Two elite Demon Clan warriors.
"Don't hold back," Mo Yanluo said.
Xu Tianming nodded.
The warriors attacked.
Fast.
Powerful.
Xu Tianming dodged one strike—
But the second came from his blind spot—
Too fast—
He couldn't react—
Then—
Mo Yanluo appeared.
He blocked the attack.
BOOM!
Energy exploded outward.
Mo Yanluo stood in front of Xu Tianming.
Protecting him.
Xu Tianming's eyes widened.
"You didn't have to—"
Mo Yanluo interrupted him.
"We fight together."
Not behind.
Not alone.
Together.
Xu Tianming felt that warmth again.
Stronger this time.
They attacked as one.
Moving together.
Fighting together.
Trusting each other.
And for the first time—
Xu Tianming didn't feel alone.
Later—
They sat together, exhausted.
Mo Yanluo looked at him.
"…Xu Tianming."
Xu Tianming looked back.
"Yes?"
Mo Yanluo hesitated slightly.
Then said,
"You're my brother now."
The words were simple.
But absolute.
Xu Tianming froze.
Brother.
Not sect member.
Not ally.
Not weapon.
Brother.
Xu Tianming slowly nodded.
"…You're my brother too."
Not by blood.
But by choice.
And that bond—
Was stronger than blood itself.
From the shadows—
Li Feng watched them.
Silent.
Mo Zhu stood beside him.
"They remind me of us," Mo Zhu said quietly.
Li Feng didn't answer immediately.
Then he said,
"Yes."
But this time—
Their story would be different.
This time—
They would protect what mattered.
No matter what.
Far away—
Xu Tianming's master opened his eyes suddenly.
He felt it.
A connection.
Faint.
But real.
Xu Tianming was still alive.
And no longer alone.
The master's expression twisted into a cold smile.
"Found you."