He slowly opened his eyes.
"…This again."
His voice was calm, almost indifferent, as if he had already grown used to this strange situation. A faint sigh escaped his lips.
"…It never gets old."
The world around him was nothing but an endless white space. It stretched infinitely in all directions, vast and empty, like a boundless void.
Silent. Lifeless. Oppressively still.
He glanced ahead with a hint of annoyance in his eyes, as though he had already seen this scene far too many times.
"…Just do it already."
The empty space trembled slightly.
Then—
a massive figure slowly manifested within the void.
It was vast beyond imagination.
Before such a being, Shen Ran felt no larger than an insignificant ant.
A towering entity composed of blood and darkness appeared, its very existence radiating an overwhelming pressure that could suffocate the heavens themselves.
The Blood Demon God.
"One who has used the forbidden art… the Heaven-Defying Blood Reversion Art…"
Its voice reverberated across the endless space like rolling thunder.
"…you have my respect."
Then it suddenly paused.
Its gaze sharpened.
"…Wait. You—"
Shen Ran smiled faintly.
"Hey, you bloody bastard."
Silence descended upon the void.
The Blood Demon God stared at him for a long moment before speaking again, irritation mixed with a trace of helplessness in its voice.
"I have told you… how many times must I repeat it? Do not call me that."
Shen Ran tilted his head slightly, thinking for a moment before answering casually.
"…More than I can count."
The entire space suddenly shook violently.
"THEN WHY DO YOU KEEP CALLING ME THAT, YOU RUNT?!"
Shen Ran's smile widened slightly.
"…Because it suits you better."
For a moment, the Blood Demon God remained silent.
Then it slowly exhaled, as though suppressing its anger.
"…Whatever."
Its eyes narrowed as it looked down at him again.
"…Did you die again?"
Shen Ran shrugged lightly.
"No."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"…I killed myself."
"…WHAT?!"
For the first time, genuine shock appeared on the Blood Demon God's face.
"What nonsense is this?! Do you even understand what you've done?!"
Its voice boomed across the empty world, echoing endlessly.
But Shen Ran—
was no longer listening.
He simply stared at the towering figure quietly.
…Strange.
All this time, he had felt nothing.
Detached from everything… from everyone… from the entire world itself.
His eyes softened slightly as he looked at the god.
…Except this guy.
He feels… real.
A faint, genuine smile appeared on his face.
…It makes sense.
For twenty years, he had existed in this empty space with this being.
Both times he had used the forbidden art—
he ended up here.
Ten years each time.
Ten long years spent waiting, drifting through this silent void before being sent ten years back into the past.
"…Yeah, whatever."
He scoffed lightly.
"Even after taking my revenge… I still feel no happiness."
The Blood Demon God let out a slow breath.
"You truly haven't changed at all."
Its gaze became serious as it looked down at him.
"You do know… this is your last chance, right?"
"Yes," Shen Ran replied carelessly.
"After I die in this life, my soul will be completely destroyed."
"I will neither enter the Heavenly Dao… nor fall into the Yellow Springs."
The Blood Demon God stared at him silently.
"…You really are one of a kind."
"Think whatever you want," Shen Ran said indifferently.
"It's of no use to me."
"Going ten years into the past… changes nothing."
"At most, I just take my revenge again."
"Or waste it on something else."
A faint pause followed.
"It's not like I can regain my lost manhood… or change my fate."
The Blood Demon God sighed softly, a trace of pity hidden within its voice.
"I do not understand your obsession with that… but you can still live your life."
"…Like hell I can."
A hint of anger surfaced in Shen Ran's eyes.
"Twenty-Five years ago, in my first life, I was cursed."
"Even after reversing time… the curse did not disappear."
"That damned thing clings to my soul."
"No matter how many times I return… it remains."
It was a curse that rendered his manhood completely unusable.
The Blood Demon God fell silent for a moment.
"…As I said, living two lives like that…"
"…it must be unpleasant."
"…Tch."
Shen Ran clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Just drop it."
"Don't bring up that topic again."
After calming himself, he simply lay down on the empty ground as if it were perfectly natural.
"…Looks like I'll have to waste another ten years here."
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
"…With you, bastard. Just like always."
The Blood Demon God murmured quietly,
"…You really are one of a kind."
It looked down at him with an unusual expression. A strange excitement flickered within its eyes.
To think… I would come to value someone like him.
Then it spoke again, its tone suddenly more lively than before.
"Don't worry about that."
Shen Ran frowned slightly.
"…What the hell are you talking about now?"
"Be grateful, you bastard," the Blood Demon God said with a grin.
"I've taken quite a liking to you."
"So… I'll give you something special."
"Just don't waste it."
Shen Ran narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"…What nonsense are you babbling about?"
Then—
a drop of blood slowly emerged from the Blood Demon God's body.
Golden.
Radiant.
It shone brilliantly, illuminating the entire empty space like a miniature sun.
Shen Ran's expression immediately changed.
"…Wait."
"That's—"
"…God's blood?"
"You had something like this?"
"With that… you could regain your true form in the real world."
The Blood Demon God scoffed dismissively.
"Like that matters."
Shen Ran frowned.
"But you always wanted revenge—"
The Blood Demon God interrupted him.
"And you should understand better than anyone…"
"…revenge brings no happiness."
Its voice became heavy and powerful.
The entire space trembled under its words.
"Remember what I say."
"Don't waste this chance."
"And don't you dare die again…"
"…without finding true happiness."
Shen Ran froze slightly.
The Blood Demon God continued calmly.
"Enjoy your life."
"Women. Food. Wine."
"Wealth. Pleasure."
"All the things you never had."
"For your sake…"
A faint pause followed.
"…and for mine."
Shen Ran's eyes narrowed.
"…What?"
"Just go," the Blood Demon God said while waving its hand.
"Live properly this time."
"And don't disappoint me again, you bastard."
The golden drop of blood shot forward.
It pierced through the air like a streak of divine light and instantly entered Shen Ran's body.
A blinding radiance erupted, illuminating the entire empty space.
Shen Ran's pupils shrank.
"…What's happening—"
Suddenly, faint golden particles began drifting from his fingertips.
At first, it was barely noticeable.
But within seconds, the tips of his fingers started dissolving like dust carried by the wind.
Shen Ran lifted his hand in front of his face.
His expression darkened.
"…Wait."
The golden light intensified.
His fingers slowly crumbled into countless glowing motes, scattering quietly into the void.
"Blood Demon God…"
A trace of tension finally appeared in his voice.
"…What is this?"
The strange phenomenon spread further.
His entire arm began breaking apart, fragment by fragment, turning into floating specks of golden light.
"Hey—"
Shen Ran frowned deeply.
"…Answer me."
The light continued spreading through his body.
His legs, his chest, his shoulders—
all gradually dissolving into drifting golden particles.
"Blood Demon God!"
For the first time, his voice rose with irritation.
"What the hell is happening to me?!"
High above him, the Blood Demon God remained silent.
It simply watched everything unfold.
Then—
a faint smirk slowly appeared on its lips.
But it said nothing.
Shen Ran stared at it as more of his body vanished.
"…You bastard."
By now, only his upper torso remained intact.
Golden light surrounded him completely, turning his body into a fading silhouette.
"…Wait…"
Before he could finish speaking—
his body shattered into countless sparks of golden light.
They scattered into the endless void like falling stars.
And then—
Shen Ran disappeared completely.
Silence returned to the empty void.
The Blood Demon God remained alone.
Then slowly—
its massive, terrifying form began to change.
The towering demon god disappeared.
In its place stood a figure.
A woman.
Incomparably beautiful.
Otherworldly.
Her long black hair cascaded down her back like a dark waterfall, faint crimson strands shimmering within it like flowing blood.
Her scarlet eyes glowed softly beneath elegant brows, deep and enchanting, capable of captivating any soul that dared to look into them.
Her skin was pale and flawless like polished jade, radiating an ethereal beauty that seemed almost unreal.
She wore a black and crimson robe embroidered with golden patterns, the fabric hugging her slender figure as it flowed like living flames.
Scarlet gems adorned her hair and waist, swaying gently with a faint divine glow.
Her presence alone caused the endless void to tremble.
Even the boundless white space seemed to bow before her existence.
She looked at the place where Shen Ran had vanished.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
Warm.
Gentle.
Almost affectionate.
Yet—
if anyone in the heavens saw her at this moment…
they would tremble in absolute terror.
Because this woman—
was the Blood Demon God.
She looked toward the place where Shen Ran had disappeared.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"…I'll be waiting for you, Shen Ran."
"One day…"
"You will be mine and mine alone."
Her soft voice echoed gently through the endless void.