In the Demon Sect, strength ruled. The three brothers schemed against each other, often sabotaging one another's plans. In the Sky Rift Valley battle, the poison prince nearly killed Feng with poison, but the lust prince had given Feng and Suya a slim chance to survive.
Their respect, or rather fear, of their master stemmed solely from his grip on their techniques' weaknesses and his overwhelming power. Otherwise, they wouldn't be so obedient.
But thinking of their master, even these three notorious princes, who rampaged across the world, could only stay quiet.
Tao watched with amusement, finding it entertaining. Status, strength, authority... such fascinating things.
Thanks to his status, even the unruly gambling prince had to yield to him.
Thanks to Emperor Ren's authority, these gutter rats had to tuck their tails and plot in secret.
Thanks to the Wicked Heart Sect leader's strength, even the wildest rogues fell silent.
So... where had the missing Wicked Heart Sect leader gone?
The day was unusually cold, with heavy snow falling. Not only did nobles don cotton coats, but in the slums, shivering orphans huddled together, their bodies frostbitten and scarred, some never waking from the icy sleep.
Bright Hua's glory couldn't cover everything. Where light existed, shadows persisted, whether obvious or hidden. Since its founding, Bright Hua had enjoyed peace and prosperity, but it could never eliminate every beggar.
A world without beggars or hidden households would be a utopia, not an empire.
Today, the Jun household set up stalls to distribute porridge and cotton. Crowds of commoners and beggars trekked from afar, forming long lines. When their turn came, they received a steaming bowl of white porridge and a piece of cotton cloth to wrap themselves in.
Countless people wept with gratitude, praising Suya of the Jun family as a saintly figure, blessed by the heavens, though the Onyx Elixir Clan followed no Buddhist doctrines.
Suya wore a sheepskin shawl, her gaze soft and warm, her beauty breathtaking, like a delicate flower. Her pale skin seemed whiter than snow, her frail body hinting at illness. A gust of wind made her cough, evoking pity and tenderness.
She was like a lily swaying in the breeze, pure and flawless. Beneath her thick dress, her breasts rose slightly, firm and youthful, her waist slender as a willow, fragile as if a strong wind might snap it. Her long skirt flowed under the shawl, her hair cascading to her waist, faintly revealing a youthful yet full, rounded backside and long, straight legs like polished jade.
She treated the ragged, filthy beggars before her with kindness, patiently instructing them. For the sick, she offered small packets of medicine from her own supply, urging them to take it.
Saving the world and helping the people, doing good to build virtue, this was the essence of a healer's heart, the profound philosophy the Onyx Elixir Clan sought to embody. These doctors of the cultivation world earned respect from both righteous and demonic factions with their compassion, maintaining a neutral stance that commanded reverence. Even the vilest demon lords showed courtesy to these skilled healers, for no one could guarantee eternal strength or health.
At a street intersection, a small figure appeared. Dressed in lavish black robes with gold-threaded edges, he looked like a noble's son. Short and childlike, under four feet tall, his features were exquisitely delicate, almost doll-like, with a beauty that could rival a girl's.
Yet his eyes gleamed with a maturity beyond his years, tinged with weariness, a wisdom rare even among adults, unforgettable at a glance.
Strangely, the surrounding beggars and passersby seemed oblivious to him. Their eyes never landed on him, yet their steps unconsciously veered aside, avoiding him as if by chance, never brushing against him.
"Little one, what are you doing here?"
Suya spotted him instantly, a small figure standing alone amid the bustling crowd, looking oddly out of place.
She approached, crouching down with a gentle gaze and a warm smile tinged with concern. He'd been lingering there too long, and it gnawed at her. Pushing through the throng, she reached him.
As she spoke, she extended a slender hand, gently patting his head.
If certain three individuals saw this, their jaws might drop, wondering if they'd lost their minds.
"She saw me?!"
The boy's eyes widened in shock. When Suya's hand touched him, a flicker of anger sparked in his gaze but quickly faded. He lowered his eyes, hiding their sharp glint.
"When?"
Thinking he was shy, Suya softened her voice. "Don't be afraid, big sister isn't a bad person. Tell me, where's your home? I'll get you back safe."
His clean, finely stitched clothes suggested he was a noble child, maybe a young lord whose family was searching for him.
The boy pointed to his throat, staying silent.
Suya rested a hand on his neck, feeling carefully. His vocal cords seemed rough, damaged by time or strain. Pity softened her tone. "Can't speak? That's okay, can you write?"
He hesitated, wary, then traced "Gao Yang Marquis" on her palm.
"You're from the Gao Yang Marquis's household? His… little son?"
Suya asked, and the boy nodded.
"Miss!"
A maid called out, spotting Suya crouched there too long.
Suya turned, beckoning a servant. "Hana, take this young lord back to the Gao Yang Marquis's house. He's lost, and they must be worried."
"Young lord?"
Hana blinked, confused. Hadn't her miss been alone, lost in thought? The Gao Yang Marquis's son? Strange…
But then she saw him, a small, doll-like boy standing quietly before Suya.
When had he appeared?
Puzzled but obedient, Hana stepped forward, bowed, and led the boy away.
"Bye!"
Suya waved with a smile.
The boy and Hana wound through the streets until they reached a deserted alley. With a flick of his finger, a wave of magic surged. Hana's face went blank, her eyes hollow, as if her mind had slipped away.
"Go back and tell your miss the boy's been delivered."
The boy's voice rasped, ancient and dry, not the sound of a child but of someone far older, worn by years.
"Boy's been delivered."
Hana murmured, turning like a puppet and walking off.
Back on the main street, she jolted awake, dazed, as if waking from a dream. Her mind held clear images, delivering the boy to the Gao Yang Marquis's grand estate, servants thanking her warmly.
"Did I drift off? Oh well, he's home. Time to tell Miss."
Hana rubbed her head and returned to Suya.
In the shadows, the boy watched. Suya had seen through his Wicked Cloaking Spell, a trick that hid him from most eyes. Only someone with a rare gift, like Spirit-Heaven Insight, could do that without magic or force. She hadn't even noticed she'd done it. It was just her nature.
"So, the Onyx Elixir Clan's heir," he muttered, "and she carries my poison."
He'd sensed it from his carriage, a trace of his Soul-Devouring Heart Poison inside her. That's why he'd stepped out to find her.
---
Years ago, in the Sky Rift Valley battle, his disciple, the one they called the poison prince, unleashed that very poison. It was a dark creation, one the boy himself had crafted long before. The Soul-Devouring Heart Poison didn't just kill. It stole souls, turning victims into mindless puppets or walking corpses under the user's command.
The prince had spread it across the battlefield, hoping to crush the righteous clans. It worked too well. Hundreds fell, their bodies rising again to fight their own allies. The righteous side faltered, unsure whether to cut down their friends or let the chaos grow.
Even Feng, a young warrior, was struck by it. He'd have become a puppet too, if Suya hadn't stepped in. Using a secret technique from her Onyx Elixir Clan, masters of potions and antidotes, she drew the poison out of Feng and into herself, saving him. But she didn't destroy it. Its core, what the boy called its seed, stayed inside her, dormant.
The poison prince had bragged about that victory, claiming the poison as his own. But he was a fool. He hadn't made it. He'd stolen it from his master, the boy, and used it to play the genius. Worse, he'd lost the seed, the poison's heart, and kept that failure quiet.
The boy sneered, thinking of his three disciples, scheming, greedy little rats. The prince thought he'd hidden his mistake, but here was the proof, walking around in this girl.
Suya didn't know it, but she'd taken something precious from him that day. And now, he'd found her.
---
His frail, childlike form vanished like smoke on the wind.