Bai Ran sat quietly, listening to the woes of the person before her.
Dongfang Wuji didn't know what to do. No, he had long known the answer, but he was lost in the past, unwilling to face it.
He covered his face with his hands, each word seeming to drain him of all his strength.
"I understand... demonized people deserve to die... but you don't understand..."
"As long as she smiles at me with her face, standing alive before me, I can't help myself..."
Those trivial happy moments, those lively scenes, played out repeatedly in Dongfang Wuji's mind.
"What should I do... what on earth should I do..."
His cries, laced with abyssal pain, kept him from sleeping for days. Even if he managed to fall asleep, the figure that haunted his dreams would follow him like a shadow.
"Dongfang Wuji, you have another choice—"
Dongfang Wuji started, tears welling up in his eyes. "Who... who is speaking..."
Bai Ran's eyes widened abruptly. Unbeknownst to them, black energy had begun to swirl around Dongfang Wuji.
"Dongfang Wuji! Wake up!"
It was a heart demon! A heart demon had manifested within Dongfang Wuji!
Bai Ran stood up, shaking his shoulders forcefully. "Don't listen to the voice in your head! Dongfang Wuji!"
The person before her was like a duckweed on the sea, fragile and vulnerable, allowing Bai Ran to shake him.
"Dongfang Wuji—you love Luo Qianqian, you can't let go—"
"Then why don't you acknowledge it—? You forgot about another choice—"
The forbidden Pandora's Box held a seductive, fatal allure. The bewitching voice swirled and echoed in Dongfang Wuji's mind...
Dongfang Wuji's eyes became hollow. "Yes... there is another choice..."
No need to cruelly kill the one he loved, no need to lose her again...
As long as he became demonized, he could stand by her side, couldn't he...?
"Damn it!" Bai Ran cursed. The black energy around Dongfang Wuji was becoming more and more apparent!
"Bang—!" A gust of wind swept through the room, directly repelling Bai Ran from Dongfang Wuji.
She stood up, her gaze cold as she stared at the person before her. Black energy coalesced into a giant sphere, tightly entangling Dongfang Wuji at its center.
Spiritual energy raged, and even the wind carried a terrifying killing intent!
Those outside the room stopped in their tracks, their expressions solemn as they rushed towards the house.
"Not good!" Jing Feng roughly flung open the door, his face paling at the sight before him. "Dongfang Wuji!!!"
Zhong Zi clenched his fists, his expression grave. "His soul is gradually changing color."
"Zhong Zi! Jiang Ye! Let's join forces and subdue him first!"
Jing Feng gritted his teeth. If this continued, Dongfang Wuji would become demonized!
"Alright!" The three of them resisted the tempest of spiritual energy and charged towards Dongfang Wuji, who was entangled in black energy.
Bai Ran took a deep breath, trying to soften her tone. "Dongfang Wuji, do you really want to betray the Demon Realm, betray Long Jinhan?"
Upon hearing this, Dongfang Wuji's eyes seemed to clear a bit, but were quickly masked by emptiness.
Seeing that it had some effect, Bai Ran continued, "If Luo Qianqian saw you like this, she would be heartbroken..."
Two crystal tears slid down his face. Dongfang Wuji's eyes turned red.
"Thump—thump—" His heart beat faster and faster.
Just as Jing Feng and the others were about to reach Dongfang Wuji, a fierce white light erupted from his chest.
In an instant, the room was enveloped in pure white. Jiang Ye and the others stopped in their tracks.
It felt so warm... as if they were wrapped in clouds...
Jing Feng looked around at the scene with confusion. "What's going on?"
Bai Ran stared intently at Dongfang Wuji. Under the shroud of the white light, the black energy around him was gradually dissipating.
"Thump—thump—" Dongfang Wuji's eyes instantly cleared. He lowered his head and looked at his chest.
Bai Ran lowered her gaze and chuckled softly. It was alright now...
A ball of pure white light floated out from Dongfang Wuji's chest. The light gradually shifted and condensed into the form of a beautiful woman.
A gentle voice, tinged with anger, rang out. "Dongfang Wuji, why are you so stupid?"
The man's lips trembled uncontrollably. His vision was blurred by tears.
"Qianqian... is that you..."
Jing Feng's eyes widened. The silhouette before them was Luo Qianqian, who was already dead!
"The real me and the fake me, you actually chose the fake one? Do you want a beating?"
She angrily placed her hands on her hips and glared at Dongfang Wuji. "Do you know you almost became demonized?"
Dongfang Wuji's throat felt tight with emotion. The real Luo Qianqian stood before him, yet he couldn't utter a single word.
His longing reached its peak at this moment, and guilt washed over him like a tidal wave, submerging him.
"Qianqian... Qianqian!!!"
Luo Qianqian sighed softly and slowly reached out, caressing Dongfang Wuji's cheek. "You've always been so neat and tidy, how did you become so unsightly?"
The heart demon completely dissipated...
Dongfang Wuji sniffled, forcing out an awkward smile. "You're not going to dislike me, are you?"
Luo Qianqian looked at him and smiled helplessly. She slowly opened her arms and embraced him.
"How could I—"
At this moment, Dongfang Wuji finally broke down and cried like a child.
"I missed you so much... I really missed you so much..."
"It was my fault for not protecting you well... I'm truly sorry..."
Luo Qianqian's eyes also began to mist over. She wanted to wipe away his tears, but couldn't touch him at all.
She smiled bitterly. "Dongfang Wuji, don't blame yourself..."
By now, Dongfang Wuji was a mess of tears, his body convulsing with sobs.
The pure white light in the room gradually receded. Happiness was always fleeting; separation would eventually come, sooner or later...
Luo Qianqian's body began to disintegrate, scattering into the air piece by piece.
She looked at Dongfang Wuji and smiled, two sweet dimples appearing. "You must be well..."
"Silly boy..."
The white light vanished instantly, taking Luo Qianqian's figure with it.
The room returned to its original state. Dongfang Wuji curled up, his loud sobs echoing throughout the entire house, unabated.
Bai Ran exchanged a look with Jing Feng and the others and they left the room together.
"Miss Bai," Jing Feng said, his head bowed and his expression dejected. "I will surely kill all demonized people in the world..."
To exploit someone's true feelings was truly so sinister...
Zhong Zi was taken aback and looked away. Bai Ran nodded. "Demonized people indeed deserve to be killed."
Jiang Ye looked at Suzaku beside him. "I will definitely protect you."
Suzaku scoffed at his words, curling her lips. "You'd better protect yourself."
"I'm serious," Jiang Ye's gaze was more resolute than ever before, momentarily stunning Suzaku into silence.
Afterward, no one disturbed Dongfang Wuji. It wasn't until deep into the night that he quietly left.