I Married a Demonic Cultivator, and the Entire Sect Went Mad with Regret - Chapter 1

The favored youngest junior sister almost gambled away all the sect’s treasures to light sky lanterns for an ordinary magic artifact. Seeing this, I quickly intervened to stop her. My husband, the Sect Master, consequently severed my meridians, crippled my cultivation, and ordered me to dual cultivate with all the male disciples of the sect. Later, I unintentionally overheard my husband’s conversation with other elders:

“Zhou Qing, you know Dan Yin meant no harm, so why make such a fuss?”

“Dan Yin has a unique constitution; dual cultivation with her can greatly enhance the sect’s power. If I didn’t cripple her cultivation, how would she agree?”

“Besides, if I didn’t do this, how would Dan Yin willingly let me marry Luo Yin to stabilize the sect?”

My hands trembled as I crushed the communication token given to me by the number one demonic cultivator in the jianghu.

“If I marry you now, is it still too late?”

Lu Xiu Ming’s wisp of primordial spirit looked at me, utterly disheveled, and fell silent for two seconds.

“Xiao Zhou Qing, he doesn’t want to live.”

I didn’t hear clearly: “What?”

Lu Xiu Ming didn’t seem to intend to answer me. He sighed softly.

“Dan Yin, I’ll emerge from seclusion in half a month at the earliest. Once I do, I’ll take you away immediately.”

His hand grasped the air.

A medicinal herb suddenly appeared before me.

“Take this. This immortal herb can help you nourish your meridians and restore your cultivation.”

I didn’t hesitate, quickly tucking the immortal herb into my clothes. After all, I desperately needed to restore my cultivation right now.

Lu Xiu Ming opened his mouth as if to say something more, when suddenly, his gaze turned alertly towards the distance.

“Someone’s coming. Dan Yin, remember to wait for me.”

After saying that, Lu Xiu Ming’s primordial spirit dissipated into a wisp of smoke.

I turned back to look in the direction he had been staring.

In an instant, Xiao Zhou Qing and Luo Yin rushed towards my location with lightning speed, followed by many disciples of the Day Cloud Sect.

“That abnormal aura just now came from here. Oh, why is Senior Sister Dan Yin here? I remember, today you were supposed to go dual cultivate with Twelfth Senior Brother, right?”

Luo Yin’s sweet voice was the first to ring out, barely concealing her triumph.

Xiao Zhou Qing’s face also darkened.

“Dan Yin, why are you here? Just now we sensed a strange aura from the back mountain. It wouldn’t have anything to do with you, would it?”

Before I could answer, Luo Yin spoke first.

“Sect Master Brother, Senior Sister is a cripple now. She probably can’t even sense the abnormality you mentioned, can she?”

At her words, the many disciples behind them burst into laughter.

Luo Yin loved having people flatter her.

So she continued: “Senior Sister is now… a ***** who’s been with everyone, right? She probably has no face to see people, so she can only hide in the back mountain.”

Seeing her speak too excessively, Xiao Zhou Qing finally spoke to stop her.

“Alright, Luo Luo, don’t be mischievous.”

It should have been a rebuke, but his tone was full of doting affection. He looked at me, with a rare hint of apology.

“Luo Luo is also angry that you didn’t let her have the magic artifact she liked back then, so she spoke without thinking. Don’t take it to heart.”

“As the Sect Master, I must be fair in reward and punishment. I cannot make an exception just because you are my wife.”

Listening to Xiao Zhou Qing’s hypocritical words, my nails dug deep into my palms.

Even though I had explained countless times later.

That Luo Yin wasn’t simply buying a magic artifact; she was wagering the entire sect’s treasure vault to light sky lanterns.

If it were a rare treasure, it would be one thing.

But it was a most ordinary magic artifact; aside from its pleasing appearance, its materials and effects were of the lowest quality.

But Xiao Zhou Qing wouldn’t listen.

“Do you take Luo Luo for a fool? She’s most frugal. How could she possibly wager the treasure vault for an ordinary trinket? She’s never desired a treasure so much. You’re the Sect Master’s wife, what harm is there in indulging her?”

He disregarded the objections of the sect elders and crippled my cultivation.

Afterward, he even followed Luo Yin’s suggestion and said to me, hypocritically:

“You, such a proud person, would rather die than live as a cripple.”

“Since you are naturally suited for dual cultivation, why not dual cultivate with the male disciples of the sect? By enhancing the sect’s power, you can atone for your mistakes.”

Thinking of the conversation I had just overheard between him and the elder, I said coldly:

“This position of Sect Master’s wife, I don’t want it!”

But unexpectedly, Xiao Zhou Qing grabbed me as I was about to turn and leave.

“That’s good. I also think that with your current strength, you cannot hold the position of Sect Master’s wife. In half a month, I will marry Luo Luo as the new Sect Master’s wife.”

“And you, will be demoted to a concubine.”

I looked at Luo Yin before me with disgust.

I mocked her: “Are you sure someone who is at the bottom of the sect’s assessment every year can hold the position of Sect Master’s wife without being criticized?”

Luo Yin didn’t expect to be ridiculed by me in such a way.

With red eyes, she kept shaking Xiao Zhou Qing’s sleeve:

“Sect Master Brother, Senior Sister Dan Yin really has an issue with me! Whatever I do, it’s wrong in her eyes. Although my talent isn’t as good as hers, all the senior and junior brothers have seen my efforts all these years.”

Saying that, Luo Yin actually covered her face and wept, as if she had suffered a great grievance.

Xiao Zhou Qing’s brows furrowed with a hint of coldness.

The disciples behind him also spoke up for Luo Yin.

“That’s right, we’ve all seen Junior Sister Luo Yin’s efforts. She gets up before dawn to cultivate, and when everyone else is asleep, she’s still practicing diligently. What if some people are highly talented? Aren’t they just like ants now?”

“Exactly! Junior Sister only wanted a suitable magic artifact to help her cultivate, but some venomous woman couldn’t stand her progress, so she tried every means to obstruct her.”

“Sect Master, I can testify for Junior Sister Luo Yin. Two years ago, she was last in the entire sect’s assessment, and this year she has already progressed to tenth from the bottom! Such rapid progress, truly a genius girl!”

I scoffed. A bunch of idiots, did they really think I didn’t know?

The only reason Luo Yin could improve by ten ranks was because the few disciples at the bottom let her win.

With her talent, only Day Cloud Sect would take her in.

Xiao Zhou Qing noticed the disdain on my face, and he was displeased.

“Dan Yin, what are you laughing at? Is what everyone said not true? People cannot be so selfish. I know you’re reluctant to give up the position of Sect Master’s wife, but I haven’t expelled you from the sect. From now on, you’ll still be my, Xiao Zhou Qing’s, woman. Isn’t that better than being scorned by others outside?”

Hearing this, the smile in my eyes deepened.

“Xiao Zhou Qing, you wouldn’t think everyone is eager to be your woman, would you? I don’t care for the Sect Master’s wife position, and I, Dan Yin, care even less for a concubine!”

The disciples present reacted as if facing a great enemy upon hearing my words. After all, Xiao Zhou Qing was not only my husband but also the Sect Master. Disrespecting him in front of subordinates, according to sect law, should be punished.

Xiao Zhou Qing didn’t get angry; instead, he laughed.

But that laugh was unsettling.

“Dan Yin, you first spoke disrespectfully to the Sect Master’s wife, and then to the current Sect Master. According to the laws of my Day Cloud Sect, what do you think should be done?”

Seeing his expression, I felt the hairs on my back stand on end. When Xiao Zhou Qing was angry to a certain extent, his face looked as gentle as a spring breeze.

“…Xiao Zhou Qing, how dare you! At least for now, I am still the official Sect Master’s wife.” I said with a trembling voice.

“The Sect Master, out of old sentiment, didn’t strip you of your Sect Master’s wife position, yet you’re pushing your luck? What a joke, look throughout this world, which Sect Master’s wife is as ***** as you, personally serving all the male disciples of the sect?”

Someone in the crowd behind me said this, which caused everyone to burst into laughter.

“According to sect law, Dan Yin, for disrespecting a superior, should be punished with ten thousand whip lashes.” Xiao Zhou Qing’s thin lips curled into a smile.

He looked at me with a fake smile.

“However, I, Xiao Zhou Qing, am not a cold-blooded and heartless person. Considering that you have lost all your cultivation and are now a cripple, you probably won’t survive ten thousand whip lashes. The punishment will be reduced appropriately.”

“Then, you will be punished by slapping yourself one hundred times in front of all the disciples. That will settle the matter.”

Hearing this, I lost my balance and fell to the ground, warm liquid seemingly flowing from my eyelids.

The cold, aloof man before me.

No matter what, I couldn’t reconcile him with the youth who had cultivated with me in our younger days, who had almost died at the hands of a demonic cultivator for my sake.

“Dan Yin, I’ve already shown you mercy by letting you do it yourself. Do you want those old monsters from the Hall of Punishments to act? Hmph, after a hundred slaps from them, your face probably won’t be presentable again!”

Xiao Zhou Qing frowned deeply. He was very displeased that I was delaying.

“Sect Master Brother, how about this, since this matter arose from a small misunderstanding between me and Senior Sister Dan Yin, why don’t I take the place of the Hall of Punishments elder and do it?”

“And there’s no need for one hundred. As long as Senior Sister Dan Yin is willing to let me slap her one hundred times, then I’ll forgive her!”

Luo Yin said coquettishly to Xiao Zhou Qing, her gaze at me sinister and terrifying.

“You?” Xiao Zhou Qing was clearly hesitant.

Luo Yin saw through it.

She immediately promised: “After all, I’m a woman. My hand will always be lighter than the Hall of Punishments elder’s.”

Xiao Zhou Qing nodded, thinking she had a point.

Then he raised an eyebrow in my direction.

“Dan Yin, did you hear what Luo Luo said? Although you always targeted Luo Luo, she bears no grudges and even interceded for you to reduce the punishment. You should be grateful.”

After Xiao Zhou Qing spoke, the disciples behind him also praised Luo Yin for her beauty and kindness.

I scoffed, my heart filled with boundless sorrow.

“Punish me then, why all this nonsense?”

Luo Yin gracefully walked to my front.

Her voice, gentle yet laced with murderous intent: “Senior Sister Dan Yin, these hundred slaps aren’t something I can’t deliver. If you kneel and kowtow to me a hundred times, and shout ‘Sect Master’s wife, spare my life’ a hundred times, this matter will be over.”

I saw her gathering spiritual energy in her palm and gasped.

“Xiao Zhou Qing hasn’t divorced me yet. At this very moment, I am both your Senior Sister and the current Sect Master’s wife. Luo Yin, who is disrespecting their superior, you or me?”

Luo Yin wasn’t flustered at all, her eyes full of triumph.

“Senior Sister, don’t forget, it was Sect Master Brother who told me to hit you, and the punishment is for your disrespect towards the Sect Master’s wife!”

“I gave you a chance, but now, if you want to kowtow, it’s too late!”

No sooner had she spoken than her palm landed squarely on my face.

Even if Luo Yin’s cultivation was poor.

Now, I was just a mortal, completely unable to contend with her.

With one slap, I instantly flew over ten meters away, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

I looked up in Xiao Zhou Qing’s direction, only to find that he had turned his back, not looking this way.

My heart felt like it was tightly clutched, unable to breathe.

Xiao Zhou Qing, did you truly believe that as long as you didn’t look, the harm I suffered had nothing to do with you?

One, two, three… I silently counted the slaps Luo Yin gave me.

Every slap of hers carried full force.

Until the 99th one, I finally couldn’t get up anymore, and my face was so swollen that my vision was blurred.

“Enough! Luo Yin, stop!” Xiao Zhou Qing shouted.

Luo Yin reluctantly lowered her raised hand.

“Sect Master Brother, you’re biased towards her! This is only the 99th one. As the Sect Master, if you act partially and pervert justice, how will others view you?”

Even though her words were disrespectful, in Xiao Zhou Qing’s eyes, it was just teasing.

“No, I’m just worried about your hand.”

“And—she’s in such poor health now. Don’t really beat her to death.”

Seeing me bleeding from all seven orifices, sprawled on the ground, unable to move.

Xiao Zhou Qing frowned deeply, wanting to come and check my injuries.

Luo Yin, displeased, pouted her lips, and suddenly her gaze fell upon the immortal herb that had dropped from my body.

“Hey! What’s that?”

I struggled to reach out, wanting to retrieve the immortal herb Lu Xiu Ming had given me.

Luo Yin, however, stepped on my palm.

“Well, well, Senior Sister Dan Yin, you usually look so proud and unyielding, but I didn’t expect you to be a thief!”

Xiao Zhou Qing also quickly walked to Luo Yin’s side, took the immortal herb, examined it carefully, and then nodded seriously.

“This immortal herb looks like at least a hundred-year-old treasure. Dan Yin, how do you have something like this?”

I tried to speak from the ground, but my swollen cheeks made it impossible for me to even speak.

“Does she even need to ask? Senior Sister must be unhappy with Sect Master Brother’s punishment, so she stole it from the treasure vault.”

Luo Yin covered her mouth, her disdain almost overflowing.

Instantly, I lost the desire to explain. Even if I could speak, Xiao Zhou Qing would only listen to Luo Yin’s one-sided story.

Seeing me close my eyes and no longer try to explain, Xiao Zhou Qing assumed I was tacitly admitting to stealing.

He put away the immortal herb, his eyes complex.

“Luo Yin, finish the last slap.”

After saying that, he turned his back, no longer looking at me.

Luo Yin’s expression brightened. She bowed to Xiao Zhou Qing and said, “As you wish,” then gathered all her strength and delivered the final slap to me.

Instantly, I lost all my senses and fainted.

Before losing consciousness, I seemed to see Xiao Zhou Qing rushing towards me, shouting my name.

Heh, it must have been an illusion. Xiao Zhou Qing hasn’t cared about me like that in a long time.

…

When I opened my eyes, Xiao Zhou Qing was beside me.

Xiao Zhou Qing, who was meticulously applying medicine to my facial wounds, saw me wake up, and a flicker of joy flashed in his eyes.

But he quickly hid it.

“You’re awake? This time, Luo Luo was heavy-handed. She’s always so reckless in her actions. I’ve already punished her by not letting her eat for three days. Don’t hold it against her.”

For cultivators, not eating for half a year wouldn’t have much impact. Let alone three days.

“Just not eating?” I asked Xiao Zhou Qing in a hoarse voice.

Xiao Zhou Qing impatiently put down the ointment in his hand.

“What more do you want? Luo Luo is most fond of food. Not eating for three days is already very hard on her! Besides, it was my punishment, and she’s already very upset. Can’t you stop being so unreasonable even when you’re in the right?”

After saying that, he picked up the ointment again, intending to continue applying it to me, but I turned my head to avoid it.

“Xiao Zhou Qing, let’s divorce. If you think I’m not qualified to divorce you, divorcing me works too.”

Xiao Zhou Qing completely lost his patience.

He threw the ointment in his hand directly onto my face, his expression cold.

“Dan Yin, you need to understand that even being my concubine is a position many dream of. Without me now, you are nothing.”

I chuckled, my eyes still resolute.

Xiao Zhou Qing calmed down, picked up the dropped ointment from the ground, and continued to apply it to me.

“A divorce is possible, but on one condition.”

“Luo Luo has no relatives. You two are senior and junior sisters. The matter of sending her off will be handled by you. After the ceremony, I will personally present you with the divorce papers.”

Demoting a wife to a concubine, with the latter then taking her place. Apart from Xiao Zhou Qing, perhaps no one else could do such a thing.

But I readily agreed.

“Good, swear it.”

“If you go back on your word afterward, then eighteen heavenly lightning bolts shall strike you dead!”

Cultivators cannot make casual vows; their words become law. Xiao Zhou Qing naturally understood this principle.

He remained silent, unwilling to respond to my words.

“What? The esteemed Sect Master of Day Cloud Sect wouldn’t go back on his word, would he?”

Xiao Zhou Qing knew I was using a provocation, but he still agreed.

“Alright.”

“After the ceremony, I will divorce you. If I go back on my word, eighteen heavenly lightning bolts shall strike me!”

A few days later, Xiao Zhou Qing and Luo Yin’s wedding was held as scheduled.

I was doing the work that a maid should do, washing and dressing Luo Yin.

“Senior Sister, you’ve held this position as Sect Master’s wife for so many years. Today, the tables have turned. You’re not too aggrieved, are you?”

Luo Yin turned her head, looking at me triumphantly.

I, however, had no mind to deal with her provocations. It was also roughly the day Lu Xiu Ming told me he would emerge from seclusion. I wondered what Lu Xiu Ming would think if he knew the precious immortal herb he gave me had been taken away.

Distracted, I helped Luo Yin to the main hall.

Xiao Zhou Qing stood in the center, dressed in a bright red wedding robe, but his eyes weren’t on Luo Yin; instead, they were fixed on me.

It wasn’t until someone whispered in his ear to remind him that he snapped back to reality.

“Husband, before the ceremony, Luo Yin still wants to ask for a gift from you as a betrothal gift.”

Luo Yin said this while looking at me.

The moment her gaze fell upon me, I felt a chill. Sure enough, after Xiao Zhou Qing tacitly agreed, Luo Yin spoke:

“I knew early on that Senior Sister Dan Yin has a unique constitution. The senior brothers who dual cultivated with her all made rapid progress in their cultivation. As a mere woman, Luo Yin cannot enjoy such benefits and truly feels a loss.”

“But Luo Yin recently acquired a spiritual beast. Senior Sister Dan Yin, why don’t you… help improve the spiritual beast’s power? It would be a great wedding gift for Luo Yin.”

As she spoke, she waved her hand.

A monster with white fur all over and an ugly face appeared in the hall.

My pupils suddenly dilated. I staggered back a few steps in disbelief: “Are you insane?! You usually humiliate me when I can’t fight back, but… but this is an animal!”

“Xiao Zhou Qing, I owe you nothing now. Please control your wife!”

Before Xiao Zhou Qing could speak to stop her, Luo Yin’s tears fell first.

“Husband, Senior Sister Dan Yin can serve so many senior and junior brothers, so why isn’t my spiritual beast worthy?”

“It seems that the hundred slaps last time not only didn’t make Senior Sister remember her lesson but instead made her hate me even more.”

This request was truly too outrageous and disregarded all ethical norms. Even Xiao Zhou Qing, who usually obeyed her every whim, remained silent for a long time.

“Luo Yin, enough. She is your Senior Sister, after all. Besides, I promised her that I would divorce her after the wedding, and she won’t bother you anymore.”

But Luo Yin was determined to make that beast dual cultivate with me. She stared at me with fierce eyes.

“Since you’re divorcing, shouldn’t you do something for the sect one last time?”

Then Luo Yin looked at the beast, completely disregarding Xiao Zhou Qing’s words.

“Go! She’s just a cripple. Dual cultivating with her in public won’t give her any power to resist. I’ll bear all the consequences.”

After receiving the command, the beast’s greedy drool flowed all over the floor. It slowly walked towards me, then leaped and pounced.

“Luo Yin, make it stop!”

“If she gets even one finger injured, this Venerable One will slaughter every single person in the Day Cloud Sect.”

Two voices rang out simultaneously. One was naturally Xiao Zhou Qing, and the other was Lu Xiu Ming, who had just emerged from seclusion.

Immediately after, a powerful suction force pulled me to Lu Xiu Ming’s side.

He gently embraced my waist. The moment his hand touched me, I felt the severed meridians in my body being nourished by a powerful energy. My shattered inner core was also slowly being restored.

Lu Xiu Ming’s gaze swept disdainfully over the crowd below.

“Such a large sect, yet they bully a weak woman with no power to even tie a chicken. Aren’t you afraid of being ridiculed by the world?”

Xiao Zhou Qing was clearly very wary of Lu Xiu Ming. After all, the latter was a great demonic cultivator whose name made people in the jianghu tremble.

“Dan’er, come here! Lu Xiu Ming is a notorious demonic cultivator. If you draw a clear line with him now, I will also clarify to everyone that you did not collude with a demonic cultivator.”

He said to me with a grim face.

Before I could speak, Lu Xiu Ming’s scornful laugh rang out first.

“What is righteous? What is evil? Is it up to you hypocrites to decide what is righteous and what is evil?”

I felt that the shattered meridians in my body had mostly been repaired. Spiritual energy was surging within me.

I slowly opened my eyes and looked at Xiao Zhou Qing:

“If it weren’t for the old Sect Master’s kindness to me back then, and my promise to marry you, I would have left Day Cloud Sect long ago with a Sect Master as incompetent as you! Why would I be humiliated to this extent!”

“Xiao Zhou Qing, Lu Xiu Ming is not a demonic cultivator, and even if he were, I would never return to your side!”

Xiao Zhou Qing’s face turned even paler.

“Aren’t you just unhappy that I gave the position of Sect Master’s wife to Luo Yin? Come down now. I will no longer pursue this matter, and the position of Sect Master’s wife is still yours.”

Luo Yin, hearing this, widened her eyes. She couldn’t help but throw a tantrum.

“Husband, we were just publicly married today…”

“Shut up!”

This was the first time Xiao Zhou Qing had ever spoken to Luo Yin in such a loud tone.

“Don’t you know how much of an advantage you’ve taken? If it weren’t for Dan’er being accidentally injured by me and losing all her cultivation, how could you, with your meager skills, hold the position of Sect Master’s wife?”

“Now that Dan Yin’s injuries have healed and she’s returned to her peak state, she is the best candidate for the Day Cloud Sect’s Sect Master’s wife.”

I coldly watched the two people below arguing endlessly.

Xiao Zhou Qing completely absolved himself, even though he was the one who deliberately used all his power to cripple my cultivation.

And now he called it an “accidental injury”?

It was truly laughable.

“Dan Yin, don’t make the same mistake again. Come back now. I will bring out the best tonics in the entire sect to help you restore your strength and reach your peak state.”

Xiao Zhou Qing no longer paid attention to the constantly sobbing Luo Yin. He looked at me again.

In Lu Xiu Ming’s hands, even he, the Sect Master, had no power to snatch people.

“Heh, what need for tonics?”

Lu Xiu Ming glanced at Xiao Zhou Qing with disdain, then gently placed his palm on my back.

He casually transferred ten percent of his cultivation to me.

With just ten percent, I vaguely felt my power even surpassed my previous peak state.

“Alright, with your current strength, you have the power to fight and slaughter this entire sect of beasts. Whether to kill or spare, it’s all up to you.”

Lu Xiu Ming whispered softly into my ear.

After struggling for a long time, I finally shook my head.

The old Sect Master had shown me kindness in cultivating me. The hundreds of lives in Day Cloud Sect were my last act of repaying his kindness.

“I won’t take your dog lives. But, I will take back everything that was taken from me!”

“Cultivation, where is the shortcut?”

My gaze pierced through all the male disciples of Day Cloud Sect.

Xiao Zhou Qing only discovered that dual cultivation with me could increase one’s cultivation after he married me. To improve the overall strength of the sect, he actually came up with such a ******* method to force me into submission.

Upon hearing my words, their faces turned ashen. They all knelt down, kowtowing and confessing their sins.

“Senior Sister Dan Yin, Sect Master’s wife, spare our lives! We were greedy for a moment, which led us to do things worse than pigs and dogs. Please, for the sake of us being fellow disciples, spare us!”

I didn’t speak.

But my hand was already gathering energy, preparing to reclaim all the cultivation they had gained through dual cultivating with me.

Seeing that I was unmoved, the disciples panicked. Their pleading gazes turned towards Xiao Zhou Qing.

“Sect Master, please make Senior Sister Dan Yin stop! We and the Day Cloud Sect share honor and disgrace!”

Xiao Zhou Qing’s thin lips were tightly pressed, and after a long time, he finally spoke:

“Whatever Dan’er wants to do, let it be according to her wishes.”

After Xiao Zhou Qing gave the order, everyone closed their eyes in despair. They felt the pain of a large amount of cultivation rapidly flowing out of their bodies.

After reclaiming that cultivation, I felt the aura within me seemed to have risen significantly.

“Dan’er, has your anger subsided? If you’re still angry, I can also transfer a portion of my cultivation to you.”

Opening my eyes, I saw Xiao Zhou Qing looking at me with a fawning expression.

My expression of disgust was hard to suppress.

“Sparing your lives is already repaying the old Sect Master’s kindness in cultivating me. From now on, if anyone from Day Cloud Sect appears before me again, don’t blame me for being merciless!”

With that, I took Lu Xiu Ming’s hand. My tone softened.

“Let’s go, husband. Don’t let these people delay our wedding.”

Under Xiao Zhou Qing’s shocked gaze, our figures vanished instantly.

…

It wasn’t until we returned to Lu Xiu Ming’s territory that I noticed the corners of his mouth were turned up, a smile he couldn’t suppress.

Noticing me looking at him, Lu Xiu Ming didn’t shy away.

“That ‘husband’ just now, well said.”

At his words, my face instantly flushed to my ears.

Many years ago, when I was undergoing training down the mountain, I accidentally encountered Lu Xiu Ming being pursued by righteous sects. Although I didn’t know what had happened, I was sure that the person before me merely practiced a rare cultivation method. He was not a demonic cultivator.

So I helped him hide and escape a calamity. It was then that Lu Xiu Ming said he wanted to marry me. I only thought he was seriously injured and confused, so I didn’t take it seriously.

Afterward, Lu Xiu Ming gave me a token. He told me to crush it if I needed him, and he would appear no matter where I was.

Facing Lu Xiu Ming’s burning gaze, I looked away, changing the subject.

“You’re clearly not a demonic cultivator, so why aren’t you willing to prove your innocence?”

Lu Xiu Ming then put away his playful expression from before.

“Making people afraid isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If Xiao Zhou Qing wasn’t wary of me being a ruthless demon, how would I have been able to take you away so easily?”

He supported me, introducing me to the Netherworld Realm he governed.

Before we even finished touring, a servant from outside suddenly reported:

“That Xiao person from Day Cloud Sect has come looking for you. He says he wants to speak with Miss Dan Yin in person. Should I drive him away?”

My brow furrowed.

“No need, I’ll see him.”

This matter had started because of me; if it wasn’t completely resolved, there would be endless trouble later.

Xiao Zhou Qing paced back and forth outside the gate. Seeing me from afar, he excitedly came forward.

“Dan’er, after you left, I kept thinking about the things you said. I owe you an apology, and everyone in Day Cloud Sect owes you an apology.”

“But back then, I also listened to Luo Yin’s lies and severely injured you. I only just realized that you were trying to stop her from sacrificing the entire sect’s…”

I cautiously stepped back. I drew my sword, its tip pointing directly at Xiao Zhou Qing’s nose, and sneered.

“Did you truly only just realize it? Or was it out of selfishness, wanting to greatly increase the sect’s power, that you deliberately severely injured me and crippled my cultivation?”

Xiao Zhou Qing’s body swayed.

“So, so you heard everything…”

I scoffed and did not answer.

Just as I was about to turn and go inside, Xiao Zhou Qing quickly called out to me.

“Dan’er, it’s all my fault for being too eager for quick success and being deceived by that *****. What can I do for you to forgive me?”

“Forgive?” I turned back to look at Xiao Zhou Qing.

“Xiao Zhou Qing, I’ve explained, I’ve begged for mercy, did you ever forgive me? Moreover, what wrong did I commit? Yet I had to suffer such humiliation from your entire sect.”

“I have no parents. The old Sect Master treated me like his own child, and I am eternally grateful. For you, out of our shared childhood, I was convinced you were deceived by Luo Yin… But it turns out, the secret to making Day Cloud Sect flourish, was me.”

I laughed, tears constantly flowing from my eyes.

“Get lost. I said, the next time we meet, we will be enemies!”

With that, I pointed my finger towards the door and ordered him to leave.

Xiao Zhou Qing was about to leave dejectedly when Lu Xiu Ming’s voice came from behind.

“My wife, a guest has come, and we are about to have our wedding. Why not invite Sect Master Xiao for a wedding drink?”

He appeared here at some point. A pair of bottomless eyes surged with murderous intent.

I looked at Lu Xiu Ming in confusion, but he just winked at me slyly.

Knowing that marriage wasn’t just my angry words, Xiao Zhou Qing quickly said:

“Dan’er, are you really going to marry this demon? Not to mention how the world will view you after marrying him, we haven’t even divorced yet. You can’t marry Lu Xiu Ming!”

No sooner had Xiao Zhou Qing’s words fallen than the once clear sky suddenly became overcast, with lightning and thunder. Seeing this, my eyes narrowed into a smile.

“Xiao Zhou Qing, a cultivator’s words become law. Don’t forget, you made a vow with me. If you don’t retract that statement in time, those are eighteen heavenly lightning bolts. Even a thousand-year-old demon might not survive them.”

Xiao Zhou Qing also understood that these words were true.

But if he didn’t say anything, I would really marry Lu Xiu Ming. Even if he did say something, I would probably still marry him, but he still wanted to fight for a sliver of hope for himself.

“What’s there to fear from heavenly lightning? Dan Yin, my wish from the beginning was to marry you. Even if there’s animosity between us now, I cannot just stand by and watch you marry someone else, especially a demon like Lu Xiu Ming!”

As soon as the last word was spoken, the lightning bolts soaring through the clouds, as if they had eyes, struck towards Xiao Zhou Qing.

“Dan Yin, I don’t agree to divorce you!”

Xiao Zhou Qing, having taken one heavenly lightning bolt, could still speak. Immediately after, a second heavenly lightning bolt struck him.

“I will deal with everyone who has harmed you, Dan Yin. Don’t marry Lu Xiu Ming.”

Third, fourth… after the ninth heavenly lightning bolt.

Xiao Zhou Qing lay on the ground like a dead dog, barely alive.

Looking at him, let alone nine more, he would probably turn to ash if another one struck. Even though he was a sect master, he was still flesh and blood. Heavenly lightning would not show mercy. It wouldn’t stop until all eighteen bolts had struck.

I sighed lightly and said to Lu Xiu Ming:

“It’s a joyous day. Don’t let someone die at our doorstep.”

Lu Xiu Ming quickly understood, and together we erected a barrier to block the subsequent heavenly lightning for Xiao Zhou Qing. Although it consumed a lot of our spiritual energy, at least it left Xiao Zhou Qing with a breath of life. If he had truly died there, I wouldn’t have been able to explain it to the old Sect Master.

When the barrier was removed, I realized that Xiao Zhou Qing’s cultivation had been completely shattered by the heavenly lightning. This kind of cultivation shattered by heavenly lightning was different from human means. If he didn’t have a rare opportunity, Xiao Zhou Qing would probably be a cripple for the rest of his life.

“This is his own doing. Someone, send Sect Master Xiao back to Day Cloud Sect.”

After a glance at him, I walked away, arm in arm with Lu Xiu Ming.

Without Xiao Zhou Qing’s interference, our wedding proceeded as scheduled, and I became the Sect Master’s wife of the Netherworld Realm.

A month after the wedding.

The old Sect Master of Day Cloud Sect emerged from seclusion and came to the Netherworld Realm, bringing Luo Yin with him.

“Old Sect Master, you must uphold justice for Brother Zhou Qing!” Luo Yin, seeing me, immediately pointed at me and cursed without preamble.

“Dan Yin, this *****, betrayed us. She was clearly cultivated by you, yet she colluded with a demonic cultivator and summoned heavenly lightning to strike Brother Zhou Qing, crippling him! If you hadn’t emerged from seclusion in time, Brother Zhou Qing’s recovery period might have allowed those evil cults to conquer Day Cloud Sect.”

Facing Luo Yin’s slander, my expression remained unchanged. I made a gesture in the air towards her mouth.

The noisy sound instantly disappeared. Luo Yin’s mouth was sealed as if stitched shut, unable to speak.

“You’re too noisy,” I said, giving her a cold look. Now, with my greatly enhanced power, Luo Yin was nothing more than an ant that could be crushed with a single hand.

“Old Sect Master,” I respectfully bowed to the white-haired, youthful-faced old man before me. “Please come inside.”

The old Sect Master, however, merely waved his hand, indicating it wasn’t necessary. There wasn’t a trace of displeasure on his face.

“Dan Yin, I know you are not that kind of person, but during my seclusion, everyone in Day Cloud Sect remained silent, no one dared to tell me. And Qing’er is confined to his sickbed, so I had no choice but to have Luo Yin bring me to you to find out the truth.”

I glanced at Luo Yin, who was still making “woo-woo-woo” noises. I meticulously recounted to the old Sect Master everything that had happened after I stopped her from lighting the sky lanterns.

After finishing, I also lifted the restriction on Luo Yin.

“Old Sect Master, even if it were as that ***** said, she shouldn’t have dealt such a heavy blow to Brother Zhou Qing. Brother Zhou Qing is the Sect Master…”

“Silence!”

The old Sect Master’s authoritative voice startled Luo Yin, who immediately shut her mouth.

“Dan Yin, thank you for sparing Qing’er’s life. This beast, even if struck dead by heavenly lightning, would not be a pity!”

Then his gaze fixed on Luo Yin.

“Today, I will make the decision for Qing’er—Luo Yin, you are expelled from the sect. From this day forward, you are no longer a disciple of my Day Cloud Sect.”

Luo Yin fell to the ground, shaking her head in disbelief.

“No, Brother Zhou Qing wouldn’t agree. He loves me so much… Dan Yin, what kind of ******* potion did you give the old Sect Master? Since you want to break up Brother Zhou Qing and me, I won’t just sit here and do nothing!”

Saying that, she summoned that disgusting spiritual beast. In front of us, the two merged into one, and their power surged.

“You *****, from the beginning, I was always suppressed by you. Everyone said you were a genius, only Sect Master Brother was willing to guide me. I finally managed to ruin you, why do you still want to steal my things?!”

Watching Luo Yin transform into a white-furred, human-headed, beast-tailed monster before me, a wave of revulsion swept through my body.

“Hmph, so you cultivate some crooked path. No wonder you insisted on dual cultivating with that beast that day. So it was to increase your own cultivation.”

I said coldly, forming a formation to trap Luo Yin in place. Her own cultivation was originally not high; she only managed to boost it by relying on external energy and this beast, which she got from who knows where.

But this was not her inherent power. There was no need to do anything; delaying time would expose her true form.

Seeing Luo Yin gradually weakening within the formation, the beast also separated from her body.

The old Sect Master wanted to step forward and finish her off, but I extended my hand to stop him.

“No need, she will reap what she sows.”

Sure enough, seeing its failure, the beast began to turn its greedy gaze towards Luo Yin. In her terrified eyes, it opened its gaping maw.

And devoured her.

The old Sect Master and I exchanged glances, neither of us speaking.

“Dan Yin, I apologize to you again on behalf of Day Cloud Sect. Even if Qing’er is my child, I will never condone his actions.”

The old Sect Master said this finally, looked at me apologetically, then vanished in a flash.

After becoming Lu Xiu Ming’s wife.

My first act was to lead the disciples down the mountain to perform acts of heroism and uphold justice, to restore the reputation of the Netherworld Realm. They merely cultivated a relatively rare method. Yet, they were misunderstood by the world as demonic cultivators, which was truly frustrating. I was unwilling to live like a shrinking turtle, nor did I want the people under my command to live with such frustration.

Lu Xiu Ming was already extraordinarily powerful. Since we got married, he had dual cultivated with me many times, and his power had greatly increased. In the jianghu, besides those reclusive masters, almost no one could contend with him anymore.

“Dan Yin, you are my, Lu Xiu Ming’s, greatest treasure.”

Lu Xiu Ming sighed.

Just as things were progressing positively, Xiao Zhou Qing reappeared in the Netherworld Realm. But this time, I could no longer sense any cultivation from him.

“Dan’er, after father learned of the mistakes I made, he personally severed my meridians, crippled my cultivation, and even disbanded Day Cloud Sect.”

Xiao Zhou Qing’s face was now full of fatigue. Without cultivation to maintain his appearance, he now looked like nothing more than a weathered ordinary man.

After speaking, he suddenly knelt down and kowtowed to me repeatedly.

“I no longer hope we can return to how things were, but Dan’er, please give me a chance to stay by your side and take care of you? Even if it’s just as a sweeping servant, as long as I can see you every day, and spend the rest of my life protecting you, that’s enough.”

I shifted slightly, avoiding the direction of his kowtows.

“What makes you think you’re qualified to sweep floors by my side?”

“Xiao Zhou Qing, why don’t you go and inquire? What kind of place is the Netherworld Realm now? It’s a sect that attracts geniuses from all over the world to cultivate. Even the disciples who do odd jobs are carefully selected. You? Are you even worthy?”

I sneered. Even though my words were very direct, Xiao Zhou Qing showed no intention of getting up.

“Then let me be your guard dog, Dan’er. I just want a chance to see you, even if it’s just a glance from afar.”

His voice was full of pleading. He was like a completely different person from the high and mighty Xiao Zhou Qing of the past.

“Dan’er’s words, I’m afraid you didn’t understand. Then I’ll repeat them for you.”

Lu Xiu Ming’s arrogant voice echoed in the air.

“She said, you’re not even worthy to carry her shoes. If you dare to appear near the Netherworld Realm again, she will have her husband break your four limbs, making it impossible for you to even live as a mortal.”

“Dan’er is kind-hearted and can’t do such things, but I, Lu Xiu Ming, have carried the stigma of being a demon for so many years. I can do anything!”

Under Lu Xiu Ming’s intimidation, Xiao Zhou Qing didn’t dare to retort. He needed his limbs.

After that, Xiao Zhou Qing never appeared before me again. I heard that he wandered and begged, and some people recognized him as the former Sect Master of Day Cloud Sect. Those people kicked him when he was down, constantly targeting him.

Finally, he was beaten to death over a piece of moldy steamed bun.

Hearing the news, I felt like I had heard an irrelevant story.

I exchanged a smile with Lu Xiu Ming. Our fingers intertwined.