The General's Plan

Meanwhile

The Demon Palace stood beneath a sky swallowed by dark clouds.

At its highest level stood the Crimson Hall, the heart of the Demon Realm.

It was enormous.

Black pillars stretched toward the ceiling, each carved with ancient demonic symbols. Dark-red flames burned inside massive bronze braziers, their flickering light reflecting across the polished black floor.

At the end of the hall stood a throne carved from dark stone.

Upon it sat the Demon King.

Xie Chengxi.

His long black robes flowed around the throne, his expression as cold and unreadable as ever.

Anyone looking at him would have thought that nothing in the world could disturb him.

But that wasn't true.

His mind was still on the battlefield.

On one person.

Shen Qing.

His master.

Chengxi's fingers slowly tightened around the armrest.

He had really returned.

After thirteen years.

He had actually returned.

Even now, Chengxi couldn't completely convince himself that it had happened.

Perhaps it had been a dream.

A cruel dream created by thirteen years of longing.

He had spent so many years imagining that face that perhaps his mind had finally betrayed him.

But he remembered the voice.

I didn't abandon you.

Chengxi's heart tightened.

He remembered the look in Shen Qing's eyes.

Confusion.

Pain.

It hadn't looked like the expression of someone who had intentionally abandoned him.

And that frightened Chengxi more than hatred ever could.

Because if Shen Qing hadn't abandoned him...

then what had happened?

Where had he been for thirteen years?

Why hadn't he returned?

Why had Chengxi been left alone?

His emotions twisted painfully inside his chest.

He was happy.

He hated that he was happy.

He was angry.

He hated that he still cared.

He resented Shen Qing for the years he had spent waiting.

Yet some small, buried part of him wanted to run to him.

Just like the child he used to be.

The child who had waited for his master's return.

Chengxi slowly closed his eyes.

"Master..."

The word escaped him.

His eyes immediately opened.

His expression hardened.

Thirteen years.

Thirteen years of telling himself that he no longer needed that person.

And yet one sight of Shen Qing had destroyed all those lies.

His chest hurt.

He wanted to see him.

He wanted to confront him.

He wanted answers.

Why did you leave me?

Where were you?

Why didn't you come back?

But another thought stopped him.

What if he disappears again?

Chengxi's fingers froze.

That fear was something he refused to acknowledge.

If he went to Shen Qing now...

if he finally stood before him...

what if Shen Qing disappeared again?

What if this was all another dream?

What if he allowed himself to believe that his master had truly returned—

only to lose him again?

Chengxi lowered his gaze.

There was something else.

Something that made it even harder to face Shen Qing.

His master had once taught him what kind of person he should become.

Power was not everything.

Strength was not an excuse to hurt others.

The world being cruel did not give him the right to become cruel.

Chengxi gave a bitter smile.

Look at him now.

The Demon King.

The ruler of the Demon Realm.

The person whose name made entire sects tremble.

He had become someone his master would never have wanted him to become.

How could he stand before Shen Qing?

How could he look into those familiar eyes?

What if he saw disappointment there?

The thought hurt more than any wound.

Chengxi turned his face away.

He wanted his master.

Not the Demon King.

Not the ruler.

Not the person everyone feared.

He wanted the feeling Shen Qing had once given him.

The feeling of being safe.

The feeling of belonging somewhere.

The feeling of home.

But he didn't know if he still had the right to call Shen Qing home.

The enormous doors of the Crimson Hall opened.

Several figures entered.

They were the generals of the Demon Realm.

At the front was General Luo Yan.

Luo Yan was one of Chengxi's most capable generals.

She was intelligent, calculating, and outspoken.

Unlike most people in the Demon Realm, she wasn't afraid of speaking her mind in front of the Demon King.

Behind her stood several other powerful generals.

They immediately bowed.

"Your Majesty."

Chengxi raised his eyes.

"Speak."

Luo Yan stepped forward.

"There is something we should discuss."

Chengxi's expression remained cold.

"What?"

Luo Yan's lips curved slightly.

"The man who appeared on the battlefield."

The instant she mentioned him—

Chengxi's gaze changed.

It was subtle.

But Luo Yan noticed.

"The cultivation world believes he is a divine being," she continued.

"They believe he descended from the heavens to save them."

She paused.

"That gives us an opportunity."

Chengxi said nothing.

Luo Yan continued.

"If we spread the information that their divine savior has been captured by the Demon Realm, the righteous sects will panic."

"We could let rumors spread that you intend to execute him."

"Then watch them tear themselves apart trying to save him."

Several generals exchanged glances.

Luo Yan's smile became sharper.

"Some will demand that he be rescued."

"Others will believe he has been corrupted."

"And while they argue over what to do..."

She slowly raised her eyes toward Chengxi.

"...we manipulate them."

Chengxi remained silent.

Luo Yan took another step forward.

"We could even use him to force the righteous sects into submission."

"If they refuse..."

Her expression became colder.

"We could pressure him until the cultivation world believes their so-called divine savior is suffering because they refused to surrender."

The hall suddenly became silent.

Chengxi slowly lifted his head.

His eyes were cold.

"Pressure him?"

Luo Yan hesitated.

"Your Majesty—"

Chengxi stood.

The moment he rose from his throne—

the entire atmosphere changed.

The flames inside the braziers trembled.

The air became heavy.

The generals instinctively lowered their heads.

Chengxi stared directly at Luo Yan.

"Who are you talking about?"

Luo Yan's expression changed.

"The heavenly being."

Chengxi's voice became colder.

"No."

He stepped down from the throne.

"I asked who you are talking about."

Silence.

Luo Yan swallowed.

"The man you brought back."

Chengxi's eyes darkened.

"You mean my master?"

The words fell into the hall.

For one heartbeat—

nobody moved.

Then—

the entire hall erupted.

to be continued....

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