Chapter 642: A Shocking Event (Part 2)

"You..."

"Don't interrupt!" Yun Che's expression turned serious as he quickly continued, "Aren't you a bit *too* great? With your power steadily declining, and the Guardian Families and King's Palaces largely betraying you for their own selfish interests, you resisted the Duke Huai Palace for an entire century... While everything seemed calm on the surface, I know very well that with Prince Ming behind the scenes, your ability to preserve the Monster Emperor Clan's last shred of dignity for a century is arguably the most remarkable feat in Illusory Demon Realm history! Every single day of that time must have been filled with unimaginable hardship, immense pressure, and danger..."

"After narrowly escaping death in the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley, your first act, though one of vengeance, was to single-handedly shoulder the enormous blood debt of Duke Huai's nine clans! While Duke Huai's Palace was unforgivable, more than half of the nine clans involved were ignorant and innocent, yet they had to be killed! A truly decisive emperor would kill them without a second thought. But for you, someone incapable of being utterly heartless and cold-blooded, you must have been plunged into a prolonged state of darkness and depression because of the innocent women and children who died tragically by your command. That's why, afterward, I sought you out every day, even using various methods to provoke and offend you... I couldn't share your burden, so I could only use this way to distract you, hoping you could break free from it and forgive yourself sooner."

Little Demon Empress: "..."

"Don't think this is just my conjecture. I know perfectly well what it feels like to have to involve many innocent people and make them pay with their lives because of you! Because I've done the same thing; far more innocent people have been implicated by my poisonous hands than by yours! Though later, I did so many similar things that I became completely numb, the first time... that feeling of darkness, suppression, and pain, I'll never forget it in this life! And you, despite ruling for a century and personally killing many people, I've thoroughly checked, and not one of them was innocent. This extermination of Duke Huai's nine clans was your first time... What you would endure afterward, perhaps no one in the entire Illusory Demon Realm knows, but I know it exceptionally well!"

"It's not that they couldn't imagine it, but that they wouldn't. Because what they care about are results and their own futures, while I care about *you*!"

"Before entering the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley, everything I did for you—including directly confronting Duke Huai and risking my life to save you—was for my deceased grandfather, my parents, and my clan! At that time, you had only one identity to me... the Little Demon Empress! I considered myself to have ambitions higher than the heavens and bones harder than bedrock, absolutely unwilling to pledge loyalty to anyone, but for my grandfather's dying wish and my clan's safety, I had shown you the utmost loyalty back then!"

"But after emerging from the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley, everything I've done for you has been completely unrelated to the title 'Little Demon Empress'; instead, it's because I care about *you* as a person! I care about everything concerning you... I even began to hate your identity as 'Little Demon Empress'! Because it has made you suffer and toil too much, and it has made it incredibly difficult for me to even care for you, let alone approach or help you!"

Little Demon Empress's lips moved slightly, but no sound emerged.

"'Little Demon Empress' is your identity, and it's also the fate you were forced to accept after the Little Demon Emperor's death, compelling you to bear the Monster Emperor Clan's last shred of dignity and glory. Although I hate this heavy burden resting on your shoulders, no one, including myself, has the right to interfere with anything you do, any decision you make, or any sacrifice you offer for the Monster Emperor Clan... Even if you only have three years left, you still don't live for yourself, but rather for the Monster Emperor Clan."

"But between you and me, your attitude towards me... regarding matters that involve *me*, surely I have the right to be indignant!" Yun Che frowned deeply, saying, "You clearly care about me, so why do you insist on acting dismissive, sometimes even disgusted, towards me?! Don't try to deny it; perhaps you think you're perfectly concealing it... Any other person might have long avoided you. But in my eyes, everything you do is simply an attempt to hide what's obvious!"

"The pill you destroyed in front of me that day... was not the one I gave you at all! I know its ingredients a thousand times better than you, and my sense of smell for medicines is ten thousand times more sensitive than yours. Although you took out the pill I gave you, what you burned was just an ordinary Clear Heart Pill! All your anger, your scolding, your talk of defiling your bloodline, and burning it in front of me were merely because you cared for me, fearing I would harm my vital energy again for your sake."

"During that period, I visited you every day. Though you were always aloof, you never outright dismissed me without even seeing me. But a month ago, you did just that... Because you saw Su Zhixi and me at the Yun Family that day, and you must have overheard the talk in my home about us, which is why your heart was suppressed and agitated! If you didn't care about me, why would you act like that?!"

"Sometimes you're terrifyingly astute, but when it comes to matters of the heart, you're more clueless than a teenage girl!"

Yun Che's chest heaved, his voice growing heavier: "Don't think I don't know what you've been thinking! Do you believe that if our feelings were known to the world, your status and age would drastically affect my reputation? That I'd face endless scrutiny? Then you truly underestimate me, Yun Che! When I first arrived in Demon Imperial City, I dared to completely break ties with the formidable Duke Huai's faction. Do you think I would care about the skepticism and opinions of those common people?"

"Do you think that because you only have three years left to live, you're not worthy of love... afraid that you'll become a burden to me?!" Yun Che suddenly stepped forward. The Little Demon Empress, caught off guard, had her shoulders seized by him, a flicker of panic appearing in her pupils. Yun Che continued to shout in a low voice, "Do you think that by pushing me away like this, I'll abandon all thoughts of you, and after three years, I won't be sad about your death, nor will I be heartbroken? You're too naive..."

"Little Demon Empress, let me tell you, from the day we left the Golden Crow Lightning Flame Valley together, I decided that you can only be my woman for this lifetime! It has nothing to do with your identity; it's simply because you are *you*! Furthermore, my caring for you has nothing to do with whether you care for me or whether you pretend not to! If my feelings for you could change so easily, then I wouldn't be worthy of being your Little Demon Empress's man! If you could be honest about your feelings for me, and let me enter your world... in three years, if I truly am incapable... and fail to save your life, at least every time I remember you, it will be a brief yet eternal beauty. But if you continue to force yourself to be cold towards me, or even if we don't see each other for these three years... then all that will be left for me is a lifetime of regret and suppression! You think you're suppressing yourself for my good, but in reality, you're causing pain to yourself and to me. Do you understand?!"

The Little Demon Empress's eyes flickered, and her body swayed slightly. She pulled free from Yun Che's hands, staggering back a few steps.

"Little Demon Empress..." Yun Che stared directly into her eyes. From her somewhat conflicted gaze, he knew his words had reached her heart: "I also know that another reason you're trying to push me away is to uphold the reputation of the Monster Emperor Clan, especially that of the Little Demon Emperor, since you are, after all, his Empress... If you don't wish it, I won't let anyone know about what's between us. As long as, when we're alone, you allow us to have each other, and allow me to be a source of solace for your heart, that's enough. You've already sacrificed far too much for the Monster Emperor Clan, even your own life; you've repaid your family and all your ancestors countless times over... Can't you, in these final moments of your life, live even a small part of it for yourself?!"

"Am I... truly not worthy of being a reason for you to be even a little bit selfish?"

Little Demon Empress: "..."

Yun Che poured out a torrent of words, releasing everything that had been suppressed in his chest to the Little Demon Empress. Unlike her, he was not a complete blank slate when it came to matters of love and affection. He could clearly sense whether the Little Demon Empress had feelings for him; her aloofness, her attempts at concealment, even appeared... clumsily endearing in his eyes.

However... she was, after all, the Little Demon Empress. On her shoulders rested not just a family, not just a kingdom, but an entire continent! At the same time, she bore the dignity of a thousand-year-old imperial clan.

Thus, the phrase "hate your identity as Little Demon Empress" came from the depths of Yun Che's heart.

Faced with Yun Che's passionate outburst, the Little Demon Empress indeed did not interrupt or interject throughout the entire speech. In the end, she gave no response either, but simply turned around and flew away... departing silently and quietly.

"You don't even fear death, yet you flee from me again and again... How dare you say I'm not in your heart!"

Watching the Little Demon Empress's receding figure, Yun Che stamped his foot with a "bang," cracking a large portion of the floor. He roared, "Little Demon Empress! If only I weren't weaker than you, even if pursued by the entire Illusory Demon Realm, I'd still abduct you to the Profound Sky Continent... so you could never be the Little Demon Empress again!!"

Yun Che's roar was filled with frustration... At any time, strength is crucial, even between men and women. Back then, because he was no match for Chu Yuechan, he couldn't force her to stay. Now, there was the Little Demon Empress, whose haughty disposition was even more pronounced than Chu Yuechan's, and whose power was absolutely terrifying. He couldn't even try to force the issue.

No sooner had Yun Che finished roaring than Mu Yurou's figure appeared in his line of sight. She flew towards him anxiously, calling out, "Che'er, what happened? You just said... you'd be pursued by the entire Illusory Demon Realm... and abduct the Little Demon Empress? Wh-what exactly is going on? Don't scare your mother."

"Uh..." Yun Che's mouth twitched. He quickly went to meet her, saying, "Mother, you misheard. What I just said was that I would be eternally loyal to the Little Demon Empress, and for her sake, I would have no regrets even if pursued by the entire Illusory Demon Realm... Yes, those were my exact words. The wind was strong just now, so you must have misheard. If I really said what you mentioned, wouldn't the Little Demon Empress have killed me with a single palm strike? How would I still be standing here unharmed, right? Haha..."

"...That's good." Although still harboring doubts, Yun Che's last few sentences somewhat eased her worries, and she breathed a slight sigh of relief: "Che'er, your father said he feels the Little Demon Empress hasn't been in a good mood lately, and with the Demon Imperial City still unstable, you absolutely must not get presumptuous with her just because you've rendered great service. Since awakening her bloodline, the Little Demon Empress's strength has greatly increased, but her temperament has also become colder and more unpredictable than before. You absolutely must not provoke her."

Mu Yurou repeated "absolutely must not" twice, and Yun Che nodded repeatedly, appearing to be a perfectly obedient son.

The next three days were calm and uneventful. During this time, Yun Che didn't leave his home. He slept, practiced his skills, refined medicine, occasionally treated injuries for others, and playfully teased the budding young women of the clan... thus, the days passed leisurely.

At dawn on the fourth day, Yun Qinghong woke him from his deep sleep: "Che'er, at noon today, the Little Demon Empress is hosting a banquet in the Demon Imperial Hall. All our Guardian Families and the King's Palaces must be present... and the Little Demon Empress specifically requested your mandatory attendance."

"Huh?" Yun Che's sleepiness immediately dispersed. He thought for a moment and asked, "A noon banquet... specifically for me? Did the Little Demon Empress say what it's about?"

"I don't know," Yun Qinghong shook his head. "The Little Demon Empress only said that a major announcement concerning the future of the Illusory Demon Realm will be made."