Chapter 766: The Tear of the Demon

Family ties... Home... These had long since vanished from his world; he dared not even hope for them in his dreams. Ever since merging with Ye Mufeng's demonic soul, his world had been reduced to nothing but coldness, hatred, pain, despair, and brutality... If the world of ordinary people was heaven, then his world was utter hell.

And Xiao Lingxi was the only warmth in his entire world.

During that period, the reason he stayed in Flowing Cloud City was for her. Just catching a glimpse of her each day brought him immense satisfaction, making even the immense pain he endured while absorbing demonic energy seem insignificant. But to approach her even slightly... he never dared, because in front of others, he was a terrifying demon god, yet in front of Xiao Lingxi, his heart was filled with boundless inferiority, timidity, and self-abasement.

In his eyes, he was no longer a person, but an ugly devil, a devil whose very soul was utterly defiled.

He yearned to kill Yun Che... After leaving Flowing Cloud City that day, he had believed Xiao Lingxi would never want to see him again, that she would only feel aversion, fear, or even hatred towards him. In the three months before his decisive battle with Yun Che, he uncontrollably returned to Flowing Cloud City multiple times, just to catch a glimpse of Xiao Lingxi. But he only watched from afar... fearing she might see him.

Yet today, not only had she saved him from the brink of death, but she had also actively offered to acknowledge him as her elder brother, to become his family, and to give him a new home.

No one could know the profound impact every word, every sentence she spoke had on his soul. It was like a sky-covering blizzard erupting in his icy world.

Stunned, dazed, disbelieving... then panic. Fen Juechen recoiled, shaking his head violently: "No, it can't be... It shouldn't be like this. You must... you must be doing this to stop me from killing Yun Che..."

Xiao Lingxi asserted firmly, "Brother Fen, every word I've spoken, and the oath I've sworn, are heartfelt! If... if it were because of Little Che, how could I have let Brother Tianxia bring you back..."

"No, you don't understand!" Fen Juechen shook his head even more violently, his eyes closed, his face etched with pain: "I am... just a demon now, a demon filled with sin from head to toe, living only for revenge. You wouldn't understand... you wouldn't understand!"

"It's *you* who doesn't understand!!" Xiao Lingxi cried out, "Brother Fen, do you still remember, four years ago, at the Burning Heaven Clan, you protected me and your elder brother, Fen Juecheng, twisted your arm, yet you wouldn't let him go... This incident, this kindness, I, Xiao Lingxi, will remember for a lifetime, never forgetting. How could someone like you be a devil!"

"During your time in Flowing Cloud City, I could feel that you were constantly in pain. You made yourself cold, cruel, even calling yourself a demon... but all of this was for the sake of avenging your family. A truly 'evil demon' is selfish and brutal; how could a true demon abandon their life and make themselves so miserable for the sake of their deceased loved ones?"

"I feared your threat to Little Che... but I knew even more clearly that you were never at fault from beginning to end; you were always just a victim. At least, you are definitely not the wicked person you believe yourself to be..."

"No... stop talking." Xiao Lingxi's words did not soothe his spirit; instead, his expression grew even more pained. He clasped his head in his hands: "You don't understand, you truly don't understand... I really am a devil..."

"I don't deserve you treating me this way!"

"Whether you're deserving or not, Brother Fen, is not for you to decide." Xiao Lingxi still shook her head, saying softly, "'Family' is a sacred word to me. In my life, my only family has been father, Little Che, and Xiao Yun, who recently returned. I never thought of actively seeking out others with no blood relation to be my family, but Brother Fen is different... When the Divine Phoenix army besieged our Flowing Cloud City, it was Brother Fen who protected Flowing Cloud City, protecting the hometown where Little Che and I were born and raised. So, to me, Brother Fen is not just a good person and a benefactor, but a true hero!"

Fen Juechen: "............"

"Therefore, I have always felt gratitude, closeness, and respect for Brother Fen. If Brother Fen could become my elder brother, a family member we could rely on and care for each other, it would be an incredibly joyful and fortunate thing for me. If Brother Fen refuses, I would be very disappointed and sad."

Fen Juechen's trembling stopped. He stood motionless, his gaze vacant, as if paralyzed.

"But it seems, Brother Fen, that you don't want me to be your family," Xiao Lingxi said, raising her head, her gaze tinged with disappointment as she looked into Fen Juechen's eyes.

"I... I..." Under her gaze, this man who had made two hundred thousand Divine Phoenix soldiers tremble and who Yun Che deeply feared suddenly became flustered, stammering incoherently.

"However..." Xiao Lingxi smiled again, her sudden radiant smile making the world before Fen Juechen instantly brighten: "Everything I wanted to say has been said, and I've sworn a solemn oath. Whether Brother Fen is willing to acknowledge me as his sister or not, in my heart, from this day forward, Brother Fen is my elder brother! From this day forward, the Xiao Clan will be Brother Fen's home, and this room will always be kept for Brother Fen. When Brother Fen is at home, I will care for him as I would my own elder brother, sharing and alleviating all good and bad things with him."

"But, if Brother Fen does anything wrong, as your sister, I will criticize and correct you without hesitation!!"

Without waiting for Fen Juechen's reply, Xiao Lingxi stood up, a charming smile gracing her face: "It's decided then! Brother Fen is gravely injured right now, so any resistance is completely futile! So..."

"Wait for me, I'll be right back!"

Xiao Lingxi finished speaking to herself and then ran off... After a short while, she pushed the door open again, carrying a stack of clean, grayish-white outer robes in her arms.

"Brother Fen, your clothes are all torn and they smell awful. Please change into these first. Brother Fen never relies on others, and it seems you've recovered a good deal of your strength, so you can definitely change by yourself. That's why I didn't call Brother Tianxia to help." She said with a smile, gently placing the clothes beside Fen Juechen's hand: "Oh, and these are clothes Little Che used to wear; they should fit perfectly."

Fen Juechen, his mind in turmoil, heard the words "Yun Che," and a surge of malevolence instinctively rose from his chest: "Yun... Che!?"

"Mhm!" Xiao Lingxi completely disregarded the abnormality in Fen Juechen's tone and aura, still smiling sweetly: "These are the clothes he left before he last departed. I just finished washing and drying them not long ago. I know Brother Fen deeply hates Little Che, but the clothes aren't at fault, and someone as formidable as Brother Fen surely wouldn't be petty enough to pick a fight with a set of clothes... I'll go prepare another dose of medicine. Brother Fen, be a good boy and change your clothes, okay? I'll come back once I'm done brewing it."

With a light smile, Xiao Lingxi turned and left, closing the door.

The world became incredibly quiet. For the first time, Fen Juechen felt his own heartbeat so distinctly, so violently.

He remained in a daze for a very long time, then finally extended his hand towards the outer robe beside him.

The clothes were neatly folded, every crease clean as new. Faintly, he could even smell a delicate fragrance.

These were the clothes of Yun Che, the person he hated most. His hatred should have extended to everything associated with Yun Che... He should have detested them, torn them fiercely, or even remained agitated for a long time because of them. But... at this moment, holding them in his hands, not a trace of malevolence or killing intent arose in his heart. Even the act of picking them up was unconsciously careful and gentle.

"By the heavens, I, Xiao Lingxi, swear to acknowledge Brother Fen Juechen as my elder brother... From this day forward, I am Brother Fen's family, and my home is Brother Fen's home..."

"It's *you* who doesn't understand... I feared your threat to Little Che, but I knew even more clearly that you were never at fault from beginning to end; you were always just a victim. At least, you are definitely not the wicked person you believe yourself to be..."

"...To me, Brother Fen is not just a good person and a benefactor, but a true hero!"

"If Brother Fen could become my elder brother, my family... how joyful and fortunate that would be for me..."

"Whether Brother Fen is willing to acknowledge me as his sister or not, in my heart, from this day forward, Brother Fen is my elder brother! From this day forward, the Xiao Clan will be Brother Fen's home..."

Xiao Lingxi's voice, every word, every phrase, echoed repeatedly in his mind and resonated in every corner of his icy soul.

Drip...

A faint drip, incredibly clear in the silent world. Fen Juechen lowered his head in a daze... On the corner of the gray robe in his hand, a wet stain was silently spreading.

Tears...

He extended a trembling finger to touch his face... His fingertip met a long trail of moisture...

Tears...

I am clearly a demon whose humanity and emotions have been extinguished, leaving only sin and hatred...

Why... do I still have tears...

His fingers trembled, and his soul became a chaotic mess. He didn't know what feeling now permeated his soul, only that the tear tracks on his face fell uncontrollably, unable to stop...

So I... can still be a... "person"...