Conquering That Great Demon Lord [Xian Ni Fan Fiction] - Chapter 40: The Edge

Chapter 40: The Edge

“Then tell me, Wan’er, what is the Soul of Life about?” Wang Lin took two steps forward, leaning down with his arms braced against the low couch.

Li Muwan instinctively retreated, tilting her head back to look at him, the slender ends of her eyes lifting.

“Senior Brother, what are you talking about? How could Wan’er understand?” She feigned ignorance, her mind racing through countless possibilities before deciding to burn her bridges.

Wang Lin gazed at that innocent, naive face, struggling to suppress his anger, yet the words “I never loved you to begin withI only did it to survive” echoed relentlessly in his ears.

“If Wan’er is unwilling to give her true heart, I, Wang Lin, am not one to cling obsessively…” he murmured weakly, ruthlessly forming a hand seal, intent on probing the hidden secrets within her Storage Bag.

This wasn’t like him. His actions felt beyond his control, contradictory to his nature. Were it not for lingering affection and pity for herbecause of those wordshe might have used soul-searching magic on her…

Li Muwan sensed the fluctuations in the Soul Pearl and noticed the abrupt shift in Wang Lin’s expression, the familiar coldness between his brows, and the killing intent gleaming in his frosty eyes.

“Senior Brother, Wan’er doesn’t know what’s wrong with you? If Wan’er said anything foolish while drunk, don’t listen to it.” Li Muwan forced calmness, cupping his face and dotting light kisses from his brow downward.

“Those were drunken words.”

When her soft, warm lips touched his, the suppressed beast within him seemed to ease. His bloodshot eyes grew misty. “Wan’er? Is it true?”

Her face, so close it blurred, lips trailing down his nose bridgeWang Lin sank into the tenderness yet couldn’t forget her words from last night.

“Wan’er, what is the Soul Pearl?” Wang Lin gripped her, stopping her advances.

Li Muwan’s heart skipped a beat, but she immediately smiled and evaded the question, pressing closer. “Senior Brother, Wan’er loves you…”

This time, she kissed his lipsfirst a faint brush, then repeated lingering, gentle then intense, dissolving all his doubts and unease with her perfectly measured pressure.

Yet he remained unresponsive, letting Li Muwan entwine herself around him. His motionless body nearly made her lose heart. Kneeling up, she leaned over his shoulder, kissing him with increasing fervor.

Wang Lin finally closed his eyes. In this moment, even if she was a liar, he was willing to sink into the prison she had woven.

His response dispelled Li Muwan’s fear and worry. Sheltered beneath him, the Fiend showed none of his usual roughness or aggression, every movement tender and cherishing.

Wang Lin seemed to be holding a Magical Artifact obtained through countless trials, examining and studying it carefully, searching for any difference in those captivating eyes.

Yet all he could see was Li Muwan’s sincere love. If she was a deceiver, she must have first trapped herself, a hunter using her own body as bait.

“Nothing in this world matters to me anymoreonly you are tied to my thoughts in this life…” His heated breath misted her eyes, kissing her until she couldn’t open them.

“If Wan’er were a Magical Artifact, I would blood-sacrifice to refine you, so you could belong only to me and share life with me.” Listening to his murmured nonsense while enduring his relentless thrusts, Li Muwan felt her heartbeat nearly stop.

“If Wan’er must deceive, then deceive me forever. Don’t leave me, alright?”

Li Muwan’s body went limp, her mind in disarray, trembling as she responded to him: “Alright… I won’t leave…”

After all, at this moment he was controllable, but Li Muwan could no longer grasp when the peace in his heart would collapse again. She only wanted to end it quickly, to end everything.

In their lingering intimacy, he restrained himself, his movements so gentle that Li Muwan felt as if she were immersed in a lake, wrapped by the water’s flow. Yet the one holding her kept murmuring incessantly by her ear, his words gradually descending into madness.

Hearing this sent chills down her spine, making her wish she could flee immediately.

“I know you wouldn’t lie to me. If Wan’er truly did so, I believe it wasn’t your intention.”

“Wan’er, no one in this world loves me anymore.”

“Killing has defined my entire lifeyou are the one who gave me flesh and blood.”

“If Wan’er dares deceive me, then let us die together…”

“Wan’er just said you wouldn’t leave me, right?”

…

Though her body was warm, she felt as if submerged in an icy pond. She opened her eyes and saw again the killing intent in the Fiend’s eyes from their first meeting in the Sea of Demonic Cultivation.

A tear fell from Li Muwan’s eye, slipping into Wang Lin’s mouth. He swallowed the salty bitterness and faintly licked the lingering taste.

She was acutely aware of what she was doing.

Comfort him, just comfort him a little more.

Wang Lin willingly lingered in the tenderness she offered, allowing her to guide him. The overwhelming flood of affection he released was fiercely restrained before her, yet he still treated her like a precious jewelunwilling to crush or harm her.

He could only gaze and caress, wanting to fiercely shatter her yet fearing he might scare her away. Her helpless eyes brimmed with misty tears.

His hoarse voice whispered her name repeatedly.

“Wan’er…”

“Wan’er…”

…

It took Li Muwan immense effort to lull the slumbering beast that could awaken at any moment. Her body couldn’t withstand the Spiritual Power fluctuations from Dual Cultivation, but since the backlash had aroused Wang Lin’s suspicion, she had no choice but to use this method to soothe him.

She could sense Wang Lin’s uncontrollable nature. Even if she managed to placate him now, if he realized the truth upon waking, his meticulous nature would drive him to investigate the Soul of Life. With them constantly together, Li Muwan feared she would inevitably reveal clues.

Moreover, given the abnormality in her body’s absorption of Spiritual Power, even if she remained silent, if Wang Lin ever used the Soul-Searching Art again, everything about the Soul Pearl and all her schemes would be exposed.

If the Fiend discovered it all began with deception, not only would he never truly love her, but her very survival would be uncertain.

Thus, she had to take a desperate gamble.

Seizing the moment when his Divine Sense was weakest, Li Muwan used a Magical Art to plunge him into temporary slumber.

She would leave this place, find a secluded spot he couldn’t discover, and focus on cultivation. The Fiend had already shown signs of insecurityif this could break the stagnation in her Soul Pearl’s progress, it would be for the best.

If not, then let it end here. She had endured countless hardships and storms, yet fate continued to mock her…

Under the surging night, the man on the low couch had sharp features, his brows furrowed even in sleep. Li Muwan gazed at him, her heart aching with reluctance. She smoothed his brow and gently pressed a kiss there.

“Our meeting was always a deception. Whether I reclaim my Soul of Life or not, there can be no future for us.”

She rose and crafted a Jade Slip, instructing Zhou Lin on sect matters and leaving behind the Elixirs she had refined over the years. After arranging everything,

Li Muwan donned a cloak and left the Southern Garden. Several Fiends lay scattered across the rooftop, snoring loudly in disarray.

She glanced over and used her Divine Sense to awaken Xiao Ling, who happily went to greet her. Li Muwan made a “shush” gesture toward her, and Xiao Ling obediently fell silent, tiptoeing carefully past Xu Liguo.

In the darkness, a human and a beast transformed into a shadow, disappearing above the Cloud Heaven Sect.

Seven days had passed since Wang Lin woke up. An unprecedented heaviness pounded at his temples as he sat up, massaging his forehead and shaking his head. He remembered falling asleep with Li Muwan nestled in his arms, but now the room was empty, devoid of even her lingering presence.

He extended his Divine Sense to search, yet there was no trace of her. A powerful instinct forced him to suppress the terrifying thoughts rising in his mind. Immediately, a red light flashed between his brows, and several Fiends materialized.

“Have any of you seen Wan’er?” His tall frame was completely concealed by his loose robe, the wide sleeves swaying gently with his movements. Leaning against the railing, he took a sip from a wine gourd, his gaze distant and unfocused. Above the lotus pond in the Southern Garden, fallen leaves drifted, and the usually paired immortal cranes were nowhere to be seen.

The Fiends shook their heads. Xu Liguo, observing his master’s mood, could tell he was in low spirits and emotionally unsettled. “Master, hasn’t the mistress been with you in the room these past seven days? We haven’t seen her leave.”

“Seven days…” Wang Lin’s thoughts drifted far away. Had it really been seven days?

And among the Fiends, one was missing.

Wang Lin could sense neither the Second Demon nor her presence.

Closing his eyes, Wang Lin let out a heavy sigh. The thought crashed into himLi Muwan was not in the Cloud Heaven Sect!

Instantly, a powerful surge of energy rippled through the Southern Garden. The water in the lotus pond was churned up by his Divine Sense, forming a massive pillar that cascaded down like heavenly weak water, flooding the entire garden. The buildings in the Southern Garden trembled, and fierce winds swept through the rooms, scattering furnishings.

Xu Liguo clung to a pillar, shouting, “Master, you must stop! This building is about to collapse!”

Seeing no response from Wang Lin, the energy continued to surge uncontrollably.

“This is the mistress’s room! She’ll be upset if it’s ruined!” Xu Liguo yelled at the top of his lungs.

After a moment, Wang Lin reined in the rampant Spiritual Power, and everything returned to calm. However, the chaos was evident everywhere: the Herb Field had been washed out, and the flowers in the lotus pond were scattered by the deluge.

“Finally, it’s quiet,” Xu Liguo muttered, patting his chest in relief.

Meanwhile, in the Grand Ancestor Hall of the Cloud Heaven Sect, the four Grand Ancestors exchanged uneasy glances upon hearing the news of the sect leader’s disappearance.

Wang Lin stood on a high platform, looking down at the four with an imposing, silent pressure. No one dared to speak in his presence.

He refused to dwell on why Li Muwan had left without a word. Whenever he tried, her words from that night echoed like a curse, disrupting his calm and reason.

“Mobilize the entire Cloud Heaven Sect. I want news of Wan’er within three days,” his cold, authoritative voice resonated through the hall, leaving no room for argument.

Li Muwan carried the Top-Grade Spirit Stone he had given her. If she intended to hide, she could use an ancient teleportation array to reach any corner of the Vermilion Bird Star. Where would the Cloud Heaven Sect even begin to search?

“For a century, the sect leader has been diligent and unwavering in his duties. Even when faced with challenges from higher-level cultivation nations, he led from the front. How could he abandon the Cloud Heaven Sect so suddenly and vanish without a trace…” Cloud Heaven Sect’s Grand Ancestor wondered aloud. “Could the sect leader have encountered some difficulty?”

“Zhou Lin is the sect leader’s trusted aide. What does he have to say about this?”

Wang Lin had nearly forgotten about him. After leaving the Grand Ancestor Hall, he summoned Zhou Lin for questioning, but Zhou Lin was equally perplexed.

“Master has always been meticulous, even when leaving to gather herbs. She would give detailed instructions and ensure all sect affairs were in order before departing,” Zhou Lin expressed his concern.

“Aside from the Land of Immortal Remains, where else has she gone to search for herbs?”

“The Land of Immortal Remains is treacherous,” Zhou Lin pondered Li Muwan’s travel records over the years. “Master later rarely visited such places. Besides the valleys near the border of Chu Kingdom, she only went to marketplaces and black market auctions to exchange for necessary items. Nothing beyond that.”

“However, in recent years, Master hasn’t personally gone out searching for herbs anymore. Usually, her disciples handle such tasks.”

“What kind of herbs does Wan’er typically seek?” Wang Lin asked expressionlessly.

“This…” Zhou Lin hesitated. Over the past few years, Li Muwan had been searching for many rare spirit herbs to refine elixirs for extending her lifespan. Many had passed through Zhou Lin’s hands, but the required herbs were complex and could only be refined after Li Muwan calculated their properties and effects – knowledge beyond Zhou Lin’s current understanding.

Wang Lin’s eyes sharpened, emitting a cold gleam. Zhou Lin immediately lowered his head and replied: “Master’s alchemy methods are profound. Most of the spirit herbs she uses are precious with varying effects. Aside from supplying the needs of upper-level cultivation nations, they’re used to refine elixirs for you, Senior.”

“As for other matters, I generally don’t inquire, and Master doesn’t elaborate.”

“Has she ever mentioned the Soul of Life to you?” Wang Lin’s gaze fell upon the waterside pavilion – where Li Muwan usually sat playing the zither.

“Soul of Life?” Zhou Lin looked confused and shook his head.

Wang Lin dismissed him and stared blankly at the zither platform, as if her residual presence still lingered within that layer of hazy curtain. He peered intently, but when he approached, there was no one there.

“Where is Wan’er?” Wang Lin raised his hand, tracing her silhouette in the air with his fingertips. Was she deliberately avoiding him?

Wang Lin recalled the coaxing words she had frequently spoken recently.

“Senior Brother, if Wan’er ever does something that displeases you in the future, please don’t take it out on the Cloud Heaven Sect, alright?”

“So you had already planned to leave long ago. Why?” Wang Lin’s brows furrowed tightly.

“You stirred my heart, and now you want to just walk away?” Wang Lin’s face showed pain. “Since you chose to deceive me, why not continue the deception?”

Zhou Lin felt heavy-hearted as he withdrew from the Southern Garden. With Li Muwan absent, he naturally had to handle affairs. Among the sect matters delivered to him was a distinctive Jade Slip, still protected by a restriction. The defensive restriction set by Li Muwan would disappear after ten days. When the restriction dissipated, Zhou Lin saw her instructions to inform Wang Lin about this matter.

***

Far away, a million miles distant in a celestial realm, an immortal figure landed on a mountain cliff, followed by a ferocious bat-like Demon Beast.

Her light gauze robes brushed against the mountain ridge, accompanying the setting sun behind rolling clouds. Gazing at the vast universe, her heart felt utterly empty.

“If not for the Top-Grade Spirit Stone Senior Brother gave me earlier, I wouldn’t have been able to come to this place. It’s sparsely populated but rich with Spiritual Energy, suitable for recuperation.As Li Muwan turned, her outline was bathed in sunlight, making her naturally gentle appearance even softer, though her expression carried a trace of sorrow.

“Xiao Ling, do you think he will come looking for me after he wakes up?” Li Muwan gazed at the distant afterglow. “If he can’t find me, I wonder if he’ll take it out on the Cloud Heaven Sect.”

Xiao Ling nodded, then shook her head.

[Soul Pearl: If you knew today would come, why didn’t you listen when I told you to switch to the Fiend two hundred years ago? Now you’re hiding from the Fiend yourself. How are you going to complete the mission and retrieve your Soul of Life? Your lifespan isn’t long anymore.]

【Li Muwan: If he knew I deceived him, would he still willingly fall into the web of lies I’ve woven? But I no longer wish to continue this deceptionmy heart is no longer under my control…】

To stay or to leaveLi Muwan wrestled with this dilemma.

【Soul Pearl: To pacify the Fiend, you not only lured him into Dual Cultivation with you but also expended vast amounts of Spiritual Power by activating the ancient teleportation array with Top-Grade Spirit Stones. Your Cultivation level has fallen, and you must recuperate as soon as possible.】

【Li Muwan: This body is already on the verge of collapse. He has more important matters to attend to. If he were to stay and discover the truth, would he demand repayment for my deception, or would he be distracted, exhausting all means to help me recover my Soul of Life…】

It seemed neither outcome was what she wished to witness.