Chapter 54
The next morning was unusually peaceful.
For the first time in many days, there were no screams.
No battles.
No blood.
Only sunlight.
Soft golden light filtered through the windows of Zhuo Yichen’s room as he sat beside a table covered in ancient books.
History records.
Clan archives.
Old legends of the Ice Yi people.
His brows were slightly furrowed as he carefully turned a page.
Outside the window, birds chirped.
Everything felt calm.
Almost normal.
Then—
a familiar voice echoed through the room.
“You always did like books.”
Yichen’s hand froze.
His expression darkened immediately.
Without looking up, he already knew who it was.
Li Lun.
The air behind him distorted.
The figure slowly appeared beside the window.
Wearing his usual smile.
As though he hadn’t ruined countless lives.
As though he hadn’t nearly destroyed everything.
Yichen slowly closed the book.
“You have a talent.”
Li Lun chuckled.
“For appearing exactly when nobody wants you around.”
Li Lun laughed.
“Still sharp-tongued.”
His gaze lingered on Yichen.
Longer than necessary.
Almost thoughtfully.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Yichen stood.
His eyes cold.
“You came to mock me?”
“No.”
Li Lun tilted his head.
“I came because I was curious.”
“About what?”
A faint smile appeared.
“About how much longer you’ll keep pretending.”
The room became silent.
Li Lun slowly walked closer.
“You’ve suffered.”
No response.
“You’ve been betrayed.”
Nothing.
“You lost control.”
Still nothing.
“You hurt innocent people.”
Yichen’s jaw tightened.
Every word struck exactly where it hurt.
Li Lun noticed.
Of course he noticed.
That was why he was saying them.
“Everything that happened recently…”
His smile widened slightly.
“…was necessary.”
Yichen’s eyes sharpened.
Necessary.
Such a simple word.
For all the pain.
All the fear.
All the suffering.
“Necessary?”
His voice was dangerously calm.
Li Lun nodded.
“I wanted you to understand me.”
The words hung heavily in the air.
Yichen stared at him.
Then slowly laughed.
A humorless laugh.
“You destroyed my life.”
“You nearly killed my friends.”
“You turned me into something I feared becoming.”
“And you call that understanding?”
For the first time, Li Lun’s smile faded slightly.
“Because now you know.”
His voice lowered.
“You know what it feels like.”
His gaze remained fixed on Yichen.
“To become something others fear.”
“To be abandoned.”
“To belong nowhere.”
Silence followed.
Li Lun stepped closer.
“You’ve killed too many demons.”
His words were soft.
Almost gentle.
“The humans fear what you’re becoming.”
“The demons hate what you’ve been.”
A faint sadness appeared in his eyes.
“Where exactly do you belong now?”
Yichen’s heart trembled.
Because somewhere deep inside—
the question hurt.
Not because it was true.
But because he had already asked himself the same thing.
Li Lun smiled.
Seeing the hesitation.
“There is no place for you.”
His voice became tempting.
Like poison wrapped in silk.
“No home.”
“No people.”
“No future.”
Then he extended his hand.
Toward Yichen.
“Come with me.”
The room became still.
Li Lun’s gaze softened.
Unexpectedly.
Painfully.
“There was something else.”
Yichen frowned.
“What?”
For the first time, Li Lun looked away.
As though admitting something difficult.
Something he had hidden for a long time.
His smile became bitter.
“I had feelings for you too.”
The confession surprised even Yichen.
Li Lun laughed softly.
“I suppose I always lost.”
His eyes darkened.
“Against him.”
There was no need to say Zhao Yuanzhou’s name.
Both understood.
“I’ll accept you.”
Li Lun continued quietly.
“Everything you’ve become.”
“The darkness.”
“The anger.”
“The demon blood.”
He extended his hand again.
“Come with me.”
His voice lowered.
“And I’ll make you mine.”
The room became completely silent.
Several heartbeats passed.
Li Lun waited.
Certain there would be hesitation.
Certain that suffering would eventually win.
Instead—
Yichen suddenly smiled.
A very dangerous smile.
The same smile he wore before defeating an enemy.
Li Lun blinked.
“Why are you smiling?”
Yichen slowly closed his book.
Placed it neatly on the table.
Then walked directly toward him.
One step.
Two.
Three.
Until they stood face to face.
Li Lun smiled.
Believing he had won.
Then—
Yichen grabbed him by the collar.
“What—”
Before he could finish—
SPLASH.
A tremendous splash echoed through the courtyard.
The next thing Li Lun knew—
he was in the river.
Completely submerged.
His hair floating everywhere.
His dignity gone.
Several fish immediately scattered.
Li Lun surfaced.
Staring in disbelief.
Yichen stood calmly on the bridge.
Looking down.
Expressionless.
“You pushed me.”
Li Lun looked genuinely offended.
For several seconds he forgot to be evil.
Water dripped from Li Lun’s hair.
Yichen finally spoke.
His voice calm.
Steady.
Certain.
“You want me to hate.”
“No.”
“You want me to surrender.”
“No.”
“You want me to become you.”
Li Lun’s expression slowly changed.
Because Yichen was right.
Yichen looked toward the flowing river.
Then back at him.
“I understand you now.”
For the first time, there was no anger in his voice.
Only honesty.
“You suffered.”
“You were abandoned.”
“You were hurt.”
Li Lun froze.
“You endured things nobody should have endured.”
The river suddenly seemed very quiet.
“But suffering isn’t an excuse.”
Every word landed heavily.
“You chose darkness.”
“You chose revenge.”
“You chose hatred.”
His gaze remained unwavering.
“And Zhao Yuanzhou chose differently.”
Li Lun’s expression cracked slightly.
Yichen continued.
“He lost more than anyone.”
“Yet he still protects people.”
“He still believes in kindness.”
“He still loves this world.”
His voice softened.
“And that’s why I’ll never become you and never be yours.”
The wind moved gently across the water.
Li Lun stared.
Silent.
For once unable to answer.
Yichen smiled faintly.
A tired smile.
But a genuine one.
“I finally understand.”
Thinking of a certain stubborn demon.
“I admire his strength.”
The strength to keep loving.
The strength to keep forgiving.
The strength to keep living.
Even after losing everything.
Li Lun stood motionless in the river.
Watching Yichen walk away.
For the first time—
he realized that despite all the pain he had inflicted…
despite all the traps…
despite all the suffering…
Zhuo Yichen had become even more certain of who he was.
And somehow—
that hurt more than losing any battle.