Chapter 1: Her Name Is Chi Mo, Guanyizhou's Girlfriend

"It's been raining nonstop for a while now, and the rumors about water ghosts killing people just keep getting worse. Everyone's on edge."

"Hey, Senior Brothers, there's a pond in our academy too. You don't think that water ghost could sneak in here and kill someone, do you?"

"Don't talk nonsense. The Master said we shouldn't speak of strange or supernatural things. As long as you walk straight and sit upright, evil spirits naturally can't touch you."

The younger scholar got scolded by his senior and immediately shut his mouth, not daring to say another word.

A noise suddenly came from deep within the bookshelves.

Everyone looked over. "Who's in there?"

Soon, a girl walked out.

She smiled. "What a coincidence, running into everyone here."

She wore a light pink ruqun embroidered with peach branches. The upper garment was a soft pink like newly bloomed peach blossoms, the collar and cuffs trimmed with fine silver thread. A soft silk sash of the same color was tied at her waist, hanging with a small jade clasp.

The hem spread out like faint pink clouds. When she walked, the skirt swayed lightly, setting off her graceful figure and making her brows and eyes look even more gentle and pretty.

The three young scholars exchanged glances for a moment. The oldest, Xu Hui, said, "A Xi, why are you in the library pavilion again? If the Dean finds out, he'll definitely punish you."

The youngest scholar quickly chimed in, "Right, right, right! The Dean hasn't noticed yet. Hurry up and leave."

Another scholar quickly snatched the book from He Xi's hands. "You absolutely cannot let the Dean know you're reading this kind of improper book again, or he'll definitely fly into a rage."

He Xi went, "Oh."

As the daughter of the academy's dean, He Xi had received a very strict education since she was little.

Her dad didn't object to her reading the Four Books and Five Classics, but he hated it when she read those storybooks about lovesick men and women.

In her dad's words, those books were all improper stuff.

Plenty of He Xi's hidden collections had been confiscated, but she knew well that the most dangerous place was the safest. She'd been secretly squatting in the library pavilion reading books for a while now, and for a long time, her dad hadn't noticed.

She hurriedly snatched the taken book back into her own hands. Before the scholars could open their mouths, she changed the subject. "Is that thing about the water ghost killing people actually real?"

Xu Hui tapped the top of her head with the book. "Where would so many ghosts and monsters come from? I think it's just unpredictable human hearts playing tricks."

Another scholar laughed. "Isn't your fiancé a Daoist priest at Zhenxiang Temple? If you're curious, why not get him to investigate? If there really is a ghost, he can subdue it."

The youngest scholar quickly shook his head. "No way, no way. If he comes, before he even catches a ghost, the Dean will be chasing him out with a broom again."

Everyone thought of that chaotic scene from before and couldn't help but want to laugh.

He Xi felt rather awkward. "Um... I have something to do, so I'm leaving first. Senior Brothers, please don't tell my dad I was here."

Hugging her book, she ran out of the library pavilion. Looking up, she saw a folded paper crane flying through the air.

He Xi reached out her hand. The paper crane landed in her palm and turned into a slip of paper with writing on it.

Joy appeared between her brows. She hurried back to her courtyard, laid out all her little snacks, then sat on a stone stool. Propping her chin up with both hands, she hummed an off-key tune, waiting for someone to show up.

Early summer afternoons were comfortable. It was cool under the pear tree, and when the wind blew, she grew drowsy.

He Xi couldn't help it. She slumped onto the table, closed her eyes, and fell asleep.

She had a dream. She dreamed of the past, but that past seemed a bit different from what she remembered.

The night was dark as ink. The ground was covered in the mangled corpses of demonic beasts, blood flooding the earth in a horrifying sight.

Standing among the mountain of corpses, the youth's back looked lonely. His white robes were entirely stained crimson, his black hair soaked in blood and plastered to his neck. His long sword hung down, dark red blood drops sliding off the blade.

Fierce aura churned around him. Though his posture was transcendent, it radiated a terrifying coldness.

And behind him stood a beautiful girl in purple.

The girl looked fearfully at the mountains of corpses and seas of blood around her, conflict showing in her brows and eyes.

Strangely, He Xi heard this girl talking to something weird.

[System, what's his affection level for me now?]

[Fifty percent.]

[Why is it still fifty percent?! I've brought him food, drinks, and warmth, and now I'm accompanying him deep into danger. Why is his affection permanently stuck at fifty percent and won't budge?!]

[Please keep working hard, Host. Your mission is to conquer him and make him like you.]

[I know that, of course. I have to complete the mission. System, even if I die, can you give me a revive cheat?]

[According to the rules, I have the opportunity to revive the Host seven times in this world.]

[Good, then I'll gamble!]

Demons and monsters charged forward one after another, seemingly endless.

The youth's long sword hung low. Blood dripped continuously down the blade, splattering dark red dots on the ground, yet his stance remained fierce. He did not fall.

A dark shadow suddenly shot out from the pile of corpses, its sharp claws carrying a foul wind straight toward his back.

At that critical moment, a slender figure rushed over, blocking it with her body and taking that fatal blow head-on.

The youth's body instantly froze. The frost-cold sword intent churning around him surged violently. Sharp sword qi swept across the surrounding demonic beasts, instantly slashing back all the approaching monsters.

He caught the girl's falling body, his voice trembling. "Ruan Zhizhi."

The girl spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, but still managed to force a smile. "I finally... finally got to see you worry about me... If I... if I die, will you remember me forever?"

The youth was silent for a long time. Then he said, "I won't let you die."

He pressed against her wound, trying to pour spiritual energy into her to save her life.

"Don't waste your effort... I'm already... already done for... Even if I'm not by your side, remember to eat well. Before slaying demons and exterminating monsters, you must protect yourself first..."

[Scenes of spending every day with her suddenly flashed before the youth's eyes.

This girl used to feel like a sticky plaster to him, always saying she liked him, clinging to him, hopping around in front of him, being so noisy.

He had also said she was annoying.

But right now, seeing her pale little face lying in his arms, his heart was suddenly squeezed tight.

It was as if some precious treasure was slowly slipping away right in front of him.]

He Xi stared at the subtitles floating in midair, question marks flashing through her entire brain.

Why did she feel like she was reading a romance novel?

System: "Affection level one hundred percent."

The dying girl suddenly coughed louder, spitting out even more blood. Her mission was finally complete!

"Ruan Zhizhi, don't die. You'll be fine, you'll definitely be fine."

Looking at the youth again, Ruan Zhizhi actually felt a trace of reluctance and guilt, but soon, the joy of completing the mission made her ignore these subtle emotions.

She had finally made him fall in love with her, but now it was also time for her to leave.

"I'm going..." she said at last. "You must... remember me..."

[She closed her eyes.

Her powerless body turned into specks of light, disappearing bit by bit in his arms, like moonlight that couldn't be grasped.

She had recklessly barged into his world, messing up his silent, still world, stripping it of all order.

But how could she leave so completely?

The youth felt a heart-tearing pain.

Turns out, his heart had moved long ago.

The demonic blood inside him surged wildly, screaming as if to tear his body apart. His reason was devoured bit by bit. Finally, the moment he raised his eyes, demonic patterns sprouted, and his black hair turned frost-white.

Killing intent descended like a tidal wave, swallowing all living things around him.

The fallen demon lost his mind, slaughtering across a thousand miles in a single day, turning the mortal realm into a living hell!]

What!?

Slaughtering across a thousand miles!?

Then wouldn't her family's academy be included in that!?

He Xi had forgotten she was dreaming. She paced anxiously in circles, then picked up a wooden stick from the ground and charged at that silhouette.

"No, you can't turn into a demon!!!"

A dull thud rang out abruptly. The wooden stick smacked solidly against the back of the youth's head.

The demonic patterns spreading across half his face, the interwoven black and white strands of hair—everything seemed to pause and stop changing in that instant.

Slowly, he turned his head.

The youth had an exceptionally handsome face. Sharp brow bones, long eyebrows sweeping into his temples, a straight nose bridge, distinct lips.

Though the demonic patterns on half his face added a sinister vibe, they couldn't hide his originally gentle and handsome features at all. The black-and-white hair draped over his shoulders only highlighted the elegant contours of his face, giving him an immortal bearing.

Right now, vicious aura churned in his eyes, yet his striking elegance still moved the soul.

It was He Xi's first time seeing the youth's face clearly. In utter disbelief, she was scared three steps back, the stick dropping from her hand to the ground.

Suddenly, her head hurt.

He Xi snapped her eyes open.

A gentle breeze blew. Tree shadows filtered dappled sunlight. A bright yellow loquat rolled off the stone table and stopped right in front of her eyes.

"Hey, A Xi."

A clear, pleasant voice drifted over on the wind.

He Xi propped herself up and looked over, only to see a youth squatting on the wall.

He wore a blue cloth Daoist robe, his long hair tied high into a neat ponytail. Warm sunlight covered his shoulders, his brows and eyes bright and cheerful.

The youth rested his chin on one hand, the corner of his mouth curved in a lively smile, his gaze burning as he looked at her.

"Your dad said once I save up another hundred taels, he'll let me marry you. Are you happy?"