The information in the Shadow Demon General’s memory fragments about the ancient connection between Yueqi and the demons was like a massive stone cast into the tranquil lake of Qingmu’s heart, stirring up countless ripples.
This sharply contradicted everything he knew—Yueqi was a hero who walked the world in the name of Holy Light, a representative recognized by the Church, so how could she be linked to the demons, those symbols of chaos and destruction? And what’s more, this connection existed before she became famous?
The truth hidden behind all this was surely far more complex and darker than mere “corruption” or “betrayal.” The reason for Yuelan killing Yueqi seemed partially substantiated, but the motives and mechanisms behind it remained shrouded in mist.
Qingmu forced himself to calm down. Anger and confusion would solve nothing. He needed more information, which the real world could not provide at the moment. The only breakthrough still lay within the simulation world, in the period of the Windchime Family, and with the Yueqi who was still “normal” then.
This time, the opportunity soon arrived. News came from the borders of the Windchime Family’s territory: a group of roaming monsters—mainly low-level Inferior Demons and a handful of skeleton soldiers—had attacked several villages. To train the family’s younger generation, and to display the Windchime Family’s resolve in protecting their lands, the marquis decided to send out a small team led by Yueqi. The group would include several collateral family members and two skilled hired hands to eliminate the threat. As Yueqi’s fiancé and the recently outstanding “strategist,” Qingmu was also assigned to the team.
Aside from Yueqi and Qingmu, the squad consisted of a steady-natured collateral family knight, a sharp-shooting elf ranger, and a halfling rogue in charge of scouting and traps. The halfling’s name was Boke, short in stature, quick on his feet, always wearing an optimistic smile, and once his chatterbox opened, it simply wouldn’t close.
The eradication process was hardly difficult. Yueqi, as the main force, swept her sword, and the monsters scattered. Her combat style remained just as Qingmu had observed before: fierce, efficient, and… utterly merciless. Even when faced with obviously panicked, almost harmless, isolated monsters, she would unleash her battle aura without hesitation, crushing them completely, as if to erase any trace of their existence.
During breaks between battles, Qingmu tried to approach Yueqi, handing her a water pouch and speaking casually, “Yueqi, your swordsmanship is becoming ever more refined. But I’ve noticed, you never hold back when dealing with these monsters—even the weakest of them, you use significant force. Is there some special tactical consideration? Perhaps you’re worried they might have hidden dangers?”
Yueqi accepted the pouch, took a sip with graceful movement, and gazed calmly at the others cleaning the battlefield in the distance, her tone indifferent: “When facing evil, one must go all out—purge it completely, leave no hidden threat. That’s the responsibility owed to the people.”
Her reply was upright and beyond reproach. But Qingmu keenly noticed that when she mentioned “purge completely,” her fingers tightened slightly on the sword hilt, though they relaxed in an instant, not escaping his eyes.
“Purge completely…” Qingmu repeated the words, thoughtful. “That sounds like the Church’s teachings. Is it because of your faith that you feel such… hatred toward monsters?”
Yueqi’s brows knit ever so faintly before relaxing. Her tone remained calm: “Faith in Holy Light means an unyielding opposition to darkness. There’s no need for further reason.” She paused, turning her head. For the first time, her gaze truly landed on Qingmu, carrying a faint, hard-to-notice scrutiny. “You seem very interested in my fighting style?”
“I just wonder if it drains you too much?” Qingmu met her eyes, his tone sincere. “On a real battlefield, endurance often matters more than burst power.”
“I know my own limits.” Yueqi’s tone cooled, clearly unwilling to pursue the topic further. “Just do your own job. Tactical observation and logistics support are your duties.”
Her words had a clear message to leave. She turned and went to check on the elf ranger’s arrow consumption.
Watching her retreating figure, Qingmu’s doubts only deepened. Yueqi was avoiding him, even deliberately changing the topic. Her words about “faith and purification” sounded reasonable, but combined with her subtle body language and her eagerness to end the conversation, it always felt like there was more beneath the surface. She seemed to be hiding something.
As evening fell, the squad camped on a wind-sheltered hillside. The campfire crackled. The elf ranger kept watch in the distance. The family knight polished his armor. Yueqi sat alone on a rock, eyes closed in meditation, an aura of “keep away” surrounding her.
Halfling Boke sidled up to Qingmu, handing him a piece of roasted jerky, lowering his voice with a mischievous smile: “Hey, buddy, did you upset the young lady? She didn’t look too happy when talking to you earlier.”
Qingmu accepted the jerky with a smile. “Nothing serious. We just discussed combat style.”
“Oh, that.” Boke took a bite of his own jerky, mumbling, “The young lady really goes all out in a fight, like she has some ancient blood feud with those monsters. But…” He paused, glanced around, and dropped his voice further, “I always felt, she’s not just fighting hard, it’s like she’s… hmm… suppressing something inside.”
Qingmu’s heart stirred, but his face remained calm. “Suppressing something? What do you mean?”
“It’s just a feeling.” Boke scratched his messy hair. “See, every time she goes all out, her expression gets really… tight? Not from the stress of battle, but more like… she’s desperately controlling herself, keeping from doing something even more extreme? Like there’s a beast locked inside her, and she has to use all her strength to keep the cage door shut. And part of the power she spends in a fight actually goes to locking that door.”
Boke’s words struck Qingmu like a bolt of lightning, instantly piercing the fog in his mind!
Suppression! Using all her strength was not just for fighting, but also to suppress something inside her!
This perfectly explained Yueqi’s abnormal fighting style! She wasn’t out of control, nor was it just simple hatred—she had no choice but to vent her power at high intensity in order to keep something within her in check!
“Boke, you’re very observant.” Qingmu said sincerely, probing further, “Have you been a rogue for a long time? You see things so clearly.”
“Haha, just trying to make a living.” Boke grinned. “I’ve got a little sister at home, Akya—her nickname is Xiaoya. She’s way more talented than me, might even become a powerful priest or mage someday! I’ve got to earn money so she can go to school.” His face lit up with a warm smile, pure affection for his family.
Akya? Xiaoya?!
Qingmu’s hand holding the jerky froze, staring in disbelief at the cheerful halfling before him.
That girl who’d always followed and helped him, Xiaoya—her full name was Akya!
A rush of complex emotions surged in Qingmu’s chest. He remembered clearly: in the original timeline, Boke would die…
He looked at Boke’s face, so full of life and hope for the future, and quietly clenched his fists.
A few days later, the clean-up mission completed successfully, and the squad started their journey back. Sure enough, when passing through a narrow canyon, they were ambushed—not by the straggling remnants they expected, but by dozens of well-equipped, coordinated Abyss Hounds, and several demon spellcasters lurking in the shadows!
Battle erupted instantly, the situation spiraling out of control. The elf ranger’s arrows were disrupted by curses, the family knight was entangled by hounds, and though Yueqi fought fiercely, with the spellcasters’ interference and the hounds’ frenzied assaults, she couldn’t break through.
As for Boke, with his agility, he could have easily escaped. But to create an opening for the family knight trapped by a spell, he bravely turned back, drawing the attention of two hounds with his poisoned daggers, fighting and retreating, only to be forced to the cliff’s edge!
Just as a hound leapt, claws glinting, about to tear out Boke’s throat—
“Watch out!”
A low shout. Qingmu’s figure appeared beside Boke like a ghost! He’d anticipated the danger, keeping an eye on the battle. At that critical moment, he yanked Boke back, and with his other hand, flung several special iron caltrops he’d been gripping, striking the hound precisely in the eyes and joints!
The hound howled in pain, lost its balance, and tumbled down the cliff.
“Tha… Thank you!” Boke gasped, his face pale as he stared at Qingmu.
“If I can fight, best just pretend you don’t know.” Qingmu said no more, pulling Boke up.
…
…
That night, the Windchime Family held a small celebration feast. Moonlight bathed the courtyard, filled with the scent of wine and food. The young people, having survived their ordeal, relaxed and burst into laughter.
Qingmu, holding a glass of fruit wine, walked over to Yueqi, who stood alone by the garden rail, gazing at the night sky. The evening breeze tousled her golden hair, her profile blurred by the moonlight.
“Thanks to you, everyone made it back safely today.” Qingmu spoke.
Yueqi did not turn around, only responding with a faint “Mm.”
Qingmu sipped his wine, looking at the lively crowd in the distance, his tone calm as he continued, “I watched your battle today, especially when you cut down that spellcaster. Your power burst out suddenly and violently… But Boke told me, he thinks you fight so hard not just because it’s a fight, but as if you’re desperately suppressing something.”
Yueqi’s body instantly tensed, her fingers whitening on the rail from gripping too tightly. She said nothing.
Qingmu didn’t give her a chance to think, pressing on: “That ‘thing’ inside you, what is it? Every time you give it your all, it’s not just to destroy the enemy, but to expend your strength so it doesn’t break free—or rather… so you don’t lose yourself completely to it?”
Yueqi whipped her head around, her green eyes flashing in the moonlight with shock, anger, and a trace of panic at her secret being exposed. “You… what nonsense are you talking about?!”
“I’m not talking nonsense, Yueqi.” Qingmu’s gaze was sharp, as if he could see into her soul. “I can tell you’re in pain. You’re fighting yourself, in a battle harder than any with a demon. Tell me—what is it? Maybe… I can help you.”
Yueqi glared at Qingmu, her chest heaving. The air between them seemed to freeze. The noise of the feast faded into another world.
After a long while, the anger and panic in Yueqi’s eyes gradually gave way to deep exhaustion and helplessness. She looked away, gazing again at the endless night, her voice so low it was almost lost on the wind:
“How did you know…” Her voice trembled, “It’s a curse.”
She took a deep breath, as if gathering all her strength to force out the next words:
“I’m suppressing it. What I’m suppressing is… the hero’s instinct.”
She finally admitted it!
But, the hero’s instinct? What did that mean?
Qingmu was stunned inside, but outwardly he remained calm. He didn’t probe further about the exact nature of the “thing”—that would only agitate her again.
Yueqi was willing to speak now; there would be chances to discuss it further next time.
“This isn’t just your battle, Yueqi.” he said softly, his tone resolute, “At least, from now on, I know.”
Yueqi suddenly looked at him, her eyes full of complex emotions—surprise, doubt, and a trace of faint, unconscious hope.
In the moonlight, the two gazed quietly at each other.
“Thank you, my fiancé.”
She said.