Ethereal World: Vicious Cannon Fodder's Immortality Road

"Ice Phoenix, Bing Xue!" Shenlian Yingyue’s eyes turned red before her expression turned ice-cold. This was the first time she had ever called him by his full name since acknowledging him as her partner.

"Yue, are you mad?" Bing Xue’s long eyelashes trembled at her expressionless face. Had he upset her? Panic surged through him.

Bu Si Shu silently patted his chest before flying to a nearby tree, successfully hiding behind small leaves that barely covered his body. This girl was terrifying when she was angry.

"Who am I to you?" she asked, her voice devoid of any emotion.

"You’re my master, my only master, my partner, and my family," Bing Xue replied, his heartbeat quickening. He had never felt such panic before, not even when Huang Bai Xing had asked him to die for her, to protect her and everyone in the sect from Diyu’s wrath. Back then, he had remained calm.

"I am your master, family, partner, right?" she repeated his words, still staring at him without emotion.

"Yes!" Bing Xue’s face turned pale.

"Then who are you to me?" she continued, her clear eyes as tranquil as still water.

"I am your..." Bing Xue’s words suddenly halted.

A wave of realization struck him like a crashing tide.

His throat tightened. His glacier-blue eyes, usually cold and serene, reddened with emotion.

From the very first moment he encountered her, she made it abundantly clear to him and all those she cherished, she never wished for anyone to make sacrifices on her behalf. She neither sought unwavering loyalty nor requested anyone to take up her struggles.

Her only desire was for their happiness and peace.

She often expressed that no matter where her journey might lead, be it paradise or perdition, she was prepared to traverse it solo. She had never wavered in the face of adversity, anguish, or turmoil. Yet, what truly frightened her was the thought of losing them. She dreaded the idea of witnessing their suffering.

"I’ve never been concerned with Huang Bai Xing’s fortune before, nor do I find Di Xiuyu’s presence intimidating now. I am not afraid of another Daughter of Destiny appearing—I never have," Shenlian Yingyue continued, her voice steady.

"So tell me, Bing Xue, why do you think I need to sacrifice my loved ones just to pave a path for myself? Even if I lose everything I have now in my battle against her, as long as my soul remains, I will rise again. I will always stand back up."

"All I wish is to be with you and the others, to have you all by my side." Her voice grew softer and softer, almost a whisper.

Yet strangely enough, those words echoed in his heart like the tolling of endless bells.

"I’m sorry, I was wrong. I won’t leave your side or hurt myself for you," Bing Xue choked out as crystal-clear tears streamed down his face, glistening like drops of ice.

"It’s good that you understand. Don’t ever say something like that again, or I won’t forgive you, even if I die." Shenlian Yingyue gently wiped his tears away, and finally, she smiled. Her warm voice returned.

"If you die, I and the others will go with you. And if you refuse to forgive me, I’ll cling to you like a ghost for the rest of your life. I will never let you go. Never!" Bing Xue suddenly pulled her into his arms, embracing her so tightly it was as if he wanted to fuse his soul and blood with hers.

His long, light blonde hair intertwined with her long black strands, silk against silk. The sight was mesmerizing.

"I won’t die that easily. I still haven’t found my father or avenged my family." Shenlian Yingyue shook her head helplessly and hugged him back.

Everyone in the Ethereal Small World smiled, relieved that Bing Xue had finally let go of his reckless impulse.

"Cough!" A voice interrupted their heartwarming moment.

Bing Xue didn’t release her. One of his arms still clung tightly around her waist.

"I have a question. Who is Huang Bai Xing?" Bu Si Shu asked. He had heard that name several times now.

Shenlian Yingyue began explaining who Huang Bai Xing was and their past together.

"I see. So, she was once a chosen heroine, a Daughter of Destiny favored by the heavens," Bu Si Shu murmured thoughtfully. "But now, she’s become an antagonist like you, and the heavens want to erase her existence, but for some reason, they failed." He eyed her suspiciously.

Normally, the heavens wielded control over all sentient beings. If Huang Bai Xing had failed to eliminate the antagonist, she should have suffered a backlash and perished.

Yet she had survived.

How?

Of course, he had no way of knowing that if Shenlian Yingyue hadn’t interfered, Huang Bai Xing would have died the moment that ’being’ crushed her heart. (Ch. 440-442)

"What do we do next?" Bing Xue asked, cutting off Bu Si Shu’s doubts.

"Let’s continue to the royal palace. I want to speak with the Demon Emperor," Shenlian Yingyue said.

She wanted to pull away from Bing Xue’s embrace, but he refused to let her go. Deciding to ignore it, she focused on more important matters.

"Speak with the Demon Emperor? You?" Bu Si Shu snorted. "Do you think you, a mere human, are his relative? That you can just walk in and talk to him whenever you please? Besides, don’t you want to wait and see Di Xiuyu’s expression when she realizes her plan failed?"

"She’s not worth my time. But today’s disaster, I’ll return it to her soon," Shenlian Yingyue said coolly, prioritizing her mission over petty revenge.

[Demon Realm, Royal Palace of the Demon Clan, Throne Hall]

Bu Si Shu, who had mocked her earlier, thought: "..."

It turned out this girl actually knew the famous Demon Emperor.

When they arrived at the palace gates, she revealed her face and repeated her usual approach, calling out his name loudly. Her voice echoed through the royal palace gates, making the demon guards break into a cold sweat.

"Shen Xian, I want to talk to you!"

And just like that, she was invited inside.

The Demon Emperor, Shen Xian, had just returned from the Abyssal Throne Ruins with his beloved, Tai Hua Lei. Tai Hua Lei’s expression was ice-cold. He had been searching for someone but hadn’t found them.

Bu Si Shu watched as Shen Xian, seated on his grand throne, turned an unhealthy shade of green while his beloved man, Tai Hua Lei, practically rushed toward Shenlian Yingyue like an excited puppy.

It was as if they were long-lost friends who had been separated for centuries.

"Do you think this scene is a bit strange?" Bu Si Shu whispered to Bing Xue, intrigued. "Will the Demon Emperor kill that girl out of jealousy?"

"He won’t kill Yue," Bing Xue said confidently.

Bu Si Shu: "..."

"I say, woman, have you had enough of your greetings?" Shen Xian’s impatient voice echoed through the grand hall.

His noble black and dark red Hanfu emphasized his commanding presence as emperor. His winter-gray hair, streaked with dark red like a bloody moon, revealed his true colors.

Today, he wore a mask, concealing his face. Though he had returned to his real appearance, he was too lazy to let ’irrelevant people’ see his true self.

His previous appearance in the Golden Candle City of the Inner Domain had been nothing more than a disguise.

No one, not even Tai Hua Lei, had ever seen his real face.

"I want to return to the Human Realm. Can you send us back?" Shenlian Yingyue asked, turning her attention to him after a brief chat with Tai Hua Lei.

"I can’t," Shen Xian smirked.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because I don’t want to," he said with a laugh, noticing her discomfort. He enjoyed seeing her discomfort and annoyance.

Shenlian Yingyue: "....."

Everyone: "....."