Reborn as a succubus - Chapter 35

Even from a distance, Xi Che hadn’t expected to be singled out. He was startled and confused, wondering if his disguise had somehow slipped. But when he met Chu Yan’s eyes, he saw the same confusion reflected there — clearly, Chu Yan’s transformation spell was flawless.

So why had the young sect master recognized him so easily? With so many people around, it made no sense for him to notice him right away.

This young sect master clearly held high authority; as soon as he pointed at Xi Che, the crowd automatically parted, leaving a clear path. Xi Che had no chance to avoid it. The young man kept his eyes fixed on him, expression determined, as if he absolutely had to speak with him.

Just as Xi Che was wondering what to do, Chu Yan took his hand and led him forward. “It’s all right,” he murmured. “I’m here.”

Xi Che wanted to say he wasn’t afraid, but the reassurance disarmed him; he could only steel himself and follow.

The young sect master ignored Chu Yan completely, his gaze never leaving Xi Che. After a long look, he gave an order to his followers: “Distribute the remaining grain. You—come with me.”

Chu Yan immediately stepped forward, placing himself protectively in front of Xi Che. “Then I’m coming too.”

The young man frowned. “I don’t need you.”

“Then you can’t take him.”

Clearly impatient, the sect master didn’t argue. He turned away. “Fine. Follow me if you want—but hurry up.”

By now Xi Che was utterly bewildered. Judging by the way the man spoke to Chu Yan, he hadn’t seen through their disguises at all; he simply wanted to speak with him alone.

But what about? Could it be an acquaintance from a past life? That was impossible — Xi Che had never even heard of the Gou Tu clan before today. Still, with Chu Yan beside him, there was no real danger; he decided to take things as they came.

They followed the young sect master up into the mountain that glowed faintly with purple light. The man’s guards watched them closely, as if afraid they might harm him.

At the mountain’s base stood a grand palace — clearly the young sect master’s residence. He led them inside, dismissed his attendants, and gestured toward the seats.

“Sit.”

Xi Che was perplexed by the man’s polite manner, but since he was being treated courteously, he offered a respectful salute. “May I ask what business brings us here, Young Master?”

The man’s brows drew together, a hint of sorrow in his eyes. He looked straight at Xi Che.
“Are you… Asas?”

“…”

Xi Che was struck speechless. It was one thing if the man had seen through his disguise — but how had he seen through both his human form and even his reincarnation?

Chu Yan’s tone turned guarded. “Who are you?”

The man didn’t answer him. His gaze remained fixed on Xi Che. “Never mind who I am. Just tell me — are you Asas or not?”

Xi Che hesitated, then nodded. “Yes, I am. But how did you recognize me? Who are you?”

At his directness, there seemed no reason to hide.

“Truly?!”

The young sect master stood up abruptly and took two steps forward. Chu Yan also rose at once, positioning himself between them.

The War God Asas had many followers — and many enemies. Chu Yan couldn’t yet tell which this man was.

But Xi Che sensed no hostility from him. He tugged lightly on Chu Yan’s sleeve and stepped forward again. “So? How did you recognize me?”

The man sighed. “I recognized your aura… I’ve only seen you once, but I remember. You were standing beside him. He valued you highly.”

“Him?”

Xi Che frowned — he was certain he’d never met this man before.

“His name was Liu Wuhuan — the leader of the demon clan.”

At that name, Xi Che instinctively glanced at Chu Yan. It brought back the grim memories of the ancient war between gods and demons.

Chu Yan, though, didn’t seem familiar with the name — during that war, the one most talked about had been Xi Che himself, the cautious King Shen. So Xi Che explained, “Liu Wuhuan was a friend I met in the demon realm. We got along well, though I didn’t know at first that he was their leader. When he later told me, he said his position was difficult, and he asked for my help. He once wanted to make me head of the Ten Demon Kings, but I refused and agreed only to serve as his protector. That’s how I became the King of Prudence.”

Chu Yan squeezed Xi Che’s hand gently, as if to comfort him. “That’s all in the past.”

But the young sect master became excited. “Yes, exactly! You were the King of Prudence, Liu Wuhuan’s most trusted man! I saw you that day when I came to find him — he wouldn’t let me enter, but through the gate I saw you two talking happily. Your aura, they said, belonged to the War God Asas, the god who descended from the Nine Nether realm. Since you were close to him, tell me — do you know where he is? Take me to him!”

Xi Che frowned. This was getting strange. The man claimed to have seen him only once, through a barrier, yet remembered him for centuries?

“That was two or three hundred years ago,” Xi Che said slowly. “Asas died two hundred years past. I only returned to the mortal realm a few months ago. I haven’t seen Wuhuan since — I’ve no idea where he is now.”

He then asked, “And how do you even know him? You don’t look two hundred years old.”

The young man froze, saying nothing. Xi Che whispered aside to Chu Yan, “Can the Gou Tu clan live that long?”

Chu Yan shook his head. “If I remember right, their lifespan is the same as ordinary humans.”

The man murmured to himself, distraught. “How… How could this be? I thought meeting you would give me a clue… but it’s gone. All gone. This was my clan’s last hope.”

Xi Che, seeing his despair, decided to press gently. “Then tell me — what do you mean by your clan’s ‘last hope’? Perhaps if I ever meet him again, I can pass on your message.”

The man’s eyes burned with anguish. “Liu Wuhuan… He’s the one who destroyed my people! He ruined the Gou Tu clan!”

He then told a story so unbelievable it sounded like myth.

His name was Yue Tongqing. Long ago, when he was still the son of the Gou Tu chieftain, his people had lived in prosperity. The Gou Tu clan had once been favored by the gods, even more than humankind — legend said that one of their ancestors had saved a god’s life, and as a reward, their people were given a special power.

When the faith and will of every clan member aligned completely, they could connect with the realm of the Nine Nether — a bridge for salvation, meant to let the gods sense their cries for help in times of disaster.

But that was only legend; no one had ever tested it. The clan elders didn’t consider it a blessing, and the people lived quietly in seclusion.

Everything changed when Yue Tongqing came of age. Restless and curious, he defied his father and left home to see the outside world — where he met Liu Wuhuan.

Naïve and inexperienced, Yue Tongqing nearly fell victim to swindlers, but Liu Wuhuan rescued him. The two young men became fast friends. Trusting him completely, Yue Tongqing revealed his clan’s secret and even took Liu Wuhuan home to visit.

His father was furious, and the two quarreled bitterly.

After Liu Wuhuan left, a strange thing happened — black trees began to sprout across their homeland, spreading until the once-fertile land became barren. The clan was dying. His father believed the outsider had cursed them and, consumed by rage and guilt, fell ill and died.

Yue Tongqing refused to believe his friend could have done this. Yet faced with the devastation, he had to act. No matter what they tried, the black trees — called black elm — returned each year, unkillable.

Just when all hope was lost, Liu Wuhuan appeared again. He told Yue Tongqing that only the ancient beast Taotie, long extinct, could devour the trees completely. Then he handed him a single seed. “Swallow this,” he said, “and you’ll become the Taotie yourself. You’ll save your people.”

Desperate to protect his clan, Yue Tongqing agreed.

From then on, each spring he transformed into a Taotie and devoured every black elm in the land. The process was agony — it felt as if his body were being ripped apart from within — yet he survived each time.

When he finished, the trees turned green again and produced blood-red gemstones. Those gems sustained the clan, who traded them for food, barely keeping alive.

But Yue Tongqing himself became cursed — unable to die, forced to repeat this torment every year. To his people, though, he became a myth: they called him the Spring Light God, believing he descended each year to save them.

At this point, Yue Tongqing trembled as he drew a small embroidered pouch from his sleeve. Inside was a painting.

“This is what my people see each spring — their ‘Spring Light God.’ But look… it’s not me. It’s him.”

Xi Che looked at the portrait and gasped. “That’s… Wuhuan?”

“Yes,” Yue Tongqing said bitterly. “Liu Wuhuan.”

His voice shook with hatred — and something like sorrow.

Chu Yan glanced at the painting too; the youthful figure depicted looked exactly like the Spring God remembered by the White-Faced Ghost.

Yue Tongqing continued, “I have no proof, but I can’t lie to myself anymore — this must be his doing.”

Chu Yan said nothing, his expression thoughtful.

Xi Che also didn’t know what to believe. The story was too strange, and the Liu Wuhuan he remembered didn’t seem capable of such cruelty.

Yue Tongqing slammed a fist on the table. “After the Gou Tu clan was exiled, I used human souls to gather yin energy and break this realm’s barrier. My people became what you see now. They call me Young Master and capture travelers for me — I never wanted this! But it’s the only way to get food for them!”

He turned on Xi Che, eyes shining with tears. “Tell me where Liu Wuhuan is! I can’t live like this anymore. I’m in agony. I don’t want revenge — I just want release!”

Xi Che felt an ache of pity. He could sense that Yue Tongqing didn’t truly believe Wuhuan guilty — he only wanted to see him, to be sure, to free himself from guilt and doubt.

Gently, Xi Che said, “Calm down. I really don’t know where he is. And are you sure it was truly him? Couldn’t there be a misunderstanding?”

“There’s no mistake! It can’t be anyone else!”

Xi Che could only sigh. Yue Tongqing, however, seemed convinced Xi Che was lying. “If you won’t tell me where he is,” he said coldly, “then you’re not leaving here. Guards! Take them to the dungeon. They stay until they speak!”

“…Great,” Xi Che thought helplessly. “Another mess because of someone I used to know. First Jin Lingzi, now Liu Wuhuan!”

Before he could protest, guards seized them both. Chu Yan didn’t resist — he allowed himself to be captured, expression unreadable.

Xi Che shot him a glare — Do something! We can’t actually get thrown in a dungeon!

Chu Yan merely raised an eyebrow at him, as if to say: Trust me. I have a plan.