Chapter Fifty-One: Life

I could clearly feel the scorching heat, as if my skin was about to split open from the burn. My heartbeat was faint, but it was definitely there, a slight trembling in my chest, beat after beat. This made me feel alive.

Thanks to the other's mercy, I still had my hearing and sense of smell. I could hear the gurgling sound of boiling water and smell the scent of my own charred flesh.

I wasn't dead.

For the first time, I understood what it felt like to still be alive.

I began to feel grateful, grateful for this frail thread of life that allowed me to hang on. Then, I began to hate, hate why I had to live in such a useless and pitiful state. Finally, all these feelings turned into an inexplicable emotion.

That feeling of being robbed, of losing everything, hollowed out my heart.

"Do you want to die?" A seductive male voice whispered invitingly in my ear.

"Uh... uh..." Unable to respond, I could only muster all my strength to shake my head.

"Why? You must be in a lot of pain right now. Isn't death a form of release? Come, tell me again, do you want to die?" The man's voice carried a hint of surprise but quickly became relentless in his questioning.

"If you don't want to die." I felt the warmth of his fingertips on my face, and a strange fragrance filled the air. "I can help you, but I need you to pay a price."

What do I have left to offer?

I've heard that demons in hell would take the souls of those near death to aid in their own cultivation, using sweet and deceptive words.

Seeing my hesitation, the seductive voice whispered again in my ear, "Don't worry, I'm only interested in your humanity. If you can give it to me, I will help you restore this broken body and take your revenge. How about it?"

A demon, I didn't believe he had that kind of power.

"Do you think you have any other choice?" He sounded impatient, his words growing more urgent.

Indeed, do I have any other choice?

Like drinking ice, like bearing a mountain, drowning in endless dark currents, a small insect ultimately drowning.

Nothing matters anymore.

I reached out my hand, and he grasped it eagerly. The warmth and heat from my entire body flowed out through our connected arms, yet I didn't feel cold at all.

"Don't worry, your body is too ugly right now. I will help you create a new one." The demon's deceitful words echoed in my ears.

My soul seemed to see the bright other side, leaping upward bit by bit, a blurry white covering the entire world.

It was like having a dream, walking to the end on a path of blazing red lotuses.

When I opened my eyes again, my vision had returned, and my tongue was properly in my mouth. I could speak again, and all my wounds had disappeared. But I realized, I couldn't muster any happiness or sadness.

"You're awake? How does the new body feel? Besides that, I also gave you seven lives, generous, right?" A young girl in yellow smiled at me sweetly, looking delicate and charming.

Seven lives? I remembered a technique called Ghost Refinement Rebirth, which could only be used by ghosts who had cultivated for at least a thousand years. It involved creating a human body from some living creature. Each time one was mortally wounded, the body's spiritual power would be used to heal it. Even if one died seven times, the spellcaster could reconstruct the body, although it required immense spiritual power.

"Where is this?" When I spoke, I found that even my voice had changed, making me somewhat uncomfortable.

"The Divine Pity Hall. It's the Demon Palace of the Serene Ghost Lord. Don't worry, you're my master now, he won't trouble you." The girl picked up a piece of pastry from the table and ate it with relish, swinging her legs as she sat on the stool. "Do you want some? Though, you probably don't have an appetite right now."

Indeed. I had no desire to eat. Seeing her eat the pastries even made me feel a bit nauseous.

"You said I'm your master, but your voice doesn't sound much like that demon's from before."

"A ghost doesn't have to be male or female. I simply prefer this form. Hehe, if you like, I can change back?" The girl in yellow blinked and licked the crumbs off her fingers.

So, it was truly a demon that saved me?

Feeling a darkness in my heart, I spoke again, "In that case, at least tell me your name."

"Qian Qian. Isn't it lovely?" She tilted her head, looking at me, her emotions exuberantly displayed without any reservations, as if showing off.

These feelings used to be mine, but as a price, I transferred them to her. I was really curious, why would a demon want human emotions? Was it purely for fun?

"I'm very interested in your emotions, so now I feel the same as you. I will help you seek revenge together."

"No, my feelings are different from yours." I shook my head firmly. "Only that hatred is mine alone."

My emotions were gone; the only thing left was what my memories held.

Steady footsteps came from a distance. Looking out, a man in a silver-gray robe was walking toward us. It was a face equally seductive, flawless and impeccable, with half-closed eyes that seemed to be smiling, but devoid of any emotion.

He lifted the feather fan in his hand to cover half of his face, his fox-like eyes gazing at me. "I didn't expect to see you again so soon, and in such a degraded state. All your former talent and grace are gone."

The Serene Ghost Lord, completely different from our last meeting, was now examining me with the gaze of someone looking at an animal.

In this regard, he was exactly like Que Lingyun, disgusting.

An inexplicable rage overshadowed all my thoughts. I couldn't help but conjure a dagger and slash at his neck, blood spurting instantly. Undoubtedly, the wound was my own.

The pain was much less than when I was human, so I attacked him again. He easily dodged all my attacks. I slashed with one hand while conjuring ice flowers with the other, striking out.

With a crisp "smack," his face was instantly covered with shards of ice and blood.

He seemed somewhat displeased, waved his sleeve, and knocked me to the ground with a palm strike.

It felt as if all my bones were shattered, my internal organs torn apart. The pain, oh, the pain—it made me feel alive. But using this to atone was far from enough. I should still have extra lives now.

I couldn't help but laugh hysterically.

"Madwoman." He raised his hand, gathering power again.

I knew this time I was doomed.

"Wait! Quanyou, have you forgotten that she's mine?" The yellow-clad girl beside me revealed her demonic face. She seemed very angry, but was it really for my sake?

A demon shouldn't have such emotions toward a human. Could she have changed so much after gaining my humanity?

"Hahaha, interesting. You actually managed to provoke me like this." Surprisingly, he gave the demon some face and withdrew his hand. The ice shards on his face vanished, "Xiali, teach her the rules of the Moon Shadow Sect. And don't bring her here again. Next time she's this reckless, don't blame me for showing no mercy."

After this stern warning, he stepped back and allowed her to take me away.

"So petty. I have a new name now, it's Qian Qian." Qian Qian removed her demonic face and turned back into the shy, adorable girl, helping me up.

"It doesn't suit you." Quanyou sat at the main seat, expressionless.

"Tch." Qian Qian pouted, made a face at Quanyou, and patted my shoulder.

The pain disappeared. Lowering my head, I saw my wounds healing at a visible rate.

"Let's go." Qian Qian took my hand and led me out. Along the way, the scenery was peculiar, dark stone paths and eerie lights, unlike anything in the human world.

She cheerfully explained where we were, what the buildings around us were for, and various taboos.

"Is there a way to bring someone back to life?" I suddenly asked her.

"What?" She stopped in her tracks.

"You heard me right. I want to save someone, whether it's their soul or their body."