You can hate me, but you can't escape me

*Eons after Nidhogg's defeat, the Devourer*

*The Ragnarök Era*

The Eastern Continent of the Upper Realm remained a realm of unparalleled splendor. This celestial expanse, stretching billions of kilometers wide, extended endlessly, showcasing towering mountains whose peaks vanished into dense, luminous clouds. These clouds were no ordinary phenomenon: they were composed of immortal Qi, shimmering like jewels beneath the diffused rays of ethereal light. Around the mountains, verdant plains sprawled, adorned with mystical flowers whose translucent petals gently vibrated with an omnipresent energy.

Floating castles traversed the skies, suspended like divine works of art. These structures gleamed with golden roofs, jade pillars, and walls inlaid with precious gems. Bridges of crystalline Qi connected the floating islands, forming a complex network where cultivators could walk or fly freely. In this ethereal environment, crystalline rivers flowed silently, reflecting the iridescent sky. Some waterfalls, resembling liquid silver threads, cascaded from the celestial islands into basins nestled in the valleys below.

Amidst this splendor, cultivators soared on their swords, leaving luminous trails in the sky. These majestic figures, draped in silken robes adorned with intricate patterns, resembled immortals traversing the heavens. Their expressions were marked by serenity and focus, each striving to transcend the limits of their existence. Envied by mortals, they were the epitome of divine grace.

Millions of kilometers west of the Tao Temple lay the domain of the Ancestral Hu family, one of the most revered lineages of the Upper Realm, the lineage of the White Tiger. The domain, of breathtaking beauty, spanned hundreds of thousands of kilometers. The air was saturated with powerful, silvery Qi, so dense it occasionally formed visible waves, undulating around the buildings like celestial tides.

The domain housed majestic spiritual beasts, silent guardians of this sacred place, roaming freely in the gardens and surrounding plains. Each beast exuded an aura of overwhelming power, symbolizing the immeasurable strength of the Ancestral Hu family.

The main residence, a colossal palace of jade and white gold, stood proudly at the domain's center. Its columns, adorned with mystical carvings, seemed to recount the family's glorious history. The roofs were covered in shimmering tiles, and floating lanterns illuminated the corridors with a soft, soothing light. Within resided only one person: Su Sijin, the domain's mistress, one of the rare cultivators to achieve the embodiment of law.

...

In the most secluded wing of the main residence, an intimate yet heavy atmosphere permeated the chamber of the young master, Hu Bai She. The room was luxurious, with walls inlaid with black jade and silver engravings depicting undulating tigers. At its center stood a colossal bed, covered in scarlet silk, surrounded by semi-transparent curtains that floated gently in the Qi-infused air.

A muffled sound broke the room's silence. On the bed, Hu Bai She, the young master with silver hair and eyes of the same hue, was entwined with a woman of cold, indescribable beauty. Her long silver hair cascaded down her muscular back, and her right arm was wrapped in bandages. These bandages, finely etched with Buddhist seals, seemed to contain impure, chaotic Qi that threatened to escape.

Bai She gently drew back the woman's veil, revealing her perfectly sculpted face. Her features were both angelic and unattainable, framed by pale green hair that seemed to capture the room's light. On her forehead was a twelve-petaled lotus, a sacred symbol of the Orthodox Cult. Her eyes were entirely white, without pupils.

Bai She observed her with a predatory smile, his canines glinting faintly. He slid a finger under her chin, lifting her face to his.

"You're so beautiful," he murmured, his smooth voice laced with caressing irony.

The Holy Lotus, Xi MingYu, averted her gaze, visibly uncomfortable. She, an existence revered by millions of mortals and cultivators, now found herself in a position she could never have imagined. As one of the daughters blessed by the Tao Tree, her talent and power were unmatched in her generation. Yet, before Bai She, she seemed vulnerable, an inexperienced girl facing a predator whose intentions were all too clear.

Bai She traced her full lips with his clawed thumb, a spark of satisfaction in his silver eyes.

"Am I falling in love?" he said sarcastically, his smile widening.

Xi MingYu pushed his hand away with a sharp gesture, her cold voice shattering the atmosphere.

"You bastard, how dare you touch me after what—"

Xi MingYu's eyes widened in shock, but an unfamiliar warmth rose within her, clouding her clear thoughts.

"Why is the Holy Lotus, the world's immaculate light, on the Devourer's bed, destined to be his sworn enemy?"

"You—you—"

"I didn't force you. Now I feel like I'm the one being abused~"

"How can you be so shameless!?"

Before she could finish, Bai She, swift as lightning, kissed her.

"Shhhh..."

"You can hate me, but you can't escape me."

His lips crushed hers with raw passion, while his clawed hand gently gripped her throat, forcing her to remain still.

Xi MingYu's heart raced, a mix of anger, confusion, and that insidious warmth seeping into every fiber of her being. The Devourer. The one she was meant to destroy.

"Let me go!" she whispered between their entwined lips, but her voice lacked conviction, betraying the turmoil within her.

Bai She pulled away slowly, his silver eyes gleaming with mischief. "Why resist, MingYu?" he murmured. "You know as well as I do that it's not just me who's drawn to you. Light and shadow… they always seek each other, don't they?"

Xi MingYu looked away, refusing to yield to his words.

"But in my case, I suppose I'm the abyssal darkness." He smiled.

She couldn't deny the unnatural attraction she felt, but it only added to her frustration. She was the Holy Lotus, the guardian of purity and order. How could she find herself in such a… degrading situation?

"You're wrong," she finally said, her voice trembling slightly despite herself.

"Oh, MingYu, you're so adorable when you try to convince yourself. You weren't this unsure last night~"

"You! Since when have you been so sadistic!?"

Bai She laughed, leaning in again, his lips brushing her ear. "Since when? Was it after I killed my sworn martial brother to claim his power?" he said sarcastically.

' No... it's been there since the beginning. Since the time I was Linfer Vamp.' He thought inwardly, recalling his past life.