The Demon Lord and I: Frenemies - Chapter 18

The Wind Howl Giant Beast, wounded, spread its wings in fury, letting out a long, piercing cry. A terrifying gale swept forth as it unleashed its cultivation without restraint, as if wishing to crush every cultivator present beneath its feet.

Under the immense pressure, Li Jingjie choked violently, the metallic tang of blood spreading in his throat, unable to hold out much longer before the giant bird.

The other disciples fared no better. Except for Chu Bingxiao and Fei Wanghuai, none could even stand upright amidst the bird’s cry. The difference in cultivation was like a chasm-too great to bridge, utterly hopeless.

“Hear my command! Everyone, split into three groups and escape north into the forest!” Chu Bingxiao crushed the jade talisman in his arms. “I’ve already notified the sect-someone will come to our aid!”

If they fled toward the houses, the townsfolk would suffer. The only option now was to split up and hide in the wild woods, using the environment to confuse the enemy and lure the Wind Howl Giant Beast away.

“Three, two, one.” Chu Bingxiao counted down while silently reciting an incantation. “Run!”

At the same time, the Shuo Yu Technique was unleashed. Dew condensed in the air, and, guided by the sword’s tip, shot toward the airborne Wind Howl Giant Beast. The spirit-infused raindrops enraged the giant bird, provoking a violent whirlwind that threatened to blow everyone away.

At the critical moment, damp chill spread as the water droplets turned into white mist, obscuring the giant bird’s vision and buying cover for the others. This was the Shuo Yu Technique, mastered by the Sect Leader, capable of killing with clouds and rain, or providing an escape when needed.

The others obeyed, scattering into the forest, but couldn’t help glancing back.

There, the white-robed youth stood alone, sword in one hand, not turning to flee. His expression was stern, his brows sharp and resolute. His back remained as unyielding as a boulder, his robes snapping in the wild wind.

It was said that the Su Sect Leader was adept at dual swordsmanship. Perhaps, like father like son-now that Chu Bingxiao’s right hand was injured, he switched to his left to face the giant beast.

“Brother-”

“Wanghuai, take her and go!” Chu Bingxiao shouted. “Don’t look back! Follow this path and keep running forward!”

At these words, Fei Wanghuai felt his scalp tingle, a long-lost shudder sweeping through him, as if that frigid night by the Huai River was pulling him into an endless abyss. The sound of rushing water pounded in his chest, echoing like blows against stone.

Once, he had heard these very words-by the Wangchuan River.

Fei Wanghuai took a deep breath, seized Chu Zaishuang’s wrist, and, ignoring her desperate struggles, dragged her forcefully into the wild woods.

Through the mist, Chu Bingxiao watched her leave, his anxious heart finally settling. He could not leave yet-someone had to buy time, and as the one who had angered the Wind Howl Giant Beast, he was the most suitable candidate.

*

The giant bird fixed its gaze on Chu Bingxiao, making it much easier for the others to escape.

Yet the crisis was far from over. Swarms of Wind Howl Beasts hovered overhead like bees, waiting for their leader to slay Chu Bingxiao before calling them to hunt down the other disciples.

Fei Wanghuai and Chu Zaishuang had set out a moment later and were soon separated from the others in the forest. The delicate Silver Fan unfolded, hiding deadly intent. Amidst the flurry of feathers, it carved a bloody path forward!

The wind howled, their steps faltered, and the sound of beating wings occasionally echoed in their ears, making them fear the Wind Howl Giant Beast was in pursuit.

Chu Zaishuang felt as if her left wrist were shackled. Fei Wanghuai gripped her tightly, and no matter how she struggled, she could not break free. She had called out for help, but for some reason, he seemed lost in thought, deaf to everything, wordlessly dragging her along.

“Wait!”

The surroundings quieted. There seemed to be no more pursuit, only the sound of their feet crunching dry branches and grass.

Seeing that they were running farther and farther away, Chu Zaishuang finally wrenched her wrist free with all her strength and turned back. “I said wait! I want to go back.”

“Are you going to throw your life away?” Fei Wanghuai blocked her, his face devoid of any trace of a smile, his voice cold. “The Wind Howl Giant Beast has Five Leaves cultivation. Even Senior Brother Chu can’t defeat it. Do you really think you, at the early stage of Three Leaves, can kill it?”

“I can’t, but I-”

“Then going back is pointless. You’d only be wasting your life.” His dark eyes were as cold as frozen pools, his tone cruel and unfeeling. “Abandon your naïve thoughts. The world is the big fish eating the small. If you’re too weak, blame only yourself. Don’t act on impulse.”

“This isn’t naïveté.”

“It is naïveté!” he shouted, as if scolding her to her face, or perhaps trying to awaken someone else. “That’s right-foolish wishful thinking! It’s all because you’re not strong enough!”

Just like the deadly, gale-swept forest now; just like that year, the bone-chilling, heart-wrenching Huai River.

“Ah huai, don’t look back. Follow this Huai River, follow this Wangchuan River, always downstream!”

“You are true Royal Family. When you set foot on this land again, all traitors shall die without pardon-”

Warm tears fell into the Wangchuan River that night. Only by swallowing the pain of broken bones and a hollowed heart could one break free from the cocoon of endurance and become a butterfly, living up to the blood-stained charge left by his mother on her deathbed.

The handsome, white-robed youth’s face was expressionless. The sapphire at his neck shimmered faintly, like a tear falling from his cheek. Perhaps, as in those fantastical tales, the sapphire was forged from a song of sorrow sung in blood.

Chu Zaishuang was silent.

She had never seen him like this-not the gentle and courteous demeanor, not the teasing with a hidden edge, not the biting sarcasm. He was like a soulless statue, shrouded in deathly gloom, even his eyes clouded with a dim, lifeless dusk.

Even though Fei Wanghuai was always measured in his actions, his spirit was intense and unyielding, unlike Chu Bingxiao’s self-disciplined calm. He always carried a surging force that could burn everything. Even now, with only a spark left, one could sense the potential for a raging wildfire, foreseeing a future where flames swept the sky.

It was the resilience after defeat, the refusal to yield after setbacks-a bold, ruthless, and daring approach, never stopping until the goal was reached.

Perhaps that was why she always provoked him with harsh words, like a curious, ignorant child, mischievously poking at the flickering flame, knowing she might get burned, yet unable to resist, wanting to see the beautiful sparks fly.
But now that flame had been extinguished, everything returned to darkness, and not a glimmer of light remained.

His fierce disappearance settled into utter silence, like a withered, blackened shell, or a walking corpse that had lost all impulse.

Chu Zaishuang was momentarily dazed, then asked aloud:

“You’re acting strange today. Did someone come to mind?”

This was not the usual Fei Wanghuai. He was clearly right here, yet seemed utterly empty.

Fei Wanghuai suddenly trembled. Through her clear eyes, he saw his own panic-stricken, soulless reflection.

A pale green butterfly drifted out from her snow-white sleeve, wobbling as it flew back, catching Chu Zaishuang’s gaze. This signaled that her brother was on the brink of peril and had to withdraw his external spiritual energy to seize a sliver of survival beneath the claws of the Wind Howl Giant Beast.

She had no time to concern herself with Fei Wanghuai. Following the green butterfly, she dashed back, but a low, hoarse male voice sounded behind her.

“You will die.”

His tone was steady, devoid of any emotion, as if merely announcing the outcome.

“Perhaps,” she replied, pausing with her back to him. “But if I leave, perhaps living would be worse than dying, and I’d end up just like you.”

With that, the white figure vanished into the forest, her steps nimble and agile, even using the “Flash” move of Cloud Step.

Fei Wanghuai watched the direction she disappeared, passing judgment on her decision in his heart.

Foolish, childish, and disruptive-her actions would accomplish nothing. She would only waste the time Chu Bingxiao had fought for, then die beneath those deadly claws, likely unable to withstand even a single blow.

But isn’t that just fine?

He had intended to kill her anyway. Now, with the Wind Howl Giant Beast doing it for him, no one would trace it back to him.

With the Tracking Butterfly withdrawn, even if she survived by some miracle, he could always stab her in the back again. If the timing was right, he could escape with Boundless Reach. Though finding a new hiding place would be troublesome, the long-standing threat in his heart would be gone, and the prophetic dream would not come to pass.

This was practically a heaven-sent opportunity-it would be unreasonable not to use it.

Fei Wanghuai tilted his head back, his raven-black lashes trembling as he gazed at the faint light filtering through the leaves above, yet for some reason, he felt no excitement for the victory within reach.

Beneath the deserted forest canopy, the rustling of leaves sounded like waves beating against the shore, washing back and forth through his organs, that suffocating feeling he could never break through surging up again. Suddenly, he couldn’t breathe, like a stranded fish, even losing the strength to thrash or struggle.

When the dust settled, would he simply return to his old faction, continuing as his mother’s orphan, everyone’s prince? If the female cultivator in the Soul Transmission Dream died, would there just be another assassin, or would he wait for fate to intervene, to resolve things as they had today?

His gaze dimmed.

Again, just like before.

He was clearly striving to grow stronger, yet it was no different from Wangchuan River-nothing had changed at all.

Hot blood surged repeatedly through his veins, a mix of unwillingness, shame, and the frustration of powerlessness. Without his mother’s protection, without the help of Bone Elder and the others, he could no longer control the situation. He was like a petty survivor, stealing the hard-won fruits of others-not a true member of the Royal Family.

Could someone as weak and dependent on luck as him truly fulfill his mother’s lifelong wish?

Fei Wanghuai gritted his teeth, clutching the Silver Fan tightly, flicking off the blood at its tip, and looked toward the forest path.

Her decision was naïve, yet somehow enviable.

*

The wind howled past, her feet never stopping, all while keeping an eye on the reaction of the flock of birds above. The Wind Howl Beasts circled around the giant bird leader, forming a dark, tornado-like mass, swirling the grass and leaves into a frenzy.

“Xiao Shi, help me! See if there’s anything unusual among the Wind Howl Beasts!”

Chu Zaishuang raced ahead, eyes fixed on the sky, searching for any anomaly among the Wind Howl Beasts. She wasn’t running back to die-she couldn’t slay the Wind Howl Giant Beast head-on, but she could try to break the deadlock with another approach.

[No problem!] Xiao Shi replied loudly, then asked, [But why do you want to do this?]

“According to the Spirit Beast Book, the Giant Fire Scorpion and the Wind Howl Giant Beast are equally matched in strength. This is something countless cultivators agree on-it shouldn’t be overturned in a single day,” Chu Zaishuang said. “They used to coexist in the forest, which proves their cultivation levels were about the same.”

“Now, the Wind Howl Giant Beast has suddenly advanced to Five Leaves and driven the Giant Fire Scorpion from its territory. That’s clearly abnormal. The spiritual energy here is sparse; it couldn’t have broken through by cultivation alone. That leaves only one possibility-it grew stronger through external means.”

There shouldn’t be a Five Leaves Wind Howl Giant Beast in this world. As Spirit Beasts reach higher cultivation, their appearance changes, gradually becoming more humanoid to facilitate further cultivation.

This Wind Howl Giant Beast’s appearance hadn’t changed; it was still the same as before, which meant its cultivation was a false Five Leaves. It had once been at the Four Leaves Initial Stage, but used some other method to rapidly boost its cultivation. Therefore, it hadn’t killed the Giant Fire Scorpion outright in the forest-perhaps the special method was time-limited, allowing the scorpion to escape to the town and be seen by the townsfolk.

For cultivators, a sudden surge in cultivation comes from one of three things: consuming pills, using magical artifacts, or possessing special techniques. Thinking it over, it’s unlikely for a Spirit Beast to have pills or techniques, but accidentally picking up a magical artifact and wearing it somewhere on its body is plausible.

Perhaps because she had played chess for so many years, the greater the danger, the calmer her mind became. While others were crushed by the giant beast’s pressure, her naturally lazy self seemed awakened, counting her chess pieces and thinking coolly.

Sleeve Arrow, techniques, Cloud Step, pills, Xiao Shi’s perception, rescue from the Lotus Flower Sect-she might not have profound cultivation, but if she made good use of her current resources, there was still a chance to fight.

[But that’s just your speculation. What if it’s not the case?]

“Isn’t cultivation all about gambling with your life? If you don’t even dare to bet your life, why be a cultivator at all?” Chu Zaishuang replied boldly. “We’re trash anyway. If we fail, it’s only natural. But if we succeed, it’s like winning the lottery-what’s there to be afraid of!”

Trash is trash, meant to do useless things. But as long as it works once, the situation can be turned upside down.

As long as you have the heart to reverse the game, even a losing board can come back to life.