Extra Chapter 1: If There Was No Second Chance 1
A fireball, brimming with ferocious magic power, hurtled directly towards Luo Jinxiao.
The besieged Demon Lord, bathed in an aura of blood, fell before her. She was as fragile as a flickering candle in the wind, yet her gaze remained fiercely resolute, strikingly beautiful.
As her consciousness gradually faded, Luo Jinxiao caught a glimpse of the Demon Lord suddenly reaching out, forcefully dragging her closer, followed by a heavy blow. Luo Jinxiao groaned, then blacked out completely.
When she awoke, she was surrounded by pitch black darkness. She fumbled around for a while, then touched her wounds, wincing in pain.
She was alive, but where was she?
Gritting her teeth, Luo Jinxiao sat up and focused, guiding her spiritual energy through her meridians, slowly flowing it to her limbs and bones, bit by bit repairing her battered body.
Her internal organs were practically in pieces. It was a miracle she was still breathing.
After an unknown amount of time, Luo Jinxiao was finally able to move. She looked up and saw what appeared to be a naturally formed underground cave. The entrance was covered with lush green grass, concealing it effectively.
A faint shimmering light indicated a barrier covering the entrance, preventing her aura from escaping.
Who created this barrier? Her mind raced, and suddenly she turned to look not far away, inhaling sharply in surprise.
A woman lay there, her features obscured by the darkness. Her clothes were almost completely shredded, revealing a delicate, pale arm outstretched limply.
The Demon Lord? Luo Jinxiao’s heart pounded in her chest. Fortunately, the Demon Lord remained motionless, seemingly lifeless.
She hesitated for a moment, deciding that survival was more important. She turned to leave, but suddenly the woman behind her opened her eyes, her fiery phoenix eyes flashing coldly in the dark.
A gust of wind rose, and Luo Jinxiao instinctively moved to dodge, but cold fingers still managed to grip her throat, rendering her immobile.
In the darkness, she was incredibly close to the woman. She could faintly smell a sweet floral fragrance, but she had no time to dwell on it. Her mind was consumed by the thought: This is bad, very bad.
“Don’t move,” the Demon Lord commanded. Her voice, like her presence, was icy cold, sending shivers down Luo Jinxiao’s spine.
Luo Jinxiao instinctively raised her hands in surrender.
It wasn’t that she was cowardly, but who didn’t know the reputation of Qu Weiyin, the ruthless and decisive Demon Lord, who had slaughtered countless lives?
And now, the legendary Crescent Star Sword, glowing with a red light, was pressed against her stomach. It seemed that with the slightest force, her body would be sliced in two.
“Don’t make a sound, don’t try to escape, or I will kill you right now!” Qu Weiyin warned. Her hand, shaped like a claw, pressed down, forcing Luo Jinxiao to kneel.
“Alright, alright, I won’t move,” Luo Jinxiao said, clutching her head.
Being blown to bits was one thing, but being cut in half was simply too gruesome, she thought to herself.
Seeing that Luo Jinxiao had no intention of resisting, Qu Weiyin finally released her grip and collapsed to the ground. She seemed to be suppressing her pain, her breathing heavy and labored.
With a ripping sound, she tore open her own clothes, using her remaining magic power to stop the bleeding.
The stench of blood filled the narrow cave, making Luo Jinxiao dizzy. She knew that Qu Weiyin’s injuries were no less severe than her own.
Should I try to fight back? Maybe I can still escape with my life? Luo Jinxiao cautiously glanced up. A red glow flickered in the cave, illuminating a corner where Qu Weiyin was tearing open her top, revealing a long, deep gash on her chest that cut to the bone.
The wound, likely inflicted by some divine weapon, continued to bleed profusely, proving difficult to stop.
Qu Weiyin grew increasingly impatient. She simply wrapped the torn fabric around her shoulder, tying it tightly. The smell of blood grew stronger. Qu Weiyin clenched her jaw, sweat dripping from her smooth jawline onto the ground.
Forget it, Luo Jinxiao thought, even now, I wouldn’t stand a chance against her in this state. She hung her head dejectedly.
With a suppressed moan, Qu Weiyin finally settled down, only the sound of her pained breaths remaining.
“Come here,” Qu Weiyin suddenly commanded, her voice hoarse.
Luo Jinxiao flinched and shuffled forward slightly.
“Take off your clothes.”
Luo Jinxiao froze, instinctively clutching her collar. She looked up in panic, her wide, clear eyes blinking rapidly.
Annoyance flickered in Qu Weiyin’s eyes. “Don’t dawdle,” she snapped.
Trembling, Luo Jinxiao quickly removed her outer robe and tossed it towards Qu Weiyin, who caught it and with effort draped it over her shoulders.
She seemed unsteady, leaning against the cave wall. Her phoenix eyes lifted slightly, gazing at Luo Jinxiao through thick, feathery lashes.
Even injured, her gaze held a powerful intensity. Luo Jinxiao felt a cold sweat break out, keeping her eyes fixed on the ground, afraid to meet her gaze.
“I will rest until morning. During this time, don’t even think about escaping.”
She suddenly raised her hand, her slender index finger drawing a circle around Luo Jinxiao. A ball of fire ignited, illuminating the cave.
In the flickering firelight, the surroundings became vaguely visible.
“If you leave this circle, you will be reduced to dust,” Qu Weiyin said in a low, menacing voice, seeming to relish the thought of Luo Jinxiao’s demise.
How despicable, Luo Jinxiao cursed inwardly.
Qu Weiyin was truly exhausted. She slumped against the cave wall and quickly fell into a silent slumber. Luo Jinxiao, unable to leave, closed her eyes in frustration.
The night seemed endless. Luo Jinxiao woke up several times, only to be met with darkness, forcing her to close her eyes again. Finally, on her fifth awakening, daylight broke.
The cave remained dim, but a beam of sunlight shone through the opening, falling on Luo Jinxiao. She shielded her eyes and looked towards Qu Weiyin, their eyes meeting abruptly. Her heart pounded in her chest once more.
Qu Weiyin’s gaze was inquisitive, as if she had been watching her for a long time.
“You’re finally awake,” Qu Weiyin said coldly. She waved her hand, dispelling the barrier, then pushed herself up against the cave wall, her body swaying slightly.
Her messy hair fell across her forehead, obscuring her red eyes. Her red lips were tightly pressed together, adding a touch of sharpness to her exquisite features.
She was still wearing Luo Jinxiao’s pale blue outer robe.
“Want to leave?” she asked suddenly.
Luo Jinxiao hesitated, unsure whether to answer.
Qu Weiyin didn’t seem to expect a reply. “I won’t kill you,” she continued, “as long as you take me back to the demon realm.”
Her injuries were too severe. She couldn’t even summon her sword, let alone walk for any significant amount of time.
“You don’t need to worry about anything. Just go wherever I tell you to go,” Qu Weiyin added. “You can refuse.”
Luo Jinxiao’s eyes lit up.
“Your cultivation is weak, but draining your spiritual energy will at least be of some use,” Qu Weiyin continued, a sly smile playing on her lips. Her pink tongue darted out to lick her red lips.
Luo Jinxiao couldn’t help but take a step back. She’s forcing me, yet she makes it sound so pleasant, she thought bitterly.
Qu Weiyin looked the young woman up and down. She was tall and slender, seemingly young, but her cultivation was decent enough to be useful.
In a moment of desperation, she had intended to grab a lifeless body as a shield, but unexpectedly, she had grabbed a living person instead. The two of them tumbled down the slope together, landing in this cave.
The girl had bright, almond-shaped eyes and didn’t seem foolish. Qu Weiyin knew she needed to be cautious and not appear too weak. If the girl discovered that her magic power was currently depleted, she might not only flee but also strike her down with a sword. That would be a disastrous outcome.
Qu Weiyin concealed her thoughts and, grabbing Luo Jinxiao’s shoulder, flew to the surface.
Even this short flight left her dizzy and lightheaded, nearly causing her to collapse. She forced herself to stand firm.
They were in a forest at the foot of a mountain. It was deserted, but the Wuhui Sect disciples would soon detect her demonic aura. There was no time to waste.
Qu Weiyin forcefully pulled Luo Jinxiao down, bending her over, then climbed onto her back, wrapping her arms around the girl’s neck.
“Summon your sword,” Qu Weiyin commanded into her ear.
Whether from fear or something else, Luo Jinxiao shivered at the feeling of Qu Weiyin’s breath on her skin. She didn’t dare resist and summoned her spirit sword, rising abruptly into the air.
The aftermath of the previous night’s battle between immortals and demons was evident. The vegetation was in disarray, and several massive trees lay scattered on the ground, their broken ends charred black.
Qu Weiyin looked at the scene and let out a cold snort.
Following Qu Weiyin’s instructions, Luo Jinxiao flew south at a breakneck speed. It wasn’t by choice; Qu Weiyin was ruthless, gripping her pressure point and forcing her to accelerate repeatedly.
Luo Jinxiao, already injured from being struck by Qu Weiyin’s fireball and shielding her from another attack, struggled to maintain such a rapid pace.
After a full day of flying, Luo Jinxiao’s vision began to blur, alternating between light and dark, as if she were experiencing day and night in rapid succession.
Misfortune never came alone. Several auras appeared behind them. Qu Weiyin turned, gripping the Crescent Star Sword tightly.
The Wuhui Sect disciples had caught up.
Qu Weiyin cursed under her breath, then said to Luo Jinxiao, “Descend here. There’s a valley below.”
The complex terrain of the valley would offer better protection than being surrounded in mid-air.
Luo Jinxiao’s mind was already in chaos. Upon hearing the command, she lost her grip on her spiritual energy and plummeted downwards. Qu Weiyin cursed again, throwing out the Crescent Star Sword just in time to catch them both.
“Useless,” Qu Weiyin gritted out, dragging Luo Jinxiao by the neck behind a large boulder. She steadied herself, and the heavy sword in her hand began to glow with fire and a faint black aura.
Several figures, dressed in elaborate robes, both male and female, descended before them. It was unclear which sect they belonged to.
“Demon Lord, we meet again. What a coincidence,” a woman with a Taoist hairstyle said with a smirk.
Qu Weiyin didn’t reply. With a cold laugh, she struck first. The sword left her hand, doubling in size mid-air and hurtling towards them. Their expressions shifted, and they quickly dodged.
The sword light grazed the robe of one of the figures, instantly engulfing him in a corrosive black aura. He screamed as he was reduced to ashes. The remaining figures recoiled in terror, shouting curses.
Qu Weiyin summoned the sword back, her long, pale fingers delicately wiping away the grime. Her red lips curled into a slight smile.
Suddenly, her expression froze. Blood rushed to her throat, and she nearly collapsed, forcing herself to remain standing.
Using her magic power in her current state had caused her already chaotic and dispersed energy to surge uncontrollably, nearly bursting her chest.
The figures noticed her faltering and cautiously advanced. Qu Weiyin stood her ground, struggling to regain control of her scattered magic power.
The wounds on her body began to bleed again, and she could feel the pain intensifying.
As the figures closed in, a cough came from behind the boulder. Luo Jinxiao had awakened. Their expressions changed, realizing there was another opponent. They attacked the boulder in unison, their combined spiritual power converging into a lightning-like force, shattering the rock into pieces.
Caught off guard, Luo Jinxiao was struck by the blast, stumbling backward. She instinctively summoned her spiritual energy, forming a shield in front of her.
“I’m not a demon! I’m a disciple of the Wuhui Sect!” Luo Jinxiao shouted against the wind, struggling to be heard.
The woman with the Daoist hairstyle hesitated, but her companion shouted, “Don’t listen to her lies! I saw her carrying that Demon Lord on her back! Even if she’s not a demon, she’s certainly not one of us!”
No one questioned her words. They attacked Luo Jinxiao and Qu Weiyin with renewed energy. Waves of spiritual energy crashed against Luo Jinxiao, forcing her to retreat further and further.
Unable to explain herself, Luo Jinxiao was furious, but she was no match for them. A dull ache spread through her chest.
Just as she was about to be overwhelmed, a golden light flashed, intercepting their attacks. Qu Weiyin stood protectively in front of Luo Jinxiao. She seemed to have recovered, her black hair flowing freely, demonic energy radiating from her.
“Enough!” Qu Weiyin said coldly. Golden light, intertwined with demonic energy, surged from the Crescent Star Sword, forming a continuous barrage that overwhelmed their opponents, quickly gaining the upper hand.
Seeing Qu Weiyin’s back, Luo Jinxiao finally relaxed. She lowered her hand, clutching her chest and gasping for breath. She felt a mixture of relief and disappointment, a strange sense of irony at the situation.
Qu Weiyin was indeed merciless in battle. Within moments, only corpses remained. With a wave of her hand, she incinerated them, leaving no trace.
Qu Weiyin let out a long breath and turned to look at Luo Jinxiao, her phoenix eyes narrowed slightly. “Little waste,” she said, “see that? That’s what your Wuhui Sect is like.”