From DEMON to TRASH: The rise of Demonic Emperor Zhiyun

——- CHAPTER 3 ——-

Drip… drip… drip…

The soft sound of water echoed in the stillness, pulling Zhiyun from the depths of unconsciousness. Propping himself up on one elbow, his sharp teal-green eyes scanned his surroundings. He found himself inside a cave, faintly illuminated by glowing magical stones embedded in the walls.

To his right, a modest table and chair stood, accompanied by a tray of simple food. Nothing about the cave seemed overtly alarming or remarkable. After a moment of quiet observation, Zhiyun pushed himself to his feet, his movements deliberate as he began inspecting the area.

"You're not fully recovered yet," a melodic voice interrupted, halting him in his tracks.

Zhiyun's gaze snapped toward the source of the voice—an entrance to his left. A figure emerged, faintly glowing with an otherworldly aura.

'I didn't even sense her presence,' Zhiyun thought, narrowing his eyes.

Even in his weakened state, his soul remained intact, a remnant of his former power. For someone to move so effortlessly past his senses spoke of extraordinary strength—or something far more dangerous.

'She's no ordinary human,' he concluded, a dangerous glint flickering in his eyes.

Then his thoughts turned darker, a calculating smile curling on his lips.

'If I take her soul and absorb her spirit, I could repair this pathetic body'

His gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, the shadow of a plan forming in his mind.

'Humans are pitiful creatures, weak and driven by misguided kindness. That foolish compassion is what leads them to death's door' he thought tho for some reason theres a bitter aftertaste.

She may have saved him but Zhiyun felt no obligation to be thankful, he was a demonic emperor not a rightheous cultivator, if someone was at fault here it was her for saving a demon like him.

Letting a small smile crept though his flawless face a grim amusement filled him.

'If she wants to help me… then she will help me completely—by sacrificing her life'

Zhiyun carefully plotted his next move, deciding to play the role of the helpless boy she had rescued in the forest. It was an easy guise to adopt, given the youthful, fragile body he now inhabited.

'I can still use that technique,' he thought, his lips curving into a dark smile. 'It will cost me half my soul, but I can rebuild it by harvesting millions of human lives. For that, I need power—power that just happens to be standing right in front of me.'

He took a moment to compose himself, softening his expression and letting his teal-green eyes shimmer with feigned vulnerability.

"Sister… were you the one who saved me?" he asked, his voice light and trembling, perfectly mirroring the innocence of a frightened child. Internally, he felt disgusted by his own performance, but he knew it was necessary.

The body he now possessed made the act almost effortless. Its soft features and vibrant teal green eyes only added to the illusion.

As the former ruler of a demonic empire, Zhiyun's existence had revolved around manipulation, lies, and schemes. Deceit was his art, perfected over centuries. Fooling a human—no matter how perceptive—was a trivial task, and he intended to make the most of her kindness.

"I only did what was necessary," she responded, her voice calm but guarded.

Zhiyun smirked internally, feeling the subtle shift in her presence. Her demeanor softened ever so slightly, though she was still on guard. It didn't matter. He knew it was only a matter of time before her defenses crumbled, and when they did, he would claim her power.

"Sister, this slave wishes to thank you for saving his life," he said, bowing his head deeply as he got out of the wooden bed and knelt on the ground. "As a sign of my gratitude, please allow me to serve you in any way I can."

The atmosphere instantly shifted from calm to tense as he felt a faint fluctuation in her energy—a telltale sign of inner turmoil.

'Heh, she's more skilled than I thought,' he mused, hiding the glint of calculation in his eyes.

"Get back to bed!" she snapped, masking her concern with a sharp, commanding tone. "Someone like you has no use to me."

Zhiyun saw his opportunity. He clutched at his wound and let out a pained groan, stumbling before collapsing onto the floor. His breaths grew ragged, and he added a faint tremor to his voice.

"S-Sister… I am nothing more than a slave, but even a slave has dignity," he said, his tone filled with despair. "Our lives may be worthless to others, but if I can't even thank my savior, then what's the point of living? If I can't repay your kindness, I might as well die now!" His voice cracked, and he let out a soft, convincing sob.

'Come closer,' he thought, his eyes locked on the entrance where she stood hidden. 'This child will take his own life if you don't stop him. Can you bear the guilt of being the reason for an innocent boy's death?'

As much as Zhiyun wanted to attack her outright, he knew his current state made that impossible. His only chance of killing her was to get close and catch her off guard with a precise soul attack. However, the risk was immense. Soul attacks were designed to obliterate and destroy, but he couldn't afford to annihilate her soul entirely. He needed it intact to absorb her power, making the process infinitely more difficult.

"Are you a fool?" she finally said, her voice cold yet tinged with an unmistakable quiver. "There is more to life than serving others. If you cannot cherish your life, then throw it away! I won't stop you."

Silence fell between them.

'Heh, foolish human. You think you can outwit this emperor? ' Zhiyun thought with a smirk, his eyes scanning the room for the perfect spot to stage his fake suicide.

"You're right, Sister," he said, his voice breaking with raw emotion. "I don't cherish my life. My parents are dead, and my uncle sold me as a slave. What else is there to live for?"

With a sudden burst of speed, Zhiyun bolted toward the wall beside the entrance, his movements calculated yet frantic, his act flawless.

As he anticipated, his head never struck the cold stone. A gentle yet firm hand stopped him mid-motion, covering his eyes before he could collide.

And there it was again—that infuriating scent of lavender and lilac.

Shaking his thouths.

Slowly, Zhiyun reached up, clasped her hand, and turned to face her, surprisingly shes very cold, not that he is concerened.

'Got you' he thought, the glint of malice flickering in his gaze.

"Sister, hel—" Before he could finish, a thunderous explosion tore through the cave, shaking its very foundation. The ground rumbled violently, and the walls trembled as powerful blasts from outside sent debris raining down around them.

"Watch out!" the girl shouted, grabbing him and pulling him close as she dashed for cover.

Zhiyun barely registered her words, his mind racing with annoyance. He turned to study her, but the dim cave lighting and her dark red robe frustrated his efforts. Her hood remained firmly in place, concealing every feature.

'Dammit!' he thought, biting back his irritation.

Outside, the relentless barrage of attacks continued, and the ceiling began to crack under the pressure. More debris plummeted, and the cave seemed on the verge of collapse. Zhiyun decided to act.

"Sister, on top of you!" he shouted, feigning panic as he leaped toward her, pushing them both into the adjacent chamber.

The force of his push sent them sprawling onto the stone floor just as an avalanche of rubble sealed the entrance behind them. Dust and smaller rocks billowed into the room, obscuring their vision for a moment.

Zhiyun coughed lightly, brushing dust from his face, but as his eyes adjusted to the dim glow of the chamber, his words died in his throat.

In the center of the room stood a massive blood pearl, its surface gleaming with an ominous crimson light. The jewel was perfectly round, as large as a human head, and it seemed almost alive. Pulses of energy radiated from it in steady waves, filling the air with an oppressive yet alluring aura.

Zhiyun's breath hitched. 'A blood pearl… here?' he thought, his mind reeling.

This was no ordinary treasure. The blood pearl's energy was legendary, a source of immense power coveted even in the Celestial Realm. The artifact could amplify the holder's strength exponentially, nurturing their cultivation and granting near-limitless vitality. For a demonic cultivator, it was even more potent. By feeding on the life essence of the weak, the pearl could enhance dark techniques and empower its owner to command death itself.

'This… this could restore me,' Zhiyun thought, his eyes gleaming with newfound hunger.

Zhiyun's thoughts raced with excitement as he eyed the blood pearl. "Forget the girl's power and soul! With this, I can restructure this trashy body's foundation and repair its meridians," he thought, the possibilities overwhelming him. For a moment, his surroundings and even the awkward position he was in were forgotten.

Lost in his plans, Zhiyun became dimly aware of a soft lump pressing against his right hand.

'What's this?' he wondered, his curiosity piqued. His instincts urged him to investigate further, and his hand reflexively groped to understand the texture and shape. Shifting his gaze downward, his blood ran cold as he realized the truth.

He had been on top of the girl this entire time.

Her hood was still intact, concealing her face, but her posture radiated irritation, if not outright hostility.

'Did she notice?' he thought nervously, his body tensing in case he needed to defend himself.

Then his eyes shifted to where his hand had been resting—and groping. It was the lump on her chest.

'Huh… Didn't know she was so prepared as to wear a defensive armor,' he mused, entirely oblivious to the real situation. His fingers gave one last inquisitive squeeze to confirm the material's durability.

For some reason it felt nice.

Before he could finish analyzing, something hard collided violently with his head.

"Uhmm, sister, are you al—"

SMACK!

The sound echoed through the cave as Zhiyun was sent flying, his body tumbling five meters before crashing into a wooden chair in the corner, shattering it into pieces.

He groaned softly, the world spinning and his vision fading. As he lay sprawled on the cold ground, he barely registered the sound of footsteps approaching.

Through his hazy sight, he saw her remove her hood. Yet, even now, her face remained obscured, shrouded by his blurring vision.

A faint green light glowed in her hands once again, its energy gentle yet powerful.

Successfully his left hand reached to her glowing right hand, he felt her flinch but doesnt care, his grip tightened not to the point he could ever exert damage tho.

'All I have to do is attack her with my soul' he thought as conciousness slowly failing him.

'Damn it… that blood pearl… I need it,' Zhiyun thought bitterly before succumbing to unconsciousness, the flickering image of the girl the last thing he saw until his vision fully faded.

The commotion gradually settled as silence filled the cave. The hooded woman stood still, her sharp gaze scanning the surroundings. Sensing a familiar presence approaching, she turned slightly as two figures entered the cave, bowing respectfully before her.

The newcomers were twin sisters, alike in appearance yet opposites in demeanor. Mina, the older one, had waist-length dark brown hair and wore a modest light blue hanfu that reached her ankles. Her composed and disciplined aura radiated quiet strength. In contrast, Lina, the younger twin, had short dark brown hair and a mischievous glint in her gray eyes. Her light green hanfu was revealing, showing her bare legs and a carefree attitude.

"Master, the rogue intruders have been dealt with," Mina reported, her tone calm but sharp. "They appear to be hired mercenaries, though there's no indication they're connected to that sect." Her eyes lingered on the unconscious boy lying on the ground. "But… who is this boy, Master?" she asked, suspicion flickering in her voice.

Before their master could reply, Lina crouched beside Zhiyun, poking his head with a small tree branch as if testing if he was alive.

"Master, why save someone like this?" Lina asked with mock curiosity, though there was a playful smirk on her lips. "This boy is trash. His meridians are broken, and he doesn't even have a spiritual root. What's the point of keeping him alive?"

Mina turned sharply toward her sister, her eyes blazing with anger. "What are you talking about? Saved him?" she asked, her tone laced with suspicion.

Realizing her slip-up, Lina froze for a brief second before breaking into an awkward laugh. "Oh, uh, what I meant was… uh… maybe someone else saved him?" she said, scratching the back of her head and avoiding her sister's piercing gaze.

Mina's eyes narrowed. "Master, did you save him?" she asked, her voice trembling with a mix of frustration and concern. "Do you realize how dangerous that is? Your identity cannot be exposed—especially not for something like this!"

The hooded woman let out a soft sigh, placing a hand on her forehead as if to soothe an impending headache. "Yes, Mina, I saved him," she admitted quietly. Her gaze fell on the unconscious boy, her tone firm yet tinged with bitterness.

"Master!" Mina exclaimed, her voice rising with emotion. "You know the risk! What if someone traces this back to you? What if—"

"Mina," the hooded woman interrupted, her voice soft but firm, "how could I possibly leave a child in that state?" Her tone carried a bitter undertone, though she did not elaborate further.

Mina bit her lip, looking away with a mix of frustration and sadness. Unable to argue further, she turned her glare onto Lina, silently vowing to deal with her later. Lina, for her part, simply whistled and placed her hands behind her head, avoiding her sister's wrath.

Breaking the tense atmosphere, the hooded woman gave her next instructions. "Mina, clean this room thoroughly. Leave no trace behind," she ordered without looking back.

Mina nodded, bowing slightly before getting to work.

"Lina," the master continued, tossing a small white bottle to her younger subordinate, "take him to the other cave and slip this into his pocket."

Catching the bottle effortlessly, Lina gave a cheeky salute. "Yes, Master!" she chirped, easily hefting the unconscious boy onto her back before heading toward the cave's exit.

As the twins set about their tasks, the hooded woman lingered for a moment, casting one last glance at the boy. There was a faint, unreadable emotion in her hidden gaze before she disappeared into the shadows, her thoughts as veiled as her identity.