When Mo Yan heard the question, a strange look flickered in his eyes, as if he was baffled by Xie Zhaolin's words.
But the moment he caught the icy glint in her gaze, his forehead slammed hard against the ground.
"Answering, Master. The territories of human cultivators are rich in spirit veins, treasures are everywhere…"
He swallowed down the blood pooling in his throat before continuing, "More importantly, we enjoy watching you fight each other."
A twisted grin stretched across his face. "It's entertaining… and we can discover plenty of weaknesses that way…"
Xie Zhaolin raised her brows. His blunt answer left her speechless for a moment. Of course, the question itself was pointless, like asking a wolf why it ate sheep. The demons coveting human resources was perfectly natural, and sowing discord had always been a weapon used in clashes between the two races.
"Keep talking." Her voice was cold, and the tip of her boot pressed down on Mo Yan's fingers braced against the ground. The cracking sound of breaking bones echoed clearly.
Mo Yan's face twisted in pain, but he didn't dare pull back. "Master is wise… our demon race sends clones into the human realm every ten years… just like how you people send infiltrators into our lands…"
A faint smirk tugged at Xie Zhaolin's lips.
Indeed, even her own Hehuan Sect had sent disciples into demon territory year after year. The demons she'd slaughtered and the intelligence she'd stolen weren't any different in nature.
That was the truth of the cultivation world: the weak were prey, deceit was the norm.
And as the sect's chief disciple, she'd been the vanguard. Many powerful demons had fallen beneath her sword, and her past name, Yun Qingyue, had been forged in their blood.
Now the tables had turned, and the irony wasn't lost on her.
Mo Yan, seeing her silence, panicked. "If Master doesn't believe me… do you know the Shi Yue Zhēnjūn?"
Xie Zhaolin's pupils shrank.
Shi Yue—that was the name she had earned in her previous life when she broke through to the Nascent Soul stage!
"Keep going." Her voice was calm, but her fingertips curled tighter without her noticing.
Mo Yan seized the chance, speaking quickly, "That Shi Yue Zhēnjūn… she cut down seven demon generals in the demon realm… her name spread in terror…"
Xie Zhaolin's brows arched slightly. To hear her own past accomplishments from the mouth of her enemy… the feeling was surreal.
"Go on," she said icily.
Mo Yan's whole body shook. "Later… later she was struck dead by heavenly thunder…" He forced out a ghastly smile, "The demon race… all of us… clapped and cheered…"
Halfway through, realization struck him. His words froze in his throat, and sweat broke out across his brow.
The slave contract bound him from lying, but disrespect toward his master also brought punishment. He had spoken of a human powerhouse with barely disguised schadenfreude, in front of a human girl—what could be more suicidal?
He wanted to fix his words, but his scream tore the air apart. Black blood seeped from his seven orifices, his Primordial Soul scorched by the contract's flames.
Xie Zhaolin watched his writhing body with cold detachment, though inside, a storm raged. Her fall… the demons had learned of it this quickly? And from Mo Yan's words, it seemed her death had stirred quite an uproar in the demon race.
"You saw her?" she asked.
Mo Yan shook his head desperately. "This clone hasn't… but my true body might've…" His body suddenly convulsed, black patterns crawling across his skin. Some restriction had been triggered. "Shi Yue Zhēnjūn's death… made the demon race… plan to…"
Xie Zhaolin narrowed her eyes.
So the demons were plotting something, and it tied to her death. An unexpected gain.
"And then?" she pressed.
Mo Yan's body seized violently, the demonic patterns on his flesh spreading as his skin began to rot. "I… can't… restriction…"
Her cold snort silenced him. Clearly the demons placed heavy restrictions on crucial intelligence.
But he was still useful. Letting him die now wasn't an option.
"How long have you been disguised as a human?" she asked instead.
Mo Yan gasped with relief, clinging to the new question. "Th… thirty years… every ten years… we have to change identities…" He raised his head cautiously. "This time… it was for the Rebirth Flower…"
Her eyes narrowed.
Thirty years. Long enough for an clone to bury itself deep into the human cultivation world.
Her fingers trembled faintly.
It hit her then—how laughable her questioning had been. All those concerns about demon schemes and humanity's safety… what did that have to do with her?
A bitter curve tugged at her lips.
The teachings of Hehuan Sect, etched into her soul, still lingered. Even after rebirth, even after seeing through the hypocrisy of the cultivation world, she still instinctively worried about matters that should mean nothing to her.
The demons coveting territory, the endless struggles of races… all of it was just a farce.
"How ridiculous…" she whispered, the baleful qi at her fingertips dispersing.
Hadn't her last life's lesson been enough? She bled and fought for so-called righteousness, and in the end, what did she get? Thunder splitting her body, her soul scattered.
Mo Yan pressed himself against the floor, trembling. He didn't understand why she had gone silent, but the contract let him feel her emotions clearly—what he sensed was cold disgust and weariness.
Xie Zhaolin looked down at him, her eyes filled with mockery.
Once, she had been full of passion, believing it was her duty to protect the world. Her sect's teachings, her master's words, had made her believe the demons and evil cultivators were humanity's greatest threats. But now, after walking through death and rebirth, all those so-called struggles meant nothing.
Human or demon, they were just ants chasing after benefits.
There was no justice in the cultivation world, only eternal interests. Righteousness and evil were nothing more than tools for those in power.
"Get up." Her voice was like ice. "I don't care about your infiltration plans."
Mo Yan froze, clearly not expecting such a reaction. But relief flooded him, and he scrambled upright. He lifted his head cautiously, only to see nothing but cold indifference in her eyes.
"Whether the humans perish or the demons vanish, it's none of my concern." Her finger brushed the black jade slip, her voice eerily calm. "As long as it doesn't affect my cultivation, you can fight however you like."
Mo Yan's eyes flickered with surprise, but he quickly bowed his head. He didn't dare guess her thoughts, let alone speak them aloud.
In her gaze, there was only ice. This time, she wouldn't fight for anyone's righteousness. Justice, race survival, none of it mattered. Not compared to a single pill that could help her break through.
"Lead the way," she ordered coldly. "You know where the Rebirth Flower is, don't you?"
==
弑月 (Shì Yuè) - Moon Slayer
弑 (Shì): This is a highly specific and weighty verb. It does not simply mean "to kill"; it means "to murder one's superior." It is classically used for regicide (弑君, shì jūn - to murder a sovereign) or patricide. Its use immediately implies a act of ultimate rebellion against a higher power.
月 (Yuè): Moon.
This 弑 (Shì) make me remember 戮 (Lù), from 剑戮 (Jiàn Lù), Jian Dan 'spiritual' Dao Title, because her Dao Title as demon is 魔月(Mó Yuè). Jian Dan is the MC on my other translation project, True Heir of Chaos: From Villainess to Empress.
The reason why I connect both hanzi is because the meaning is somewhat similar 'to kill'. And so, I dig deeper into both character.
弑 (shì)
Core Meaning: To murder one's superior. This is its exclusive and powerful meaning.
Relationship: It is defined by a vertical, hierarchical relationship where the killer is subordinate to the victim. It is an act of betrayal against the natural or social order.
Moral/Contextual Weight: Carries a heavy connotation of treason, rebellion, and moral transgression. It is never a neutral term; it is loaded with judgment and signifies the ultimate violation of duty and loyalty.
Scope: Almost always used for a single, specific, and highly significant act of killing one particular superior.
戮 (Lù)
Core Meaning: To kill, slaughter, or execute. Often implies a collective or public act.
Relationship: There is no inherent hierarchical relationship between the killer and the victim. It can be killing an enemy in war, a criminal, or a mass of people.
Typical Contexts: Massacres (杀戮, shālù), executions (诛戮, zhūlù), or to "kill together" as allies (戮力同心, lùlìtóngxīn - to unite in a common effort, originally "to join forces to kill").
Moral/Contextual Weight: Can be neutral (in a historical/military context) or negative (when describing atrocities). It emphasizes the act of killing itself, often with violence and bloodshed, but not necessarily the moral inversion of 弑.
Scope: Can be used for a single execution but is very commonly used for mass killing.