Chapter 3: The Addiction to Love Strikes Again

Rain fell in a steady, dreary drizzle.

Yu Tingye walked step by step out of the ruins of Yushan Village, making his way to the hills behind the settlement. Among a cluster of graves, he found the resting place of his parents. He fell to his knees with a heavy thud.

"Father, Mother. Little Ye is late." Tears burst from his eyes as he pressed his hands into the wet earth, clawing deep furrows into the ground. "Rest assured, I will avenge you. I will kill the Demon Sovereign Wanwan, and I will destroy her entire Demon Realm. From this day forward, there shall be no more demons in this world. Father, Mother, do you hear me? Tragedies like this will never happen again."

***

Lin Xihe opened her eyes to see Yu Tingye storming toward her, his hair and clothes soaked through. Without a word, he produced a leather whip and lashed out at her with brutal force. He struck her a dozen times until her skin was torn and bleeding, finally causing her to lose consciousness from the agony.

Yu Tingye put away the whip, only to feel a strange sensation rising within his body. The "Passion Addiction" was flaring up—and at the worst possible time. He clenched his fists, frustrated. With no other choice, he undid the chains binding Lin Xihe and used his energy to heal the welts from the whip.

The discomfort in his body grew more intense. He reached out to unfasten Lin Xihe’s clothes with great reluctance, but just then, she stirred awake. Seeing Yu Tingye, she pushed him away. "What are you doing?"

Did this man actually intend to force himself on her?

Yu Tingye was even more stunned than she was. Was this old demoness actually rejecting him? Lin Xihe saw his flushed face, as if he were drunk, and immediately guessed what was happening. However, she was not the Demon Sovereign Wanwan, and she dared not play such games with him. "My body is so tortured by you every day that I am incapable of such things. You would be better off finding another woman. By the way, that Tang Xin'er is quite suitable; you should go find her."

In extreme distress, Yu Tingye commanded, "Give yourself to me."

Lin Xihe retreated. "I told you, I am unwell, I cannot..."

Before she could finish, Yu Tingye used his demonic power to seize control of her body, rendering her immobile. He scooped her up, and they vanished in a wisp of black smoke. A second later, he reappeared with Lin Xihe in his private bedchamber—a room that had once belonged to the Demon Sovereign Wanwan, but now belonged to him.

***

Tang Xin'er had come to find Yu Tingye, only to hear unbearable sounds coming from behind the doors of his chamber. She pushed the doors open to find a man and a woman entangled on the bed. She stared at them in disbelief.

"Xin'er, get out," Yu Tingye ordered the moment he spotted her.

Lin Xihe, pinned beneath him, turned her head slightly to see the tear-streaked face of Tang Xin'er. A strange, vindictive sense of satisfaction washed over her, and the lingering malice she had felt earlier vanished. To see the man she loved sleeping with another woman—the pain of that must be worse than death.

Tang Xin'er turned and fled in tears.

When it was over, Yu Tingye released his hold on Lin Xihe. She pulled her blood-stained clothes over herself, dressing slowly. From start to finish, she did not dare look at him; acting weak seemed to be her only viable strategy for survival now.

"Wanwan," Yu Tingye called out.

Lin Xihe looked up, meeting his eyes, and asked cautiously, "W-what is it?"

This old demoness had been acting extremely erratic lately; he had to keep her under his watchful eye.

"You will stay here from now on," Yu Tingye declared. "You are not to leave this chamber for even a single step. If you dare walk out that door, I will break your legs."

Lin Xihe knew he was a man of his word. "I will be obedient," she replied meekly, keeping her head bowed. Feeling his gaze fixed upon her, she added, "I will do whatever you ask of me."

***

Yu Tingye let out a cold snort and walked out.

Some time later, a maid entered carrying a stack of clothes. She said to Lin Xihe, "Lady Wan, my name is A'jiu, and I am here to serve you. These clothes were sent for you by Lord Tingye."

Lin Xihe had never seen this maid before. It seemed everyone in the palace had been replaced with Yu Tingye’s own people. How miserable. But the most miserable of all was she, Lin Xihe. Perhaps she had lived too happily in her previous life, so the heavens had gifted her this chaotic mess to clean up—or rather, to be cleaned up by.

***

A month passed.

Lin Xihe remained in the bedchamber. Though it was boring, it was also peaceful. She spent her days sleeping, arranging flowers, and listening to A'jiu recount stories from the outside world.

One day, as they were chatting happily, the chamber door was suddenly pushed open. Yu Tingye strode in, a flicker of pain crossing his handsome face. When A'jiu saw him, she immediately stepped aside to bow. "Lord Tingye."

Yu Tingye waved his hand, and A'jiu retreated at once.

Lin Xihe had just stood up when Yu Tingye pulled her into an embrace. "I am in pain."

It was the Passion Addiction flaring up again. Lin Xihe did not resist, allowing him to kiss her. Yu Tingye’s face was truly, hauntingly demonic.