He looked at her, speaking through silent transmission.
"Thought you didn't like using that name in front of too many people?"
She didn't flinch. Her voice was calm. Deliberate.
"Times change, right? Yělóng."
She said it aloud. Not quietly. Not for him alone.
And this time, she didn't whisper it into his spine—she let it echo.
"Black Dragon Emperor!"
"Black Dragon Emperor!"
"Black Dragon Emperor!"
They shouted—not in defiance. In dread. In reverence.
Dread stood behind Ren and Xiānlù.
So vast no measure could hold it. Not in height. Not in length. Only in terror.
It breathed.
And the sky caught fire.
Black flames. Dark flames.
Dragonhold trembled.
The others watched.
Not as witnesses. As worshippers.
They looked upon the Emperor of all Emperors.
The Emperor of all Gods.
The Black Dragon Emperor.
The True Immortal.
Creator of all.
Ren stood beneath the stars, gazing at the moon.
He had always loved the moon.
When its glow touched his face, he felt—if not peace—then something close.
Stillness. Memory.
He remained in Dragonhold. His sanctum.
A realm vast enough to hold countless creatures living here, but none disturbed him now.
Then her voice reached him—warm, teasing, familiar.
"Yělóng, come to bed already. I need my fire to warm me up.
"You still like looking at the moon, don't you?" she spoke softly.
"I do like looking at the moon," Ren said.
"It's nice. Makes me remember when I was human—looking at it with my family and friends."
She hesitated to speak.
But she did.
"I know you had to leave. But I still wish you'd stayed."
"I know that's selfish. I know you had your reasons."
"But you were my creator. I worshipped you."
"And then it became more. It became love."
"I wish you could've stayed here to learn restraint. I would've helped you."
"But you left. You got married. Three wives. Even lovers."
"Maybe not as wild as you were when you were here."
"But it felt like I got replaced. Especially by your wives."
"I kind of wish you hadn't told me about them."
"After all… you're my Yělóng."
Ren's voice was quiet, almost wistful.
"I remember when I was mortal. Life was so simple."
"We're born. We live. We die when our battery runs out."
"I used to struggle. There were things I couldn't do. I had to work for them."
"But now… I don't need to anymore."
"I miss that."
"Since I can do anything, maybe I should kill myself. Reincarnate as a mortal."
"Just to remember what it feels like to be human again."
"I miss the challenge."
Xiānlù snapped.
"Shut up."
"Don't you dare ever say that again. Do you hear me?"
Her voice cracked, but her fury held.
"I told you—never leave me again. Ever. Do you hear?"
"I don't care how selfish that is. My only reason is you."
She stepped closer, trembling.
"As for my husband… if it comes to it, I'll give him the throne of the Nether Realm."
"Let him rule it in my stead."
"I'll divorce him. I'll walk away from everything."
"So don't you ever say that again."
"You're mine. And I'm yours. Forever."
"I'm your little Xiānlù."
"And you're my Yělóng."
"If you ever killed yourself permanently… If you ever reincarnated…"
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"I would come for you. In a heartbeat."
"I would take you back."
"I love you, my little Xiānlù. Very much so."
"I love you too, Yělóng. I also hate you very much."
Ren smirked at that. Again, he reached out—and poked her forehead with two fingers.
Ren woke in the night. The moon hung low, pale and watching. He looked up at it, then spoke softly.
"Dread… look after her for now."
"Tell Xiānlù I'll come back."
"I need to continue my journey—with Mianmian and Gao Yun."
"They're probably wondering what happened to me. Where I've been."
A shadow stirred nearby.
"Yes, Lord Ren. It shall be done."
Ren returned to the place he'd been staying—barely crossing the threshold before a blur slammed into him.
A woman clung to him, her chest pressed against his face.
"Master! Where have you been?"
"Mianmian missed you dearly!"
Ren, muffled by the sudden embrace.
Two others followed behind—his disciples.
Princess Lianhua Tianchen and Prince Mingyu Tianchen halted at the doorway, staring.
"…This is what we're walking into?" Mingyu muttered.
Then came Gao Yun.
Thinner. Sharper. More handsome now. Younger-looking.
He looked like he hadn't slept in weeks—or had been reborn through suffering.
"Master," he said, voice strained.
"You finally returned."
"I can't deal with her anymore."
"She turned into a human."
"She's no longer a rodent. No longer a squirrel."
Ren blinked, still half-smothered.
…What happened while I was gone? he thought.
Ren hadn't even spoken when Mianmian turned, eyes blazing.
"What did you just say, Gao Yun?"
"Rodent? Say that again, you bitch."
"Last I checked, you're my slave."
"You do what I ask. I am Master's woman."
"His spirit beast. Show me the respect I deserve."
Gao Yun didn't flinch—he just gestured helplessly toward Ren.
"You see what I'm dealing with, Master?"
"She's become a crazy bitch."
"Even worse than when she was a rodent."
A sharp whistle cut through the air.
Then a massive nut—gleaming, spiked, and enchanted—slammed into Gao Yun's face.
He flew.
Through trees.
Over cliffs.
Across mountains.
Nature bent and broke in his wake.
And somehow… he was still alive.
The other two disciples stood frozen.
One was over a thousand years old.
The other—barely ten.
Princess Lianhua Tianchen quickly covered her younger brother's ears and eyes.
But Prince Mingyu Tianchen peeked through her fingers, wide-eyed.
Mianmian was mothering Ren with her chest, practically draped across him.
"Master, look at me!" she beamed.
"I've become a sexy woman!"
"I'm totally your type, right?"
Ren didn't answer.
Then Gao Yun stormed in, grabbed her by the waist, and pulled her off.
"I knew it," he growled.
"You little rodent."
"I knew the moment you turned human, you'd strike."
"Trying to become Master's woman."
"You mischievous little beast."
"You don't deserve his love."
Mianmian twisted in his grip, eyes flashing.
"Don't deserve?" she hissed.
"I earned this body."
"I cultivated through heartbreak, through hunger, through centuries of silence."
"I am his spirit beast."
"I am his queen—no, I am his empress."
Gao Yun scoffed, voice rising.
"Centuries?"
"What do you know about centuries?"
"Last I checked, you've only been with Master for a few years."
"Since he joined the Glass Lotus Sect."
"You liar."
"You big, ridiculous liar."
Mianmian's eyes narrowed, her aura flaring.
She stepped forward, fists clenched, ready to strike.
Before she could unleash her fury, Ren spoke—quiet, firm.
"Mianmian. Behave."
She froze.
Then turned with a sweet, innocent smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Yes, Master. Whatever you say."
"I was only going to kill him anyway."
"He's quite resilient."
"He lost all that weight because of me. He should be grateful."
"He looks better now. Handsome, even. That's my doing."
She leapt toward Ren, clinging to his arm.
Ren could feel her chest pressing against him.
Gao Yun staggered forward, bruised and indignant.
"Master, do you hear this?"
"Look what she's done to me—I'm ruined!"
"My wife doesn't recognise me anymore."
"She says I look like an imposter."
"She misses my chubby, handsome face!"
"And she just said she was going to kill me!"
Ren opened his mouth, but Mianmian cut in, voice syrupy sweet.
"Master, don't listen to him."
"I was only joking."
"I couldn't kill him even if I wanted to."
"Gao Yun, Master has a soft spot for you."
"So I could never kill you. I promise."
She smiled, pressing her body against Ren's arm.
Ren finally spoke, voice quiet but unwavering.
"Don't worry, Gao Yun."
"Your wife still loves you."
"She's teasing, not rejecting."
"She knows who you are—beneath the weight, beneath the change."
"She loves you. I promise."
Gao Yun blinked, his bruised face twitching between disbelief and fragile hope.
His mouth opened, then closed.