....
The tomb trials ended, but the air in the sect grew heavier than ever. The disciples had seen too much—death, corpses, and the shadow of the Demon Lord's past. Fear gnawed at their hearts, yet Sima Jiao moved through it all with the calmness of one who ruled both life and death.
A Dangerous Gift
In the grand hall, Sima Jiao summoned the disciples. His gaze swept across them until it landed on Liao Tingyan.
"Step forward," he commanded.
She stiffened but obeyed. Before her, he held out a small jade pendant, glowing faintly with his spirit fire.
Gasps rose from the crowd. To receive anything from the Demon Lord was both an honor and a curse.
"This will protect you," he said softly, though his eyes carried an unspoken warning. "But protection comes with a price. Carry it, and you belong to me."
Tingyan froze, the weight of the pendant burning in her palm even before she wore it.
Jealousy Among the Sect
The other disciples exchanged looks of envy and dread. Some whispered that she must have caught his eye. Others muttered that she was doomed, marked as the Demon Lord's toy.
Tingyan wanted to throw it back at him, to say she wanted nothing from him. But under his cold gaze, her voice caught in her throat.
A Test of Loyalty
Later, as if to prove her "favor," Sima Jiao placed Tingyan at the center of another cruel test.
A group of disciples was ordered to spar before him. The rule was simple: no one leaves until blood is spilled.
The duel grew violent, and before long, one disciple stumbled, blade clattering across the floor. His opponent raised his sword for the final strike.
On instinct, Tingyan cried out, "Stop!"
The hall fell silent. Sima Jiao's eyes narrowed, flickering with both annoyance and amusement.
"You dare defy me?"
Her knees went weak. Yet before she could answer, he raised a hand—and flames shot out, consuming the losing disciple where he lay.
The smell of smoke filled the air.
"Next time," he said coldly, "remember—mercy has no place here."
The Demon's Possession
That night, Tingyan sat in her quarters, staring at the pendant. It pulsed faintly, as though breathing with her. She realized with a chill that it wasn't just a gift—it was a shackle, a tether tying her life to his will.
When she closed her eyes, she could almost hear his voice, low and certain:
"You are mine now."
Her heart pounded. Whether it was fear, anger, or something she refused to name—she couldn't tell.
✨ End of Episode 10 — The Demon's Favor