Lin Yuyan's POV
Yan Xiu's palace was nothing like I expected.
From outside, it looked dark and terrifying—all black stone and sharp towers that seemed to stab at the sky. But inside? Inside was beautiful in a dangerous way, like a knife that's been polished until it gleams.
The demon lord led me through corridors lit by floating red lanterns. My legs shook with each step. My body screamed with pain from the fall, but I refused to show weakness. Not now. Not when I'd just made a deal with a literal demon.
What am I doing? a small voice whispered in my head. I just agreed to stay in demon territory. Father always said demons eat humans. That they're monsters.
But Father also sold me to Xiao Chen like livestock, then agreed to replace me with Qingxue.
So maybe Father was wrong about a lot of things.
"You're thinking very loudly, little phoenix," Yan Xiu said without looking back. "Having second thoughts?"
"No," I lied.
He laughed. "Terrible liar. Don't worry—I don't eat humans. Too stringy. Not enough flavor."
I couldn't tell if he was joking.
We entered a huge room with a pool of steaming water in the center. Real water, not the dirty buckets servants threw at me back at Flowing Cloud Sect. The pool sparkled with some kind of spiritual energy that made my skin tingle.
"This is a healing spring," Yan Xiu explained. "It'll fix your injuries and help stabilize your chaotic cultivation. Get in."
I stared at the water, then at him. "You're going to watch?"
"I'm five hundred years old, little phoenix. I've seen everything." But he rolled his eyes and turned his back. "Fine. I'll face the wall like a gentleman. Happy?"
"You're not a gentleman. You're a demon."
"Demon lord," he corrected. "Get that right. There's a difference."
Despite everything—the pain, the betrayal, the insanity of my situation—I almost smiled.
I peeled off my torn, bloody robes and slipped into the water. The instant the spring touched my skin, warmth flooded through me. Not burning warmth like the phoenix flames—this was gentle, soothing, like being hugged by sunlight.
My cuts began to close. My bruises faded. Even my broken ribs clicked back into place with barely any pain.
"Oh," I breathed. "Oh, this is amazing."
"Told you." Yan Xiu still faced the wall. "Now, while you soak, let's talk business."
Business. Right. This was a deal, not a rescue.
"You said I'd train here," I started carefully. "For how long?"
"As long as it takes for you to master your phoenix bloodline. Could be months. Could be years. Depends how hard you work."
Years? I could be stuck here for YEARS?
"What about my family? The sects? Won't they look for me?"
Yan Xiu's shoulders shook with silent laughter. "Little phoenix, they threw you off a mountain. They think you're dead. They're CELEBRATING that you're dead. Why would they look for a corpse?"
The truth hit me like a punch to the stomach.
He was right. Xiao Chen had ordered my death. Qingxue probably toasted my demise with expensive wine. Father had probably already told everyone I'd "died in an accident" to save face.
To them, I was already gone.
"Good," I whispered, surprised by the venom in my voice. "Let them think I'm dead. When I come back, they won't see me coming."
"Now that's the spirit!" Yan Xiu turned around—I squeaked and sank deeper into the water, but he kept his eyes politely on my face. "Here's what happens next. Tomorrow, we start training. Basic cultivation first—you need to learn how to control your phoenix flames before they control you. Then combat. Then advanced techniques. My demons will help teach you."
"Your demons?" I swallowed hard. "How many demons live here?"
"In my palace? About two hundred. In my territory? Several thousand." He grinned at my terrified expression. "Relax. I've already spread the word—you're under my protection. Anyone who touches you answers to me. And trust me, nobody wants that."
"Why are you really helping me?" I asked quietly. "You said you're curious, but there has to be more. Demons don't do things out of kindness."
"You're right. We don't." Yan Xiu's red eyes gleamed. "Want the truth? Your phoenix flames can heal injuries that would normally kill my soldiers. Demons are always fighting—territory wars, power struggles, ancient grudges. Having a phoenix healer makes my forces nearly unstoppable. That's valuable."
At least he was honest.
"So I'm useful to you," I said flatly.
"Everyone's useful to someone, little phoenix. At least I'm honest about it." He tilted his head. "Your precious Xiao Chen used you for a political alliance, then threw you away when something better came along. I'll use your healing skills, but I'll give you power and protection in return. Which deal sounds better?"
I didn't have an answer for that.
"Get dressed," Yan Xiu said, tossing me clean robes. "Dark blue, not red. Red is for brides, and you're done being anyone's convenient bride."
He left before I could respond.
I climbed out of the healing spring, completely healed but emotionally exhausted. The robes he'd given me were simple but high quality—better than anything I'd owned at Flowing Cloud Sect. Dark blue, like he said. Like a fresh start.
When I emerged from the healing room, a demon waited outside.
I screamed.
The creature was MASSIVE—eight feet tall with gray skin, horns, and muscles that could probably crush boulders. His yellow eyes stared down at me.
"Sorry!" I yelped. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scream, I just—"
"S'okay," the demon rumbled in a surprisingly gentle voice. "Humans always scream first time they see me. I'm Gorm. Lord Yan Xiu says I'm your guard."
"My... guard?"
"Keep you safe. Show you around. Make sure nobody bothers you." Gorm scratched his horn awkwardly. "Also, um, Lord Yan Xiu says thank you."
"Thank me? For what?"
"My little sister got stabbed yesterday. Poison blade. Healers said she'd die." Gorm's eyes glistened with tears. "But Lord Yan Xiu says you can save her. With phoenix fire. Will you?"
My heart clenched. This terrifying demon was crying over his sister.
Demons loved their families too.
"Take me to her," I said immediately.
Gorm's face lit up with hope.
He led me through the palace to a medical room where a small demon girl—maybe equivalent to eight human years—lay on a bed, barely breathing. Black veins spread from a wound in her stomach. Poison.
Three demon healers stood around her, looking hopeless.
"I don't know if I can do this," I whispered. "I don't know how to control my power yet—"
"Please try," Gorm begged. "Please."
I placed my hands over the girl's wound and closed my eyes. Come on, phoenix fire. If you're really part of me, HELP me.
Heat built in my chest. Slowly at first, then faster. Golden-red flames flowed down my arms and into the little girl's body.
The black veins started to recede.
The poison burned away.
Her breathing strengthened.
After five minutes that felt like hours, the girl's eyes fluttered open. "Big brother?"
Gorm sobbed and hugged his sister carefully. The other demons stared at me like I'd performed a miracle.
"You saved her," one healer breathed. "The Phoenix Maiden actually saved her."
Phoenix Maiden? Was that what they were calling me?
"Thank you," Gorm said, his massive hand gently touching my shoulder. "Thank you, Lady Yuyan. Anything you need, anything at all, I'll protect you. I swear it."
Warmth flooded my chest—not phoenix fire this time, just genuine warmth.
When was the last time someone had looked at me with such gratitude? Such respect?
Never. The answer was never.
At Flowing Cloud Sect, I was the cripple. The disappointment. The worthless daughter.
But here, in demon territory, I'd just saved a life. And this demon warrior was pledging to protect me.
Maybe I'd made the right choice after all.
That night, Yan Xiu found me on a balcony, staring at the dark forest under the stars.
"Can't sleep?" he asked, joining me.
"Too much happened today." I laughed bitterly. "This morning, I woke up thinking I'd marry the love of my life in three days. Tonight, I'm in a demon palace, and everyone I loved thinks I'm dead."
"Not everyone loved you, little phoenix. That's why you're here."
True.
"Gorm told me you sent me to his sister on purpose," I said quietly. "You wanted me to see that demons aren't monsters."
Yan Xiu shrugged. "Worked, didn't it?"
"Why do you care what I think?"
"Because you have power now, Yuyan. Real power. And people with power make choices." His red eyes met mine. "I want you to choose to stay. Not because you're trapped, but because you WANT to be here. Because you see that this place can be your home."
"Home," I whispered. Such a strange word. I'd never really had one.
"Think about it." Yan Xiu turned to leave, then paused. "Oh, and Yuyan? In three days, your beloved Xiao Chen marries your sister. I can arrange for you to watch remotely if you want. See what you're missing."
My hands clenched the balcony railing. "I don't want to—"
"Liar," he said softly. "You want to see it. You need to see it. So you can finally let go of the girl who loved him and become the woman who'll destroy him."
He disappeared into the shadows before I could respond.
Three days until the wedding.
Three days until Xiao Chen and Qingxue became husband and wife.
Three days until Lin Yuyan's death became permanent.
I looked down at my hands. Golden-red flames danced between my fingers, responding to my emotions.
Yes, I decided. I'll watch their wedding. I'll watch them celebrate while they think I'm dead.
And I'll remember every second of it.
Because one day, I'll make them pay for every tear I cried.
The phoenix flames burned brighter, and somewhere in the distance, thunder rumbled.