Gu An believed Shen Yan and slowly reached out to grasp the soul sword.
However, the moment she held it, Gu An suddenly had a desire for Shen Yan not to leave. With a flash of inspiration, her eyes rolled back, her body trembled, and she collapsed heavily.
Seeing this, Shen Yan was stunned.
The soul sword, however, understood Gu An’s intentions.
It also did not want Shen Yan to leave, so it cooperated with Gu An to break free from Shen Yan’s grasp and fell to the ground.
Thus, Shen Yan, by a twist of fate, remained in the Demon Realm, staying for a full three months.
And so, Gu An’s feelings for Shen Yan gradually deepened.
Shen Yan also developed feelings for her!
Unexpectedly, one day after three months, the old gentleman contacted him through telepathy. He worried that the old gentleman might come here, and Gu An would then be in danger.
Therefore, for Gu An’s safety, he had no choice but to leave.
He then went into the ghost cave where Gu An lived.
“I’m leaving.”
At that time, the ghost cave was bathed in light, not at all gloomy. Outside the cave, flowers and plants were planted. Gu An had tidied the place up, making it like a paradise.
At that moment, Shen Yan felt that the name “ghost cave” did not suit the place. He asked Gu An if she wanted to change its name. Gu An, without thinking, immediately agreed to Shen Yan’s suggestion.
It was also on that day that Shen Yan thought of a new name.
However, because he was leaving, he forgot it.
Gu An: “…”
Seeing Gu An’s unhappiness, Shen Yan asked, “What’s wrong?”
Gu An said, “Can you not go? I’m not yet familiar with the soul sword.”
“…” Shen Yan shook his head.
“When I fainted…”
“Don’t lie to me. I know you and the soul sword have become friends, and it listens to you now.”
However, Shen Yan had discovered this secret during the first month.
It was just that he was curious about Gu An’s purpose and thus stayed until now.
Three months had passed, and Shen Yan had a general understanding that she… might have developed the same feelings as him.
But, as the second child, he could not find a partner before his senior brother Shen Xian. If he did, it would break the rules.
Also, Gu An was a demon. The old gentleman had said that immortals and demons were destined not to be together.
Therefore, he could not admit these feelings.
Gu An pouted, “But I like you.”
Seeing Gu An’s sincere expression, Shen Yan suppressed the sadness in his heart and said, “I don’t like you.”
“…” Gu An was stunned upon hearing this. “Why?”
“Why else? I am a cultivator, not a demon cultivator. If I were with you, I…”
“If I eat your immortal pill, I won’t be a demon anymore,” Gu An interrupted.
“My immortal pill can only be eaten by women with immortal destinies. Do you know what a woman with an immortal destiny is?”
“No,” Gu An shook her head slightly.
Shen Yan’s gaze was cold. “A woman with an immortal destiny is a mortal, not a demon.”
“…” Gu An’s heart sank, but she persisted, “I like you, and I know you like me too. I just want to be with you. For you, I am willing… to die, I am willing to be reincarnated as a human.”
“This is the Demon Realm. A demon cannot be reincarnated. Don’t you know that?”
“I…”
“That’s enough, don’t say anything more. I don’t like you. To be honest, you pestering me every day is really annoying.”
“I really…”
“Stop talking. I hate clingy women like you. Aren’t you annoyed? The soul sword is a gift from me. Keep it safe, and remember not to let the underworld’s grim reapers see it, or your fate will be grim.” With that, Shen Yan left, enduring the pain.
That day, Gu An cried for a whole day.
The next day, the ghost cave lost its light. The lanterns within were imbued with life by Gu An using her sorcery.
One of the lanterns already had its own life, so after Gu An cast her spell, it transformed into human form. Gu An named her Xiang Nang!
A few days later, Gu An injected her memories with Shen Yan into those lanterns.
Her resentment ran deep. From then on, any demon that passed by became food for the lanterns.
Before long, those lanterns gradually turned blood red. Few people knew this secret.
More than a decade after Shen Yan left, Gu An discovered that she still had feelings for Shen Yan!
Afterward, she began searching for ways to be reincarnated.
It was also at that time that she met Yan Bian. Yan Bian told her that if she sent the soul sword to the underworld, she might have a chance to be reincarnated, because she had not killed anyone.
With Yan Bian’s suggestion, Gu An went to the underworld. The soul sword cooperated with her and handed itself over to the grim reapers.
As a result, Gu An suffered punishment in the underworld for a full ten years.
In the end, she was demoted to a mortal with demonic energy.
It was from then on that she met Shen Xian, the cultivator.
In the marketplace.
Gu An hid behind a pillar outside a shop, her eyes fixed on Shen Xian, who was sitting at a tea stall.
“Is he really a cultivator?” she asked Xiang Nang, who stood beside her.
Xiang Nang nodded. “Yes, and according to my inquiries, his surname is Shen.”
“Shen?” Gu An repeated, her heart starting to surge. “Then, does that mean he might be Shen Yan’s… disciple?”
Xiang Nang said, “There is a possibility.”
“Then, if I follow him to cultivate, I can ascend to heaven.”
“Mm.”
“Then it will be him.”
At that time, Gu An’s heart was filled with Shen Yan. The thing she wanted most was to see Shen Yan and tell him that she still liked him, that her heart had never changed.
However, just as she was about to approach Shen Xian, Xiang Nang stopped her. “Do you know him?”
“No, but in my opinion,” Gu An glanced at Shen Xian, “he must have just arrived here, having been cultivating in the deep mountains before.”
“How do you know?”
“Because Shen Yan back then… had that same expressionless, arrogant face.”
“Why that expression?”
“Because he was hiding his nervousness.”
“You know mortals very well.”
“Naturally. I was confined in the underworld for so long, and my cellmates were mortals in their past lives. They told me many things about mortals. Speaking of which,” Gu An slung an arm around Xiang Nang’s shoulder, “do you know what a matchmaker is?”
“What is that?”
“It’s someone who ties the red threads of fate. If I play matchmaker for him, I might gain his trust. This way, I can see Shen Yan sooner,” Gu An said, smiling foolishly.
Over twenty years, Gu An went from giving up to picking herself up again. Xiang Nang had witnessed this entire process.
Now, seeing Gu An so full of spirit, she didn’t know what to say.
So, she asked, “Master, why do you want to be a matchmaker?”
“You don’t know?”
“At that time, although I had life, I only stayed in the ghost cave every day. I was unclear about everything outside.”
“Oh, that’s right. Shen Yan only visited my home a few times. He always slept in the woods.”