Chapter 280: So Long As The Path Remains

Gou’er said in a trembling voice, “While I was trying to replace my blood with First and Second Realm demon beast blood, I discovered… I could actually control that Demonic Power and use it for myself!”

Chen Changsheng froze for a moment after hearing this. He said, “Do you realize what you’re doing?”

Gou’er let out a breath and replied, “Mr. Chen, I understand. I understand it all too well. Look at how I am now. I know the consequences better than anyone.”

Chen Changsheng opened his mouth slightly, then sighed. “Why go to such extremes?”

Gou’er parted his lips and answered, “It’s the only way, sir. With the Demon Realm re-establishing the Mountain Lord position… this is my only chance. Below the Seventh Realm, we’re all just ants. Only by becoming a Mountain Lord can I learn the truth of everything.”

Chen Changsheng stared at him. “Tell me,” he said. “Right now… do you see yourself as a human…

…or a demon?”

Chen Changsheng suddenly realized something was wrong with Gou’er’s mind. His words carried a strange, cruel energy, even giving off a feeling like he’d gone mad.

Gou’er spoke up, “What do you mean, Mr. Chen? Of course I’m human.”

“Is that so?…”

Chen Changsheng took a small sip of tea but said nothing more.

Then Chen Changsheng asked again, “But have you considered… the First and Second Realm demon blood you might tolerate now? The Eighth Realm demon blood—how will you withstand that?”

Gou’er laughed. “Pouring it all in at once would be too much, of course. But step by step, replacing the blood bit by bit… there’s still a chance.”

Red veins marked his eyes, as if he’d endured long torment.

Chen Changsheng asked, “So… have you finished replacing the blood then?”

Gou’er shook his head. “Not yet. Almost done. It should be completely replaced in about four or five days. The timing should fit perfectly, reaching the Thirty-Six Caves.”

Chen Changsheng looked at him. “Make sure you’re absolutely certain.”

“Of what?” Gou’er asked.

Chen Changsheng stated, “You must choose: to be demon, or to be human. You cannot have both.”

Gou’er clicked his tongue. He shook his head, a brief flicker of clarity returning to his eyes.

“I…”

He found himself unable to answer.

But that faint clarity vanished as quickly as it came.

“Mr. Chen,” he said, “things have gone too far. I have no choice.”

Chen Changsheng fell silent.

The two gazed at each other without words. Gou’er’s spirit was already corroded by the demon blood, a heavy malice radiating from him, making it seem like he might explode into violence at any second.

Gou’er himself seemed to sense this. He took several deep, frantic breaths.

In the silence that followed,

Gou’er stood up. “I must keep moving,” he announced.

Chen Changsheng gave a slight nod, not asking him to stay.

Gou’er put the Wooden Carved Mask back on and strode out of the valley. He almost didn’t dare look back, running hard for several miles.

Qing Tianyou leaped down lightly from the cliffside, landing beside Chen Changsheng.

“There’s something wrong with him,” Qing Tianyou said.

Chen Changsheng replied, “Human blood and demon blood are naturally incompatible. The malice in the blood disrupts the Soul Spirit, making the host violent and cruel. That he can regain even brief moments of clarity is remarkable.”

“You’re saying…”

Qing Tianyou’s toes lightly touched the ground as he transformed into his original form, soaring into the sky.

He flew towards the boy’s trail.

Following for several miles, a thick, bloody smell suddenly assaulted him from within a forest.

Entering the woods, he saw several demon beast corpses. They had died horribly, teeth marks at their necks, their bodies completely drained of blood.

Qing Tianyou’s arm trembled slightly. “How… how could it come to this?” he murmured under his breath.

Staring at the carnage on the ground, his heart grew heavy.

Qing Tianyou pressed forward.

Suddenly, terrified screams erupted.

Dark, chilling laughter drifted from the depths of the forest.

“Hehehe…”

“Die! Just die! Die!”

“Die die die die die!”

Behind that Wooden Carved Mask glowed a pair of blood-red eyes.

His hands dripped with blood, yet the sight filled him with intense excitement.

“Blood…”

At this moment, Gou’er saw only red. Whatever moved, he felt the urge to kill it.

Qing Tianyou tracked him as Gou’er slaughtered every demon in his path across the mountains. Once he drained them of blood, he hurried off toward the next area.

Then, suddenly, Gou’er froze mid-step.

Corpses of several demon beasts lay scattered around him. He glanced back at the trail he’d taken, stained red every step of the way.

He snapped back to awareness.

“No, no, no…”

“AHHH!!!”

Gou’er howled, clutching his head, his eyes turning ferocious once more.

“Stop! Stop killing!”

“No more killing!”

“Blood… blood…”

He stumbled to a tree and slammed his head violently against it.

“THUD! THUD! THUD!…”

The Wooden Carved Mask splintered and broke. But he didn’t stop. He smashed his forehead against the tree over and over.

“Wake up! Wake up!!!”

“Stop killing! Stop the killing!!!”

The boy’s agonized screams echoed through the mountain peaks.

Qing Tianyou, perched on a treetop nearby, watched this scene unfold. A chill ran down his spine.

The boy finally collapsed.

Tears streamed from his eyes.

“No more killing… no more…”

“Why…”

Gou’er’s heart was breaking. Tears mixed with blood from his battered forehead, leaving him utterly wretched.

Only now did Qing Tianyou finally understand.

The terrifying paleness of the boy’s face wasn’t just from the battle between human and demon blood.

It was this constant torture that had made him look neither human nor ghost!

Only Gou’er himself truly grasped the sheer agony of it all.

Qing Tianyou sighed. Seeing the boy regain his senses, he flapped his wings and flew away.

Chen Changsheng watched him land. “Is he calmer now?”

Qing Tianyou nodded, then added, “He wiped out five mountains.”

The teacup in Chen Changsheng’s hand hesitated. A moment later, he murmured, “More serious than I expected.”

“Is there no saving him?” Qing Tianyou asked.

Chen Changsheng nodded. “Disruption from an external evil… we might be able to cast it out or expel the wicked spirit. But that demon blood is now fused with him. The malice within it is no longer an external evil for him… it’s irreversible.”

Qing Tianyou opened his mouth, then said, “He probably didn’t want it to be like this.”

Chen Changsheng raised his head to look at him.

Seeing Chen Changsheng’s gaze, Qing Tianyou also furrowed his brows.

Then Chen Changsheng spoke.

“If he didn’t wish for this, he would have asked me earlier. But he said nothing.”

Qing Tianyou’s brows knitted tightly. “Why? Isn’t he…”

Chen Changsheng stated, “People often struggle endlessly over choices. Even when the path they take feels wrong, bringing them great pain… as long as the road ahead remains… they keep walking it.”

Qing Tianyou pondered this for a long time, finally letting out just a soft sigh. “I don’t understand.”

Chen Changsheng exhaled deeply. “Sometimes, I don’t fully understand it either.”