Ethereal World: Vicious Cannon Fodder's Immortality Road - Chapter 818

Chapter 818: Shen Xian’s Heartache
“Is that really you, Idol?” Tai Hua Lei’s voice was nearly a whisper, his eyes wide with disbelief. It felt surreal to see her again, as if he had conjured her from a dream. He took a hesitant step forward, his heart racing, filled with an overwhelming mixture of hope and joy.

“Yes, it’s truly me. It’s been a while. You’ve become even stronger than before. I’m so proud of you,” Shenlian Yingyue replied warmly, ignoring the frosty presence of Shen Xian lurking behind her. Her smile was bright, radiating encouragement, and for a moment, it felt like the weight of the world lifted off Tai Hua Lei’s shoulders.

He blinked back the sting of tears that threatened to spill. All the struggles, all the hardships—at that moment, they seemed worth every ounce of pain. Standing here before her, he finally felt deserving of her attention, of her admiration.

“What are you doing here? I told you to leave!” Shen Xian’s voice cut through the air like a whip, laced with venom and jealousy. His usually composed facade shattered, revealing the fury that boiling beneath the surface. The sight of Tai Hua Lei’s joy ignited a fire within him, and he struggled to contain it.

With nowhere else to direct his agitation, Shen Xian shot a dark glance at Xiao Meng, who stood bewildered and curious. She was mesmerized by the interaction, the way Tai Hua Lei’s icy demeanor melted away in Shenlian Yingyue’s presence. Who was this woman that could command such devotion?

When she tried to sense Shenlian Yingyue’s aura, her pupils shrank. This woman was the owner of the Bunny Goddess Mirror! A chill ran down her spine, and as she overheard Shen Xian’s menacing tone, she felt her knees weaken. “Your majesty, forgive my rudeness,” she stammered, quickly fleeing the hall, her mind racing with thoughts she dared not speak aloud, knowing they could lead to grave consequences.

In that moment, Shenlian Yingyue remained undeterred, her expression steady, unaffected by the undercurrents swirling around her. She was focused on one thing: Tai Hua Lei.

“Idol, why are you here?” Tai Hua Lei’s voice was filled with concern and curiosity, momentarily forgetting the turmoil that hovered nearby. His hands rested on her shoulders, seeking reassurance in her presence. The gravity of this encounter weighed heavily on his heart.

“I’ve come to rescue my master,” she answered, her tone resolute. She shot a glance at Shen Xian, her gaze unyielding. It was necessary for her to take a stand, to play the game he had forced into existence. If he wielded his feelings as a weapon, she would not hesitate to turn it against him.

Shenlian Yingyue had always wanted to be a merciful person, but the world had a way of twisting intentions. If it meant revealing the darker side of her nature to keep those she cared for safe, then so be it. In the Demon Realm, she would show them exactly what she was capable of.

“Shen Xian, did you kidnap the Great Ancestor? Why are you so despicable? When will you change?” Tai Hua Lei still remembered that Shenlian Yingyue’s master was Xiong Zi Ying, the Great Ancestor of the Divine Kunlun Sect.

He had hoped that Shen Xian had transformed, considering how much better he seemed after returning from the Rainrealm Continent. But the deeper he probed into Shen Xian’s heartlessness, the more he came to understand that a person’s true nature often remained unchanged, no matter how much they claimed to have improved.

“A’Lei, ever since she arrived, you’ve done nothing but pay attention to her. What makes her so special? You’re willing to believe every word she says? Have I become so despicable in your eyes?” Shen Xian’s voice trembled with disbelief and sorrow. He had tried so hard to improve himself for the person he cherished, yet here he stood, faced with the disgust of his beloved.

With just a few words from this woman, all his years of trying to earn Tai Hua Lei’s affection seemed to crumble into dust.

“She won’t deceive me; I trust her above all else.” Tai Hua Lei stepped protectively in front of Shenlian Yingyue, his conviction unwavering. Each insult Shen Xian hurled only amplified his disdain for the former friend.

“You!!” Shen Xian’s eyes widened in shock and betrayal.

“Don’t I know you best? Now, let her master go. Don’t push me to the point where I despise you.” Tai Hua Lei’s voice was icy, his demeanor a stark contrast of neither obsequiousness nor outright defiance toward Shen Xian.

Shen Xian’s hands balled into fists, his anger boiling beneath the surface.

Shenlian Yingyue, caught in a whirlwind of confusion, kept her expression neutral.

The odd dynamic drew curiosity from all. How could Tai Hua Lei, a mortal with a Pseudo Spiritual Root (lacking any real potential), capture the heart of the formidable Demon Emperor, whose might resonated through the nine realms?

“If she truly wishes to save her master, it will boil down to her capabilities,” Shen Xian said with a deceitful smile, his voice a mere whisper yet thick with malice.

“Where is my master?” Shenlian Yingyue demanded, concern etched in her brow.

“Abyssal Throne Ruins!” Shen Xian declared, delighting in her growing doubts.

“What did you just say?” Tai Hua Lei gasped, his expression shifting from shock to fury.

“A’Lei, every practitioner of immortality knows that we demons claw our way to strength. If she can’t even navigate to the Abyssal Throne Ruins and rescue her own master, what right does she have to earn your admiration? Besides, Xiong Zi Ying provoked me at every turn—am I not merciful for sending him there instead of killing him outright?” Shen Xian’s laughter was cold, reverberating through the air.

“If you hadn’t made things so difficult, why would the Great Ancestor have come seeking you?” Tai Hua Lei shot back, his intelligence unwavering against Shen Xian’s machinations.

“Tai Hua Lei, just because I’m in love with you doesn’t mean I’ll overlook the way you treat me, especially over someone who means nothing. If you keep defending her, you should know—I’ll make her life a nightmare,” Shen Xian rarely spoke so much, but today he needed to draw a line. No one, not even the one he loved, could defy his will.

“If you want her to be hurt, then I’m going with her. Whether she lives or dies, I’ll be by her side from now on. If you plan to make her suffer, I’ll share in that suffering,” Tai Hua Lei hissed, his hands clenched so tight his nails dug into his palms, drawing blood.

Shenlian Yingyue’s heart swelled with warmth. She had never realized how significant she was to him. Watching him endure pain because of Shen Xian made her gaze turn icy.

“Tai Hua Lei! Are you suicidal? Have you forgotten everything we’ve been through?” Shen Xian shouted, his anger peaking as he rushed forward and gripped Tai Hua Lei’s neck tightly.

His face twisted with rage, jealousy consuming him. Why—why must the one he loved challenge him for someone else?

“Forget the past? I don’t remember the past. What matters is that you keep pushing her to the brink. You must understand that without her, the person I am today wouldn’t exist. Hurting her is the same as hurting me!” Tai Hua Lei declared, his voice unwavering.

Ever since she stood up for him, shielding him from the world’s judgment, her place in his heart had become sacred and unmatched.

As Shen Xian’s grip slightly loosened, he struggled to comprehend the depths of Tai Hua Lei’s loyalty and ferocity.

Despair coursed through him, his throat felt tight, tears threatened his eyes, but his expression turned increasingly chilling.