Chapter 2: The Great Villain's Weakness

【"The Red Dust Heart-Tempering Fire has been taken by this Venerable One—get out!"】

【The Demon Lord's voice remained as icy as ever.】

Lin Chuan in the dream reincarnation is influenced by reality's subconscious, while enjoying all trait bonuses, but cannot synchronize with the real world.

【Gazing at the peerless figure before you, your fear has lessened somewhat.】

【After a brief stare, you and the Demon Lord clashed again.】

【In the battle, you discovered the Demon Lord's weakness—she is confined to the center of the Godfall Mountain Range and cannot leave.】

【Thus you activated the hit-and-run camper mode.】

【After countless lateral jumps at the mountain range's edge, you by chance discovered the Demon Lord's second form.】

【The Demon Lord suddenly became gentle, no longer frenzied as before.】

【She said: "Sorry, I can't control myself—I hurt you."】

【The cold, arrogant, overbearing demon lady turned into a gentle little lamb overnight, and you're not used to it.】

【She drew near, her flawless face close to you, her breath like orchids.】

【You suddenly realized how fragrant the breeze was.】

【She said: "Let me heal your wounds."】

【You instinctively wanted to refuse, but she was so gorgeous and gentle that your lascivious hidden trait was triggered, the words of refusal stuck in your throat and you couldn't utter them.】

【While healing your wounds, she proactively asked: "What's your name?"】

【"I'm Lin Chuan. And you?"】

【The Demon Lord of the present age is so illustrious, yet no one knows her true name—you're also curious about that.】

【"Mo Sangyu."】

【"What a nice name." You blurted out, the first time in your life you've said something against your true feelings.】

【During the healing, you two chatted a lot.】

【You and Mo Sangyu became good friends, and you decided to help her.】

【Mo Sangyu said she can only return to her normal state on the night of the full Yin Star; at all other times she remains that cold, arrogant, overbearing Demon Lord.】

【Mo Sangyu refused your help: "Go away—you're my only friend; I don't want to hurt you."】

【By dawn tonight, Mo Sangyu will revert to her Demon Lord form.】

【You declared firmly: "No, I will definitely save you."】

Lin Chuan knows this is a dream.

Fear of death? It doesn't exist.

Defeating the Demon Lord is the necessary path to complete the dream reincarnation and obtain the reward.

【What you don't know is that your fearless, death‑defying demeanor has left a deep impression on Mo Sangyu's heart.】

【In Mo Sangyu's entire life, no one has ever chosen her so resolutely.】

【She, in her simplicity, believes your bond has transcended life and death.】

【"The Red Dust Heart‑Tempering Fire is the only opportunity."】

【Thanks to your relentless effort, Mo Sangyu revealed to you the secret of defeating the Demon Lord.】

【Gazing into her eyes, you said: "Wait for me!"】

【Mo Sangyu wept, looking pitifully delicate.】

【You, a single mother to this day, have been captured, resolved to save her—and if possible, you still want to marry her.】

【At the end of night, the Demon Lord descends.】

【"This Venerable One will tear you to pieces!"】

【Though they share the same appearance, their dispositions are worlds apart—the red‑robed Demon Lord is far colder and more ferocious than Mo Sangyu.】

【You fell into contemplation.】

【Are they actually the same person?】

【At this very moment, you recalled the legend of the Red Dust Heart‑Tempering Fire.】

【Refining the heart in the red dust, one remains calm as usual; refining the red dust in the heart, misfortune turns to fortune.】

【Only by passing the Heart Tribulation can one shatter the ancient taboo and reach a higher realm.】

【No one knows where the Heart Tribulation comes from; perhaps the Demon Lord has already sensed something.】

【The Demon Lord is invincible in the world, yet limited by the ruined heavens and earth, unable to break through to the higher realm of antiquity.】

【What limits the Demon Lord is not the Godfall Mountain Range, nor the Red Dust Heart‑Tempering Fire, but the Demon Lord herself.】

【You suddenly realized: "Mo Sangyu is the manifestation of the Demon Lord's Heart Tribulation!"】

【"Die!"】

【The Demon Lord's icy voice pulled you back from your thoughts.】

【You returned once more to the safety line.】

【"The Red Dust Heart‑Tempering Fire is the only opportunity!"】

【Recalling Mo Sangyu's words, you decided to snatch the prize from the tiger's mouth—seizing the Red Dust Heart‑Tempering Fire from the Demon Lord's grasp.】

【"Come over here."】

【You, famed as the contemporary Sword God, used the most chuuni‑style provocation—raising your middle finger at the Demon Lord—and unexpectedly it worked.】

【The Demon Lord went berserk.】

【Taking advantage of her momentary distraction, you sacrificed your lifespan, united sword and self, shot forward at extreme speed, and rushed toward the Red Dust Heart‑Tempering Fire.】

【You successfully arrived beside the Red Dust Heart‑Tempering Fire.】

【At the moment of contact with the Red Dust Heart‑Tempering Fire, an accident occurred.】

Red Dust Refining Heart Fire fused with your soul at that moment; you, like the Demon Lord, can no longer leave the center of the God-Fallen Mountain Range.

Pfft! The Demon Lord's hand pierced through your chest.

She, right in front of you, pulled out your heart, her five fingers slowly clenching.

"No! Don't!!"

At the moment when your heart was about to be crushed, another voice appeared—it was Mo Sangyu's consciousness awakening.

The Demon Lord fell into a struggling state.

Taking this opportunity, you exerted all your lifelong strength to seal the Demon Lord.

Given the gap in realms, this seal can only last three days.

After three days, perhaps that will be your time of death.

You fell into confusion: "What should I do?"

Your gaze fell upon the Red Dust Refining Heart Fire; within the flame were four clusters of soul energy.

The blood-red soul energy was the most brilliant, representing the Demon Lord; next was a cluster of azure energy, representing you as the Sword God.

The third was yellow energy, representing lustful thoughts—you had developed feelings for Mo Sangyu.

Lastly was the azure energy, representing the gentlest Mo Sangyu in the world.

Perhaps only when the three soul energies merge into one do you gain the qualification to oppose the Demon Lord; perhaps this is the sole opportunity.

The result of doing this is that, if you fail, you will be completely annihilated.

Lin Chuan's subconscious thought was, how to escape from the dream's reincarnation.

In the dream, he also truly wanted to save Mo Sangyu.

Under the convergence of the two consciousnesses, the result goes without saying.

You resolutely chose to fuse the soul energy, vowing to fulfill your promise with Mo Sangyu.

You sacrificed everything, and the three energies merged into one.

The sealed Demon Lord opened her eyes—no! She is no longer the aloof Demon Lord, but the gentlest Sangyu in the world.

Mo Sangyu shed tears, looking at you, with a pear-blossom visage in rain, evoking pity.

"Why would you do this? You'll die."

She flung herself into your embrace, her pink fists pounding your chest, tears soaking your lapel.

You had only known each other for a day, yet it felt as if you had cherished each other for a lifetime; this feeling was wondrous, causing you to sink into it.

"I said I would definitely save you."

With a beauty in your arms, at this moment you feel that life and death are no longer so important.

You and Mo Sangyu locked gazes, deep affection and intense feeling.

In Mo Sangyu's heart, your feelings for her have already transcended life and death; time is no longer important.

You kissed each other.

Blazing fire engulfed your bodies, burning your clothes to ashes.

……

……

Mo Sangyu·Gentle as Water