Chapter 212: The Tribulation of Inner Demons (Part 3)

At night, a shadow crept into her room; in the darkness, little Ruan Xing opened her eyes and, by the moonlight, saw her grandfather's face.

He reached out to unzip her school uniform, muttering, "Why are you still wearing clothes while sleeping?"

"Grandfather, what are you doing?" little Ruan Xing asked, somewhat flustered.

The old man chuckled twice, "I've spent so much less money on gambling for your sake, what's wrong with letting me touch you?"

"I am your granddaughter, I am Mom and Dad's child, how can you treat me like this?" little Ruan Xing struggled to get up, but her shoulders were pinned down by the old man.

"You aren't even my biological granddaughter," the old man said indifferently. "Your dad already told me to raise you for a few years, and once you're older, he'll find you a match in the village, keep the bride price for myself to spend, and he won't care about you anymore."

"How could... I don't believe it..."

Scalding tears fell in strings; little Ruan Xing, not knowing where she found the strength, felt for the teacup on the bedside table, picked it up, and fiercely smashed it randomly onto the old man's head several times.

The old man let out a cry of pain and loosened his grip.

She dared not linger and ran out like the wind.

She ran through the night to the police station in town and reported the crime.

The officer on duty, wearing a coat over his shoulders, yawned, "What case do you want to report?"

"Someone is trying to rape me," little Ruan Xing said with a pale face, repeating it, "He is trying to rape me."

Because of the continuous, intense running and movement, blood dripped down her pant leg.

The police station found a female officer to comfort her, "Are you on your period? Why aren't you using a sanitary pad?"

She had seen her mother use those little white things.

She opened her mouth, her voice hollow, "I don't have money to buy them."

She knew she would bleed for several days, so she couldn't stay in the dormitory, nor could she go to a classmate's house; she could only return to her grandfather's place.

The cheapest sanitary pads cost twelve yuan a pack, and the money her grandfather gave her was nowhere near enough for such a large expense.

The female officer took a pair of her own old pants for her to change into, bought her new underwear and a pack of sanitary pads, and taught her how to use them.

She opened her dark eyes, staring without blinking, and said softly, "Thank you."

When her father, who had received the call, drove over, the sky was already bright.

Her grandfather, with gauze wrapped around his head, squatted at the entrance of the police station with a dark face, smoking; a small pile of ash had already gathered on the ground.

Her father offered a fawning smile and handed a cigarette to the officer who was holding a thermos, "A misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding, the child doesn't know any better."

"Is that so? She reported that her grandfather tried to assault her." The officer took a sip of tea, refused the father's cigarette, and pointed to the 'No Smoking' sign on the wall.

Her father hurriedly explained, "That's not the case at all. She's just throwing a child's tantrum because she doesn't want to stay in the countryside. She doesn't like her grandfather and doesn't tell him anything. Her grandfather saw blood on her clothes and thought she was hurt, so he went to care for her. He didn't expect to be smashed by her twice. If you don't believe me, let's go to the hospital for an examination; there is absolutely not a single injury on her."

"Such a little girl, and her grandfather is only sixty-something. He used to do farm work every day and is in great health; if he really wanted to bully her, wouldn't it be as easy as picking up a little chick? Would he let her hit him and then run away? Besides, her grandfather watched her grow up; could he do such a heartless thing? It must be that she learned some messy things from somewhere and went bad. We will definitely discipline her well when we get back!"

The officer asked the grandfather, "Is that so?"

The grandfather kept a foul face and gave a grunt.

Little Ruan Xing sat on the chair and clenched her fists.

The officer took another sip of tea and said in a slow, earnest tone, "Girls at this age, rebellious during puberty, I've seen plenty of them. You parents need to be more attentive and don't let the child go down the wrong path."

"Yes, yes, definitely, definitely. It's all my and the child's mother's fault for being busy with work and having no time to manage her. We will definitely be more attentive in the future. Sorry to trouble you."

"Hmm, and another thing, our police station is a public resource. Tell the child not to throw tantrums or act out over every little thing, wasting our police resources and preventing people who truly need help from getting it. Alright, go back and educate her well."

Her father was overjoyed, nodded repeatedly, and led Ruan Xing and her grandfather out of the police station gate.

Her grandfather sneered and said to little Ruan Xing, "See that? Was it useful? Come home with Grandpa."

Little Ruan Xing ignored him, walked a few quick steps to catch up with her father, and tugged on his arm.

"What?" her father said impatiently.

"Dad, I miss you very much. Can I go home with you?" little Ruan Xing said, pursing her lips.

"If you can be a bit more obedient, Dad will call back often. Right now, Mom and Dad are both very busy, don't be unreasonable," her father said dismissively. "I even took a day off to come back for your sake. Isn't your grandfather good to you? Your tuition, food, and clothing—which of these isn't provided by your grandfather? Do you really want to send your grandfather to prison?"

Little Ruan Xing powerlessly let go of his arm and lowered her head.

Her father drove back to the city.

"Not leaving yet?" her grandfather said.

"I won't go back again."

"If you don't go back, where do you want to go?" her grandfather asked, surprised.

Little Ruan Xing's gaze slowly turned icy, "That has nothing to do with you. The expenses for raising me these few years, I will pay you back when I grow up. But from now on, we have no relationship whatsoever, and you don't need to give me any more money."

"Yo, your wings have hardened, and I, your grandfather, am not even old yet."

"You will be old sooner or later." The corners of little Ruan Xing's mouth curled into a smile devoid of warmth, "And I will grow up sooner or later. I dared to smash you with a teacup today, and tomorrow I will dare to hack you with a knife. You aren't afraid of going to the police station, and I'm not afraid either. I'm a minor; I don't have to go to jail."

How could this usually obedient and timid little girl be so tough today?

Her grandfather doubted his own eyes.

Seemingly startled by little Ruan Xing's words, which carried murderous intent, he dropped a "Suit yourself" and hurried away.

The police station was not far from the school where she lived. It was exactly the time for school, and she, wearing her school uniform and pants that dragged on the ground, wandered back into the crowd like a walking corpse.

She walked very slowly; the first bell for class was about to ring, and she had not yet walked through the school gate.

But she didn't want to attend class now; she only thought about the future and what she should do.

At the corner ahead, a little fatty was dragged into an alley by several school-dropout hoodlums.

She recognized that little fatty; he was the same age as her, from a wealthy family, doted on by his parents, and a regular at the school's small supermarket. She often saw him squandering large amounts of pocket money at the supermarket, buying all kinds of strange snacks and drinks.

But he had good grades and was a well-behaved child; he was not a client for whom she wrote homework.

She walked past the alley entrance without looking, but a few seconds later, she turned back.

She picked up half a red brick from the ground, her pace getting faster and faster, and rushed up to smash it onto the head of the hoodlum who had his back to her.

The hoodlum screamed and fell forward to the ground. She immediately went to smash the other one, her strikes steady, accurate, and ruthless, without a moment's hesitation. She seemed to have no target at all; she hit whoever she could reach. If someone crouched down or fell to the ground in pain, she would mount that person and continue hitting.

A twelve-year-old girl beat several thirteen or fourteen-year-old hoodlums until they were crying for their parents and fleeing in terror.

It is said that the timid fear the reckless, the reckless fear the ruthless, and the ruthless fear those who do not value their own lives.

Little Ruan Xing was in exactly that state now; she wanted to hit someone with absolutely no technique or restraint.

After throwing out a few harsh threats, the few little hoodlums hurriedly ran away.

She also vented all the violent thoughts in her heart.

She was very calm now, and also very sorrowful; she felt that she was exactly the same as her biological father who liked domestic violence.

Could it be that she had also inherited this kind of gene?

Would she become the kind of person she hated the most? The little fatty cautiously leaned over, "Are you okay?"

Little Ruan Xing said, "I'm fine."

"Oh, thank you for saving me, let's hurry and go, we're going to be late."

"Stop." Little Ruan Xing called out to the little fatty and reached out her hand.

The little fatty was puzzled, "What do you mean?"

"Protection money." Little Ruan Xing said seriously, "I beat away the people who were bullying you, so am I not protecting you? Shouldn't I collect protection money?"

In truth, she had intended to ignore them and walk past at first.

But after walking past, she suddenly thought that this was a reasonable opportunity to vent the dissatisfaction in her heart.

She could not hit her grandfather, she could not hit her father and mother; they had all raised her, they had grace toward her, she owed them, and only after she finished repaying them could she then go and settle those scores of hatred. But she did not know who she should blame.

Then she would blame these few people; they appeared at such a bad time, they deserved to be beaten.

After the beating, she calmed down and only then remembered that in the future, when her grandfather no longer gave her money, how would she find lodging and how would she eat?

The little fatty was stunned for a moment and said blankly, "This doesn't seem right..."

"Less nonsense, give me the money!" Little Ruan Xing said righteously.

This seemed to make her feel more relaxed mentally than when she asked her grandfather for money? It was over, she really had inherited her father's genes.

She was suited for robbery.

The little fatty aggrievedly took a handful of small change out of his pocket and handed it to her.

Ruan Xing's gaze became a little softer.

This little fatty later became her lackey and sidekick, ensuring she never went hungry before graduating elementary school.

It could be considered the only bit of light in her dark life.

It was precisely the kindness occasionally bestowed by those people that gathered into a patch of starlight, supporting her through the thirteen years that followed.

For example, that half a sweet potato, for example, the first sanitary pad in her life.

It was a pity that the illusion ended here.

Ruan Xing looked up at the sky and mocked, "Why are you making me watch these things again? To peel back my old, aged scars and let me see how pathetic I used to be? But you are wrong, I am Ruan Xing, I am not Mo Xing, I am not that fragile, and I will not despair."

She had walked step by step, never forgetting who she really was or what kind of experiences she had.

But she also never looked back.

And she never mentioned it.

Scars are lessons kept in the heart for oneself.

Not weapons to be used to hurt oneself after telling others.

In an instant.

Countless images flashed before her eyes.

Someone holding a sharp blade with a fierce expression lunged toward her.

Someone with a sorrowful expression and hollow eyes stared at her.

Someone grabbed her hair, endlessly blaming and cursing her.

Someone pressed down on her shoulders, attempting to strip off her thin clothes.

Those familiar people who appeared in her memories became more and more numerous, gradually surrounding her.

They bared their fangs and brandished their claws as they approached her.

Ruan Xing opened her five fingers and then gripped them fiercely.

They were all illusions; there were no invisible threads on their bodies.

But when the heart has thoughts, the heart demon changes accordingly.

She felt they had them, so they had them! Those threads gathered into a rope in her hand, and she pulled them apart fiercely!

The next moment, those people who were getting closer and closer suddenly froze!

Then, along with the thousands of scenes behind them, they shattered into fragments one after another!

The Nascent Soul figure opened its eyes; the facial features on the light-orb-like figure were already very clear, looking like a jade-snow-cute baby just like Ruan Xing when she was little.

Like Ruan Xing, it opened its hands as if tearing apart some kind of restraint, and violently surged upward!

It broke through a layer of invisible shackles.

Spirit Severing, achieved! The Divine Soul, carrying a faint halo, gradually became solid; two identical Ruan Xings stood face to face.

It was somewhat like looking in a mirror, but the feeling was different; it was as if she had two lines of sight.

This was very strange, but after adjusting slightly with her Divine Sense, she adapted.

"So this is the Divine Soul leaving the body..." She reached out to touch the other's face, and at the same time, she herself felt the tactile sensation from the face.

Transformation Stage; from now on, she possessed two lives.

If her physical body were to die one day, she could still rely on her Divine Soul to parasitize and perform Possession.

She only admired it for a moment before withdrawing her Divine Soul.

Because next, there was still a main event to take the stage.

She had just been hot-headed and mocked the Heavenly Dao; this Heavenly Dao had targeted her before when she accidentally caused the death of the female lead, forcing her through various means to bring the female lead back to life.

Will the Heavenly Dao intentionally cause her trouble during the upcoming phenomena of the Return to Ruins Stage? However, when she guided the female lead to torture the male lead to death, the Heavenly Dao did not show any reaction.

Could it be because this is a female-oriented novel, where the female lead is the core, so as long as the female lead is alive, it doesn't matter if the male lead dies? She could not grasp the temperament of the Heavenly Dao and could only respond with caution, looking toward the sky with a solemn expression.

The night sky, heavy as ink, surged continuously.

The gray-black clouds seemed to change as they flowed.

Previously, because she had raised two realms at once, the Spiritual Power within her body surged violently; although reaching the Transformation Stage focuses more on the Divine Soul, the Spiritual Power of the Return to Ruins Stage was not something her current body could withstand.

That was why she vomited blood before the Heart Demon Tribulation; it was because her Meridians were damaged by the surging Spiritual Power, which had almost shattered her body.

And now, taking advantage of the fact that the phenomena had not yet begun, she seized the time to regulate her injuries.

The yellowish eggshell wound its way toward the sky, and the Little Seed fulfilled its promise.

Its eggshell was stretched very, very thin, already so transparent that its original color could no longer be seen, yet it completely obscured the entire sky.

It left only a single spot in the center of the Xumi Realm for Ruan Xing to undergo her tribulation.

It transmitted its voice to Ruan Xing, feeling somewhat uncomfortable, "It's too far... I'm afraid I won't be able to maintain this barrier for very long."

"You can do it, I believe in you, you are the best Little Seed." Ruan Xing gaslit it, hypnotizing it.

The Little Seed was somewhat frantic, "Don't joke around at a time like this!"

"Don't mind it, just do your best; hold on for as long as you can, and I will try my hardest to complete the tribulation as quickly as possible," Ruan Xing said.

She had just been forced to experience the most painful period of her life and only wanted to liven up her suppressed mood.

"By the way, what was your Heart Demon Tribulation just now?" the Little Seed asked.

"It was terrifying," Ruan Xing said with a lingering fear.

The Little Seed was filled with awe, "How terrifying was it?"

Ruan Xing sighed, "I actually fantasized that someone loved me."

She had thought her mother loved her, and that she had pushed her away and run out the door screaming to protect her.

But when she left without saying goodbye after Ruan Father died, Ruan Xing realized that she didn't know a damn thing about love; she was just a pure lunatic, a perfect match for Ruan Father.

She thought Ruan Father and Ruan Mother loved her, but in reality, she was just a comfort they raised like a pet when they were bored; when they were in a good mood, they would hold her, kiss her, and say how cute, obedient, and loved she was, but when they didn't like her anymore, they could discard her like trash.

People only seek spiritual entertainment after their material lives are satisfied; they were wealthy and had time, so they adopted a little girl to tease, yet they had no intention of taking responsibility for the life of a daughter with no blood relation. Once they spent their time and energy on their own children, they would have no interest in playing with a pet anymore.

They would even find her annoying when they saw her.

Therefore, from beginning to end, no one had ever loved her.

She could only love herself.

Fortunately, she had understood this truth at the age of twelve, which was not too late.