Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

The cabin was already cramped, and Chen Xuan's sword strike was aimed at killing, the sword energy scraping the surrounding wooden planks, sending wood chips flying everywhere.

Although Su Chang'an was a quasi-emperor's soul, he was only a projection at this moment. Without a physical body to withstand it, if he were to be hit, he would be severely injured even if he didn't die.

"You unfilial son! You actually dared to cut me!"

Su Chang'an ducked down, and the broken sword grazed her scalp, sending a few strands of hair fluttering down.

Chen Xuan wouldn't listen at all.

His current state is very strange.

There was no frenzied red light in his eyes, but rather a deathly clarity.

This is the most terrible.

Because he wasn't going crazy; he was acting with extreme composure—killing the monster in front of him who had "stole" Su Chang'an's memories, in order to protect the last vestige of hope in his heart.

"Shut up."

Chen Xuan flicked his wrist, and the broken sword drew a black arc in the air, blocking all of Su Chang'an's escape routes.

"You don't deserve to talk to me like that."

"You are not worthy to call me a rebellious son."

With each "unworthy," the sword in his hand grows three times more ruthless.

Su Chang'an was forced to jump around in the cabin like a monkey.

She was so angry.

What kind of situation is this?

The parents traveled a long way to save someone, only to be chased and attacked by their son upon arrival?

Moreover, this kid's logic is like an iron barrel, completely impervious to reason.

You say you know the secret? That means you've been spying on my memories.

You say you have body temperature? That's just your clever illusion.

You say you can swear? That's because you're good at imitating.

Anyway, as long as you're alive, you're fake.

What's the point of even talking?!

"Zheng—!"

Another sword strike.

This time, Su Chang'an had no way to avoid it.

The sword tip, imbued with a black aura of death, was about to pierce his heart.

A ruthless glint flashed in Su Chang'an's eyes.

Row.

Trying to play the closed-loop logic game with me, huh?

You think you can play hard to get with me?

Since the soft approach isn't working, let's try the hard approach!

Su Chang'an advanced instead of retreating.

She did not use any spiritual power or perform any supernatural abilities.

He simply took a step forward with the reckless drive of his soul.

This step directly plunged into Chen Xuan's sword encirclement.

"Pfft."

The sword energy tore through Su Chang'an's clothes on his shoulder and cut a gash in his soul.

pain.

Excruciating pain.

But Su Chang'an didn't even frown.

Taking advantage of Chen Xuan's momentary daze caused by this suicidal act, she suddenly reached out with her right hand.

The five fingers are joined together, the middle finger is bent, and the thumb is tightly clenched.

This is an extremely standard movement.

In the bustling streets, in private schools, and at the scene of every mischievous child's mischief, this gesture represents supreme authority.

That is—brain collapse.

"Wake up, you idiot!"

Su Chang'an let out a loud shout.

The hand, brimming with power, whistled through the air, filled with anger and a sense of disappointment, and slammed hard into Chen Xuan's forehead.

"collapse!"

A crisp sound.

It was crisp, loud, and even had a slight echo.

In the murderous and deathly silent cabin, the sound seemed particularly abrupt, particularly...inappropriate.

Time seemed to stand still at that moment.

The sword in Chen Xuan's hand froze in mid-air.

He froze completely.

A burning pain shot up from the center of my forehead and spread instantly to the top of my head.

The pain was neither the stinging pain of sword energy tearing through flesh nor the excruciating pain of spiritual energy impacting meridians.

It's just simple, flesh hitting flesh, bone hitting bone, the pain from being smashed hard.

Chen Xuan subconsciously raised his hand and covered his forehead.

There, a large, bright red bump bulged out, looking quite festive.

"..."

Chen Xuan was stunned.

For the first time, a look of bewilderment appeared in his lifeless eyes.

He looked at Su Chang'an, then touched his own forehead.

pain.

It hurts.

In recent years, he has vanquished countless inner demons in his mind.

Some of those inner demons took the form of Su Chang'an, weeping bitterly; some stripped naked, seducing him relentlessly; and some held knives, ready to rip out his heart.

But there was never a demon in my heart.

They'll rush up and give him a good whack on the head.

And the force, the angle, and the way he shook his hand and cried out in pain afterward...

too familiar.

It was so familiar that even his heart, which had been completely dead, couldn't help but tremble twice.

"Does it hurt?"

Su Chang'an waved his hand and asked in an annoyed tone.

She really used her strength in that flick; her fingers are numb from it.

Chen Xuan didn't speak, he just stared at her blankly.

"That's good, it should hurt!"

Su Chang'an pointed at his nose, spitting everywhere.

"Have you ever seen a demon in your heart attack someone by snapping their head?"

"Have you ever seen a hallucination that could make your forehead swell up?"

"Didn't you say I was a fake? Didn't you say I was just a figment of your imagination?"

Su Chang'an took a step forward, staring intently into Chen Xuan's eyes.

"Come on, try imagining another one!"

"See if you can even imagine that kind of pain!"

Chen Xuan's Adam's apple bobbed.

He slowly lowered his hand from his forehead.

Those eyes were fixed on Su Chang'an, their emotions churning fiercely.

There was astonishment, shock, and a hint of... fear of wanting to believe yet not daring to believe.

If this is true...

If she really comes back...

Then what about all those years he's spent torturing himself into a state that's neither human nor ghost?

What does it mean that he personally stabbed that broken sword into his thigh?

The overwhelming sense of absurdity and hope almost overwhelmed his reason.

"No……"

Chen Xuan took a step back, his back hitting the cabin wall.

He shook his head, his voice hoarse.

"Inner demons...can also evolve."

"Perhaps you've absorbed too much of my pain, so you've learned these methods."

"Yes, that must be it."

Chen Xuan seemed to be persuading Su Chang'an, but it was more like he was persuading himself.

He gripped the broken sword tightly again, his knuckles turning white from the force.

"You hit me to give me the illusion that you are real."

"This is a new type of attack."

"Very clever."

Su Chang'an was so angry at his stubbornness that he almost fainted.

So all that brain-splitting was for nothing?

Is this kid's brain filled with mush?

"Chen Xuan!"

Su Chang'an was about to rush up and kick him a couple more times.

But then Chen Xuan suddenly put his sword down.

He leaned against the cabin wall, and a very strange smile suddenly appeared on his gaunt face.

That smile carried a hint of morbid satisfaction, and a chilling possessiveness.

"but……"

Chen Xuan said softly.

"I love so much."

Su Chang'an was taken aback: "Huh?"

Chen Xuan raised his hand and gently rubbed the large, red, swollen bump on his forehead with his fingertips.

The burning pain made him feel a long-lost sense of reality.

It's like... she's really still here with me.

Even if it's fake.

Even if it's an act performed by inner demons.

As long as he can feel this pain, as long as he can hear this cursing.

That's enough.

"You don't need to disappear."

Chen Xuan looked at Su Chang'an, his eyes becoming somewhat dazed and crazed.

"I am very satisfied with this method."

"Since you're so eager to play her, then play her to the end."

Chen Xuan straightened up, and the oppressive aura belonging to the Great Saint Realm once again enveloped the entire cabin.

But he did not draw his sword this time.

Instead, he spoke in a commanding tone, pointing to the only soft couch in the corner.

"Sit there."

Su Chang'an: "..."

"I told you to sit there."

Chen Xuan's voice turned cold, carrying an undeniable air of obsession.

"From today onwards, you will stay on this ship."

"You are not allowed to disappear, you are not allowed to revert to your original form, and you are not allowed to become anything else."

"You keep cursing at me and hitting me with that face and that tone."

"Until I die, or...until I go insane and can no longer recognize you."

Looking at his rebellious son who was completely trapped in his own logic, Su Chang'an's anger suddenly dissipated.

Instead, a sour feeling prevailed.

That silly boy.

He was genuinely scared.

He feared it was all a dream, and that when he woke up, the "Su Chang'an" who used to beat and scold him would turn back into a weeping, whining inner demon.

So he preferred to deceive himself.

I'd rather treat this as a play that I have to play along with.

As long as he doesn't admit it's real, this dream will never end.

Su Chang'an sighed.

Looking at Chen Xuan's bloodshot eyes and his tense body, she knew that saying anything now would be useless.

This kid's mental state is on the verge of collapse, like a taut string.

If we push him any further, he'll really snap.

"OK."

Su Chang'an rubbed his temples and waved his hand helplessly.

"You decide."

Without any hesitation, she walked a few steps to the soft couch and plopped down on it.

Then he crossed his legs, put his arms around his chest, and struck a pose like a big shot.

"Since you're so eager to be tortured, then I'll grant your wish."

"However, let's be clear from the start."

Su Chang'an glanced at Chen Xuan sideways, his chin slightly raised.

"I am your father, not your prisoner."

"I can stay and act, but you'd better clean up this pigsty for me."

Su Chang'an pointed to the sawdust all over the ground and the empty wine jars piled up in the corner.

"It's annoying to look at."

Chen Xuan was taken aback.

He looked at Su Chang'an, who was sitting on the soft couch, giving orders with an air of superiority.

That arrogant and domineering demeanor, that matter-of-fact tone.

It really is... so similar.

Chen Xuan felt his heart start pounding uncontrollably again.

But he desperately suppressed the urge to rush over and hug her.

You can't believe it.

If you believe it, you lose.

If you lose, the dream ends.

"it is good."

Chen Xuan lowered his head, concealing the emotions in his eyes.

He silently put away the broken sword, bent down, and began to clean up the mess on the ground.

A powerful expert at the Great Sage Realm, a ruthless man who once suppressed the pride of the Northern Region with a single sword strike.

At this moment, it was like an obedient servant, busying itself in the cramped cabin.

Su Chang'an sat on the soft couch, looking at that thin figure from behind.

Watching him clumsily pick up the wine jar, watching him wipe the dust off the ground with his sleeve.

Her eyes felt a little hot.

But she held back.

She knew that this battle had only just begun.

If you want to pull this rebellious son out of that vicious cycle, just talking won't do any good.

It takes time to grind it.

He needs to know that there are some things in this world that inner demons can't fake.

For example, this splitting headache.

For example...

Su Chang'an looked at Chen Xuan's thigh, which was still bleeding. He had stabbed himself to stay conscious.

She narrowed her eyes.

"Feed".

Su Chang'an called out.

Chen Xuan froze, not turning around, but simply stopping what he was doing.

"There's some wound medicine in that cabinet; take it out and apply it yourself."

Su Chang'an's voice was languid, revealing no emotion.

"Don't smear blood everywhere, it makes me sick to the smell."

Chen Xuan remained silent for a moment.

"My inner demons don't care about my wounds."

He had his back to Su Chang'an and spoke in a low voice.

I didn't care about you.

Su Chang'an rolled his eyes, pulled out a handful of melon seeds (conjured by his soul) from his pocket, and cracked them open with a snapping sound.

"I think you're dirty."

"Hurry up, stop dawdling."

Chen Xuan didn't say anything more.

He walked to the cabinet, took out a medicine bottle, and poured it on his wound.

The moment the powder touched the wound, his eyebrow twitched in pain.

But he felt that this was probably the most lively moment on this lifeless warship in the past three years.

Even if the person sitting behind him is a "demon" who wants him dead.

As long as she's still alive.

This hell doesn't seem so unbearable anymore.

Su Chang'an watched his retreating figure, spat out a mouthful of sunflower seed shells, and sighed silently in her heart.

The treacherous son.

Just you wait.

Wait until the water in your brain dries up, then I'll show you what I'm made of.

This mental breakdown is just the interest.

We have a long future ahead of us.

[A Lone Boat's Admonition to His Son]

A flick of the finger opens the path between life and death; a lone boat illuminates the bewildering waters with a candle's glow.

The foolish child only knows the illusion of his own mind, while the strict father shows tenderness to his rebellious nature.

Let us rebuild our old ways with our broken bodies, and not let truthful words become falsehoods.

From now on, we will sweep and clean at will, and only when the pain is deepest will we see the root of the problem.