Chapter 2 — The Demon Queen’s Ten-Lifetime Pact

Kind words were never enough to sway such a damnable demon. Because the court was filled with countless spectral guests, Kieu Uyen, unwilling to incite further trouble, swallowed his resentment and heartache, watching in silence as Ngoc Nhiem offered me the ritual tea. When night fell and the last of the guests had departed, he summoned me into the bridal chamber. At that moment, Ngoc Nhiem was tucked against his chest, sobbing with aggrieved indignation, her small hands beating rhythmically against his sturdy frame.

"My Lord, did you not promise that you would never allow me to suffer such humiliation?" she wailed. "Why did you tolerate Huyen Ninh’s insolence toward me today? Life has become meaningless; in the mortal realm, I was bullied by your legal wife, and now that I have returned to the Underworld, I am targeted by your very own Queen of Ghosts."

I stood outside the palace, a cold, mocking laugh escaping my lips. "Ngoc Nhiem, with that base, sycophantic face of yours, it is no wonder you are downtrodden wherever you go."

Ngoc Nhiem’s entire body trembled, and her weeping grew all the more pathetic. Kieu Uyen, already brimming with suppressed fury, erupted at the sound of my voice. "Huyen Ninh, I see you have grown tired of living! I intended to give you a chance to repent and beg for mercy, but it seems that is no longer necessary."

With a flick of his wrist, a dense shroud of ghostly energy gathered in his palm and struck my knees with the force of a falling mountain. I did not move to dodge. The energy hit like a thousand-pound hammer, and the sickening crunch of shattering bone echoed sharply through the room. I collapsed instantly to the floor, agony searing through my limbs like wildfire. Tears streamed down my face in an endless, hot torrent. I did not fear death—in fact, I craved it—but I was terrified of pain. It was the process of suffering that flayed the soul. In my nine previous lives, Kieu Uyen had never granted me a swift end. He had gouged out my eyes, sliced away my nose and ears, and once, simply because I had plucked a single strand of hair from Ngoc Nhiem’s head, he had flayed my entire scalp.

The pain in my knees now served as a key, unlocking the horrific memories of those nine lifetimes. The past surged back like a nightmare, suffocating me. Kieu Uyen, witnessing my distorted expression, seemed only more satisfied. "Huyen Ninh, this is your punishment for forcing Ngoc Nhiem to kneel during the tea ceremony today. I infused that strike with the essence of shattered-bone vine; from this day forth, do not dream of your legs ever healing properly. Consider this a reminder to never again dare to slight Ngoc Nhiem."

A reminder was unnecessary, for I had long wished for him to kill me with his own hands. Seeing my silence, Kieu Uyen mistook it for stubborn defiance. He frowned, his voice dropping to a glacial chill. "It seems you are truly too obstinate to be enlightened. Very well, you shall remain here to serve. You are not to leave until you have thought things through and begged for forgiveness."

I had a grim premonition of what "serving" entailed. True to form, he blindfolded me, forcing me to remain by his side as he and Ngoc Nhiem indulged in their intimacy. While Ngoc Nhiem pretended to be coy, her body responded with an ardor that felt like a deliberate provocation. My indignation began to curdle into sheer disgust. Since you are both so desperately enamored, I thought, I shall do you both a favor.

I waited in the shadows until Kieu Uyen’s senses were clouded by his own passions, then quietly directed a thin needle of ghostly energy into the nape of his neck. Before long, Ngoc Nhiem’s sighs began to curdle into agonized screams. She hammered her fists against his back, sobbing, "Stop... My Lord, please, stop!"

But Kieu Uyen heard nothing, his movements becoming only more violent and unbridled. An hour passed before he finally spent himself. When he paused, turning his head to look down, he found the sheets beneath Ngoc Nhiem stained a deep, visceral crimson. He jolted in shock, leaping back in a panic as he stammered, "Nhiem Nhiem... what has happened to you?!"

Ngoc Nhiem was beyond speech, her eyes rolled back, her lips drained of all color. Had her chest not still been rising and falling in shallow, ragged breaths, I would have assumed she was truly dead. I offered a helpful, cold response: "The Lord was so utterly possessed by his desires that you have lost the child in your womb."

Kieu Uyen froze, his face a mask of self-reproach. Yet, he was no fool. Once he ensured Ngoc Nhiem was out of immediate danger, his reason returned, and he quickly realized the truth. "This is not the first time I have been with her," he muttered, realization dawning. "I have never lost control like this. Huyen Ninh, you meddled with us!"

I did not deny it. I had never intended to hide my actions. My cultivation was, in truth, on par with Kieu Uyen’s. It was only the authority of his ghostly sovereign seal that kept me shackled. I nodded calmly in admission. As Ngoc Nhiem regained consciousness and realized what had transpired, her eyes turned bloodshot, and she hissed through gritted teeth, "Huyen Ninh, how could you be so cruel as to harm me?!"