Chapter Twelve: The Deep Sisterly Bond Between Bai Yue and Bai Nianxuan

“Yue’er…”
Demon God Emperor Feng Xiu sighed softly. “I know you’re hurting, but please calm down and listen to me.”
Hearing Bai Yue’s cold, hard tone, Feng Xiu’s own heart ached.
Bai Yue mocked him coldly, “Calm down? How am I supposed to calm down? I don’t want to hear you speak. If you can’t stand it, just do it—after all, you are the exalted Demon God Emperor, Feng Xiu!”
“You ruined my mother’s life, and that wasn’t enough; when I was about to live happily, you dragged me to the Demon Clan. Why should I accept you?”
Her voice was not loud, but it weighed heavily on Feng Xiu’s heart.
He looked at his daughter, bristling with thorns, fiercely resistant to him, and his eyes were filled with sorrow.
This child has endured too much suffering.
He did not blame Bai Yue for her reproach; he blamed himself for not finding her sooner, letting her endure so many grievances for nothing.
If only he had found Bai Yue earlier, she would never have become Long Xingyu’s wife; she would have been a princess of the Demon Clan, cherished by all.
But there are no ifs in this world, and no second chances.
“I truly hate you.”
Bai Yue spoke through gritted teeth, “Without you, I would have become the wife of the Divine Knight Long Xingyu, envied by all, and spent my life with him in mutual understanding and companionship. Since you failed to find me before, why can’t you pretend I don’t exist? Why must you force me to face this pain when I have finally overcome so much to find happiness?”
Her anger surged, tears shimmering in her eyes.
If hatred could take form, she would forge a weapon from it to strike down Feng Xiu, letting him fall here and now.
It wouldn’t matter even if it cost her life.
Bai Yue loathed Feng Xiu to the core.
“Child, I know the pain in your heart.”
Seeing her fury, Feng Xiu’s own heart twisted.
“Please don’t call me ‘child’. We have nothing to do with each other.”
Bai Yue coldly rejected him, clutching Bai Nianxuan’s head tightly.
“I have my own family.”
Bai Nianxuan, listening to their exchange, felt the situation was impossible.
From the heart and from emotion, she could sense Bai Yue’s pain.
She was not the one suffering, could not truly empathize, but she could only hold Bai Yue’s hand tightly, trying to offer some warmth and help steady her emotions.
Feng Xiu’s expression did not change; Bai Yue’s reaction was just as he expected.
“Yue’er, calm down. If you find the palace stifling, go for a walk in the Imperial Garden.”
“I will join you for lunch.”
“As for Bai Nianxuan, you should call me uncle.”
Seeing the little girl in Bai Yue’s arms, Feng Xiu’s eyes flickered with complex emotion.

“Leave. I don’t want to see you at lunch, either.”
Bai Yue spoke coldly, “The garden? Ha! If you have the courage, let us go. Let us return to the Sanctuary Alliance.”
“Do you think I care about being a Demon Clan princess? No, what I want is a peaceful, happy life, and you mercilessly stripped me of that right.”
Her gentle voice was laced with bitter hostility.
She had struggled so hard for a peaceful, happy life, believing she could have a home, live a short but warm existence just like ordinary people—only for Feng Xiu to destroy it all.
From the moment he abducted her back to the Demon Clan and revealed her true identity, Bai Yue knew she could never go back.
Even if she returned to the Sanctuary Alliance, she could not face her husband and the priests of the Holy Temple.
Because she, Bai Yue, was the daughter of Demon God Emperor Feng Xiu!

Bai Nianxuan dared not move, doing her best to ignore his gaze.
She had no blood ties to Feng Xiu, so she did not dare express her own dislike as openly as Bai Yue.
She was small but not foolish.
She knew if she acted like Bai Yue, death awaited her.
Feng Xiu tolerated Bai Yue’s anger because he felt guilty towards her, knowing she was unhappy and thus tried his best to soothe her emotions.
“Yue’er, I will wait for the day you forgive me.”
“In my heart, your mother is the gentlest, most beautiful woman in the world.”
“She is the only one I have ever loved.”
With these words, Feng Xiu turned and left.
He could not bear to face the scorn in Bai Yue’s voice.
Because he cared about Bai Yue.
“Wait.”
Bai Yue suddenly called after him, “Those things you sent, I gave them all to my cousin. If you think that’s wrong, come to me.”
She stopped him because she remembered Bai Nianxuan’s divine sword and light-elemental spirit; these had been gifts from him.
Bai Yue feared he would resent Bai Nianxuan and take action against her.
“Those gifts were for you; do with them as you wish. Yue’er, as long as you forgive me, not only the divine sword of light—if you wished for the moon itself, I would pluck it down for you.”
A hint of joy flashed in Feng Xiu’s eyes.
He thought Bai Yue’s heart had softened, if only a little.
“You may go now.”
Bai Yue watched him, her face expressionless. “I don’t want to hear any more from you.”

“Very well…”
“Beiqing is your personal attendant. If you’re not satisfied, I’ll find someone even more attentive for you.”
Bai Yue ignored him, simply turning away as if he did not exist.
Bai Nianxuan crawled from her arms and rested her head against Bai Yue’s waist.
Feng Xiu walked away slowly; in Bai Nianxuan’s eyes, perhaps he hoped Bai Yue would call out and ask him to stay.
Of course, Bai Yue had no such intention.
Ten minutes later, when that oppressive aura was gone, Bai Yue finally stood up.
Her expression gentle, she said to Bai Nianxuan, “Nianxuan, let’s go for a walk in the garden together.”
For now, there was no way to leave the Demon Palace; they could only spend time in the garden.
It was not that Bai Yue accepted Feng Xiu’s arrangement, but that they had no other choice.
The reason was simple: Bai Yue could not practice cultivation, and Bai Nianxuan was just a seven-year-old child.
They had no hope of escaping from a palace teeming with powerful beings.
Moreover, their movements were watched.
To leave the Demon Palace was utterly impossible.

“All right!”
Bai Nianxuan willingly put her small hand in Bai Yue’s. “Thank you, sister.”
Bai Yue had spoken up for her earlier; Nianxuan could feel the kindness.
“No need to be so formal—we are sisters.”
“If my father were not him, if my mother had not died, we would surely be the best of sisters.”
Bai Yue lowered her gaze, endless sorrow in her eyes.
This way, she would never have had to endure such pain.
“Sister.”
Warm golden light glowed in Bai Nianxuan’s hand. “The past has happened and cannot be changed, but we can look toward the future.”
“When I grow up, I will protect you—no one will be able to hurt you.”
Faced with Nianxuan’s innocent promise, Bai Yue’s eyes grew distant for a moment.
She smiled softly. “Very well, I’ll wait for your protection, Nianxuan.”