25: Ye Linghan, be my wife!

"Ye... Ling... Han."

The Demoness murmured these three words softly, as if savoring a piece of candy she had never tasted before; it was unfamiliar, yet held a hint of singular sweetness.

As the long night ends, the Name blooms alone.

Upon the ruins of her memory, where only slaughter and betrayal remained, it was as if a solitary, proud winter plum blossom had quietly bloomed amidst the wind and snow.

Her dark red demonic eyes became somewhat dazed.

It seemed this Name truly touched the deepest part of her Soul, some primal longing for 'self.'

Who was she?

She was Ye Linghan.

This thought took root and sprouted in her barren heart like a seed.

Su Chen looked at her dazed yet inquisitive gaze and inwardly shouted, "Beautiful!"

It worked!

Step one: Emotional anchor successfully established!

He knew he had to strike while the iron was hot and completely solidify his persona as the 'infatuated savior'!

Su Chen rubbed the distinct purple-black finger marks on his neck; far from showing any resentment, his face bore a bitter yet doting smile.

He immediately switched roles, transforming from a victim who was nearly strangled to death into a savior who held the world in his heart.

He took a step forward, standing closer to Ye Linghan, his tone becoming impassioned and full of infectious power.

"Those old fogies of the Su Family don't understand you! They fear you, so they locked you here, treating you like a monster, like a taboo!"

"But I am different!"

He pointed to his heart, his eyes burning with a heat that seemed capable of melting ten-thousand-year-old profound ice.

"I risked having my cultivation destroyed by the Family and being cast into the Nine Serenities Purgatory, sneaking into this Forbidden Ground just to find you, to save you!"

"I don't want any damn position as the Divine Son of an Longevity Family! I don't want some once-in-an-eternity talent!"

"I only want you!"

These words were spoken with resounding force and absolute determination.

Every word was like a heavy hammer, smashing ruthlessly against Ye Linghan's already chaotic mind.

She stared blankly at Su Chen.

She looked at this man, who was as weak as an ant, yet dared to speak such rebellious words in front of her.

Her heart, which had been frozen for a hundred thousand years of imprisonment, seemed to have a tiny, imperceptible crack melted into it by this scorching 'love.'

Su Chen keenly captured that trace of hesitation in her eyes.

He knew the timing was right.

It was time to drop the bombshell that would shatter a normal person's worldview, but would work wonders on a crazy beauty like her!

He took a deep breath, as if making the most important decision of his life.

He looked directly into Ye Linghan's dark red demonic eyes and, in a solemn, sacred, yet undeniably overbearing tone, threw out that earth-shattering request.

"Ye Linghan!"

"Be my wife!"

*Boom!*

These words carried a greater impact than anything he had said before!

Ye Linghan froze completely on the spot.

Wife?

What was that?

In her remaining memories, filled with slaughter, betrayal, destruction, and imprisonment, that concept had never appeared.

She only knew enemies; she only knew prey.

No one had ever dared to say those words to her.

No one had ever thought of becoming her... what was it?

She looked at the man before her.

He was clearly pitifully weak; she could easily crush him with a single finger.

Yet in his eyes burned a flame that felt unfamiliar to her.

He was clearly a member of the Su Family, the son of the enemies who had imprisoned her.

Yet he said he would betray his entire Family for her sake.

He... even dared to propose to her?

An unprecedented, extremely strange feeling swept through Ye Linghan's entire body like an electric current.

Was it ridiculousness?

Was it absurdity?

Or was it... a tiny bit of something called 'warmth' that even she hadn't noticed?

She was completely stunned.

Her supreme Demonic Heart, which could make the heavens and earth change color and make Great Emperors wary, was churned into a chaotic mess at this moment by Su Chen's simple and crude 'proposal.'

Su Chen looked at the dumbstruck Ye Linghan, feeling incredibly smug.

*Little girl, a ten-thousand-year shut-in with zero EQ like you is bound to be played like a fiddle by me.*

He knew it was now or never!

The theoretical groundwork was sufficient; what was needed now was the most direct method to break through her psychological defenses... physical contact!

A flash of determination crossed Su Chen's eyes.

I'm going for it!

Today, either she dies, or I die of 'pleasure'!

He suddenly threw his arms open and, before Ye Linghan could react, recklessly pulled this woman, who exuded a cold Devilish Qi, into a tight embrace!

"Ugh!"

Ye Linghan's body stiffened abruptly.

A cold, rigid sensation traveled from Su Chen's arms.

He felt as if he were holding not a person of flesh and blood, but a block of ten-thousand-year profound ice that had been soaked in the Nine Serenities Icy River for billions of years.

That chill almost froze his very bone marrow.

But he did not let go.

Instead, he held her even tighter!

Burying his head in Ye Linghan's fragrant, ink-black hair, he spoke in an unprecedentedly safe, warm, and firm voice, whispering in her ear:

"Don't be afraid."

"From today on, I am here."

"No one will ever be able to hurt you again."

At this moment, Su Chen felt his acting skills had reached a transcendent Realm.

He was even impressed by his own performance.

And in his arms, Ye Linghan was completely dazed.

She didn't resist.

Nor did she slap him into a pulp as Su Chen had expected.

She just stood there stiffly, blankly allowing this strange man to hold her.

This was the first time in her memory that she had such intimate contact with another person.

This man's embrace wasn't strong.

In fact, he was even trembling slightly.

But it was... very warm.

She could clearly hear the intense, drum-like heartbeat coming from his chest.

This unfamiliar touch, this unfamiliar heartbeat, this unfamiliar warmth... it caused her a hint of unprecedented panic.

Yet it also made her produce a morbid... attachment, wanting to indulge in it forever.

After being imprisoned for a hundred thousand years, her body had its first... sensation other than pain.