Second Time

Chapter 30 - Heart Demon

Cai Fei was close to breaking through to the next stage, so she popped a cultivation pill into her mouth and closed her eyes, circulating her technique.

After refining the pill's effects for an hour, she felt the familiar sensation of pressing up against the border between stages. Deep within her mind, her image reached out and touched an invisible barrier.

"You're not good enough for her."

Cai Fei flinched as she heard her own voice echo through her mind. She tried to open her eyes and leave the mental space, but couldn't. She glanced around the void. "Who are you?"

"Three thousand years old, huh?" The voice came from a different direction with each syllable, as if rapidly moving about the space. "I wonder how many women she's tasted? Or how many men?"

Cai Fei frowned. "Why are you saying this? What's your goal?"

"That fox demon is a peerless beauty. With such a Spirit at her side, it's no wonder why she has no feelings for you."

Cai Fei balled her hands into fists and grit her teeth. "Are you going to keep ignoring me and talking nonsense?!"

"With her age and power, you must seem incredibly insignificant. Five years together must be nothing to her. She only sees you as a pet."

Visions started flooding Cai Fei's mind.

She saw herself confess her love for Shao Yue, only to be laughed at.

She saw Shao Yue and Hu'er cuddling and kissing with unbridled affection.

She saw Shao Yue shrugging and giving her a disdainful look before walking off alone.

She saw Shao Yue laying with countless unfamiliar men and women, all writhing together in primal pleasure.

Suddenly, the images all vanished. She opened her eyes with a gasp and started panting, sweat beading over her body.

Shao Yue sat in front of Cai Fei, their hands joined. Cai Fei could feel an unfamiliar qi flowing through her meridians, stabilizing her own.

"Shao Yue?"

Shao Yue let out a breath of turbid air. "You were experiencing cultivation deviation. Did you encounter a heart demon?"

Cai Fei's heart still raced, her breathing unsteady. "A heart demon?"

"Yeah." Shao Yue let go of Cai Fei's hands. "If a cultivator has strong negative emotions or terrible memories, they can form a heart demon and inhibit their cultivation. If you keep trying to break through, it might result in backlash, damaging you, killing you, or preventing you from ever cultivating again. Do you have any regrets? Grudges? Insecurities? I don't know your past, so I'm not sure what your heart demon is, but you'll have to resolve it before cultivating again."

Cai Fei swallowed hard. Based on what she'd seen, it was extremely obvious what the heart demon had been born from. Her voice shook with nervousness. "How long do I have to resolve it?"

"As long as you don't do any cultivation, you'll be fine," Shao Yue assured her. "But if you try to cultivate again, it will return immediately."

"I see." Cai Fei changed from being cross-legged to sitting while hugging her knees to her chest. "Troublesome."

"Do you know what it is? Is it something I can help with?"

Cai Fei gave Shao Yue a sullen glare. "Maybe. Give me a few days."

"Sure." Shao Yue nodded and stood up. "Let me know if you need me."

"Yeah."

As soon as Shao Yue left, Cai Fei collapsed onto her back, letting her arms fall around her head without a care.