Chapter 5: The Reader’s Dream

Chapter 5: Chapter 5: The Reader’s Dream

Night had long since fallen, the moon hanging high in the sky like a silver mirror.

The gates of the Demon Lord’s Abode had already been sealed, while the mountain-protecting formation enveloped the entire peak in profound silence. Not even the chirping of insects could be heard, as though the world itself had fallen into slumber.

Yet tonight...

The Demon Lord’s Abode, which was usually as tranquil as the mountain itself, was filled with an unusual sound.

Beneath the warm glow of the eternal oil lamps, a person lay in the center of the vast, dignified main hall.

Long white hair spread across the polished floor like flowing silk. Skin as pale as snow was tinged with a faint rosy flush, making every subtle change in expression impossible to hide. Their figure was slender yet well-proportioned, long legs stretched helplessly beneath them. Whenever their body tensed, lean muscles rippled beneath smooth skin, tracing elegant lines along their arms and thighs.

The corners of crimson-tinted eyes glistened with unshed tears.

Looking up at the handsome man above them, they spoke in a trembling, pleading voice, soft as a kitten seeking comfort.

"Senior Brother... nngh..."

The words came out unevenly as they struggled to catch their breath.

"I... I really can’t... ahh... anymore..."

The quiet hall echoed only with uneven breathing, the sound reverberating softly against the towering stone walls.

"I’m so tired... ngnnh..."

Their voice had become hoarse.

"If this continues... my body really won’t be able to take it..."

Fine beads of sweat gathered along their forehead before slowly slipping down flushed cheeks. Their vision had already begun to blur, dazed crimson eyes barely able to maintain focus.

However, upon seeing the other’s tearful expression, the handsome man showed no intention of stopping.

Instead, his movements only grew more urgent, drawing broken sobs from the white-haired figure. The sounds echoing through the vast hall became increasingly pronounced, swallowed only by the oppressive silence of the Demon Lord’s Abode.

Only after a long while did the handsome man finally slow.

He gently lifted a hand and brushed the damp strands of white hair away from the other’s face, revealing those misty crimson eyes clouded with emotion. His gaze lingered quietly, as though he wished to engrave every delicate feature into his heart.

Unable to resist, he leaned down and placed a tender kiss upon the other’s lips.

There was a trace of possessiveness in his eyes.

Alongside devotion so deep it bordered on reverence.

— Excerpt from Chapter 4781 of The Path of the Heavenly Tyrant

—

Bai Family Mansion

It was the dead of night when Sui Sui suddenly jolted awake. He sat upright on the bed, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. His breathing was slightly uneven, and his heart pounded heavily in his chest.

The commotion immediately alerted the attendants keeping watch outside. "Young Master, is everything alright?"

Sui Sui took a moment to steady himself before replying, "I’m fine."

Hearing his answer, the attendants quietly returned to their duties. Sui Sui slowly lay back down, his thoughts drifting. For some reason, he had the vague feeling that he had just experienced an incredibly embarrassing dream.

Unfortunately, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t remember a single detail.

Even so...

Just thinking about it made the tips of his ears gradually turn red. Unable to make sense of the strange feeling, Sui Sui eventually forced himself to stop thinking about it.

Before long, he drifted back to sleep.

—

Three Days Later, Bai Mansion

Today was the day of the banquet.

From the early hours of the morning, the Bai Mansion was already bustling with activity. Servants hurried back and forth through the spacious courtyards, carrying trays of exquisite delicacies and fine wine while musicians tuned their instruments in preparation for the evening festivities. Although the banquet had yet to officially begin, distinguished guests from all over had already started arriving.

As the guest of honor, Sui Sui naturally couldn’t escape. He was dragged around by his mother, so he obediently greeted each family that entered the estate.

Only then did Sui Sui truly realize just how influential the Bai family really was.

Among the arriving guests were many of the prominent families mentioned in The Path of the Heavenly Tyrant. Most had brought along children around his age, many of whom would eventually become famous figures within the cultivation world.

After greeting a few more guests, Sui Sui could no longer suppress his curiosity. Taking advantage of a brief moment when his mother was occupied entertaining the elders, he quietly slipped away and wandered toward the group of children around his age.

Watching her son laughing and chatting so naturally with others, Bai Furen couldn’t help but smile.

Her eyes gradually reddened with emotion.

Her little baby...Had finally begun to act like an ordinary child.

—

Evening soon arrived, and the banquet officially began.

As the head of the Bai family, Father Bai stepped forward and warmly introduced Sui Sui to the gathered guests. Once the introductions were over, representatives from the various families came forward one after another to present their congratulatory gifts.

By the time the gift-giving finally came to an end, nearly three hours had passed.

The guests gradually returned to their seats, laughter and cheerful conversation filling the grand banquet hall as servants moved gracefully between the tables, serving exquisite dishes and fragrant wine.

Feeling overwhelmed by the lively atmosphere, Sui Sui quietly excused himself and stepped outside to catch his breath. This was the first time he had ever attended such a grand banquet. In his previous life, his fragile health had never allowed him to participate in gatherings like this. The endless greetings and constant socializing had left him mentally exhausted.

Accompanied by several maids, Sui Sui wandered into the garden. The evening breeze carried a faint floral fragrance through the air, washing away the stuffiness he had felt inside the banquet hall.

The maids quickly prepared a seat for him beneath a pavilion. Some of them even brought over plates of delicate dim sum, which Sui Sui happily nibbled on while enjoying the peaceful scenery.

Only then did he suddenly remember something. "Ah, that’s right."

He looked toward one of the maids with curiosity. "Hasn’t my brother returned yet? I didn’t see him during the banquet."

In truth, Sui Sui was rather curious about this eldest brother of his. After all, Bai Suichen had been one of the more important supporting characters during the early parts of the novel.

"The Eldest Young Master sent a messenger bird earlier," one of the maids explained. "He said something unexpected came up on the way back, so they had to take a detour. He’ll likely arrive a little later."

Hearing that, Sui Sui couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed, he had thought he would finally get to meet this older brother of his today, It seemed he would have to wait a little longer.

With a small sigh, he picked up another piece of dim sum and resumed eating. Just then... A light chuckle drifted over from the other side of the garden.

"Why the long face?" The teasing voice carried a smile. "Did my little brother miss me?"

Sui Sui immediately looked toward the source of the voice. Standing beneath the moonlight was a grinning young man who looked to be around nineteen years old.

He wore a dark blue robe embroidered with silver cloud patterns. His peach blossom eyes curved into crescents as he smiled, a small dimple appearing on one cheek. Looking closely, he resembled Father Bai by seven parts and Bai Furen by three, making it obvious that this was none other than his eldest brother—

Bai Suichen.

Before Sui Sui could even react, Bai Suichen strode over in a few quick steps and pulled him into a warm embrace, affectionately ruffling his snow-white hair.

Sui Sui then froze in place. The sudden hug had caught him completely off guard. But that wasn’t what stunned him the most. His gaze slowly shifted past Bai Suichen...Toward the young man standing quietly behind him.

Standing quietly behind Bai Suichen was a young man who looked to be around eighteen years old. He was dressed in a simple set of black robes without excessive ornamentation, yet the plain garments only served to accentuate the imposing aura surrounding him. He stood with his back perfectly straight, as steady and unyielding as a solitary mountain peak that had weathered countless storms.

Then Sui Sui saw his face.

For a brief moment, his mind went completely blank.

How...

How could someone possibly look like this?

It was as though every one of his features had been painstakingly carved into perfection. His brows were sharp as drawn ink, framing a pair of deep obsidian eyes that seemed capable of swallowing all light that met them. They were calm, unfathomable, and carried a quiet indifference that made it impossible to look away.

His nose was high and impeccably sculpted, his jawline clean and decisive, while his lips were thin, carrying neither warmth nor coldness—only an innate sense of distance.

Every feature was already flawless on its own.

Yet when combined...

They became something that no longer resembled the beauty of an ordinary person. It was the kind of face that made one question whether the heavens had poured all of their favor into a single individual.

As if a god had spent three thousand years chiseling away every imperfection before finally allowing him to exist in the mortal world.

Even the moonlight seemed reluctant to touch him, quietly draping itself over his figure like a layer of silver gauze, making him appear more like an immortal who had mistakenly wandered into the human realm.

Sui Sui stared blankly.

His heartbeat skipped.

For one fleeting moment, he genuinely felt as though those dark eyes had reached through his chest and quietly stolen his soul.

Although he had never met this young man before...

Somehow, instinct told him there could only be one person in the entire world who possessed such a presence.

It could only be—

The protagonist.

Yizhou.

—

Footnotes

Demon Lord’s Abode (魔尊殿, Mózūn Diàn): The residence and seat of power of the Demon Lord.

Senior Brother (师兄, Shīxiōng): A respectful form of address for a male disciple or cultivator who entered the same sect before oneself.

Bai Furen (白夫人, Bái Fūrén):Furen (夫人) is an honorific meaning "Madam" or "Lady," used to address a married woman of noble or respected status.

Peach Blossom Eyes (桃花眼, Táohuāyǎn): A Chinese term describing eyes with an alluring, slightly upturned shape, often associated with exceptional beauty and natural charm.