Demon Blood, Maiden Vail

The **pale morning sun** washed the ruined battlefield in gentle hues, casting long shadows across broken formations and charred earth. **Smoke still curled** from shattered talisman points and scorched trees—like the final breath of a war that hadn't truly ended.

**Lin Yuan stirred.** His body ached with every movement, but the heaviness in his soul weighed even more.

He turned and saw **Lady An**, methodically searching the fallen for usable **soul stones** among shattered storage rings. She worked with quiet desperation, as if clinging to hope with every turn of her hand.

Somewhere in the forest, **Lady Fengyuan** had vanished to hunt whatever beasts still dared to roam.

**Lady Baihua** sat near a growing pile of looted items, fingers expertly **tying together beast bags and storage pouches**, her expression blank, yet her movements efficient—calm amidst devastation.

Then came a soft sound—faint, but unmistakable.

A baby's cry.

---

On the ship's deck, **Lin Yuan's master** stood beside the newborn's mother. Swaddled in cloth saturated with healing talismans, the child lay peacefully—alive, against all odds.

But Lin Yuan said nothing. He simply walked toward the edge of the formation pool, its surface shimmering with stillness.

And **stepped in**.

The water wasn't cold.

It was calm.

Deep within the silvery-blue, time felt distant. The sounds of the world vanished. The ache inside him dulled, like it had sunk to the bottom of the pool.

He let himself drift.

Until—

> "Hey! What are you doing?!"

A sharp voice sliced through the silence.

A **15-year-old girl**, thin and alert-eyed, rushed across the deck. Without hesitation, she reached toward the pool's edge, eyes wide in horror.

> "Are you trying to drown yourself?!" she cried.

Lin Yuan surfaced slowly, blinking. His voice was barely a whisper.

> "I wasn't drowning… I was listening."

> "To what?" she demanded.

> "To the silence."

---

She hesitated, glancing toward the baby.

> "That Evergreen Holy Stone—it's not just healing him. It's… fusing. Becoming part of his soul."

Lin Yuan froze.

A gust of wind whipped across the deck, scattering broken feathers and cloth.

Moments later, **Lady Qingxiuan** approached, frowning. "Give me the **soul stone** Sect Leader Yuexian gave you. We might be able to supply enough soul energy to prevent the fusion."

Lin Yuan stepped back. "No."

Her voice grew sharp. "Don't talk to me like that. I'm just borrowing it. How much could a baby absorb anyway? Besides, my teacher gave you that stone. Don't be ungrateful."

Lin Yuan's tone hardened. "Then don't treat me like I owe you everything."

He exhaled. "Fine. Take it. But from this moment on—we're equals. Partners. Not master and disciple."

Qingxiuan's eyes widened. Then she slowly nodded and inserted the **soul stone** into the formation beside the baby.

A **warm pulse** spread.

The child's heartbeat stabilized. His spiritual aura settled. The fusion halted.

The danger passed.

---

Later, Lin Yuan stood alone near the mast, holding a **high-grade soul stone** in his hand. He touched it gently to his crescent-shaped necklace, the charm glowing faintly.

A soft warmth spread through his chest.

And yet… tears welled in his eyes.

From the shadows, the **15-year-old girl** silently stepped forward.

> "It looks like… when you feed others with your flesh," she said softly, "they end up asking for your soul too."

Lin Yuan looked at her in surprise.

Then two figure approached—the **child's mother**, eyes tired but no longer fearful.

Other women say, "She wants to see her child," ."Please."

Lin Yuan followed her back inside the ship.

The baby lay asleep, his face peaceful and round, breathing slow and steady.

> "Does he have a name?" Lin Yuan asked.

> "No," the mother replied. "I wanted you to give him one. You saved him."

She dismissed the others in the room.

Then turned to Lin Yuan, her expression unreadable.

> "Tell me the truth. How badly… did I hurt you?"

Lin Yuan hesitated.

> "I saw you cry," she said. "I also saw the man crying. And I knew something was wrong. Men don't cry that easily.I know man isn't emotional like us. I thought he would stop you from saving my baby.When I saw him crying I know something isn't good."

> "Please… just tell me."

His voice shook.

> "I'm dying," he said.

She stared at him, stunned.

> "If I don't strengthen my body and soul, they'll rip each other apart.

> The Evergreen Holy Stone would've helped my body.

> The soul stone would've healed my spirit.

> I gave up both."

The woman clutched her hands to her mouth, tears slipping down her cheeks.

> "I… I didn't know."

> "It's alright," Lin Yuan whispered. "I made the choice."

---

The 15-year-old girl stepped beside them.

She knelt by the child's cradle, and placed a hand on the cloth.

> "Let his name be **Tearlume**," she said. "From *tear* and *lumen*—a light born from sorrow. A reminder that your kindness gave him life."

The woman bowed deeply. "Thank you. I used to think humans were despicable… selfish…"

Her voice softened.

> "But now I know. Some humans shine brighter than spirit stone "