Having the genes of a demon king, I never intended to be a kept man.

"Oh!"

Muraki was bound into a tight, airtight bundle of chains during the trial and thrown to the ground, where he remained motionless.

Night Song put the Shadow Moon Straight Sword back into his inventory and walked over, looking at him expressionlessly.

The white-skinned spirit, perched on his shoulder, sniffed and warned, "Something's not right. Be careful."

Night Song: "Hmm..."

He also sensed that something was wrong.

The Judgment Chains, as a gold-quality magic weapon, are indeed effective even against Soul Emperor realm experts, but that's far too easy.

With Muraki's strength, he should be able to put up a fight no matter what.

What's more, he didn't even use the Demonic Seal!

Several shadow assassins approached and respectfully asked, "Lord Nightsong, what should we do with him?"

Ye Ge shook his head: "Don't rush, open him up first."

The Shadow Assassin was taken aback, not understanding why.

But he immediately chose to carry out Night Song's order: "Yes!"

Several shadow assassins worked together to untie the chains that bound Muraki like a dumpling.

The chains were unlocked layer by layer, and soon Muraki's body was revealed below.

Muraki's body lay there motionless, as still as a dead man.

Ye Ge narrowed his eyes.

He raised his hand in a gesture.

A shadow assassin nodded, then extended a straight blade and pried open the bronze demon mask covering Muraki's face.

Everyone was immediately taken aback.

Beneath the mask, Muraki's face was completely decayed—not like a corpse, but like withered wood. As the bronze mask was lifted, cracks appeared on the rotting skin of his face, crumbling and decaying bit by bit...

"A puppet???" one of the shadow assassins exclaimed in surprise, "Did he escape using the Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell technique???"

“No, it’s not the Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell Technique.” Ye Ge said calmly, “Bound by the Judgment Chains, even a Soul Emperor could not escape without breaking the chains. He must be a puppet clone himself.”

It seems that Muraki isn't stupid; he knows that there's a risk in personally launching a sneak attack, so he only sent out a clone.

Ye Ge activated the Eye of Extreme Yin in his left eye.

Under his discerning gaze, he saw that the puppet clone still possessed residual Muraki's magic power.

"Ok?"

Ye Ge frowned.

He discovered that the residual magic power on this puppet clone was still flowing and gathering towards the center, forming a ball...

Ye Ge immediately realized what was happening and shouted, "Everyone, retreat to a distance of twenty meters!"

"Bam—!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the puppet clone suddenly self-destructed!

The purple demonic poison spread outwards!

Night Song, the five black-robed masked men, and a group of Shadow Assassins all dodged to a safe distance and immediately activated their Breath Condensation Technique.

"Lord Night Song, thank goodness for your reminder," a shadow assassin said, sweating profusely.

Ye Ge let out a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, he discovered it.

Muraki, you're quite cunning!

"It's alright, you guys can leave now." Ye Ge waved his hand.

"Yes!" After the Shadow Assassins finished speaking, they all retreated back into the surrounding shadows.

Ye Ge stood there for a while, lost in thought.

He wasn't surprised that Muraki hadn't died.

However, during this period, the reactions from the gene company and the Sun Wheel Clan seemed to indicate that they were unaware that Muraki was not dead.

Does this mean that Muraki didn't die, nor did he return to their side?

This is even stranger. If Muraki didn't die, logically speaking, he had the curse mark of the demon race on him, and the demon race should be able to sense his life force. He shouldn't have been able to hide it...

Could it be that he has found a way to block the demons from sensing him through the curse mark?

Ye Ge seemed lost in thought.

......

The next day, morning.

Ye Ge woke up yawning in bed, feeling sleepy, and clearly felt her body being held tightly by an arm and a leg.

Xia Xiyao pressed herself against his chest, staring at him with wide eyes.

"..." Ye Ge smiled helplessly: "You didn't sleep all night, did you?"

"Mmm." Xia Xiyao nodded, then put on a pitiful look: "After all, this is the last night I'll have Xiao Ye sleeping with me..."

"You've only just recovered, you should rest properly," Ye Ge said, pinching her nose as she lectured.

Xia Xiyao gave him a resentful look and muttered, "Well, I'm just afraid you'll sneak off again at night."

Night Song: "..."

Ye Ge leaned closer, gently touching Xia Xiyao's nose to hers, and slowly pressed his lips to the girl's.

"Is this compensation acceptable?"

Ye Ge playfully pinched her nose again.

Xia Xiyao's face flushed red like a bright apple, and she nodded shyly, "Mmm..."

"So, the three-day companionship service is over."

Ye Ge got up, stood by the bed, put on her coat, and buttoned it up.

Xia Xiyao sat on the bed like a duck, looked up at Ye Ge, hesitated for a long time, and said, "Um... Little Ye..."

"Hmm?" Ye Ge turned around and looked at her.

"It's...we're right now..."

When Xia Xiyao and Ye Ge's eyes met, she lowered her head shyly, fidgeting with her fingers and stammering.

She wanted to ask what her relationship with Xiaoye was now.

When I was little, my mother told me that only married couples could sleep together and kiss...

But if I ask, will it cause Xiaoye any trouble or pressure?

After all, even Xue'er hasn't managed to establish any relationship yet.

She had already gotten so far ahead of Xue'er, she was already a little embarrassed...

"What's wrong?" Ye Ge tilted her head, looking puzzled.

"N-nothing..." Xia Xiyao smiled awkwardly.

Night Song: "Then I'm off."

Xia Xiyao smiled sweetly and nodded vigorously: "Mmm, okay~"

Ye Ge walked to the door.

"Night!"

Xia Xiyao stepped off the bed with her bare, fair feet and ran up to Ye Ge from behind to hug him.

Ye Ge sighed softly, turned around, and pinched her cheek: "You're so reluctant to let me go?"

Xia Xiyao looked pitiful: "Mmm..."

"I just can't do anything with you," Ye Ge said. "Then I'll give you another reward, and then you have to go and get some rest and catch up on the sleep you missed last night. Don't be greedy anymore, okay?"

"Mmm-hmm." Xia Xiyao nodded repeatedly upon hearing there would be a reward, then looked at Ye Ge expectantly, wondering what the reward would be.

Ye Ge gently brushed aside Xia Xiyao's hair on her forehead, then slowly lowered her head and leaned closer.

"Well......"

Xia Xiyao narrowed her eyes slightly.

'So the reward is an extra kiss...?'

'Alright...'

'...Huh?'

'This time... seems a little different from before?'

"!" Xia Xiyao's eyes widened.

There was a huge shock in Pinky's eyes!