Black Myth: The Legend of Tianpeng Seeking Demons

After Su Yue left, Zhu Feiyang sat alone by the lake, gazing at the shimmering surface, lost in thought. Su Yue's words struck him like a thunderbolt. He began to seriously consider his feelings for Lin Xiaoxiao and Su Yue.

He felt mostly gratitude and guilt towards Su Yue—gratitude for her past sacrifices and guilt for the hurt he had caused. As for Lin Xiaoxiao, he felt an unprecedented surge of attraction and longing, an impulse to protect and safeguard her.

He finally realized that the person he truly loved was Lin Xiaoxiao.

However, he knew he had made a mistake; he had deceived Lin Xiaoxiao, concealed his true identity, and hurt her feelings. He didn't know how to make amends or how to regain her trust.

"You idiot, what are you still hesitating about? Hurry up and go after them!" The voice of the Ringwraith White rang in his mind.

“But… I don’t know how to face her…” Zhu Feiyang said hesitantly.

"You idiot! When did you become so indecisive?" Xiaobai said, exasperated. "You're supposed to be a master of romance, and you can't even handle this little thing?"

Zhu Feiyang's face turned red from Xiaobai's scolding. He took a deep breath and finally mustered up the courage to go to Lin Xiaoxiao and confess everything to her.

He went to Lin Xiaoxiao's dormitory, only to find that she wasn't there. He asked Lin Xiaoxiao's roommate and learned that she had taken leave from school and her whereabouts were unknown.

Zhu Feiyang was extremely anxious. He didn't know where Lin Xiaoxiao had gone, or how she was doing.

"Xiaobai, quickly help me find Xiaoxiao!" Zhu Feiyang shouted anxiously.

"You idiot, do you think I'm a god? How would I know where she went?" Little White said irritably. "However, I can help you track her scent."

Zhu Feiyang quickly activated the "tracking ability" of the Moonlight Treasure Ring, and a silver light shot out from the ring, pointing into the distance.

Following the direction indicated by the light, Zhu Feiyang searched all the way and finally arrived at a beautiful town.

He found Lin Xiaoxiao, who was sitting alone by the lake, gazing at the distant sunset, her figure desolate.

"Xiaoxiao..." Zhu Feiyang called softly.

Lin Xiaoxiao turned around and saw Zhu Feiyang. A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

"What are you doing here?" she asked coldly.

"Xiaoxiao, I...I've come to apologize to you." Zhu Feiyang walked to Lin Xiaoxiao's side. "I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have lied to you and hidden my true identity..."

"You actually know you were wrong?" Lin Xiaoxiao looked at Zhu Feiyang, her tone tinged with resentment. "What do you take me for? Do you think I'm a fool?"

"Xiaoxiao, I...I really didn't mean to..." Zhu Feiyang explained, "I...I was afraid you would be afraid of me, that you would leave me..."

"Afraid of you? Leaving you?" Lin Xiaoxiao sneered. "Who do you think you are? Do you think I'm afraid of you just because you're a monster?"

Zhu Feiyang was stunned; he hadn't expected Lin Xiaoxiao to know his true identity.

"How...how did you know?" he asked.

"Senior Su Yue told me," Lin Xiaoxiao said. "She said... you're a monster from another world..."

Zhu Feiyang was shocked. He hadn't expected Su Yue to tell Lin Xiaoxiao his secret.

"Xiaoxiao, I...I'm not a monster..." Zhu Feiyang tried to explain, "I..."

"Enough!" Lin Xiaoxiao interrupted Zhu Feiyang. "I don't want to hear your explanations anymore! Go away, I don't want to see you again!"

Looking into Lin Xiaoxiao's resolute eyes, Zhu Feiyang felt a surge of pain and despair.

He took a deep breath and said, "Xiaoxiao, I know you won't believe anything I say right now, but... I still want to tell you, I like you! I really like you!"

"Xiaoxiao, I know you won't believe anything I say right now, but... but I still want to tell you, I like you! I really like you!" Zhu Feiyang's voice echoed by the empty lake, trembling slightly, yet incredibly firm.

Lin Xiaoxiao was stunned. She hadn't expected Zhu Feiyang to confess his feelings to her at this moment. She had thought he would explain his relationship with Su Yue and ask for her forgiveness. But instead…

"What...what did you say?" Lin Xiaoxiao's voice trembled slightly; she couldn't believe her ears.

“I said, I like you, Xiaoxiao.” Zhu Feiyang mustered his courage and said again, “From the first moment I saw you, I was attracted to you. Your smile, your kindness, everything about you fascinates me. I know I lied to you before, hiding my identity, and I'm sorry, but my feelings for you are real.”

Lin Xiaoxiao looked at Zhu Feiyang, her eyes filled with complex emotions. She was touched by his sincerity, worried about his identity, and even more afraid of being hurt again.

"Feiyang, I..." Lin Xiaoxiao didn't know what to say; her heart was filled with contradictions and struggles.

Just then, a figure walked over from a distance.

"Xiaoxiao!" The person who came was Zhao Qiang, Lin Xiaoxiao's childhood sweetheart. When he saw Lin Xiaoxiao and Zhu Feiyang together, his face immediately darkened.

"Zhao Qiang? What brings you here?" Lin Xiaoxiao asked in surprise.

“I heard you took leave from school and I was worried about you, so I came to check on you.” Zhao Qiang said, his gaze falling on Zhu Feiyang, his eyes filled with hostility. “You… are Zhu Feiyang?”

Zhu Feiyang nodded. "Hello, I'm Zhu Feiyang."

"Hmph! So it's you who's been bothering Xiaoxiao?" Zhao Qiang said in an unfriendly tone. "I'm warning you, stay away from Xiaoxiao!"

Zhu Feiyang frowned; he hadn't expected Zhao Qiang to be so hostile towards him.

"Zhao Qiang, you've misunderstood. Fei Yang and I are just friends," Lin Xiaoxiao quickly explained.

"Friends? Hmph! Who would believe that!" Zhao Qiang sneered. "Xiaoxiao, you're too naive. You have no idea what this guy is really like!"

"Zhao Qiang, that's enough!" Lin Xiaoxiao said angrily. "Feiyang is my friend, please respect him!"

"Xiaoxiao, you..." Zhao Qiang wanted to say something more, but was interrupted by Zhu Feiyang.

“Zhao Qiang, I know you like Xiaoxiao, but matters of the heart cannot be forced,” Zhu Feiyang said calmly. “Xiaoxiao has the right to choose the person she likes, and you have no right to interfere.”

"You..." Zhao Qiang glared at Zhu Feiyang, "Who do you think you are? How dare you lecture me?"

"What I am is not important. What's important is that I won't let you hurt Xiaoxiao," Zhu Feiyang said firmly.

"Hmph! You think you can protect Xiaoxiao?" Zhao Qiang sneered. "You should take a good look at yourself!"

"My character is none of your business," Zhu Feiyang said. "I only know that I will protect Xiaoxiao with my life!"

"Such arrogance!" Zhao Qiang said, suddenly launching an attack on Zhu Feiyang.

Zhu Feiyang was prepared; he dodged Zhao Qiang's attack by sidestepping.

"Zhao Qiang, I don't want to fight with you," Zhu Feiyang said. "Go away and stop bothering Xiaoxiao."

"You want me to leave? Not so easy!" Zhao Qiang said, and attacked again.

Left with no other choice, Zhu Feiyang had to engage in a fierce battle with Zhao Qiang.

Although Zhao Qiang wasn't a martial arts master, he had practiced martial arts since childhood and was quite skilled. Zhu Feiyang didn't want to hurt him, so he remained on the defensive.

"Feiyang, be careful!" Lin Xiaoxiao shouted anxiously from the side.

Zhu Feiyang felt a warmth in his heart upon hearing Lin Xiaoxiao's voice, and he decided to finish the matter quickly.

He seized an opportunity and used the "body-fixing magic" of the nine-bead bracelet to freeze Zhao Qiang in place.

“Zhao Qiang, I know you like Xiaoxiao, but that doesn’t mean you can hurt her.” Zhu Feiyang looked at Zhao Qiang and said seriously, “If you really like her, you should respect her choice, not force her.”

Zhao Qiang was frozen in place, unable to move, and could only watch helplessly as Zhu Feiyang and Lin Xiaoxiao left.

Zhu Feiyang led Lin Xiaoxiao to the lakeside, looked at her, and said softly, "Xiaoxiao, I know I lied to you before, and I'm very sorry. But my feelings for you are real, and I hope you can give me a chance to prove my sincerity."

Looking into Zhu Feiyang's sincere eyes, Lin Xiaoxiao was deeply moved. She knew that Zhu Feiyang truly liked her, and she also knew that she had feelings for him in return.

"Feiyang...I..." Lin Xiaoxiao lowered her head, her cheeks flushed, "I like you too..."

Zhu Feiyang was overjoyed to hear Lin Xiaoxiao's reply. He pulled her into a tight embrace and held her close.

"Xiaoxiao, thank you... thank you for believing in me... thank you for accepting me..." Zhu Feiyang said excitedly.

Lin Xiaoxiao hugged Zhu Feiyang tightly, feeling his warmth and heartbeat.