Turns Out I'm the Real Monster?!

When his consciousness withdrew from the realm of the Nightmare, the first thing Jiang Mu saw upon opening his eyes was a stunningly beautiful face, mere inches away.

Madam Han was nestled tightly against his side.

Though she still clutched the Talisman in her hand, nearly half her body was draped across Jiang Mu’s arm.

"Darling, are you alright?"

The lady’s breath was as sweet as an orchid.

Jiang Mu pushed the beautiful woman away, retrieved the Talisman from her hand, and said in a low voice, "Miss Lan is fine now."

The words had barely left his mouth when a soft whimper came from the bed.

Madam Han reacted in a flash. The very instant Lan Rou’Er’s gaze fell upon them, she had already sat up perfectly straight, putting distance between herself and Jiang Mu.

The seductive expression on her face had vanished, replaced by the dignified and composed demeanor of a senior.

Jiang Mu was speechless.

’Such acting... It’s a waste she’s not the star of a theater troupe.’

"Madam Han," Jiang Mu said, "I’ll have to trouble you to step outside. I have a few questions for Miss Lan in private."

Madam Han seemed to hesitate but ultimately rose and left the room, deliberately leaving the door ajar.

Only Jiang Mu and the just-awakened Lan Rou’Er remained in the room.

Although Lan Rou’Er was awake, her gaze was still somewhat unfocused.

Upon seeing Jiang Mu, she shrank back.

Like a frightened little rabbit, she watched him timidly, her eyes welling with tears of grievance.

"The Demon is dead," Jiang Mu said. "You don’t have to be afraid of nightmares anymore."

"Dead..."

Lan Rou’Er murmured to herself. Then, as if remembering something, tears burst from her eyes. "But... the children..."

Jiang Mu’s expression turned serious.

"That’s precisely what I need to ask you. A Demon like the Nightmare feeds on the human heart. It excels at weaving nightmares from a person’s fears, guilt, or inner afflictions.

Therefore, the children you saw in your dreams weren’t killed by the Nightmare. They were projections of the memories you’re most afraid to confront.

Miss Lan, what exactly happened to you?"

At Jiang Mu’s question, Lan Rou’Er’s whole body trembled, and her already pale face lost its last trace of color.

She hugged her knees, her voice trembling.

"It... it was the day the Fog Demons appeared."

"That day, my maid Xiaoyuan and I went out to buy rouge. Suddenly, the sky went dark, and then so many Demons appeared..."

"Xiaoyuan and I were separated by the crowd as we fled. I didn’t know the way and ran into an alley.

In a courtyard off that alley, I saw several children tied up."

Lan Rou’Er looked up, her face stained with tears.

"When they saw me, they all shouted, ’Big sister, help us!’ They were crying so pitifully... I was going to help them. I really was. I had already started running toward them. But...

A Demon suddenly appeared.

I was scared... I was so, so scared... so I ran."

"Later, I heard people say there were many bodies in that area... some of them were children..."

"If I had just taken them with me when I ran, maybe..."

The young woman clutched her head.

Jiang Mu fell silent.

’It seems this girl just happened to witness a terrible tragedy.’

’Her kind nature has made her feel guilty ever since.’

’And that guilt and fear, gnawing at her soul day and night, is what finally drew the Nightmare to her.’

Jiang Mu gently patted her shoulder and left the room.

’There was no way for him to comfort her in a situation like this.’

’Some burdens of the heart can only be resolved by oneself.’

As he stepped out of the room, Chu Lingzhu rushed to meet him.

"Jiang Chen, how is Rou’Er?" The young woman’s eyes were filled with worry.

"It’s Lord Jiang."

Jiang Mu shot her an irritated glance. "Who said you could use my given name? You have no sense of propriety."

Chu Lingzhu’s lovely eyes widened as she instinctively opened her mouth to argue.

But when her eyes met Jiang Mu’s emotionless gaze, her bravado inexplicably deflated, and she muttered under her breath,

"Fine... I’ll call you Young Master Jiang, then. Is that acceptable?"

Jiang Mu didn’t press the issue.

"She’s awake and not in any serious danger. She’s just frightened. Go and comfort her," he said coolly.

"Really? That’s wonderful!"

Chu Lingzhu’s face lit up with delight, and she immediately started to rush into the room.

After just two steps, she suddenly turned back and stood before Jiang Mu.

The young woman tilted up her fair, delicate face.

Sunlight filtering through the eaves of the hallway dusted the soft, fine hairs on her cheeks, making her skin seem almost translucent.

"Young Master Jiang, I really have to thank you this time."

"You... you’re actually a good person. I’ll treat you to a big meal some other day, and you’re not allowed to refuse."

With that, she spun around and slipped into the room.

Jiang Mu shook his head.

But when he turned, he saw Han Yushu’s face, dark as the bottom of a wok, glaring daggers at him.

’What’s he staring at?’

’His mother was the one all over me.’

Just then, Han Chenghu, who had been waiting nearby, stepped forward and clasped his hands in a salute.

"Lord Jiang, I am eternally grateful to you for saving my niece from this crisis. Please, my lord, join me in the front hall for some tea and refreshments. Allow me to fulfill my duties as a host—"

Jiang Mu waved a hand, cutting him off. "No need. I have official business to attend to, so I won’t impose any longer."

"Then... allow me to see Lord Jiang out," Madam Han offered.

The corner of Jiang Mu’s eye twitched.

’Your husband and son are standing right here, staring at us.’

’Is it really appropriate for you to see me out?’

But he didn’t want to stay a second longer, terrified of what other tricks this woman might pull. He just gave a noncommittal grunt and strode quickly away.

Once outside the main courtyard, Jiang Mu stopped.

"You’ve seen me far enough, Madam. Please, go back inside."

Madam Han glanced around, then abruptly seized Jiang Mu’s hand and, without any warning, pressed it to her chest.

"My dear~ You must remember to visit when you have the time. I’ll leave a door open for you~"

"The front door, the back door, the side door... they’ll all be open for you~"

Beads of sweat broke out on Jiang Mu’s forehead.

He snatched his hand back as if he’d been shocked, stammered out a hasty, "I know, I know," and all but fled the scene.

Watching Jiang Mu’s figure recede into the distance, the expression on Madam Han’s face gradually turned cold.

’So he really has lost his memory. Heh.’

’What a simpleton.’

...

Once he turned the corner out of the alley, Jiang Mu breathed a sigh of relief.

’This world is a terrifying place.’

’From now on, I need to be more careful when I go out. Especially around those mature, still-alluring women. I have to stay far, far away.’

’Still, something about that woman feels... put on.’

Jiang Mu glanced back.

’Of course, there’s no way she’s a Demon, but she’s just deeply unsettling.’

’Whatever. Staying far away from her is definitely the right move.’

Jiang Mu warned himself, ’Poaching other men’s wives is a high-risk profession. Anyone who wants that job is welcome to it!’

After getting his bearings, he headed for the posthouse where Ling Ye was staying.

When he arrived at the posthouse’s small courtyard, he saw a familiar, graceful silhouette in black, sitting alone on the roof.

She was cradling more than half a watermelon in her lap.

...

’Jiang Mu didn’t even have the energy to complain.’

’Does she love watermelon that much? And does she really have to eat it on the roof?’

"Is there something you need?"

Upon seeing Jiang Mu, Ling Ye’s beautiful, phoenix-like eyes held a hint of their natural coldness.

She clearly remembered the awkwardness of that night.

"Er, yes, there is."

Jiang Mu forced himself to speak, grasping for an excuse. "It’s about the habits of certain Demons. I was hoping to consult Lord Ling."

Ling Ye said nothing.

She scooped out a spoonful of bright red watermelon flesh, brought it to her lips, and chewed slowly and deliberately.

After a long moment, she swallowed the watermelon and spoke coolly,

"What are you spacing out for? Come on up."

"On the roof?"

Jiang Mu paused.

Ling Ye took another spoonful of watermelon, her tone impassive.

"You’re the one who came for advice, aren’t you? I can’t very well stay up here while you’re down there, can I?"

"...Oh."

Jiang Mu didn’t hesitate. Executing his Spirit Snake Footwork, he leaped onto the roof.

He then walked over and sat down beside Ling Ye.

The woman still wore her signature black dress.

Its hem spread across the roof tiles like a black lotus, outlining her cold, sharp-edged figure.

Ling Ye gazed up at the sky and said quietly,

"Heaven and Earth are eternal, but this body we shall not have again. A life lasts but a hundred years, and each day passes all too swiftly. One who is fortunate to live in such a time must know the joy of existence, yet also bear the sorrow of a life lived in vain."

’What’s all this mumbo jumbo? Just gimme a slice of that big watermelon.’

Just as Jiang Mu was about to open his mouth, Ling Ye suddenly said,

"Don’t talk."

?

Jiang Mu froze.

"Look at the sky."

’The sky?’

Jiang Mu tilted his head back and looked up.

Blue sky, white clouds, a few sparrows flying past occasionally.

Ling Ye narrowed her beautiful eyes, her voice laced with solemnity and awe. "Someone is about to achieve Star Ascension."

"Star Ascension?"

Jiang Mu turned to look at her. "What star?"

With no veil to hide it, her cold and exquisitely beautiful face was exposed to the sunlight, her skin so fair it seemed to glow.

Ling Ye slowly enunciated a single word:

"Ziwei!"