The Demon King Always Thinks I’m Secretly In Love With Him

Chapter 52

Translator: Hiohbye

Editor: PlayerProphet

He was restless in the palace for a few days, unable to think of how to talk to the Demon King. The work the Demon King gave him could be complicated, but only needed him to stay in the palace. Bai Yang couldn’t find an opportune time to escape.

Caught in these kinds of circumstances, Bai Yang’s heart was full of suffering. On one hand, he wanted to quickly send the pill to the Male Lead and quickly finish his mission; on the other hand, he felt guilt and a little fear towards the Demon King.

Think about it. The Demon King had given him that medicine at great cost to himself, only for Bai Yang to defraud him and pass that precious gift to someone else. It was as if, in real life, a spare tire would give a gift to a goddess, only for her to pass it along to her domineering boyfriend… fuck, that’s so scummy!

“Xiao Ling, I’ve realized I’m a bad person,” Bai Yang said. His conscience felt tight.

“This is the 120th time you’ve told me that,” Xiao Ling said helplessly. “Sir, remember that if you want to become successful, you can’t bother with trivial matters like this. To achieve your goals, you must pay the price and do things that you may not want to do. If you’re too influenced by the ethics of the outside world and change your mind all the time, you won’t be suitable as a company leader.”

Bai Yang was torn. “I never wanted to be one in the first place! The company will go to my brother!”

“But Sir,” said Xiao Ling, “don’t forget your older brother is unconscious in a hospital bed right now. In order to make something of yourself, your father spent ten million yuan to send you here. Sir, how can you let him down by not doing the job? Furthermore, it was the Demon King who forced you to take the pill. You shouldn’t feel any guilt in doing what you want with it.”

Bai Yang: “…”

Xiao Ling’s tone became strict. “Sir, I will remind you one more time that everything you have experienced so far is virtual. It’s not real. The person you’re feeling guilty for betraying doesn’t even exist. He’s nothing but virtual data. Furthermore, all the internal struggles and choices you’ve experienced are tests given to you by the system, and trials you must face within this world. Please think clearly, Sir.”

Bai Yang mulled it over in silence.

After a long time, he finally sighed. “I’m sorry. I lost control of my emotions.”

Xiao Ling’s tone softened. “Sir, it’s normal to feel guilty the first time. But you can’t forget your goal. To reach it, you must be willing to do anything.”

Bai Yang smiled bitterly. “Nevermind if I’m willing to do anything or not. To be human, there are things you shouldn’t do.”

Xiao Ling sighed. “Sir…”

“Forget it,” said Bai Yang. “Let’s stop talking about this.”

Who knew how angry the Demon King would be if he found out.

From now on, Bai Yang would fulfill his duties as best as he could. It would be his repayment to the Demon King.

Those thoughts in mind, Bai Yang paid more attention to his work as the Guard Commander, fully accepting his responsibilities. All of the guard officers were surprised by this sudden change. What kind of medicine had he suddenly started taking?

Then, the Demon King called for Bai Yang to come to the main hall, so he went.

“Why has Your Highness summoned this subordinate?”

“No reason in particular. Come, grind the ink for me,” the Demon King beckoned.

Seeing him, Bai Yang felt extremely guilty. He cupped his hands. “Your Highness, this subordinate has been serving as the Guard Commander. However, since taking office, he has not been working properly, and lazily avoided his duties. Please punish him for his infractions.”

The Demon King was astonished. “What’s with this, all of a sudden?”

“This subordinate has received Your Highness’s favor and yet does not work hard. This subordinate has been reflecting and found that he cannot continue like this. Your Highness has given this subordinate the position of the Guard Commander, to show that he trusts this subordinate. Therefore, this subordinate should work hard for the prosperity of this land, and live up to Your Highness’s kindness.”

The Demon King’s lips curled into a hook. “You mean to say you’re going to do your duties properly from now on?”

“Yes,” Bai Yang replied.

The Demon King considered for a while, before nodding. “In that case, you must do your duties as a commander properly from now on.”

“This subordinate will obey,” Bai Yang agreed, his heart filled with enthusiasm.

At first, the Demon King thought that Bai Yang was joking around. After all, he had stayed at the Demon King’s side for about a year, and it was clear where his moral integrities lay. However, he didn’t expect Bai Yang to actually do work.

Originally, the Demon King had kept Bai Yang by his side every day. After seeing Bai Yang actually doing his duties as commander, he no longer asked for Bai Yang to stay in the Palace of Eternal Night.

As time passed, the cogs of Bai Yang’s thoughts began to turn anew, and he started calculating an opportunity to sneak off to the mortal world. He had no chance at all while he was at the Demon King’s side. However, with the Demon King’s hold over him relaxed, Bai Yang had much more time to do what he wished.

If he took advantage of a time when the Demon King wasn’t paying attention to disappear for a few moments, he could finish his task without the Demon King noticing.

Bai Yang’s heart became restless.

Since he said he would do it, he would do it. Bai Yang scouted tentatively with a few trips. First, he left for four hours, then six, then disappeared for an entire day. At first, the Demon King would ask about his disappearances, but after Bai Yang’s excursions became frequent, the Demon King didn’t question him.

Bai Yang’s heart was full of regret. He should have done it from the start! If he’d known it would have worked this way, he would have been a model worker from the moment he received the Guard Commander position. He would have performed diligent work so the Demon Lord wouldn’t have to look after him so closely. He’d wasted an entire year!

After testing his limits for about a month, Bai Yang estimated that the time had come. He would seize the moment to run away.

That day, he asked around for the time when the passageway would be open. He found someone to switch shifts with him, having decided to run off into the moonless night. As Bai Yang patrolled the boundaries of the Palace of Eternal Darkness and secretly planned his escape route, he felt a sudden blast of intense demonic qi from the main hall.

He’d been at the Demon King’s side for a long time and had witnessed two of his qi deviations. Bai Yang, therefore, was familiar with this particular demonic qi. Under his breath, he murmured crap!, before charging in the direction of the main hall.

The Palace of Eternal Darkness was like it had always been. Once night fell, all of the palace workers scattered, with no one allowed on the premises. Therefore, when Bai Yang rushed over, no one was in the main hall.

Upon entering, he could feel the dense demonic qi that had enveloped the entire building. When the Demon King experienced qi deviations before, all of his demonic qi strayed out around him. This time, it had permeated the entire palace, energy burning through the air like flames.

Bai Yang was already experienced in this. He summoned his own demonic energy to protect himself, then walked through the black flames to find the Demon King’s silhouette.

Though the Demon King would lose consciousness in the event of a qi deviation, it did not mean that he would forget everything. A trace of clarity would remain within, preventing him from killing everyone.

Bai Yang walked into the hall and could faintly make out a black silhouette.

“Your Highness!” Bai Yang called, attempting to reawaken the Demon King, all while keeping the flames at bay. If the flames were to surround Bai Yang, he would probably die there.

The closer he was to the center of the hall, the denser the flames became, and the harder it was to breathe.

Even as the pressure increased, Bai Yang did not cower back. He thought about how good the Demon King had been to him. Whether it was for this country’s good or his own personal gain, he needed to protect the Demon King.

With this, Bai Yang could repay the favor.

After a while, he could finally see the Demon King’s body. The Demon King was enveloped in the blaze, his entire body like a phoenix aflame.

“Your Highness!”

Bai Yang rushed over and hugged him, using all of his strength to suppress the other’s demonic energy.

The eyes of the Eternal Night Demon King flashed with momentary clarity, only to be veiled once again with a blood-red color.

“Your Highness, please wake up!” Bai Yang shouted. There was no other option. He could only try to reawaken the Demon King’s consciousness and let him regain control of his own demonic energy.

The Demon King’s power became frantic.

Bai Yang couldn’t suppress it. Shit! Didn’t this guy just remove a thousand year’s worth of cultivation? How was he still so fierce? Even if he were to remove another thousand years, Bai Yang still didn’t think he would be able to suppress his power.

That momentary distraction caused Bai Yang to suffer heavy damage. He groaned, then spat out a mouthful of blood.

The surrounding flames immediately swirled through and engulfed him.

At that point, Bai Yang could run. The sudden outburst of demonic energy posed a great danger to him, just like the explosive □□ in the real world.

But Bai Yang only wavered for a moment and remained at the Demon King’s side.

He’d survived it two times before. He could do it again.

From experience, he used his own demonic energy to suppress the chaotic magic around him. Gradually, it began to calm.

Bai Yang was covered with sweat. Seeing his efforts were successful, he tried to push the demonic energy back into the Demon King’s body. But he had celebrated too early. The suppressed demonic energy erupted into the air like an enraged snake and a wave of demonic energy rebounded against Bai Yang, throwing him out of the palace.

The Demon King’s cultivation was unfathomable. That one strike caused Bai Yang to spit out another mouthful of blood. He lay on the ground for a long time before he could finally get up.

Drafts of hot air flowed through his surroundings, bringing with it an ominous atmosphere.

With a loud bang, the doors of the palace burst open. A swarm of demonic energy erupted out in full force as if it wanted to tear down all of heaven and earth.

What happened?

Bai Yang opened his eyes. This qi deviation was unlike the previous two times. It seemed impossible to control.

In his mind, Xiao Ling cried out, “Sir, please run!”

Bai Yang calmly said, “It’ll be fine.”

Xiao Ling’s voice trembled. “Sir!”

Bai Yang was silent for a moment. A thread of dim light streaked through his pupils. “Xiao Ling…”

“Sir?”

“Do you think that the Demon King became consumed by his own demonic energy because of the cultivation pill he extracted for me?”

Xiao Ling froze, then said, “This…”

“It has to be.” Bai Yang’s hand clenched unconsciously. “Extracting one thousand years of cultivation isn’t something that can be done easily. I lied to him, and I even wanted to pass his gift to someone else…”

“Sir, you didn’t lie to him,” Xiao Ling said, “nor did you ask him for anything. He was the one who wanted to give it to you…”

But Bai Yang was already walking back to the palace.

“Sir, don’t be unruly!” Xiao Ling cried out in panic. If it had legs, it would have jumped eight miles high. “It’s too dangerous! Don’t go in! Don’t you want to return to reality?”

“Of course I want to,” said Bai Yang. “But I still want to rescue him!”

“You’ll die!”

“I won’t. We don’t know that for sure,” Bai Yang said. “Trust me. If it was certain I would die, I wouldn’t have stayed here.”

“You…ai…” Xiao Ling was unable to say anything more. “Forget it. Whatever you want. It’s your choice in the end. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Trust me!” said Bai Yang.

Bai Yang walked into the palace, which was completely consumed with demonic energy. He steeled himself, then used his demonic energy to ward away the surrounding flames.

Bai Yang’s forehead was covered with sweat which rolled down and blurred his vision, but he didn’t dare to blink. He focused all of his attention on warding off the flames while calling out the Eternal Night Demon King’s title.

“Your Highness… Your Highness…”

The flames around him were gradually shrinking.

Bai Yang’s heart filled with joy, and he relaxed his guard slightly. Just then, the surrounding flames that had begun to die out were reinvigorated, exploding outwards and engulfing him. A black shadow appeared in the center of the flames. Before Bai Yang could react, something bit into his neck.

That familiar pain and feeling of being drained washed over him.

Knowing that the Demon King was biting him, Bai Yang released a breath. Like before, the Demon King was sucking out large amounts of blood and energy.

Xiao Ling, startled, called out, “Sir…”

“I’m fine,” Bai Yang said, resisting the feeling of vertigo that overcame him after losing so much blood. He took out the cultivation pill the Demon King had given to him from his Qiankunbag, then threw some power he had tucked away to stun the Demon King.

After going into a qi deviation, the Demon King now fought lawlessly, without rules or form. After being ambushed, he recoiled backward a step and became enraged. His eyes glowed with red light, and he charged at Bai Yang, brandishing his teeth.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Bai Yang threw the pill into the Demon King’s mouth.

Every time the Demon King went into qi deviation, he would grab the people around him to drain their blood and energy. In order to prevent innocents from being hurt, he dismissed everyone from the palace. Bai Yang had been at the Demon King’s side for three deviations, and had noticed the pattern.

This time, the demonic energy was stronger than ever. Bai Yang presumed it had something to do with the missing cultivation, so he decided to take the gamble.

The pill was something the Demon King had refined himself. If it were returned to him, he should be able to absorb it.

Sure enough, upon taking the pill, the Demon King stopped.

Bai Yang let out the breath he had been holding—he’d guessed right.

Xiao Ling, astonished, cried out, “Sir, why are you giving the cultivation pill to him?”

“It was his in the first place! I’m just returning it to him.”

“Ugh, Sir! Why are you so reluctant to be ruthless? Successful people don’t bother with these trivial things. There’s no such thing as a person who can have his cake and eat it, too! If you keep acting like this, how disappointed will your father be?”

“Yes, my father hopes that I’ll become a fierce and decisive person,” said Bai Yang. “But, I have my own morals. I’ll finish this my way.”

“But, that’s the wrong path…”

“Xiao Ling, I am the way I am. I don’t think I’ll be able to become the person that Father wants me to be,” Bai Yang said.

Xiao Ling sighed.

Just as Bai Yang thought he was safe, a few red tentacle-like flames reached out and grabbed him, drawing him to the Demon King’s side.

“Your Highness!” Bai Yang cried, astonished.

The Eternal Night Demon King tilted his head, sizing him up.

Assuming the Demon King had returned to consciousness, Bai Yang said, “Your Highness, please let me go.”

The Demon King observed him for some time before he suddenly reached out his hand and grabbed Bai Yang’s chin, pulling his head closer.

“Your… mpf…”

Before Bai Yang could finish, his lips were blocked.

A scalp-numbing heat moved inside of his throat. All the hairs on Bai Yang’s body prickled. He shook his head, trying to pull away, but his struggles were to no avail.

Perhaps sensing his resistance, the Demon King gave an unsatisfied humph. The Demon King reached out to encircle Bai Yang’s waist with one hand and fiercely pulled him into the Demon King’s embrace.