The Moon Hangs High, Shining on Me Alone

◆ A cool, aloof immortal who cares for all under heaven, as the bottom × a wicked, unrestrained heart demon who wreaks havoc on the world, as the top

Li Shu is an immortal who grieves for all living beings. He often descends to the mortal world, traverses countless mountains and rivers, suppresses evil, dispels corruption, and bears calamities on his own body to save others.

More people in the human realm worship Immortal Li Shu than worship Ditian, the consciousness of the Heavenly Dao.

But in the three hundredth year of the Tianyuan era, a monster appeared in the mortal world, identical in appearance to Immortal Li Shu. Wild and wicked, he took delight in wreaking havoc. In a matter of days, he brought down all six kingdoms of the human realm.

At the time, Li Shu was imprisoned by the consciousness of the Heavenly Dao in a temple on the snowy peaks of the Tianshan Mountains, undergoing a trial of his heart demon. The human world was thus ravaged for a hundred days. The people cried out in despair, and suspicion and rumors spread everywhere.

When Li Shu descended to the mortal world again, all he saw was a chaotic land strewn with corpses.

After clashing with the evil creature who looked so much like him, Li Shu discovered that he could no longer draw his Hanchen Sword. His hands were wrapped in the blood and sin of vengeful spirits, as though he had slaughtered millions and become burdened by their karmic debts.

Li Zhu watched with mocking amusement as Li Shu, stripped of his immortal power by his karmic burdens, wandered the mortal world. The people who had once loved and worshipped Li Shu now feared him and avoided him like the plague.

Li Zhu coaxed him, "My esteemed immortal, tell me: does this world of living beings deserve the protection you once gave it?"

Li Shu did not answer. He journeyed from Que City, the prosperous capital of the Tianheng Kingdom, to the barren tombs of Jiu Mountain, where dry bones lay scattered everywhere.

Li Zhu waited for Li Shu to submit and beg for mercy. But Li Shu dragged his battered, broken immortal body up the heavenly staircase from Jiu Mountain to the Immortal Court's Altar of Sacrifice.

"Li Shu, you devote yourself to protecting all living beings, but who will save you?" Enraged beyond reason, Li Zhu stood atop the altar on a scarlet demonic lotus, his eyes blazing with malice.

He restrained Li Shu, who had burned through all his immortal essence and was trying to sacrifice himself to the Heavenly Dao, then drove the Soul-Peeling Awl deep into Li Shu's shoulder blade.

"...Li Zhu, stop," Li Shu said, looking at him.

But Li Zhu's expression was feverish and crazed. "You want to give your life for the Dao? Li Shu, today I'll make you watch this world fall with your own eyes."

Li Zhu dragged Li Shu's weak, almost translucent soul from his body. The nine soul-binding chains in Li Zhu's hand clamped tightly around it.

With a sneer, Li Zhu said, "You're nothing but a useless fool who can't even save himself."

His words reminded Li Shu of the sorrowful, frenzied voice that had come from the abyss behind him when he broke through his heart demon trial.

That voice had demanded, "Li Shu, you save all under heaven, so why... why won't you save me?"

Li Shu understood. His trial of the heart demon had only just begun.

No wonder, no wonder the karmic burden of those bloody sins had fallen on him. All those innocent people had died because of him.

"A soul born from an ice-bone immortal lotus, so pure and immaculate. What a beautiful thing you are, Immortal Li Shu. Tell me... what would happen if I dirtied you?" Li Zhu smiled with cruel malice.

He suppressed every power Li Shu had to resist, pressed himself against him, and defiled the last immortal in the Realm of Immortal Ruins before the countless departed immortal spirits on the Altar of Sacrifice.

Li Zhu saw a tear slide from the corner of Li Shu's eye. His rough movements softened, and he asked expectantly, "My esteemed immortal, are you ready to admit your mistake and beg for mercy?"

"Li Zhu, what is it you want? ...My heart demon, what is it I want?" Li Shu asked, looking dazed. "So 'I' once harbored resentment too. I saved millions, but no one saved me?"

His heart demon suddenly fell silent. The ferocity faded from his features, and he looked at Li Shu with compassion. "Li Shu, I'll save you. I'll come for you. For the next ten thousand years, I want the moon to hang high in the sky and shine on me alone. I'll protect the human world from every nightmare and calamity."

"But if you can't keep me locked up... I promise the Realm of Immortal Ruins will meet the same fate as the Ten Worlds of Spirit Ruins."

...Tears filled with the purest soul essence fell through the clouds, and a gentle rain fell upon the human world.

The downpour washed away the blood and vengeful spirits scattered across the land. Pure ice-blue flowers bloomed from the rotting corpses exposed in the wilderness, and all the life scorched and drained by the demonic lotus's flames gladly came back to life.

◆ A narcissistic romance with forced love and angst.

◆ The fifth volume, the Ice Lotus arc, in the original Beauty in a Thousand Mirrors series. Due to the background setting, it has been moved to the Nine Hells and Thirteen Ruins series.

Theme: Though you have seen the vastness of the world, still cherish the greenness of every blade of grass.