The first time she saw Li Qianhuai, A Yan was still a dodder vine growing among the desolate graves of the Ghost Realm.
Li Qianhuai was like a clear moon that had no business appearing in such a foul place. He watched her with cool eyes as she clung to a corpse and drew nourishment from it.
He pulled her up by the roots and planted her with his own hands in a flowerpot of gold and jade. He fed her elixirs and immortal dew, and tended to her with care.
From then on, everyone in the cultivation world knew that Daoist Li, who devoted himself to helping all living beings, had a dodder flower demon following behind him, holding up his horsetail whisk.
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Dodder vines must depend on others to survive.
A Yan could not live without Daoist Li.
Even though she knew her only purpose was to serve as a medicinal catalyst to awaken the Daoist's senior sister, who had been asleep for a hundred years.
Once his senior sister awoke, she would no longer be able to follow Li Qianhuai and live under his protection.
To stay by Li Qianhuai's side, time after time, A Yan wrapped her vines around the Daoist's waist and back, only to have them mercilessly cut off by his cold blade every time.
An elder had told her that no man could resist a female demon doing that. So why didn't it work on the Daoist?
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A Yan was heartbroken, but she wanted to live.
For the first time, behind the Daoist's back, she reached out with her vines to someone else.
It turned out the elder hadn't lied.
There were dog demons, demonic cultivators, and scions of noble clans. Many people were willing to take her away.
She cut off half her own branches to use as a medicinal catalyst, then smiled and said goodbye to the Daoist.
But the Daoist did not seem happy.
Li Qianhuai locked her back in the flowerpot and watered her with the dog demon's blood.
Only then did A Yan understand that the Daoist Li in everyone's eyes was, in truth, a vicious asura demon through and through.
Theme: Live on with strength