Ashes of Love: Chen Zhu, the Master of Runyu

The war between gods and demons ended with Jinmi sacrificing herself. Runyu swore never to set foot in the Demon Realm again.

Chuchen, Lord of the Underworld, went through two trials with her memories intact. Before Chuchen began her trials, the Underworld Emperor told her: “A trial is only a formality. Your father knows that you’ve always been carefree and active, my child. If you weren’t so gifted, you wouldn’t have had to undergo a trial so early. So just think of it as a little adventure.”

In her first life, in the twenty-first century, she was a rich second-generation heir who lived wildly, sleeping through the day and partying at night. She died of sudden cardiac arrest.

In her second life, she was a moonflower growing by the gates of Xuanji Palace. The palace was quiet and empty all year round, and the restless Chuchen could only watch Runyu.

At first sight, she was captivated by his noble elegance and gentle, jade-like grace. Chuchen wondered then what that lonely man would look like when he smiled.

But she hardly ever saw him smile. He had more days of sorrow than joy.

He smiled when he was with Jinmi. Chuchen could tell that he was truly happy then.

Chuchen wanted to see him smile like that, to see him that happy.

That day, when he returned, it was as if his whole world had collapsed. Chuchen felt a hatred in him unlike anything she had ever felt before. He was crying, silently, and his tears fell onto her petals. Chuchen tasted their bitterness.

Only then did Chuchen realize she had fallen in love with Runyu, without knowing when it had happened.